It has been 2 days since marriage and things are already settling down. Guests and other people have already departed. Even Kripa who was supposed to stay, have already left due to some urgent call from home but he has promised Akash to visit sometime soon in Pune.It is 5th July today. On the breakfast table, the whole family is sitting. The family of Varsha is informed that the boy"s family will depart today and they are going to come in the afternoon to meet. Varsha is informed of this and she is antic.i.p.ating to meet with them again before she goes to Pune.
Grandpa looked toward his granddaughter-in-law and asked "Dear! How do you want to go to Pune? Train or Plane?"
Grandpa wanted to let Varsha feel one with family, so he asked for her opinion. Akash showed the wronged expression and said: "You did not ask us when we came from Pune."
Grandma looked at her grandson and said smiling "We wanted you to experience new things."
"Old man and woman both have excuses for everything. We ate unhygienic food, I was almost strangled by the crowd and hara.s.sed by transgenders. I better not experience these things my whole life." Akash muttered.
Grandpa and grandma ignored the muttering of Akash but Varsha who is sitting beside him could not help but giggle. Akash looked at her daringly and she laughed harder which also made his sister Ira laugh.
After this everyone kept eating breakfast. Grandpa continued reading the newspaper while eating. Grandma kept reprimanding old man for not concentrating on food while eating.
Varsha understood that Akash does not wish to go by train, so she already decided to ask to go by Plane but she needs a reason to say that. She nudged Ira on her side and whispered in her ears "Ask me to go by plane."
Ira looked at her sister-in-law questioningly and then it dawned at her while seeing the shy expression of Varsha. She really likes this caring sister-in-law of hers.
Ira coughed and to get everyone"s attention and then asked loudly to her sister-in-law "Sister-in-law! You love me the most in our family, right?"
This thing caught the attention of everyone at the table. The question of Ira made Varsha feel embarra.s.sed again. Her this new sister is really creative with her ways. She looked shyly toward Akash and seeing his annoyed expression and tearing the bread like murdering someone made her almost laugh. Her shyness went away and she laughed and turned to Ira and said: "Of course."
Ira then held the arm of her sister-in-law and chirped happily "Then please tell Grandpa that we will go by plane. Okay? I have also not traveled by plane before and this is a good chance."
"Don"t affect her decision. Let our granddaughter-in-law decide." Grandma scolded Ira.
Ira scoffed "Because she is my beloved sister-in-law and my new friend, so she will do what I like. Right sister-in-law?" Ira turned to Varsha and hugged her arm.
Varsha smiled and told to Grandpa "Grandpa! Let us go by plane. This will also be my first time on the plane." Varsha lowered her head and said shyly "Although I have also never traveled by train, train travel experience we can get while visiting local places sometimes. So let us travel by plane first because such a chance will not come anytime soon."
Ira shouted while hugging the arm of Varsha "Sister-in-law is so great. I love you." Everyone including Varsha could not stop laughing on her declaration.
Akash looked at his sister and muttered "One traitor and a Peasant girl who did not even ride train before." And asked Varsha "Have you at least ridden bus before?"
Varsha stopped laughing and looked at Akash and understood his irritation and then said "Let me think" and suddenly made a gesture of thinking hard while scratching her head. This brought another wave of laughter on the table.
In his frustration, Akash dug up another spoonful of breakfast and put into his mouth and stopped talking. Varsha looked at everyone with her innocent eyes.
Grandpa and Grandma smiled at her. "My daughter-in-law is so cute" Even mother of Akash could not stop saying which made Varsha also shut up due to embarra.s.sment.
Soon after breakfast, Grandpa Patel called his travel agent to book everyone"s ticket to Pune and within an hour tickets are received and the flight is in the evening from Banaras which is three hours ride by car from Singrauli city.
The family of Varsha and other village elders came to the city to see them off. Everyone is praising the good fortune of Akash. He came to see the bride and is going back after one month with the bride. His earnings are higher than anyone else.
Akash does not know whether to laugh or cry when he heard people talking in such an exaggerated manner. Seeing his wife who is responding to all the compliments with a smile, He felt like donating all the earnings from this trip to charity.
By the evening, the Patel family departed for nearest big city Banaras where the airport is.