For Cherry, buggin me for updates So here is a short story to keep you busy and for all of you who will be bored over the long weekend. Happy Holi. Leave red, pink or green comments...mistake maaf karna...jaldi likhi thi aur editing nahi ki
Rang barse
Gori tere rang jaisaa thodasa main rang bana lu
Aa tere gulabi gaalon se thoda sa gulaal chura lu
(Jare ja deewane tu holi ke bahane tu)-2
Chhed na mujhe besaram
Puchh le zamane se aise hi bahane se liye aur diye dil jaate hain
Holi ke din dil khil jaate hain rango mein rang mil jaate hain
"Munna! Mei masi bol rahi hoon."
Jai Walia held the phone away from his ear for a second, his masi could get very excited at times and blast the ear off with her voice.
"Masi, kaise ho?" he asked.
"Mei theek hoon. Abh bol munna kabh araha hai." Masi's voice boomed again. A grin spread over his face, the dark eyes sparkled at the impatient noticeable in masi's voice.
"Kal subah ki flight hai.Duphara tak ajounga."
"Aur kaun ayega tere saath, Jigyasa."
"Nahi masi, Jigyasa di nahi lekin Ranveer aur Anu ayenge."
"Theek hai. Meine tere favourite besan ki ladoo bana rakhe hai. Chal mei phone rakhati hoon."
"Bye masi." Jai put the phone away and reminiscensed about the his masi's ladoos. Only his masi could make ladoos taste so good. He never got to eat any mithai at home as his sister Jigyasa was so figure conscious, even at Diwali she would this mithai made with saccharine and veggie ghee....yuk.
He was looking forward to the trip for two reason, his masi's cooking and holi. And it was because of celebrating holi with lots of masti that Ranveer and Anu did not have to be asked twice about going with him.
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Jai enjoyed the drive in an open jeep from the airport to the village where masi and her extended family lived. The wide expanse of green fields, grazing cattle and workers dressed in colourful clothes tending the fields made a pleasing scene for the city tired eyes. The air did not smell of petrol fumes, chemicals and the unique smell of mumbai's sewage problem. Ranveer and Anu laughing and joking went over his head as he got lost in his sensory daze. It was only when Anu screamed, "We are her finally." that Jai came out of his stupor and looked at the large farmhouse in the distant. The red roofed and whitewashed house was flanked by fruit orchards and smaller outer buildings.
The jeep soon came to stop in the large courtyard. A gaggle of children rushed to see the new arrivals, followed by an older looking lady, slightly rotund with a big smile on the face. "Munna." she enveloped Jai in a bear hug. "Kitna dubna ho gaya. Lagta hai Jigyasa dieting abhi chalu hai." Jai touched his masi's feet, "aisa kuch nahi masi. Thodi excercise karta hoon, fit rehne ki liye." Masi slapped him lightly, "Yahaan kuch dieting bieting nahi chalega. Dudh, ghee or malai wala kahana baas. Pet bhar ki khana hai, sameja." Jai just grinned at his masi and then greeted her family.
Soon they were sat on the veranda sipping hot tea and eating fresh samasos and pakoras. Plates of snacks disappeared and masi sat with a satisfied smile watching her favourite nephew eat.
A young woman dressed in bright green salwaar khameez, her long hair plaited down her back came out from the house, "Masi khana baan chuka hai, Kuch aur kaam hai?" she asked softly, looking only at masi. "Nahi Bani. Tum ghar jao. Kaal jaldi aana. Bahut kaam hoga. Krian ko kehna woh bhi aye." "Jee masi." The woman covered her head with her dupatta and set off down the road. Jai watched her through the slits of his eyes. She seemed familiar but he couldn't recall her from his previous trip, "Masi woh kaun thi?" he asked. Masi arched her brow , "Bhul gaya...Bani tere saath kehlti thi, jab pehle tu yahaan chuti pe aya karta tha. Yaad yeh ek din usne tere sari patang di dor kant dali thi gusse mei."
Jai sat trying to recall, but nothing much came to his mind, "kyun katti thi?" "Kyun ki pagla tu usko haar baar moti kaha karta tha. Thodi ki thi lekin itni bhi moti nahi." Masi said with fondness in ther voice. "Aur yaad hai, jab tere ghar jane ka waqt hojata toh woh pareshan hojati tere saath bolna bandh kar deti. Phir tere jaane ke baad bade bade ansoon dalti." Jai sat looking bemused by masi's comments. Ranveer and Anu giggled, "Masi lagta hai mamaji ki badi achi dost thi woh."
"Haan. Par abh thode din ki mehmaan hai. Unke pita uski mangi karna chahte hai. Naseebwali honge jis ghar mei woh jayegi." Masi sighed and looked wistfully at Jai.
Jai felt uncomfortable with the look his masi gave. Masi had long ago given up on pushing him for marriage. Now she just gave him this looks.
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Next day, Jai was woken up early by the sounds of birds, animals and people going about there early morning routine. He could hear his masi reciting her prayers, the cows being led out to the fields and the faint clatter of pots and pans as someone got busy with making food. Unlike being annoyed, he lay on the bed, listening to the sounds, definitely not as unpleasant as the city's hustle and bustle and traffic. After a while he got up and showered and dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a tshirt. As he made his way downstairs, couple of young girls belonging to his masi's relations gave him an appraising stare and then ran off giggling. Faintly he heard, "Dekha kitna hot lagta hai, par kitne lambhe, aur woh jeans kitni tight fitting." Jai's ears burned, he was used to being stared at by females back in the city but these young girls...
Downstairs masi was handing out arti and prasad. Jai took the offered arti and prasad and touched his masi's feet. Ranveer and Anu seemed to have not got up yet. He sat down with a cup of coffee while masi laid out breakfast. His eyes zoomed in on Bani, coming out of the kitchen with a tray. Today she had put on a dark pink salwaar and her hair was plaited again. She did not give a glance his way, her kohl lined eyes stayed fixed towards the dining table, and carried the tray to the table and set the dishes on the table and returned to the kitchen. Jai sat down to a plate full of parathas and dahi. After few minutes, masi realized she had forgotten to put ladoos on the table and shouted at Bani to bring a plate of ladoo out. Bani came holding a plate full of yello ladoos. As she about to set the plate on the table, masi asked her, "Bani do, teen Jai ki plate mei rakhdo pehle." Bani took three ladoos from the plate and put them on Jai's plate. Jai's gaze shifted from her hand full of matching chuddiyaan to her downward cast eyes. "Hello Bani." he said waiting to see if she would look his way. Without saying or looking at him Bani returned to the kitchen. Jai shrugged his shoulders at masi, "lagta hai badi hoke bolna bhul gaye hai."
Masi just smiled, "Tu nahi samjhega." Jai did not say anything further to masi's cryptic comment.
After Ranveer and Anu got up, the trio set off with masi's brother-in-law to explore their fields, all three having to perch on the tractor as it hobbled down the dirt track. It hurt their bums as the got jerked up and down over the hard bumps on the track. Once Ranveer almost fell off, only to be saved by Jai grabbing his arm and hauling up straight. At the sugar cane fields, Jai and Ranveer hacked off some canes to take back with them for juice. Anu chomped on a piece of fresh sugar cane, savouring the taste. When they reached it was well past lunch time. A large group of people had gathered in the courtyard ready to play holi. Masi was busy supervising, tables to be laid with food and drinks as well as plates full of coloured powder. In a corner some men were already busy drinking bhaang.
Soon the masti started with some of they guys showering the girls with colours. Masi sat with the elders on the verandah watching the masti. She loved this day, remembering her own youth, nothing had changed the way the holi was celebrated then and now. Only now the youngsters tended to be much bolder than what they were. She watched as Jai, Ranveer and Anu joined in the fun. She loved that the mama/bhanja were more like buddies, Jai having grown without any other sibling except Jigyasa who was fifteen years older than him. With the birth of Ranveer and Anu he had made the most of playing with them and eventually having a relationship more of friend rather than an uncle, he more or less made up for Jigyasa's neglect of her own children.
Colours and water flew as the younger crowd got fully into the mood. The bhaang flowed among the men and soon couple of them were intoxicated enough to be banned from having any more. After a while Jai scanned the people searching for Bani. He was sure he had seen her earlier, her pink salwaar was hardly unnoticeable. He wanted to talk to her, the fact that she ignored him bugged him, especially as masi said they had been inseparable when he was young. On the verandah he only saw his masi and few of the elderly ladies. Another corner where some of the younger women were sitting, there was no flash of pink there. Walking away from the group he walked away from the house and around the back towards the orchard. Almost at the back of the garden and near the trees, he spied her, sitting on a jhula.
Jai approached her slowly, watching to see what she would do. But all Bani did was give a quick glance and looked away, swaying the jhula. Jai's hand reached out and stopped the jhula, "Hi moti," he said teasingly. "Kaun moti?" she retorted flashing him an angry look. "Tu...moti. Masi ne kaha, hum chote the tab mei tujhe moti karke pukarta."
Bani glared at him, "Tum hum chote the. Abh bade hogaye. Aur phir mujhse aap se kuch kehna nehi."
Jai twisted the jhula and then let it go, so that she swirled. Bringing to stop he drew his face near her, "Kya kiya meine, tu mujhe ignore kaar rahi hai."
Bani eyes glinted with annoyance, "Kuch nahi. Aur kissiko ignore nahi kar rahi. Aap meri masi ke mehmaan hai. Aur mei yahaan sirf masi ko help karne ayee hoon. Nahi kissise dosti karne." Jai's eyes twinkled with mischief, "Dosti...masi se kehne par hum kafi ache dost the. Mei toh saab kuch bhul gaya. Tujhe maloom, woh saab hamare bachpane ki yadeein."
Bani turned her face away and ignored him. Jai pushed the jhula hard, the push swung the jhula high, the abruptness making Bani loose her grip and she slipped. A scream escaped he mouth. When she felt two strong arms stop her fall, she opened her eyes and felt her self turn red at the closeness of him. She felt the damp seep through her flimsy salwaar from his damp tshirt and jeans. Jai did not let her go, instead kept his eyes locked with hers. "Kuch yaad ayaa?" he asked softly. Bani shook her head. She tried pushed him to free herself but he wouldn't budge. Tears misted her eyes and she lifted her lashes up and whispered, "Please mujhe chod do."
"Aur no choduun toh..."
Bani looked at him trying to figure out what he was playing at. "Ek shart pe chod doon." Jai finally said. "Kya?"
"Tum meri saath holi khelongi." He said teasingly. Rubbing some of the colour from his hand on to her face. Bani eyes widened, she said pleadingly, "Nahi. Mujhe nahi pasand...woh bheega hona aur powder se kapre bigaad jayenge."
"Toh kya. Mei tujhe nayee kapre ladoonga. Please Bani, come on. Maaza ayega. Shayaad bachpana ki yaad bhi wapas ajaye mujhe." Jai released his hold slightly but not completely. "Chod du?" he teased quite close to her ears. Bani nodded. "Mere saath holi khelengi?" he whispered further. Bani nodded again. Jai released her but took hold of her hand and pulled her along with him.
Masi watched in surprise to see Jai walk about holding Bani's hand. A smile spread on her face. May be before he goes back, her munna may fulfill her wish to see Bani as her daughter-in-law. Her happiness grew even more as she watched them throw colour at each other and join in the fun. Bani's laughter rang out as she tried to escape Jai's clutches. Ranveer and Anu gawked at Jai and Bani. Both of them unaware of the pairs of eyes watching them. Ranveer nudged Anu, "Looks like mamaji has wooed his childhood buddy back." Anu gazed dreamily, "Don't you think she looks good with him? I think she might be the one to finally get mamaji tie the knot." Ranveer snorted, "You women, all you think about is marriage. Can't a guy just have fun. Do we have to be serious about every girl we are seen with."
Anu punched him, "I hope you are joking. Look at mamaji, he is openly flirting with her." Ranveer looked to see Jai had pulled Bani close to him, and was slowly dropping colour over her. "Ahem, do you think I should go over an annoy him?" Ranveer asked Anu. Anu punched him again, "Stay put. I am enjoying this. I will some ammo now, next time I want mamaji to do something for me," she said gleefully.
Couple of hours later, hair, clothes matted with colour, Jai and Bani sneaked off towards the back with plate full of food. Three pairs of eyes followed them till they disappeared around the corner.
Finding a spot to sit down, Bani went to water tap outside and washed her hands and face off. Since her dupatta was caked with colour she just left her face wet. Jai followed suit. Both of them ate silently, hungry from all the running around. "Jai wait, I will be back," Bani set her plate down and went through the back door of the house. Couple of minutes later she came back. She held her hand out to him, couple of masi's ladoo lay in the palm of his hand. Jai took one and bit into it, "Thanks." He looked at her for a second and then held the ladoo close to her mouth, Bani hesitated for a moment and then bit into the ladoo. Jai smiled and then put the whole ladoo in his mouth while holding her gaze.
Afterwards they walked around the garden, Bani telling him some of the things they did when they were young. Jai was amazed at how much she remembered, her soft voice sounded sweet as her memories of them spilled out. When they came to the jhula, Jai asked, "Was this here when we were small?" Bani shook her head, "No, this jhula was put up much later...after you stopped coming here." There was a tinge of sadness when she said that. "Why did you stop coming?" Bani asked. Jai just shrugged, "I guess school and then helping my dad with the business." Jai took her hand, "Did you miss me?" he asked.
"More than you realize. School holidays were never the same...they were boring. No one to play with, fight with. I hated you for calling me moti."
Jai kissed her hand, "I am sorry I teased you. You are a beautiful woman Bani. I am sure you were cute when you were young. Tell me about your life a little bit. Masi said you might get married." Bani gazed at him, the look in her eyes made him feel bit fuzzy. "Papa is trying to find a suitable boy for me."
"Don't you have a boyfriend? Someone you like."
Again Bani stared at him, "No boyfriend, but have a friend that I like very much, but don't know if he feels the same about me as I feel about him. I can't tell him I love him unless he hints he feels same about me." For some reason, Jai felt jealous of the guy Bani was in love with him. For a few minutes both of them stayed silent, neither saying anything but looking at each other. Masi's voice calling him broke the silence. Jai gave her rueful look, "Guess I better go." Jai walked away quickly. Bani sighed, she had opened her heart to him but he had no clue she had talked about him.
Later in the evening Bani had returned, having showered and changed clothes. She and Jai exchanged looks before she disappeared in the kitchen. Masi was busy making evening meal and Bani quickly joined in. There were only two of them in the kitchen. When everything was almost done, masi sat down on a chair. "Bani ek baath puchoon."
"Jee masi," Bani answered casually. "Tujhe Jai pasand hai?" Bani's head jerked up at the question. She felt herself blush, words seemed to stall in her throat, and she just nodded her head. Masi laughed at her, "Baas yehi janana tha mujhe. Jai se puchke mei tere papa se baath karungi."
Late at night when everyone had gone up to sleep, masi knocked on Jai's door and entered. Jai was sat in the bed, flicking through a magazine. "Masi, kuch kaam tha?" he asked as it was quite late at night. Masi sat at the end of the bed, "Bas ek sawal poochna tha?'
"Kya masi?"
"tujhe Bani pasand hai?" masi asked softly.
Jai stared straight into masi's eyes, his heart thudded loudly, he never expected this. "Haan masi, kyun nahi pasand. Apne toh bola tha hum ache dost the."
Masi sighed, "Woh tum chote the tab. Issi waqt ki baat kuch aur, abhi tum dono chote nahi ho." Jai took hold of masi's hand, "Meni saach kaha masi. Bani abhi bhi mujhe acche lagti hai."
"Toh phir uske papa se tumare dono ki shaadi ki baat karu?" masi asked. Jai gulped, how did marriage come into it. "Bani se apne baat kari.' Masi ruffled his hair, "Pagla, phele usse poonch kar toh mei tere saath baat kaar rahi hoon. Woh tujhse pyaar karti hai Jai. Uski ankoonh saaf bata deti hai." Jai felt another jolt, Bani loved him, she had said she loved someone, but never said it was him. Then he remembered, she had said she didn't know if the boy felt the same way about her. Oh God, what a fool he had been. Why did she tell him the truth, if not to get his reaction.
"Masi pehle mujhe Bani se baat karne do." Masi gave a deep sigh, "Accha kal baat karlena, jaldi se mujhe bata dena mujhe uske papa se milna hai ya nahi." Sleep did not come easily to Jai after masi left. Thoughts about Bani filled his mind. Had he been pulled towards her because he loved her too. He admitted, he had been jealous when she said she loved someone else.
Morning dawned slowly. Jai drifted in and out of sleep. It was quite late when he woke up. He got ready hurridely, remembering his talk with masi. When he reached downstairs no one was about. He peeked into the kitchen but no one was there. He strolled outside towards the back of the house. Saw Masi and Bani hanging washed clothes. Jai casually strolled over, "Good morning." he said. Masi winked at him, "Good morning munna. Bhuk lagi?" she asked. Jai nodded, "Pehle coffee milengi?" he asked.
Masi nodded and then turned to Bani, "Jaa ek cup coffee banade." Bani hurried in, followed by Jai. In the kitchen Bani set about making coffee for him. Jai sat at the table and watched her. She seemed slightly flustered by his gaze. Bani poured coffee out and set it on the table and then set about getting plate of food for him to eat. She set the plate on the table and stood silently. Jai stood up and tilted her face so he could look into her eyes. After a few seconds, he sighed, "Masi says there is love in your eyes for me, how come I can't see it?" he asked. Bani glared back at him, "It's not funny Jai. Masi did not say such thing." Jai smiled, "She did last night. She asked me if I liked you. She wanted to talk to your father about us, but I told her I needed to find something from you."
"Kya?" Bani asked little hesistantly now.
"Well do you love me? Am the guy you were talking about yesterday?" Bani smiled, "Yes, I have always loved you. But you don't have to feel pressured to marry me. I don't want to marry you if you don't love me."
"And what if I want to marry you because I love you. Would you say yes?" Bani flung her arms around him taking him by surprise. "Yes...yes...yes." A cough coming from behind had Bani scrambling. Her face turned red as masi's eyes twinkled back at her.
"Hogayi baath Jai. Bani ki papa se baat karlu." masi asked laughing softly.
Jai pulled Bani in a hug, "Haan. Jaldi karlo, kal meri flight hai."
Masi tuttuted, Cancel karde. Jab teri mangni hojaye phir chale jana." And she left to go and make her call. Bani looked at Jai, her eyes said, "Are you really leaving tomorrow?"
"I was but I guess I have to cancel to keep masi happy...and you."
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Two days later, Jai and Bani got engage. Masi also got the wedding date to be fixed in two months time and told Jai he and the family better make sure they get here two weeks before the wedding. Jai objected saying why couldn't the wedding be in Mumbai, but masi told him firmly, all of Bani's family was here and no way all of them could come for the wedding. It was simpler for Jai and Jigyasa with the family to come here.
Epilogue(before I get dozen request for one)
Two months later Jai and Bani got married with a lot of traditional gana, nachna and masti. (Just like they do in KS) For honeymoon, they flew to Europe for two weeks and toured some of the cities they had always wanted to see.
A year later, Mr and Mrs Walia were proud parents of Krishna and Atharva. Jigyasa adored her bhabhi and then her neice and nephew. With coming of Bani into Walia house, Jigyasa gave up her kitty parties and salon visits. Instead she tried to become a good mom to Ranveer and Anu and a good wife for Adi. (See if Jigs turns good than no raaz for Bani to snoop around. Which means, Jai gets all the attention from his wife.)
THE END
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
