The morning after the wedding dawned bright and cool.
Shekhar's have decided to visit their Haveli in Udaipur soon after the Bidaai ceremony of Anandi and have reached their ancestral home into the early hours of midnight.
After resting through the night., every one including Shiv & Anandi are in a relaxed mood and are enjoying the quiet hours with the family.
Everything is in place for the grand reception that has been arranged that evening at the Haveli., guests and well wishers are expected to trickle in...mid day onwards.
Those early hours of morning., just as Shiv entered the well kempt lawn of Kesarbagh, he has been awarded with the beautiful sight of his new bride, who is sitting with her back turned towards Choti Maa., with an un mistakable glow on her radiant face. She is in a light orange attire., the shade so much akin to the early morning sunlight...with very minimal jewelry and Shiv's breath caught in his throat...just by looking at her.
Choti Maa is toweling the just showered & wet...long hair of Anandi with an indulgent smile on her face.
Saanchi is pouring over the pages of a fashion magazine, with a Tea mug in her hands...and a bored expression on her face.
Maahi is in midst of his regular morning work out, at a near proximity to the trio.
As Shiv pulled himself a lawn chair, towards him and sat across Anandi, he could not help but Thank the Almighty once again for the good fortune he has been endowed with in the form of Anandi as his life partner.
As both their eyes met., they are lost in each other's eyes., as though they could not get enough of each other...and Maahi ., taking the full advantage of the situation they are in., came sauntering towards them., forcing them to come back to the present.
With a respectful nod towards his Bhabhi., he thumped on his big bro's back., and with a mischievous glint in his eyes., enquired ... "kyon Bhaiyya...Raat ko theek se Soye naa...aapne...?!"...
Shiv nodded his head in affirmation and in a bid to hide his embarrassment., he immead. Stared down into his own palms.
And then he noticed...LO...the mehndi on his hand is almost faded and has turned to an orangish hue from a deep red.
For a moment., he felt elated as he never liked the mehndi to be put on his hand, if not for Anandi's name...!!!
He immead., reflected out his joy exclaiming ... "ThankGod..!!! ee..mehndi., mere haath pe..almost fade hogaya...!!!"
Anandi gazed at him with an amused look., just as she looked at her own palms., which are still in a deep and enticing shade of maroon... Thanks to Dadi saa's special recipe.
Just as Saanchi heard her Shiv Bhaiyya's words., she almost jumped from her chair and came beside him., to have a look at his hand.
With a mock despair in her voice., she said ... "Arre Bhaiyya...!!!...this is sad!!!...this means...bhabhi ka aapse pyaar gehra nahi hai...!!...kyon bhabi...sahi kaha naa..maine..?" ... she looked at Anandi., anticipating a reaction from her.
Shiv in an annoyed tone, questioned..."ee tum kya keh rahi ho...Saanchi...?"
Maahi., in the meanwhile.,lightly twisted one of Saanchi's ears ...and said with a tone of admonishment ... " koi baath nahi ...mere behna...jitna pyar...Shiv Bhaiyya bhabi se karthe hai naa...dono ke liye...unke zindagi bhar ke liye..kaafi hai...kyon Bhaiyya...maine sahi kaha naa...?" ... he winked at Shiv saying so.
Shiv., still reeling under annoyance at his sister's words., re iterated., "pehle ee to batao...Saanchi ka aise kehne ke peeche matlab kya hai...?"
Anandi chimed in between the trio's convo saying ... " Collector saab...kehte hain hi mehndi ka rang jitna gehra chadtha hai., unka jeevan saathi unse utna gehra pyaar karthe hain..." - with an embarrassed look on her face.
Shiv reflected on Anandi's words for a moment and said thoughtfully - " But I think ., mere haath se rang utarne ki ee matlab hua., aapka pyar mujh me., itni jaidi samaa gayi...ab., aapka pyaar mere hatheli pe nahi...mere andar...rag rag mein hain...
Jo...kisi aur ko dikhe ya nahi dikhe...mein jaroor iski gehrayee ko mehsoos kar saktha hoon...!!!!"
Hearing those words., that came with such a truthful honesty and conviction from him., Anandi could not but feel overwhelmed with the amount of admiration and love she felt for the man sitting in front of her., who is now ...all hers.
"Par Haa..." Said Shiv looking at Anandi ...making a face akin to a little boy who is denied of his favorite candy.,
"Mujhe Daadi ji se shikayath hai...unhone...aisa kya kiya...ki aapke mehndi ka rang...abhi tak itna gehraa hai...chootne ki naam hi nahi lethi...?!"
Choti maa all the while, being a silent spectator smiled on hearing Shiv's complaint...and so has Maahi..
Anandi., with a faint blush creeping up her beautiful face., said slowly but determinedly...
"Bura mat maaniye...Collectorsaab...daadi saa..jaane unjaane me thik hi kiya...mere mann ki hisaab se., aapka pyaar mere mehndi ke rang jaisa., gehraa hai hee...par ee rang itna jaldi nahi choot jaana...aapke pyar me jo tehraav hai...uska sanket hai...
Jaise...dheere...dheere...aapne mere dil me..jagah banaayi ...aur mere kan kan me...aapka pyaar samaa gaya...ee mehndi ka rang bhi...utna dheere mujh me samaa jaayegi...
Aur mere pyar aapki mehndi jaisa., jhat se., aap me sama jayegi...!!"
As she had done with the confession., her faint blush had taken the intensity akin to a redder hue., competing with the shade of maroon on her hands.
Shiv was entranced by his Ajee's heartfelt words..., Maahi impressed at his bhabhi's presence of mind..., Saanchi became tongue tied , desperately searching for any words of rebuke...but in vain..and Choti maa was once again left wondering...if Anandi is perfect of Shiv...or Shiv perfect for Anandi..but concluded finally...they are made for each other...deserve each other...and complete one another.
______________________________________________________________________
Feed back in all forms is welcome...đ
-
