IT ALL STARTED WITH TAJ
With the sun setting and spreading reddish orange colors in the sky making it look like a burning flame, the yamuna river was witnessing yet another end of the day but with a difference. While on one side of the river stood the magnificient TAJ, on the other side were an old couple adoring the beautiful view in front of them. The old man put his hand around his wife's shoulder taking him in her embrace while she remain quiet taking the moment in her. Her head lie on his nape while the smile on her face glories her wrinkled skin even more. Their feet were lying inside the river , getting massage from the flowing water.
"Kitna sundar lag raha hai na ye sab?!" The old man said taking a deep breathe trying to inhale the soft smell of wet soil of Yamuna. She moaned a little indicating a yes. For her these sunsets always take her back to those childhood days when she used to come with her family to have a picnic at the shore of Yamuna near TAJ.
"Taani..kabhi socha hai..ki agar Shahjahan ne Taj Mahal nahi banvaya hota, to shayad hum kabhi mil hi nahi paate." He said with a complete serious expression while she just giggled on his statement.
"Rey..tum bhi na!"
"Arey..I am serious. Zara socho! Uss din jab hum pehli baar mile the..aur aaj jab hum yaha hai..tab se ab tak..ye Taj humare saath hamesha raha hai. Agar ye kabhi ban hi nahi paya hota to.." Rey said with constant seriousness.
"Rey!! Ssshhh..Itna pyara sunset hai..enjoy karte hai na!" Taani said making him zip his mouth simultanoeusly. While the two enjoyed the sunsets, their minds drifted to the day it all started- AT TAJ.
"Nahi!!!" Taani shouted on the top of her voice shaking the whole society. Her mom along with her sweet little sister, Sharon, saved their eardrums keeping whatever they can get on their ears.
"Par taani.." Her mom tried speaking.
"Meine kaha na NAHI!!!" Here she goes again with her another dose of shriek. " Last and Final decision. Mein kisi bhi Rahul, ajay, Rohit, mohit, chunnu, munnu, gadhe ya ullu se nahi milungi! Mein kisi bhi ladke se shaadi ke liye nahi milungi!!" She announced her final decision making her mother lose again.
"Aur meri beti apne papa ki bhi nahi sunegi??" Her dad entered with a small smile on his face. If there was anyone on this Earth who knew how to handle Taani Shekhawat, that's her dad, at least until now.
"But papa.." She pouted.
"No ifs and no buts..vo ladka ghar aa raha hai..bas ek baar mil lo..agar achha nahi laga..I promise hum mein se koi tumhe force nahi karega!!" He said all in a calm voice somehow knowing that it was effecting her. She kept on thinking as after all her dad was never wrong in terms of decision about her's and sharon's life.
"Taani promise??!" She extended her hand in front of him.
"Taani promise..." He said with a smile.
"Ok fine!!" She said still with a pout not giving up her attitude. " Maa! Jo bhi pehnana hai jaldi de do! Aur ha!! Mein zyada sajne wali nahi hu...jaisi hu bilkul vaisi hi milungi..milna hai to mile..varna doob mare yamuna mein jaake!" Her dad giggled as she finally agreed though still keeping her demands intact. Her mom was busy in thanking God and immediately told Sharon to start the arrangements.
"Chalo..ab tum ready ho jao. Mein aata hu!" Her dad patted on her cheek and moved out of the room.
"Aane do uss Khajoor ko. Mein bhi dekhti hu ki haa kaise bolta hai." Taani murmured low enough not to reach Sharon who was selecting dress for taani.
Taani was wearing her earrings getting irritated every second when she heard the sound of doorbell making her volcano even more disastrous. Sharon was quietly looking at her sister who was going to burst any time.
"God save this guy.." She murmured loud enough for taani to hear who glared at sharon making her gulp and ran down to welcome the guests.
Sharon reached down the stairs only to find a middle aged couple giggling with her parents on some of their 'biggy' talks while a guy sitting at one corner on the couch looking at every corner of the house like it's a museum. His face was truly an entertaining one. With his lips getting dry every minute and palm and forehead sweating continuously, no awards to guess, he was nervous. Sharon giggled as she imagined what would happen when he'll meet her hitler sister.
"Sharon beta!!" Her mom called her making her come out of her thoughts. "Jao Taani ko le aao!" She said with a smile. Sharon nodded and immediately ran to their room.
"Di!! Ye kya kar rahi ho??" Sharon said with a shocked expression as she saw her sister mixing the whole pouch of Red chilli in a cup of tea. While the two were called in the hall, taani was busy in impressing the guy in her own way. Her devil mind ran quickly as she decided to teach this khajoor what it means to stand in front of taani shekhawat.
"Sshh..Iss khajoor ko to mein dikhati ho. Aage se ladki dekhna to door, chai se bhi 2 miles ki duri rakhega!" She said with an evil grin. " AISI MIRCH JO TANN MANN MEIN AAG LAGA DE!!" She created a new tagline for the chilli while her giggles were unstoppable. "Aur agar tune kisi ko kuch bhi bataya to mein..mein..ha, mein teri swayam ke saath jo late night talks chalti hai uska pura premiere maa-papa ko dikha dungi." She warned sharon who immediately backed off. Now she could only pray for this poor guy.
"Ye hamari beti, taani." Her mom introduced her. Like a perfect camouflage, from 'hitler' she transformed into a 'sushil', 'sanskari ' girl. After meeting his mom and dad, she finally came to him. Sharon looked at the duo. While Taani was busy in giving him angry glares, it looked like his all the anxiety and nervousness flew with the wind as he continued looking at taani.
"Ye to clean bold ho gaya!!" Sharon murmured.
"Ji chai!" Taani said in a honey sweet voice making her parents startled for a moment. The girl who never talked a pitch lower than what makes them deaf , is speaking so sweet as if she just had 2 quintals of sugar in lunch. Her dad exchanged glances with her mom, understanding something is getting fishy.
Rey who was completely lost in this girl right in front of him, didn't even noticed which cup he is picking from the tray in her hand. He was about to pick one until she stopped him.
"Nahi..ye wala nahi. Vo wala." She said again a honey sweet voice. Her mom eyed the cup of tea she pointed and then at sharon who was giving a warning look to her. He instantly picked another cup of tea as told by her while she gave a fake but well built smile to him. If he won't be sitting, her smile was enough to make him lose his senses and faint right there.
"Taani beta, aaiye..humare saath..yaha bethiye." His mom called her and like a robot trained to do it, she followed her obediently.
"Beta! Ye humare husband.." She introduced taani to her going to be father in law "..aur vo hai hamare bete reyaansh.." and her next move made all her family shocked for a second. She started blushing as his mom continued asking her questions. Sharon, who was the first one to get out of shock looked at her sister again. It was undoubtedly fake.
"Waah di! Kya acting kar rahi ho!" Sharon murmured. Her eyes again moved to her sister's fresh lover. The cup was still in his hand near to his lips, yet to taste while his eyes were glued to taani as if she had done some black magic on him.
With eyes still on her, his hand move forward as his lips finally touched the edge of cup. He took the first sip and..
"Kya hua beta!!" Taani's mom got worried as rey started coughing badly. Her dad quickly offered him the water which was more than happy to accept. After getting normal, his eyes moved to taani who was giving him a mischievous winning smile careful enough not to be seen by anyone.
"Rey, tumhe suddenly kya ho gaya." His mom asked.
"Kuch nahi mom vo..chai thodi garam hai." He said with a embarrassed smile while everybody giggled on his antics. Taani on the other hand was utterly shocked. Rey took the cup again and looked at her shocked face. With a winning smile, he gulped down the entire tea as if its some magic potion. Sharon who was seeing all this gets stunned as she realised that now there was someone in competition for her sister.
"Excuse me!" Rey said grabbing everyone's attention. He stood up walking towards sharon, "Vo washroom.." He asked while sharon was still looking at him with wide popping eyes. He shook her making her come out of her thoughts. "Ya..ya..chaliye.."
"Aap theek to hai na!" Sharon asked him as he was washing his hands.
"Ha, kyun.." Rey asked as if nothing happened.
"Sachme, theek hai.." For her it was quite an unbelievable thing.
"Ha!!" He said with a smile while she smiled too forgetting the whole incident. "Waise ek baat puchu?" Rey said. She nodded.
"Kitni mirchi milayi thi?" Rey asked with a giggle as he washed his face. Eating too much chilli was having bad effects on his health. Sharon gets shocked again not able to answer his question. Her cheeks grew red with embarrassment.
"Well jo bhi ho, mujhe chai bahot pasand aayi." He grinned as he took the towel from her hand and left leaving her shocked.
"Aise kaise, Mr. Singhania. Aap log itni door delhi se Agra aae hai. Kuch din rukke jaeiye." Taani's dad insisted. " Waise to koi rishta nahi bana hai, par aap humare agra aae hai. To humein as a host hi thodi seva karne dijiye." Rey's dad smiled on his way of insisting.
"Hum zaroor rukte, par kal subah hi delhi mein ek bahot important meeting hai. Par aap itna insist kar rahe hai to hum shaam tak ruk jaate hai, kyun sharda?" He asked his wife while she nodded with a smile indicating her yes. Rey entered the scene finding that they are staying for long.
"Are Rey beta!! Ab hum charon to thehre budhe log, shaam tak baatein karke apna time paas kar lenge..tum bachhe ghar mein bethe bethe kya karoge..jao jaake ghum aao." His dad suggested. "Kyun Shekhawat shahab, agar aapko aur bhabhi ji ko koi takleef na ho to bachhe ghumne jaa sakte hai na?" He smiled at the man who was more than happy to fulfill his wish.
"Taani beta! Tumhe aur sharon ko to koi problem nahi hai na!" His dad asked keeping his hand on her head. She meekly smiled and nodded in a no. Mr. Singhania was elated as his wish came true.
"To phir..tum bachhe milke taj mahal ghum aao. Ab agra aake agar taj nahi dekha to kya dekha?!!" He giggled soon to be joined by other three. Taani quickly got up from the company of their parents and reach Rey.
"Chale!! Mr. Khajoor." She said with an irritated look and showed him her true self as he looked at her with amusement.
"Di!! Aap dono jao. Vo swayam aa raha hai." Sharon explained taani who got more frustrated listening to the fact that her sister was ditching her at such a crucial point only because her sweet, little, long hair boyfriend wanted to cuddle with her. Without waiting for taani's answer, sharon left leaving a boiling sister and a amused guy behind.
"CHALO!!" She said making him come out of his dreamland and follow her inside.
"Wow!! So ye hai TAJ!!" Rey said adoring the beauty.
"Nahi, ye Rajnikant ki nayi film ka poster hai." Taani said with irritation written on her face. She moved forward not waiting for him. As he realized that she was going forward, he too ran to catch her.
"Taani stop!!!" He said. She stopped and looked at him looking like he had just ran on treadmill.
"2 min bethe." He said still taking long breaths. While she gave him some attitude, she finally convinced herself to sit down and just say it face to face that she don't wanna marry him. Infact, she doesn't even want to get married now.
"Dekho taani vo.." Rey started but was interrupted by her.
"Tum iss shaadi ke liye mana kar do." She said looking directly in his eyes.
"What?!" His breaths were still deep and long.
"Mein ye shaadi nahi kar sakti. " She said with a convincing voice.
"Par kyun.."
"Kyunki mujhe US ki ek university mein scholarship pe PhD ka offer aaya hai. Usse mana karke shaadi kar lena will be the most stupid decision of my life." He could understand what she is trying to say. Even he was not ready to handle a married life now because of which he was getting really nervous before. She was looking at him with a pleading look. He just smiled at her.
"OK." He said with a small smile.
"Ok?! Its ok with you? Tumhe koi problem nahi hai?! Matlab tum mujhse shaadi ke liye mana kar rahe ho?! Matlab meri problem solve ho gayi?! Matlab.."
"Matlab mein tumhari problem samajh gaya ho, isliye iss shaadi ke liye mana karne ke liye ready ho." He stopped her from getting hyperactive.
"Thank you..thank you..thank you so much." She gave him a little hug.
"Par hum dost to ban hi sakte hai." He extended his hand. She looked at his hand and then at his face. Now, she had no problem to do so.
"Ok, friends." Taani started giggling but suddenly stopped when he started coughing badly.
"Are you ok?" She gets tensed as his coughing was not stopping. She quickly brought a water bottle for him. Thanking his God, he quickly gulped down the entire bottle. She massaged his back trying to make him feel better.
"Tum theek to ho na!!" Taani asked getting concerned.
"Ya..I'm fine." He said. His voice looked soar and choked.
"But tumhari voice to..aisa lagta hai jaise tumne kuch galat kha liya ho." As soon as she said that, she realized that the cause of his coughings was none other than her 'Chilli Tea'. She felt guilty as she realized that her prank had too gone too far.
"Chalo." She said holding his hand while he looked at her surprised.
"Par kaha??" He was confused.
"Bas chalo." She kept holding his hand as she took him to a corner where a kulfiwala was standing selling his products to the tourists.
"Bhaiya! 1 kulfi do." She said in a much calm voice. Her face was suddenly dropped down with guilt. She took the kulfi and forwarded it to rey.
"Isse jalan bhi kam ho jaegi, aur awaaz bhi dheere dheere wapas aa jaegi." She said while he couldn't help but smile at her sudden change in behavior.
"Thanks." He said as he took the kulfi and take its bite.
"Tum bhi lo na!!" He insisted her. She nodded in a no. Her face looked dull which was definitely not liked by rey. "Hey! Its ok. Mein bilkul theek ho. Aur waise bhi, ek prank tumne kiya, waqt aane pe ek prank mein kar dunga." He tried to make her normal again.
"Taani promise?!" She extended her hand. He looked at her getting confused. She pointed at her extended hand telling him to keep his over hers.
"Oh..Taani promise." He giggled. Her smile came back instantly.
"Ab chale!! Taj bhi ghumna hai." Taani giggled soon to be joined by him. They both moved towards the monument to explore its beauty.
"Aaj to maza hi aa gaya!!" Sharon shouted as she started remembering her date with swayam while walking on the street with taani and rey. After a day full of excitements and adventures, they were finally heading home. Sharon was busy in murmuring something or the other not caring if the two people out there were listening to her. While taani and rey were all quiet following sharon and without even looking at each other once. While unaware of other's feelings, both were feeling low since the time to bid adieu had come, not knowing when they'll meet again or whether they'll ever meet. All they knew that for their upcoming future, they've made a right choice by taking a halt at this marriage issue.
'But what if after leaving he found another suitable girl?' Taani was in her deep thoughts.
'What if she founds a nice guy in US?' Rey was too walking beside her in his own dreamland.
"Achha vo..." Both said at the same time. They smiled as somehow they liked the coincidence.
"Tum.." They again repeated. Now the smile turned to giggle. But this time before anyone could say anything, it was sharon whose voice startled them.
"Maa!! Papa!!" She said as she find them at the main gate of their house along with Rey's parents and their car. Yes, it was time to say goodbye. Taani and rey looked at the car with discontentment and sadness written on their faces.
"Chalo beta! Ab humein bhi chalna chahiye!" Rey's dad came towards the duo. Rey just nodded with a smile.
"Achha taani beta, humein aapki haa ka intezaar rahega." Rey's mom said as she kept her hand on taani's head blessing her. Taani went deep into the guilt as she saw the hope in their parents eyes. Rey's parents went back to taani's parents to have the last minutes talk leaving the duo alone.
"Ok then, bye." Rey said in a low voice.
"Tum unhe kaise bataoge?" She asked him about telling his parents.
"Don't worry, vo samajh jayenge. Aakhir unke liye humari khushi se zyada kuch bhi nahi hai. Tum tension mat lo." He smiled with a gesture. "Ok then, mein chalta hu.." He said and she could do nothing but give a fake smile. As she saw him moving towards the car, she find herself getting weak. She just couldn't control herself now.
"Rey!!" She called him slow enough not to be heard by their parents. He turned immediately finding her still there.
"Vo mein.." For the first time in her lifetime, she found herself short of words.
"Kya hua?" He asked concerned.
"Vo...vo..mujhe bas itna kehna tha ki..ki..mein abhi shaadi ke liye ready nahi hu.." Before she could continue, he interrupted her.
"Par ye to mujhe pata hai.." Rey said.
"Offo!! Mujhe baat complete to karne do!" She gets irritated.
"Vo..mein abhi ready nahi hu par.."
"Par?" He asked with confusion clearly written on his face.
She closed her eyes, clearing her throat for the final time and prepared herself to say what she want. "Par 3 saal baad ho jaungi." Rey looked at her in confusion.
"Matlab?" As he gave his completely innocent expression to her, she felt more irritated. Here she was trying her best to tell him something and he is behaving like a guy who sold out his brains. She again calmed herself down.
"Matlab ye ki..hum 3 saal baad iss shaadi ke baare mein phir se..agar tum chaho to.." She said and finally to her wish he got it. His face started glowing with the utmost happiness and his feets, well they find it hard to stay on ground. He was flying high. He couldn't hold himself but smile like an idiot.
"Rey beta chalein!" His dad called him while he looked at his dad and nodded. His parents started settling in the car while taani's parents got ready to bid them goodbye. Rey turn back to taani.
"Waise idea bura nahi hai..par 3 saal baad bhi mera jawab wahi rahega jo aaj hai.." He said with a sweet smile. Her face falls as she thought that his answer might have been no since the beginning.
"Ha." He said making her shock and happy at the same time. Her face glow with the smile and blush. "Bye." He said as he moved towards the car.
"Bye." She murmured low enough but still audible for him. The car starts taking him back to his home, practically with nothing, but emotionally with everything. Now agra looks more beautiful to him than delhi and taj..well all he could say now is a small thanks to shahjahan. Cause it was because of his love momento that he got love in his life.
Taani and rey were busy in adoring the beauty of taj in night when the moon makes its marble look more bright and beautiful. After 50 years of marriage, it was there 51st visit to taj. While even after 3 years, their parents were more than happy to tie their knot, their love had also blossomed to another level making them life partners for ever. Though they were living in delhi after marriage, they always made sure to visit agra at least once a year to relive that one day. Even after 50 years, the taj's beauty seems to be only growing. And today, it looks even more beautiful with these two love birds sitting at the shore of yamuna river adoring the beauty on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. Suddenly rey's phone beeped indicating a message from his grandson- Ayaan.
"Chalo..aa gaya tumhare laadle ka message." He said giggling.
"Ek to saare bachhe milke humari wedding anniversary ki party plan kar rahe hai aur tum ho ki unka mazaak udaate rehte ho." She with a small pout on her wrinkled cheeks.
"Ab mazaak nahi udao to kya karu, surprise party plan karte hai aur phir humein khud aake batate hai ki surprise plan kar rahe hai isliye ghar se thodi der ke liye jaana hoga. Ye bhi koi surprise hota hai." He said in his old shaky voice.
"2 bete aur 1 beti ke baap ho tum. Aur un sab ke bachho ke dada, kuch to sharam karo.. Ab chalo. Varna agar zyada late kiya to ye sab humse hi naraz hoke beth jayenge." She giggled and he soon joined her. Finally helping each other out in getting up they walked slowly towards the road to catch a taxi. The night in agra grew dark with taj glowing more brightly, traffic running still madly and a couple celebrating another successful year of their marriage with their big and happy family.
Ishaani
