(Picture credit- Google)
Chapter one-- First Glimpse
"Bloody hell!" his leather shoes landed in another pothole, which looked more like a small pond to be more precise. He grimaced at the bad state of his expensive shoes and shook his feet to get rid of the ecru mud amassed at the tip of his black shoes.
"Amma, these all because of you!" he lifted his head at the heavens, complaining about his mother, wishing the white cloud could somehow carry his message to his Amma. His Amma! He sighed. Who can refuse his Amma? When she wants something to be done, she gets it done. And where he is concerned, seems like she need not put extra efforts. Just a single drop of her tear and he finds himself doing things just the way she wants.
He looked at the way ahead and sighed for millionth time today. Why on earth do people live in such deserted place, where he can't even find any means of transport? Seems like he will have to walk all the way and forget about his shoes serving him the next time.
"Great" cursing, and trying to skip the "ponds" he carried his walk.
Shashi Gupta, who had just walked out of his house, saw a blurry image of a boy, clad in a brown shirt and a pair of black trouser walking, or, to be more precise, hoping. Having his house at the hallway of the village, he gets to see so many people entering the village, but he saw the boy bypass the way to the village and took the path leading towards his house. Shashi frowned, does he know this boy? But the boy looked little familiar. Shashi studied his face as now the boy's image became clear. He had seen this boy somewhere, but where? He racked his brain to remember but came out with no result. Perhaps Garima was right, he really has some memory problem.
"You still here?" the sweet voice of his wife came from behind.
Shashi Gupta turned around and saw his wife walking towards him, fixing her pallu on her head.
"Garima, do you know that boy?" Shashi asked, pointing ahead as now his wife stood beside him.
Garima looked ahead, seeing a boy heading towards them. And as soon she recognized the boy, her hand flees to slap her forehead.
"Hey Bhagwaan! Aap bhi na?! Who on earth doesn't recognize his own Damaad? He is Damaad ji. You really have some memory problem, you need help." Garima shook her head at her husband.
Shashi looked at his wife, shocked!
"Arnav? Is that really him? He is really grown up. His father had written in his last letter that if now I see Arnav, I will not be able to recognize him."
"Now stop talking, go and receive him" Garima said.
"Oh yes." Shashi Gupta started towards his Damaad.
"Arnav beta, is that really you?" Shashi Gupta asked, still unable to believe that standing in front of him was the same little boy whom he had seen 4 years back.
"Ji...I am Arnav...hmm...Uncle...I mean Babuji, Namaste" Arnav folded his hands in greeting.
"God bless you, Arnav. Come.." Shashi welcomed him.
"Ji" Arnav followed him. He looked at the beautiful mud house ahead. It was not as big as his house, but still beautiful nothingless. He noticed the various flower plants planted in the open space in front of the house. Just like his house.
"Namaste Beta" Garima folded her hands.
"Ji...Ji Namaste.." Arnav greeted back, unable to recognize the lady in front of him.
"Arnav, I think you didn't recognize her. She is your mother-in-law, my wife"
"Oh.." He smiled at his mother-in-law. As if he had seen her. He can't even recall his own wedding and all the rituals he had made to go through. All he could remember was that, it was scorching hot and he was stuffed in some weird clothes. And hadn't every lady had their veil, covering their faces, almost touching the ground? And not to forget those annoying ladies, giggling and hovering over him.
"Come inside, Beta.." his mother-in-law's voice broke his chain of thoughts.
Arnav nodded his head at his mother-in-law and entered the house. They walked inside a small room, leading them to the Aangan.
Garima immediately walked passed him and arranged a small woven stool for him.
"Sit here Beta. I will get something for you.." Garima smiled, too happy to see her Damaad ji sitting in her house.
"So Arnav, how many more years left for your graduation?" Shashi asked as his wife left them alone.
"Ji, just two more" Arnav replied, feeling little awkward and uncomfortable at this new place.
"That's great.." Shashi smiled.
Arnav reciprocated the smile and looked down at his feet, not knowing what to do or say. His Amma had not told him what to do or say. She was just too excited to send him to his in-laws, to show how her Son had grown up all handsome. Arnav mentally shook his head. Sometimes his mother is too much. Now what on earth is he supposed to do here.
"Ahh.."
And for the second time, his chain of thoughts was interrupted by a melodious voice. He lifted his head, searching for the source of voice. And soon his eyes landed on her. A little girl stood there, in the middle of the stairs, clad in a green and red saaree, clearly too heavy for her to manage. She stood there, with one hand rubbing her eyes and one hand clutching some clothes. She started down, taking one step at a time and a pained expression drawn on her face.
"Koo-Koo" Shashi Gupta got up from his place and dashed towards his daughter.
"Babu ji...Mirchi...Humare Aankh mein mirchi chaligayi.."
Arnav stared at her. Is her voice really this sweet? It sounds sweeter than the Koyal that sings in the backyard of his house.
"Koo-koo...come here.." Shashi caught her hand and guided her for the remaining stairs. "Stand here, ok.." he immediately got a small stool and made her sit. Bringing a small steel vessel containing water, he told her to bend forward and asking her to open her eyes, he splashed some water in her eyes.
"The pain will soon vanish, Koo-Koo. Don't worry.." removing a handkerchief from his kurta pocket, he wiped her face.
"Is it ok now, Koo-Koo?" Shashi asked softly.
His Koo-Koo nodded her head but still kept her eyes closed.
"Hey Bhagwaan! What happened?!" Garima kept the tray full of snacks and tea in front of her Damaad ji and ran towards her Daughter and Husband.
"Nothing, Garima. I think she again rubbed her eyes with the same hand which she used to spread the red chilies. " Shashi chuckled.
"No no Babuji, I didn't..." Khushi protested. "Still it went.." Khushi pouted. She looked at her Babu ji and then at her Amma but as she was about to repeat her action again, her eyes halted in the middle.
"Babu ji, do we have a guest?" Khushi asked.
Garima and Shashi turned around.
"He is not our guest Koo-Koo.." Shashi smiled.
"Not our guest? Then who is he?" Khushi again looked at him, confused.
"He is our Damaad ji. Your Arnav ji.." Garima replied smiling.
Khushi's head which was about to turn towards his mother as soon she heard her speaking, halted instantly. She looked at the man in front of him , who was already staring straight at her. She immediately lowered her head and moved behind her mother. She doesn't know how she is supposed to behave in front of him. Her Amma teaches her so many things daily and there are only few she can grasp and store permanently in her head. Had her Amma told her to keep her veil in front of her husband too? She tried to remember hard, but was unable to remember anything. But nevertheless she kept the pallu on her head.
Garima felt her daughter fidgeting behind her. Very well knowing her daughter's condition, she took her hand in hers.
"Hum abhi aate hain.." Garima said softly and took Khushi with her.
Ok! So first of all, I hope that was read worthy. This is the first time I have written something and inspiration for the same is Arshi and all the fabulous writers of this IF, who had kept Arshi still alive through their writing. And being an Arshi fan its really hard to not day dream about them, so this story is the result of my day dreaming.
I just hope it's good enough to make you guys stay for few seconds and give your feedback.
And last but not the least, the first chapter of my very first story is dedicated to three people. Shruti-for bugging me so much to seriously think on writing. Tanu di- for encouraging me through your beautiful words and Divyahet, my online mom-She had joined hands with the above mentioned people to force me enough.
-Pooja-
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