Dhara thought of the argument she just had with Prafulla an hour ago. They bumped into each other at the market and as usual Prafulla started instigating Dhara. She usually ignored her, but when Prafulla started talking crap about Shiva, Dhara could hold herself back. Their argument turned vicious and Dhara lost her mind.
“Tera woh devar ek number ka raakshash hai. Apna Dev phir bhi kitna shareef, padha likha ladka hai, par woh Shiva, woh ek number ka jaahil, gawar, janwar hai. Usse kabhi koi ladki shaadi nahi karegi!” Prafulla shouted.
Dhara had always thought of Shiva as her favourite. She knew she wasn’t supposed to have any favourites, but Shiva had her whole heart. Perhaps the reason she loved him so much was because she knew out of all her devars, he was the sweetest one. She knew how vulnerable he could be, but he hid it from everybody. He deserved all the love in the entire world.
“Mere Shiva ki Gauri use zaroor milegi. Aur woh Shiva ke liye bilkul perfect hogi.”
Prafulla started laughing. “Uss raakshash ki shaadi! Arrey, usse pehle toh meri dono betiyon ke bachhe ho jayenge.”
“Aisa nahi hoga. Mere Shiva ki bohot jald hogi shaadi. Woh bhi ek bohot achhi ladki se. Pura Somnath dekhega.”
Prafulla suddenly stopped laughing. “Toh lagi shart? Dekh lete hai mere dono bachhiyon ki pehle kisi achhe ghar mein shaadi hoti hai ya phir Shiva ki pehle shaadi hoti hai! Shart main jeeti toh woh tera shaadi wala haar mera, aur main shart haari toh….”
“Toh aapko maa ke kangan lautane parenge. Aur unse maafi bhi maangni paregi.”
Dhara wasn’t someone to act rashly. She was quite calm and composed and thought ten times before taking any decision. But today, she had acted rashly. Prafulla had managed to ignite the fire within her. Now that she had placed a bet, she had to win it, there was no other option. Her only problem was Shiva himself. He ran away wherever Dhara talked about marriage. Dhara hadn’t even seen him talking to any girl, except Raavi. That too, he kept fighting with her all the time. Shiva had to fall in love. Only then would he agree to marry someone. It seemed impossible. He was least interested in romance and love. Her devar had actually claimed that he would never marry. He preferred to remain a bachelor throughout his life.
Dhara almost cried. How stupid she had to be to make such a bet? Raavi was beautiful and sweet, anybody would marry her in a heartbeat. Anita’s marriage was a little more difficult. She was beautiful, but she was still hopelessly in love with Gautam, and didn’t want to marry anybody. However, Dhara was sure Prafulla would really badger Anita to her married now. Anita would have to eventually give in.
Dhara didn’t want to part with her wedding jewellery and she wanted to get Maa’s kangan back. She had to do something. Suddenly she saw Raavi coming into Pandya house with a huge smile on her face. She straight came in and walked over to Shiva. She stuffed in a laddoo into his mouth and hugged him tightly. Shiva took a few seconds to push her off. Dhara’s mind began to formulate a plan…
1.
“Dhara diiiiii” Raavi shouted and came to hug Dhara tightly. “Mere bachelors degree finally khatam! Yeh lijiye, muh meetha kijiye.” She fed a laddoo to Dhara.
Dhara smiled and looked at Raavi curiously. She had to be smart about this otherwise her plan might fail. Also, she needed more information to proceed. She looked at Shiva who left the house in anger. Then she looked at Raavi who started laughing at Shiva’s exit. Was this something? Or was she overthinking? There was only one way to find out.
“Raavi, aaj teri maasi ne tujhe kuch bataya hai?” Dhara asked.
“Aap dono ki bet ke baare mein? Haa. Aake hi shaadi ki shuru kar di. Kangan nahi khona chahti Maasi.” Raavi smiled. “Par Dhara di, yeh shart lagane ki kya zaroorat thi? Ab Maasi shaadi ke liye meri jaan khaa jayegi.”
Dhara felt a little bad for Raavi and Anita. Well, not so much for Anita, but Raavi deserved a good guy. She was a pure soul. It was her dream to become a Pandya family bahu. So what if she became Shiva’s wife? The same guy who Prafulla called jangli and jaahil would become her son-in-law. Dhara almost smiled, but she controlled herself. She had to find out if it was even possible.
“Ab kya karu? Gussa aa gaya uss waqt.” Dhara said. “Par Raavi, yeh shart mujhe jeetni hai. Apne shaadi ke gehne nahi de sakti Maami ko.”
“Main toh aapki team mein hu Dhara di.”
“Toh phir Shiva ko shaadi ke liye mana aur ek achhi si ladki dhoond de mere devar ke liye.”
Dhara wanted to see Raavi’s exact reaction at this, and she was so happy to notice that Raavi looked crestfallen and confused. That was exactly she reaction she wanted. Raavi was speechless for a whole minute. Dhara only wished she had some popcorn. Raavi’s expression told her the whole story.
“Dhara di, woh nahi maanega.” Raavi said.
“Haa par tune ek din kaha tha na ki tu usse koi bhi baat manwa sakti hai.”
“Haa par…. Yeh nahi maanega. Aur usse shaadi kaun karega. Kisi se thik se baat tak nahi karta. Aur uske liye koi bhi pasand nahi hai mujhe. Aapko Shiva ki hi shart kyu lagani thi? Dev ko laga dete. Ladkiyon ki line lag jaani thi. Shiva kyu? Matlab Shiva aur shaadi ek saath nahi jate.”
Dhara laughed. She was so cute when she was in denial and seems like she forgot her crush on Dev right now. “Maami ko pata hai na ki Dev ke liye line lag jayegi. Isi liye toh unhone Shiva ki shart lagayi. Aur tune toh kaha tu meri team mein hai. Toh meri help nahi karegi?”
Dhara saw the devasted look on Raavi’s face and felt bad. But atleast now she had her answer. Raavi was the only girl Shiva talked to. They fought, of course, but Dhara had seen a special bond develop between these two. No matter how much Shiva said that he hated his maami ki behen ki beti, Dhara knew it wasn’t true. Raavi was the girl who led a chole andolan for Shiva. She had spoken for Shiva in front of Prafulla too many times. Shiva was a closed shell, but she knew Raavi could open him up. Plus the look on Prafulla’s face was would be icing on top.
“Mere dimaag mein koi nahi hai Shiva ke liye.” Raavi said.
“Achha tu bas use shaadi ke liye mana. Main ladki dhoond lungi.”
“Par Dhara di… Kyu? Shiva ko nahi karni toh zor kyu? Ek shart ke liye not fair na.”
“Aaj nahi toh kal shaadi toh karni hai na Shiva ko. Ab aaj karle toh kya problem hai?” Dhara asked. “Mera Shiva bhi ek life partner deserve karta hai jo uske dil ki baat samjhe aur saari zindagi uska saath de. Tu bata, tu mana payegi ya nahi use?”
“Koshish karungi.”
***
Raavi went to Pandya store to talk to Shiva as she had promised to Dhara di. She didn’t understand that Shiva didn’t want to get married. Of course, it was her Maasi’s fault for egging Dhara to make this bet. Poor Shiva was caught in the crossfire now. Who would marry Shiva anyway? No girl could handle his temper and his rudeness, except her. Every girl in Somnath thought that he was a jaahil, gawar. Only she knew he wasn’t like that. Those stupid girls didn’t deserve him anyway.
“Kya hua? Fuse kyu ura hua hai tera?” Shiva asked when he noticed her.
“Tera shaadi ke baare mein kya khyaal hain?” Raavi asked.
“Kya? Shaadi? Mera dimag kharab ho gaya hai ki main shaadi karunga? Ek bande ki life puri barbaad ho jati hai shaadi karke.” Shiva said.
Raavi was relieved. He had no plans to marry. Then she thought about Dhara losing her wedding jewellery. She didn’t want that to happen. But Shiva shouldn’t have to marry either. There was no way she could convince her Maasi to drop the bet. What if Dhara di really got him married to some girl? Poor Shiva.
“Ab khare khare mera muh kya dekh rahi hai? Bhaag yaha se.” Shiva said.
Raavi smiled. If he kept talking like this, no girl would ever marry him. But then Dhara di would lose her bet. There had to be some other way. Her brain wasn’t working. She got none of her excellent ideas.
“Tu seriously shaadi nahi karega? Pakka?” Raavi asked.
“Ae maami ki behen ki beti, subah subah kya bhaang chadhake aayi hai? Yeh shaadi ki rat laga rakhi hai?”
“Teri bhalai ka soch rahi hu aur tu mujhpe chadhe ja raha hai. Gadhera kahi ka!”
“Tujhe koi zaroorat nahi hai meri bhalai sochne ka. Main khud ka soch lunga. Aur yeh shaadi waadi ke chakkar mein na mujhe mat fasa.”
“Dekh, abhi shaadi ke liye bohot pressure aayega tujhe.” Raavi said. “Tu bas sabko na kar dena. Bol dena ki tujhe shaadi nahi karne. Koi kitna bhi force kare, tu haa mat bolna.”
Shiva sighed. He grabbed her hand and took her out of his store. “Jake dimaag ka ilaaj karwa ke aa.”
Raavi sighed in relief. Shiva wasn’t going to be a problem, but she had to do something about this bet. What if she delayed Anita di and her wedding? That way Maasi wouldn’t win the bet either. Anita do wouldn’t agree so easily and neither would she. This way she could save Shiva! Not a bad idea.
2.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. Prafulla listed out the names of all the eligible bachelors in Somnath for both her daughters. For Raavi, she had atleast ten boys in mind. The problematic one was Anita. Not only was she past her golden years, she was still hopelessly in love with Gautam.
Prafulla decided to think about Raavi later. First she would solve the problem of Anita’s marriage. There was only guy who came to her mind when it came to Anita. He was her age, maybe a bit older and he was still a bachelor. As far as Prafulla knew, he was doing quite well with his life. But the best part was that he was Dhara’s older brother. Imagine her face, when she realises Prafulla got Anita married to her own brother. This plan gave Prafulla a huge sense of relief and excitement. Dhara would end up losing her own brother.
However, the problem was still Anita. She refused to look at any other guy except Gautam. Prafulla had to make Anita fall in love with Hardik. But how? Anita wouldn’t listen to her. Hardik didn’t like her either. But Hardik was a nice guy, and a person with a good heart could always be manipulated.
Prafulla knew from some earlier detective work that Hardik would go to the market every Sunday morning to buy his weekly groceries. So without wasting any time, Prafulla went to the market. She had a plan ready. She found Hardik buying vegetables from a vendor, so she pretended to buy her own vegetables, without looking at him. When she was sure Hardik saw her, Prafulla intentionally fell down and screamed in pain. Hardik came running.
“Ae mera bhogilal. Mera pao!!” Prafulla screamed.
“Aap thik toh ho?”
“Mera pair.” Prafulla kept shouting.
“Aap shant ho jao. Main aapki help karta hu.” Hardik took her groceries bags and helped her stand up.
“Ae Hardik, mujhe zara ghar tak chorr de.” Prafulla requested him.
Hardik agreed to. Prafulla sat in his car and Hardik drove her home. Her plan was working. Now all she had to do was make Hardik and Anita fall in love. Hardik was still a bachelor and Prafulla was sure he wanted someone in his life. It had to be easier to make him fall for Anita first. Maybe after spending some time with him, Anita would move on and realise that she needs a guy in her life.
“Mujhe andar tak chorr de. Bags leke aa.” Prafulla said.
Hardik took her bag and Prafulla walked into the house with a fake limp. As soon as she went in, she fell down again with a thud. Anita came running to see what the matter was. Hardik kept the grocery bags aside and helped Prafulla. Both Anita and Hardik helped her get up and sit on the couch. She looked at both of them and saw that they looked beautiful together.
“Main gir gayi thi.” Prafulla frowned. “Yeh toh achha tha ki Hardik mujhe ghar le aaya. Jaa Anita, jaake Hardik ke liye thodi chai ke aa.”
“Iski koi zaroorat nahi hai.” Hardik protested.
“Zaroorat toh hain. Tune jaan bachayi.” Prafulla said. “Anita chai le aa. Aur tere woh pakode bhi le aana. Anita sabse best aloo ke pakode banati hai.”
Anita went to the kitchen. Prafulla smiled at Hardik who smiled awkwardly. The way to a guy’s heart was through his stomach. She was sure Hardik would fall in love with Anita as soon as he tasted her pakode. Poor guy mustn’t have had a girl cook delicious food for him anyway.
***
Raavi went to the Pandya house to check what was happening there. She hoped Dhara di hadn’t convinced Shiva of marriage. As soon as she entered Pandya house, she smelled halwa. Raavi panicked. Dhara only made halwa when she was really, really happy. Shiva hadn’t agreed to the wedding right?
The whole family was chatting and Dhara was serving halwa to all of them. Raavi pouted. The whole family looked happy. Did they already find a bride for Shiva? It was impossible. She knew everyone the Pandyas knew and none of the girls in their vicinity was suitable for Shiva. Dhara noticed Raavi and called her inside. She gave her some halwa.
“Aaj halwa kis khushi mein Dhara di?” Raavi asked, already dreading the answer.
“Tu bhool gayi?” Dhara asked.
The whole family looked surprised. Raavi shook her head.
“Aaj Dev ka birthday hai!” Dhara said.
Raavi was shocked. She had never forgotten anybody’s birthday in the Pandya family. It was all because of Dhara di and her maasi’s bet. She was trying her best to stop Shiva’s wedding. She apologised to Dev and wished him a happy birthday. Dev being Dev didn’t mind that she had forgotten. Dhara asked her for help in the kitchen. Raavi followed.
“Maami ki kya khabar hai?” Dhara asked. “Tum dono ki shaadi leke kuch kaha unhone?”
“Apnae jaise kaha maine maasi pe nazar rakha hai. Woh mere liye eligible bachelors ka list banayi hai par iss baare mein mujhse kuch baat nahi ki. Kuch kahegi toh main saaf mana kar dungi.” Raavi said.
“Chalo achha hai. Aur Shiva ka kya? Mana payi use?” Dhara asked.
Raavi hated lying to Dhara, but she had to. For Shiva’s sake. “Nahi di woh nahi maana. Use shaadi nahi karni. Par aap tension mat lo. Main maasi ko humari shaadi nahi karne dungi. Toh shart woh nahi jeetegi.”
“Kab tak Raavi? Kisi na kisi din toh shaadi karni paregi. Shiva ko bhi aur tujhe bhi.” Dhara said. “Aur yeh shart mujhe hi jeetna hain. Shiva ko thoda sa emotional blackmail karungi toh shayad maan jayega.”
“Par yeh toh galat hai!”
“Everything’s fair in love and war. Aur yeh toh maami ke saath war hai.” Dhara smiled and walked away.
Raavi couldn’t believe that Dhara and her Maasi were ready to sacrifice their lives just for the sake of one bet. Knowing Shiva, he would say yes to Dhara in a heartbeat if she emotionally manipulated him. She had to do something! But what? Raavi was thinking and pacing the kitchen when she suddenly tripped on someone’s feet and he caught her by the waist. It was Shiva, she recognised his touch. She turned around to face him.
“Dev ka birthday kaise bhul gayi?” Shiva asked. “Aaj tak toh kabhi nahi bhuli.”
“Itna stress hai Shiva. Kya karu?” Raavi pouted.
“Kyu ab kya hua?”
“Shaadi!! Life ki sabse badi problem.” Raavi said.
“Kiski shaadi?”
“Teri!”
“Ae gadheri, meri kaunsi shaadi? Mujhe koi shaadi nahi karni.” Shiva said.
“Woh toh mujhe pata hai Shiva. Par tu bata. Agar Dhara di ne tujhe apni kasam di toh tu kar lega na shaadi?” Raavi asked.
“Yeh tere dimaag mein shaadi kyu ghusi hai?” Shiva asked. “Haa, Dhara bhabhi ne kasam di toh karni toh paregi.”
Raavi frowned. How would she save him then? Raavi didn’t see Dhara was looking at them secretly. Now that she was sure of Raavi’s feelings, all she had to do was make them fall in love with each other. Prafulla would lose the bet as well as her daughter to Dhara.
3.
Dhara knew one side of the story. Now she had to know about Shiva’s feelings. He was a closed box, and she was the only person who could understand them. The trick was were his eyes. They said everything. Did he love Raavi back? As far as she could tell, he had more feelings for her than he showed. Dhara went to serve him his morning tea and sat beside him to get some gossip.
“Shiva main Raavi se bohot naraz hu.” Dhara said.
Shiva seemed surprised for a minute. “Kyu kya kiya uss maami ki behen ki beti ne?”
“Dev ka birthday bhul gayi batao. Aur kehti hai Dev se shaadi karni hai. Usne toh thik se wish bhi nahi kiya Dev ko. Pandya parivaar ki bahu aisa thodi karegi.”
“Bhabhi, uski shaadi main Dev se hone nahi dunga. Woh iss ghar mein aayi na toh main…”
Dhara knew he had gone to his I hate maami ki behen ki beti mode. This line of questioning didn’t help. She had to try something else. Dhara had another idea.
“Haa par shaadi toh use karni paregi. Dev se nahi toh kisi aur se. Maami ne shart jo lagayi hai ki Raavi ki tujhse pehle shaadi kara degi. Aur tu toh maami ko jaanta hai. Ek baat than leti hai toh bas woh karke rehti hai.”
This time Shiva was tongue-tied. Dhara rejoiced seeing it. She could see the confusion in his eyes. He obviously wouldn’t want his maami ki behen ki beti to marry someone else.
“Uss chudail se kaun shaadi karega?”
Dhara sighed. Her devar was useless. “Somnath ki sabse khubsurat ladki hai woh. Koi bhi kar lega.”
Shiva was again tongue-tied and as Dhara could see, slightly annoyed too. “Uss maami ko bhi kaam nahi hai. Bakwaas karti rehti hai.”
Shiva got up and went for a bath. Dhara pouted. This was the best she would get from him. But according to her, Shiva liked Raavi too. But it was going to be hella difficult to convince him of that. She wondered who would accept their love first. Raavi was a little blinded by her so called love for Dev, and Shiva was blinded by his hate for Maami. Perhaps Raavi. Shiva was going to need to be convinced. Only Raavi could convince him of this.
***
Hardik came to their house in the morning to return their dabba. Prafulla had cleverly asked Anita to pack some paneer makhani for Hardik. She told her to give it in a steel dabba rather than plastic containers so that Hardik would have to come to return it. As soon as Hardik came, Prafulla managed to convince him to stay for tea. He sat down and she got Anita to make him some more delicious savouries. Hardik didn’t hestitate too much before eating it.
“Waise tum khana bohot achha banati ho.” Hardik complimented Anita.
“Thanks.” Anita blushed.
Prafulla smiled as her plan was working. Soon, she would win this bet, and get all Dhara’s wedding jewellery. She had her eyes on that necklace for a long time now. Hardik asked her about her leg and she groaned in pain. Raavi suddenly came down and was surprised to see Hardik there. She sat down with them and started to look at the scene before her curiously. Prafulla knew her Raavi was a spy for Dhara. The girl had no loyalty towards her. She had to do something.
“Ae Anita, bazar se kuch saamaan lana tha. Jaa jaake le aa.” Prafulla said.
“Ji phui. Main bas change karke jati hu.” Anita said.
“Hardik beta, ise zara market chorr dena.” Prafulla said. “Tere ghar ke raaste hi padhta hai.”
“No problem. Tum ready ho jao,”
Anita quickly got ready and left with Hardik. Prafulla sighed in relief. A car ride together would be so romantic. She only hoped they would talk a little and fall in love. Then Prafulla’s eyes moved to Raavi who looked mad.
“Mujhe achhe se dikh raha aap kya kar rahi ho.” Raavi said. “Yeh sab na thik nahi hai.”
“Ae Raavi chup kar. Yeh sab na karta parta hai. Jald se jald tum dono ki shaadi karwa du toh shanti milegi mujhe.”
“Maasi, shaadi toh nahi hogi. Aap Anita di aur mujhe force nahi kar sakte.”
“Tu toh chahti hai woh Dhara yeh shart jeet jaye. Humesha Pandya parivaar ki side hoti hai tu.”
“Nahi iss baar na main aap dono ke iss bet ke khilaf hu. Shiva ko shaadi nahi karni but Dhara di apni zid pe ari hai. Bechara mera Shiva!”
“Ek minute. Dhara ne kahi ladki dhoond toh nahi li?” Prafulla looked shocked.
“Nahi par dhoond rahi hai.” Raavi frowned.
Prafulla thought she had time. Dhara was almost matching her pace. She had to get Anita and Raavi married quickly. It was time she started looking for a suitable guy for Raavi too. She was not ready to give up her kangan! It was the only thing she had. Raavi was going to be equally tough. She wasn’t going to say yes easily.
***
“Ae maami ki behen ki beti!” Shiva called her.
Raavi was roaming in the market when he came upto her. She had come here to spy on Anita di and Hardik. Chances were that Hardik had left after dropping Anita, but Raavi didn’t want to risk it. She wouldn’t let this marriage happen. Hardik bhaiyya seemed like a nice guy but he has been a bachelor for too long. He could just as easily fall for Anita. Raavi also knew Anita’s love for Gautam was mere infatuation, something born out of stubborn regret. She could take a u-turn just as easily. Raavi was going to have to intervene and stop anything before it happened.
“Yeh kya chal raha hai? Maami ne kaisi shart lagayi hai? Tu shaadi kar rahi hai?” He asked in one breath.
“Nahi Shiva. Na main shaadi karungi aur na main teri shaadi hone dungi. Tu fikr mat kar. Mujhpe chor de.” Raavi said.
“Par yeh humari shaadi ko leke kyu padh gaye hai?” Shiva asked.
“Dhara di aur maasi be bohot raita faila diya hai. Kuch nahi kar sakte.”
Raavi suddenly spotted Anita and Hardik drinking coffee at a cafe. She gasped loudly. Things were worse than she thought. Shiva was looking at her confused. She quickly walked upto then to confront them. Anita looked a little nervous but Hardik smiled at them. Shiva followed her and was confused to see Anita and Hardik together.
“Arrey Raavi Shiva tum dono bhi baitho na.” Hardik smiled. “Actually Anita ko jis shop pe jana hai woh abhi tak khula nahi. Toh maine kaha thodi coffee pi lete hai.”
“Aapko toh kaam hoga na Hardik bhaiyya. Agar kuch important ho toh aap jaa sakte ho. Main wait kar lungi Anita di ke saath.”
“Nahi aaj koi kaam nahi hain.” Hardik smiled.
Raavi frowned. But it was Anita who saved her. “Dukan khul gaya hoga. Main chalti hu. Tu bhi chal mere saath Raavi. Aur Hardik, thank you so much mere saath wait karne ke liye.”
Anita and Raavi left. Raavi looked back at Shiva and saw him sitting down with Hardik and talking to him. She smiled and left.
Jhanak
Shiv Shakti
38