I already wrote Karva Chauth part for Bhalobasha (on Jake's request) so I am posting it here... 😃
Kripa got ready for the evening Puja in her bridal lehenga set and wedding jewelry. Her head was covered with the heavy zardozi dupatta. Naina, Shibani and neighbouring ladies escorted her to the Puja room where she offered prayers to Goddess Parvati. All the ladies were dressed in their new saris and jewelry. They all offered prayers, and prashad to the Goddess and then sang some devotional songs.
After the Puja, they came out of the Thakur ghar, Kripa touched Naina's feet….Naina kissed her forehead and blessed her: Sada Suhaagan raho…doodho nahao, pooto phalo"
Then they all went to the terrace which had been partially covered with canvas and decorated with lights and chairs provided for seating.
The ladies waited for their husbands and for the moon to rise in the clear night sky.
Angad returned home, bathed and changed into a maroon sherwani. Then he went up to the terrace, eager to see his lovely wife. AND THERE SHE WAS! Sitting demurely in her red bridal dress, surrounded by all the ladies….thick sindoor and a sparkling red bindi decorated her forehead, intricate mehendi on her hands. He stared at her, mesmerized by her beauty!
The ladies started laughing...." Dekho zara, Kripa ka Kanhaiyya aa gaya….abhi bansi bajana shuru kar dega" Shibani teased.
Kripa blushed deeply, her cheeks became red and ears hot as she realized their little charades had been caught.
Wo dekho….Chaand nikal aaya" a lady shouted. All of them got up and looked at the night sky…the moon had come out…4th day of the waning moon…still big but not quite full.
Angad whispered: Haan, Chaand nikal aaya hai…lekin aasmaan per nahin, mere chhat per….Kripa, you take my breath away!
As if she heard his amorous whisper, Kripa looked at him and smiled shyly. He lightly touched his lips with his fingers, sending her a silent kiss, she blushed prettily and looked down.
He grinned in adoration: Haye, meri sherni….Badi bheegi billi bani baithi hai yahan….aur kamrey mein?…..he grinned, still feeling her scratches on his back.
All the ladies stood facing their respective husbands with sieves in one hand and a thali in the other, bearing a diya, flowers, some sweets and a metal jug of water.
All the women looked at the bright moon through their sieves and then saw their husbands' faces through the sieve.
Kripa stood in front of her husband, her heartbeats increased....this was her first Vrat as a wife, she raised her sieve and looked at the moon, then turned the sieve to Angad's face…her heart thudded loudly in her chest to see his handsome face smiling down lovingly at her.
When she lowered the sieve, he broke off a piece of Kaju Barfi and fed it to her, then gave her a sip of water from the glass.
Ab tum mujey khilao, he demanded!
Kripa looked surprised, but then smiled, maybe she didn't know this ritual too….she fed him the rest of the Barfi and gave him the water. Angad scooped up another laddoo and stuffed it in his mouth. He was ravenously hungry, not habituated to fasting.
Dilip who was standing nearby knew about Angad's fast….he suddenly shouted: Arey Bhai, koi merey betey ko khana khilao…subah se bhookha hai…usney poora din apni patni ke liye upvaas rakha"
This announcement created a sensation of sorts! KYAAA? ANGAD NE UPVAAS RAKHA? Naina was flabbergasted…Lekin kyun, Beta? Kyun kiya aisa? Pati ko toh upvaas nahin rakhna padta"
Angad turned red with embarassment and glared at his Dad for leaking out his secret.
MOM! Agar Kripa mere liye vrat rakh sakti hai toh main kyun ek din uskey liye fasting nahin kar sakta? After all, marriage is equal partnership?
Naina shook her head and smiled: Ab tujsey kaun behas karega? Kanooni daav-pech dikha dega,….. chal jaldi se tu aur bahu kuchh kha le"
Kripa's eyes filled up with tears…..He had fasted the WHOLE day for her!!! The man who loved to eat, who was a confrimed foodie hadnt eaten all day? Because she was fasting too!! He loved her soo much….tears rolled down her cheeks as she quickly hid behind the tent on the terrace, overcome by emotions!
Angad followed her at once, worried and concerned: Hey Sweetheart! Tum ro kyun rahi ho? Kya hua? He turned her around and gently raised her tearful face.
Kripa looked up at him, pouting through her tears: Tumney mere liye upvaas kyun rakha? Mujey paap lag gayi na?
Angad laughed softly: Agar tumhey paap lagi toh mujey bhi lagi….dekho Kripa, mainey tumharey liye upvaas rakha, for your long life, theek jaisey tumney mere liye rakha. Ismein itna upset honay ki kya baat hai ?….hum dono ek hi raah ke humsafar hain….phir yeh difference kaisa? He gently wiped her eyes with his large palms.
She suddenly fell forward on his chest and hugged him tightly, her thick sindoor smearing on his maroon sherwani.
She raised her face upwards and cried : Itna pyar kyun kartey ho mujsey?
His deep voice thrilled her heart: Kyunki tum meri zindagi ho aur apni zindagi se kaun pyar nahin karta? You are my life, Kripa!
She hugged him again and cried emotionally…..he squeezed her tightly against him, stroking her head….suddenly his stomach rumbled loudly like the sound of thunder.
Kripa giggled, he guffawed in laughter: Ab chalo…Khana kha letey hain…mere peit mein chuhon ka 3rd World War chal raha hai" he put an arm around her shoulder and led her downstairs to the Dining-room.
They had a sumptuous dinner alongwith the other guests…after dinner, they mingled with the guests. Damini was trying to be extra sweet to Kripa now. She knew she had burned her boats with Angad and thought Kripa could mend the fences someday.
Suddenly, Angad pulled her hand and led her to the Living-room where the music system was set up for some fun and masti for the young couples. He took her to the center of the floor and yelled to the DJ to start playing music. Many other couples soon joined them on the dance floor, swaying and leaping to the Bhangra beats.
Angad circled Kripa round and round. Somebody shouted " ANGAD! YAAR EK GAANA HO JAYE…ISS MAUKEY PER"
HAAN ANGAD…..APNEY BIWI KE LIYE KUCHH SUNA DO….
Angad yelled back : OKAY!
He went to the DJ and said something in his ears, came back and took hold of Kripa's hands.
The DJ started up the background music…Angad started singing:
pallavi😳
Edited by pallavi25 - 17 years ago