Twinj: Meant to be: Episode 29

Greetings all you lovely people!! Thank you so much for all the love and affection you have been showering the story with!! Now, before any of you assume that things are going to get easier for Twinj now that they are married, I think it’s prudent that I warn you against it. Fingers crossed, happy reading!!

Twinj: Meant to be: Episode 29

A quick recap: Aditi and her mother help Twinkle get ready for the wedding, and Yuvi resolves the conflict in her mind for over two years now. Post some small rituals on both sides, the bride and groom reach the court where the ceremony is carried out in absolute solace.

Bebe didn’t let Twinkle and Kunj touch her feet, and pulled them into a warm hug instead. She let go of Kunj a moment later, but held on to Twinkle, whispering “Your mother-in-law isn’t the easiest person to convince, and she does need some more time to accept you completely. But it’s absolutely nothing to be worried about. I’ve got your back. I always saved Kunj from his parents’ wrath when he was younger, and I’ll gladly do it for his wife too.” Twinkle felt her heart swell with gratitude, but all she managed to say was a ‘Thank you!’ that came off more like a whimper. That was also the first time she was being referred to as Kunj’s wife, and it brought her a sense of belonging that she wasn’t sure how she felt about.

Manohar blessed the couple with lots of joy and togetherness as he and Usha placed their hands on their hands lovingly. Usha hugged Kunj tightly next, leaving Twinkle standing awkwardly, not sure of what she had to do. She smiled wholeheartedly, nevertheless, at the affection they shared. Just as she was about to walk away, she felt a tug on her wrist. Her first instinct was to look at Kunj, but she realised immediately that he wasn’t the one who had stopped her. “Ma’am?” She uttered meekly, eyeing her hand in Usha’s grip.

“I know that I haven’t been too nice on several occasions, and I accept that each one of those was my fault. I was only considering the societal status and whatnot, but I have come to understand that you are much more than what meets the eye. I don’t know when the not so pleasant feeling I had about you had turned to something totally opposite to that. I’m aware that I might be the most difficult person you’ll have to deal with, but I don’t mean to be. Kunj has been the centre of my existence for longer than I can remember, and his happiness, and hence yours, matters to me. Even if I’m not as vocal about it as my mother-in-law is.” Usha spoke slowly, her eyes soft and kind. Twinkle couldn’t believe what she had just heard. And as if that hadn’t been enough, Usha continued, “You’re making a fresh start today. I’m not new to the challenges that you’ll have to face, alone and as a couple. But I just want you to know that as long as all of my children, you included, are happy and well, there couldn’t be much I would want. I’m trying, Twinkle. This isn’t easy for me either. I hope you will too. That way, we are bound to meet somewhere along the way. As far as your marriage is concerned, I’m sure I don’t have to say anything about it, for both of you know what you’re doing, and my faith lies in the fact that you’ll both strive to make it work, through ups and downs.”

Twinkle nodded gladly, promising her now mother-in-law that she would keep that in mind always. Aditi’s mother had already been weeping tears of joy when Twinkle and Kunj got to her. She blessed them, wishing them a lot of things, including love, togetherness, prosperity and what not. She had also warned Kunj that he better take care of this daughter of hers as well, just like he had promised to always stand by her other daughter. “Don’t you worry about Twinkle, Ma. Yuvi and Aditi are already watching me with guns at the ready.” Kunj said cheerfully to her, hugging her on the side and successfully cheering her up.

Aditi and Yuvi, who had been waiting for their turn to greet the newlyweds so patiently up until then, ended up in a group hug with them, teasing and congratulating, and so many other things that all ended up as a huge mash of voices where nobody really understood anything. They burst out laughing eventually, the others in the room watching them fondly. “I wasn’t kidding when I said that you better be nice to my best friend, or I’ll forget you’re my brother!” Yuvi reminded Kunj while Twinkle watched in a spell of wonder and amusement. “Don’t listen to him, Kunj. I know you’ll be a terrific husband and an even better friend.” Aditi quipped in, narrowing her eyes at Yuvi. Twinkle watched happily as Yuvi and Aditi hugged Kunj on either side before calling a truce. Aditi walked to Yuvi and snuggled against him, winking at Twinkle suggestively and nodding towards Kunj. Twinkle looked away immediately, choosing to pretend she hadn’t seen that.

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The Gruhapravesh ceremony at the Sarnas was such an elaborate affair that Twinkle could have sworn it was a bigger deal than the wedding itself. But then Usha had evidently put her entire being into this, so she knew better than to protest or frown. “Kunj had strictly instructed us against making arrangements for any of those fun rituals too. So it’s just the Aarti and these.” Usha informed Twinkle, pointing towards the pot of rice at the threshold, and the red coloured water in a plate a couple of steps from there. Twinkle nodded at Usha, then turning to throw Kunj a grateful glance. He blinked understandingly at her and smiled. Kunj held Twinkle’s hand as they crossed the doorway and stepped inside – Mr. and Mrs. Sarna now.

Once Usha had gotten her way with the rituals and the photographer she had appointed was satisfied with the number of shots he had got, Kunj led Twinkle to his room – ‘theirs’ – he corrected himself immediately, while the others went their ways, for they all had had a long day already, and had a lot to do for the big reception that Usha was bent upon doing. Bebe had noticed that Twinkle had never seemed too dazzled by the majesty and grandeur of the Sarna mansion, strengthening her doubts that Twinkle wasn’t really just another girl who lived by herself in town and ran a small cafe. She hadn’t been able to find out anything more despite telling Kunj, Yuvi and Aditi about her doubts, and hence she was only left with the alternative of bugging Usha again. Maybe she would do it soon.

“Welcome!” Kunj said to Twinkle as they walked into the room, both their eyes landing on their hands that were still entwined. Twinkle tried pulling her hand away, but he held it more firmly at that, using it as leverage to pull her towards him. He bit back a smile watching her eyes widen. He shook his head in the negative, answering the fear evident in her eyes. “I was wondering, how did you like your new home?” He asked, his eyes scanning her features for any signs of disappointment. “I think it’s too soon to answer that question, Kunj.” She said honestly, and he agreed immediately. “Come here, let me show you something!” He said suddenly, pulling her along to the door they had just come in through. He pointed to the room across from theirs – actually on the opposite side of the house, separated by the huge area where the ceiling to the hall downstairs was supposed to be. But now it really just opened like a balcony on all four sides looking over the hall. Kunj gushed, “That’s Yuvi and Aditi’s room. We generally communicate standing at the doors when we’ve annoyed Ma with something and have to hide from her.” His confession made her giggle even as she waved at Aditi who had come to her door to close it.

She saw Kunj tease Aditi from right there, earning a glare from the latter before she shut the door and disappeared. “They’re so in love!” He sighed, turning back to face her. He found her looking at him, a look that he couldn’t quite decipher. Nuptial symbols adorning her made him want to pull her into his embrace, to assure himself that this was, in fact, happening, and wasn’t just another dream. But he knew he couldn’t. Maybe, if he was lucky enough, one day he would be allowed to, but today wasn’t that day. Twinkle had looked away from him now, and was looking around the room. “You should change into more comfortable clothes if you want. Yuvi left your suitcases right here.” Kunj said, showing her the walk-in closet.

“Kunj?” She called after him just as he had turned away, her heart beating frantically, but she had to do this. “Thank you.” She said sincerely, nervously fiddling with the free end of the Pallu of her Saree. “For showing you the way?” He asked, confused. “For everything. For understanding me, my past and still choosing to keep mum about it. For agreeing to have a simple wedding. For giving me a home that I had no idea how much I was missing until your family accepted me today. For everything.” She explained nervously. He held her hand that had been fiddling to stop it. “Our family. Our happiness. Our home. That’s why I did it, and you don’t owe me any gratitude for it. In fact, I should be thanking you for accepting this poor guy, Kunj Sarna, as your husband.” What had started off on a serious, endearing tone ended on a light-hearted one, making her roll her eyes at him, flashing him a bright smile nonetheless.

Kunj then remembered something else that he had to show her, and hence walked into the closet, and motioned her to follow him. He slid the door to the biggest cupboard and showed her an empty space. “Yours.” He said, and was about to walk out so that she could finally change when he noticed she had stilled. Following her gaze, he realised that she was looking at her own reflection in the mirror. Red Saree with the Pallu only pinned at the top end to her shoulder so that it ended at her wrist, jewellery that Aditi’s mother had gifted her with so much love, hair styled into soft curls at the tips that landed just below her shoulders. And the nuptial symbols. She felt a chill run down her spine.

“She’s really pretty, isn’t she?” Kunj’s voice from right behind her jolted her out of her daze. She looked at his reflection in the mirror, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. She had begun to walk away from the mirror to avoid him spotting her blush when he pulled her back. It was quite the calculated move, except for the fact that he had been expecting more resistance from her, and the force sent her hurtling into his arms. “I’m sorry.” He said immediately, releasing his hold on her, and regretting his playfulness immediately. She nodded, looking at his eyes one last time before leaving for her bags. He hadn’t been too sure, but was that longing that he had spotted in her eyes? It couldn’t be, he muttered to himself, walking out of the closet, and finding his own clothes to change.

Twinkle changed into one of her Salwar suits, being unsure if it was alright for her to wear her Kurtas and Palazzos in the house. She put her Saree and jewellery away in the cupboard and pulled her hair into a high pony before stepping out. She needed to call Maya and ask how work had been at the cafe, but she couldn’t remember where or when she had left her phone. Kunj wasn’t in the room though, so she decided to while away her time until he came back. She didn’t feel like unpacking either, so she had just been looking around when she spotted some pictures on the wall. There wasn’t too much to debate on them though since she knew that Kunj had been an only child, and she knew the rest of the family too. She did find peace at the thought of how well-knit the family was. It also made her realise that the Sarnas were everything as a family that the Tanejas could never be. She had seen Aditi converse freely and crack jokes with Manohar, while back at the Tanejas’, Mahi and she weren’t even allowed to speak to their father without asking for permission first.

Twinkle turned to the door on hearing footsteps, and sure enough, Kunj walked in, his eyes trained on whatever it was that he was looking at on his phone. He stopped when he sensed her presence in the room. “Are you alright? Do you need something?” He asked, sounding concerned. “I’m good. I can’t find my phone though. Do you mind giving it a ring?” She suggested and he agreed readily, setting about immediately. “It’s ringing, but can you hear it?” Kunj questioned, looking around. That reminded Twinkle of how and why she had put her phone on silent mode earlier that day. “I had given it to Yuvi. I’ll ask him later.” She said, not wanting him to find out, but right then, he found her phone in the bag of essentials that Aditi had left there for her earlier.

“Are you sure that everything is okay?” Kunj asked as he stepped towards her to hand over the phone. She nodded, extending her hand for the phone. “You can talk to me about anything.” He said as if she needed a constant reminder of it. “If you want.” He added, not wanting to come off as someone keen on barging into her private space. “Or to Yuvi.” He said finally, placing the phone on her waiting hand. Despite his best efforts, that had still sounded sad, and he definitely did not like that. She didn’t have to know that the fact that she didn’t trust him much was hurting him. He inhaled deeply, reminding himself to calm down before turning to her with a smile. “We just don’t want you getting too worked up. We know all this is new for you, and want to help is all.” He said, and she nodded earnestly, sure that one day, she would be able to let go of all her inhibitions and tell Kunj anything she wanted to. They would get there. Together.

That’s it for now, guys. Was it boring? I’m not really sure how this will be received, so looking forward to hear on that. Until next time, lots of love!!