Chapter 4

Sahil’s POV

We all arranged everything that was needed for pooja. The pundit Ji came and started the pooja and havan. He asked to get the prasad which should be prepared at home. He had not told us about it… We had everything that was ordered from outside. We all were very confused.

I was not sure what to do? Only mom could make it. 

We were about to ask mom to make something but Manu said, “Aunty, I can make it, you don’t worry and just attend the pooja.”

She went into the kitchen and saw that it was fully furnished. She was looking for the ingredients. Samar, Swati and I came to help her as there were going to be at least 50- 60 people.

She looked for the big utensils and the ingredients. Swati and Samar helped her.

“Manu there is no Rava (semolina).” Swati said and shook her head.

“Tell me what you want, I will get it from the market.” I offered but Manu shook her head and said, “It will take too much time. We need to make it soon. I can make halwa with wheat flour. Just like the Kada Prashad, we get in Gurudwara Sahib. Will that do?”

“Oh yes… I love that...” Swati said with excitement.

“I love it too.” Samar said and she smiled at both of them.

Well, I loved it too… But I don’t think she was interested.

She started making the halwa. Samar asked her, “Would you be able to make it in such a large quantity?”

“Rest assured… I can.” She nodded and smiled at him.

Swati chopped some dry fruits.

She was making it with a smile on her face and looked really pretty. She looked so simple, yet very beautiful. I was standing near the door frame.

She was confidently making it though Samar and Swati were tense. She was smiling, stirring it constantly.

She was heating the water simultaneously. The very nice aroma of halwa started coming out. She tried to pick up the heavy vessel with water but it seemed difficult. I wanted to help her but saw Samar telling her to stop.

“It is very hot and heavy, let me do it,” Samar said and picked it up effortlessly.

“Be careful Samar Ji, now pour it in this kadhai (big broad thick bottomed vessel),” she was standing very close to him, keeping one of her hands on his forearm to direct him how much and when to add water. She was stirring it constantly.

“That’s it, Samar Ji, thanks we don’t need more water.” She smiled at him and he returned a cute smile to her.

She stirred for some more time and then added sugar to it.

“Oh god! It is looking so good, I can’t wait to eat it, Manu...” Swati said and Manu smiled at her adoringly.

“This is prasad Swati… we need to offer it to god first.” Samar said to Swati as if she was a child. I rolled my eyes at that.

“I know that Samar Ji… I was just kidding. I would eat it only after the pooja.” She said to Samar.

“But seriously Manu, it looks and smells so good. You made it as if you were a professional.” Samar said and she just smiled at him.

“It is ready. She took out some of it in a big bowl and covered the rest of it.”

Swati sprinkled some dry fruits on it and Manu took it to where the pooja was going on.

Sagar smiled and nodded at her and she just smiled back. Damini had also come with her parents and uncle by now.

The pooja and havan were performed and everyone attended it. Swati, Damini and Manu distributed prasad among everyone. Damini came and gave the prasad to me. I tasted it, it was so delicious. Just like the Kada prasad we used to eat in Gurudwara Sahib. I loved it and looked at her. She was smiling at Samar and Swati. Apparently, they were also praising her about the Halwa. She smiled and gave more halwa to Samar.

She was coming this way so I went near her to ask for more prasad.

“The prasad was amazing, I loved it. Can I have some more?”

“Yeah sure… Take it.” She gave the whole bowl in my hand and went away.

What? How rude? She ignored me? Me? I just saw Samar saying the same thing and she smiled sweetly and gave him more halwa. And she gave me this and a cold shoulder.

What does she think of herself? Ugghhh… What is her problem? I don’t care. I am Sahil Malhotra.

I saw her and Damini coming up with food for Pandit Ji. They served him a big platter of food. He said his prayer and started eating it.

The food was served for everyone. Once we made sure that the guests had the food and they left. We all started eating as well. It was very good as well. I had a lot of halwa and so did Samar.

Everyone enjoyed the food. Sagar caught Damini’s hand and took her aside. Oh god! this man had gone crazy. All he wanted was to spend time alone with Damini. But We would not let that happen. We didn’t know what his plan was but Samar and I were hell bent on irritating him. So I took Damini’s hand and pulled her away from him and asked her to come with us. She smiled and nodded.

“What are you doing? Sahil, leave her hand, she is not going anywhere with you.” Sagar said.

“Well keep thinking that… She is going with us. What is this yaar? You both always spend all the time together. After all, we are also your family.” I said with a frown.

“Yeah she is my sister, she ignores me...” Samar also said dramatically. Sagar glared at us but we did not bother. Finally shook his head at us and smiled accepting his defeat.

He had no option but to follow us.

We went out to see the beautiful city. Manu brought a camera with her and clicked lots of pictures of us and almost everyone around us.

Is she obsessed with photography? We all were enjoying it But Sagar looked a bit lost. He wanted to spend time with Damini. Ultimately we all left them alone and went to see a movie. I don’t even know what the movie was. I didn’t want to even look at Manu as she has been ignoring me… but could not resist it.

I kept looking at her. Her expressions were priceless. She smiled in a comedy scene and cried in a sad situation. She looked so natural and pure… Not like other girls, I usually mingle with. She was… Different. She looked somewhat familiar, but I couldn’t recall her.

***

The engagement and wedding were coming closer. Mom was going crazy, going shopping almost every day… mostly Swati, Manu and Samar accompanied her, as both Sagar and I were busy in the office. The work in the office was going fast now as the construction was going on in full swing.

I was extremely happy for Sagar but was feeling uneasy about something… I could not even understand why I was so restless… this whole marriage thing was making me very restless.

I called Samar as I wanted to go out and party very hard.

“Hello, Hi Sahil!”

“Hi Samar, I am getting very bored. Let’s go and party...”

“Sorry but I have to go shopping with all the ladies...”

“Seriously? What’s wrong with you? Who enjoys shopping? You go shopping almost every day...”

“So neither you nor Sagar are going with them. So aunty asked me to accompany them. I can’t say no to her. Moreover, It is safer if I go with them. What if someone misbehaves with any of them?”

“But I am getting bored...”

“So come shopping.”

“No. I want to go to the club...”

“Then go… but I am not coming… I am enjoying the family outings. I am enjoying every moment of this marriage preparations… Especially the shopping part.” He said.

“Ok fine… I am going to a party.”