Arranged Bhasad

3. The Roka

It's been a week since the home-meet and today was their official Roka. Nandini's family members had already met Manik's in Malhotra's house and performed the ardaas ritual along with rituals. Today was the turn of Manik's family along with him to come and perform the Roka function together.

A small swing was set up where MaNan was to sit in the living room while other seating and foodings were arranged accordingly.



Manik and his family members were already in the Juneja house and were waiting for Nandini to come and join them.

In some seven minutes, she descended down the stairs decked in her grandmother's saree and a modern blouse. Her kundan jewelleries were already adorning her saree and gracefully lifting her look. She smiled at him and stood near to him, who was decked in a white and blue sherwani set, looking no less than a prince charming.



"Chalo, dono aagaye toh Roka ki rasm churu karte hai!" Divya handed over the plate of aarti and teeka to Sreelekha while Mrunal did the same to Jaya.

Both were applied teeka on their foreheads and were fed the same sweet.

Both the families exchanged gifts and dresses and the Panditji chanted some mantras to bless the new union.

After some time, all were seated in the living room while the couple were sitting on the swing.

"Maa, aapki ijazat ho toh main Nandini se akele me kuch baat karsakta hu?" He asked for a permission and Sreelekha shook her head in a no "Manik, Panditji Shaadi ki taareekh batayenge, kundali milayenge! Aaj nahi, kabhi aur!" Manik nodded with a half heart as his head hung low and Nandini noticed it.

"Aapko kuch baat karni hai?" She asked softly to which he nodded "Lekin akele me!" And he looked at the rest laughing and enjoying, with a half-heart.

"Haan toh hum toh akele hi hai" She whispered to which his lips broke into a smile "Accha koi baat nahi! Hum kabhi aur baat karlenge!"

Her heart wanted to listen to what he wanted to say, but sounding desperate in front of the husband was a big no-no for them, so she nodded silently and looked forward to see the Panditji calculating something.

"Suniye?" She softly called him to which he hummed "Boliye!"

"Yeh Panditji kya calculate karrahe hai?" He chuckled and said "Humara future!"

"Humara future? Matlab?" She asked innocently to which he widened his eyes "Hayein ram, Tumhe nahi pata?"

"Nahi!" She pouted to which he smiled "Matlab Humari Shaadi shuda zindagi jaisi hogi, gun kitne mile hai and kitne bacche honge and all that crap!"

"Aapko vishwaas nahi?" Nandini turned her face to him "Nahi yaar! Tumhe?" She thought for a second "Not really!"

"Arey! These are just useless craps! bb dekho, hum agar compatible hue toh we will fight less, agar hum understanding hue to each other tab obviously there will be less fights and all, and bacche toh jitne tum chaho!" He spoke in a go and was about to drink water when he saw her widened flushed face and he realized what he spoke. Biting his lower lip, he turned the other way while she turned the other blushing all the way.

"Jeeji main khush hu ki apne pichle Ravivar wali baat maanli meri!" Divya whispered in Sreelekha's ears who smiled "Tum thik keh rahi thi Divya, humein inhe thora kaabo me rakhna chaiye!" Divya nodded with a smile.

Last Sunday. In the Kitchen.

"Jeeji, aapko Manik and Nandini yu akele nahi bhejna chaiye tha!" Divya spoke Cooking the dish to which Sreelekha turned to her "Kyu?"

"Jeeji, aap aaj kal ke bacchon ko jaante kaha hai! Main maanti hu ki Manik bohot hi theek ladka hai, and Nandini bhi bohot pyaari hai lekin aaj kal Jo zamana aagaya hai.. Kya pata Shaadi se pehle hi kuch gadbad kar baithe!" Sreelekha thought for a while "Haan Divya tum theek keh rahi ho! Humne Yash aur Rukmini ko bhi akele kahi chora nahi!" Divya nodded "And kuch samay me hi toh Shaadi bhi hojayegi, phir Jo karna hai karenge.!" Sreelekha nodded and the two ladies smiled.

No negative words about them please

"Manik, Nandini! Yeha aao aur baitho beta" Aditi called for the two and made them sit in one of the sofas between Yash and Rukmini.

"Haan toh! Kundali ke anusaar inke 32 gun milte hai 36 me se. Vivaahit jiwan bohot hi khushila jayega and yeh swasth ke taraf se bhi bohot khush honge. Nandini ke kundali ke hisaab se ek ladka aur ek ladki hone ki sambhavna hai agar aap Kuldev ko 9 Shanivaar mala charhaye Shaadi ke ek hafte baad! Koi baadha nahi prakat horahi hai and ek mahine ke baad ki ek date hai, phir 2 saal baad ki"

Manik looked at Nandini with a smile and then with questioning eyes. He was just sitting beside her and asked slowly "Date thik hai?"

Nandini blushed "Jee!" Manik smiled and both blinked their eyes to there family members who finalized it as the wedding date - 23 November.

Both family again greeted each other and departed just to meet somdays later.

It was around 11 pm and Nandini was waiting for his call when suddenly her phone rang and she smiled "Hello!"

"Hello!" The other side said in a husky tone and her heart beats doubled their speed.

"Nandini, can we meet tomorrow for a small date? As in just for an hour or so?" Nandini smiled "Jee! Aap jagah aur time message kardijiye!" Manik smiled "Zaroor!"