Saving Grace [Book 3 Radhawa Saga] By Swati Sandeep [Dhriti's wedding chapter]

“Big-B yaha kya kar raho, neche chalo, baarat aa gaye hai. (Big-B, what are you doing here, come down, the barat has arrived.)” Dev held Dheer’s hand and pulled him towards the door. Dhruv and Akshara were already welcoming Aman. They could not miss the moment. 

Dheer nodded his head, but did not show enthusiasm. Dev stopped and looked at him. Since the moment the wedding preparations had started his Big-B had fallen silent. He had assumed it was the stress of work, but there was something more. He could see it now.

“Kya ho gaya? (What happened?)” Dev sat down with Dheer.

Dheer shook his head and reached for his shervani, that is when Dev realized that he had not changed yet.

“Bura lag raha hai na aapko? (You are feeling sad, aren't you?)”

Dheer did not answer. Dev gave him a gentle nudge. “Di chale jayenge hume chodke. Iseleye na? (Di will leave us and know. That is why. Right?”)

“Why does she have to go, Dev. That moron does not deserve her,” Dheer hissed under his breath.

Dev smiled. Dheer and Dhruv were both giving a tough time to Aman. He did not understand why they disliked him. His Bhaiyu was a very cool guy. Jiju. Dev corrected himself.

“Jiju is not a moron. He is sweet.”

Dheer gave him a look that said, have you lost it!

Dev laughed. “He is cool, Big-B. Just like you, and he is perfect. He is level headed, does not lose his cool, handles everything smoothly and does not behave like a typical alpha male. He is generous, kind, composed….”

“And dilutional!” 

“No he is not.” Dev argued. “Jiju is…”

“I was not talking about him, I was talking about you, Dev. You are the one who is delusional. That one is an idiot! Beyond doubt!” Dheer huffed.

“No, he is not! Woh humare hone wale jiju hai yaar. (He is going to be our, Jiju.) Cut some slack.”

Dheer huffed.

“Get ready quickly. Di ke teen Bhai hai. Teeno milke he unke hone wale pati ka swagat karenge. (Di has three brothers. The three of us together will welcome the groom.)”

Dheer nodded his head and went inside to change. Dev turned around to leave but saw Dhriti standing there. He was pleasantly surprised. “What are you doing here, Di. You should be there…..”

“Is Dheer inside?” Dhiti pointed at the washroom door. Dev bobbed his head.

“Did he atleast change?”

“He did, Di. He was busy all day. He is as excited for your wedding as…” Dhiti placed a hand on his mouth, silencing him. She knew her brothers well. She understood what they were going though. Dev knew how to vocalize his feelings. Aman had given him all the assurances he needed, but Dhruv and Dheer did not like to talk. She trusted her twin to handle himself, but Dheer was a different case.

“Tu jaa, mughe Dheer se baat karne hai. (You go, I need to talk to Dheer.)”

Dev bobbed his head and walked away. He was very excited about the wedding. Unlike his brothers he loved Aman. He couldn't wait to welcome his Bhaiyu into the family.

Dhriti sat down on the bed, settling her lehenga. She wanted to go with something simple, but her Gammy insisted on the flashy display. She was their only daughter. They wanted the best for her. Dhriti gently traced the red chunari she had draped on her head. It was her mothers. Dhruv had saved it for her. 

Dhriti’s eyes misted as she recalled her. For two years she had waged a war with herself. She could not hate the mother she adored all her life, nor could she forgive the lies that were fed to her. Guilt had once overwhelmed her, leaving her restless. She distanced herself from her family, punishing herself for something she had not done. It took therapy and the love of her family to snap her out of her self loathing.

There was a point when she gave up, wanting to go back to India, to leave everything behind, but one person changed her perspective. She looked up as the washroom door opened and Dheer stepped inside. He was her Saving Grace! The boy she hated all her life, now became her family.

Dheer saw her and stopped. She looked dazzling, like the princess she truly was. Aman Shekhawat did not deserve her. He would make sure the moron treated his sister well, or he would make sure his sister got the quickest divorce of the century.

“Aaj kuch kahega nahi mere kapdo ke bare me? (Won’t you say anything about my dress today?)”

Dheer sat down beside her and draped his arm around her. “It’s fab, but you are wasting  it on the wrong man.”

Dhriti was expecting a snide comment. Dheer always made fun of her, but he looked a lot more serious. Too serious for her liking.

“Aman is a good man.”

Dheer rolled his eyes, “And I am Prince Charming.”

“You are Prince Charming, Dheer. And Aman is a good man.” Dheer tried to look away, but Dhriti gently cupped his face. “When a man stands by you when you are falling apart, he can only be your father, brother or husband. He was none and yet he held me when I didn't even know that I needed a friend. He became my anchor, Dheer. I know you don’t like him….”

“I won’t like anyone who will try to take you away, Riti.” Dhruv’s tone softened.

“Di” Dhriti gave him a hard rap. The boy only called her di when they had company. He reverted back to Riti behind everyone’s back. She had a hunch that he did it on purpose so she could exert her right. The boy needed reassurances. And she came to give him that.

“Di se better aapko Riti he suit karta. (Riti suits you much better than Di.)”

“Maar khana hai? (Do you want to be smacked?)”

“Aap maroge? (Will you smack me?)”

Dhriti shook her head. The brat knew her weakness well. The sound of drums greeted them. Aman was already inside. Dheer would have to go soon. Dhriti held his hand and looked into his eyes. “Humhare ghar pe ek rasma hai, Dheer. Beadi ke waqt dulhan ko palki me baitke bejhte hai. Uske Bhai uske palke uthatey hai. (There is a tradition in our home, Dheer.The bride is sent off in a doli. Her brothers lift her doli.)"

Dheer nodded his head. His grandmother told them about the ritual. Since only two people could do it, he did not press on. It was the brothers right.

“Main chatey hoon ke mere dono bhai mere palke uthaye. (I want both by brothers to lift my doli.)”

Dheer nodded his head.

“Dev bachcha hai mera Aur bachcha kabhi palke nahi utha, woh kaam Bhai ka hai. Mere dono bhai karenge na? (Dev is my child. A child never lifts a doli, it’s the duty of both. My brothers will do it right?)”

Dheer’s eyes misted. He looked away to hide the rush of tears but Dhriti gently wrapped her arms around him. “I am not going anywhere, bachcha. I will be right in the city. This is not a goodbye.” She pulled back and gently cradled his face. “Bhabhi ko kitne pyar se hum ghar le aye the. Kya woh Aman ke leye paraye ho gaye? (We welcomed Bhabhi with so much love, did she become a stranger to Aman?)”

Dheer shook his head. “Har ladke ke kese na kese ke behen he hote hai, Dheer. (Every girl is someone's sister, Dheer.) Bidai bas rasam hai. Saath rahen ya alga rishta to dil se hai na? (Bidai is only a ritual. (Whether together or apart, a relationship is from the heart, right?)”

“Why do you have to go, yaar! Why can’t the moron come and stay with us.”

“Why didn’t we send Dhruv to Shekhawat's place?”

Dheer huffed. It was hard to argue with the ever logical Dhriti. 

“That’s enough melodrama. This does not suit either of us, and I don’t want to spoil my makeup. Dadu is paying an exuberant amount on the event. I want to look my best.”

Dheer gently set a stray strand of hair that escaped. “You look picture perfect. Like the princess you are.”

The sound of fireworks filled the air. It was their cue. Dheer’s phone buzzed. Dhruv was calling him. He could not delay more. He got up and rushed to his cupboard. He wanted to give Dhriti something but never gathered the courage to give it to her. He did not wish to offend her feelings. Now he knew she would not get offended. He quietly reached for the jewellery box and went back to her and placed it in her hands.

Dhriti gave him a questioning look.

“Mumma got this for you when we last visited India.” Dheer’ smile grew sad. “She never got to give it to you.”

Dhriti’s eyes misted. She had always misunderstood Anjali, but the woman was a gem. Dheer was proof enough.

“If you accept this. It will make her happy.”

Dhriti opened the box. Inside was a simple but elegant gold chain with her initials as a locket. A gift that was given to a teenager that did not boast status, but love.

“Did you like it?”

Dhriti nodded her head, unclasped the chain and fastened it around her neck.

“Arey nahi, this doesn’t go with the wedding jewellery.” Dheer protested.

“It’s a mother’s love, Dheer. It goes well with anything.” Dhriti rose to her feet. The boy was making her emotional. “Now go and welcome my husband. Give him all the hard time you want. I won’t stop you, but for now play nice. You don’t want to scare him away. I really like him.”

Dheer smiled. That was why he did not get rid of Aman Shekhawat. No matter how annoying the man was, he was his sister’s choice. Dheer would always respect that. He wanted Dhriti to be happy, and if Aman shekhawat was her happiness, he would embrace the man with an open heart!