"Apne rang gavaye bin, mere rang mein ghul jao,
Apni dhoop bhujaye bin, meri chaon mein aa jao!"
Gupta Mansion was abuzz preparing for the guests that were coming over to see Riddhima for marriage. The house was bustling with activity with Shashank instructing the decoration crew who were giving last touches to the lighting and the flowers around the place. Padma was busy in the kitchen preparing all sorts of assortments with Riddhima's aunts while the teenage and adolescent girlsof the house kept drooling over the potential bride-groom's photograph.
"Kinna sonna munda haina?" Nikki said taking a look at the guy.
"Hayye, mein marjava...iska koi bhai shai hai kya...papaji?" Muskaan said ogling at the hunky dory, grey-eyed guy in the picture.
" Mein vaari jaun inne hot munde par" Anjali quipped as Atul glared at her. "Anj, tum maa banne waali ho...stop gawking at him!" Atul said dragging her away for some evening snacks.
The girls continued giggling and kept raving on about the guy while the elders rushed here and there- Gupta House was definitely the source of all the din around the city of Delhi.
Amidst the clamor as the bell rang, the house came to a standsill, slipping into complete silence as everyone turned to look at the door. "Pairi-pauna Bi...Aaiye na!" Both Padma and Shashank greeted the potential bride-groom's grandmother and took her blessings. Greeting both Billy and Ananya, they turned to get a good look at the potential son-in-law of the house.
Ananya glared at Armaan. Okay fine! Armaan bent down, surrendering to his parents' wishes and took Riddhima's parents' blessings. "Jinde raho puttar, Aaja jhappi paa le!" Shashank held him mid-way in air and hugged him hard. Armaan almost choked at once as the females in the house, who definitely had the hots for him, giggled seeing his reaction. He faked a cough and smiled at Shashank uncomfortably who patted his back.
"Gosh! This is a nightmare...what am I doing here dude?" Armaan asked his brother, Rahul as soon as they entered their room. Rahul grinned saying "Dude...teri toh nikal padi!Is ghar mein toh ek se bad ke ek kudiya hai!"Sensing their discomfort after coming down from States, Shashank had asked the boys to freshen up and come down for dinner.
Knock! Knock!
Man...ab kaun hai? Armaan wondered and opened the door. There stood Muskaan, grinning from ear to ear, bubbling with excitement. "Jeejaji, ki haal hai?" She said winking at him naughtily. I thought India was a little conservative...but what's with girls flirting in their parents' presence here?The Guptas are one weird family!
"Rahul...See ya downstairs!" Armaan shouted out to Rahul who was in the bathroom before walking out of the room. "Jeejajeeeeeee, aapke liye garam garam dudh aur jalebiyaan laayi hun! You came down from States toh tussi thak gaye honge!" Muskaan said walking towards him, emphasizing on the word Jee-jaa-ji! "Uh haan...woh umm...actually mein sabke saath neeche bethke khalunga...thodi jaan pehchaan bhi hojayegi!"
"Oye hoye, mein vaari jaun...jaan pehchaan...seedhe seedhe kyun nahi kehte Riddhima ko dekhna hai!" Muskaan asked him naughtily. Yeh kya ladki hai...Jeeez...kahan phas gaya! Armaan grinned and looked down...guess it's safer to play dumb.
"Koi gal nahi...yeh mein Rahul ko de dungi!" Muskaan said sitting down on the bed. "Uhh...okay!" saying so Armaan rushed downstairs where he was caught yet again by a swarm of Riddhima's cousins and sisters.
"Jeeju...itni bhi kya jaldi....zaara hum saaliyon se toh mill lo!" Minnie quipped, winking at him as others giggled.
"Haan...woh mein...Armaan hun...!" Armaan tried making some conversation, feeling uncomfortable under their gaze while the girls snickered at his failing attempts.
"Hayye, jinna sonna munda utna sonna naam!" One of the girls replied before Atul steered them all away. "Sorry, dude....they have a knack of pulling legs! Dheere dheere aadat lag jaati hain...par shaadi se pehle mera bhi haal kuch aisa hi tha!" he said fist-pumping with Armaan. Finally, man....Found someone sane in the house! "Come on...I'll introduce you to the family" Atul said steering his way clear of all the girls.
It took Armaan another half an hour to reach the dining table, meandering through a herd of relatives and members of the extended family, blushing at the girls' remarks and taking the elders' blessings. All this pairi-pauna killed my back! He thought to himself, rubbing his back.
As soon as Armaan sat down on a chair...all the women in the house started giggling while the men exchanged meaningful glances. "Beta tum Riddhima ki chair pe baith gaye....!" One of her aunts said aloud.
"Oh...I'm sorry... guess mein yahaan beth jata hun!" Araan said getting up and moving towards the adjoining chair but stopped as he heard more from the aunts. "Naa naa puttarji...tu betha reh...Isse tum dono ka pyaar dikhta hai...aur fir shaadi ke baad toh Riddhima teri votti hogi na...aur votti ko thoda bahut adjust toh karna hi padta hai!"
"Aur nahi kare toh...apni godi mein betha lena jeejaji" Nikki quipped while the others laughed at a visibly embarrassed Armaan's expense.
After the huge affair of dinner , everybody relaxed in the huge lawn outside the house having Kheer and Gajar ka halwa. The elders enjoyed replaying memories of the past while the youngsters played Antakshri. It was only obvious that Armaan was the center of all attraction and the object of everybody's teasing.
------------------------------------------- * * * * ----------------------------------- * * * * -------------------------------------
"Abhi...hadd hogayi...they call me down from States aur ab tum keh rahe ho shaadi ke liye" Riddhima marched out of the airport into Abhi's car while he tried cooling off her temper.
"Ridz...Now is not the time...woh log already aa chuke hain...Armaan bhi New York se hain...I guess who tumhari baat samjhega...but don't create a scene for heaven's sake!" Abhi said while parking the car in front of a mall.
"Ab yeh kya hai...ghar nahi jaana?" Riddhima questioned what Abhi was upto.
"Aiseee???.....tumhe pata haina...Papa tumhe maar dalenge in kapdo mein dekh kar!" Abhi said handing her a pair of patiala salwar and kameez, directing her towards a womens' room.
Riddhima walked out huffing and puffing, trying to control her dupatta while Abhi chuckled at her state. Riddhima glared at him and said " Haslo Haslo...mein Nikki ko kehdungi ki tum use moti keh rahe the!" she smirked looking at Abhi's face. Nikki was pregnant and despised gaining the extra flab. Although Abhi had convinced her tactfully that she only looked more sexy to him, the slightest of interruptions would upset her tremendously.
Riddhima walked into the Gupta house...
"Yeh kya mela laga huva hai?" Riddhima threw a questioning glance at Abhi.
"Ridz...Guess everyone's only too excited to see you!" he said steering her towards the lawn where the elders were.
"Pairi-pauna....Nani!" "Papaaaaaaaa.....!" Riddhima greeted her parents and ran towards her dad, she knew he'd lend an ear to her qualms about the "marriage affair". While everyone in the family called the paternal grandmother Bebeji, Riddhima, the apple of everyone's eyes had the privilege to call her Nani.
Hearing her shout and run across the garden, everyone turned around and walked up to her, giggling and hugging their sister, questioning her and pulling her in for some gossip.
"Hatto sab...meri bacchi abhi aayi hai use aaram karne do!" Shashank said waving off all the family who had assembled near her and taking her to Ananya and Billy.
"Beta...yeh mere bahut acche dost hai, Balwinder Mallik aur yeh Ananya, tumhari maa ki bachpan ki dost!" Shashank introduced Riddhima to Armaan's parents and Riddhima greeted them hugging, giving them a sense of familiarity and comfort. Shashank could see they already loved Riddhima, why wouldn't they....she was his daughter, Daddy's lil girl!
"Achcha beta, ab tum jao apne room mein aaram karo!" "Ji papa!" Riddhima turned around to move when she crashed into an excited Rahul "Hi Riddhima....I'm Rahul!!!" "Ummmm...hi Rahul!" they shook hands and Riddhima walked away excusing herself for the night.
"Toh yeh woh ladka...iski toh main band baja dungi...waise hai bada cute!" Riddhima was pacing to and fro in her room with a devious smile on her face while Abhi was shaking his head in disagreement.
"Ridz...wo log bahut achche hain..tu ek baar unko mauka toh de!" Abhi requested Riddhima to which she came and sat next to him.
"Abhi ke bachche... Nikki se shaadi karli toh uski side pe hogaya...tum mera saath de rahe ho ya nahi?" she asked with a finality in her voice.
"Huh...dosti ki hai...nibhani padegi...chal thik hai...ab us bande ki hawa nikal ke hi dum lena hai!" he said as Riddhima excitedly hugged him.
------------------------------------------- * * * * ----------------------------------- * * * * -------------------------------------
On the other hand....
"Armaan beta...raat bahut hogayi hai..tum bhi thake hue honge...jao jake rest karlo" Shashank took Armaan into the house as the rest followed him.
"Ummm...thanks uncle...good night!" Armaan said finally sighing in relief to get back to his room.
"Koi baat nahi beta...goodnight! Kal subah milte hain!" Shashank said walking away to his room.
------------------------------------------- * * * * ----------------------------------- * * * * -------------------------------------
Next morning...
Knock! Knock!
Armaan was in the bathroom when he heard a knock on his door ; he quickly slipped on his bathing robe and rushed to the door.
"Morning, beta....yeh tumhare liye kuch kapde hain! Aaj tum yehi pehenna...sonne lagoge!" Padma said handing him over a pair of black salwar kameez.( Writer's note: I just got to know that thing Armaan wore at Muskaan's place is actually called salwat kameez for men lol)
"Ji...aunty!" he said while closing the door.
Armaan called up Rahul who was probably still in bed, in the room next door. "Hey, Dude!" Rahul said into the phone.
"Get up, you Doofus! Aunty just gave me a pair of kurta pajamas man...kya karu????"
"Pehen le yaar...she gave me one too...it actually looks good!" Rahul had immediately agreed to wear it because he had overhead Muskaan and Minni's conversation about them liking guys who go all macho the Punjabi Ishtyle.
Armaan slipped on the kurta and rolled on the sleeves upto his elbows, exposing his tanned arms, the kurta outlining his muscles. "Hmmm....not bad!" He then slipped on the satin pajamas and ruffled his damp hair when he felt his pajamas slipping.
"Oh My Lady-Gaga....What the hell is this?" He pulled them up again but in vain. "Ab kya karu?" he started panicking when he heard someone at the door.
"Jeejaji...darwaaja kholiye!" Armaan walked to the door holding the pajamas to his waist and found Muskaan standing there grinning naughtily.
"Ye lijiye naada...mummyji dena bhool gayi thi!"
"Oh oh haan....mein bhi yehi soch raha tha....umm...haan naaaa- daa...Thanks!" he banged the door on her face and rushed to the bed.
"Ab yeh naada kya hota hai? Ugh...haan maybe isse bandhega pajama!" Armaan pulled up his pants once more and tied the naada around his waist. It seemed to work and he brushed his hair and started walking towards the door when the pajamas slipped down again.
"What now..Oh My Gosh...Kitna badtameez hai yeh naada!" Armaan said pulling it up when he heard Padma at the door!
"Aunty ...aap?"
"Beta...woh Muskaan ne tumhe naada diya kya?"
"Jee...woh main abhi use hi laga raha tha!"
"Achcha beta... tum naada laga loge na pajame mein...?" she asked concerned.
"Jee...jee haan!"And with that she went away.
"Naada...ek naada hi toh hai...koi bhi laga lega!"
"Sivaye mere" Armaan pouted and decided to get some help.
He opened the door and searched the hallways and found Gappu sneaking laddoos into his room.
"Ssshhhh....ssshhhh...ssshh!" Arman called out to Gappu who stopped outside his door.
"Meine kuch nahi kiya....mummyji ko mat batana...yeh to mein tumhare liye laya hun!" Gappu closed his eyes and prayed for his laddoos.
"Oye...tu khale jitna khana hai... par meri madad karega?" Armaan pleaded.
"Kaisi madad?" Gappu enquired suspiciously.
"Woh...yeh naada..haina..tujhe laga na aata hai?" he whispered into his ears.
Gappu was in splits listening to his request and said " Oye...papaji lagate hain mera...menu nahi aanda yeh naada shaada lagana!" And with that he scurried off.
Fifteen minutes later...Armaan was still trying to make ends meet and fasten his pajamas in place.
Knock! Knock!
"What the hell?" Armaan opened the door and saw a girl, with her arms crossed at her chest standing there. He looked at her confused wondering why she was standing here....Fir se Riddhima ki koi behen aagayi!
"Andar aajaun?" the girl asked authoritatively.
"I guess..." the girl pushed him aside and walked into the room.
"Hi...I'm Riddhima!" she said turning back to him and extending her hand towards him.
Oh toh yeh woh Riddhima....itni bhi buri nahi hain!" he thought extending his hand towards her. As soon as he shook hands with her, he felt his pants slipping again but thankfully Riddhima had turned her back to him and marched off to the bed by then.
"Look, Armaan...I had to fly down to India from New York last night...and then Abhi told me ki our parents are indulging into some match-making. Are you, like, okay with this?" she asked hoping he'd say No.
"Are you kidding me?....I'm dragged down from States to meet and marry some one randomly...and You think it's okay with me...No way in hell!" he said when he felt his fears resounding in Riddhima's question.
"Good...toh jab dulha aur dulhan hi nai raazi...toh kya karega Qazi? Mujhe bas yehi sunna tha.....Guess we could just reject each other and be done with it!" she said walking up to him, a bright smile on her face.
Armaan sighed in relief as well but his body jolted with an overpowering current when the next moment he felt Riddhima hugging him tight, oblivious to the effect she had on him.
His hands let go of the pajamas as she parted, embarrassed, muttering a silent apology. But nothing could change the fact that Armaan's pajamas were now, down on the floor and he stood rooted to the spot, too shocked to respond.
Riddhima's eyes widened in horror and she broke into a bout of laughter as she saw him blushing with embarrassment. Armaan quickly pulled up the pajamas and apologized for what just happened.
"Woh main...yeh..." Armaan started mumbling when Riddhima interrupted.
"Woh...tum...yeh... naada nahi laga sakte?" she asked smirking at him.
"Ummm....haan...toh kya karu main..States mein toh humesha elastic ke sweatpants pehne hain...mujhe toh yehi nahi pata tha ki naada kya hota hai...sab try karliya...lekin....ek minute...tumhe naada lagana aata hai?" Armaan ranted off and realized maybe only Riddhima could help him.
"Nikalo pajama..." Riddhima walked towards him with a seductive smile.
"Yeh...tum...kya kehri ho?" Armaan said stepping off towards the wall. She walked up to him until he was jammed against the wall.
"Meine kaha...pajama mujhe do...main abhi laga deti hoon!" Riddhima said authoritatively.
"Oh!!!...Umm...mein tab tak..." Armaan trailed off.
"Tab tak bathroom mein betho...ab do pajama!" Armaan finally understood that she was only trying to help.He went in and took off his kurta. Agreed it was December and extremely cold in Delhi, but the Gupta mansion was well supplied with artificial heat and Armaan just couldn't bear the kurta anymore.
------------------------------------------- * * * * ----------------------------------- * * * * -------------------------------------
Five minutes later...
"Armaan...Armaan...yeh lo tumhara pajama!" she called out to Armaan while walking toward the bathroom.
Armaan peeked out of the bathroom and saw her slipping at the end of the room's carpet while she walked towards him. He ran towards her and held her in his arms, preventing the fall.
Riddhima had shut her eyes tight by now seeing both she and Armaan were gonna fall down. Fortunately they landed on the bed- Armaan over Riddhima, their legs dangling on the sides. They looked into each others eyes as they steadied their breaths in vain. Armaan broke into a smile looking at a horrified Riddhima, who looked at him questioningly.
He shook his head and helped her to get up when he heard Riddhima bursting into peals of laughter. He looked at her confused by her sudden reaction.
"Armaan...tumhara towel!" Riddhima giggled as he looked down and realized that his heroic act had put him to shame once again. The towel had slipped during the sudden opportunity that had presented Armaan a chance to show off his "Superman" skills and there he was standing in his boxers once again, only this time he had nothing except for boxers on.
------------------------------------------- * * * * ----------------------------------- * * * * -------------------------------------
Two years later....
The wardrobe malfunction got Armaan the love of his life. Indeed, Armaan and Riddhima had gotten married the very December they had met. Love had happened instantaneously but maybe the most embarrassing moments of their lives had gotten them each other. Armaan had, by now, mastered the art of flirting back with his sister-in laws and had gelled well with the family. He had also gotten used to the idea of random jhappis which once almost choked him to death. He had well adapted to the gigantic lassi glasses and the excessive amounts of food Punjabis had. But amidst all the adaptations, one thing hadn't changed over the years....
Two weeks before Minni's wedding....
Knock! Knock!
Armaan opened the door and Padma walked in with a pair of off-white salwar kameez.
"Armaan beta...yeh lo...aaj yehi pehen na...sonne lagoge!" she said pinching his cheeks as he broke into a smile and hugged her.
"Jee Mamma!" he said obediently just like he did two years ago.
Knock! Knock!
Armaan opened the door to Muskaan who was looking at him cheekily. By the way, Muskaan and Rahul had gotten married as well...but maybe I'd narrate their side of the story some other time.
"Jee-jaa-ji, yeh lijiye NAADA!" she said winking at him. Armaan would still blush when Riddhima's sisters would address him with the sobriquet"Jeeju".
"Thanks, Muski!" he said closing the door yet again on her face.
"Bang!" and the door flew open; In walked a fuming Riddhima since she wasn't allowed to work around the house owing to the fact that she was 7 months pregnant.
"Armaan....tum log naa mujhe sangeet mein dance karne de rahe ho aur na hi koi kaam karne dete ho. What the hell...pregnant hi hun!" Riddhima screamed at Armaan. He knew only too well that nothing he'd say would make a difference at the moment. So he went towards her and hugged her tight. In the process, he let go off his pajamas intentionally.
"Haww...yeh badtameez naada!" Armaaan exclaimed in horror. Riddhima knew only too well what was coming next.
"Basket....naada laga dona!" he pouted looking at her holding his pajamas loosely around his waist.
"Nikalo pajama..." she stood up as Armaan walked towards her. She backed off when she saw him taking off his pajamas and advancing towards her simultaneously.
"Armaan...pajama nikalo aur bathroom mein jao" she said glaring at him as he jammed her to the wall and handed her the pajamas.
"Tch...ab tumse kaisi sharam Basket" he replied cheekily playing with the loose strand of her hair that hung down from her pony.
"Armaan!" she glared at him once more and walked towards the bed. Only this time...it took her half an hour to put on the said "naada" what with Armaan's silly interuptions...
He pulled her hair down while she concentrated on the "naada"..."Armaan....yeh kya kar rahe ho?"
"Apni wife ko nihaar raha hoon" he said with a naughty glint in his eyes...
Next, he started tickling her and teasing her by kissing her nape passionately....followed by cracking ridiculous jokes to her belly, whom he addressed to as the baby.
Forty minutes later, Riddhima had finally managed to fix his pajamas and handed them to him as she walked towards the door....
"Jaldi aana Armaan...neeche mehman aane lage hain " she said turning her back to him and gearing up for the Sangeet ceremony.
"Basket....naada laga dona!" Armaan replied back to Riddhima's horror.
"Abhi toh.." Riddhima turned around and looked at him.
He cheekily pulled out the "naada" from the pajamas and pouted at her....
"Is naade ne hi toh hamare pyaar ki dor bandhi rakhi hai, Basket....." he said pulling her closer and starting with his ridiculous jokes again....
------------------------------------------- * * * * ----------------------------------- * * * * -------------------------------------
'Hi everybody! Here I am again with a ridiculous attempt at writing. I have no idea why I wrote this...but couldn't help it! Also, there's a lot of Hindi in there...sorry but I couldn't have preserved the flavor of the story with English...so feel free to clarify any doubts! Finally, Let me know what you think of it and like always, I'd be only too eager to know if you Loved it! Liked it! or Despised it! Leave a comment or two about how you find it and Press the tab if you like the post! Have a lovely day, guys and Thanks for reading!😛
I do not want to discourage any of my loyal readers with the harsh warning below but since, cases of plagiarism have increased on the forum, I'm putting up a disclaimer as a customary regulation!
DISCLAIMER
Copyright Encroachment would be subjected to strict measures!
I happen to post my work only on indiaforums(IF) under the username of "repercussion" and I hereby, warn any persons/writers intending to re-post or borrow any or all sections of my work without prior consent shall be reported to the Plagiarism Complaint Box!
Furthermore, none of my works are inspired by any other concepts/posts on IF unless credited to or permitted by the writer and thereby, if you happen to notice any similarities, they are purely co-incidental and were not intended. Also, I would not appreciate the usage of my titles by other members and would deem it plagiarism. Lastly, if any problems arise in regard to the matter mentioned above, I'd like to be informed of it immediately through a PM and the support of readers would be highly appreciated!
Indian Idol 15
437