Chapter 73
Vanshika settled on the sofa. The Sharma Residence wasn’t like the lavish place that Vanshika had lived in. Her own apartment was bigger with 3BHK, 3 large balconies and 2 bathrooms. Yet, she smiled happily managing with everything in Sharma Residence.
“Humara ghar aapke gharo ki tarah bada ya shaandaar toh nahi hai but kaam chala lete hai.” Chachi added.
“Who cares, Aunty? Main toh yahan Meera di aur Bani ke liye aayi hun. Also, humare ghar bade hote hai aur usmein rehne wale log kam. Like my own flat. I am the only one staying there but still have 2 spare bedrooms. Kashyap Mansion mein bhi aisa hi hai. Rehne waale log hai 8 but bedrooms hai 12.” Vanshika answered.
“Saare ameer log aise hi kehte but they all have such beautiful homes.”
“Every home is beautiful, Mehek. Kyuki it’s a home. House is a different point. A house can be beautifully decorated or not but homes are always beautiful.”
“Apna face pack thoda sa Meera ko bhi de do. Kaisi chamak rahi ho tum. Thoda sa Meera ke liye bhi accha ho jaayega.” Chachi requested Vanshika. Vanshika chuckled but passed the box to Meera. “Konsa face pack hai?”
“Homemade ones. Dadu ki speciality hai. He is into Botany. Toh unhe pata rehta hai ki konsa plant kis kaam aata. That’s how mom learnt how to make her own face packs and all. Mom ne mujhe sikhaya. Bas.”
“Acha toh koi aisa tareeka hai Meera bhi tumhari tarah gori ho jaaye?” Chachi asked. Girish Sharma sighed. He had no idea why his wife constantly nags about Meera and her skin colour.
“Aunty, Meera di ki skin colour mein koi problem nahi hai. Meri skin aisi hai because I’m not entirely human. Meera di actually bohot acchi dikhti. Skin par koi problems ho toh use solve kar sakte par agar aapke liye skin entirely problem hai toh uska koi solution nahi ho sakta. She’s pretty but aapko kami dikhti hai. Kisi aur ko nahi dikhti ismein problem.”
“Waise bhi meri Meera di ka dil sabse zyaada khoobsurat hai. That’s what matters.” Bani defended her sister.
“Toh dil se thodi na shaadi hoti hai? Shaadi insaan se hoti hai. Insaan ko uski shakal se dekhte hai.”
“Toh aap galat logo ko dhundh rahi hai.” Vanshika pointed out bluntly.
“Nahi nahi. Apni beti ke liye accha ladka hi dhundh rahi hun.”
“Aunty, meri baat mind mat karna but I’ll say this. Jin bhi ladko ko aap Meera di ke liye laa rahi hai agar unhe Meera di ke skin colour se problem hai toh problem unke dimaag mein hai. The whole point is ki aapne hi Meera di ke dimaag mein bhar rakha hai ki unhe koi ladka nahi milega isiliye jo bhi hai usmein adjust karna padega. That’s why it’s a problem. I know ki shaadi mein thodi adjustment karni padti hai but agar adjustment aisa ho jismein khud ki identity hi khatre mein lage toh koi bhi ladki survive nahi kar sakti uss shaadi mein. Sapne dekhne ka haq sirf ek tarah ke logo ka nahi hai.”
“Yeh sabh baatein toh sahi hai. Tujhe kya lagta hai ki mujhe apni beti ki Khushi ki parwa nahi hai?”
Vanshika put down the nail polish bottle and gave that confident grin.
“Meera di, aap mujhe batao ko aapka ideal life partner kaisa hona chahiye?” Vanshika asked Meera.
“Vanshika, kuch bhi bol rahi hai.” Meera didn’t know how to answer that question.
“Meera di, come on. Sabhka a dream Prince Charming hota hai. Aapka kaisa hai?”
“Iss sabka koi matlab nahi hai.”
“Of course, matlab hai, Meera di.”
“Mujhe nahi pata hai.”
“Exactly. Socho. Sapne dekhenge hi nahi toh pure kaise honge?”
“Mujhe yeh conversation nahi -” Meera was cut off by her father.
“Meera, tujhe pata bas darte hue accept nahi karna chahti hai.”
“Nahi, papa.”
“Toh bata de.”
Bani and Vanshika both jumped up on either side of Meera. The two hugged her from the side. Vanshika stood up, being dramatic.
“Sapno ki gehraiyo mein koi toh hai. Ishq ki kahani mein koi toh shehzaada humara bhi hai. Aankhon hi aankhon mein, dil hi dil mein, koi toh hai toh chain chura le jaata hai. Jiske khwaab humne puri zindagi dekhi hai, usse milne ki ghadi aayi hai toh kis khyal se hai dil ghabrata?” Vanshika tried to cook up a poetic line.
“Not the best poetry, V.” Bani pointed out.
“Best I can do, Babe. Main lawyer hun poet nahi.” Vanshika still kept her grin. Girish laughed at that. Bani and Vanshika actually seemed like twins. Meera simply walked up into the kitchen. She was fed up of the conversation and feeling down.
“I know what is going cheer her up.” Bani suggested. Bani switched on the stereo and played music.
Girish laughed at that. Bani always cheered up Meera with dancing around her. Vanshika too joined in with Bani. Both of them dancing around Meera.
Jab jab choodi khanke re
Jab jab paayal chhanke re
Jab jab saawan barse re
Oye bole bole bole
Bole bole bole bole jiya
Vanshika and Bani went on dancing next to Meera, teasing her.
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Subah shaam kare mera jiya
Jiya jiya jiya jiya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Bani and Vanshika both circled Meera and got dramatic while teasing her. They pulled her on the sofa and made her sit.
Na jaane kyon dil dhadke
Ghadi ghadi ye kyon tadpe
Ho bedardi tune
Isko dard ye kaisa diya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Bani put her head in Meera’s lap while Vanshika leaned against Meera’s shoulder while trying to dreamy.
Neend ud jaati hai
Chein bhi khota hai
Tanha tanhaai mein
Haan jaane kya hota hai
The two started teasing Meera. Vanshika held Meera and twirled her around. She pulled away Meera’s hairtie and opened her hair. Bani winked at Meera and poked on her waist. Meera laughed and tried to move away from them. Bani and Vanshika stood with each other, they did a couple dance.
Rang khil jaata hai
Aankh khul jaati hai
Aaina dekhoon to
Sharam si aati hai
Betaabi deke mujhko
Kyon hosh ye mera liya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
The two sat next to Girish and danced on. Mehek Dehek joined in with the dance. Chachi took tried to dance with them. Girish chuckled.
Jab kisi ladke se
Haan ladki milti hai
Mere dil mein chaahat
Ki haan chaandni khilti hai
Jab kisi ke ghar
Mein dholki bajti hai
Jab kisi iki doli Phoolon se sajti hai
Meri bhi deewani
Dhadkan karne lage iya iya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Vanshika held Meera’s hand and tried to dance with her. Twirling her and dancing with her. Meera chuckled and moved away pushing Bani towards Vanshika. The two shrugged and danced together. No one could deny that Bani and Vanshika were sisters.
Subah shaam kare mera jiya
Jiya jiya jiya jiya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Vanshika and Bani returned to Meera, pulling her to dance with them. Meera just chuckled. Bani put her arms on Vanshika’s shoulder. The two circled around Meera like a train. Vanshika ahead and Bani behind her.
Na jaane kyon dil dhadke
Ghadi ghadi ye kyon tadpe
Ho bedardi tune
Isko dard ye kaisa diya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Meera laughed at the two siblings. The two then started ticking Meera and she burst into laughter. The two hugged Meera from the side. Mehek Dehek joining them to hug Meera.
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya
Piya piya o piya piya
Piya piya o piya.
“Pagal ho gaye ho tum sabh.” Meera laughed.
“Behna, pyaar ke symptoms exactly pagalpan aur drunk person jaise hote hai. Kisi ke baare mein sochke khud mein hasne lagte hai. Use har din har second dekhne ka mann karta hai. Uski awaaz sabse zyaada acchi lagti hai. Love is madness but agar yeh madness itna haseen na hota toh kambhkt iss duniya koi pyaar kyu karta?” Vanshika answered dramatically.
“Aankhon hi aankhon mein dekh rahe hai, kabhi dil mein utar ke dekho. Kashti ke musaafir kabhi toh samandar mein utar ke dekho, hum kya bataye aapki aankhon mein kaisa samandar hai. Dehkte hi dekhte aapki nazron mein doobe jaa rahe hai, jaan jaa rahi par phir bhi dil mein Khushi ka aalam sa ho raha hai.” Bani said.
“Chal hat. You’re not that good with poetry.” Vanshika commented.
“It's not mine. Veeranshu ki hai but works.”
“Tabhi main sochu aise deewano jaisi shayari tumhare bas ki baat nahi hai.”
“Excuse me? Tum kehna chahti ho ki main romantic nahi hun?”
“Baby, tumhare saamne khada hai Veer Singhania. You can’t beat him at romance.”
“Tum meri behen ho but humesha uski side leti ho.”
“Baby, koi aur baat hoti toh I’d support you without a doubt par, yeh baat toh phir bhi hai. Veer zyaada romantic hai tujhse. Like he fell for you at first sight. Phir 10,000 saal ka intezaar. Phir se tujhe dekha aur dil faraar ho gaya uske seene se. I have known Veer Singhania enough to know how romantic he can be.”
“10,000 saal? Jeeju kya 10,000 saal se zyaada purane hai?” Mehek asked confused. “But woh dikhte itni young hai.”
“Tumhe seriously story nahi pata?” Vanshika asked shocked.
“Vanshika, ek minute. It isn’t important.” Bani tried to stop her.
“Important nahi hai!!!” Vanshika exclaimed like Bani had said something severely offensive.
“Mujhe bhi pura toh nahi pata. I just know that Bani Veer ko apna dushman samajhti thi but Veer usse phir bhi bohot pyaar karta hai” Meera answered.
Vanshika stood up before everyone. “Ladies and Gentleman, aaj main sunane waali hun the infamous story.”
“Bani itni famous hai kya?” Dehek asked.
“Yeh story humare pure naagvansh mein itna famous. Romeo se pehle, Majnu se bhi pehle.”
“Kitna pehle?” Chachi asked disturbing Vanshika’s dramatic starting.
“Satyug mein which predates even the Christ. Abh please don’t disturb my expert narration.” Vanshika commented.
“Itna drama add kar rahi hai.”
“Chup na, Bani. Sunne de.” Meera shut her up.
“Iss kahani ke teen kirdaar hai. Aakesh. Nageshwari. Hriday. Din tha phir bhi andhera tha. Us andhere mein, garajte badalon ke shor mein janam lene waala Aakesh. Uske saamne pura aasmaan bhi jhuk jaata tha. Uske ishaare pe aasmaan bhi apne rang badal leta. Sabh use aasmaan ka raja kehte the. Uske 25 saal baad, Maha Shivratri se pehle ki raat ko Naagvansh ko icchadhari hone ka vardaan mila tha. Saare naagvansh mein sabse pehle yeh vardaan paane wali icchadhari naagin thi Adi-Naagin. Adi-Naagin ke baad pehla naag jise yeh vardaan mila, woh tha Adi-Naag Hriday. Nageshwari ko pyaar tha Hriday se. Dono ek durse ke saath reh rahe the tabh. Shivaratri ki subeh pooja khatam hui thi aur pehli baar Aakesh ne Nageshwari ko dekha. Bas pehli baar dekha aur Aakesh ko Nageshwari se pyaar ho gaya. Aakesh tha icchadhari cheel aur Nageshwari thi icchadhari naagin but uss pehli nazar mein Aakesh ko itna pyaar ho gaya ki dushamni bhula diya usne.”
“Love at first sight. How romantic.” Mehek exclaimed.
“Aakesh ko pyaar karna aata hi nahi tha. Na toh use sikhaya tha ki pyaar kaise karte hai na hi usne seekha. Aakesh use dekh ke itna kho gaya ki Hriday use maar raha tha par uski Aankhen Nageshwari’s hati hi nahi.”
“Usne maar kha li?”
“Deewano mein bhi uski ginti sabse upar hoti hai. Use phir pata chala ki Hriday aur Nageshwari ki shaadi hone wali hai. Toh Naag Mandir pohocha. Naag Mandir mein cheel aa nahi sakte the. Isiliye Aakesh ne pretend kiya ki woh chot khaya hua hai aur use madad chahiye. Nageshwari ne uspe taras kha ke, andar aane ki ijazat de di. Andar aate hi, Aakesh ne almost saare naagon ko maar diya. Usne Nageshwari ke saamne Hriday ko maar diya. Nageshwari ko itna gussa aaya ki usne Aakesh ko mandir ke upar se khaai mein phek diya.”
“Toh kya woh udd ke chala gaya? I mean woh toh cheel tha. Udd ke chala jaata.”
“Nahi. Kyuki Nageshwari ne use maut di, Aakesh ne use accept kar liya. Apne pyaar ke liye usne jaan de di. Nageshwari ka zeher usmein tha jo use dheere dheere marta. Khaai se girte hue use kaafi chotein lagi. Khai ke neeche Mandir ke paas trishul tha. Aakesh uss trishul pe gira. The pain must have been unimaginable but uske hothon se woh smile nahi gayi ki aakhri saans mein bhi use uska pyaar dikha.”
“Toh phir abh badla nahi lena chahta hai?”
“Nageshwari ko Hriday ki maut ka bohot dukh hua. Phir Bholenath ne Nageshwari ko shraap diya ki 10,000 saalon tak woh phir se janam nahi le sakti. Use accept karne ke baad Nageshwari ne apni jaan le li. Iss hope mein ki kisi din woh aur Hriday ek honge.”
“Veer Aakesh tha. Bani Nageshwari thi. Jay Hriday tha.” Meera answered.
“Ek minute but agar Hriday aur Nageshwari dono ek dusre ke saathi the toh phir Bani ko jeeju se pyaar kyu hua? Aur Jay se uski shaadi kyu nahi hui?” Dehek asked.
“Kyuki Hriday ne sach mein pyaar kiya hi nahi. Pyaar tha bhi toh takat se zyaada nahi. Use meri shaktiya chahiye thi. Aakesh aur Nageshwari dono mein apne pyaar mein jaan dene ki gehrayi thi but Hriday utni gehrayi mein jaa hi nahi paaya.” Bani answered.
Bani wasn’t able to sleep. She just turned around, trying to get sleep. Everyone had wished her a Happy Birthday and then went to sleep.
She just turned around and saw a bird fly down at the window. A large eagle. Those golden contours on wings a dead giveaway of his identity. She got up and blinked a few times to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. The eagle soft toy in his talons. A smile came upon her lips when she saw him. Once she opened the window, he flew into the room. He transformed quickly into human and kissed her.
Bani put a hand on his mouth before he could say anything.
“Sshhh…” She checked on her siblings.
“Guys, mind taking it outside? Please parda lagao. Some people want to catch up on sleep.” Vanshika told them. Veer chuckled and signalled Bani to come outside. She climbed out of the window and closed the curtains.
The two started walking out of the street towards a much private place. It had just been a few hours but she still missed him.
“Veer ko toh tum akele hi chod aayi.” Veer pointed out.
“Point. I missed him.” Bani added.
“Toh mere saath hi aa jaati. Itna miss nahi karti mujhe phir.”
“You? Na. I’m talking about Veer.” Bani tried to take it from her hands but Veer didn’t let her take it. “Do na…” She complained.
“Na. I want to hear those three magical words.”
“I love Veer.” She tried to get it but he put it above his heard. She tried to jump and get it but couldn’t.
“Mere liye. I want to hear them for me.”
“Veeranshu, do na…”
She tried to jump. Veer grabbed her waist and pulled her to him.
“Tumhari zindagi ka ek Veer hai jisse tumhe itna pyaar karne ki permission hai. That’s me.”
“Tum yeh decide nahi kar sakte. Mujhe toh yahi Veer pasand hai.”
“Fine. Lo. Main jaa raha hun phir. Raho isi ke saath.” Veer pushed the toy on her face and started to walk away. Bani bit her tongue. He sounded offended. Bani jogged up to him.
“Ghar se yahan le aaye toh ghar wapas bhi chodna padega.”
“Uss soft toy se kaho. He’ll drop you back home. Considering tumhe ‘yahi Veer pasand hai’.”
Veer wasn’t offended but just acted he was because he knew she’s goint to chase him. He just wanted her to come behind him.
“Acha, sorry.” She said. “Please mat jaao.”
Veer smiled at her.
“Tumse dur jaa bhi nahi sakta, sweetheart.” He pulled her close to him.
“Main jaane bhi nahi dungi.”
She held his hand and both of them continued walking in the familiar path of the forest.
“Waise tumhe kaise pata ki main uthi rahungi?”
“Kyuki, sweetheart, hum dono ke beech connection hai.”
“Call bhi kar sakte the.”
“Would you prefer to see me or hear me?”
“Guess you’re right.”