CHAPTER – 3
It would have been midnight,both Nupur and Mayank were in deep sleep.In her sleep,Nupur put her hand on Mayank's face.She,in her sleep asked,"Bhabhi…ye…aapka…chehra…kaise…badal…gaya? Aapki…daari… kahase…aa…gayi?Boliye…na…bhabhi?"Mayank's sleep broke.He heard her and thought she might be needing something.So,with genuine concern,he shook her and asked,"Nupur…Nupur kuch chahiye tumhe?"Nupur woke up and after opening her eyes,suddenly due to breaking of sleep,she screamed on seeing him.Mayank put on the lights and with worried expressions asked,"Kya hua tum chillaayi kyu?Koi bura sapna dekha kya?"She stared at him like a dumbo and asked,"Aa-aap?"He replied,"Ha main.Kyu?"She drank another glass of water and then after her nerves got cooled down,she said,"Vo…vo…vo us ghar…mein kabhi kabhi bhabhi…soti hai mere saath.To mujhe to aadat nehi hai na…isliye…main dar gayi."Mayank giggled for sometime and replied,"Oh to ye baat hai.Tum bhi na Nupur,main to dar hi gaya tha."She asked,"Aap gussa to nehi hai na?Mere vajah se aapki neend kharaab hui na?"He said,"Ye bhi koi gussa karnewaali baat hai bhala?Main samajh sakta hu sab kuch naya hai na tumhaare liye.Its ok tum so jaao."Mayank lied down on the bed.Nupur asked,"Aap mere ma…papa ko bolenge to nehi na?"Mayank looked at her as if he had fallen from the sky.He said,"Ma…papa???Ye bhi koi unse kehne waali baat hai kya?Kya bol rahi ho?So jaao Nupur.Kal jaldi bhi to uthna hai na.Chalo goodnight."She lied down again and said,"Thik hai.Goodnight."Mayank turned against her and said to himself in his mind said,"Kya ajeeb larki hai.har baat par apne ma papa ko na bolne ki baat karti hai."He closed his eyes and gave a smile and continued,"Par jo bhi hai mujhe bohot pasand hai."Soon he again fall asleep.
Next morning,Nupur woke up very early as usual and found that Mayank was still sleeping beside her.She got up and went inside the washroom to take the bath.When she came out of the washroom,she found him still sleeping.She sat in front of the mirror and and started brushing her hair.After that she took up the mangalsutra and stared at it for sometime and then wore it.She opened the box of vermillion and filled her parts.She looked at her image on the mirror.She was surprised at her new look.She looked at Mayank and thought,"Pehle main kisiki beti thi,kisiki behen thi aaj kisiki patni aur kisiki bahu hu.Mera auda badalta gaya par kya meri kismat badli?Pehle main apne maayke waalo ki sunti thi ab inki sunni paregi.Kya mujhe kabhi bhi thori si izzat aur thora sa pyar milega?Bhabhi ne kaha tha ke har larki ki zindagi shaadi ke baad naya mor leti hai.Kya meri zindagi mein bhi koi naya mor aayega?"She sat for sometime and then got up from the tool.She came outside of their bedroom and started walking all over the house.After completing the house-trip,when she returned to the hall,she saw all the females of the house were awake and were getting to their works.Suhaasini,on seeing Nupur asked,"Arey Nupur beta itni jaldi uth gayi?"Nupur said,"Vo mummyji…vo aapne kaha tha na ke aaj jaldi uthna hai to isliye…"She said,"Ha kaha tha par itni jaldi uth gayi beta,kal to shaadi ke chakkar mein pura din araam nehi kar paayi thora late bhi uth jaati kuch nehi hota."Nupur was surprised on hearing this.She asked,"Kuch nehi hota???Sach mein???"Suhaasini replied,"Ha.Hum to isliye uthte hai kyuki hume nashta banana hota hai inke office aur bachcho ke school ke liye lunch pack karna hota hai."She said,"Koi baat nehi main ghar mein bhi isi time pe uth jaati thi.Mujhe aadat hai aur main aap logo ki madat bhi kar dungi."Saloni said,"Bilkul nehi!Tum ghar mein koi kaam nehi karogi."Nupur was confused as well as scared.She asked,"Mujhse koi galti ho gayi hai kya?"Saloni smiled and said,"Haan hui hai na bohot bari galti hui hai aur tumhaari galti ye hai ke tum nayi naveli dulhan ho aur nayi dulhan ke haatho ki mehendi jabtak utar nehi jati tabtak vo ghar ka khaaskar ke kitchen ka koi kaam nehi karti sivaay meethe ki rasam ke.Ye rivaaj hai aur aaj to vaise bhi tumse bohot saare rasam bhi purey karwaaye jaayenge.Isliye tumhe aaj aur koi kaam karne ki koi zarurat nehi."Nupur smiled.Slowly everyone got busy in their work.The kids got up and went to meet Nupur.She was in her bedroom.Mayank,on seeing them asked,"Kya baat hai aaj subhe subhe chachu se milne aa gaye?"Rahul said,"Hum aapse nehi nayi chachi se milne aaye hai."They greeted Nupur and said,"Main Rahul hu aur ye hai Palak."Nupur too greeted them and said,"Tum dono to bohot cute ho bilkul mere Karan jaise."Palak asked,"Ye Karan kaun hai nayi chachi?"Nupur replied,"Karan mera bhatija hai."Rahul said,"Chachi aaj se aap hamaari nayi friend ho.Hum aapke saath hi rahenge kyuki ghar mein har koi sirf hume daatta hi rehta hai.Hum jaante hai aap bohot sweet ho."Mayank said,"Inki shakal par mat jaana Nupur.Bohot badmaash hai ye."Palak said,"Nayi chachi aap chachu par bilkul bharosa mat karna.Yeh hamesha jhut bolte hai."Nupur smiled.
After sometime,Suhaasini called Nupur and did the morning prayers through her hand.After that there was the ritual of making the sweet dish.Nupur did make the sweet dish.She made halwa and everyone praised her.Maanav gave a bundle of money to Nupur.She hesitated to take it and was looking towards Mayank and Suhaasini.Suhaasini said,"Beta ye shagun hota sasur ke taraf se lelo."Nupur took the money and took his blessings also.Now the two DIL's took their seat beside their husbands but Nupur kept on standing.Saloni said,"Tum khari kyu ho Nupur?Beth jaao."Nupur replied,"Nehi aap sab log naashta kar lijiye uske baad main kar lungi."Suhaasini said,"Nehi beta hamaare ghar mein sab log ek saath bethkar hi khaana khaate hai.Tum beth jaao."Nupur said,"Mere ghar mein to main sabse aakhir mein khaati hu."Saloni said,"Par yaha aisa nehi chalega.Tum betho."Nupur sat beside Mayank.Mala was about to serve the food when Nupur stopped her and said,"Ye aap kya kar rahi hai didi main le lungi."Mala said,"Bilkul nehi humne kaha na nayi naveli dulhan ko sivaay rivaaj nibhaane ke abhi koi bhi kaam karna allowed nehi hai."Mala,while serving the food said,"Jab didi is ghar mein bahu bankar aayi thi tab mummyji unhe khaana parosti thi,mere time par didi ne kiya tha to tumhaare time par main kar rahi hu."Nupur felt very happy from inside,as no one except Disha in her home,ever served her food.This was the first time for her.She started eating slowly.Now Saloni started her right of being the eldest SIL by teasing Mayank.She asked,"To Mayank kaisi kati kal ki raat?Neend veend thik se aayi thi na?"She and Mala started giggling.Mayank just smile passed and said,"Aap log jaisa soch rahe hai vaisa kuch nehi hua."Mala asked,"To kaisa hua devarji?"She again giggled.Nupur at that moment remembered that Mayank told her not to reveal that she was crying during their first night.So,she spoke up,"Nehi nehi didi,main kal bilkul nehi royi aur chillaayi bhi nehi."On hearing this,everyone were silent.She looked towards everyone like a guilt driven face and then she excahanged looks with mayank.She found all were staring at her and Mayank was looking towards her like a dumbstruck.She was hell embarrassed and confused.She almost had tears in her eyes.After sometime,everyone burst into laughter.Suhaasini was also smiling but asked everyone to be quiet.She,with concern,asked,"Kya hua Nupur tum royi kyu?Kahi Mayank tune to kuch nehi kiya?"Nupur,with a crying voice replied,"Nehi…inhone…kuch bhi nehi kiya.Vo main…"She told her everything.Everyone were amused and Suhaasini said,"Koi baat nehi Nupur beta.Aisa hota rehta hai,abhi abhi apna ghar chorkar aayi ho na to kuch din aisa hi lagega phir dheere dheere aadat ho jaayegi."Nupur nodded her head and finished her breakfast.Saloni warned Mayank,"Dekho Mayank meri devraani ko aagey se kabhi rulaana mat.Yaad rakhna vo is ghar mein akeli nehi hai."Mala agreed.
In their bedroom,while Mayank was getting ready for office,Nupur asked,"Aapne to kaha tha agar sabko pata chala ke main royi to sab hasenge,par maine to kaha ke main nehi royi phir bhi sab hase kyu?"Mayank giggled and came towards her.He looked deeply into her eyes.She asked,"Kya hua?"He slowly cupped her face lightly and the said,"Tumhe ek sach baat bolu?"She asked,"Kya?"He said,"Jab main tumhe dekhne aaya tha na,mujhe tumse usidin se pyar ho gaya tha.Tumhaari is bholi shakal aur in maasoon baato ne usidin mere dil mein ek khaas jagah bana li thi.jab bhi main tumhe dekhta hu na to apne aap se yehi sawaal karta hu ke koi larki itni maasoom kaise ho sakti hai,par ek baat kahu mujhe tumhaari yehi maasumiyat bohot pasand hai aur tum hamesha aisi hi rehna.Tum kabhi badalna mat."She,then asked,"To kya main bewakuf hu,isiliye sab mujhpar hase?"Mayank leaved her and said,"Nehi meri ma sab aise hi hase.Kuch nehi hua."Nupur didn't understood a bit and said,"Aap mere ma…""Main tumhaare ma papa ko kuch nehi bolunga Nupur.Trust me."Mayank assured her and she smiled fadely.
All the other rituals were carried out successfully and on the next day Uday came and took Nupur back home for the pag phera rasam.Nupur was very scared from inside while she was on the way to home.Uday noticed the fear on her face and said,"Dar mat choti,kuch hi waqt ki to baat hai,uske baad to Mayank aakar tujhe lekar hi jaayega."Nupur said,"Mayankji bohot achche hai.Vo mujhpar kabhi gussa nehi karte."Uday said,"Maine to tujhe pehle hi kaha tha."On reaching home,everyone except Karan and Disha showed fake concern for her and welcomed her.Karan asked,"Bua kya aap aaj hi chali jaaogi?"Nupur nodded her head.Gayatri said,"Ha beta shaadi ke baad vohi tumhaari bua ka asli ghar hai."Then Naina,Disha and Gayatri took away Nupur for her ritual and after that ended,they behaved as usual with her.Gayatri asked,"Vaha sabke saath achchi tarah se bartaav to kar rahi ho na?"Nupur nodded her head.Naina said,"Aisa koi kaam mat karna Nupur jisse ke aagey chalkar hume sharminda hona pare."Raghuveer said,"Jab larki paida ki hai sharmindagi to uske saath hi taufe mein aayi hai.hamesha larkewaalo ke aagey sar jhuka kar chalna parta hai."Nupur lowered her head and tears fall down from her eyes.Disha said,"Main Nupur ko kamre mein lekar chalti hu iske pehle ke aapko aur sharmindagi uthaani pare."Saying she left taking Nupur with her.
Nupur was weeping silently.disha wiped her tears and said,"Ro mat Nupur.Abhi shaam ko hi to Mayank aa jaayega tujhe lene ke liye.Achcha ye to bol tere sasuralwaale kaise hai?"Nupur replied,"Vo log bohot achche hai bhabhi bilkul aapki tarah.Aapko pata hai vo mujhe koi kaam karne nehi dete.Karne jaati hu tab bhi daat dete hai aur waha sab ek saath bethkar khaate hai.Main bhi khaati hu."Disha asked,"Aur tera Mayank?"She lowered her eyes and said,"Mayankji bhi achche hai.Vo bhi mujhe pyar karte hai.Unhone kaha tha mujhe kal.Pata hai main to pehle din raat ko ro rahi thi par unhone mujhe samjhaaya aur promise bhi kiya ke vo ma papa ko kuch nehi bolenge.Unhone ye bhi kaha ke main bohot maasum hu aur is vajah se vo mujhse aur bhi zyaada pyar karte hai."Disha was surprised and asked,"Usne tujhe khud kaha ke vo tujhse pyar karta hai?"She said,"Ha.Vo mujhe aap jaisa pyar karenge?"Disha laughed and replied,"Nehi paagal vo hamaare jaisa pyar nehi karega.Vo to thora alag pyar hai."She confusingly asked,"Aisa kaisa pyar hai?"Disha replied,"Vo main tujhe samjha nehi sakti.Vo tujhe khud hi samajh mein aa jaayega aur ha apni aur Mayankji ki baatein kisise mat kehna mujhse bhi nehi."Nupur asked,"Mayankji bhi yehi kehte hai par kyu?Aap to meri bhabhi ho?"Disha explained,"Pati-patni baatein kisike bhi saamne aise nehi bolte.Koi bhi baat nehi bolte.Yaad rahega na?"Nupur nodded her head.Disha said,"Tu beth main tere liye khaana lekar aati hu."Saying she left from there.When Disha was taking away food for her,Gayatri asked,"Itna izzat dene ki kya zarurat hai?"Disha said,"Aap shaayad bhul rahi hai mummyji ke ab aapki beti Nupur Bhushan nehi balki Mrs Nupur Mayank Sharma ban chuki hai.Vo hamaare ghar mein mehmaan hai.Ek mehmaan ko itni izzat to de hi sakti hu hai na mummyji?Beti to usey aapne kabhi maana nehi kamsekam apne daamaad ki biwi samajhkar hi izzat de dijiye."Gayatri made a face and left from there.
In the evening,Mayank arrived to take Nupur back home.All requested him to take dinner with us.He at first didn't agree,but under everyones pressure,he had to.Nupur was cutting vegetables in the kitchen when Disha asked her to give tea to Mayank.Suddenly,by mistake,Nupur's finger got cut.She screamed but not so loudly.When she took tea for Mayank,he noticed the cut on her finger.He grabbed her hand and asked,"Ye kaise hua?"She replied,"Kuch nehi bas maamuli si chot hai.Sabzi kaatthe waqt kat gayi thi."He saidd,"Ye maamuli si chot hai,dekho kitna chil gaya hai.Yehi chot baad mein ghaao ban jaayega."At that moment,Disha was coming with the dish of snacks.When she put the tray on the table,Mayank asked,"Bhabhi aapke paas first-aid box hoga,Nupu ki ungli kat gayi hai dekhiye na."Disha said,"Abhi laati hu."She immediately returned to her room.Mayank got up from his seat and asked Nupur to sit there.Everyone were surprised to see it.Nupur glanced at everyone and found that they were getting very embarrassed.She didn't want to sit but Mayank scolded her,"Maine tumse pucha nehi hai Nupur.Baithne ko kaha hai.Chupchap betho."Nupur obeyed her husband.Gayatri said,"Ye sab aam baate hai Mayank beta itni bhi fikar karne ki koi zarurat nehi hai."Mayank politely said,"Aam baatein kab khaas ban jaaye pata bhi nehi chalta hai mummyji aur vaise bhi chot ko nasoor banne ka mauka nehi dena chahiye."Mayank,though said it but was hell shocked at their casual behavior but for a single moment also,he didn't leave Nupur's finger.Disha gave him the first-aid box and Mayank,slowly slowly nursed her finger.After applying the bandage,he said,"Abse sabziya kaatna bandh.Samajhme aayi baat?"Nupur nodded her head.While he was applying medicine,she was staring at her for she never imagined that someone other than Uday and Disha would care for her,would apply medicine for her and of course scold her for her own good.While they were busy,Uday and Disha exchanged a relieved look with each other.
Music Corner
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
