Welcome...!
Sakhiyan...
It was the break of dawn. The morning sky of monsoons had just turned whitish-blue. The wide, circular entrance hall with jaali walls was standing dormant as the blowing breeze wavered in and out of it, making pleasant sounds. As the morning skylight weaved its way through those intricately carved and decorated walls, a beautiful girl in her mid-teens walked in. A calm and satisfied smile dressed her fair, round face and happiness reflected in her dark and expressive eyes as she walked with a confident and pleased gait towards the magnificent wooden doors of the castle. They invitingly stood open in front of her, showing the brilliant sky outside. It was completely white, filled with beautiful clouds. Not even a single dot of blue was visible. Nevertheless, the sky looked beautiful. The light breeze flowing in through the doors ruffled her straight and slightly wet hair which fell to her waist.
Chan...Chan...Chan...'
With each step, her payals made sharp and sweet tinkling notes. She slowly made her way outside, relishing each breath. As she stepped over the threshold of the door, an endless rain of fragrant flower petals descended upon her. Taken aback, she looked up to see the source but the flowers obscured her vision. Her calm smile broke into a wide, elated grin stretching from ear to ear as she twirled around in happiness, dancing under the flowers. After some long moments, a voice interrupted her joyful solitude.
"Janmdin ki khoob saari shubh kaamnaen!"
She froze on spot. Her gaze fell upon the dark outline of the figure standing outside the door, slightly taller than her. Her eyes widened with excitement as she recognized it.
"Jaivantha!!!" she shrieked with a wave of surprise at the girl in front, who was wearing a smirk on her straight and dusky face, her straight and long hair falling in front over her right shoulder. She ran to engulf Jaivantha into a tight hug. Jaivantha returned a wide grin and let her best friend speak first.
"Jaivantha!! Aap yahan? Aap to Kaashi jaa rahi thi. Phir..." Hansa expressed her surprise but suddenly paused as she picked up the glint of mischief in Jaivantha's eyes.
"Achcha. Ab samjhe. Aapne hamse jaan-boojhkar asatya kaha tha na?" Hansa pointed.
"Bilkul" Jaivantha confirmed with sparkling eyes and a naughty smile, "Nahi to aapka vismit mukh kaise dekhte! Pichle varsh to aapne hame hamari yojna pe amal karne se pehle hi pakad liya tha! Aur smaran kijiye, hamare janmdin par kaise aapne achambit kar diya tha hame. Prasannta ke mare hamare pao dharti par nahi padh rahe the!"
"Aap bhi na Jaivantha! Prati varsh na jaane kahan se aisi adbhut yojnaen bana leti hain!" Hansa said in an impressed tone.
"Ye to matr aarambh hai. Aap chaliye hamare saath! Ham aapko kuch aur dikhate hain" Jaivantha jumped excitedly and took Hansa's hand.
"Arre, kahan leke jaa rahi hain hame aap?" Hansa called out as she hurried to keep up with the pace at which Jaivantha was dragging her, "Bata to dijiye..."
"Aap bas chaliye!" replied Jaivatha as she ran to the back of the castle with Hansa's hand in her's.
After some minutes, the best friends reached the backside of the castle. Amidst the lush green gardens, a patch of blue water lay. Its surface was lined with thin streaks of silver which were glinted as a result of the white skylight. In the middle of this pond was a pure white swan, sleeping with her head under her wing.
Hansa held her breath in surprise and awe. Jaivantha turned towards her and said calmly with a smile, "Ek sundar sa hans, hamari priy Hansa ke liye."
Hansa was speechless. A few minutes of silence passed. As Jaivantha watched the beautiful bird, Hansa became emotional. A lone tear full of happiness, awe, and uncertainty trickled out of her right eye, down her cheek. But Jaivantha was quick enough to catch it before it fell.
"Aisa kya keh diya is hans ne jo hamari sakhi ki aankhon me aansu aa gaye?" she enquired.
Hansa answered silently, "Jaivantha, ham dono ki maitri kitni gehri hai. Sadev saath rehte hain. Kintu kuch samay baad yadi ham dono ka vivah ho gaya, tab to matr smritiyan hi reh jayengi na? Ab to ham bade bhi ho gaye hain, hamare Maa-daada ko jab bhi yogy var milega hamare liye, ve tabhi hamara vivah nishchit kar denge. Phir kahan samay bita payenge ham ek doosre ke saath? Phir kahan se aise..." she sobbed. Before she could complete, her sentence drowned in her sad thoughts.
Even Jaivantha became thoughtful as she heard this. They were old enough and if they got married, how much would they be able to stay in touch? They had spent every living moment in each other's memory; would they even have time to think about each other with their marriage responsibilities? But, she couldn't let Hansa's birthday spoil for a mere thought like this. Quickly, she put on a smile and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and said, "Arre! Yeh kaise vyarth ke prashnon par vichar karke apna man vichlit kar rahi hain? Vivah ki baat hai to ham ek doosre ko anginat patr likhenge. Aur sochiye, jab hamare putr-putri honge, tab ham unhe apni maitri ki kahaniyan sunayenge! Koi ankhon ke samaksh nahi rehta, iska arth ye to nahi ki vo hai hi nahi. Ve sadev hamari smritiyon me amar rehte hain Hansa, haina?" Jaivantha consoled her and wiped her tears. Hansa nodded with her eyes down. After a moment, she looked up into Jaivantha's eyes filled with hope and happiness for her special day, and soon her lips curled into a smile.
"Yeh hui na baat!" Jaivantha exclaimed, "Ab chaliye, sara din yahin rahengi to ham aapko aapka agla uphaar kab denge? Aap shighr apne kaksh me jaiye, ham pahunchte hain..."
Hansa gave a quizzical look at her excitement when Jaivantha pushed her away, "Arre jaiye naa!"
Back in her room, Hanse was in deep contemplation. "What's on in her head?" she said to herself. She kept on making wild guesses, out of the blue, that what could be the gift for which Jaivantha had to send her away. After a long session of mental trials, Hansa's thoughts were interrupted when the door suddenly opened in a flash. In came Jaivantha, running excitedly, hiding something behind her back. Unable to control her anxiety, Hansa tried to sneak a look of this mysterious thing as soon as possible, but her best friend was too clever for her. Jaivantha cleverly concealed the gift behind her back before Hansa could see it. Hansa gave a disappointed look when her attempt to see the gift failed. So finally, Jaivantha put forth her condition...
"Pehle apni aankhen band kijiye!" Jaivatha exclaimed excitedly.
Hansa quickly followed her instruction.
Jaivantha procured the gift from behind her back and exclaimed, "Yeh dekhiye!"
Hansa opened her eyes to the sight of a beautiful baby pink lehenga with elegant embroidery done with silver thread and hints of golden also. The ghagra had several layers and carefully styled designs. Diamonds were studded in places with precision, and the fabric emitted a soft shine. Latkans adorned the edges of the dupatta, which had the same silver embroidery.
"Kitna khoobsurat hai yeh Jaivantha!!! Ham to ise sadev ke liye pehen sakte hain!" Hansa squealed in happiness. Her eyes were sparkling and her excitement was immeasurable. "Aapna banaya hai na!" she asked Jaivantha happily as she examined every inch of the lehenga with awe.
"Vishesh roop se aapke liye" Jaivantha told her with a satisfied smile as she watched Hansa's contentment.
"Ham abhi ise pehenke aate hain!" Hansa exclaimed and dashed to change.
"Rukiye!" Jaivantha called behind her, "Aapke ye vastr kitne sundar hain! Hamara lehenga kisi aur din pehen lijiyega!..."
However, to Hansa, her royal blue and green lehenga made of silk and velvet was nothing compared to what Jaivantha had made for her. The golden ambis on her lehenga which she loved so much had flown out of her mind the instant she saw Jaivantha's skill with thread and needle on her new lehenga. Her emerald studded mang tikka swayed here and there on her forehead as she rushed off to change, leaving Jaivantha smiling.
"Ye bhi na..." Jaivantha said to herself and took her place on a couch as she waited for Hansa to reappear.
What Jaivantha didn't realize, was that Hansa actually had no intention to move out of that lehenga. The coming days brought a lot of tedious convincing on the part of Jaivantha and Hansa's mother. But Hansa had no ears for words that asked her to take off that lehenga. Hansa's mother, considering it a new infatuation, gave up attempts of convincing after one day. But Jaivantha worked her wits and patience for two more days to hit upon the right trick to remind Hansa that other clothes did exist in her wardrobe. Finally after three days did Hansa agree to take the lehenga off...
20 years later...
"Maa, ham Maan hi nahi sakte! Aapko Jaivantha bai ji ka lehenga itna pasand aaya ki aapne use teen din tak pehena tha!" laughed Ajabdeh as she heard the tale of the beautiful pink lehenga that her mother, Hansa bai was showing her.
"Teen din ke baad bhi ham ye lehenga nahi utaarte agar hamari Maa aur Jaivantha hame dilasa na dete!" Hansa told Ajabdeh, and she was amused even more.
As they laughed together, the door of the room opened, bringing in Pratap, Jaivantha's son.
"Khamma gadi Hansa massiji" he greeted with his sweet smile.
"Gari khamma!" Hansa bai greeted back with her same calm smile and expressive eyes.
Pratap smiled back and said, "Umm...agar aap dono koi adhik mahatvpoorn kary na kar rahe ho, to kya ham Ajabdeh ko apne saath le jaye?" Pratap asked Hansa bai.
"Kyu, aapko Ajabdeh se aisa kya vishesh kary hai jo aap thodi pratiksha nahi kar sakte?" Hansa bai retorted teasingly.
"Arre nahi!" Pratap answered almost immediately with a teensy shade of crimson on his cheeks. "Er-aisi koi baat nahi hai," he replied quickly, "Ham to bas Ajabdeh se kuch baat karna chahte the. Kyuki vaise to ye sabki seva me itni vyast rehti hain, ki hame avsar hi nahi milta inse vartalap karne ka. Kintu agar aap abhi vyast hain inke saath, to koi baat nahi. H-ham baad me baat kar lenge," Pratap answered quickly. He turned towards the door immediately to save himself any more embarrassment.
"Arre rukiye!" Hansa bai stopped him. "Ham to matr parihaas kar rahe the. Le jaiye Ajabdeh ko," Hansa bai permitted. Pratap's face lit up. He turned to Ajabdeh to beckon her to come with him, but before he could do that, Ajabdeh spoke up, "Arre Kunwar Pratap! Sampurn jeevan hain hamse baaten karne ke liye. Kintu aaj ham aapko ek kahani sunate hain. Hamari Maa ke priy lehenge ke ki kahani," Ajabdeh announced proudly.
"Kya?" Pratap exclaimed in disbelief, "Lehenge ki kahani?"
"Ji haan. Aap jaante hain na ki hamari Maa aur aapki Rani Maa, Maharani Jaivantha bai ji bachpan se sakhiyan thi? Ve jo lehenga hai na, ve Jaivantha bai ji ne Maa ko bhent kiya tha. Aap vishvas kar sakte hain, Maa ne vahi lehenga poore teen din lagatar pehna tha! Itna pasand aaya tha unhe!" Ajabdeh recited the tale with an excited grin.
"Kya?! Teen din tak ek hi vastr! Rani Maa ka lehenga aapko itna pasand aaya?" Pratap spoke in utter shock and suspicion.
"Ji haan Kunwar ji. Aapki Rani Maa aur ham itni achchi sakhiyan thi, bhali bhaanti jaante the ek doosre ko. Pasand, na-pasand to chodiye, ham to ek doosre ki bhaav bhi bina shabdon ke much dekh kar padh lete the. Isiliye to, Jaivantha ne ye lehenga hamare Janmdin par, sawayam apne haaton se banaya tha!" Hansa revealed.
"Kya? Sach Jaivantha bai ji ne ye lehenga swayam banaya tha?" Ajabdeh asked in awe. Pratap looked at her with a proud smile for his Rani maa. Hansa bai nodded in agreement.
"Arre wah! Sach me Maharani sa ke haathon me koi to jaadu hai" Ajabdeh praised.
"Kintu saty kahen, is baat se adhik achambha hame is baat par ho raha hai ki Hansa massiji ne ye lehenga teen din tak pehne rakha. Matlab, aap itni achchi sakhiyan thi ki chehra dekhkar man ka bhav bata deti thi? Ham nahi jaante the ki jis maitri ki kahaniyan hame Rani maa sunati thi, veh itni gehri thi," Pratap confessed in the same awestruck tone.
"Thi kya, aaj bhi hai, aur sadev rahegi. Vo to bas vivah ke karan ham ek doosre ko itna samay nahi de pate. Kintu jo vyakti ankhon ke samaksh nahi rehta, iska arth ye to nahi ki vo hai hi nahi. Ve sadev hamari smritiyon me amar rehte hain," Hansa told the kids as she reminisced the memories of her birthday when Jaivantha had spoken these exact words to her. It was time that had proved how correct she was. She was smiling to herself when she caught the look on the faces of Pratap & Ajabdeh.
"Kintu aap dono to hame aise dekh rahe hain jaise hamne kuch asambhav sa keh diya ho. Aap dono swayam ko hi dekh lijiye. Yu to duniya se kuch nahi kehte, kintu ek doosre ke saamne aate hi, bina kuch kahe, samajh jaate hain ki ek doosre ki hriday-mastishk me kya chal raha hai. Sahi keh rahe hai na ham?"
Pratap & Ajabdeh looked at each other, and slowly a shade of crimson crept up their cheeks. As they looked into each other's eyes, flashbacks of their time together came flooding to their hearts..when Ajabdeh had set his room exactly the way he liked without him telling anything, the very first time they met...how Pratap had read her anxiety and worry on her face when Phool had been conspiring against him, and had also offered her company...how Ajabdeh had tried to save him from Phool's master plan even when Phool had forbidden her to do so as her bestfriend...how Pratap had understood her indication and was also aware of the fact that Ajabdeh had no hand in it, and numerous other instances. They forgot they were standing in a room that had other people, they simply kept staring in each other's eyes.
Hansa bai pursed her lips as she watched them, then...
"Ahem! Ahem!" she coughed loudly to bring them back from their dreamland.
Pratap & Ajabdeh averted their gaze that very instant. Then slowly, their eyes found their way back to each other's faces. As they looked at each other, their faces broke into a pleasant smile, a smile that lasted the lifetime...
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
