11. Helping a stranger

Indian language:-

Dadu / Dadaji- Grandfather

Dadi- Grandmother

Beta- Child

Raina reached at Akshit's mansion. The guards let her in without any fuss because she is a regular visitor there from years.

She entered the hall , people's chattering could be heard. She went to living room and saw Mr. and Mrs. Nagar (Akshit's grandparents in their 60's) , Akshit, Dia , Gaurav and his parents were sitting and talking.

Mr. Nagar saw her and said, "Here comes my favorite person ."

Everybody turned towards her . She smiled and touched his feet first and he patted her head and hugged her, "Young lady, you got so busy that you didn't get time to meet us."

(A/N - Touching feet is a way of greeting which shows extreme respect to the elder ones.)

She smiled at him and said, "Sorry Dadu. Just joined a new job.."

She hugged Mrs. Nagar and asked, "How are you my sweet Dadi..."

Mrs. Nagar answered patting her cheeks, "I am absolutely fine."

Mrs. Nagar made her sit beside her and ordered a servant to bring refreshments .

Later Raina greeted every elder their.

Raina asked Akshit, "So what's the urgent thing??"

He shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. They will tell us." He said pointing at Gaurav and his family.

She said annoyed, "You texted me that it is urgent."

He just gave a sheepish smile.

Gaurav's father said to Mr. Nagar, "Nagar ji, you both are guardian of Dia and Raina. So we thought to come to you first."

Mrs. Nagar smiled knowingly, but the youngsters except Gaurav were confused.

Gaurav's mother said, "We want to take our daughter in law to our house as soon as possible."

Big and wide smile crept on everyone's faces. Dia was blushing profusely with her head ducked down.

Everyone congratulated the couple. Mrs. Nagar brought the sweets and feed the couple. Raina and Akshit group hugged the to be husband and wife.

Akshit asked, "Gaurav bro. You are my friend that's why I am asking you again. Are you ready to hear the life long lectures and scoldings from your professor wife..."

The hall filled with laughters.Dia gave him a 'you better shut your mouth' look.

Akshit again said pointing at Dia, "See. She is glaring."

Gaurav laughed, "With all pleasure."

Akshit said, "Now you are saying Pleasure but believe me Bro, after marriage the only word you will remember is Pressure."

Mrs. Nagar whacked his head, "At least now don't trouble her, she is here only for few more days."

Akshit said placing his hand around Dadi's shoulder, "Oh no Dadi. The only thing she will have to do is to take a flight and she will be here scolding us."

Gaurav said, "We should finalise the dates."

Raina teased him, "Someone is so eager to marry his fiance ."

Mr. Nagar said, "Jokes aside for a while. Let's finalise the things then you are free to tease them."

Dia pouted, "Dadu, you should be in my team.."

Mr. Nagar said mimicked her, "Then you should play chess with me just like Raina does."

Dia said raising her hands in air, "No. No. I am good this way."

Marriage is fixed a week after . Gaurav and his parents including his to be wife wanted a simple wedding with just family members so they opted for a court marriage.

Raina and Akshit were sulking on this, they wanted traditional wedding.

Akshit said, "Traditional wedding. Dude we want to enjoy your wedding."

Dia said, "Simple wedding. What is the need to create unnecessary fuss. "

Akshit : "Traditional"

Dia : "Simple."

Raina shouted, "Shut up both of you. What are you? Kids? "

They both fell silent then Raina continued, "We can go for a simple traditional wedding."

Gaurav exclaimed, "Of course. "

Mrs. Nagar asked, "What is in your mind Raina."

Raina said, "Oh Dadi. We can conduct a two days wedding at our house just with limited number of person."

Mr. Nagar said, "I have one condition."

Gaurav's mother asked, "What condition Nagar ji.?"

Mr. Nagar said, "Wedding will be done here."

Dia protested, "Dadu. There is no need. I don't want to trou-"

Mrs. Nagar cut of her in middle, "Nonsense. There is no trouble. We let you both live on your own because you both wanted to be independent. At least let us get our grand daughters married."

Akshit support her, "I agree with you Dadi."

Dia looked at Raina for her suggestion. In return, Raina blinked her eyes in assurance. Dia agreed on that.

She knew that Akshit's grandparents loved them like their own especially after the demise of Akshit's parents, they trusted both the girls with Akshit after seeing his recovery with them.

After some years, they tried to adopt both girls officially but they denied saying that they wanted to be self-dependent .

After dinner, elders were sitting and talking about important stuffs. Gaurav and Dia were stealing glances. They wanted to spend some time with each other.

Gaurav's parents were of old mindset. Gaurav and Dia had struggled alot for their positive answer over their relationship.

A bulb glowed in her mind. She said, "Gaurav...Today is a big day for you..So a party is must.."

Gaurav smiled, "Sure..Tomorrow is fixed. "

Raina said, "Not tomorrow. I want a party now."

Mrs. Nagar said, "Beta,. It's so late and by the way you had your dinner just a while ago."

Raina said, "Offo Dadi. This Mumbai city never sleeps and our stomach is always empty for Desi Mumbai food."

Mr. Nagar said, "Of course.. You kids go and enjoy your day."

Gaurav's parents wanted to oppose first, they didn't want to let Gaurav and Dia wander around alone before marriage but Raina was accompanying them so they stayed silent.

Raina stood up and pulled Akshit along and said, "Let's go guys."

Akshit didn't move so Raina looked at him raising her eyebrows.

He sighed, "I have an important meeting tomorrow and I have to prepare for it. So I can't come."

Raina left his hand, "Okey..Best of luck."

Akshit frowned in confusion. Usually she would drag him no matter what.

Raina, Gaurav and Dia moved out of the house. Gaurav ignited his car and signalled them to sit.

Raina said, "You both enjoy your quality time. I am not going to be a third wheel. You both wanted to spend some time so I just did a little act."

Gaurav and Dia smiled at her saying thanks . She drove her bike away from the couple. Some time ago, she realised that Dia will be leaving her soon. It made her upset but she knew that 'everyone has their own life.'

It started drizzling. She huffed, "Mumbai's weather is so unpredictable."

All the buildings of the posh area were illuminating with lights making the small spray of rain beautiful. She was going to Marine Drive for a peaceful time.

(A/N : Marine Drive:- It is a famous place in Mumbai. Google it for more information.)

She saw a girl was standing on the roadside with her luggage. She stopped her bike and looked at her. That girl was looking tensed, her cab probably broke down.

Raina asked that girl, "Hey, Need any help.?"

Girl looked at her and nodded her head, "Yeah. My cab is facing problem and my phone's battery is dead."

Raina looked at her tensed face, it was late night and that road was isolated . She offered, "I can drop you. Tell me your address."

That girl looked gratefully at her and told her the address. That place was back in posh area that means she had to take a U-turn but she could not leave a helpless girl like that in a bad weather so she helped her managing her luggage on the bike .

During the drive, Raina asked, "So new here ??

"

Girl answered, "Yes. Actually my brother lives here and my visiting was planned few days later but I decided to give him a surprise but this blunder happened. My phone was dead and I doesn't remember his contact number."

Raina nodded her head in acknowledgement. She stopped her bike in front of the building and helped her in getting down.

That girl said, "Thanks for your help. I don't know what would I have done without you. Why don't you come inside for a coffee anyways it's raining."

Raina said, "No need of thanks. Sorry it's already late night so I have to go and nice to meet you."

Girl nodded and walked to the building entrance but turned back to ask her saviour's name. But she couldn't find anybody. She muttered, "Hope we will meet again."

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