"Mujhe badi fikar ho raho hai, beta, yeh sab kaise hoga? Ek to itna lamba safar, aur upar se Punjabi shaadi! Hamain unki reeton ke bare main khuch bhi pata nahin….kuch bhool ho gai to?", a women was telling his son. Worry was evident from her words as well from the wrinkles of her face.
"Aap bevajah fiker kar rahin hain Ammi, Kapoortala se unke koi parivaar se koi yahaan aane vale hain, hamein sab kuch samjha denge, aur saari taiyarion main madad bhi karenge….", a tall boy sat by the lady's knees, eyeing a jhoomka in the great spread of jewellery and garments around him.
"…vaise bhi aapne to is hi ghar mein chaar-chaar shaadiyan karvayi hai. Is baar to sirf barat le ke jaana hai!", said the boy reaching out to the jhoomka.
"Arre, dekho bhaijaan, aap hum auraton ki kaam main dakhal na do! Vaise bhi, hamari bhabhi ko chod ke aapki choice badi kharab hai….." one of the seven girls said…making all of them giggle.
"Yaad hai Ammi, aapa ki shaadi main bhaiyaa ne mujhe hare ghagre ke saath kala dupatta pasand karvaya tha….", said the youngest looking one, smiling.
"Bhaijaan, aur unke raang…..hara ya kala ya fir bhoora…..sara samay apni fauj ki baatein…..aur kuch aata bhi hai kya unko??", said another, still giggling!
The boy oblivious to all this mazak masti, was staring at the golden jhoomka, with red beeds…….thinking of his beloved, his love……his would-be-wife….
"Maine agar tere saath freashers ball main aane se inkaar kar diya, to tu mujhe mana nahin sakta tha??"
"Hum bhi kamre main yahi soch rahe the…."
"Par tune aaj miss bahut kuch kiya, sabne itna maza kaiya, itna naache…."
"Aap kise bevkoof bana rahin hain? Yeh hum bhi jante hain aur aap bhi, ke aape to ball main kiya w o h dance nahin tha!"
"To kya tu sikhayega mujhe dance karana……?"
The look in his eyes said it all. He, who had never danced, never beheld a girl other than his sisters, never gone so close to anyone, never felt love……took her hand and lead her to the deserted dancefloor!! And they dance, for what seemed like hours…..without any music with perfect harmony!
"Captain Ali Begh!!", called a voice from the courtyard!
Ali shot up and rushed to the door….the voice sounded weirdly familier, but Ali couldn't recongnise it…..
"SURIJI…..aap!!', yelled Ali
"Badi changi gal hai puttar, tu evahi Pooja se biyah kar lega aur hamein batayega bhi nahin?? Par meri beti apne Suriji ko nahin bhooli, to maine usse kaha….ke pahele us gadhe ki khabar leta hoon, fir teri baraat main naachta aaunga!", smiled Suriji. "Waie puutarji, sachhi gal e hai, ki main ithhe Kanpur vich apne bhanje de ghar aaya si, aur vahan yeh tere vaalidsaab mil gaye."
"Hamein to vishvaas hi nahin ho raha hai…..Ammi, apa….ye dekhiye Suriji, aaye hain, Academy se! Main inke bare main aapko apni chitthion main likhta tha na?",Ali explained!
********************************************************* *************
"Parjaai, laddu motichur ke hi mangvana, shaadi main unke bina ji nazza nahin aata!"
"Nahin bua, mujhe to kheer khaani hai."
"O puttar, tujhe kya maloom? Saare Kapurthala vich koi byah motichor de bagair hua hai?!"
"Nahi……….mujhe kheeeeeeeeer!"
A boy of about four and an old woman were arguing, sitting in the varandah of a mension-like house surrounded by trees. A Sardar enters with three other men and pulled a stool near the jhoola on which the woman was sitting.
"Dono mangva lenge puttarji, koi gal nahin! Jo bhi hamare chotu ko pasand hai, wohi banega didi ki shaadi vich!"
"Tu bhi Surender, bigaad baitha hai in bachhon ko!", said the old woman wth a smile.
"Inhise to hamari jind vich rang bhar aate hain, biji! Oye sunlo, o khotyo, saadi kudi di shaadi main koi bhi kami nahin rehni chahiye…..O biji, apni jhalli sahelion de naal bazaar gai si, vaapas kab aayegi?"
"Bachchi, waqt ki badi pakki hai, das baje ka keh har gayi thi, ja dekh le, apne kamre main sahelion ke saath gappe maar rahi hogi……"
"Aaho-ji! Yeh armywale yeh cheez badi changi sikhate hain!
"Captaindidi to kad ki aa gai si…..didi…………………….!!", boy yelled!!
"Oye, Phate dhol, tu phir se chillaya!", a girl of about 24, tall, pretty and bubbly, rushed out with a stick and ran behind the boy!
"Bachchi, tu us Bandar ke piche mat bhaag. Tu ja, apne dostan de naal….", and the girl went in……….
************** ************************ **************************
"Beep-beep"
Her cell phone flased "1 Message Received"
Her fingers trembled, she smiled…..she knew who this could be…….clicked, "Read"
"Good MorningJ" it read!
No senders name, but she knew it! It was he, who was the sender of all the incoming messages to her heart……Captain Ali Begh!
"Kiska message hai, Poojadi?" and a group of about fifteen giggling girls entered her room.
"Mujhe to ek hi network se incoming aate hain……", and the girls giggled again!
"Ab to aap pakdi gayi didi, aaj to aapko apni academy waali baatein humain karni hi padegi."
"Haan, didi, aaj hum aapko nahin jaane dene waale"
"Achha? To theek hai, poorane messages padh hi deti hoon! Bolo kya bataun?"
"Aap ke saath jiju wahin the na? Aur kaun kaun the?"
"Hmmmm…..Ali aur main vahi mile the….main kisike saath baat karti hui gir padi aur who mujhse baat karne gaya, par main behosh ho gayee….",Captain Pooja Ghai was all-set to venture into her old memories…..but didn't know where this journey would take her!
"….usse sab 'usool' kehte the, aur mujhe 'panjaban', dono naam jat ne rakhe the…."
"Jat? Kaun jiji?"
"Arre sada Huda, kamal da banda tha. Hamesha hasta, aur aspas sab ko hasata rehta tha….saari kudiyan paagal thi us jhalle de piche!"
The young ones in the group giggled at the mere imagination of him.
"….aur tha Yudi, w o h chote bachche jaisa tha, ekdam stupid! Par dil da bada changa tha. Kudion da department weak tha uska…….hum uski bahut khichai karte the!…", Pooja's eyes were flipping through the pages of Kanchanjunga Military Academy…..
"Aur…………Suriji, humare liye papaji jaise the, kabhi data diya karte the, par saare bachchon ke dil pehchante the, Lolita mam thi, Dr.Shalini thi, w o h teacher kum aur dost zyada thi…. Aur Nair tha, use to maine dim main tare dikha diye….bahut pitai ki maine uski……sabse khatarnaak, BC tha, usse Huda 'Tau' kehta tha….usko jhelna ek drill poori karne jaisa tha"
"Phir "quaidi" tha, kam bolta tha, par jab bhi bolta sach bolta, theek bolta…..dosti main, aur dushmani main jaan de jaye! Aalekh, kai baar hamein kuch galat karne se roka hai usne….! Admi ko turant hi pehchan jata tha…..bas ek baar hi bhool kar di……", Pooja's voice shivered, and then, "Aur kuch, ya itna bas hua?………….."
"Aur didi, tumhari who best friend, jiske bare main aap ma ko likhti thi….kya naam tha…….haan…..Naina??"
"Naina……?? W o h……………..", her voice died down………………. "Arre, kudiyon, tumhe, saariyaan nahin chunni kya…..meri shaadi main to 'only best dressed allowed", kya?"
The girls giggled and ran away to the next room where all the other ladies were making purchases.
Pooja was left behind….alone…..lost in thoughts……Naina's name baught tears in her eyes….for a second….. "We have to move on…..all of us…..and she too…..", she told herself…..and gathered herdelf back to the present…..
"Pooojeeeeeeee……….."
"Aaayeee, ma!", answered Pooja, and ran to the adjoining room and engrossed herself forcibly into an animated converstion with her sister on whether to wear blue, or yellow for Mahendi ceremony!
******************* ********************* *****************************
"……WHY??"
"Huh?"
"You know well enough what I am asking, WHY didn't you attend the party??"
"Oh, some important work held me back……."
"It was our party, you did know that Colonel?? OUR party…..and you were NOT there!"
"I have already explained myself….."
"Yes….you certainly have….EXPLAINED……"
Silence…….
"Main hi bevkof hoon, jo yeh sab karti rehti hoon……Paanch saal ho gaye shaadi ko…..aur hum dost bhi nahin bas sakein!"
Silence….
"Kuch bhi karu…..aapko kuch na kuch kaam aa hi jata hai…..Simla jana tha, kaam aa gaya…..pichle saal tumhari bahen ki shaadi hui, mujhe bhej diya…..aur ab saare guests ke beech main akeli thi……….aur aap ko phir se KAAM THA!!??"
"Gopal, meri coffee kahan hai?"
"Important kaam……kya hota hai aapke liye yeh main jaanti hoon…..phir se…."
"PLEASE!!", yelled Colonel Rajveer Singh Shekhavat, at his wife, "….I said I am SORRY!", his wife, Ritu, was almighty's one beautiful creation, with all the aesthetic perfections…..draped in an expensive black saari, sparkling jewellery, she looked like a dream……..but the Colonel's eyes never rested on her….her beauty was all in vain to him. As he looked at her, with a blank expression, his eyes didn't have a tinge of attraction, admiration, love or even respect.
"We are married, do you realize that Colonel?? MARRIED! You owe me some of your time……..Yeh shaadi nibhaana aapki bhi zimmedaari hai!", yelled she.
"Haan…..hai na, meri bhi…..zimmedari……Zimmedari hi to hai!"
Ritu stared at him for a minute, as her silently sipped his coffee. Than walked out of the room….
Rajveer stood up….his hands tucked in his pockets, looked up in the sky, and closed his eyes, "I am sorry……Naveen!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * ((****************************************** ********
The atmosphere grew more festive as cars full of relatives arrived at the Ghai household in Kapoorthala, from all over the country that morning!
Pooja's face had a glow, which made her shine brighter than her chunky jewelery. She was sitting on the jhoola with Biji, and all her relatives wished her one by one as they came. Every now and than, she kept on looking at her hand, where a golden ring with an engraved "A" shone under the sun, the mere glimpse of this, made her pretty face glow even more!
"Oye Praji, tusi, Amritsar wich Hotel book karai?", Pooja's aunt asked her father.
"Yeh tuna achha yaad dilaya.", answered Surender Ghai, "Kuljeet, oye Kuljeete…."
"Ji Pitaji",answered Kuljeet, Pooja's brother.
"Amritsar di koi changi hotel wich ek changa sa kamra dekh ke book karvaade, Pooja de khaad dost aane wale hai…..aur inhe to thik se rakhe nahin, to aspas ke log use pareshaan karne aa jayenge….bhai poora khyal rakhna, hamari khatirdaari main koi kami nahin honi chahiye!", explained Surender.
"Ji, Pitaji", said Kuljeer and drove off in his motorbike.
------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
"Ali, tere liye phone hai."
"Ji, Aapa"
Ali walked up to his sister and took the receiver from her hand.
"Helo?"
"Tum samajhte kya ho? Jo man main aayega w o h karoge? Aur main karne doonga? Bro, you are very much mistaken!", a familiar voice yelled on the other end of the receiver. It took Ali a second to recognize it, and this baught a grin on his otherwise serious face.
"Oh, Yudibhai, hum samaj saktain hain, magar yeh sab itni jaldi….."
"I am terribly angry with you, dude. Aap shaadi kar rahe ho, and what do I get….??? This invitation card…..aur w o h bhi shaadi ke paanch din pahele?"
"Magar, aap aa to rahe hain na?"
"Now he is asking…..Haan, ab teri lovestory ko ham sabne milkar to banaya hai….ab uska success dekhne bhi nahi aayenge kya?"
"To fir der kis baat ki…."
"Anyways, congratulations dude! I will be there in a jiffy. Magar baaki saare bhi aa rahe hain?"
"W o h sab Pooja jaane, usne hi zimmedari li hai!"
"Alright bro…………See you soon!"
'Zaroor"
The chat ended there….Ali had a smile on his face, his friend, one of the closest….and after such a looong time……He had a feeling of excitement, but he feared….that the past, and long forgotten memories would re-surface……
"Ali, yeh tumhara dost Yudi hi than na, jo party waale din….Madonna….??", his sisters question baught Ali back to the present.
"Ji Aapa. Pahele yeh bade confused-se hua karte the, magar ab to sahab Captain Yaduvansh Sahani ho gaye hain, aur KMA main Strategy & Communications padhate hain cadets ko! Dhan-daulat aur saari suvidha main palne ke bavajod army ke sakht aur discipline saanche main khudko dhaala hai inhone!", Ali voice was filled with pride and love for his friend!
***************************** ****************** ******************
Army Headquaters, New Delhi, 1200hrs:
"Saahab ka mood kaisa hai?",Orderly Mayank Shekhar asked his collegue, holding a coffee mug.
'Pata nahin, aaj kisiko andar bulaya hi nahin!"
"Aisi koi baat nahin hai, magar zaraa sa darr lagta hai. Saahab waise to hain apni hi umra ka, magar unka jawab nahin….is desh ko un jaise ek do aur mil jaye na, to in sab dushmano ki chhotti kar de!"
"Yaar, fir bhi, zaraa sambhalyo! Kabhi pyaar se dost ki tarah baat kartein hain, aur kabhi aise dekhtein hain ki………"
"…Kuch bhi bol, koi baat hai, saade Major main, pichle saal Diwali pe ghar aaye the, to amma ke pairon ke paas baith gaye aur phir unhi se baatein ki, saari shaam, aur jaate jaate bole, 'Shekhar, amma ki jaan se laga kar rakhna!'…."
Trembling, Orderly knocked at the door. The door, that beared a very familiar name, but it seemed so much more respectable today, "Major Aalekh Sharma".
"Aajao, Orderly", a voice as young as a boy's called out!
"Coffee, aur daak, Major!"
"Hmmm…"
Orderly departed.
Major Aalekh Sharma fumbled through his post, flipping through what seemed to be a dozen of different envelopes, his hands jerked to a halt holding a golden envelope. He smiled……pushed aside all other posts, and lay back on his chair.
For several minutes, the strict, efficient, perfect, determined Army Officer, Major Aalekh Sharma, became Cadet Aalekh!
"Yeh fookat ki chai, fookat ka kapda….kaam kya hai?"
"Oye, khotya, yeh jail nahin hai, academy hai…..aur tujhe army officer banana hamara jimma hai!", face of plump Suriji floated in his memories…….
... "Abe oye Quaidi, jail se to nikal gaya, insaan bhi banja, shave kar le, makkhan ki tarah chalega yeh rezor",he could see several cadets holding him back, and one of them came near and near to him holding a razor.
"Kya tum Mujhe ander le jaoge, handsome??", Madonna asked him. This one was too much even for the grim Major to resist….and he laughed sitting in his cabin!
'RING-RING'
"Major Aalekh Sharma…"
"Happy Birthday to you……", said a girl's voice. Aalekh's face gave a never before smile……
"Ek tuich hai, jo mujhe wish karti hai…..saala apun ko hi apun ka birthday pata nahin….", without even realizing, he spoke in a completely different manner….a manner which he now never used, which was alien to all his collegues.
"Mare liye wahi din tumhara birthday jab hum paheli baar mile the, wahaan…..", she said. Her voice has miraculous effect on this strong hearted Major, his face softened every minute……
"W o h kya kehtain hai, 'Thank you'!", his grin widened….
"Bol, kya gift degi mujhe aaj?"
"Jo tu maange, mere paas ab tere siva kuch bhi nahin bacha….."
"Maang loonga, fir denaa hi padega…."
"Ab kisi bhi cheez ki kaami nahin hai, koi cheen sake aisa kuch hai hi nahin….."
"….tera raag nahin sunna mujhe, bol, jobhi apun mangege, milega?"
"Milega, Major….."
"Apun ko, apunki wohi dost chahiye……pooraniwali…………"
There was a long silence on the oppoite end….and then…..
"Pata hai Aalekh, mujhe kal hi……."
"Baat ghooma mat!"
And silence followed…..until Major heard a 'click' on the other end….
The call was disconnected………………………
------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
Its about 1930hrs, Colonel Rajveer Singh Shekhavat is standing by the window leaning on the wall, his hands folded in a tight knot, deep in thought. The knot keeps gatting tighter, his expressions become more and more unreadable every minute.
Is it sorrow? Pain? Peace? Laugh? Shame? Or Love?…..noone can tell!
……………"Sirji, kudi dil di badi changi hai…..aur sabse zyaada aap pe bharosa karti hai"…….
----FLASH----
"I know everything….tum usse bhoole hi nahin……bhool na hi nahin chahte…."
"Ritu! PLEASE! Sach to yeh hai ki tum mujhe kabhi kuch bhool ne hi nahin deti!"
----FLASH-----
"Sir, yeh main bhi janti hoon aur aap bhi, ke w o h ladki badi hi lucky hogi!", an innocent face smiled at him. He gave a smile…though a fril and painful one…as if he was regretting….regretting something……
"Kaun hai who lucky ladki sir?", she asked her again…..
-----FLASH-----
"Take me out of this safely, Captain…..and she will come to no harm……", his face strained again….
-----FLASH-----
"Sir…w o h….main…..mujhe pata hi nahin chala…..main kab…..sir….aap….appse….pya….", the girl in army uniform looked nervous, at a loss of words, but her eyes said it all….even befor she had started…..he found herself enveloped in a hug……and there was no space for words…. "Main samaj gaya…………..tumhare dil ki baat tumhe mujhe kehne ki zaroorat nahin……main……tum to janti ho….hameshase….tumse……", and nothing else was said and they stood there, holding each other, as if to their hearts….for ever and ever…..her smile….her eyes….her words……
-----FLASH-----
"So Captain, what do u have to say? Her life, her trust, her faith, her future, her career…..uski har ek saans aapke hath main hai…..", he felt himself go numb, by mere thought of it. He wouldn't let that happen..…again…...what should he do?
-----FLASH-----
"Hai ek pagli, tun jaanti ho usse….", he had once told her, and she had smiled….her smile, expression he had failed to wipe out from his mind! And the two had laughed …..as she had behaved as if she was a stranger…..she dinno who he was talking about…. "Achha sir, kaun?"
-----FLASH-----
Major Bhargav's hysterical laugh, Major Nair's deceitful glare, Ritu's blank but cruel expression………her silence, Aalekh's glare, Naveen's face…………his helplessness was killing him every second……he had to loose……on both sides…….
Tears flooded, and to hide them……he closed his eyes……
'Knok-knok"…….knok at the door, and Colonel Shekhavat was back again.
"Come-in"
"Colonel, a message from General Singh, he is likely to call you for an urgent business withing 2minutes", conveyed Orderly.
"Hmm…"
He walks around the room for about a minute when,
'RING-RING'
"Colonel Rajveer….."
"Ahh…Yes. Gen.Singh speaking. Colonel, over last week there has been some tension on the Punjab border, and the intelligence has informed that there is to be some kind of disrupt by the terrorists…….unfortunately, some people have successfully entered out territory."
"We can send some officials…."
"No, I don't want people to panic. This will alert them….I want them to continue with their activities and catch them red-handed", explained General
"Orders for me, Sir!"
"I have a special job for you, Rajveer. You are my best officer and I think I can trust you with the job."
"Yessire"
"Well, Colonel, there is a wedding in interior Punjab near Amritsar. A baraat will be reaching there within three days from Kanpur. Son of our retired Subedar is getting married, he himself is a Captain. I want you to go to the wedding under disguise, and keep a track of the happenings, silently, and report back. I will explain and instruct the Subedar and Captain with reason."
"…Sire!"
"I will send you the details of the wedding and your confidinates, by 2300hrs."
"Yessir!", and the call was disconnected. Raj was happy….he had something to occupy his thoughts….he tried in vain to push everything out of his mind…..he had his duties….and engrossed himself in other thoughts……
He wanted to leave…..work, fight……….go on the mission as soon as possible….Ritu's presence in his life was like a mirror that was around him all the time, which reminded him of her all the time….which took him back always…….
'Khana tabke par hai! I will be late.', read a note on the fridge. He pulled it….and had a glass of water….
'Beep-Beep', his palmtop yelled.
He opened the mail from the General. As he read it, his face grew more and more stern….shadows of pain and sorrow passed his face….
'…..I have spoken to them, the groom was silent as I spoke, I think he is undergoing a forced wedding….however they say it's a love marriage….Anyways, I have informed them about your mission and Subedar has promised to help…..Subedar Begh and Captain Ali Begh will be your hosts for the mission. All the best….'
………………. and as he shut and threw thw machine on the sofa, tears rolled from his eyes…. "Why me?
************** *********************** ************* *************
"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….!
****************** ******************** ****************** *********
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, ****ki, 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….
**************************************** *******************
"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……
*************** ******************* ***************** *********
Ali was at ease. Raj left the lodging for till tea to meet the local security officials. Ali wnted to hide this fact from Pooja as long as possible.
Pooja was the prettiest thing around….even her family was surprised….they never knew their strong little girl was soo pretty…..what made her the most beautiful girl was that extra sparkle of her eyes….Ali was familiar to that sparkle….which made Pooja sooo special….
It was about 7.00am, when both the families had assembled around the gardens, and varandah….for breakfast. Kids sitting around Biji, listening to stories, girls crowding their handsome army jijaji….and ladies chichating their jewelry and saaries. The air was thick with joy, happiness, excietement and cheer.
Everyone was stuffing their stomachs, what else can you expect with such a spread as that? Everything starting from various parathas, to toast and butter, from corn flakes to chivda and from mishri and lassi to army special black coffee…..
Pooja was talking to Ali's sisters, with a kid sitting by her munching the big bar of chocolate he just received from his pretty mami.
Suddenly, the sound for chattering guests doubles with lots of "ooohh…"s and "aaaahh…."s…….
A looooong shining black car stopped by th varandah enterance [people had stopped talking….and merely stared at the splendour of the car…..], merely looking at the car, Ali and Pooja jumped from their respective seats and ran at the top of their speeds towards the car……
The door opened, exhiniting a lavish leather upholstery, and a pretty foot clad in a gleaming silhouette stepped out……
…..before people realized who had emerged from the car, Pooja was hugging the newcomer, and Ali stood beaming next to her.
There she stood, Naina….the International Supermodel…..the look of some of the top noche' brands around the world……one of the prettiest faces of the nation…..clad in a glow white chudidar and flowing kurta, little crystal tops dazzling from her lovely hair…. Naina….just Naina looked all feminity…..not the ruff-it cadet Naina Singh…..but one thing was commen in both….her face radiated confidence, and strength…..
"Hay rabba tu to badi soni lad rahi hai!", Pooja did the 'kisiki nazar na lag jaye' action.
"Arre Naina, hamein yakeen tha aap aayengi…..", said Ali, as he shook hands with her.
A loud voice echoed from somewhere in the crowd…. "Dude……look at her!! Wooooo Naina…..u pretty thing…..where were you all these days?", Yudi rushed holding a plate full of paneer paraths, and hugged her!
"Ab sab usko hi dekhte rahoge….Apun bhi itna bura nahin hai….."
everyonbe looked around….the door on the opposite side had opened and buddy Aalekh stepped out….to 'almost' complete the reunion!
"Oyeeeeeeeeee…..", all of them rushed towards him, leaving Naina in fits of laughter….
"Aalekhbhai, aap aaj aa rahe ho, hamein pata hi nahin tha…."
"Bas kya usool, shaadi banaya to ek phone bhi nai kiya……message to bheja tha apun ne w o h…..orderly….shekhar ke saath….."
"Oye mitti dal us sab pe, oye quaidi, teri to koi khabar hi nahin, tu bhi Naina ki tarah kho gaya kya…?", Naina's smile faded for a second, Aalekh noticed that, but she smiled again…..
"Nahin Pooja, yeh sahab to ab aap sab ke senior ho gaye…..Major Aalekh Sharma….."
"Hay rabba, mujhe vishvas nahin hota…..hum sab….yahan….kapoorthala main….ab bas w o h kameena Nair mil jaye to…..uski main……"
"…..arre naina Pooja, aapne unko kaafi buri tarah se tang kiya….ab to suna hai hai girl cadet se baat karnese bhi darte hai….."
All of them laughed…..Naina laughed her heart open….after years……Aalekh saw that….satisfied…
"Oye Naina, tere liye to veerji ne Amritsar di hotel vij room book kiya tha na….? To tu wahan nahin gayeee?"
"Naaa re….ab main hotelon se bore ho gayee hoon….aur teri shaadi me main tere naal hi revangi….tenu sajane ke liye….", Naina tried her best Punjabi accent!
"Pagli….chal….!", Pooja took all of them inside…..
"Oh my God, mujhe to aaj pet bhar ke khana hai…..yeh sab kahan milta hai roz……", Naina said looking at the breakfast….. "Oye Pooja, lunch kitne baje hai…."
"Yeh lo, aap itna khayengi to vaapis jaane tak…..aapko gaadi main bithane k tareeke sochne padenge…."
"Naina, tu uske raag sun mat…..aur misri lau kya?", asked Aalekh, really happy to see Naina in a good mood,
All of them sat and talked till the lunch time, and all of the afternoon….but as the tea time approached, Ali started getting restless, eager to push the girls into their rooms…..
"Arre Pooja, aapko mahendi aur sangeet ke liye tayar nahin hona? Ek mahine se din ke paanch calls kar kar k main kya paheni, hara, ya neel, peela ya lal…..aapne parashaan kar rakhha tha…..aur ab aapko taiyyar nahin hona?", asked Ali
"Theek hai…..chal Naina, chalte hai…."
"Perfect boys, main Pooji ko taiyyar kar ke fir khud taiyyar houngi….to zyaada time lagega….."
The girls set off……
Dressed in peacock green dress, with perfect accessories…..Naina looked gorgeous…….everyone looked up and their gazes frooz on her….as she descended from the staircase….Pooja sitting with other girls smiled…..
When Naina was on the last stair, she heard a voice, and she froze……..
"Maine kaha tha Cadet Singh, aap sajne sawarne main badi aachi rahogi. And you have proved that today….You are looking gorgeous!"
Naina was shocked….'Breg.Chandog??????', she whispered…..
"Oye nahin re Phoolan….."
"HUDA????", Naina exclaimed….and so did all her batchmates….
"Oye, tu yahaan to main aur kahan ho sakta hoon?", there he stood in perfect sherwani, still looking perfectly dude, and bearing that perfect flirtatious expression….
"Nautanki….ab yahi baaki tha!", said Aalekh and all the friends rushed towards him….
"Oye Panjaban, tune apna setting to jhat se kar liya…par main to ab bhi is hi janani ke intezaar main hoon…..", he said, settleing next to Pooja….
"Huda, tu bilkul bhi nahin badla…."
"Oye Phoolan, main to vaise ka vaisa hi hoon, par tujhe to pehchan nahin pa rahaa hoon….oye, quaidi, yeh meri phoolan hi hai na? Ye kangan, bindiya, yeh to jananiyon jaise dhikhti hai… badi sundar hai…."
"Ab aap unko pareshaan mat kijiye", said Ali laughing, "magar ek baat aapne sach kahi Hudabhai, Naina aaj bahot sundar lag rahi hai…"
Pooja raised her eyebrows and made a face….Naina guestured to Ali, and he followed…
"Magar sabse sundar nahin….."
Pooja's eyes dropped….she was too shy to look up….
"Oye hoi, o ji yeh to Hindi film de scene ho gaya….", and Huda started off the dance by calling all the eager girls and dancing…..everyone else followed, but Aalekh and Naina.
Pooja's father, came by and, "O puttarji, tussi nahin aaoge? Chal beta, doston de naal bhangda paa le….", and as he said that, Huda came by and pulled her into the big group of people dancing….Aalekh stood grinning!
The music got more beat, and feet moved faster, Naina stood clapping amidst the group at first but as the music got faster, she let herself go…..after what seemed to be five minutes, everyone coupled out for a "fodadi"[its when two people hold crossed hands and move in circular motion at a great speed…..remember the last shot of Hum Aapke Hain Kaun….just to give u the idea…]
Huda and Naina were going rounds…and as their speed increased she let all her thoughts go….leave her mind…..lighten her heart…..absent her memories…..soothe her wounds….for those few seconds….she was the same old Naina again for some seconds…..Naina who laughed, who loved, who trusted…..
She had the best time over last few years, and so did Aalekh, by seeing Naina's face grow pink, rather than the usual pale, white one!
Sangeet continued…..girls danced, Huda and Yudi flirted, Aalekh stood by the window talking to Ali, and Pooja and Naina were taken to the center of the hall for mahendi…..the two friends talked….about Pooja's work, meetings with Ali, the wedding, Naina's trips abroad, other modeling experiences, cosmetics, jewellery, clothes, future plans……..within what can be called an hours time the mahendi was applied….. the girls had to retain it till it dried, which would be another hour and then brush it off without water……
The girls had added some little romantic ritual-like things for themselves…those married and engaged could participate and others would await their prince charming.
During the hour's time everyone went for dinner, where Pooja's mother fed her, and Ali's elder sister helped Naina. After the dinner all the seniors departed as it was quite late, but the youngsters and other women hanged around….as phirni, kheer, kesar-milk was being served.
"Oye yaaro, yeh dekho sada Quaidi Kheer kha raha hai….."
"Hai la! Aalekh, yeh kya?"
"Aalekhbhai ne sharab chhod di…"
"Kya??????", Huda and Yudi yelled together.
"Dheere se bol, apun ko marvaoge kya? W o h do saal pahele apne birthday par Naina ne gift ke taur par maang liya…..to paun ne kasam khaya ki sharab ko choega bhi nahin!"
"Hamein naaz hai aap pe! Dosti nibhani to koi Naina se sikhe….aur…..", Ali stopped….suddenly a tension filled atmosphere fell over the boy's camp, all of them staring at Naina, who was playing with Ali's niece, with eyes full of concern…
Pooja's cousin came up amidst the girls and said in a voice that was audible to even boys…
"Chalo kudiyon, ab jinki bhi mahendi sookh gayee ho w o h mahendi ko aise hi bina paani ke nikal de….paani lagaya to mahendi ka rang dhul jayega…..aur mahendi fiki pad jayegi….aur ladko, apni apni kudi ko madad karo…."
It was just a simple way of having small celebrations, which would enrich every relation with more love, and it certainly seemed to work for Ali and Pooja as they sat brushing dry Mahendi off Pooja's hands….Ali brushed the sticky parts and made her brush her hands….
Naina looked around at couples, and her memories tortured her again….those days when she …….she ran off from the hall towards the varanda eneterance…towards the little washing area. "whats the point", she told heself, "I will never have a dark colour, Meri mahendi kabse phiki pad gayee hai….", tears in her eyes she ran in pitch dark…..untapped the water….and as she brushed her hands in the water….she froze……a pair of hands that touched hers, were familiar, and it seemed that the owner of those hands seemed to recognize her touch….and tried to hush away…..
….but before anyone could move of do something…..
"Naina, idher andhere main…..", Aalekh came holding a lantern….but what he saw in the light of the lantern, was unbelievable…..he stood rooted…..
"Naina, idher andhere main…..", Aalekh came holding a lantern….but what he saw in the light of the lantern, was unbelievable…..he stood rooted…..
Naina turned and saw the familier hands that had toughed her….the hands that had held hers a number of times…..the hands in which she felt soo secured and safe….the hands whose touch made her experience love for the first time and forever….
…..the hands of Colonel Rajveer Singh Shekhavat!
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