Part 100--Him & Her

Part 100

Him & Her!!

Golf Links Club

8:38 PM

April 3^rd 2011

He stood with his back facing the huge double doors, orchid garlands hung all over the open door way. Jasmine was strung all over the walls, specially flown in from Chennai….

Roses of every color smiled in vases. His Mom was talking about food it looked like…. To him… from where he stood at…

Ateendra: Do you want to go for the NBA Finals? We were planning to go for that week. Dad wanted us to meet with some Coke guys for a bottling plant in Maharashtra….. the international sales office is dragging its feet

Raghav made a face… and shook his head

Anuttam: Does that mean a no?

Raghav smiled…

There was a huge squeal and chatter from near the doorway… the shehnai guys picked up, the local Bollywood singer was asked to shut up…

For now…

Her parents walked in first, with her brother, some aunts he guessed… neighbors? And then he saw a glimpse of her Bhabhi Ananya in pink…. Right by her was

Radhika!!!

In a stunning fire colored lehanga….. she looked taller…. Her bindi sparkled from 50 feet.. and so did her nose ring… she scanned the room for him…. He slid behind Ateendra and watched… amused…. She looked to her side…. Both sides… complained to her Bhabhi…

Tried to grab her Bhabhi’s phone to call him… he bit his lower lip to suppress his chuckle…

Gaurav his “best” friend… noticed it “ Really?” he enquired, mockingly

Raghav just stared at her….

Gaurav: This is nothing short of Bollywood man! (to Anuttam)

Anuttam: Wwoow? What?

Gaurav: Hes going to break into a dance routine soon…

Krishan and Sushil greetd each other, so did the Moms and then the family….

His Dadi came looking for him…

DadI: Raghav Kapoor (she smiled)

He reappeared…. From behind… “Shes here”

Raghav nodded…

Gaurav: Is the wedding tonite?

Raghav:I wish…

Anuttam: Nah! Not until end of the month…

The pandit began to set up… he took baby steps noticing her agitated state… gently tapped her nose ring and said “Radhika”

“Here he is??!” she said overjoyed… quick color rushing all over her face

Her girlfriends mocked him… some openly razzed…

“Not true!” he gently admonished one of his friends

Radhika: Tum aur main? (squealing)

Raghav: Tum aur main…

Sushil: Congratulations beta!

Raghav not taking his eyes off her “Thanks Uncle”

A Kapoor  family jeweler had visted Saket and gotten measurements and taken her preference on size and cut of the diamond…

Sudha scanned the faces in the room wondered what they must be thinking… worried that they were no where close

She had been so disappointed and annoyed with Radhika’s choice off late that there was no emotion left in her today…

The Kapoors mingled freely, Krishan was guarded though…

They had requested no media presence so it was full of friends and family

Sushil: Hum 4 chaar dates laaye hain jo sabse achha hoga who pick kar lenge

Krishan nodded…. Barely… in tacit approval

Raghav and Radhika stood surrounded by friends… Radhika’s friends outnumbered Raghav’s by 25…

Pandit: Sagai shuru Karen?

The Kapoors insisted the Tripathis should eat first

The dining hall looked bigger and was more well stocked than a wedding event..

Sushil: Is standard ka hum kar paayenge?

Sudha: Yeh aapki beti ne nahi socha.. (cynical)

Ananya: Mom they have over 21 kinds of desserts

Dadi: Arey yaha to kitna saara maas hai

Sushil squirmed…

She spoke animatedly about getting ready, and how the Volvo bus was late, and how, the Safdarjung crossing was backed up a mile…

He folded his arms in front and paid complete attention…. Like his life depended on it..

Raghav: I think you should pick the wedding date

Radhika: Tonite? (giggling)

Raghav: Do you want to? (serious)

Rad: My parents will skewer me… (makes a terrified face)

Raghav: We should go to the terrace… (murmured in her ear)

Rad: And do what?

Raghav: And Talk about clean water?

Radhika: I was thinking we could do that better in your room… (husky)

Raghav: what a beautiful sight you are… tonite…

Radhika: tum bhi…

Raghav: Main?

Radhika: Hmmm… Raghav Kapoor (she felt her heart jump up to her mouth when she said his name)

Raghav: Thanks Radhika Tripathi…

Radhika: Happily ever after? (she giggled conspiratorially…..like she did always, hiding in the stairwell jumping out to scare her brothers)

Raghav (a man of few words) Likewise!!