New York - US
Two days indeed passed quickly and Preeti had seen a major change in Shravan these days. He had always made her blush for simple reasons. Whenever she asked him something, she could feel his eyes on her and she would be most of the times confused on what to reply back. He had helped her making Lunch the other day and though he wasn’t a good cook at all, he still managed to make the best meal.
His finger did get cut once while cutting the tomatoes and Preeti who was with him instantly sucked the blood , forgetting what her mother might think who was just there watching them. After that incident, she couldnt face her mother and husband for hours.
Both her mum and Shravan teased her for little things and she was truly enjoying that. Once even Aarti , Shravan and Preeti were sitting on the Terrace and enjoying the Chilling Cold having their Hot Coffee's at night and Preeti felt asleep in Shravan's arms. Aarti could see how comfortable this couple was indeed getting with each other and she just prayed God to give them all happiness they truly deserved.
Preeti and Shravan had truly come a long way in terms of closeness. Sleeping together comfortably was one of them. Even at mornings, Preeti Always disturbed Shravan while he brushed his teeth by purposely coming in his way towards the Wash basin , sometimes in the pretext of washing her face and sometimes just for fun . They did act like small kids now. They had created their own lovely space between each other which only they could share , not allowing anyone to intrude.
Finally they did reach back India in Jodhpur to their family. Their happy and contended Faces did make the family realize that this couple now did share a nice rapport. Hugging them and welcoming them back home, finally they settled down in the living room to give the gifts which they got for everyone.
Anjum: Wow. Nice Dress. But Preeti how can I wear this?
Preeti : So what Di? Jeejaji wouldn’t mind. Hai Naa Jeejaji.
Suraj (Smiling): Ofcourse if my Sister has got it for my wife, why would I mind??
Everyone laughed and Anjum loved her husband for that. She had never wore such dresses before but now by her husband’s consent she thought of wearing it sometime soon.
Radhika: Thanks Preeti. I needed these cosmetics. I couldn’t find them here.
Preeti: Don’t Thank me. Thank your brother for taking me out for shopping. He showed so much of patience. (She giggled and Shravan smirked at her. )
Radhika: Raaghav. You too got something for Preeti and Shravan right. Give them.
Raaghav : Not here. It’s in my Room.
Shravan: Not a problem. Me and Preeti are as it is moving up to our room to freshen up. We will drop by there to collect it.
Raaghav: Anytime.!! (He faked a smile at them and then continued watching their gifts.)
Part 36
Radhika: Raaghav. You too got something for Preeti and Shravan right. Give them.
Raaghav : Not here. It’s in my Room.
Shravan: Not a problem. Me and Preeti are as it is moving up to our room to freshen up. We will drop by to collect it.
Raaghav: Anytime.!! (He faked a smile at them and then continued watching their gifts.)
Anjum , Preeti, Radhika and Kriti were inside the room talking . Everyone were teasing Preeti to tell them what happened in US.
Preeti: Ohh God.!! I am tired answering. I told everything and you still feel I am hiding something?
Kriti: Because we know you are hiding something. (She giggled giving a Hi 5 to Radhika)
Preeti: This is heights. What else you expected me to tell?
Anjum: Everything. Means Everything Bhabhi.!!! (She too giggled and Preeti sighed)
Preeti: Fine. You don’t believe me right?? Wait a Second.
She dialed Shravan and he was in the Living room talking to Rajeev and Suraj . He answered instantly.
Preeti: Shravan. Can you please come to our room?
Shravan: (Smiling): Why? You scared Alone?? (He purposely asked this to tease her)
Preeti: Ohh No. !! I am not scared. These ladies are troubling me so much.
Shravan: Ladies??
Preeti: Yes. Your Sisters and your Sister in law . Come soon. Please.
Saying that she kept the call and turned back to them.
Preeti: He is coming. Now you ask him the same. He will answer.
Saying that she started unpacking her things and all the Ladies smiled again.
Kriti: Di. I think we should leave. If Shravanji comes here, I won’t be asking him anything.
Radhika: Same here. SHRAVAN will Kill me.
Anjum: Come on girls. Why are you so afraid of my Shravan? I will ask him. (She replied confidently and Preeti just smiled. )
Shravan knocked the door and came inside. Seeing the 4 ladies of this house sitting on his Bed made him little confuse .
Shravan: Preeti?? You need so many of them to unpack our bags??
Preeti : You got it wrong Hubby. They aren’t helping me. They are teasing me.
Shravan : Teasing?? (He looked at the other three who at the moment has zipped their lips not to utter anything. ). Di.> Why are you teasing my wife??
Anjum (Chuckled): Shravan. We were just asking her what all she did in US.
Radhika: Yes SHRAVAN. And she said ask Shravan.
Preeti: WHAT THE HELL.!! Guys. You asked me WHAT ELSE we did in US. And for that I said ask Shravan.
Anjum (Biting her lip ): Yeah Yeah. Wohi.
Shravan: What else. !! (He started thinking.). Oh Yes. Preeti. Didn’t you tell them that Jalebi scene?? I mean Jalebi Batter scene??
All the ladies had their eyes and ears wide opened and Preeti was confused why Shravan was exaggerating that Scene. It was so simple. The batter was stuck to her face and her husband just wiped and tasted it. So what Big Deal there. ??
Shravan: (Seeing Preeti): You didn’t tell them?? See. That’s what you wanted to know. I will explain.
Saying that he turned to the other 3 and they immediately got up and started walking to the door.
Shravan: Hey. What happened?? You wanted to know right. Let me explain.
Anjum: No Shravan. Just keep it to you. We don’t wish to know.
Giggling and Laughing everyone left the room and Preeti was still surprised.
Preeti; What happened to them??
Shravan: (Winking at her): That’s how you should get rid of unwanted people from your room. (Saying that he came to her and started helping her in unpacking.)
Preeti: No doubt you are such a good businessman. You have brains Shravan.!!
Shravan: I always had. You realized it now. (He said smirking and she hit his chest lightly smiling.)
Radhika was laughing loudly holding her stomach and Raaghav wasn’t much sure if he needed to be angry or react normal. In fact he didn’t feel anything when Radhika told them about that Jalebi Batter scene which Shravan tried to explain .
Radhika: (Laughing): We just ran out. Can you believe SHRAVAN wishing to explain us that??
Raaghav: SO what’s there in it to laugh so much??
Radhika (Controlling her laughs): Raaghav you don’t know. SHRAVAN wasn’t like this. He is a changed man now. And all thanks to Preeti. She is the only one who could get this side out of him. He is a perfect Husband material these days. Always there to help his wife. Isn’t that so romantic?
Raaghav: Hmm. Men change after marriage. Every man does. Nothing new.
Radhika: Will you too change for me ?? (She asked seriously and he couldnt get his eyes off her face.So innocently she asked him this. As per his mother, she already loved him, that’s the reason.)
Raaghav couldnt understand how to react. They kept looking at each other for a while and that’s when the door knocked.
Raaghav: Come in.
Shravan peeped inside and then he and Preeti made their way. Raaghav got up and so did Radhika.
Shravan: We are here to collect our gift.
Radhika: Ohh Yes. See we forgot that.!
Raaghav: (Seeing Preeti and then back to Shravan):I
hope you like it.
Saying that he went to the Closet and got the gift out. It was nicely wrapped in a Silver paper. He gave it to Preeti .
Raaghav: Here it is.
Preeti took it in her hands and showed it to Shravan.
Preeti: Should I open?
Shravan: Yeah. Go ahead.
She smiled and started unwrapping the Gift and once she did unwrap, she couldnt believe what she had in her hand,. A KNIFE. She instantly Threw the Knife from her hand Getting Scared and held Shravan ,. Radhika was shocked too. Knife?? Shravan on the other hand just gritted his teeth and looked angrily at Raaghav.
Radhika: Raaghav?? What kind of Gift it this?
Raaghav: It’s a Knife. A Royal Knife. That Salesman told me that such Royal Knifes were sold at a very High Price decades back. I thought this would be the Richest and Royal gift to them. A show piece I mean.
Shravan: (Angrily): Don’t you dare gift such things to Preeti again Raaghav. I won’t tolerate that.
Saying that Shravan took Preeti out of Raaghav's room .
Raaghav (Smirking at Shravan): I think you forgot Shravan. What Others Dont. Raaghav Does,,!!!
Radhika: Shut up Raaghav. I too didn’t like what you did.
Raaghav: Okay Sorry.
She was about to leave but he stopped her.
Raaghav: It won’t happen again. I didn’t know your Preeti will be so scared.
Radhika: I too would have. Look at that Knife. It’s royal , I agree. But so scary. So pointed. I can’t even imagine it before me.
Raaghav smiled and moved the Knife away.
Raaghav: Happy??
Radhika gave a weak smile and then he gave a Sigh of relief.
After an Hour
Preeti was before the God Idol in the Mandir of the Raj Mahal praying.
Preeti: God. You know everything. You know that me and Shravan have already entered a New stage of our Life . We have accepted each other as a Husband and Wife in true terms. Our marriage is fulfilled in every way .
I Still can’t forget that day in US . Our last day when Shravan confessed to me that he does remember about him being Yuvraj and me Chanchan. It was such a Blissful moment for both of us. Ever since I came to know this Truth of Raj Mahal, I always wished to get my Yuvraj's love back and I did get that from Shravan again. I thank you . I thank you for giving me what I missed in my Last birth. The Love of My Yuvraj and being his Legal Wife. But now. Now I am scared. I am scared if anything or anyone would ever be coming our way. What if even after being his wife in all sense, destiny plays it’s evil game?? I am scared God. I don’t wish to lose my Love again.
She sat down at the feet of the Holy Idol shedding her tears . Daadi and Nani who had heard this entire conversation were finally inside the Mandir now and they were happy that in True Sense Preeti was now Shravan's wife. They sat beside her and made her look at them. Nani wiped Preeti's tears and she hugged her.
Nani: Preeti Bitiya. You should be happy that Shravan and you have fulfilled your Married Life in all ways. . Why are you crying?? Only because you think destiny will try separating you and Shravan??
Daadi (Caressed Preeti's hair): Preeti. Just believe in God. After getting you and Shravan at this stage, he won’t turn your relation down. There Isn’t any Negative Energy in this world that could fight with LOVE. Be Strong.
After a lot of understanding , Preeti finally became calm. She was initially scared after seeing Raaghav's gift. That Knife made her remember the same Old Knife which was Stabbed in her. Though Shravan hardly remembered this incident of their past, he still gave her assurance later that everything will be alright. Nothing and no one can separate him from his wife. A wife whom he had given all his rights and Love.
Same Night
Everyone were eating their Dinner at the Dining Room and the Hot Topic of discussion was Radhika and Raaghav's Ring Ceremony.
Anjum: Shravan. So the Panditji has fixed the day. It’s day after tomorrow. I just got a call from him before Dinner.
Shravan: Good.!! So we still have a day to prepare everything.
Daadi: One day is just not enough though.
Nani: But we are so many of us. We can manage. Waise Raaghav. When is your mother coming?
Raaghav: I told her about this Ring Ceremony. She would be here the same morning.
Anjum: Great.
Shravan and Preeti looked at each other . He caught her hand while having food and she pinched him back giving him a What The Hell Looks.
Shravan: Uhh Di.!!
Anjum: Yes Shravan.
Shravan: Just get the Guest room ready for Aunty. I don’t want any complaints from her. She should be given the best treatment.
Daadi and Nani looked at each other and smiled. Not to forget, in the past generation, she was his mother and it was obvious, he had to give her special treatment.
Raaghav: Shravan. Just don’t worry about Maa so much. She would be happy just staying in this house. Forget getting the best treatment.
Suraj: Seems like she wished this from long?? (He replied tauntingly)
Raaghav: (Seeing Suraj): Of course Jeejaji. Who wouldn’t like staying in a Palace like Raj Mahal??
Suraj nodded his head and continued eating not without seeing Preeti's reactions. She was very slow in eating today and Shravan too noticed it.
Shravan (Whispering to Preeti): At this speed you will end up finishing dinner tomorrow morning at Breakfasts time. Aren’t you sleepy??
Preeti (Looked at him and replied whispering ): Exactly. I am sleepy. (She giggled and continued eating )
Shravan smirked at his intelligent wife and got up to leave for his room. Making sure he gestures Preeti to wind up soon.
Part 37
Preeti was back to her room after the extended Dinner. She was just little worried by the Engagement dates of Radhika and Raaghav. In just one day she needed to arrange everything and upon that be prepared for that Maasa too. It was so difficult. She got inside the room only to find her husband reading some Novel on the Recliner. He saw her once and then smiled at her whereas she just walked past him and moved to the bed.
Shravan: (Seeing her): You are looking a typical Restless Preeti.
Preeti (Sitting on bed): Who else will I look then. If I am Preeti I will look like Preeti only.
Shravan: (Keeping the book aside and walking to her): But if you aren’t forgetting Mrs. Preeti Singh Khurana. Then you are Chanchan Yuvraj Khurana too. (He winked at her and there she got a smile on her face)
"Chanchan Yuvraj Khurana". That’s what she wished to be in her last birth. She instantly leaned on his shoulder and then continued her talks.
Preeti: How can God separate us like that Shravan?? Why couldnt she see how much we loved each other.?
Shravan: (Moving her chin up): Because she wanted to unite us in this birth. If we would have fulfilled our love in that birth, then how would we get the pleasure of taking a re-birth again with the same Motto. We would not even have remembered anything about our past life. Come on Preeti. What has happened , let’s not discuss that. It only hurts. Let’s speak something better. About our future.
Preeti: Future??
Shravan: Yeah. (They sat straight on bed facing each other). Let’s plan a Trip after Raaghav and Radhika's marriage.
Preeti: Trip?? Where?
Shravan: Europe? Just you and me. Don’t you think we hardly got time for us in US?
Preeti: (Smiling): All Thanks to Mumma for that.
Shravan: Yeah. She came at the last moment when we really felt more comfortable.
Preeti : Just Comfortable Shravan?? (She questioned teasingly and he smirked back).
Before he could reply to her anything, she hugged him and once again they did get lost in their own moments of bliss.
FLASHBACK STARTS
Mehra House - New York
It was their last day of Stay in US and Preeti was already restless. Leaving back the memories of her Mayka and resuming her role in her Sasuraal back to I
ndia was only disturbing her mind. Not that she didn’t wish to go. But she was little unhappy that her mother won’t be accompanying her. She was on the Stool trying to get the Empty Bag which was placed on top of a Shelf. She lost her balance while pulling it and was about to fall down when her husband did come on time and she fell in his arms.
Preeti did shut her eyes tight waiting for the Pain to start which she would be getting after falling down but not feeling any, she opened her eyes only to find herself in Shravan's arms.
Preeti: Shravan? Thank God you didn’t let me fall.!!!
Shravan: What were you doing on this Stool??
Preeti: Getting that bag.!! (She pointed)
He placed her down and then extended his hand and took the bag down. He gave it to her and she thanked him.
Shravan: Remember when you fell like this in my arms before??
Preeti started packing and nodded a No.
Preeti: Never. This was the first time. Now don’t create fake stories Shravan.
Shravan: The Day when I saw you first time in Raj Mahal . !! (He said in a low tone waiting for her to remember that he wasn’t talking about this generation. He was talking about their past birth.)
She instantly looked at him .
Preeti: Yuvraj??
Shravan nodded and walked to her reminding her the incident .
Shravan: I remember Kishan had told me that Maasa was calling me to her room for some work. And there I hurriedly walked towards her room towards the Stairs only to find a beautiful girl in a Red Lehnga standing on the Table to put a Photo frame on the Wall. My eyes on her, my concentration on her, forgetting my Maasa and her need to see me , for the first time I ignored everything to help that girl.
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