CHAPTER 71 (A). LETS CALL THE WEDDING OFF!
Place - Sheeshmahal
Day - 3 Sunday continued
"Yeh aadmi yahaan kya kar raha hai?", Arnav Singh Raizada roared as he stood there, his hands clenching and unclenching, his eyes spitting fire and his body language screaming for a fight. Khushi looked at him worriedly while Geet flinched and took a step back scared of his anger. Maan took a step ahead wanting to rip someone's head off while Aakash folded his arms against his chest and fumed in anger. All eight, Maan, Arnav, Khushi, Geet, NK, Lavanya, Paayal and Aakash stood on the threshold of Sheeshmahal, their clothes dirty and torn off in places, and their eyes staring at the milieu in front of them.
Right in front of them on the sofa in the main hall sat Arnav's Chachaji, his smile seemingly sleazy and slimy. Beside him sat an uncomfortable Anjali, smiling uneasily as if just the thought of the man was making her nauseous. Right by Anjali sat the rest of the elders with their expression same as Anjali; uneasy smile and uncomfortable posture. Shyam stood behind Anjali glaring at the Chachaji but having an uneasy but polite smile on his face which seemed totally forced and fake. Chachaji was a person with medium build, protruding stomach, wearing dhoti kurta, having a funny moustache and his head bald. His expression and body language gave the indication that he was a man of parasitic quality who would latch onto anything and anyone who had money. His demeanor proved that he had a greedy disposition and a cunning mind.
The moment Arnav roared, the Chachaji got up and his smile broadened making him look more greedy and sleazy. "Kaisan ho Arnav Bitwa?", the man spoke while the elders and Anjali got up from their places worried that the situation would spiral out of their hands. Annie, Arjun, Dev and NT seemed to be not in the hall which meant they were still having their video chat and hence, did not notice Chachaji's arrival.
Arnav did not react to the man's question. He just glared at him angrily. "Chote...", Anjali whispered but one glare from Arnav shut her up. Arnav's voice lowered down and he hissed through his teeth, "Maine poocha yeh aadmi yahaan kya kar raha hai?" His voice seemed to radiate chill while his eyes were blazing with anger. Most people would think that his anger was lowering as his voice seem to calmed down but only his family and friends knew that his voice lowering meant he was getting beyond angry.
"Bitwa! Aisan batiyaate hain aapan ke Chacha se?", the man asked and Arnav took few swift steps forward in anger probably to strangle him as his hands seemed to take the shape of claws. But he was stopped by two hands on his arms. He looked to his left to see Geet looking at him pleadingly and he could sense from the hand on his right that it was Khushi holding him. His name being whispered in Khushi's voice confirmed his guess.
Arnav closed his eyes and took a calm breath. He opened his eyes and looked at his Di calmly, "Di! What is he doing here?" Anjali was fiddling with her hands, fear and worry written on her face and she bit her lip when Arnav looked at her. She smiled uneasily and walked towards him. She stood in front of him and spoke softly, "Chachaji kuch dino se Lucknow mein the, apne rishtedaar se milne aaye the! Infact, thode der baad waale train se waapis bhi jaa rahe hain! Par jab unhein pata chala ki hum sab yahaan hai, toh humse milne chale aaye!" Her smiled seemed hesitant to others, as if she herself was not happy with this visit which probably was true.
Arnav folded his arms against his chest and replied casually, "Oh really?" Anjali nodded vigorously, "Haan! Aur abhi nikalne ki hi baat kar rahe the! Haina Chachaji?" Anjali turned around and looked at the man pleadingly hoping he would corroborate her story and say what he had said few minutes ago which was that he would leave in few minutes. Arnav looked at the man for confirmation. While Arnav's whole body language screamed casual, those who knew him knew very well that he was very close to exploding in anger.
The Chachaji smirked and spoke up, "Arnav bitwa! Humne toh socha yahi tha ki kuch ghanto ke liye aayenge aur phir chale jaavenge! Par tohaar Chachiji haina? Uu naahi maani! Jab unko phone karke bataaya na ki tohaar saadi hai toh kahat rahi ki shaadi ka ghar hai! Ghar ma bade logan bhi hona chaahi na? Toh hum toh soch rahe hain ki eeyaan rehkar shaadi dekhkar jaayenge!" Anjali looked at the man in horror while Maan, Arnav and Aakash glared at the man. How dare he! How dare he come and ruin the weddings! Naaniji, Daadima and Maamiji looked at the man indignantly. Bade log? What did he mean when he said there should be elders too in the wedding? If he was a elder person then what were Naani and Daadi? Youngsters?
The man pointed his hand at the bags lying beside his chair, "Dekho bitiya! Humaar saamaan bhi humaar saath hai! Toh ko kachchu ki fikar karne ki jaroorat naa hai!" Anjali stumbled few steps backward and Arnav had to hold her to steady her. Already the man had thrown her out of the Sheeshmahal when they were young and now he was here again to ruin her brothers' wedding. Was every memory related to Sheeshmahal will be sullied by this man? Will she never be able to provide Sheeshmahal with happy memories? Will her childhood home always give her family pain?
The pain on Anjali's face prompted Maan to take action. He did not want to interfere in this family feud but he refused to see his family and friends in pain. He took a step ahead and glared at the Chacha menacingly, "Bas bahut hogaya yeh drama! Aap abhi ke abhi yahaan se chale jaayiye warna main aapko dhakke maarke nikaalunga!" Anjali looked at him in shock and worry, "Nahi Maan Saab! Aap aisa kuch nahi karenge! Woh humse bade hain aur humaare parivarwaale hain!" The Chachaji looked at Maan smugly as if he knew all along that Anjali's sweet nature will allow him to stay here. "Parivar?", Maan looked at her in anger and confusion. Anjali nodded tearfully, "Haan! Unhonein jo kuch bhi kiya ho humaare saath lekin in sabke baawajood woh humaare parivar se hain!"
Maan looked at Anjali in horror and then his expression cleared and his face blanked out. He folded his arms against his chest and nodded at Anjali. He spoke very calmly, "Toh phir theek hai! Agar yeh aadmi yahaan rahega, toh main apne parivar aur apni behno ko lekar yahaan se jaa raha hoon!" Anjali took a step back in horror. No! Not her brothers' wedding! They can't be called off! Maan cannot call off the weddings! Maan read Anjali's expression perfectly, "Yes Angel! I will take them away and the weddings will be called off. Neither Paayal nor Lavanya will get married in this man's presence!"
Amma and Buaji looked at each other in worry and horror. Their girls' wedding called off? Hey Devi Maiyya! Ee anarth hua toh humaar betiyon ki zindagi barbaad ho jaayegi! Naaniji gripped Maamiji's hands. Weddings called off? Yeh galat hai! Aisan naahi hona chaahiye! Anjali could not believe it. She turned to look at her Chote hoping he would stop Maan from saying such things. But her Chote seemed to take Maan's side, "Maan sahi keh raha hai! Maan kya, main bhi yehi kehta hoon! Agar yeh insaan meri shaadi mein aaya toh main mandap chod dunga! Par iske saamne shaadi nahi karunga!" Anjali looked down tearfully, her face showing nothing but devastation.
"Bhai aur Bro theek keh rahe hain!", Aakash spoke up shocking everyone. "Main bhi yeh shaadi nahi karunga agar meri shaadi mein woh insaan aaye jisne meri Di aur Bhai ko ghar se beghar kar diya woh bhi raat ke waqt. Aur yeh bhi na socha ki woh dono kahaan jaayenge! Aise insaan ka aashirwaad mujhe nahi chaahiye!" "Bitwa!", Amma whispered in horror. Her both daughters' wedding called off? She could not bear it. Aakash felt guilty that he took the decision without asking Paayal. But what was he supposed to do? Di and Arnav were his family. He felt a hand slip into his hand and he turned to see Paayal. Her eyes were filled with tears but her lips had smile and she nodded to him indicating that she supported his decision. Aakash smiled sadly and looked at his Di and Bhai knowing that it was their turn to take decision.
Anjali kept looking at the ground, her eyes tearing up, her heart hammering in her chest, her mind hoping that this was nothing but a nightmare from which she will wake up any moment. She wanted someone to say that this was nothing but a joke. How did things escalate till here? He was just coming to visit. How did the visit turn into something where her brothers' weddings were called off? She felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up to see her husband standing beside her. He smiled sadly at her, "Rani Sahiba! Humne kahaa tha na ki inko yahaan aane dekar aapne toofan ko nyota diya hai! Phir kyun aapne humaari baat nahi maani?" Her strength deserted her and tears cascaded down her cheeks. Her husband hugged her softly trying to console her.
In between Anjali's crying, Maan, Aakash and Arnav's angry stand and elders' horrified expression, Chachaji decided to make his presence known, "Dekho bitwa! Hum kauno dushman naahi hai! Hum toh tohaar Chacha hai. Aur hum toh tohaar shaadi dekhke hi jaayenge!"
Maan looked at the Chachaji and smirked, "Fine! Phir yeh shaadi hi nahi hogi! Khushi! Lavanya! Paayal! Daadima! Pack your bags and others too! Hum yahaan se nikal rahe hain!" Maan fired his orders and stormed away with Paayal and Lavanya following him. Khushi looked at Arnav worriedly. Arnav glared at the Chacha menacingly, "Aakash, Naani, Maami, yahaan se nikalne ki tayyaariyaan kijiye!" He marched away. Khushi ran after him, worried for his emotional state followed by Aakash who gave the Chacha a dirty look. NK looked around for a second confused on what to do when Geet grabbed his wrist and dragged him but not before throwing the Chacha a disgusted expression.
Naaniji and Daadima sat down on their seats shocked at what had happened. Maamiji sat down worried for Naaniji's health and her son's marriage. Amma and Buaji sat beside them confused on what to do but deciding to follow their Samdhan's lead. Chachaji smugly sat down beside them, "Aaj kal ke bachche! Kuch bhi bol dete hain! Lekin aap sab fikar mat kijiye! Ek baar sab ka ghussa thanda hui jaayega toh baat kar lena! Humka naahi lagta ee saadi itni aasaani se tootegi!" Naaniji glared at him but the glare went unnoticed.
Anjali hugged her husband tightly while her tears refuse to stop. Shyam tried to soothe her by patting her head and murmuring comforting words in her ear. Her knees crumbled and she would have fallen if Shyam would not have caught her. He lowered her to the ground carefully and she continued to sob in his arms, "Yeh galat hai! Woh... humaare Chachaji... Parivaar...hum sab se bade... Chote aur Maan Saab ko yeh sab...nahi..." Shyam spoke in a soft voice, "Rani Sahiba! Aap yeh sab kya bol rahi hain? Agar yeh aapko parivar maante toh yeh aapko ghar se na nikaal fenkte! Woh bhi uss din jis din aapki shaadi tooti thi aur aapke Amma Bauji ki maut hogaya thi! Sochiye! Agar us waqt aapke saath Dev, Annie, Arjun aur NT nahi hote toh aap aur Saale Saaheb kahaan jaate! Agar us waqt Dev ne aapke Maan Saab ko call karke unki madat na li hoti toh aap ka kya hota yeh aap bhi jaanti hain! Un dono ko poora haq hai aapke Chachaji se nafrat karne ka aur iss shaadi ko rokne ka!" Anjali looked at her husband tearfully and Shyam nodded. Anjali hugged him again as she cried for the weddings called off!
PRECAP
Let's get the Chacha out of Sheeshmahal! But how?
Thanks, take care and have fun,
Kalpana
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