Chapter-7
**~~** The Ubatna **~~**
A little brief
One of the first, main functions of the Wedding Ceremonies, Ubatna is a pleasant smelling paste made as a potpourri, of different ingredients out of the kitchen stuff including Turmeric, sandalwood powder, wheat, and some pulses. In the earlier days, this paste was made and put into the earthen pot, and kept it in shade for a month or so, before it is applied on the bride and the groom, as it takes time for its complete preparation.
A yellowish-mustard coloured paste, ubatna, was applied on the whole body of the bride specially, to groom her skin colour and appearance... Since, the beauty treatments have taken its place, now applying ubatna, is a mere tradition that is applied on the bride and the groom's forehead.
Chapter-7
Soni Banno Chan Si Chamke
The Beautiful bride glows like the moon
Mathe Uthe Jhumkar Damke
On her forehead dangles the adornment
Palka Uth Diya Ne Thum Thum Ke
She raises her gaze slowly and shyly
Main Waari Jaawaan
I'm bowled over by you
Soni Banno Chan Si Chamke
The beautiful bride glows like the moon
Mathe Uthe Jhumar Damke
On her forehead dangles the adornment
Palka Uth Diya Ne Thum Thum Ke
She raises her gaze slowly and shyly
Main Waari Jaawaan
I'm bowled over by you...
Tu Vekh Lai Aj Raj Ke
Look at your dear ones today
Apne Sariyan nu
To your hearts content
Cheti Apne Nahi Mil De
You won't find them with you ever again
Ja Banno Pave Khushiyan Te Dil Dariyan Tu
May you find all the happiness o bride
Paawe Armaan Sab Dil De
May all the desires of your heart be fulfilled
Tu Vekhi Lai Aj Raj Ke
Look at your dear ones today
Apne Saariyan nu
To your hearts content
Cheti Apne Nahi Mil De
You won't find them with you ever again
Ja Banno Pave Khushiyan Te Dil Dariyan Tu
May you find all the happiness o bride
Pave Armaan Sab Dil De
May all the desires of your heart be fulfilled
A group of ladies sitting on a deewaan lay on one side of the stage set in one corner of the huge hall of the Villa in which the Farooqui's stayed, were singing songs on the auspicious occasion with playing music with the Dholaks that was giving a fine environment of the beginning of the Wedding ceremonies in the house... The guests had started to arrive, and gather. Many of the Indian relatives of the Farooqui's were also there for the ceremony... And like any of the females in a wedding, the first curious question that was asked- "Dulhan kahan hai?", one of the curious female relative, asked holding Zoya's mother's hand...
The busy mother of the bride, tending to each and every relative, looked around the hall, and then said... "Bas aati hee hogi... Uski aapi usko ready hone mein help kar rahi hain..." said Zareena, Zoya's mother... And right then the hustle-bustle in the hall stopped for a second that attracted everybody's attention... The awaited bride clad in an Angelic bright yellow Patiala Salwaar-kurta, with the Dupatta neatly tucked on her head, with mid size Jhumkiyaan jingling in her ear, a thin Gold Chain clinging on to her sleek neck, handful of bangles of yellow and silver on both her wrists clinking together, and thin anklets with sure jingles when she walked, with a light makeup, and a small maang teeka adorning her forehead, and a tiny nose pin that shone on her nose in the bright lights of the occasion, made her look an awesome bride to be... With her eyelashes drooped low, and a tiny smile lingering on her lips, Zoya was ushered to the stage by her elder sister Zaina and a cousin, Humeira, who came all the way from Hyderabad for the wedding...
Making her sit on a Queen Size chair especially for the wedding, Zoya, looked up a little to see the crowd that gave a yellowish ambience of everything, with each lady wearing a dress that were shades of yellow... Basically it looked like the theme for the day was Yellow... With yellow and white curtains handing around in a certain fashion, with yellow flowers, and garlands lavishly hanging around the walls, It certainly looked beautiful to Zoya... Zaina bending down to Zoya and asked with mischievous eyes- "Pasand aaya?", Indicating towards the decoration... The but-obvious nod was what was awaited by the cousins that had gathered on the stage seeing Zoya come, hooted all together learning that Zoya liked the decoration... Aaliya, one of her teenage cousin teased- "Haan Bhai, pasand kyu nahi aayega, Asad Jeeju ne jo saara decoration plan kiya hai...", Zoya's eyes shot up in amazement, learning it was HIS plan to do so... then she dropped her eyes low, and gave a fond smile, on his thoughtfulness, that reached every nook-and-corner of her face, making it shine bright, that was taken as a sign of blush by her naughty cousins, continuing the teasing banter, making sure, the Zoya Farooqui, the one who never had a stoppage on her tongue that ran at a mile per second, could not utter a word in answer, and continue smiling with no other option left... Zoya on the contrary loved this teasing... Didn't she miss all this in New York? Lovely cousins, banters, teasing, non-stop madness, and lots of love...Didn't she? Of course she did... And for all this, if it took her to quietly sit, and be the centre of everybody's attention, she's all for it... Zoya sighed in relief... She was happier to know, Asad has a houseful family. It's not going to be sitting alone all day... It's going to be joyous breakfasts, dinners together... It would be such bliss...
Zoya's beautiful thoughts took a halt, when she heard one of her cousin ask Zoya's mother- "Arrey Khala... Ubatna kab shuru karenge? Sab mehmaan aa toh gaye hain..." Zoya's mother smiled, and then told...
Zareena: Arre beta, ladki ka ubatna uske ghar wale nahi, uske Sasural wale shuru karte hain... Dilshaad Bi, aati hee hongi, unke yahan ke logon ke saath...
The cousin again asked- "Khala, sirf ladies aa rahi hain unke side se?"
Zareena: Nahi beta, all ladies and gents are coming, ALONG WITH ASAD!!!
Zoya's face was getting brighter with the last clear sentence that her mother spoke, especially for Zoya to hear... And the cousins began to start another teasing, pretending to be innocent...
Cousin: Oh! Jeeju bhi aa rahe hain... (She tried to exaggerate the sentence to emphasise on the whole sentence) Phir toh Khala, Zoya Aapi bhi chalengi hum sab ke saath Jeeju ke ghar unke ubatna ke liye... Not fair...!!! (She tried making a hurt face)
Zeenat laughed at that... -"Dhatt!! Pagli... Dulhan ubatna ke baad ghar se baahar nahi nikalti... Wo toh Asad ko sab se milwaane ke liye bulaaya hai... Uska ubatna thodi na hai aaj..."
Zoya mentally pouted at that, as actually pouting meant, she'd be already killed by her cousins teasing her... Giving away a soft sigh, she waited for all of them to arrive...
[Ok! Let me clear another thing here... Ubatna can be done with only the bride's side at home, doing her ubatna, and no inlaws coming...(If they wish so) Or it can be, with the ladies of the Groom's side coming, and doing ubatna of the bride, or the ladies and gents all coming to the bride's place... But, the ubatna is always done by the ladies... Gents do not perform any ubatna either on the bride or the groom, as far as the ceremony is concerned... In the earlier days, the gents did not come to the bride's side for the ubatna, but, since, the tradition of dinners have followed, the gents are called too, but for the dinner, while the ladies are allowed to perform the ubatna, I hope, I was clear enough...]
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"Abbu, why do I need to go there?" it was Asad who was adjusting the collar of his shirt, getting ready for the Ubatna Ceremony of Zoya... Rashid, Asad's dad was amused- "I don't understand Asad, what is the problem joining with your family there... After all, it's one of the functions of your own wedding..." Seeing Asad being so grumpy, his dad gave up, and giving a look at Ayaan, his nephew, son of his late younger brother, brought up as his own son, just like Asad in his house, who came just a day back from his trainings from Banglore... Ayaan, a very jolly boy in his mid 20's, have a reassuring blink at his father-like, Rashid, whom he too said Abbu, that he would manage it alone. Rashid, leaving Asad and Ayaan in the room came out... Ayaan came and stood in front of Asad, who was just busy buttoning the collar of his shirt, when Ayaan held his hands in a way to stop him from buttoning...
Ay: Leave it na Bhaijaan... This looks cool, with the collar and a button open...
As: Come on Ayaan... No...
Ayaan looked calm at Asad, and then said- "Bhaijaan, aap itna kyu pareshaan ho rahe hain..."
As: Ayaan, it's a ceremony for the ladies, what am I going to do there?
Ay: Meet people, know the relatives that Bhabhi have, have dinner there... (With calmness opening the collar button) And foremost, meet your to-be-bride...
Ayaan (winding an arm around his brother's shoulders): Bhaijaan, come on, it's time to relax, it's not always necessary to think... They have called you there, and shouldn't you be respecting their feelings? And most of all, why do you want to miss the opportunity to see Bhabhi? And don't tell me you do not like to see her...
That brought an instant smile on Asad's face... Although Ayaan was his younger brother, but was his confidante, his friend in thick and thin, and a very understanding person, who understood Asad better that he himself did...
Ay: You like her, don't you?
And before Asad could answer, their impatient little sister, Najma again yelled- "Bhaijaan!!! Main hum kabse ready hain... Kitna waqt lagega aapko tayyar hone mein?" And there in the room both the brothers rolled their eyes hearing their sister exceptionally ready before them this time... Asad wearing his informal coat over his shirt, walked out with Ayaan...
Ay: Haan Tamatar, aa gaye hum...!!!
Najma made an annoyed face at him for calling her with this name... but dilshaad stopped them before they started...
Dil: Ok-ok! Chup dono... Najma beta, Bhabhi ke liye ubatne ki thali leli?
N: Ji Ammi, its ready... (Najma showed a beautifully decorated platter, in between kept a bowl of the ubatna paste...
Dil: Good! Ayaan, beta tumne garlands rakh liye hain na?
Ay: Ji ammi, all placed in the car...
Dil: Ok then! Chalein?
So, the Khan family members and their close relatives, all boarded in the cars ready, to reach the Villa where Zoya's ubatna function is held...
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The Khans and their relatives were mixing up, and meeting the Farooquis and their relatives, along with exchanging garlands and gifts with each other... Asad was naturally the centre of everybody's attention, to meet the groom of their dear girl Zoya...
Soon, it was time for the Ubatna, and hence Zareena ushered the ladies towards the stage, while the gents went along to the buffet area, to have their dinner...
Asad's mother went on the stage along with Najma, with Najma holding the platter of Ubatna, Zoya stood up from the chair she sat on and gave her salaam to her, and the other relatives... Dilshaad replied the salaam back to her, and kissed her forehead out of love... Taking out a packet that had the flowers and Garlands, Dilshaad took out the flower ornaments that are specially made for the bride, as a tradition... A garland, flower bracelets, armbands and Anklets of Mogra, Rose and Jasmine... And then Najma took out two very special and beautiful Kangans out of her bag, they were the handmade Kadas, woven around by the shagun ke dhaage... And made her wear them...
N: Bhabhi, ye Kalaawa hai... Especially aapke liye... Bride ke liye hota hai ye... Don't take them off until you come to our house after the Nikaah...
Zoya smiled at that... The little jingles that the small ghungroo in the threads of the Kangan were really sweet...
Dilshaad took a little ubatna on her fingers and then said to Zareena...
D: Humare yahan, Dulha ya dulhan ko ubatna lagaane se pehle 7 married women ke forehead par ubatna lagaaya jaata hai...
Zareena nodded in agreement, knowing the tradition herself, she took a little bit, and put it on Dilshaad's forehead, and Dilshaad to Zareena's forehead, then Zaina, Zoya's elder sister's forehead, and three other ladies... And then begun applying the Ubatna on Zoya's forehead one by one, starting from Asad's Grandmother, Dilshaad, Najma, and other relatives of Asad, and then Zoya's mother, sister and relatives... It was when Zoya lifted her eyelids, and saw her Abbu standing down the stage, with his arms crossed on his chest, and intently looking at his daughter, who has begun with the ceremonies of the most auspicious occasion of her life- Her wedding... It was not her father standing, but the love that was so visible in his eyes, that it immediately brought tears stinging in her eyes, and as a net result, her face going red with the inner turmoil, and that was when her elder sister, who was observing both, kept a sympathetic hand on her head... Zoya looked at her Aapi, who subtly asked her not to cry especially when the crowd is all around... Zoya nodded, controlling herself... And just then the photographer and the videographer called Zoya and Asad's families on stage for their pics individually, as soon as Zoya's father, Mr. Ghaffur Ahmed Farooqui arrived on stage, is when he hugged his younger daughter to his chest... And the little girl in Zoya crept up, as she hid her face in his chest finding her solace in the chest of the man, who was her first hero, for the last of the times before she would have to leave his hand, and walk out to the world, that would be her new home...
The scene that was in front had such intensity that Dilshaad who was standing down the stage with her family, waiting for the Farooquis to get their photograph done, to have their family picture with Zoya, Dilshaad couldn't control herself, and a little sob escaped her pursed lips, that she had tried hard to control... After all, she too is a mother of a daughter, and once she too was a daughter, and knew the pain of the family of bride, leaving her family soon... Asad and Ayaan both looked at their mother, who was teary eyed, and an unmistakable mist in Najma's eyes too... both the brothers wound their arms around the two ladies, and also their grandmother, who was crying and smiling both, seeing the scenes, one at the stage, and one down the stage...
Pictures clicked, dinner done, teasing and banters over, the guest bade their adieu, as well the Khans with the promise to meet the Farooquis the next day... With Ayaan being a naughty one, who hugged his Zoya Bhabhi, offering his mock solemnity to her, that she won't come to their place, as his Bhaijaan did... But, now Zoya overcame the cry-baby avatar and shot back as good as he did...
Z: Ab kya karein Ayaan Miyaan, aapne bulaaya hee nahi... Ammi-abbu toh pehle hee invite kar diya tha aapke Bhaijaan ko... But, mujhe toh koi aisa invitation mila nahi...
And everyone roared with laughter, and Asad's eyes were fixed softly over Zoya, who was taking in the beauty she was looking... His eyes complimenting her in their own language understood by both of them, and the slight blush and smile told him the message that his eyes conveyed, was received...
After they all had settled in their respective rooms, when Zoya received the message on her cell phone, from the one she had been waiting for... No matter how many times they met in a day, but their night convos were never missed... And both of them looked forward to them... Today, was not anything different, discussing the function of the day, Zoya complimenting his choice over the decoration, and complimenting each other again, how good they looked tonight... And with the final talks about the next day Ubatna Ceremony, Asad very cutely invited her for the function... Zoya couldn't contain her chuckle... replying back with the same smile adorning her face- "How I wish I could... But Ammi told, bride does not step out of her house after her ubatna... one of my khala told, it's called- Koney mein baithaana, ie. The Bride is made to sit in one corner, and there she sits and does all she want... hehehehe... They made me eat some very yummy laddoos, its called Koney ke laddoo... Anyways, whatever they were, I liked all of them..." And their time was up, all the cousins had already crowded the bride and groom at their respective places, that they had to say goodnight to each other, and keep their phones aside...
Saying goodnight to each other did not mean the night was over... It meant, the night just begun, with the woofers and loudspeakers on, began the musics, and it was time for dance and music at both the ends... Making each and every one of both the houses, right from the bride and groom, their parents, relatives, sibling all grooved to music in their own manners... No choreographed steps, no decided dance, just grooving, enjoying the dance... Some cousins who had practiced a bit performed their dances in front of all...
Finally, after dancing singing, yelling and what not, the members at both the houses started to retire after 3-3.30 am... It was a long day for all... After all, it was Asad's ubatna the next day...
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The next day too went along singing and dancing, until evening, when the hall was readied, and all started getting ready... All started coming out getting ready, as the guests started coming too... Asad came out wearing a lime coloured Pathaani pajaama-kurta... looking devastatingly handsome, with his well built body showing up more and awesome...
Just like Zoya's ubatna, Zoya's family exchanged gifts and garlands, and begun the ubatna ceremony, with a lot of teasing and fun... It was Najma who started putting Ubatna on Asad's cheeks, nose n all over his face, that became an almost play for all, converting Asad into one joker, with face covered with Ubatna here and there...
And after Asad cleaned himself did he join all in the dinner with his in-laws and especially Zoya's siblings who were imparting him with some do's and don'ts with Zoya that Asad may not be knowing... Not realising how late they all have been talking, till Zaina's phone rang with Zoya's call, and they could hear her shouting at the other end- "Kab aayenge aap log ghar? Main bore ho rahi hoon yahan akeli..."
It was time to say bye for both the families, as the Farooquis are going to be busier the next morning, as it would be the mehendi ceremony the next day...
Awaiting another day, that calls the last day before the nikaah all waited for...
~~~Thanks for the read~~~
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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