33. Ganpati Bappa Morya

August 30, 2022.

"Aai, be quick! Dev will be here any moment!" Meera bellowed in the direction of the kitchen as she stood on a stool hanging a flower garland on the door."I'm done, what about you?" Meera's mother looked at Meera questionably  as she adjusted her saree."Yeah I'll get going!" Meera answered.

"Look, Dev is here!" Meera's Mom hurried to the door.Meera turned her head to see Dev smiling at her.It wasn't until now, that Meera realized how badly she missed seeing him so close to her.She definitely hated video calls.

"Dev, make yourself comfortable. I'll go get some groceries. " Meera's Mom urged Dev to come inside the house and asked Meera to get him a coffee while Meera rolled her eyes.

Meera gave him a heartwarming smile, "Aa gaye?" "Tumne pukara aur hum chale aaye." Dev yet again sang some Hindi song and Meera sighed."You know that you're a terrible singer, right?" She asked rhetorically."I know but how can I not annoy you?" Dev replied and she chuckled.

Meera was standing on her toes trying to hang the flower garland when she felt Dev's fingers wrap around hers. She could feel Dev's breath on her ears, forming goosebumps.She turned her head to the side and found Dev really close, to the extent that she could observe the pores on his cheek."Aise to na dekho, ke humko nasha ho jaaye." Dev sang a line from an old hindi song and Meera rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time."Let's not put up a show for the people on the road?" Meera gestured at the hustle bustle on the road infront of her house and stepped down from the stool, straightening her kurta.

"You didn't greet me." Dev whined as he closed the door and trapped Meera between the door and him, the moment they stepped inside. "How do you want me to greet you?" Meera asked, looking into his eyes playfully."Like this." Dev smiled as he leaned in and kissed her.Their sweet moment was broken when Meera heard the cooker's whistle go off and she jerked."Wow! Look at cookers ruining love stories now!" Dev groaned in frustration as he followed Meera into the kitchen.

Meera offered Dev a glass of water."Where's Uncle?" He asked sitting on a chair."He went for breakfast with his friends, he'll return soon." Meera replied as she opened the cooker lid and placed the rice vessel on the kitchen slab.

"Does that mean it's only us in the house?" Dev asked suggestively as he hugged Meera from the behind."Yeah but I have work to do and I'm still not ready." Meera ranted as she tried to free herself."Don't worry, I'll help you get ready" Dev tried to sound as innocent as possible."Ha jaroor, as if you know how to drape a saree." Meera's voice was laced with sarcasm.

"Not sure about the draping part but I know how to undrape it." Dev chuckled as he trapped Meera between the kitchen counter and himself."Is 'undrape' even an actual word?" Meera giggled at Dev's choice of words."Look at you, laughing at your own sexual inneundos." Meera added on seeing Dev laugh.He untied Meera's hair and they cascaded down her back like a river.He leaned in and inhaled the familiar flowery scent that never failed to mesmerize him.Dev placed a wet kiss on Meera's neck but before he could savour anymore, the doorbell rang startling both of them."It's Baba!" Meera shrieked in a hushed voice. Tying her hair into a bun, she scurried towards the door with Dev in following her."Hello Uncle!" Dev greeted Meera's Dad with a bow and her Dad smiled in response."You're on time Dev! We'll all get ready soon and bring Bappa home."

Meera's Dad went to his room and Meera went to hers with Dev in tow.Dev went to the bathroom to change into a kurta while Meera draped her saree.A few minutes later, Dev opened the door to see Meera adjusting her saree pleats as her gorgeous locks fell on her face.Dev loved the way she made his heart do a somersault seeing her.Meera was wearing a bright yellow saree with a pink border and a coordinating pink blouse.She had a small black Bindi on her forehead some flicks of her hair rested loosely on her face.Her voluminous hair were secured in a messy bun and her ears had big jhumkas in them.Dev could see the smooth skin of Meera's arm that glowed gently in the sunlight coming from the window.

Dev walked upto Meera and she smiled at him while picking up a bangle from the stand.Dev noticed the lace of her blouse untied so he took the strings in his hands and pulled them together which made Meera stumble a bit.

He tied the strings and placed a kiss on her neck."Prettiest puppy in the whole world." Dev complimented Meera."Okay, I'm a puppy now?" Meera questioned as she chuckled."Yes you're a puppy, the cutest one." Dev asserted and smiled.

Meera then rolled her fingers before Dev's face and crunched them at her temple. She also put a dot of kajal behind his ear."Ye isiliye taki mere Dev ko kisi Asur ki najar na lage." Meera explained the purpose behind her action, earning a laugh from Dev and they proceeded to the living room.

Dev was introduced to the Ganeshotsav for the first time and he absolutely loved it.Dev carefully observed the Ganpati idol and noticed the precisely drawn eyes, elengantly crafted hands and artistically painted clothes in Red and Purple.Looking into Bappa's eyes gave him an assuarance of happiness, health and prosperity.Meera had immense faith in Bappa and she believe that Bappa was always watching over her and Dev.

Dev also learnt the chant "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Mangal Murti Morya".Though he didn't understand the Marathi Aarti, he still participated with equal enthusiasm and vigour.

After the Aarti, Dev and Meera offered their prayers and flowers.

"Now comes the best part!" Meera exclaimed as she tucked her saree pallu to her waist and followed her mother to the kitchen with Dev."It's time we make Modaks!!!" Meera informed Dev as the she sat down on the floor with all the material and started making Modaks."These are the traditional Marathi style Ukadiche Modak. They are made from steamed rice flour and a sweet mixture of coconut, jaggery and elaichi." Meera informed Dev as he observed Meera making the intricate pattern of the Modak.

"When did you learn this? This is so hard!" Dev asked, clearly amused."4 years back. It's all just a matter of practice. The more you practice, the more you earn expertise."Meera replied as she sealed the top of the Modak."You know there's an ancient custom being followed that as prasad (bhog or offering) only 21 modaks should be offered to Bappa." Meera's mother informed Dev and he nodded.

Dev video called his Amma and showed her the way Meera was making Modaks.Dev also gave the background information about Ganeshotsav and its importance in Maharashtra. Meera and her mother giggled while Dev talked in Malayalam. His Amma and Meera's Aai met each other through video call and instantly clicked.

At lunch, Dev ate 3 modaks. He was shown the proper way of eating Modak which is breaking the Modak from the side and pouring lots of Ghee over it.

Everyone was drowsy after lunch and went to their respective bedrooms while Dev slept on the couch in the living room.

5pm

"Dev get up." Meera cooed softly as she sat on the floor beside the couch."Dev, get up, its 5 in the evening." Meera shook Dev but Dev just turned his face to the other side."5 minutes please." Dev mumbled snuggling into the blanket.Meera didn't want to wake him up as he was sleeping like a baby but she had no alternative."Achha Dev, if you don't get up in the next 5 minutes, I'll marry someone else." Meera tried hard not to laugh as Dev got up with a jolt.She eventually did burst out laughing.This trick always worked.Dev flipped the blanket to the side and Meera widened her eyes as she swiftly got up and ran to the kitchen.Dev entered the kitchen wiggling his fingers only to see Meera standing with a fork in a corner adjacent to the dining table."I swear to god! Dev if you take even a step ahead, I'll poke you with this fork." Meera tried to sound terrorizing but ended up laughing."Oh yeah? Try me!" Dev stepped ahead and Meera crouched down in the corner laughing and screaming simultaneously."I'm not even doing anything! Stop screeching. It'll tear by eardrums!" Dev chuckled.Meera huffed as she calmed down, "Sorry, sorry, mujhe na dekhne se bhi tickling jaisa feel hota hai. Even when the person is away." "Now get ready. I'll get you a coffee till then." Meera instructed Dev as she got up and headed to the kitchen.Dev wore a simple yellow tshirt and a jeans while Meera wore a purple kurta."Are you aware of the fact that yellow and purple make up the complementary colour scheme?" Dev asked Meera as they walked down the stairs."Oh yes, I learnt about this during my Elementary Drawing Exam." Meera replied as she wore her helmet."Which grade did you get?" Dev asked curiously."B" Meera chuckled."Woah! I got a C." Dev shook his head as he laughed.

They set off on her scooter and Dev was enamoured to see the jubilant vibes in the city.It had rained and the streets were wet yet people were rushing. At every 100 steps, Dev could see Dhol Pathak members banging the Dhol  energetically and restaurants flooding with people."Why do Pune people eat like there's no tomorrow? Every hotel is flooding with people!" Dev exclaimed to which Meera chuckled.

They reached the Ganpati Miravnuk on Tilak Road.Zestful, spirited youth enjoying the Miravnuk and the Dhol Pathak members who passionately did their job was a treat to the eyes of the onlookers.Dev was amazed to see the supernatural energy everyone here possessed.

"White kurta, churidar and jackets of their respective Pathak is the signature outfit of every Dhol Pathak in Maharashtra." Meera spoke keenly and Dev had to crouch down to her height to decipher what she was telling him."All women in a Dhol Pathak wear nath, its a traditional Maharashtrian ornament supposed to be worn in the nose." Meera said pointing at a girl."Also you see that moon shaped Bindi on her forehead? It's called the Chandrakor." Meera added.

"Man! I can feel the vibrations! This is amazing!" Dev exclaimed, clearly excited."Though Pune has its Dhol Pathak, Nashik is known for its Dhol Pathak, it's the best in the whole world." Meera told Dev."Ohh isn't Nashik the wine capital? I want to visit Sula Vineyards once." Dev asked."Yep, it is."

"Maharashtra is such a cultural state! Dhol, Ganpati, Modak and what not!" "Thankyou Mee for introducing me to all this. It's enriching." Dev expressed his gratitude."Are, thankyou kya, its my duty as a Maharashtrian to introduce my culture to a Malayli." "You should also introduce me to your culture." Meera added."Yes sir!" Dev nodded.

Around 11:30, Dev and Meera finally got privacy and Dev told her about the recent events in the KSCA."Yaar, agar mein Bangalore mein rehti na to I'd become the physio for KSCA." Meera said as she settled her head on Dev's shoulder. "To aajao Bangalore.""Never! It's never going to happen unless we get married. Pune is too precious for me." Meera defended Pune."Ha ha dekh liya tumhara pyar." Dev fake glared. "Obviously, if Pune didn't exist, I'd have not existed too!" Meera justified her statement."You really thought I was angry? Mad Meera." Dev chuckled and Meera hit him on the shoulder.

"Let's watch Koffee with Karan!" She suggested."Eww no please! I hate Karan Johar." Dev shook his head and scrunched his face."How homophobic of you Dev!" "No, not homophobic. It's just that I hate how nosey he is! He wants to know anything and everything about anyone and everyone." Dev validated his point."Ek episode to dekh hi sakte hai na, pleaseee! You decide which episode." Meera requested exaggeratedly."Fine, wait I'll see." Dev gave in and  scrolled through the list.

"Why does Karan care who Vijay Deverakonda has slept with?! This show is pure nonsense!" Dev exclaimed in pure despise as the episode ended."You're right par mujhe gossip karna pasand hai isiliye I don't mind." Meera opined."Now sleep, its already 12:30." Meera said as she got up.Dev held her by her wrist and pulled her into his lap.

"What is this Dev? Don't you wanna sleep? Mujhe to bohot neend aa rahi hai." Meera complained."To yahi so jao na in my arms". Dev mumbled."As much as I'd like it, I prefer my own bed". Meera blatantly disregarded his offer."I prefer your bed too." Dev nuzzled his face close to Meera's cheek and Meera rolled her eyes.

"I'd like that too but for now let me go." Meera whined."Okay a goodnight kiss?" Dev asked expectantly.Meera held his chin and turned his face sideways when he stopped her."Ae not there, here." Dev pointed at his lips.

Meera blushed and then kissed him on his lips.Dev was involved in the kiss but Meera broke the kiss and stood up and blew him a flying kiss."Goodnight my Golden Retriver." Meera wished him while she stood at the edge of her bedroom door."Goodnight Mee." Dev caught the flying kiss.

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Ganeshotsav is by far my favorite festival of the year! The ambience is so positive, it automatically makes the good vibes flow.Also, seven thousand reads!? My God!