posting the next update here on this thread...go through it...hope you like it...
Chapter 29
Sameer leaned on the window sill looking at the light dizzle outside. A gentle wind was blowing bringing in drops of rains on his face and shoulder. He stretched his legs and sat comfortable shaking his head to brush off the droplets of water from his hair. He chuckled as the droplets wet his temple.
It was the last night of his bachelor hood and coincidentally he was sharing it with his would-be-wife. Sam was speaking with Aisha from the past one and a half hours but when he had finally disconnected the call to sleep, he lost his sleep, missing her terribly. The house as full of people, his parents, their relatives but he was still the lonely soul lingering around his room, avoiding the teasing and curious gazes of his extended families.
He had laid down trying his best not to disturb her more but even after turning and rotating and listening to some extremely boring sad songs for a long time, sleep wasn't anywhere around. Finally he went and sat on the window feeling the night dreaming of the changes that were about to commence in his life henceforth.
It wasn't that he didn't know the woman he would be sharing his life with but still there was a slight awkwardness in this whole affair. Marriage was a heavy responsibility and he was still confused whether he would be able to fulfil his duties towards his lady and their relationship.
An almost meaningless, reckless and independent life that he had led all these while was actually scaring him to step into a bondange of relationships. All these while he had very easily ignore the other relations and concentrated mostly on being the honest dedicated officer working for the nation. But now after tonight his life would no longer be only of an officer but many more roles to play. A son, a husband, a friend and later a father.
Priorites will change. He would no longer be able to live an individual life. He would have to share his life with someone else, whose life would solely be dependant on him so does his life on her too. The mistakes, the rules, the support he had given others all these years, he would have to follow himself. It will be their life. Either they would make it together towards their ultimate end or they would fall apart in their journey just like Arjun and Riya.
That reminded him of them and his heart throbbed faster. He was scared. What if they separated like them? What if his marriage didn't work and Aisha left. How would he live without her? Just like Arjun is living...breathing his days and cursing his nights?
It was the first time, after months of annoyance towards his friend, he was able to understand Arjun and his arrogance after Riya separated from him. It isn't an easy task to walk alone after walking such a long distance with someone else. Somewhere inside he was able to justify Arjun's relationship with Sakshi now. But still some clarifications were left. He had already guessed that arjun never loved her, but getting involved with her physically wasn't justified at all. When had the strong headed arjun, he knew, fell so weak?
He looked back at the sky it was pouring heavy now. The rain crashing hard on the glass window pane. He jumped down and closed the window. He walked back to the bed and fell on his stomach. He picked up his phone and checked the time. It was 2:30. He opened his messages folder and checked his conversations with Aisha. It brought a broad smile on his lips and he signed loudly.
'Pagal larki..mujhe bhi pagal kar degi,' he said and flipped on the bed.
Going through the various pictures in his phone he came across an old photograph which was taken during Arjun and Riya's first anniversary party. He had clicked the photograph with a blushing Riya kissing Arjun on his cheek while a smiling Arjun wrapping his arm around her waist. How much he had enjoyed teasing them with it later. Those were the days, when their relations needed no words to be understood and now those relations are at stake.
No he couldn't let this go on for ever especially when both had mistakes and both were at fault. He was starting a new beginning with Aisha tomorrow, Arjun too deserved to get another chance to start everything new.
Sam sat up on the bed and crossed his legs, pulling a pillow on his lap. He checked the time again. It was 2:48.
'that nocturnal alien must be awake, call karta hoon, waise bhi neend nehi aaraha, kisi aur ka neend haram karna to banta hain,' he thought and smirked,
Going through the last dialed numbers list he dialed Arjun's number. The phone rang twice and he picked it up,
'Haan Rathore,' Arjun greeted him,
'So rahe the?' Sam asked smacking his head for the weird question,
'neend ne mera saath bohot pehele chor diya hain Rathore, batao kya kaam hain?' he asked,
'nehi kuch kaam nehi hain, wo mein...' Sam fell silent, he hadn't thought of what he is gonna speak to him. It wasn't any longer the old Arjun for him, with whom he could carelessly speak without giving it a thought.
'matlab? Rathore? ' Arjun asked him surprised,
'haan. Nehi kuch nehi...wo mein bhul gaya kyun phone kiya tha, rakhta hoon,' Rathore spoke sternly rubbing his temple,
'Rathore! Kya hua? Sab thik hain?' Arjun showed his concern unknowingly,
'haan, wo tum kal sham aa rahe ho na?' sam asked him though he could guess the answer he would get,
'haan, Ayesha ne invite kiya hain to..' Arjun replied,
'kya tum sach mein aa rahe hoo?' Rathore quizzled, that was unexpected for him,
'haan..kyu, nehi aau?' arjun asked back,
'nehi nehi wo nehi...wo mein bas asehi...' rathore grumbled,
'Rathore kya hua? Itne tensed kyu ho?' Arjun asked irritated,
'Kal meri shadi hain Arjun, mujhe ajeeb sa lag raha hain, tumhe kuch samaj nehi ata kya?' Sameer yelled on the phone,
'tumhe daar lag raha hain?' Arjun asked, the smirk almost audible in his voice,
'nehi daar nehi...bas,thora sa...bohot,' Sameer signed a relief to have spoke his heart to him,
A silence followed after that. Arjun didn't reply back to him. Sameer waited for a few more seconds and then called back.
'Arjun, Rawte..' he called him,
'kisse daar lag raha hain Rathore? Ayesha se?' Arjun asked in a playful tone,
'haan..nehi...matlab sab kuch jo ho raha hain usse...aur Aisha, uski to baat hi maat karo, pata nehi kya karegi mere saath,' Sameer spoke up in a lost tone,
'tujhe exactly kya daar hain Sam? Aisha kya karegi tere saath?' arjun asked giving our a chuckle,
'Arjun!!' Sameer gritted his teeth and heard Arjun laughing,
'Sam tu bhi na..' Arjun spoke out between his laughter,
'Damnitt Arjun!! Hasna band kar warna...'
'Warna kya?' he asked and started laughing loudly,
'Haan aur has, sabki shadi teri tarah thori hoti hain, na gharwale na rasam, itne humiliating hain ye saab,' sameer spoke up irritated,
'Acha hain na Sam, meri shadi mein humiliating kuch nehi tha, aur abhi, shadi hi nehi rahi..' arjun said in a sad tone,
'Arjun,' Sameer called him, feeling the sadness in his tone,
Arjun signed at the other end and started speaking,
'Darne ki koi baat nehi hain, Rathore, tum logo ka relation humare jaisa nehi hain. Marriage is a sacred bond and there is nothing scary in bondings and relationships,' arjun replied getting back to his serious nature,
'Agar aisa hain to tu firse suru kyu nehi karta, I know you love Riya,'
'Everything is over between us, revive karne jao to firse wahi saab baat, wahi purane insecurities, everything will come back and again...I don't want to hurt her anymore Sam,'
'tum log dono kitna similar sochte ho, she too is avoiding you coz she doesn't want to hurt you but itna soch rahe ho to, why don't you people try and erase the pain that both of you are hiding inside you and in inturn hurting others? Atleast speak to each other, bring up the past, clarify your mistakes, clarify yourselves...that way you could get things clarified between you. You two might not have to avoid each other and Sakshi would also be saved that way,' Sameer replied back,
'Sakshi is saved Rathore, I have told her about...she hates me now...' arjun replied,
'and you are so happy Rawte? Do you really expect Sakshi to be happy with a broken heart? I don't,'
'neither do I Sam, but she will learn and its good for her, I cant bring her into my burning life and burn her. Enough mistakes done Rathore, she is innocent, I can't spoil her life, I deserve to be hurt, I don't deserve to be loved by her,'
'Arjun..'
'So jao rathore. Don't decide your life looking at mine. I have my faults that I am living this punishment, you aren't Arjun and you will not make the similar mistakes. So don't be scared. Aisha would never hurt you and you better not hurt her,' Arjun replied and waited for a few seconds.
'hmm,' rathore hummed and both disconnected the call together without speaking another word.
Rathore laid staright with the phone on his chest thinking about their conversation. He looked outside. It had stopped raining and the sky had cleared a lot, bringing in the early morning light. The birds have already started chirping evoking the new day and a new phase in his life. Sam turned towards the other side and closed his eyes. He was now feeling drowsy.
**********
Sameer was standing in front of the mirror looking at himself when someone knocked the door. He immediately opened the door and Riya came in smiling.
'Riya finally tum aa gayi, itna late kyu kiya?' sam spoke pulling riya inside the room,
'arre ruko sam, khich kyu rahe ho..gir jaungi..kya hua?' riya walked inside holding the pleads of her saree,
'pehele batao tum itni late kyu ayi?' Sameer asked her again,
'late nehi ayi sam, niche masa se baat kar rahi thi, kitne log aye hain, sabse milke fir ayi,' riya explained,
'acha, kitne log aye hain? aur niche kya chal raha hain?' he asked sounding scared,
'bohot, aur tum itne daar kyu rahe ho Sam? Shadi hain tumhari enjoy karo,' riya chuckled at his pale face,
Sameer opened his mouth to speak something when someone came to inform that Sameer was being called downstairs. Riya nodded at the man and looked back Sameer who was now looking thoughtful.
'kya hua? Sam?' she called him,
'Aisha aa gayi kya?' he asked looking at her,
'Sam...tumhe jana hain uske ghar, aisha se shadi karne,' riya shouted shaking him,
'arre haan, mein to bhool hi gaya,' sam said making a weird face,
'Aisa hi hota hain Sam..jab ek relation mein larki ko hi saab pehele karna pare to larke ko uski adaat ho jati hain..aisha ko thik se propose bhi nehi kar paye sam...ikrar, inkar, takrar aur izhar sab to aisha ko hi karna para hoga..tch tch...' riya scolded,
'riya...yaha meri halat kaharab hain aur tum...' he complained,
'per tum itna kyu daar rahe ho Sam?' she asked,
'niche kitne log aye hain dekha hain? sab milke pata nehi kaise kaise ajeeb se harkatein kar rahe hain subah se, its so irritating and humiliating Riya..ab pata nehi aur kitne aise so called rasme baki hain,' he replied pouting his face,
'ye saab zaruri hain, mazaa ata hain, ab chalo niche, late ho jaoge,' she said,
'mein thik to lag raha hu na?' he asked rubbing his cream coloured sherwani,
'thik? kisi palace ke prince lag rahe ho,' riya winked and both moved outside the room, laughing,
'vishal nehi aya?' Sameer asked while moving towards the steps,
'haan niche hain, larki doond raha hoga, droolers association ka malik haina?' she replied smirking,
'really? To tumhe kaise chor diya?' he asked with a smirk,
'Sam..pagal ko provoke maat karo..waise aur koi nehi aya? Shree, chotu, tumne bulaya nehi?' riya asked,
'bulaya hain, per sab aisha ke ghar jayenge. Aisha ke chamche hain sab ke sab. Arjun bhi wahi jayega,' he informed,
'hmm,' she hummed to herself,
Sameer smiled at her and walked down the stairs.
**********
Sakshi was giggling looking at a smiling and blushing Ayesha when the loud band of music was heard indicating the arrival of the bridegroom. The other ladies in the room sprinted downstairs instantly while Aisha held onto Sakshi with cold hands. Sakshi looked down at her and waggled her brows. Aisha signed and shook her head. Sakshi sat next to her and held her hands,
'kya hua Aisha?' she asked softly,
'kuch nehi sakshi, tum please yahi raho mere pass,' she pressed her palm on sakshi's,
'Aisha tumhe daar lag raha hain?' sakshi asked her with a wicked glint in her eyes,
'nehi daar nehi per thoda ajeeb lag raha hain, peheli baar shadi kar rahi hoon na shayad isiliye,'
'right, tumhe na 3-4times mock practice karna chahiye tha, fir ye..Sam ko bhi mazaa ata..' sakshi replied biting her tongue,
'sakshi..tum mazak kar rahi ho? Meri yaha heartbeat bar rahi hain, kuch gadbad hua to?'
'kya gadbad?'
'agar mein Sam ke saath nehi rehe pai to? Ye shadi ka decision sahi to hain na?' aisha asked looking at her with hopeful eyes,
Sakshi held her trembling hands. But before she could reply her a voice from the door alerted them. Both turned towards the voice and found Riya standing their with her signature dimple smile.
'bilkul sahi hain, aisha,' riya stepped in the room,
'Riya..' Aisha gasped and sakshi stood leaving Aisha's hands,
'hi sakshi,' riya greeted her, hesitating,
Sakshi smiled back at her and nudged riya to sit beside Aisha. Riya sat beside silently. Both were feeling awkward at the each other's presence. Not that they blamed the other, but both knew they had loved the same man, unintentionally. Sakshi stood there looking around when Aisha called her to sit with them. She tried to make an excuse and leave but Aisha pulled her and requested, which sakshi couldn't ignore.
Riya hugged aisha and complimented her. Aisha had started turning red again.
'Aisha tum itna blush karogi to Sam to gaya kaam se,' sakshi giggled earning a glare from Aisha,
'Sakshi bilkul sahi kehe rahi hain...aj to sam gaya...sakshi hume sam ko nazar mein rakhni hogi, kahi suhag raat prepond na ho jaye,' riya said and both laughed being hit by aisha,
'mein tum logo ko yaha mera mazak urane ke liye roki hu? Mujhe itna daar lag raha hain yaha aur tum log..' aisha muttered angrily standing up,
'tum kitni ajeeb ho aisha? Criminals se daar nehi lagta aur ek bhole bhale insaan se daar raho hoo, bechara Sameer, kitna pyar karta hain tumse,' sakshi retorted back,
'Sam aur bhola bhala? Huh..' aisha replied back making a weird face,
'aur kya hain Sam? Sam tumhe chor de aisa kabhi nehi ho sakta, tum bekar mein daar raho hoon aisha, he has taken the right decision, trust me,' riya exclaimed,
'haan aur tum sam se daar rahi ho aisha? Tum usse janti ho, pyar karti ho, agar koi anjaan larka hota to kya karti? Tumhara to mini heart attack ho jata,' sakshi told her,
'shayad tum log sahi kehe rahe ho, Sam aisa insaan nehi hain...hopefully saab thik ho,' aisha prayed,
'offcourse Aisha, Sam waisa nehi hain, he will support you and help you, tum bhi uska saath dena, dekhna kabhi kuch galat nehi hoga,' riya exclaimed in a lost depressed tone,
'Sam tumhe bohot respect karta hain Aisha, he wont ever do anything which would humiliate or hurt you. Maine galat insaan pe trust karke dekha hain, Sam waise nehi hain, you can trust him' Sakshi said looking away,
A long silence followed where both sakshi and Riya avoided each other. Riya could feel Sakshi flutter her eyelids and breathe in. It wasn't unknown to her that Arjun would hurt her too, but the moment would come so soon, she hadn't expected. She looked away and fiddled with her phone.
Sakshi felt riya's eyes on her and turned to look, only to find her locking and unlocking her phone. Riya had a flushed face. Sakshi was thinking how to start the conversation again when aisha came and sat between them and held their hands, pressing them softly with a pleasant smile.
Aisha's mother came within a few minutes and found the girls sitting quietly looking at each other. She nudged them to bring aisha down as the wedding vows would start soon. Riya and Sakshi were back to their chirpy self with that and the three beautiful ladies moved out towards the stairs followed by some other ladies.
*****************
Sameer was sitting in front of the alter fire looking around for the glimpse of her. But none of the ETF girls could be seen. Finally discouraged his picked up some petals from the floor and threw into the fire, he had to waste his time sitting there. Shree and Chotu were continusously speaking among themselves and laughing. He was sure they were gossiping about their chief for sure.
Arjun was busy with Aisha's dad. He was helping him with the preparations and getting things done properly. Vishal was sitting on a chair and siping a glass of cold drinks looking around. There were many known faces from the department and he kept speaking, greeting and sometimes nodding at them.
Some more petals sacrificed themselves while the priest glared at Sam who cordially faked concentrating on the rituals. He had again picked up two petals escaping the priest's eyes and was about to throw into the burning fire when a commotion was heard and his lady dressed like a queen came down the stairs, followed by a bunch of ladies smiling and giggling among themselves.
Arjun was speaking with the catering people when he heard the ladies speak and move towards the stairs to receive the bride. He turned to the stairs and saw her, coming down the stairs with slow steps, holding onto her bright red lehenga designed with golden sprinklers all over the fabric. She wasn't the Aisha he had known all these years. She was the slightly afraid, shy bride, who was blushing and avoiding looking at a dumb struck Sameer.
Arjun chuckled to himself and looked at Sameer, who was gaping at Aisha shamelessly. He heard shree and chotu mutter something and hurried towards the groom. Some mischief and teasing moments were on their way. Arjun looked back at Aisha, she was standing at the end of the stairs now along with a lady to her right and one who was standing at a step back.
'Riya,' his eyes followed her frame while she laughed and teased a shy Aisha.
Arjun looked at her shocked. This lady would never grow. She still looks the same as he had seen her on their wedding day at the registrar office years back. She still looks like a bride. He couldn't move his eyes from her. Riya felt his eyes and looked up at him. She wouldn't mistake his gaze. Unknown desires still lingered in his eyes while he devoured her beauty with his piercing gaze.
Aisha moved forward towards Sam and Riya looked away, masking her flushed face. Sakshi too took the step down and stepped forward with Aisha.
Aisha took her seat beside Sameer and others stepped back. Riya and Sakshi stood with Shree and Chotu, teasing and laughing among themselves. Arjun stepped forward towards the crowd who had gathered around the couple.
Another pair of eyes followed her every move from the time she had taken the stairs and stepped back at a distance from the crowd, from all the happy laughs, from all the delighted teases. The eyes sighted the happy her and it started burning in rage and anger which gradually changed into disgust.
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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