Hi Friends,
Thanks bunches for all ur comments and feedback. 😃
I decided to touch briefly on the wedding rituals but described all the fun and masti at the wedding followed by bashor ghor.
Im very sorry I couldnt reply to all comments now but Ive reserved spots for replies later at night. My internet is messed up badly and needs to be fixed tonite. It wont let me quote more than one reply 😭 so I cant do all of them right now, but I promise to do it later when its fixed. 😃
AJT ..........PART 80
Dilip had sneaked into Khanna House compound a while ago but waited for the arrival of the Baraati before revealing his presence. He hid behind a pillar and watched the bridal party, especially Kripa and her mother arrive with a dark scowl.
That woman and her daughter! They had finally succeeded in invading HIS house and property! He hated Gargi more than ever! His twisted passion had morphed into unabated animosity for the last two decades.
As the baraati approached Khanna House, Angad spotted his dad from atop the high perch of his white horse and grinned with triumph, unaware of the dark hatred simmering in his heart.
MOM! ......he yelled above the din of the band-party.
Naina ran to his side: Kya hua Beta?
Wo dekhiye. Dad! Ghar aa gaye! ..he pointed to his father hidden amidst the crowd at the entrance. Dilip was wearing a dark business suit and tie.
Naina looked around, saw Dilip and smiled with delight, hurrying to greet him. Anitah also heard Angad and rushed to meet her father.
Angad swung his legs down the horse's side and jumped down from the stirrups. He advanced to his father and hugged him: Aap sahi waqt per ghar pahunch gaye! Im really glad to see u, Dad!
Dilip mumbled: Aur kya chaara tha merey paas? Mujhey apni izzat pyaari hai.
Angad raised his eyebrows sarcastically : Phir toh aapko Mom aur Dadi ke izzat ka bhi khayal hona chahiye.
Dilip seemed contrite, he turned to Naina: I'm sorry, meri vajeh se tumhey logon ki baatein sunna pada.
She smiled: Der aaye per durust aaye. Kam se kam shadi ke din toh aap aa gaye, yehi hamarey liye kismat ki baat hai. Ab chaliye andar chaliye.
Aliyah's Dad slapped Dilip's back: Kyun Dilip Bhaaya! Kahan the aap itney din? Betey ka sehra bhi merey Saali Jee ko bandhna pada!
Dilip looked distinctly shamefaced and apologetic: Darasal mera Bangalore mein kuchh kaam tha, usee mein phans gaya tha.
Kulbhushan grinned: Chalo koi baat nahin, suit-boot hi sahi, lekin ab apni pagdi toh pehen lein, aakhir aap dulhey ke Baap hain ! Anitah Beta?..inhey pagdi pehena do!
Anitah fetched her father's pink ceremonial pagdi, she put it on her dad's head with a fond smile.
They were interrupted by loud ululating and conch-blowing from the door.
Naina quickly took Angad's arm and led him forward, dropping the sehra over his face: Chalo beta, tumhari saas ab tumhari aarti utaregi.
Angad stepped forward with a grin, eager to see his beautiful bride inside the house.
Gayatri held the traditional Boron-daala, a Kulo (rice sorter) with a lighted diya, rice grains, kumkum, bananas, durbaa grass, incense and Rangoli.
She smiled up at her tall Jamaai, his face hidden by the sehra: Angad Beta, apna chehra toh dikhao!
Mishti who was standing next to her mother, looking really pretty in a dark pink zardozi, giggled: Haan, Maa, chehra theek se dekh lo, kahin dulha badal toh nahin diya?
Angad raised his sehra and grinned at his elder saali: Dulha badal sakta hai lekin dulhey ka dil nahin. Samajh gaye, Saali Jee?
Mishti laughed, Gayatri shushed her and did Boron (Aarti), circling the Kulo thrice at his forehead, touching it at the end, then she circled it 3 times at his chest, touched it once, then thrice at his knees, touched it again.
Gargi stood at one side, blowing the conch-shell, tears of happiness glowing in her eyes. If only her Somu was alive today, to see his beloved nephew get married to his beautiful daughter! But she felt sure in her heart, he was watching them and blessing them from above.
Angad entered his own house, led by his two Saas-es. Didu was sitting in her wheelchair near the door. Gargi led Angad to her, he bent and touched her feet.
Didu beamed with joy when she saw his sharp-featured, handsome face: Ahaa rey, meri Kripa ko ekdom Rajputro mila hai! Bahut bhagyashali hai meri naatin. Aao beta, tumhey ek chumaa doon.
A blushing Angad bent low and got a kiss on his forehead.
At least a hundred guests had already assembled in the large central Hall, Dadi and Somesh's relatives from Punjab, Delhi, Mumbai and the U.S. were present, Naina and Dilip's closest friends and associates, Angad's pals, Damini, Prithvi, his dad, Kripa's extended family and friends, most were already there. All of them greeted the bridegroom with a loud cheer.
Dadi came forward smiling proudly and took his hands : Mera sabsey pyaara bachcha, tujhey dulhey ke vesh mein dekhkar meri saarey muradein poori ho gayi! "
She summoned the photographer to take some pictures of Angad in the gold sherwani. She explained to Angad : Iskey baad tujhey shadi ka joda pehenna padega. Tu Bangali dulha jo banega...
Angad smiled and nodded, he knew Kripa's family wanted him to wear Bengali bridegroom's dress.
Dadi saw Dilip enter with Naina and greeted her errant son without rancor: Dilip Beta, tum aa gaye? Bahut achhi baat hai. Ab yahan aa jaao, tasveer lena hoga.
Dilip stiffened a little on seeing Dadi, he was still not reconciled to the truth. He forced a smile and joined the family group for picture-taking.
First the entire Khanna-Aggarwal clan posed with Angad, then the Basu parivaar did.
Anirbaan greeted his sambdhi joyously: Arey Dilip Babu, aap aa gaye? Aapney toh saarey anushthan miss kar diye, shukr hai shadi per theek samay pahunch gaye!
Dilip mumbled his excuses, glancing at Gargi hatefully.
After the photo sessions, Dadi handed over the shadi ka joda to Angad, a silk dhoti, a silk Uttariya (chaadar) and a topor.
Jaa beta, ab isey pehen le. Apney kamrey mein jaa.
Angad grimaced: Lekin Dadi, mujhey dhoti pehenna nahin aata.
Kartik laughed, coming forward: Don't worry, Brother! Yeh pull-on dhoti hai.
Pull on matlab? Angad looked puzzled.
Pull on matlab pull it on, bilkul trousers jaisa. Jis tarah tum pant pehentey ho usee tarah pehen lena. Phir bhi agar madad ki zaroorat ho toh tumhara yeh Saala haazir hai. ....Kartik chuckled teasingly.
Angad grinned, shaking his head : No, Thanks! I will manage.
He went upstairs confidently but called Kartik a little later on his mobile, sounding totally frazzled: Bhai, yeh kaisa dress hai? Koi kurta kyun nahin? Isey banyan ke upar pehen loon? Phir toh body dikhega?
Kartik laughed heartily: Haan, wo toh dikhega. Drape the silk chadar over your arms, phir thoda kam dikhega.
Angad descended the stairs, looking distinctly uncomfortable in the dhoti, and white banyan, with the silk chadar trailing haphazardly over his shoulders, revealing his muscular arms and chest. He held the topor in his hands, unsure what to do with the strange-looking white thermocol hat.
Gargi, Mishti, Kartik and all the Basus started laughing at his predicament.
Gargi went forward: Idhar aao, Angad Beta, main theek kar deti hoon.
She took him to a side passage and fixed his uttariya, draping it carefully over his shoulders to hide most of his upper body. Then she placed the topor on his head.
Chachi, yeh topi mujhey pehenna padega kya? .....he asked mournfully.
She smiled: Haan Beta, yeh traditional dress hai. Lekin agar tum phir se change karna chaho toh....
Nahin nahin, Im fine! Thanks Chachi!
Beta, ab se tum bhi mujhey Mamoni kaho.....she smiled fondly at him: Aakhir tum merey damaad banney jaa rahey ho!
Wo toh theek hai, lekin pehley aap merey chachi hain, phir Mamoni, right? ....he touched her feet with a grin and accompanied her back to the Hall, to be admired and photographed in his Bangali bridegroom's dress.
Kitna pyaara lag raha hai naa hamara Jamaai? Gayatri gushed happily.
The Khanna relatives admired his muscular body: Zara hamarey puttar ka dole-shole toh dekh, kya gabru jawaan hai!
Jee Haan, Tayijee, suna hai Angad Bhaiyya bahut body-building, kasrat vagairah kartey hain, isiliye aisa body banaya hai...
Angad turned red and squirmed in embarassment. He didn't want to reveal his muscles to the whole world, they were for Kripa's eyes only!
He looked around, searching for his bride. Kripa kahan hai? He asked Mishti in a whisper.
She chuckled, patting his arm : Dhairya, Baalak (Patience, Boy)! Tumhari dulhan parlor mein chhupi huyi hai. Ab toh shubh drishti per hi mulaqat hogi.
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Meanwhile, Kripa was in the parlor, hidden from his eyes, sitting on a pidhey ( a low stool decorated with alpana), flanked by Jo, Rakhi, Charu and 5 of her students. They were admiring her sari, jewelry and makeup.
Uff, Kripa Dee, aaj tum itna shundor lag rahi ho ke.....kya kahoon? Agar main ladka hota toh tumhey bhagaa le jaata ! ....gushed Chandra.
Kripa laughed softly: Phir toh Angad se tujhey duel ladna padta.
Wo bhi kar leti aur usey haraa bhi deti......they joked and teased their beloved teacher.
They heard ululating and shankh sounds.
KRIPA DEE, TUMHARA BOR AA GAYA!..... All of them shouted excitedly and rushed out..... Hum dekhkar aatey hain, tumhey full report dengey kaisa lag raha hai.
They returned after a while, breathless with excitement: Omaa, Kripa Dee, Angad Da toh aaj ekdum Rajkumar lag rahey hain. Gold sherwani, maathey per pagdi, sehra, UFFF, MINDBLOWING!
Kripa pouted: Mujhey bhi dekhna hai.....main yahan baithi hoon aur wo wahan, this is not fair!
Ek minute, main abhi aayi! ....Rakhi ran out and returned shortly, triumphantly holding her digital camera: Yeh dekh lo, tumhara Bor! Kaisa hai ab tum hi bataao.
Kripa eagerly took the digital camera and admired her handsome Prince. She smiled with delight: Haan rey, ekdum Prince lag raha hai!
Baah rey! Kripa Dee, tum bhi toh Rajkumari lag rahi ho, Angad Da aur tumhari jodi I swear, ekdum made for each other!
Jaaah! Kripa blushed, pushing the camera away coyly, her heart thudding in her chest. She couldn't wait for shubh drishti.
Soon, her friends reported his dress change: Omaa, Kripa Dee, tumharey Bor ne dress badal liya, ab Bangali dulhey ke besh mein hai. Yeh dekho.
Kripa gazed at his photo, he looked uncomfortable but very cute in the white silk dhoti and chadar. She started laughing.
Jo, Rakhi, Chandra all crowded around her: Kitna cute lag raha hai naa?
Haan, bahut cute hai! She got back her breath, red in the face, and returned the camera. Just then, Gargi, Prithvi and Kartik entered the parlor: Chal, Shona, ab vivah ka mahurat aa gaya.
Gargi handed her the betel leaves (Paan) to hide her face: Issey mooh dhak le!
Kartik and Prithvi lifted the pidhey, Kripa clutched her Dada's shoulder with her left hand, holding on tightly as they carried her out to the mandap in the Main Hall.
Angad stood under the mandap, holding his topor with one hand, afraid that it would fall off. Gayatri advised him laughingly: Beta, usey pakadney ki zaroorat nahin, topor girega nahin.
He nodded but still held it nervously with one hand.
He heard blowing of conch shell and looked up with a wildly beating heart. Kripa was being carried on a stool by her brothers, but she was holding a pair of betel leaves in front of her face.
He groaned inwardly, eager to see her face. Kartik grinned knowingly at him, Mishti teased him: Aur thoda sabr keejiye, Jamaai Shaheb! Abhi darshan hongey!
All relatives and friends crowded around them as Kripa circled Angad on her pidhey, carried by her brothers. Angad peeked and peered but only saw her hairstyle and jewelry.
After 3 rotations, they stopped in front of Angad. Netra and Naina held a white chaadar over their heads. Gargi, Damini, Mishti all started ululating loudly.
Kripa removed the paan leaves slowly, revealing her face finally. Angad forgot to breathe for a few seconds, staring at her stunning beauty!
Oh God! Yeh toh sach mein Apsara hai. Mujhey kaisey mil gayi! Im so darned Lucky! ......he stared adoringly at her loveliness, her eyes downcast bashfully.
Ab palkein utha, nazrein mila, Shona! .Mishti instructed her naughtily: Dekh, tera dulha shubh drishti ke liye taras raha hai.
Kripa's head bowed in further shyness.
Jyoti commented: Kripa, ab Lajja chhod bhi de, bechara kaisey ghoor raha hai, zara dekh toh?.
Aliyah urged her: Come on Kripa, ab Brother ko aur wait mat karao......
Angad didn't even mind their comments, he was just hungrily eating her up with his eyes.
Kripa wouldn't raise her eyes, suddenly overcome with shyness.
Finally Gayatri instructed her: Shona, ab aankhein mila, shubh ghadi ko jaaney mat dena...
She couldn't disobey her mother, she slowly raised her eyes, and met his hungry gaze. Her heart stopped for a second, starting up at double pace. The hot look in his brown eyes completely undid her poise. She trembled inside, her knees felt weak and liquid, if she wasn't sitting on the stool, she would have fallen down. Her lips parted, breathing faster. His gaze was locked with hers.
All the ladies ululated wildly, laughing, teasing the eye-locked pair but they were lost in their own world. Photographers snapped pictures of their historic eye-locking session.
Finally Mishti laughed: Ab bahut ho gaya aankhein milana. Ab maala exchange karo!
She handed over a thick rajnigandha and roses garland to Kripa, Aliyah gave Angad his matching Varmaala.
Pehley ladki varmala pehnayegi! ....instructed the priest, popping out of the crowd.
Kripa raised her hands and swung the garland over his head with a shy smile.
He bent his head to accept her garland eagerly. Then it was his turn. As usual her brothers raised her stool higher, out of Angad's reach. He stood on his tiptoes, hellbent on garlanding her. He flung it over her head triumphantly, like a ring toss. Like this, they exchanged the garlands 3 times. Her hands brushed his cheeks, he flushed with heat, his fingers touched her hair and neck, she shivered in reaction.
All the onlookers cheered, ululated, blew conch shells and snapped pictures of the adorable couple.
Then Kripa's brothers lowered her slowly in the mandap. The couple sat down for the wedding ceremony side by side on two decorated pidheys.
Anirbaan did Kanyaadaan, placing Kripa's hand in Angad's upturned palm as the priest chanted mantras.
He asked Kripa's gotra, Anirbaan hesitated for a moment, glancing at Gargi. She nodded her head, giving him the go-ahead.
Anirbaan said: Kripa Basu, Gautam gotra.....Pita ka naam Anirbaan Basu, Parpita, Tirthankar Basu.
Angad's parichay was also given as son of Dilip Khanna, grandson of Somesh Khanna.
The wedding rituals were completed with ease and simplicity, Hom (offering to Holy fire), Laaj-anjali, Saptapadi gaman (Saat phere), etc. Angad and Kripa were hardly aware of the rituals, just focused on each other's fingers touching, his hand warmly clasping her soft hand, their shoulders touching. During Laaj-Anjali, his body pressing intimately on her back made her redden further. She was very much aware of his buff, muscular frame visible in the dhoti-banyan-chadar outfit. Every touch made her shiver, every look made her tremble. Angad's condition was the same, her nearness, her beauty thrilled him, mesmerized him. He carried out the priest's instructions in a hypnotic daze.
Then it was time to put sindoor and complete the rituals. Gayatri removed Kripa's mukut, pulled her red veil back, pushed the tika to one side. The priest handed Angad a Kajal-lata ( kohl-maker) dipped in sindoor. He smeared her hair parting with the red vermillion, the symbol of his possession of her. She closed her eyes with the thrill of finally becoming his! He smiled adoringly, she looked even more beautiful with the sindoor coloring her forehead!
Naina handed him the mangalsutra: Beta, ab yeh Kripa ke galey mein bandh do.
He eagerly complied, tying the mangalsutra around her neck, his fingers touching her soft nape. He felt her tremble and smiled.
Ab Vivah vidhi sampann hua! Declared the Priest: Ab aap dono Shriman aur Shrimati kehlayengey!
All their siblings, friends and relatives cheered loudly, some whistled.
Mr. and Mrs. Angad Khanna! Badhaai ho! There was a round of profuse congratulations.
Angad and Kripa got up and touched the feet of all elders, starting with Dadi and Didu. Both old ladies cried tears of joy, hugging their grandkids, invoking all the Gods to shower them with blessings and healthy progeny.
After a sumptuous meal of traditional Punjabi, Bengali and Mughlai dishes, the newly-wedded couple retired to the parlor where Bashor ghar had been set up with thick, white matresses on the floor and red velvet cushions strewn all over. All their cousins and friends joined them.......Mishti, Kartik, Aliyah, Alekh, Anitah, Prithvi, Harshini, Jyoti, Sid, Rakhi, Rojot, Chandra, Akshat, (Charu had gone home early with her kid) and even Dadi's nephew's son, Ansh from the States.
Angad leaned back on his cushion with a satisfied grin, looking around the room at their friends and siblings. He frowned suddenly, Shabbir was missing. He hadn't come to the wedding although he had promised. Angad was disappointed but not angry. He knew Shabbir was going through a very rough patch again.
Kripa approached him, he looked up with adoring eyes, she smiled shyly and sat down beside him, folding her legs sideways. She was clutching a kajal-lata and a small shellac kalash in her hands.
Yeh tumharey haathon mein kya hai? He leaned amorously towards her and asked her in a whisper.
She moved away coyly, mumbling: Yeh shadi ke nishaan hain. Kal Bidaai tak yeh mujhey rakhna padega.
Mishti sternly rebuked them: Bor-Bou mein kya ghusur phusur ho rahi hai? Kal se jitni marzi baatein kar lena!
Jyoti insinuated with a loud giggle: Kal baatein karengey ya aur kuchh?
Kripa glared at her with a red face.
Kartik commented: Bhai, kuchh gaana bajana ho jaye! Hamarey beech chaar famous singers hain, aaj raat toh Bashor ghar mein hi concert hogi.
Prithvi held up his guitar: Main tayyar hoon.
Alekh held up his harmonica, Akshat grabbed a pair of tablas sitting in a corner.
They both laughed: Hum bhi tayyar hain. Ab hamarey lead singer, Angad, gaana sunayengey!
Angad protested: Yeh kaisi naa-insaafi hai! Merey shadi mein mujhey hi gaana padega!
Brother is right! Sabko gaana padega! Aliyah supported him.....Lets play Antakshari!
Ok, theek hai, lets make two teams, girls Vs. boys!.....Mishti rubbed her hands gleefully. Lets see, who wins and who loses....she slanted a smile at Alekh.
But Mishti Dee, the competition is uneven naa? Rakhi protested: Yahan Boys team mein Angad da, Prithvi Da hain. Humarey team mein sirf Kripa dee achha gaati hai. Hum toh baithey baithey haar jayengey!
Eeeshhh! Itna asaan nahin humein haraana! ..Jyoti challenged......Main bhi gaa sakti hoon, haan, Shreya Ghoshal toh nahin per kaam chal jayega!
Alekh glanced mischievously at Mishti: Ek shart hai, sabko gaana padega.
No waayyy! Mishti declined vehemently: Leave me out of this! Mainey gaana gaaya toh sab uthkar bhaag jayengey!
Sid raised his hand: Please leave me out of this too! I cant carry a single tune!
Harshini and Rojot also opted out, citing throat trouble. Anitah couldn't sing but she didn't decline. She was flirting with Ansh all evening, and wanted to impress the NRI boy with her dubious talents.
Finally the teams were decided: Angad, Alekh, Akshat, Prithvi, Kartik and Ansh would sing for the boys' team.
Kripa, Aliyah, Rakhi, Chandra, Jyoti and Anitah in the girls team.
Pehley kaun gayega? Jo asked excitedly.
Pehley Angad! ..Mishti stipulated. Naya Jamaibabu goes first!
Angad shrugged with good humor: Alright, as u wish, Saali Sahiba!
He leaned over and instructed Alekh in a low tone, Alekh nodded and started playing his harmonica expertly. Mishti looked at him with admiration. He was an expert in playing so many instruments!
Angad started singing in his heavy baritone, at his deep, romantic best, gazing at Kripa amorously:
Chal chalein apney ghar aye merey Humsafar
Band darwaza kar, sabsey ho bekhabar
Pyaar dono karein
Raat bhar tootkar
Chal chalein apney ghar, Humsafar?.
All the girls giggled and nudged each other, the guys exchanged knowing looks at the message conveyed in the song. Kripa turned a beetroot red, squirming in her spot, avoiding Angad's heated looks, cursing him silently...... Badmaash, sabkey saamney aisa gaana, chhheee, zara bhi sharam nahin! Oshobbho! Shaitaan!
When his song ended, everybody clapped and whistled: Angad, abhi se itna bechain? Kal tak intezaar toh kar, Yaar!..... Akshat sniggered wickedly.
Kripa felt like hiding under the mattress with embarassment. Angad saw her expression and warned his friend with his eyes.
Ab Kripa dee ki baari! .....Rakhi beamed.
Kripa shook her head, still too mortified to sing: Tum gaao, main baad mein......she bit her lips.
The others exchanged looks, Kripa was mad at Angad. He looked slightly apologetic but undaunted.
Okay, I will sing for the team! ......Chandra took her place. She could sing pretty well, having learned in Kripa's school:
Raat humari toh (Parineeta)
chand ki saheli hain
kitne dino ke baad
aayi woh akeli hain
samjho ki baati bhi koi bujha de aaj
andhere se jee bhar ke karni hain baatein aaj
Alekh was going to take his turn next but Angad saw Kripa was really furious with him. He wanted to make amends and jumped in: Main yeh wala gaunga. Let me take this one.
Alekh grinned: Its all urs, Mate!
Angad looked sheepishly at Kripa and sang appeasingly:
Jo tumko ho pasand wahi baat kahengey
Tum din ko agar raat kaho raat kahengey
Jo tumko ho pasand wahi baat kahengey...
Kripa looked archly at him and melted a little. She gave him a small smile, his heart prostrated at her altaa colored feet.
Prithvi jumped in next, anxious to make his voice heard: I will take this turn.
He sang expertly :
Geet gaata hoon main
Gungunata hoon main
Mainey hansney ka vaada kiya tha kabhie
Isliye ab sadaa muskurata hoon main
He glanced furtively at Kripa as he sang. Angad smirked, realizing Prithvi was remembering his old crush on Kripa.
Aliyah announced: Tum ladkon ne do turns le liye, now Kripa will sing, please Bhabhi ab toh gaa do.
Kripa smiled and nodded. She glanced coyly at Angad and sang:
Man Mohana Man mohana (Jodha Akbar)
Kanha sunona aaa
Tum bin paun kaise chaina
Tarsu Tumhiko din raina
Chodke apne kashi mathura 2
Aake Basao More nain
Tum bin paun kaise chaina
Kanhaaa
Tarsu Tumhiko din raina
Everybody was enthralled with her sweet voice and melodious tone. Angad gazed at her adoringly, sighing deeply, longing to take her in his arms.
Alekh and Akshat clapped the loudest: Bhabhi itna achha gaati hai!? Hey Angad, what is this Yaar? Tuney humein bataya bhi nahin? Bhabhi, you have to sing at our concert.
Angad grinned proudly: Akhir biwi kiski hai? Theyre right, Kripa, tumhey Concert mein gaana hoga!
Kripa laughed, shaking her head: Please, mujhey event manage karney do, I cant sing in a Rock Concert. Main zyada classical gaati hoon. Ab tumharey concert mein Man-mohana gaaney lagoon toh log tamatar phekengey!
No Bhabhi, what is this? Aapki awaaz mein itni mithaas hai! ......they protested but she was adamant: Naa Baba! Ab aur nahin! Aliyah, ab tumhari baari!
Aliyah grinned: Jo hukum, Bhabhi!
She sang in a slightly off-tune voice, glancing shyly at Kartik:
Nainon mein sapna sapnon mein sajna
Sajnaa pe dil aa gaya
Kyun sajna pe dil aa gaya!
Ab Akshat ki baari......she pointed at him.
Akshat smiled and continued:
Yeh dosti hum nahin todengey
Todengey dam magar tera saath naa chhodengey!
Now it was Anitah's turn. She looked around with a vacant look, vaguely smiling, till Aliyah took pity on her and whispered a song in her ears. She smiled with relief and nodded, then sang it completely out of tune:
Gum hain kisikey pyaar mein dil subah shaam
Per tumhey likh nahin paaoon main uska naam
Haye Raam haye Raam... (looking coyly at Ansh who looked rather scared at all the attention from her)
Kartik looked hurt: Koi mujhey gaaney ko nahin keh raha, he complained to Aliyah, who ordered him at once: Okay now Kartik, YOU GO! Ma se gaao...
He grinned happily and started:
Main hoon Don, main hoon Don
Aliyah stopped him: Kartik, this is wrong, the song doesn't start that way. Wo aisey start hota hai: Arey deewanon mujhey pehchano.....
Kartik argued with her: Tum hamesha mujhey correct mat karo, main theek hi gaa raha tha.
No, Its wrong, main keh rahi hoon naa, tum galat gaa rahey ho, yeh gaana M se start nahin hota.
Of course hota hai....tumhey nahin pataa....the two argued and bickered comically. The others started laughing. Alekh moved closer to Mishti. She smiled and inspected his harmonica closely.
Angad slowly put his arm around Kripa, who was too busy laughing at her Dada and Aliyah argue.
Suddenly the lights went out and the room was plunged into pitch darkness. The girls gasped in fright, Kripa moved closer to Angad.
Kya hua? Yeh light kyun chali gayi? Oh God! Lagta hai load-shedding! Uff shadi ke din per bhi? ......everybody groaned and complained.
Angad's deep voice rose in the darkness: Don't worry, Folks, Generator hai, 5 minute mein start ho jayega. Give it some time to warm up.
They head the distant roar of a generator starting in some corner of the house. Gradually, two of the lights flickered and turned on dimly, barely functioning. Suddenly, the generator sputtered loudly and died, unable to take the load of the wedding lights. The room was plunged into darkness again. Kripa clutched Angad's hand. All the ladies moved closer to their lovers.
Ab kya hua? Main dekhkar aata hoon! Angad was getting up to check but the parlor door opened, Naina and Netra came in with 2 battery lights and 2 large candles.
Mom, kya hua? The generator died? Main dekhoon?
Beta, tumhey dekhney ki zaroorat nahin, humney mistri ko bulaya hai. Naina informed Angad.....jab tak wo nahin aata tum sab iseesey kaam chala lo.
They placed the battery lights at the peripheries of the bashor mattresses and set the candles on two corner tables. It gave an eerie effect to the whole room.
The mothers smiled and left: Ab tum sab mauj masti jaari rakho!
Woww! Candle-light Bashor ghar!..... Rakhi commented: Soooo Romantic!
Mujhey toh darr lag raha hai! Jo shivered dramatically.
Sid chuckled: Merey paas aakar baith jaao, I will protect you!
Ahahaha, apna chehra dekha hai aainey mein? Superman ya Stickman?.... Jyoti teased the tall, skinny Sid.
Iss mahaul mein daravani kahaniyan bahut jamegi! Angad grinned, deliberately trying to scare his bride.
Haan haan, tell us one, Angad Da.
Alright. I will tell my favorite ghost story. He grinned, glancing at Kripa's round eyes and nervous look.
She protested weakly: Nahin, kya zaroorat hai sabko daraney kee?
He leaned over and whispered: Darpok!
She took offence at once, hissing: Main darpok nahin!
Ok, phir mera challenge, meri kahani suno! Prove ur not a darpok!
She arched her eyebrows proudly, drawing a deep breath: Bring it on, Mr. Khanna!
Definitely Mrs. Khanna! he grinned and started his story: Yeh mera khud ka tajurbaa hai. Do saal pehley main Dibrugarh gaya tha jo ke Assam mein ek chhotey sheher ka naam hai. I had gone there to clinch some deals with the Oil Refinery there. Pahad ke upar ek bungalow mein merey rehney ka intezaam kiya tha un logon ne. It was a completely isolated bungalow, high on top of a hill, the caretaker lived in the servant's quarters behind. I was the only one in the bungalow that night. The caretaker served me dinner, cleaned up and retired to his quarters, saying: Shaab, meri zaroorat padey toh phone kar dena. He pointed to the phone and left. I was the only inhabitant of the large, Colonial Bungalow. It was supposed to be haunted, some locals had informed me. Of course I didn't believe in ghosts and went to bed after checking for snakes and bugs under the bed. I was fast asleep when suddenly, meri neend toot gayi! There was a tapping at the bedroom window. I opened my eyes and froze. The mosquito net over my bed was slowly approaching my face, there was a large black hand on top of it, coming down to smother me!
Kripa gasped and clutched his arm nervously, her face pale: Phir, phir kya hua?
Angad smirked, feeling her softness pressing on his arm, his story was having the desired effect! He continued: Obviously I was terrified for a moment. Who wouldn't be? To wake up in the middle of the night and see a dark hand descending on ur face? But I still had my presence of mind. Flinging the side of the net open, I jumped out of bed, grabbed the torch and shone it on the bed. Sitting on top of the mosquito net was a huge dark bug of some sort. I had never seen such a huge bug before. I ran out to the living room and phoned the caretaker. He came running with a lantern since the lights were out.
Andar, bistrey ke upar kuchh hai! I gasped out. He ran inside and came out grinning, holding the huge bug in his hand. Yeh toh gubra poka hai, Shaab! Beetel?..beetel jaantey hain naa aap?
I gaped in amazement. I had never seen such a large beetle in my whole life. It was a mutant species found only in the jungles of Assam! So there went the ghost theory, it was only a beetle. And probably the tapping on the window was caused by some inscet too since Assam is full of such giant bugs. So that was my ghost story.
Angad grinned and looked around at the scared faces. Even the guys looked frightened. Akshat gulped: Yaar, tuney toh humein daraa hi diya tha. Tu bhi darr gaya tha, right?
Oh yes! I was scared ****! Just for the first few minutes. But then I got back my nerve and jumped out.
Kripa punched his arm: Cheater! Khamkhaa daraa diya! Main soch rahi thi bhoot ya koi pretatmaa hoga.
Agar bhootni hoti aur mujhey bhagaa le jaati toh? He teased her softly with a wink.
Eeesshhh! Bhootni ki kyaa majaal merey property ko haath lagaye? She whispered for his ears only.
He flushed with excitement and pulled her closer with his hand, she didn't protest. The other guys saw them cuddling and got inspired. One after the other, they started telling ghost stories, really scary ones and their girlfriends snuggled closer to them in fright. Angad's tactics worked for everyone except Aliyah, she was too fearless to be afraid of ghost stories. Poor Kartik was left high and dry.
Kripa listened to all the stories with round eyes and bated breath, moving further into Angad's broad chest till her head was resting on his muscular arm. He held her close, smiling with satisfaction.......at last he had her where she belonged, in his arms! His heart ached with a sweet contentment.
Suddenly he heard soft snores coming from below, he looked down and smiled . She was fast asleep, snuggling cozily into his broad chest , her breasts rising and falling in rhythm. She was exhausted from the day's continuous rituals since early morning. He moved her mukut out of the way, gently caressed her soft cheeks and covered her with his silk chadar. Resting his chin on her head, he closed his eyes with a contented sigh. Slowly the other couples dozed off one by one, the lights came on again but they were all fast asleep.
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pallavi
Edited by pallavi25 - 16 years ago
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