Hello all,
Well, I'm still trying to find my way out through this writer's block! Hoping to get there soon.
This piece is close to my heart! I hope you'll enjoy it!
MaAn OS : Shart!
Anu looked up at her husband of few hours sitting beside her, lost in his own world. Anuj's face radiated a rare combination of a soft, peaceful, and placid smile, the kind which feels like a burst of sunlight illuminating the darkest corners of a room.
Sighing heavily, he shed a load of disbelief from his heart. He seemed to be too pleased and contented. She is completely charmed by this lovely man, now her official husband.
There was a mad rush going around them in the living room of the grand ancestral Kapadia house she had just been welcomed into, as the new bride and new bahu. Everyone was busy preparing for their post-marriage rituals while they got a breather for a few minutes.
It was sweet of Anuj to invite her kids for her welcome and post-marriage rituals as well citing they are his family now and would be a part of any festivities and celebrations of his life. Be it welcoming their mother as his newly-wedded wife.
After giving their mother away, the kids prepared to welcome the wife of their buddy.
As Anu slightly turned sideways to have an unimpeded look at Anuj, she saw him clutching an old 100 rupee note in his firm grip, crimped at its edges. He tenderly enclosed it in his fist and kissed his balled hand.
If Anu wasn't paying rapt attention, she would have missed the sheen of glassiness that coated his eyes. Even though his eyes smiled, peacefully.
On a little closer inspection, Anu could make out the existence of the 100 rupee note. It was handed over to Anuj by her son, Samar after he was done performing the ritual of Kanyadaan!
There had been a whispered verbal exchange between the two most loved men of her life and they had shared a very emotional side hug before Samar retreated to his seat, daubing his freely flowing tears.
Anu's curiosity had stirred up the moment she had seen this private moment between the duo but she had been too occupied to ask.
As she kept her hand over Anuj's knee, he was jolted back to reality, as if getting conscious of his surrounding. Clearing his throat, he schooled his features back to his usual charming and dazzling one.
Patting over his knee, reassuringly, Anu asked, "May I know what is it that is closer to your heart than me?"
His initial surprise faded soon, knowing well he wasn't the only one who could read her eyes and unsaid words. Now, they are together in this.
Anu gently uncurled his fingers and slipped her hand over his palm that held the note.
"Did Samar say anything inappropriate?"
"No. No. Not at all, he's a very sensible and considerate kid."
Tightening her hold around his hand, she prodded, "Then, what is it, Anuj? What is this money about?"
Lifting his lips in a nostalgic smile, Anuj croaked, "Shart! Shart me haare hue paise. Life has come a full circle for me. This is the moment from where it all started, from where the strings of our destiny were woven together."
Noticing her beautiful face being marred by puzzlement, Anuj chuckled.
"When I first met Samar on the day of Janmashtami, I was bringing him to the Shah house after his accident. He was so boastful about his mother and I was about GK kaka. We indulged in an impromptu bet regarding whose mother is better. Obviously, back then I didn't know who was his mother," he ended with a sheepish smile.
"So, I had given him this 100 rupee note as a token of his victory. I had no idea he would treasure this piece of paper." Anuj's voice quivered at the end.
"Today after performing the ritual of Kanyadaan, Samar handed back this note to me saying 'I won once, only to lose it to you forever. And happily so. This most beautiful person is yours to keep from this moment."
Sniffling his sentiments, Anuj unfolded the note and showed Anu the message written in it.
'Always keep my beloved Mummy smiling, I will be happy to lose for eternity, Papa.'
Anu's fingers caressed the hastily written words in blue ink, an evident mist forming in her eyes. She could never fail to recognise this handwriting. After all, it was her who had held those tiny hands and taught him to write for the first time. Not realising he will grow into this fine human one day. Her son, Samar.
"Mera bakuda!"
"I'm so touched by his gesture, Anu! I can't stop thinking about it." Anu nodded to acknowledge his condition.
"Anu, Kaanhaaji tumhari humesha sunte hai, kya tum meri tarafse mere bete ki khushiyon ke lie pray karogi?" His eyes brimmed with the love he had always felt for this kid.
Anu took some time to soak in the words Anuj said. She shook her head exaggeratedly, saying, "Nahi Anuj. Aapka mann itna saccha hai ki aapki Kaanhaaji bina bole sunte hai. Let's pray together."
Holding their hands together, they looked up to recite a most heartfelt wish for their son, "Hey Kaanhaaji, jisne humesha hamare pyaar ka sath diya hai, usse bhi uske hisse ka pyaar de dijie. Dhyaan Raakhjo!"
Later when better composed, Anu asked curiously, "Why was I never told about this incident?"
"Well Mrs Kapadia, it was a secret between me and Samar. Not your business!" Anuj teased her and they both laughed together.
****
At the far end of the hall, while shifting his mother's belongings to her new room, Samar stopped midway noticing his Mummy and Anuj Ji basking in their happiness. His face split into the widest possible smile.
He turned around the whiteboard he was carrying in his hand from Anu's apartment, still inscribed with 'MaAn' on it. He fondly remember the night when he had written his silent wish on this object.
Letting his fingers run around the words, he sent a heartfelt wish to the mighty powers above, "You finally made it happen, Kaanhaaji! Maine toh bas ek choti si ummed ki thi. You are a real rockstar."
Looking back at his much-in-love parents, he prayed, "Inhe aese hi khush rakhna hamesha. Agar kuch kam pad jaae toh mere hisse ka pyaar bhi inhe de dena, Kaanhaaji! Dhyaan Raakhjo!"
*****
So, how was it?
I had been wanting to write on Samar for a long time and wanted to address the Shart thing he had with Anuj! Apparently, Anu never got to know about it, so chose to write it.
Do lemme know what you think about it.
Indian Mythology
Sampoorna
CID
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