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Chapter 5
"We are very keen to go ahead with the alliance, Uncle ji. We want to take Nidhi home at the earliest!"
Nidhi pinched herself just so she could be sure she was not dreaming. Everything that had been happening since evening had a dream like quality almost. It had begun with a nightmare though when Baba had spoken of another alliance. Just then, Vidhya had arrived at their doorstep like an angel, as if in response to the fervent prayers Nidhi had been sending upwards from the day of the Satyanarayan Pooja. It was then that she had seen him last and then that he had promised to come soon to claim her officially.
"Nidhi beta, please come here!"
Nidhi's mother had banished her into the bedroom with an order that she was not to step out until and unless she was called for. She had had no choice but to obey although she had strained her ears to listen to their conversation. As if to frustrate her, much of the conversation that ensued had been conducted in murmurs but for that last statement of Vidhya's, made loud and clear as if to announce their intent in no uncertain terms.
Shyama hurried into the room just then and shook her daydreaming daughter by her shoulder.
"Did't you hear Baba call for you? Come on quick!"
Just when she would have made to rush out of the room, Shyama held her back as she tried to straighten her hair and powder her nose.
"Walk slowly, like the bride that you are going to be!"
She held Nidhi's arm and slowly brought her out of the room.
"Nidhi beta, Vidhya ji has brought the shagun. Please take her blessings and accept it!"
Even before she could approach Vidhya, her bua's strident tone stopped her.
"Ruko Yog, itni bhi kya jaldi hai..len den ki baat bhi toh honi hai. Bhagwan na kare agar kal iss wajah se shaadi mei koi rukavat aagayi toh!"
Shyama could not stop herself from glaring at her nanad. Why couldn't the woman think positive and say something shubh for once in her life.
She found an unexpected ally in Vidhya though.
"Arre Maaji, please do not think that way. We want nothing other than Nidhi. God has been kind enough to shower his utmost blessings on us and we don't need to depend on anything that a daughter-in-law might bring!"
Her dulcet tones masked her somewhat sharp words but Shyama was glad to see that her nanad had nothing to say in retort.
Yog seemed perturbed still though.
"Haan, Didi is right. Why don't we wait for a formal meeting with Mathur Saab and Bhabhi ji before we get into such formalities!"
"Uncle ji, is my word not good enough for you?"
When Vidhya put it like that, Yog had no choice but to relent somewhat.
"Nahi beti, aisi baat nahi. It is just that...!"
"Uncle ji, you will meet Mumma and Papa very soon. This very Sunday in fact if you are willing!"
Yog and Shyama looked at her in puzzlement.
"Our pandit ji says there is a shubh mahurat on Sunday. So we can have the sagai right then if you are okay!"
An overwhelmed Yog looked at Shyama in askance.
"But there is so much to be done...I mean nothing is ready yet...!"
"Aunty ji, let us keep it small, just family and close friends. We can plan for a grand wedding later!"
Shyama turned to look at Nidhi and the glow on her face sealed her response.
"Jaisa aap logon ko teekh lage!"
"Now that your parents have said yes, will you please accept this, Nidhi?"
With her mother gently pushing her in Vidhya's direction, Nidhi slowly approached her and bent down to take her blessings.
Placing a hand on Nidhi's head, Vidhya pronounced loudly.
"With my brother for a husband, you are blessed already. He is one in a million. You are truly lucky that he has chosen you, Nidhi!"
Shyama noticed the questions in her nanad's eyes and preempted her before she could voice them.
"We are glad that our daughter is marrying into your family, Vidhya ji. My nanad has not talking about you ever since the day you visited our home. It is because of blessings of elders like her that Nidhi has been blessed with such a wonderful alliance!"
Although she glared at Shyama, Bua ji could not say much else to counter her. She offered Vidhya a weak smile that did not quite reach her eyes. Vidhya's response was perfunctory, driven more by social niceties rather than any real warmth.
Oblivious to all of this, Nidhi was already lost in her dreams for Sunday.
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"Has Ashu called yet?"
"Nirmala, why do you worry, he is not some small kid!"
"Where is Vidhya?"
Mr Mathur and Armaan exchanged worried looks wondering how to tell the lady that they had no clue. She had stormed out of the house shortly after breakfast and there was no sign of her since.
Armaan could not help feeling particularly guilty. Why had not kept his mouth shut? Where was the need for him to meddle with their family affairs?
It had all started at the breakfast table. Armaan had not wanted to have another run-in with Vidhya, particularly after the events of the previous evening. But he had been left with no choice since he had to discuss an important business matter with Mr Mathur.
When he had walked in on them having breakfast, he was surprised to note that Ashu was absent.
"Why isn't Ashu having breakfast?"
"Laad saab is yet to wake up. He will be here when he is good and ready!"
It was Mr Mathur who had answered his question before asking him to join them.
"Thank you, Uncle. But you know Shylu doesn't let me leave home on an empty stomach. She had made amazing parathas today, so good they were that I ended up eating half a dozen!"
Even as Armaan had patted his stomach, VIdhya had noisily pushed her chair back and gotten up.
"Please excuse me. I am done!"
As he observed her walking off in a huff, Mrs Mathur addressed him.
"Beta, can you go and check on Ashu? It is not like him to sleep for so long!"
He had nodded and walked away in the direction of the stairs.
Just as he had been about to climb the stairs, Vidhya's voice stopped him.
"Go back home, Armaan! Your wife must have made the next batch of parathas by now!"
He had turned around to see her standing in the small patio that adjoined the house.
"Why Vidhya? Would you like to taste them? Shylu would be only too happy to make some for you!"
"We have good cooks here, thank you! And the idea was to politely ask you to leave so you would keep your nose out of our family business!"
"Thanks for your concern for my nose, Vidhya. But Ashu is as much my brother as yours!"
"Oh shut up, you are nothing to us. Just a charity case that my father chose to take upon himself!"
"I won't contradict you on that, Vidhya. i am grateful to Uncle and owe what I am today to him. But what does that have to do with Ashu?"
"He is my brother and I want to protect him from your wrong influence. I don't want you filling his head with silly notions..!"
"Silly notions...like togetherness, sharing, empathy, romance, love forever...words that don't find a place in your dictionary, right VIdhya?"
She looked at him sneeringly.
"Useless notions fit for the likes of you...!"
Armaan looked at her almost pityingly.
"Tell me, Vidhya. Why does the notion of your brother marrying for love rile you so much. Is it just concern for him...or is it more than that? More a case of him not enjoying what you once disregarded and threw away...is that it? Maybe you are missing it and don't want your brother to have what you don't?"
Vidhya's face was red with rage but. before she could retort, a servant came running out.
"Vidhya memsaab...please come. Maa ji has fainted! Saab is asking for you!"
Vidhya and Armaan had both rushed upstairs to find the older lady collapsed on the bed. She had a paper clutched in her hand.
"Ashu has left behind a note saying he wants to be alone. No news of where he is going or when he will be back!"
Mr Mathur looked shocked himself as he updated Armaan and Vidhya on the occurences.
Vidhya had gone and sat next to her mother and stroked her head.
"Mumma...Ashu will be back..why are you worrying now...just relax!"
Mrs MAthur murmured in a weak voice.
"I know him...he won't come...unless...Nidhi...wedding...!"
Vidhya had looked up at her father who had returned it with an almost pleading look of his own.
The doctor had walked in just then. After an examination, he had asked the family to keep her stress free and happy as her BP had shot up dangerously. That was not a good thing given that she was a heart patient!
The bedroom door opening brought Armaan back to the present.
He was surprised to see Vidhya. So she was back!
She went straight up to her mother and sat down beside her on the bed.
"Mumma, the engagement is on Sunday. Have informed all Ashu's friends of this. Don't worry, your son will get what he wants and so will you. And most importantly', i don't grudge anybody their love or happiness. Why should I when I have enough of both in my own life?"
She threw the last two sentences direct at Armaan before getting up and leaving the room.
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"Nidhi, what color saree are you going to wear for the engagement?"
"I don't know. Whatever Maa gives me!"
"Just thought I should let you know that Bhiayya likes blue!"
Nidhi blushed a deep shade of red even as she wondered if she could ask her mother to buy her a blue saree.
"Oh My god, Bhaiyya is here!"
Nidhi looked up on hearing Anjie screech.
There he was, standing at the small shop across the road from their college.
What was he doing here?
Had he come to see her in secret?
Before she could do or say anything, Ashutosh rushed towards them.
Before Nidhi could even react, he had caught hold of her hand.
"Nidhi, will you elope with me?"
Kumkum Bhagya
Anupamaa
