Rang Barse
He opened his eyes hearing the strident voice of alarm beside the bedpost. Tapping the alarm off he get off the bed. It was 7.30 in morning. Anjali had already told him to rise early in morning as they will all perform the pooja together and then only the holi can be played. He walked to the washroom scanning the room. She was not in there, may be downstairs helping anjali. Ridhimaa was early riser so was he.
After brushing and shaving he stood under shower eyes still close. Turning it on he waited for showerhead to pour the warm water. When nothing happened for few seconds he opened his eyes and turned the bolt again. Still nothing happened. He pushed the knob hard and suddenly the water starts pouring. Flinched, as the water come in contact with his skin he moves away. The water was ice cold he checked the heater button which was switched on. Thinking that may be heater is not working he steps into the cold shower.
**************
"Amar lawn ki thik se safai kar di hai na?"
"Ji anjali mam"
"thik hai tum baahar jakar dekho ki sab kuch thik se ho gaya hai ya nahi sab log bas aate hi honge" nodding his head amar lefts. Exhaling, anjali turns to go to help ridhimaa. She was in pooja room.
"Arre anjali yeh dekho na mere kurte ka button hi tut gaya" anjali stops at her tracks hearing atul's whine.
"Atul tum bhi na koi aur kurta pehan lo na mujhe already itne kaam hai" said anjali annoyed.
"Itch anjali maine dhunda but mujhe nahi mil rahe tum help kar do na"
"Atul tum'." Atul looked at her confused as she stopped suddenly, following her gaze he turns back.
"Di yeh dekho maine pooja ki thali tayar kar di tum dekh lo sab thik toh'." Ridhimaa emerges out of pooja room with decorated thali in her hand. She stops, looking at atul and anjali.
At the same time sanjay also joins them "arre wah sab aa gaye sari tayyar ho gayi?" he also get confused getting no response so he asks ridhimaa raising his brows who just struggles her shoulder making 'i-also-don't-know' signal.
Ridhimaa shakes anjali as they both anjali and atul were standing still like statue "di kya hua?" anjali didn't replied but just points her finger at a direction.
Ridhimaa and sanjay both follows the pointed direction and gasp seeing the scene in front of them. Armaan ends the call and makes his way downstairs.
"Hey bhabhi'hey bhai'morning dad" he frowns getting no response when all of sudden they all broke into fits. Armaan looked at them shocked the moment ago they where all standing like statue and now they were rolling on the floor laughing.
"dad? Bhai? Aa'kya hua aap log" Armaan didn't understand what exactly was happening.
Atul tried to speak "armaan tu'" but failed miserably and broke into another round of fits. Armaan shifts his gaze from his crazy family to amar who just entered the hall and stops right at his place looking at armaan strangely.
Armaan was getting irritated by every minute and shouts in anger "what the hell you all are laughing''." He stops hearing new giggling voice and it was amar this time who was laughing clutching his stomach.
Seeing armaan this angry sanjay moves forward still giggling a bit, holding armaan's chin sanjay makes him see his face. Armaan looks at his refection in glass with open mouth. His entire face was black. He touches his face to confirm his fear. Seeing the black boot polish on his finger tips he literally runs to his room leaving all of them laughing again.
***************
"But sir what are you gonna do with it" asked tejas handling sanjay a packet. Opening the packing sanjay smells the content "hmm well that's secret" giving tejas an evil smirk. Tejas shakes his head at his master knowing that, he must be up to something.
Armaan scans the entire yard which was beautifully decorated with off white, hot red, spring yellow and ocean blue curtains. Armaan's eyes traveled the crowd but still he didn't get to see his desired face. Placing the cell carefully in his pocket he combed through the crowd which was already busy playing with colors and found what he was searching.
He stops at his tracks seeing the most amazing scene in front of his eyes'. there she was'.she was laughing and running, anjali was behind her with colors in her hand. Anjali throws the color on ridhimaa but it seems like impossible to catch ridhimaa. Sighing, anjali gave up on her and showing thumb to anjali ridhimaa runs away. It was never easy to catch ridhimaa. Ridhimaa loves holi but it was different for her. She was master at protecting herself from colors. Everyone had tried to color her but catching ridhimaa was impossible she was experienced in this department after all. Seeing everyone defeated, not able to color her, ridhimaa always felt rejoiced. It was just the one thing that on one can beat her in. she spends her entire day roaming round without a single spot on her skin.
As soon as armaan saw ridhimaa running away he smiles looking at her back "hans lo sweetheart kuch der baat then it will be my time" his lips twitched at one corner. As he remember how she made him suffer this morning.
When armaan came downstairs after having his shower, he greets everyone but in response everyone started laughing at him. Armaan got confused at first then sanjay made him look at his face mirror then only armaan realize that his entire face was covered with boot polish he literally ran back to him room and saw his face properly in mirror.
He got so confused about how this happened and then went towards washroom. He opened the washroom door and next moment he was dripping wet in green water. Armaan looks up and found a bucket which was still dropping green substance, was stung with a sting to the door knob. The moment armaan saw this he knew that someone had deliberately did that. May during the time when he was in his study discussing some important with his foreign executive over phone.
He checked the washroom and found the boot polish and color box in dustbin. He linked all the clues the empty boxed in dustbin, black towel due to which his face was all black and he appeared to be a joker and last but not the least the bucket full of green substance. It didn't take him any longer to realize who was after all this pranks.
Armaan knew today she must be in different form as whenever holi come ridhimaa suddenly get into high spirit and becomes all naughty. Armaan never understood what was the fun part of it for ridhimaa? As she never let anyone to color her but she herself colors everyone. But what she did with him was not something to forget.
Decided, to teach her lesson he walks in shower getting rid of his white kurta pajamas which were green till this time. He turns on the shower and cry loudly as the boiling water hit him. He never paid any attention towards the hitter button which he had left on as he thought it must not be working. This last piece infuriates armaan even more "bohot galat kiya tumne ridhimaa yeh sab tumhe kitna bhari padega tumhe eska andaza bhi nahi hai" he mumbles hearing the low chuckles knowing the owner of them.
****************
"Anjali ye lo pani" anjali took the water from atul. Atul saw anjali panting badly so he rubs her back to sooth her, it was much needed for her this time.
"Relax take a long breath" anjali started relaxing a bit and exhales slowly.
"Yeh ridhimaa ki bachchi bhi na kisi ke haath hi nahi aati" said anjali after few seconds. Atul smiles at her "anjali es me nayi baat kya hai who toh bachpan se hi kisi ke haat nahi aati no one can color her"
Anjali sighs knowing how right atul was she tried so much to catch her but as always it was fruitless. But then she smirks thinking something. Atul saw her smiling smugly and asks her "what happened anjali tum achanak aise smile kyon kar rahi ho"
"wo esliya atul ki ridhimaa es baar escape nahi kar sakti"
Atul wrinkles his brows at her "matlab?"
Anjali smiles at him "matlab yeh ki es baar koi hai jo usse pakad sakta hai"
"Really? Koun?"
"offo atul tum bhi na achcha thik hai yeh batao ki jab hum sab chote the aur saath me holi khelte the tab wo koun that jo ridhimaa per sirf rang hi nahi daalta in fact use puri tarah rango me bhigo deta tha aur uske baad ridhimaa bohot roti bhi thi?"
"rango me bhigo deta tha'aur ridhiama roti thi?" atul scratches his chin trying to remember.
"Armaan" atul shouts excited as he remembers it was armaan who used to catch ridhimaa. Entire day, ridhimaa used to color everyone and no one never caught her but at the end of the day armaan used to catch her, make her colorful doll. Ridhimaa used to protest but it was always useless in front of armaan so she always used to lock herself in room after holi and cry over it all night.
Anjali smiles at him "right itne years se armaan yahaa nahi tha but now armaan is here so this time'.." anjali looks at atul who smiles at her "poor ridzi" says atul as if something worst is gonna happen with her.
"By the way atul, ye armaan hai kaha?"
"Pata nahi abhi toh yahiin tha" anjali was looking for armaan when atul throws color at her. Anjali's mouth fells open at this and fisting handful of color she runs behind him.
"U r gone atul"
***************
"Yeh sab bahar lekar chliye" commands ridhimaa to servers. She was helping them. She was leaving for garden when armaan stops her in between. He got late for pooja due to 1 hour shower which he required to get rid of his green paint. Ridhimaa's lips twitched at the corners remembering his face from the morning.
"Yeh sab tumne kiya na" armaan came and stood in front of her. It was more statement then question, he already knew it was she had who did that.
"haan obviously ab di toh bahar hain toh maine socha maine hi yeh sab kar doon afterall guests ka dhyan bhi toh rakhana hai na" stated ridhimaa coolly.
"U think I m fool, tumhe kya lagta tum yeh sab karogi aur mujhe kuch pata nahi chalega?"
"Look tum kya bol rahe ho mujhe nahi pata for now I have to go mujhe bohot kaam hai" she tries to go when armaan blocks her way "don't act smart with me subah jo kuch bhi hua wo tumhi ne kiya na"
"Armaan mere raste se haato" ridhimaa again tries to go and armaan stops her again "itni jaldi kya hai pehle mere sawal ka jawab do"
Ridhimaa looks at him confidently "haan maine kiya toh kya karoge tum haan"
"Main kya karoonga yeh tum bohot jald dekh logi bohot shouk hai na tumne dusaro ko rangnae ka per aaj tumhaari bari hai"
Ridhimaa's lips curves at one side "dream on tum mujhe nahi pakad sakte"
Armaan smiles at her "how many times I told u ridhimaa mujhe dreams ko sach karna aata hai so u better watch for it main tumhe rang lagaunga wo bhi sabke samne" and taking the sweet from her hand he makes his way out.
*********************
Ridhimaa comes out with caution she knew only if anyone can catch her it was only armaan. She never knew how but he always managed to catch her. Although, it was years back but she was no small girl but he was also smart as much as ridhimaa hate to admit it but it was true.
Scanning the entire yard she moves forward and places the try on the table. She turns and found him 10 feet away from herself. He was also looking at her. She stops there still; he takes slow steps towards her ridhimaa moves back gulping. She doesn't know why but seeing him her entire defense system put down its guard and leaves her unprotected which makes her scared of his very presence.
While walking armaan takes the fist full of color and throws it with full force, ridhimaa turns her face away in attempt to save herself from color. She turns to look at him when feel nothing on her and found him with rahool throwing color at each other. They both where busy in there own fun, ridhimaa exhales with relief and smacks herself mentally for getting so weak like this. She was still cursing herself when armaan turns to her and winks at her.
Coming out from her thoughts ridhimaa looks at her reflection in large water tub by her side.
"Holi hai" ridhimaa shrieks throwing colors at muskaan, who stood still at her place. Muskaan actually came to color ridhimaa but ridhimaa saw muskaan's reflection in tub and didn't give her any change to attack or defense.
"Kya yaar ridhi tu hamesha aise hi karti hai" complained muskaan waving the color dust to clear her vision.
"Wo toh hai happy holi bhabhi" ridhimaa pulled muskaan's cheek making her chuckle "by the way you are alone, where is bhaiya?" continued ridhimaa.
Muskaan rolled her eyes with the mention "plz ridhi pehle hi mera mood kharab hai aur kharab na kar us kamine ka naam lekar"
"Oh god don't tell me tum dono ne aaj bhi jhagada kiya"
"Oye jhagada main nahi tere us kamine bhai ne kiya arre maine toh bas thoda rang dala tha toh bas badak gaya arre holi ke din koi rang nahi dalaga toh kya patake jalayega? Tu baata usme meri kya galti thi haan"
"But muski'." Ridhimaa left the sentence hearing anjali.
"You are absolutely right muski yeh ladke na hote hi idiot hai, pata nahi apne aap ko kya samajhate hai? Kisi aur ki feelings ki toh kadar hi nahi hai"
Ridhimaa frowns looking at anjali "di aapko kya hua? Aap aisa kyon keh rahi ho"
"sahi keh rahi hoon ridzi dekh na atul ne saara ka saara color mere hairs me daal diye use achchi tarah pata hai that I don't like it still usne deliberately aisa kiya"
"haan anjali en ladko ko toh na achcha sabak sikhana chahiye"
"Right" agreed anjali.
Ridhimaa was trying to talk to them to make them understand but all in vain both the ladies where in no mood of compromise. Ridhimaa held her head seeing this; her life was already a mess and now this new problem.
Ridhimaa was walking aimlessly worried about anjali and muskaan, she tried to talk to atul and rahool but situation was not so positive there too. Talking to armaan was completely useless and he was already busy with his female followings. He was having his advantage of holi as everybody was busy, so no one was there to notice him.
"Ouch" exclaimed ridhimaa suddenly bumping into sanjay.
"Arre sambhal kar beta lagi toh nahi" asked sanjay concerned.
"Sorry papa wo mera dhyaan nahi tha"
"Well that I can see tum kafi parshaan lag rahi ho anything serious"
Ridhimaa looks at him for a moment battling mentally to whether to tell him or not. Sanjay saw her turmoil and added quickly "u can tell me u know, I won't tell anyone else" he said the last bit as if it's some top secrete. Ridhimaa smiles at him now she knew from where armaan got all his talents, whether she want to admit or not but it was true that he can certainly charm anyone except her and she was proud of this face.
"Papa wo actually'*sigh* dekhiye na papa yeh di, jij, rahool bhaiya aur muskaan aaj holi ke din ek dusare se naraz baithe hain, Maan hi nahi rahe maine kitna kaha but koi effect hi nahi padta"
"Oh problem toh serious hai but no fear when papa is here, you don't worry en sab ko right track per lane ka solution hai mere paas" declared sanjay proudly making ridhimaa chuckle.
"aur wo kya hai?"
"Uski tension tum mat lo bas dekhti jao main kya karta hoon aur yeh lo"
Ridhimaa takes the glass filled with white contents "yeh kya hai" ridhimaa asks curiously.
"This is sanjay speacial thandai"
"thandai?"
"No' no correction sanjay special thandai ese piyo aur saari tensions bhul jao" ridhimaa chuckles at his antics and gulps the entire thadai at once.
"Yeh toh seriously bohot testy hai aur mil sakti hai?"
"haan haan kyon nahi" and he fills one more glass for her, little did she knew that what was special about this thandai''
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Edited by -SmokySapphira- - 12 years ago
CID
Music Corner
270