77 |The One With The Sweet

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Shree walks to the veranda, yawning as she pulls the woolen sweater over her nightgown. 

The golden sun rays fell on Shree's face, despite the heavy mist. The grass beneath her feet tickled the soles of her feet. The smell of fertile soil mixed with the fragrances of the exotic flowers that bloomed in their garden pierced her nose as softly and tenderly as possible. The warm air was thick withthe scent of one hundred flowers, and the whispers and murmurs of insects. Shree sighed with relief as she opened her arms to embrace the beautiful scenery that surrounded her.

And with another flick she removes the hair clip that held her hairdo. Her hair rippled down all the way till her lower back, swaying merrily to the soft breezes that blew past. 

"Madhav!" She calls out. "Madhav! Madhav where are y-"

Shree stops as she notices Madhav working out in the garden. A warm smile spreads on her face.

"Didn't the physiotherapist ask you to start working out only after a week?" She asks, making Madhav stop mid-lunge. 

"Hey!" He says standing up. "You're up! Didn't expect you to wake up until brunch, actually."

"I thought of making you some breakfast." Shree says as Madhav kisses her on the cheek. "But the cook had already made the idlis and the curries. So I made you some almond milk with your weight gain formula."

"Thanks." Madhav says wrapping his arms around her. "So what about the two of us take a nice warm bath in the tub? I got some nice lavendar candles and some sandal oil, if your interested."

"Are you suggesting we do it in the-"

"No! No!" Madhav shakes his head. "I wasn't referring to sex. I-I-I just wanted to lie in the tub with you - holding you real close - and naked."

Shree blushes a warm and bright shade of red.

"I'll take that as a yes." He whispers.

"But ditch the sandal oil." Shree exclaims.

"What else, chellam?" Madhav asks holding her chin.

"We better make out in that tub!" Shree whispers softly.

"Of course! That's what we are going to do!" Madhav chuckles. "Geez chellam, you thought we'd be having a debate about politics and the country's economy?"

He notices Shree turn red.

She moves away from him.

"Also Yashoda Ma called. She's on the way with the whole family for the baby shower ceremony." Shree says walking inside. "She has picked around six décor themes, so many buffet dishes and saris. My Whatsapp is filled with so many pictures of backdrops and chairs and flower decorations!"

Madhav smiles as he follows her inside. "The family never had a proper one after the ceremony that was held in 1983. That was when my mother was expecting me! She's very excited, you see."

Shree looks at him with a smile. "Double excited because we are having twins."

"Everyone is so eager to meet the two little girls you're carrying inside." Madhav whispers holding her stomach.

"Mister Madhav Ramakrishna, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but it's going to be two adorable little boys." Shree says holding his shoulders. "Mother's instincts. And FYI, we already have a cute little daughter don't we?"

"I want more daughters." Madhav whispers to her. "One daughter isn't enough."

"What if we have two boys?" Shree asks.

"Let's make more little girls, then!" Madhav adds teasingly.

Shree gasps and playfully punches his chest.

Madhav caresses her face and kisses her forehead.

"So have you decided on the sari your going to wear for the ceremony?" Madhav asks, walking inside with an arm wrapped around Shree. Shree shakes her head. "You know what, you'd look splendid in the sari my mother wore for her Seemantham. It's a beautiful light pink sari with a gold border and embellished with little cute elephants and swans."

* * * * *

Devi walked briskly into Shree's room.

She opened the doors and found Shree seated on the chair facing the dressing table, surrounded by laughing and giggling ladies.

"See! I told you that you are pretty!" Ahaana exclaimed proudly as she moved from the dressing table mirror and allowed Shree to see her reflection on it. She blushed looking at the reflection she saw.

Shree was wearing the pink sari that belonged to Madhav's late mother. It was a light pink sari with a big gold border bearing bright motifs of elephants, lotuses and swans. A simple gold necklace was tied around her neck, with a simple pair of jhumkas on her ears. The necklace was light and comfortable on her neck.

"And why are you blushing at your own reflection, sweet heart?" Anu smiled as she tied Shree's long braided hair with a ruby encrusted band.

"She is blushing because she knows that the reflection is prettier than the one who casts the reflection." Devi said as she walked in and placed a kiss on Shree's head.

"Or perhaps she is imaging how her Mr. Poker-Faced-Madhav will react when he sees her." Joked Ahaana. "Isn't that the name you used to call him long time ago?"

"Just - just pray that Madhav doesn't propose to you and marry you once again." Anu joked.

"Yes! Yes!" Devi nodded. "He will do that for sure, so Akka, just stay away from him!"

"Looks like you ladies are giving her a lot of trouble!" someone said from behind them.

It was Madhav. He was wearing a blue button-down shirt with a pearl white veshti. He rolled up his shirt sleeves as he walked in.

"Ah! Baava, come in! Have a look at your lovely and beloved bride!" Devi smiled. She shook her head furiously and said "I mean wife."

Madhav came to her and stood behind her and kept his hands on her shoulders. "But she does not look like my wife. I know this because the Shree I know does not blush so much!"

He turned to Devi and playfully added.

"What have you done to my chellam?"

"But this is Shree - your dearest chellam!" Devi laughed out. "All we did was a bit of decorating on her!"

"We did not eat her up Madhav!" Ahaana adds.

"Is she ready?" asked Lakshmi, who had walked into the room.

"All set and ready to go!" Devi sang as she applied some kajal on Shree's dove like eyes.

Ahaana and Anu helped Shree stand up.

The nadumuttom had been converted to a resplendent Seemantham stage. There were around four rows of black folding chairs on one end of the nadumuttom and on the other end was the cushioned divan against a backdrop of bright floral decorations.

"Madhu baby, careful! You'll fall!" Yashoda says as Madhu rans past her, clenching a cushion to her chest.

"Sorry Bhamma!" Madhu yells excitedly as she goes to the nadumuttom where Shree's Seemantham ceremony was happening. She was wearing a yellow blouse and a red skirt, with her signature pigtails that were entwined with jasmines.

She runs towards Shree, who was seated on the divan and holds it up to her. 

"For you Mumma!" Madhu says smiling. 

"For me?" Shree asks in awe and Madhu nods. Shree takes the cushion and asks Madhu to sit beside her.

"So should we start?" Yashoda asks as she gives the big silver bowl of turmeric to Madhav. Madhav keeps the bowl of turmeric on the carpet, along with the several silver platters of fruits and saris for Shree. There was another big bowl of glass bangles in several bright colours. 

"I think we should!" Ahaana's mother nods. "We should always start with the pregnant woman's mother, as per custom. Lakshmi, why don't you start - and then we can go with Yashoda and the rest."

"Actually, I'm going to break tradition and ask my son-in-law Madhav to go first." Lakshmi says as she holds Madhav's arm. 

"Do you really want me to-"

"Yes, please go start the ceremony." Lakshmi insisted.

Madhav nods and walks to the divan. He takes the bowl of turmeric and looks at Shree.

Shree blushes as Madhav slowly and delicately smears the turmeric paste across her cheeks. 

"For me?" Madhu asks leaning towards Madhav. He smiles and smears her nose with a dot of the turmeric that was on his fingers. 

He took two red glass bangles and put those through her both wrists. 

"No green ones?" She whispers playfully. "Isn't that your favourite colour?"

Madhav takes two green bangles and slides one through each wrist.

"Green is actually my favourite colour, chellam." Madhav winks. "Because it makes you look so stunning. I - I - I'm not saying your less stunning. I actually mean you're stunning 24x7, it's just that green makes you even more stunning and "

"And?"

"There are so many other reasons." He says holding her hand.

"Do you care to venture one?" Shree whispers.

"Uhm, do you care to finish anytime soon?" Sivaji teases as he pats on Madhav's shoulder. "You holding the whole line, machan!"

Madhav smiles to himself. He takes the silver tumbler filled with milk porridge and feeds a mouthful to Shree.

"Where's here gift?" Ahaana asks teasingly.

"Uhm - actually..." Madhav stammers. "I-I-I..."

"You didn't get her one?" Anu gasps.

"Actually I-" Madhav says and clears his throat, keeping a firm hand on his shirt's chest pocket. "It's a little intimate and I was planning on giving this to her later. Privately, but I think it's better I give it now, in front of everyone."

He bent down on one knee, and gently lifted her right legs, keeping it on his lap. Two thin gold anklets came from his shirt's chest pocket and he tied it around her fragile ankles. 

She smiled as he said "These anklets should never come off your ankles, nor should you remove them while you love."

She hummed with response.

Shree blushes as Madhav kisses her swiftly on her forehead. Lakshmi comes forward and starts to do the customs on Shree.

As Madhav walks he feels unsettled. His throat becomes dry and his fingers start to tremble. He closes his eyes as he hears Shree scream out his name in agony. 

His spine tingled and he froze in horror as her agonized scream repeated in his head. 

He turns back and see her smiling on the divan as Lakshmi feeds the milk porridge to her.

"I promise to keep you smiling throughout, chellam." He whispers to himself.

To be continued....

-How are you readers?

-How was this chapter?

-What did you like about this chapter? (short chapter, but trust me the next one is going to be longer!)

-How do you like the story so far?

-For more details, update countdowns and sneakpeaks about upcoming chapters make sure to follow our Instagram account! Show us your love and support there too (and yes you can get a follow back if you wish)

We are on Facebook too! Check out the link on my profile!

Note from Author

This is officially the last update for 2021. This has been a great year for this story. 

This is the year the story crossed 200,000 views and 10,000 votes on Wattpad. Plenty of ups, and down along with several milestones for the book and the characters! We also launched 'THE CHELLAMS' as a separate story. (Check it out if you haven't yet!)

We also established our digital presence on Instagram (so close to 400 followers!!!!) and Facebook too!

Devi and Shyaam welcome a baby boy. Shree becomes pregnant again - this time bearing twins! Madhav moves back to the RK Mansion. Mahesh and Shiv play their coins well to harm Madhav, but he returns back. So many revelations and definitely so many moments to be cherished! 

Let us know what was your favourite scene from 2021's updates.

What's in store for 2022? Double of all the action, love and the mystery that you experienced in 2021! Stay tuned - I'll see you soon with the next chapter in 2022!

Wishing you and your family a happy new year!

Even in these difficult times, we must keep our courage and pray for better tomorrows. As we bid adieu to 2021, here's hoping that the new year brings all of us peace and happiness. 

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net