Tumhi dekho na,
Ye kya ho gaya,
Tumhara hun main aur tum meri….
Main hairaan hun,
Tumhe kya kahun,
Ye din mein hui kaise chandni…..
Jaagi-jaagi si hai, phir bhi khwabon mein hai,
Khoyi-khoyi zindagi……
Armaan enters the bridal suite humming this melody. Jassi is standing by the window in her wedding finery. As she hears the click of the door closing behind Armaan, she turns, meets his eyes and lowers hers immediately. She keeps looking at the ground as he approaches slowly towards her.
Standing before her, he whispers, "Jassi."
She keeps her head lowered.
Armu: (lifting her chin gently) Jassi….
She meets his eyes with a limpid, pleading gaze and opens her lips to say something, but no words come out.
He kisses her on the forehead. "Darr lag raha hai?"
She nods.
He laughs slightly. "Mujhse darr lag raha hai?"
Jassi: Tumse nahin Armaan….iss pal se….kahin ye sab ek sapna toh nahin….
He grins and pinches her hard on her arm. She goes "Oww!!" and stares at him in an aggrieved manner. He bursts out laughing.
Armu: Ab yakeen ho gaya, Mrs Jassi Suri?
She slips into his arms. "Ye naam main pehli baar toh nahin sun rahi….par pata nahin kyun Armaan, aaj ye naya-naya sa lag raha hai…."
He pulls her slightly away so he can gaze into her face. "Ye hamari zindagi ki nayi shuruaat hai Jassi…..aaj se sab achcha, sab khoosburat hoga….." His voice drops to a seductive murmur. "Aur iss naye safar ki shuruaat bahut yaadgaar hogi…."
He reaches for her pallu and gently slips it off her head. She gazes at him in fascination. Without breaking their stare, he opens her hair so that it falls in loose waves about her elfin face. His fingers begin caressing her cheek. She closes her eyes. He removes her maang tika. It slips down, momentarily getting caught in the high collar of his sherwani. He extricates it and kisses it with as much passion as if it were Jassi herself. Then he tosses it with studied casualness on the bed.
Stepping slightly forward, he grabs her shoulders possessively. His jaw clenches, but not with anger. His gaze burns into her. Touching her lips with his, he whispers coaxingly, "Aankhen kholo Jassi…"
Her lips tremble, but she is unable to comply with his demand. He kisses her again, this time with more determination. "Open your eyes, Jassi."
She opens them nervously, her face growing redder and redder under his unmistakable gaze. He cups her beautiful face in his hands and murmurs, "Aankhen kholne par hi sapne sach hote hai Jassi!"
She nods and keeps gazing adoringly at him while he removes her earrings and necklace, dwelling lovingly over each like they are parts of her. With a final, sweeping gesture, he lifts and carries her to the bed, laying her among the soft pillows.
Grasping both her hands in his, caressing her bangles, he leans over her. "Toh Mrs. Jassi Suri….", he teases, "bataiye toh sahi ki mera surprise aapko kaisa laga?"
Her quivering features relax into a grin. "Ummm…..ye main aapko subah tak, soch-samajh kar bata dungi Armaan sir!"
He starts pulling off her bangles. "Toh phir….subah tak time pass karne ke liye kuch toh karna padega na?" He winks at her, and they burst out laughing. As Armu falls over her, the lights go off.😉
Much later, they are sitting up in bed, happily tousled, eating chocolate (!) together. Armaan's sherwani is unbuttoned till the chest, and his hair is as messy as that of a schoolboy who has played the best match of his life. He has his arm firmly around her, and his fingers are digging nonchalantly into her shoulder. He stares at her with his very best puppy-dog expression. She is looking lovely and loved, her hair all loose and wavy, no jewellery on her (though most of it lies scattered on the bed) and her plunging neckline uncovered by any pallu. There is a faint blush on her cheeks. Her hand is entwined with Armaan's free one, and their fingers are playing a game all their own.😳
Armu: (leaning closer and smelling her hair) Jassi….
Jassi: Umm….
Armu: Ab bata bhi do na….kaisa laga mera surprise??
Jassi: (putting her head on his shoulder) Yeh meri zindagi ka sabse khoobsurat surprise tha Armaan!
Armu: Really? Toh phir mujhe iss surprise ka prize bhi toh milna chahiye!
Jassi: Kya chahiye tumhe, Armaan Suri?
Armu: (winking at her) Jo tum de sako!☺️
Jassi: Mera sab kuch toh tumhara hai Armaan…..lekin ek surprise ke badle mein, doosra surprise de toh kaisa rahega?
Armu: Doosra surprise?
She looks at him for a moment, then starts giggling uncontrollably.
He watches her with somewhat alarmed fascination. "Jassi…..tum hass kyun rahi ho?"
"Armaan……main pehle aisi dulhan hogi….jo suhaag raat ko hi apne husband ko bataye ki….."
"Ki?"
"Ki….I am pregnant!!"😳
His jaw drops. He looks at her as if seeing her for the first time. "Jassi….you are serious?"
She blushingly takes his hand and rests it on her stomach.
"Jassi…yaani ki meri Mannat poori ho gayi?"
"Haan Armaan…Babaji hamare saare sapne poore karne ja rahe hai!"
"Jassi…..Jassi….hamari Mannat bilkul tumahre jaisi hogi…..yahin aankhen, yahin naak, yahin baal…."
"How are you so sure ki ladki bhi hogi? Ladka bhi toh ho sakta hai?"
"Jassi, I'm sure ki ladki hogi….kyunki maine Babaji se bilkul tumhare jaisi ladki maangi thi…..waise ye thoda mushkil hai…"
"Kyun?"
"Kyunki…..meri Jassi jaisi koi nahin!!"
They laugh like two children playing in the rain. As the showers of love envelop them, they seek shelter in each other's arms….their most natural and complete resting place, for this lifetime…and many more to come.😳❤️
A journey never really ends. It just comes to a bend in the road, after which it is difficult to see what lies beyond. But the traveler always hopes that beyond the bend, the road will be more beautiful, the wind sweeter, the paths more fragrant than ever.
It has been a beautiful journey writing these updates. When I started, I never thought I would be able to continue them this long. Writing these was like catharsis. I forgot that JJKN has actually disappeared forever from our TV screens. Call it a dream, call it denial, but I cherish these last 18 months. I hope that, though this tale of JandA has ended for now, I will be inspired to keep writing JandA fanfics, and posting them for the pleasure of my dear friends on I-F who have made me feel really special with their overwhelming responses. JandA forever!! And remember…..kabhi alvida na kehna!😊
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