The Party~ part 1
Dressing up and Journey
Dutta smoothens his black waist coat with his perfectly manicured fingers, as he positions himself before the mirror dresser. He examines the face of the man in the mirror, and the corners of his mouth drop in his typical smug yet shy smile, this burly tough Dutta is undergoing an over haul.He arranges an escaped strand of hair back in place above his forehead, and contemplates, here he is grooming himself for a party, as opposed to meeting his underworld requirements. The world seems to smile at him, his status quo is modified, much to his liking!
For this Dutta Bhau is not the thinker, philosopher, statesman or poet, but without a doubt even in his own mind, he stands a lover nowadays! Dutta scratches his stubble with his fore finger and contemplates, that he was ,and is a simple man, who loves his family, works hard, and follows set morals. Dutta, considers himself blessed now, for after taking a painful journey of ultimately accepting real love, he has indeed found it in Naku. He divorces his reflection and tilts his head sideways ,as his gaze settles on their bed, he muses theirs is not a carnal love, it cannot be, for he recalls the simmer of the unspoken, untouched moments that created a ripple between them, that which they themselves were afraid to acknowledge in the past. But now Naku is his patni, and he her pati, hence he accepts approvingly, Dutta can be more forth coming in his ways! For, his love is now his in realty his wife, he justifies to himself. The bow of his top lip , parts with his lower lip, giving him a slight open mouth look, his eyes shine with the innocence of a young lad ,but equally combine with the hard set semblance of a man, also. Naku now shares his bed, his room, space, his life!.
Dutta, continues to dress and muse, but he raises his left eye brow to steer himself back to task. He unscrews the cap of Emporio after shave, pours a few drops on his broad palms, and pats it on his groomed stubble face. He then reaches out for the cologne and sprays his chest and neck with a few cologne laden squirts. He continues to linger before the mirror,studying himself, for any shortcomings with his look,but alongside he continues to ponder.Who would have predicted in the past that Dutta ShriRam Patil would be currently awaiting his wife to finish her taiyaar hona session! , the bow of his upper lip stretched into a tiny smile and he shakes his head gently.
He fondly exhales a little air and plumes his chest, and deduces, after all this is the first time she will be going with her Saab to a party outside PN!
"Saab",utters Naku shyly, he turns around and his eyes behold her, the complete package, he is slightly taken aback, and he again sucks some air as his mouth opens once again.Dutta starts to fidget with his gold ring on his right finger and brings his hands forward, to contain himself. "Saab", she addresses him again, "mein theek dikhte hai ? He has no answer for her question, as he surveys her with glazed eye hypnosis. His eyes indulge themselves on her scarlet red and gold sari; the drapes envelope her with immaculate grace and spell out the subtle curve of her waist and hips, his eyes rove on her pallu which crosses her bosom rests on her opposite shoulder and falls behind her. Her hair is disciplined, as per usual in a middle parting braid , the top part of her face still sporting the short parted fringe that teases her forehead. He experiences hot blood travel through his body, as he craves to hold her in his arms, instead seemingly he struggles to set aside his desire, but soon realizes it is to no avail, and he lowers his hands and walks towards her, as if in a trance.
"Saab", Naku whispers as he stands close to her, he places his finger on her delicate lips, and softly cups her face in his hands, to study it; he notices her hazel green eyes are inner lined with kajal, that flicks upwards at the out set corners, he is reminded of a doe's eyes.He bends ,to gently brush his lips against her closed eye lids, he is careful not to prickle her soft skin with the bristle above the bow of his top lip. His lips gradually soar to the black wings of her eye brows, and then descend to her pink glowing, soft cheeks. He moves his head back and looks at her slightly rouged lips and bends his head down to feel her mouth with his, but she puts her soft palm against his burning lips."Saab, koi ah jai ga, aur daair bhi ho rahi hai!" Dutta shakes his head ,draws his breath guiltily, bites his lower lip and straightens up, and looks at her completely smitten and besotted by her beauty! He looks at her pallu which has moved and reveals a hint of her cleavage, he curtly says, "Naku ye pallu theekh kar lai, khein party mein"...Naku didn't wait for him to finish his sentence! his countenance said it all, the compressed mouth, the slight tilt of his head to one side and the distant narrow gaze. Naku moves to the cupboard to find a safety pin and he watches her hands secure the pallu in place above her shoulder, and he gives her a softer complacent look.
Dutta saunters to their bed and sits on the edge facing the dresser mirror, as if he can predicts her next move.Naku moves like a nymph towards the dresser, opens a drawer and carefully takes out the jewellery box ,she picks up a pair of gold drops ,and sees his reflection staring at her, completely enamoured by her beauty.She holds up the ear drops, but he screws up his noses lightly and shakes his head. Naku picks up another pair of earrings ,and shows him, and he bites his lower lip and shakes his head again.Finally she picks up a pair of jhumkis and shows him the pair, through the reflection, his face breaks into a smile, and his eyes twinkle drowsily as he nods his head in affirmation. Naku holds her ear lobe by one hand while the threads the jhumki in, Dutta gets up lovingly and nods his head to Naku's reflection ,as if to seek her permission, and on her smiling, he picks up the other jhumki and carefully puts it in the other ear. Before sitting down on the bed again, he bends from behind her and plants a kiss on the top her head, in way of approval. She smiles and puts on her mangalsutra
Eventually she adorns her arms with bangles, and a fascinated Dutta stands ,as she stands too, and he strums his fingers on her red and gold bangles that move on her arms.
Naku looks up at his eyes, indicative of longing to love her, and swiftly ,but gently says "Saab, bas main taeyaar hai, sirf bag dhoondna hai! ..
Dutta thinks ,there we go! women after 10 hours of preening ,still not enough."Theek hai Naku" ,he replies as he sits back on the bed ,this time reclining his head against the
head board, as he continues to drool over her! She goes to their cupboard ... he looks at her beauty that is crowned by simplicity, he muses it is this simplicity that always leaves a lasting impact on him, from the day he first saw her to this day! He meditates how exclusive she is when he compares her to Kala's glamour! He dismisses his thought and moves on to Naku's uncontrived innocence that holds him captive.
"Saab", Naku interrupts his thinking train, "ye bag theek hai? she asks and shows him the gold clutch bag, he presses his hands on the bed to raise himself from the bed and answers "haan Naku ab chal bhi, aur kitna time laagayegi tayaar hona mein tu? he asks
irritatingly.
"Bas Saab sirf sandal pehni hai ! KYA! he is about to holler, but stops at the impact it has on her for she briskly goes to the cupboard, pulls out a pair of stiletto heels, swinging the loops on her fingers, in front of him.Questioningly Dutta ,folds his upper,lip and raises an eye brow at her, quizzing her, Naku khabhi aisi jotti phene hai tu naine?. In answer she fits her toes in the stilettos and pulls the slings up above her heels.
Dutta watches the spectacle bemused and commands her, "aacha tu mera pas chal kar aah Naku", she smiles and with careful steps of geared confidence, painstakingly walks towards her Saab. He wore a smile as he watches her jerky gait, and he stretches his lips and jerks his head, just in time before she got to him,to catch her in his arms! preventing a fall and a twist of her ankle! She gently beat his chest and complains "Saab aap haans rehan ho!" Dutta replies as he balances her, "Naku hansoon nai tu kya karoon? jab tu iss jooti mein chal nahi sakte tu phaney ki kya zaroorat hai?! he exclaimed, but he could also see his Naku was near to a fluster so he gives her a peck on her fore head to make amends!
She gently pushes him away and proceeds to the cupboard again and gets a pair of gold kitten heeled sandals which she slips, on so as to show him. Dutta declares "haan ye theekh hai Naku! ab chal,"and reaches for her arm to chivvy her to leave for the party, but she runs to the dresser again ,this time to squirt herself with the perfume he likes on her,Diamonds by Armani... "Right"! decides Dutta , and walks towards her with defiance, "Naku tu chalte hai ya phir mein,?"and he starts to gather her in his arms..."Saab"!, she wrangles free "chalein,chalien!, he drops his hands and walks out of his.. their room... and she follows him demurely...
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Dutta braces himself a wee bit both emotionally and physically, takes a deep breath and starts to proceed down the stairs mechanically from his room to the PN hall. He, with brisk dexterity does away with the previous display of passion with Naku in their bedroom, and puts in place a stiffened togetherness to himself. He steals a sideways artful glance to ascertain if she was following suit. He quickens his descent by a notch, as he prefers, Naku come on her own so as not to create a stir from the inquisitive onlookers of Baji, Aye Shahib and Roops. On reaching the last step Baji moves towards Dutta and questions him in jest 'kya Bhau aap jashan ka liye tiyaar nahi hoin? Dutta replies back 'tu bhi to tiyaar nahi hoya Baji, chal teekh hai dunno asi he jaingey" Baji turns immediately as he hears a soft clip clop on the wooden steps descending from Bhau,s room, his face breaks into a twinkling smile ,poked with dimples on both sides of his face. Naku carefully makes her final descent towards the bottom step.' Haila Nakku tu to ekdum" .. before he can complete his sentence he looks at Dutta who is gives him killing looks and nods his head warningly! Naku joins them shly. Aye Sahib beams in obvious delight as she takes in Naku's effort and the beauty that make her look extra special today ' Naku aaj to tu bahoot sunder lag rehi hai'. Dutta ,lowers his eyes tilts his head in shy fashion, nonetheless pleased as he hears his wife get a shower of verbal praise. Roops approaches Naku and fusses around her excitedly ' so cute na!? she questions Dutta, who again lowers eyes speedily, lest anyone catches his ogling at Naku yet again. Naku looks at him and hides a mysterious smile in her eyes and on her lips , what a transformer her Saab is as if butter will not melt in his mouth! Dutta catches her biting her lower lip slightly and he can assess from her gaze what she is thinking about his, not so long ago naughty antics and is comparing it to his present in check composure. Aye Shahib jars their musing and remarks to Dutta and Baji' tum dono aaj bhi kaam waley kaproon mein ja rahey ho? Before one of them can supply a satisfactory answer, Roops throws in' Aye Sahib, party mein Bhau aur Baji kay kam walay log bhi hoon gay,issi laye ye duno ek dum serious dekhna chate hai, haina ne Bhau?" ,she turns to Dutta for consent'; Dutta, murmurs a hmmm in a definite tone. Aye Sahib on hearing this charges "haan teekh hai , par wahan pe tum dunno kaam ki baat nehi karna, Naku ka khayal bhi rekna'! Baji assures her ' ho Aye Sahib aap bikul tension na karien mein aur Bhao hain na Naku ka dehan rekanaey kay liya'. Dutta nods with silence speaking in command. Dutta, reels towards Aye Sahib and states in matter of fact tone' ap log khaney par humara inteezar mut karna, kyon ke hum kahna wohein par keha ker ahengey, "he says with a degree of unease, which does not go unnoticed by Naku. She knows full well that her Saab at the best of moments prefers to eat at home with his family. Aye Sahib nods with approval and turns to her bahu, 'Naku, Memon seth ki beti ka tofa lai liya hai na tu nai'? Naku smiles and replies 'Jee aye Sahib, mein nay card lei laya hai, aur Saab nay us mein cheque daal diya hai'. "Ho" Aye Sahib, adds Baji.'woh lardki apni pasand ke cheez khareed sakteey hai' Dutta scans Baji playfully, as if to say, smart ass! Dutta, addresses Baji' chal ab ghare nakal' Baji with alertness replies 'ho Bhau mein tu kab se ready hai, pun tum' ,Dutta raises his hand to signal enough is enough, but Baji carrys on teasingly "Bhau jeep tu nahin, haina?, "Baji"!, Dutta growls at this tomfoolery, as he is one step away from fury "Nahen! Chal nehin tu doon ga ultay haath ka kaan ki neechaey ghumakey!" Aye Sahib hastens as the referee and admonishes the pair of them' kya tum dono , bachoon ki theraan larte rahtey ho' , Baji puts his hands his hands up in mock surrender, while Roops giggles on, and Naku just smiles lovingly at the two friends. "Chalo Bhau aaj style mein jayengi mercedeeez mein"!yells an excited Baji ,and seeing Dutta's yes Baji breaks further into a split second gig! . Dutta, in a somewhat mock despair nods his head as he looks at Naku, who is obviously alongside everyone else, enjoying Baji's buffoonery. Baji gives a thumbs up,' ho Bahu, and yells 'Kalay ! mercedez nakal ,ekdum chak chak! abhi ke abhey ! fit fat! hum ko janna hai!! Kalay leaves to carry out the order.
The, three make their way towards the parked Mercedez ,and Dutta, instructs Baji to drive the car,on hearing which Baji beams and pauses briefly to allow, Dutta and Naku to make way towards the door of the back seat. Dutta, stretches forward and opens the door of the car for his wife, he looks at her as she comes before him as he points his left hand to usher her to get in the vehicle. Naku, gently bends her upper body to get and and Dutta swiftly before her head touches the canopy of the car puts his head on her hand ,to guard her against a bump on the skull. Once she sat in the car,he places her dangling pallu safely near her feet. He watches her position her sari folds above her knees and on her legs, and asks her' tu teekh hai na Naku? she smiles a loving yes to him and Dutta closes the car door and walks around the back of the car ,opens the door, ducks his head and sinks his body next to hers in the car, while he gently pulls the door shut and jerks her body a little with his shoulder.
Dutta, looks at Naku he is so close to her, yet no so. He feels, a strange security in this enclosed space of the back seat of his car, this is surely a moment beyond definition, where nothing can intervene them, as it is established they are heading out together and they remain encaptured! He glances at her sideways with a complacent smile. Naku feels the bulk of his shoulder muscle touching her tiny shoulder, and blushes slightly, whilst enjoying the moment. Baji,sits in the car,' kya Bhau ,aaj mein chauffer aur tum mera pheja seat par ho, kaisa lag reha hai? and he adjusts his rear mirror to check Dutta's expression. 'haan teekh hai, ab chup chap gharee chala aur humein chor! replies Dutta curtly. Baji, turns the ignition and gradually leaves PN. 'Bhau, mein gana chalo karega,tum ko mood mein lane ke lai' since Dutta does not bother to reply, Baji turns on the C.D player, ' tossay nayena laage ra o saawyra , mohabat tu hai ... and the song plays on as the car gently jolts Dutta and Naku's shoulders together in rhythm. Baji talks between the song "Kya Bhau aaj party mein ek dum rapchak lardka aur lardke hoon gay, Seth ki beti ki university ke doost yaar!' Dutta replies "haan Baji tu mujhe na bata, apni haad mein rehna'.he warns. "Ho Bhau tera tu ab koi chance nehi, Naku jo tera saath mein hai' he carries on teasing Dutta, knowing full well that Dutta won't talk to a girl to save his like! Dutta puts him in his place "bikwaas maat ker aur gheeri chaleney par dehan de Baji". Baji, recedes and starts to hum the words of the song. Dutta, looks out of the car window ,musing on Baji's words regarding who is likely to be at the party. He recalls that most of his friends had already met and seen Naku at a party at PN in the past, particularly he recalls with distaste when he had slapped her due to her drunk and disorderly behaviour ,as he saw it. He stiffens slightly as the memories of the incident looms in his mind. Naku felt his shoulder muscle harden and she looks up at him, but decides to leave him as he continues to look at the speeding visions outside. Dutta, muses that his Naku is indeed a very beautiful young woman too look at, he bites his lower lip hard, as he acknowledges that she is his and his alone and for another man to look at her ,more than is required ,enrages him to no end. He feels tiny drops of sweat break out on his nose. Dutta, feels he is anxious for Naku that she may not feel out of place with the inner city university crowd; he wasn't concerned about the PW people they know who he is ,and many know her as his wife also. He takes a deep breath, while Naku decides to give a penny for his thoughts' Saab ap chup kyon ho? Aap teekh ho na?. He is brought back to her and he turns his face towards her, with a gentle nod' haan mein teekh hoon Naku ,tu jo mera saat hai' he assures her.
Baji, drives into the drive way of Memon seth's residence. Naku sitting in the car with Dutta looks at the trees and the entrance of the house laden in pink, rose and clear fairy lights, giving it a shimmery feminine character. She clasps her hands in seen glee as she turns towards Dutta to check his impression, he narrows his eyes to meet her gaze sideways and returns a soft smile. Baji, stops the car, gets out and straightens his kurta as he is approached by the house hold menial Baji bhau sowaagat hai' Baji acknowledges the welcome and hands him the keys and waits for the two to get out. Another servant arrives and leaps forward to open the door for Dutta ,"Bhao namaste', he says respectfully. Dutta steps out of the car, and without a moment's gap gets to the other side of the vehicle and opens the door for Naku, while Baji looks on smilingly. Naku looks at her Saab and wishes that the journey had never ended ,as she felt so near and close to him, Dutta stands outside holds the car door, and ascertains that she has gone into her some think mode and sharply says ' chal Naku ab kya sooch rehi hai', 'haan Saab main' and Naku swings her legs out of the car. Dutta offers her his broad palm which she grabs before he can change his mind. He helps her to maintain her posture as she smoothens and fixes her sari, while he observes her every move. He glances that her gold clutch bag is still on the back seat ,and bends his head low to retrieve it, for a second Baji catches view of the moment and says''kya Bhao ub ap ladeez purse lay ker party mein jayen ge , ghore ka bajaye'!.Dutta gives Baji a menacing look and passes the bag to Naku, who wants to say something to support Baji , but on seeing Dutta's raised palm indicating to stop, she abandons the idea. Dutta folds his hands behind his back and squares up his upper frame to display his preparation that he is ready to proceed. Naku wishes she could hold on to his arm, or even to his hand ,but realizes that would be tantamount to an improbability in this instance ,for her Saab is not advanced in public displays of affection, especially where his work colleagues are present. Dutta looks at her with a faint degree of querying her thoughts, and gradually he brings his left hand forward and points gently for her to go first. Naku responds and he meets her alongside in her gait, with his hands clasped behind his back. Baji follows the couple behind in small steps, as the three of them arrive at the entrance of Memon Seth's residence... to be continued...
Hamlet53 edited. 28.1.13
Edited by Hamlet53 - 12 years ago
