OS: || Tujhse Naraz Nehi Zindegi... ||

~TUJHSE NARAZ NEHI ZINDEGI~

IN THE BRIDE'S ROOM...

"Jeene ke liye socha hi nehi dard samhalne honge,

Muskuraye to muskurane ki karz utarne honge..."

With the grave sigh coming out of the heart with all despair from inside, Jodha switched off the recording. Puffing the cheeks in hurry with the face-powder and simultaneously rubbing the corner of the eyes again and again to prevent the disobedient tears from rolling down to ruin the light make-up, she put on the golden earrings with shaking hands. A light touch of eye-liner and eye-lashes in the doe-shaped beautiful eyes, a little drop of red bindi over forehead, and the image of the most beautiful bride of the world reflected on the mirror. She pinned the aanchal of the red benarasi shari on the shoulder. She gazed on the reflection over the window with vacant eyes; a gentle breeze suddenly kissed her ears, as if the air whispered in tunes... "Mere dil me aaj kya hay, tu kahe to main bata du, teri zulf fir sawaru, teri maang fir saja du..."

The picture of the very known fair and handsome confident face with the a blissful and shining positive smile just appeared in front of eyes and disappeared at once. Instead of him, another face glowed in memory; his face... after a long time his face beamed in front of her eyes so brightly!

He used to sing this song... he used to sing the old Hindi melodies frequently... Most of them are captured in the sound recorder in Jodha's phone... though hardly reminded, hardly played, hardly listened nowadays... but it was his voice which pulled her to him... He was a wonderful singer, a perfect husband, a passionate lover...

She gulped and took a big breath. Why is he coming in her memory again and again today after so many years? He was lost in the burden of responsibilities and difficulties... then why today?

She again took the mobile phone in hand, lazily started strolling the pictures from gallery. The charming youth face of the handsome and decent gentleman with the everlasting evergreen smile shining on the lips... who could have understood that this smile will lose all of its trace from this world so early? How did it happen... a mere heart-attack... he sat with her after dinner to watch TV, suddenly a intolerable stinging pain in chest and neck, only suffering of 5 minutes, then everything was finished... just finished!

They said he had a problem from his childhood itself. They never bothered to let her know... not before the marriage, not after, even not after the birth of the child...

He could have told her... but he didn't... he never ever told anything about his childhood decease of heart! What did he fright? That she will leave him forever after knowing that he is sick from inside?

So he preferred to hide everything... he preferred leaving her in middle of her young age alone in the world with the little 2 years daughter and all her responsibilities...

Again a big sigh came out from the deepest of heart. Years have passed... almost 4 years... tears have dried up long ago, memories have hidden themselves; but what happened today!

"Goodbye dear! Wish me luck!" She whispered to the picture on the screen... for the first time after his demise...

IN THE GROOM'S ROOM...

"My whole-hearted blessings from me and your mother for you and your wife, may you two live happily forever... Your happiness is most important for us, we will pray for you till death. But please never ever try to cross the door of our house from this moment! We will not like to keep any contact with you and your newly married life further!"

Jalal put down the I-pad from his eyes and thrashed that on the soft bed, without caring to sign out the mail-account and shutting the device down. Over a minute almost he kept on standing mum then sighed.

"So it's over at last!"

With uttering the sentence he felt the inflammation burning his eyes, and that simultaneously spreading through the veins inside his heart too. It's over!? How can it be so easy? How can the bond between the parents and the son be broken so easily, just by an email? With shaking hands he dialled his mother's number... none received the call. Like a devastated shadow he sat, rather fall on the bed. His eyes closed, the sting of pain with anger hammering inside his chest. "How can a mother be so selfish? Why..." He uttered in a controlled rage.

It was known to him that his so-called modern family will never accept a Hindu widow woman as his wife, that too with a 6 years old daughter... but he had hoped against hope that they would try to understand the logical approach of their son regarding the situation but no! When it came to accept her as his wife, they turned back. It was a long fight with them... and the result has come out today... both of his parents have accepted her as his wife, but has denied to accept him as their son further!

"You have to be strong Jalal! If not for you, not for Jodha, then for your daughter you can't be weak in your decision!" Someone shouted inside Jalal. He stood up and started combing his hairs in front of mirror. Someone knocked the door. "Come in." Asked Jalal. Mirza came inside.

"Lawyer has come. And also the press..." He stopped looking at his face. "Hey what happened? No smile?"

"Nothing!" Jalal tried to wear a fake smile. "I am coming. Attend the guests till then..."

"You're hiding from your best friend?"

"Nothing new!" Jalal's voice shook despite his trial of keeping that normal. "Here came the ultimatum from the great Mohammad family, that they will break all the relationship with their son!"

Mirza kept on staring at his face being unable to console him, and then sighed. "Come fast." He got out after patting on his shoulder.

Jalal Mohammad, the crown-prince and CEO of Mohammad Groups and Industries which is one of the most important names in the industrial world today, looked him in the mirror. So at last the day came! "Marriage of convenience... not of love..." said by Jodha... and he left his family, his career, his prosperous and comfortable life behind for this marriage of convenience'. Why? To seek happiness by connecting his life with such a woman whom he did never think to love?

He never had felt anything special for Jodha... Wife of a mere employee and the boss... hardly there had any connection between them. He can only remember to see her in an office party once, Surya Roy had introduced him with his wife. Then the unexpected death of Surya happened, he died almost without any savings for future, keeping his wife's and daughter's future at stake. Perhaps the family members of Surya was not at all supportive towards their widow daughter-in-law, rather was eager to snatch her and her daughter's rights; in this moment when Jodha came to him with her certificates he gave her a small job out of sympathy, and Mrs. Jodha Roy became a part of Mohammad Groups and Industries...

It was all about sympathy and compassion. He hardly saw how beautiful she is; he hardly noticed her beautiful eyes, the alluring curves of her body, her perfectly sketched graceful face and her heavenly rosy lips ever. All that he could see was the tire and agony shading the normal charm of those elegant eyes, the sweat and dark-circles in the face, the little sighs now and then, and the hardcore struggling hardworking single mother who has nowhere to get a secured shelter with her daughter! An educated accomplished woman, who took no time to get a good and permanent place in her working place within 1 year of joining, had to bear so many tease and taunt from this so called educated society for no reason... just because she is a young widow but she does not wear white shari, she has left her husband's house and living in own house in brother's household with her daughter, and sometimes due to workload she returns home at the late of evening. He noticed a number of times that she has brought her little daughter in office as she has no place to stay safely... a cute little tiny girl like a doll Jiya was that time. Only 3 years old but so sensible... Little Jiya, lovely Jiya, who got her first friend in her mother's office in her mother's boss, and the boss took himself down to match the web length of that cute girl ... How she came so close to his heart, how her one glimpse in a whole day became a necessity from habit, and how he became a friend of Jodha- the only friend of Jodha, how the immense respect to her gave birth to the strange feelings towards her, how the urge of helping her by any means became the strongest motto of his life, how he found a reason of his being alive after so many years and how did he get the courage to propose her to arrange her scattered life again with his help is a mystery to him... just like a fallacy, or maybe a fictional story...

Truth is this day... this moment... when he is going to marry her in front of the whole world...

"Jalal Uncle!!!!! Are you ready?"

The sweetest voice of the world broke the charm and Jalal came back to the world.

"O My God! My little princess is looking sooo beautiful!!!" He took the six years girl furnished in red lahenga-choli in arms, kissed her with all the love of his heart, and the last trace of dilemma and pain was wiped out spontaneously from the surface of his mind...

IN THE BRIDE'S ROOM...

"Can you get me a new rented house sir? One-roomed flat is fine for both of us."

"It's tough to get a secured accommodation in the city nowadays you know... Why are you thinking to leave your own house? Your brothers are there and... you have a secured shelter there you know; for both you and Jiya..."

"No sir... I mean... they already have shown me more than one time that they are vexed with me and my daughter and want to get rid of us, and I don't want to let them think that we are the burden in their lives!"

"But... How will you manage alone? Jiya's schooling, office, household, house-maintenance... it will be difficult for you..."

"I am used to sir; I am managing all alone since Jiya was two years old..."

It was a pleasant autumn Friday afternoon, and the break-time conversation between the CEO and the executive assistant was shaping out just like this... They were friends, mostly Jalal Mohammad had been always a selfless friend of Jodha from last 4 years; but the relation had never crossed the line of courtesy- never even thought to step out from the boundary of employee and boss ever... It happened a lot of time when Jalal had dropped Jodha in her house at late night, or came to meet Jiya in odd times in her house, did countless helps to Jodha which was not supposed to be done by him; Jodha had bore the significant taunting glares from her sister-in-laws and neighbours regarding this very sophisticated gentleman, but their personal relationship never dared to cross the barrier of professionalism, to touch the real friendship that had blossomed long ago... However, this accommodation problem was a headache to her nowadays, and she casually put the topic in front of her boss after failing to help herself quite a lot of times.

In response Mr. Jalal Mohammad had stared at her face like a stranger. For a moment the hands of the clock was paused, a gentle breeze passed through the room, and the soft golden ray from the setting sun had fallen on the face of Jodha crossing the glass window. A proper romantic ambience it was, isn't it? And Mr. Mohammad had opened his lips in that moment, and uttered some words... in his signature decent style, with sophisticated attitude and measured voice he went on... "It's tough to get a rented house Mrs. Roy, but I have an idea if you don't feel bad..."

"Please sir..."

Jalal's voice had touched with a sheer touch of shyness, or was it a mistake of eyes? Though his gesture was confident and normal as before...

"You are welcome in my house with Jiya..."

"Sorry Sir?" Jodha was too confused to get anything. Did he propose to live in his house in exchange of money? But... it is not possible! "I could not get you sir! Will you give your house at rent?" She spoke in a doubtful voice.

"No!" He smiled with a trace of hesitation in lips... "I mean..." He stammered. "If it's possible you can share my house with me... I mean... you may live with me... I mean with complete legal customs..."

But it repeated, day after day, again and again... Jodha's limit of patience was breaking, but still she did not dismiss that man... "You will marry me just to give me a shelter? Is this believable? Is this possible?"

"I didn't say that. I am not that selfless... You do have many things that I urge for..."

Even a month before she even could not think about putting in bridal attire again. She had forgotten that she is only 32 years old, she has a long life left ahead to live, she has a lot of desires and demands to be fulfilled from the life; that she has the right to smile again, to think and dream only for her. The life was colourless; colourless and cruel... The only mean of life was Jiya, her future, her security, her convenience, her happiness...

And it was she for whom she is again ready to start a colourful life again... this time with such a man who can go against the whole world for ensuring her honour.

Does he love Jodha? Or it is just an expression of his respect and sympathy to her, as he demands to be? Is it possible to do for someone so selflessly without any strong bonds of heart? They talked about it some days back... when she was seriously trying to prevent Jalal from going against his family...

"Please Jalal..." Yes she had practiced calling him by his name these days; maybe she feels no romantic empathy to him, but calling by name gives an assurance... for future, of the trust and strength in relationship... "Don't hurry in taking such decision. Your family, your father all are against..."

"I can't. It's the matter of my principles now. I can't go back after making commitment!" Jalal had denied as expected.

"But why... why are you doing this favour to us? You are not getting any advantage- anything from this marriage... you are not even going to get the due of love you are supposed to get..." Jodha had gasped while telling. "It's a marriage of convenience from my side... not a marriage of love... I... I fear this load of gratitude will strangle me one day..."

"I guarantee you it will never. Jodha... "He had touched the fingers of her hand. "I am doing this for Jiya... For my daughter... yes! My daughter! I want to give her a normal childhood like every girl. I want to give her a family... a family without any tease and taunt, without any dishonour of her mother... and a shoulder to take her responsibilities... a father who will wrap her with all the happiness of the world..." He smiled. "I know that her mother is capable enough to become her father too... so I am begging this opportunity from her mother this way..."

"Only to become Jiya's father?" Jodha was gazing at his dreamy eyes.

"If I say I want you to live the life again? Will this reason offend you?"

Jodha was speechless for a moment. Then she has spoken out. "Do you love me Jalal?"

"Love?" Jalal had laughed out. "What is the exact definition of love, Jodha?"

"That can't be defined with words... that is a strange, strong feelings, a mad addiction; a bond which makes two individuals one... and" She had paused for once. "I am sure I will never be able to share that bond with anyone else further. It is not possible..."

"There is a bond between us Jodha...I can demand that confidently. However..." Jalal smiled. "I do not want that type of love from you. Rather I have no such feelings for you that will make you feel uncomfortable. Isn't it unethical for me to love you?"

Jodha kept mum for a while with her eyes looking down. "You should never feel that you are fastened into a riddle of an one-sided love and you are deceiving me by any means Jodha. Let's be confident and move on..."

Yes there is a bond between them. A strange bond, not supposed to be there. And that is Jiya. Jodha is the witness... she can never ignore that. And neither can she prevent Jiya from being blessed with the touch of fatherhood, to get a father for which she yearns in every moment...

And for that she will colour her life again...

"Mamma!!!"

Jodha looked back. Her little princess is standing behind her. The talkative little girl started her chattering hugging her waist in joy. "Mamma you are the most beautiful Mamma of the world... You are looking like an angel."

"Not like my little angel. Muuuahhh!" Jodha knelt down and kissed her cheeks. Jiya hugged her neck. "From now on you will always wear red colour. Okay?"

IN THE MARRIAGE HALL...

The banquet hall is full of peoples in acquaintance of Jalal. There are some friends of Jodha, and the office colleagues are there too, but none from both of the family of the bride and groom is present in this auspicious moment. The cameras from press in focusing at the central, and the cameras were zoomed when Mr. Jalal Mohammad appeared on the place, his hands were holding a little hand of a little girl with curious and gleeful face who's another hand was held by the bride of Mr. Mohammad... a perfect family picture it was. Jiya, who was amazed to see the hall and the peoples surrounded by, was quite confused with the set up it seemed. She was told that today her Mamma is getting married, but she hardly could match anything with the traditional set-up of a marriage usually shown in TV. "Will not you walk round round around fire, Mamma?" She whispered in eager eyes to her mother. "Shhh!!" Jodha patted on her shoulder with a profound smile in her lips.

The ritual of a civil marriage is quite simple and it went over within 10 minutes. Then another legal curriculum had to take place, the most important one and that is Jiya's legal adoption by Jalal. The cameras clicked, flashed when Jalal Mohammad came up in front of the press with his daughter in arms and the newly wedded wife beside. In front of the whole world Jalal welcomed Jiya and her mother in his life...

IN THE COUPLE SUIT, THE FIRST NIGHT TOGETHER...

"At last everything is complete!" Jalal sat on the sofa of the room with a tired smile. Jodha was opening her ornaments in front of the mirror. She did not tell anything and sighed. Jalal gazed at her for some moments, not understanding how he should make the environment normal. "Where is Jiya?" He got a question at last.

"Nisha took her with her!" Jodha uttered unmindfully with her voice shaking in a thrust of despair.

"Are you... alright?" Jalal gained the courage to touch the shoulder of his spouse behind the locked door. Off-course it needs courage... talking whole-heartedly with her in daylight in a public place and spending hours of silence in a lone room at night with her is completely different. Jodha did not protest or showed feeling uncomfortable, but she wiped the corner of her eyes suddenly and inhaled a long breath.

"Don't know why... I... from the morning I am recalling Surya..." She did not hesitate to confess. "The day of our marriage, our first night together... I... " She tried hard to control her sinking voice. "His memories had been faded these days; suddenly they all have charmed up... his face, his voice, his each and every detailed moment spent with me all... It's probably impossible for me to come out of his memories... They will not let me to move on from him... "

"I know... It's impossible to wipe out the first love from heart..." Jalal uttered and simultaneously closed his eyes pensively; perhaps he too did remember someone from the old album of his heart too... "But that does not mean that old memories becomes barrier in the way of moving forward! Rather I feel they become a faithful companion in the journey of the new life with new dimension... It took a lot of time for me... but now I am trying... I am determined..." He stopped himself from being carried away with his emotions...

"You're trying... that means you too... had someone? I mean whom you..." Jodha never ever has tried to peep in his personal life, but for the first time she could understand there is a trace of pain inside those charming eyes...

"Yeah! But she is no more... years ago in an accident... however..." without completing the line to prevent himself from being sentimental, Jalal sat on the bed... "I am tired, must be you too. Let's sleep..."

A vast two-bedded couch decorated with flower-petals for the first romantic night together... Jodha gulped seeing that... Sharing the same bed with him is quite uncomfortable for her... Her throat got dried up suddenly without any reason. But it's also true that she can't request him for another bed... it will be too much melodramatic. When she has married him, she is bound to share everything with him... no way of showing tantrums regarding these like daily-soaps' heroines. Perhaps Jalal had understood something. "Should I go to another room?" He asked with a sting of hesitation... "No please! You... you sleep, I am coming after changing..." Jodha told in one breath. Jalal's proposal left her in a grave embarrassment. All her anger fell on her well-wisher Nisha... idiot girl! She was providing them privacy! Huh!!

Jalal put his head on pillow and Jodha slowly sat at a corner of the bed maintaining a distance before lying down, suddenly someone knocked the door.

"Who's there?" Jalal called out. But none responded. Only the knock became harder and more desperate. Both of them looked at each other. "Wait, I am opening." Jalal got up from bed and opened the door of the room. None was in front of his eyes but certainly there was someone at the height of his waist.

"I can't sleep without Mamma!" The little girl confessed in a weepy tone. "I will not sleep with Nisha Aunty!"

"Jiya!! You came here without telling anyone? You came out of the room alone in this night!" Jodha being excited started yelling on her but Jalal prevented. "Ok. You can sleep with your Mamma here." He told with a chuckle.

Jiya entered with a glee, and became much excited seeing the sleeping arrangement. "Are you going to sleep with us Jalal Uncle?"

"Yes dear!" Jalal pressed her cheek. "Just what you wished from me that day... to live with you forever..."

"That means you will live with me forever?" Her smile became broad and enriched with all the happiness of world. "You will live with us, will play with me all time, will sleep with me and also will go to my school in sport's day every time??" Perhaps the little girl understood the real importance of her mother's marriage just now. "Yehhh!!!" She started jumping in glee. "Come dear. Lie down here. Fast!" Jodha pulled her on the bed and made her lie down between her and Jalal. Jalal too took her place and the lights turned off. Jiya, with extreme excitement of joy hugged Jalal after he lied down.

"Jalal Uncle..." she whispered in his ears... "We will live together this way forever na?"

"Yes dear!" Jalal whispered too.

"Then..." she proposed after thinking a lot. "May I call you papa from today?"

Jalal's voice drowned in emotion suddenly for no reason. Touching her soft cheeks for once he uttered. "Yes my dear!"

Originally posted by: Kavya_P

Emotional n touchy os stuti di