"Oye, Bindu, a hi saadi Pooji da dulha hai?"
"Rab jaane, usko to sirf Pooja, Surenderpaji, ne hi dekha hai….."
All this and a lot more discussions, gossips, and talk was going on as Pooja's family and relatives awaited the barat at the railway station. People were really eager to see and meet the Captain Pooja was going to marry…..all really very happy….
The train arrived and all the guests, baratis disembarked…..as all the people were safely out, the youngsters from Pooja's family got them glasses of Lassi……everyone met the guests graciously……
Pooja's bhabhi, recognized the groom and approached him with a garland and an aarti ki thaali…..as the ritual took place, Ali's eyes were evidently looking for……her….!
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At a completely unrecognizable & newly renovated Ghai mension….which was covered by flowers, diyas, rangoli……Pooja's cold hands trembled as she was dressing up…..all the girls around her giggles as the earing she was wearing fell off her trembling fingers the fifth time….
"Oye kudiyon, meri Pooji ko pareshaan na karo….", and Pooja's mother helped her with the earing…..she smiled.
"O ji barat aa gayi…..Dulha Biji ke pair cho raha hai….hai! kitna changa munda hai….", yelled one of the girls running into her room…………
Distant sounds of approaching barat were adible now…..this gave some unknown strength to Pooja's trembling legs….and she ran…..to the open tarrace….her dupatta askew……………
…..she tried hard to locate him, but couldn't find him….he saw everyone…..Pitaji, Ammi, Apa, Chutki, Yudi(who saw her and waved at her, showing off his army I-card….)….but where was he…….?? Why wasn't he messaging, calling or coming to see her…..she had waited two moths…looking at a picture of her Captain…..thinking of him….talking of him…..talking to him all alone….in space…..
She went back in her room…..
"Bevkoof, ek baar milne nahin aa sakta?? W o h meri ladkiyon ne pakad rakha hoga….Army ka banda dekha nahin, ki unki 'ha ha….hi hi….' Shuru! Jiju yeh…jiju w o h….beichara dar gaya hoga…..pagla….", she was speaking to heself as she sat in her room.
She couldn't spot him at dinner too…..He had gone as she came…his phone….was out of coverage area…..what was wrong?
Pooja ab chid gayee thi……
Post dinner, as everybody sat in the varandah, singing, dancing, having Firni……as girls pulled her and she danced….she dint enjoy it even for a second…..her eyes were going around the place…..
This was it! Something had to be done…..
She walked upto Ali's room….quietly…..hiding from her friends…..
…..as she knocked the door….she didn't know, what will she tell him….yell at him…scold him for not meeting her….what did he think of himself…..she cannot enjoy if he is not around?…..or she will hug him…..forget where they were….and let the emotions flow…..
The door opened…and her smile faded…it was Yudi…..and not Ali…..
"Yes?", he asked…."Oh, Pooja! Tum ho!", he said, in an unnaturally loud voice….
"Ali…."
"Had hai! Abh do din main hi to shaadi hai….and I think…..the two of your aren't supposed to meet? Are you….?", he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Yudi, Ali kahan hai? W o h mujhse milne bhi nahin….."
"W o h to kab ka so gaya….I am his best man, and ma'm I am not going to disturb him!"
"Oye, usse keh to sahi….."
"Are, ok….ok fine….par tum, yahin rehna…"
And he went inside the room, and returned in a minutes time….
"Usse neend aa rahi hai….aur usne kaha hai ki w o h tumko kal hi mil lega!"
"….", she wanted to yell and tell him that she is mad at him….but couldn't find the right words…..her eyes full of tears she ran….ran ….and ran…..till she reached the backyard of her house…..where there was no sound….no giggling cousins…no …..no….Ali…..
..and she cried…. "Kaisa insaan hai? Mujhe uspe talk time kharch hi nahin karna! Uska to network hi kharab hai….uska dil karta hai tab call karta hain varna missed call bhi nahin deta…..main kya sab nahin janti…..ulloo da pathha….."
….and she went on…..and on…..for what felt like 20mins…..til she felt something on her face….she brushed it away with her dupatta and cried again…..but that thing fell on her again……she opened her eyes and looked around…..
…..whoooosh…………!!!!
……..almost a sac full of rose petals showered all over her from the tree-top…..as she looked up…..
"Hum itne bhi bure nahin hai, Captain!", said Ali, showering her with some more petals…..smiling……jumped down from the tree….
"Tum yahan….."
"Shhhhh…..", and he pulled her closer, and held her face…..
"Aap ki bahot yaad aayi, Pooja"
"Mujhe yeh kehne ki zaroorat nahin……main tumhe bhooli hi nahin, ke yaad karoon…..", her tears, her anger, everything vanished…..as he slowly removed her earing and replaced it by the golden jhumka he had baught for her,they frgt where they were….and what time was it…and even that he was Ali and she was Pooja….all they felt was….immense love for each other….
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"Raj….?"
He walked away as if he hadn't heard……
She ran after him…..Huda sprang on his feet to follow her, but aalekh held his hand……
She saw him standing by the amar jawan fire in the reception area……sha ran as fast as her feet could carry him…..
"Tumne aisa kyon kiya??", she yelled at him….. "….main nahin manti ke tum dhoka de sakte ho…..", she absolutely lost control…….
"Cadet….."
"KYON KIYA? Aakhri vakh bayan badla…..? bhaiya? Aap bina vajeh aisa kyon?…"
"Cad…."
"…nahin…..aap mujhe vajeh bataiye…..aisi kya majboori……kya hua????? Itna bada jooth??", she did not understand, endless efforts to prove Ritu guilty….and on the day of trial…….raj……was this a betrayal…..a fraud….no…..she thought….he'd rather die, than be unfaithful to her…….
He walked away without replying to her questions….
An hour later, she reached the door of the faculty quarters…. Raj's room……she saw it was open….and someone's voice was coming from inside…….someone was laughing….other five were a few steps behind her….they too wanted an answer…..
….she pushed the door open….her heart beating…..clutching her love, her trust her blind faith tightly…….she stepped in……
…..no, its not true…her heart was screaming…….Raj was on his knees holding hands and proposing to Ritu……for marriage……………………and suddenly her turned….saw Naina….she room went dark in her eyes……she felt herself shrink……
"….", his lips moved to say something…..but her eyes were enough for him….they told warned him…..of not explaining…..
Silently she turned….and walked away……
She could still feel her body torn apart….her soul crushed….her love betrayed….her heart burn……..
"Madam, shot ready hai…..", baught Naina Singh Alhuwalia back to her senses……
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Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Mangal Lakshmi
