18.Pune Darshan (Part 1)

Sunday,6:30 am, J.W.Mariott Lobby.

Meera entered the lobby looking around for any traces of Dev. They had decided to go for Pune Darshan today and their first destination was Parvati.

( it's not Parvati ( Lord Shiva's wife) it's to be pronounced as प and not पा basically Parvati is a hill temple and hill means Parvat in Marathi hence Parvati).

Parvati is a hill which has temple and a museum. It was established by the Peshwas and for anyone visiting Pune for the first time, it's a must visit destination.

Meera called Dev."Dev, where are you?" "Tumhare pichhe." Dev said in a mysterious tone."What? It's not the time for majak yaar". Dev tapped on her shoulder from behind and she let out a scream.Dev put a hand on her mouth as a reflex action and whispered "Chilla kyu rahi ho!!? It's me!".She moved his hand "Dara diya mujhe!!".

They sat in a rickshaw and Dev asked Meera how she managed to get a rickshaw at 6:30 in the morning. "Arre, he's our family rickshawale kaka. He comes at one phone call. I had told him yesterday itself".They reached Parvati in 15 minutes and Dev saw a swarm of people at the gate."Bapre itni bheed!". Dev asked astonished."Aree abhi aur ayenge".

They started climbing the stairs and both were at the same pace in the beginning but after a few steps Meera started panting.Dev looked behind to see Meera taking heavy breaths and teased, "Kya yaar you absolutely lack 'stamina' ".Meera laughed and Dev slowed his pace to match it with Meera's.

The stairs were pretty steep so Meera took her good time reaching the top. "I climbed Parvati after 3 years!!".She exclaimed."Now you'll see the breathtaking view of Pune from the hilltop". She added.They proceeded to the open area and Dev saw the beautiful scene in front of him.

On a big landscape he could see buildings, trees, mountains and a river flowing below. It was very refreshing to the eyes.People were walking on the bridge above the river and they looked like ants.There were trees of gulmohar around them and the cool breeze made the branches dance with it.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Meera asked.

"Absolutely". Dev replied.

Meera closed her eyes and Dev saw the cool breeze make her hair run wild. Sunrays falling on her sweat glistened face made her look like an angel.They stood there for a few minutes and then clicked a selfie as a memory to cherish their time in Pune.

They reached the bottom of the hill and sat in a rickshaw."Dada, Vaishali la chala". Meera told him."Okay so now we have to be very very lucky to get a place in the hotel we're going to" She added.They stopped at Vaishali and Dev could see maddening crowd outside. Literal queues of people.

"I had expected this". Meera sighed looking at the crowd."Are you ready to wait for some time? I promise the food is amazing!" Meera requested .Dev agreed to wait and she kept on telling him about the various places they're gonna visit today.It was 9 am when they found a seat ."Don't worry about people recognizing you, all of them are busy eating and talking". Meera said and Dev laughed."What will you have?" Meera asked Dev.

Dev scanned the menu but ultimately ordered what Meera would eat.A bite into the Masala Dosa and Meera had the purest form of ecstasy on her face."No pizza or burger or icecream can beat the taste of the Masala Dosa at Vaishali". Meera uttered.Dev liked the Dosa as well but majority of the time he was busy watching Meera and just listening to her bakbak.Meera payed the bill even when Dev urged but she told him that she was the one who brought him there so it's natural that she should pay the bill.They returned to the hotel at around 10.

11 am, J.W.Mariott Lobby.Most of the RCB players were present in the lobby when Meera entered.Looking radiant as ever in a beautiful kurta and kajal, she greeted everyone."Bhai Dev, Kitna dekhega?? It's pretty obvious yaar". Harshal Patel spoke in Dev's ears and that's when Dev realized he was staring.Meera had noticed him staring from the corner of her eyes while talking to Anushka Sharma but she didn't show it on her face.

"Itni tayar ho ke kaha jaa rahi ho Meera?". Anushka asked Meera."Me and Dev are going for Pune darshan". Meera replied.Anushka raised her eyebrows at her and had that knowing look in her eyes.Meera blushed spontaneously

Devdutt's POV I entered the lobby to find almost everyone in there. Virat and Maxi greeted me and we were talking. I was waiting for Meera and Virat Bhai never fails to miss such things hence as expected, he teased me."Bhai aap ko to pata hai". I replied.Maxi cracked a joke and we were laughing when Meera entered.

Gosh! She took my breath away! She was wearing a sleeveless printed kurta with a black palazzo.Her hair were side swept and she was wearing the jhumkas which we bought together at the Mumbai market.Her eyes looked different today. Maybe it was the eyeliner. And that kajal! Aise naino ki baaton mein koi kyu na aaye, I thought.I realized I was staring when Harshal Bhai said that it was pretty obvious.

Soon enough we left for Meera's house as we're going to take her car. Her Dad threw the keys from the balcony and we set off.She was driving and I was scrolling through Instagram when she turned on the radio.The tune that played reminded me of my childhood.

Zara si dil mein jagah tuZara sa apna le banaZara sa khwabon me saja tuZara sa yaadon me basaMain chahu tujhko meri jaan bepanah

We smiled at each other.Fida hu tujhpe meri jaan bepanah.We were singing at the top of our voices by now.

"Oh god this song!!!" Meera exclaimed. "I know right, this is our bachpan ka gana!" I said."I remember when I was little and we used to go somewhere in the car, this song always played, always!" She said fondly."Yeah, I like this song so much!" I replied honestly.We high fived each other.

Third person Pov.Meera pulled the car in an empty spot near a tree.Both of them got out and started walking. "Where are we going?" Dev asked Meera."We're going to meet my favorite person, Ganpati Bappa". Meera smiled.Dev had seen an idol of Lord Ganesha in her room and knew that she was a devotee of him."This is the temple of Shrimant Dagdu Sheth Halwai, it's very famous all over Maharashtra. There are lines of devotees waiting for darshan everyday". Meera explained.

"Does every place in Pune have a queue?" Dev said sarcastically.Meera laughed, "Magg, Pune ahe he!" .(yeah, this is Pune!).

They stood in the queue for 15 minutes and then took the blessings of Ganpati Bappa.Dev observed how devotedly Meera worshipped Ganpati Bappa.Dev decided that if he married Meera, they would come here for Dev Darshan. Cute na?While returning to the car, Meera stopped at a small shop which sold pooja essentials and idols of different gods.She bought a small idol of Ganpati Bappa and then went towards the car."For whom did you get this?" Dev enquired."You'll know soon". Meera answered.

_________________________________________Heyyy!!!!My favorite chapter is hereeee!!!I've written this chapter and the part two a long time ago and I couldn't wait to post this!It's finallyyyy hereeee!!!

Also, I've been to all the places mentioned in this chapter and the next chapter so if y'all ever visit Pune, ask me for recommendations.

Also, keep having Gulabjamun because it escalates one's happiness a notch higher.

Also Ganpati Bappa is the best, I love him so muchhh.

Will update the part two soon. Tell me how you liked the chapter.