Chapter 59
Vicky had seen Nargis and Nupur enter and he did not know he was holding his breath before that for he gave a sigh of relief. He could not believe he had not called Nargis. What was happening to them? Why was was he letting his Mom cloud his happiness especially shunning the woman who meant so much to him. He was thinking of going to her but was waylaid by Faz and other cousins who were helping out with guests and taking care of them. Even though everything was organized by Abs's family, it was important to help as part of the family, that was the Khurana tradition and hence some cousins were roped in to make everything run smoothly with the mehndi ceremony.
Vicky could not take his eyes off of Nargis, she was wearing a maroon lehengha with green and gold embellishment. She accessoried it with antique chunky necklace in burnished gold with matching big earring and kangan bangles. She had added waist chain in gold to complete her look. Vicky's eyes had picked that chain and felt a stirring in his groin but he knew they had too many things to sort out before they even ventured there. He had made a big error at his place, and he did not make the same mistake twice.
Nargis had seen Vicky look at her, felt his velvety gaze travel up and down and it was with a super human effort that she had not put a hand on the chain when she had seen him stare at it. She had felt the heat of his stare from the distance. But she was going to talk to him first before she let him anywhere near him. She had to share something with him.
Nupur looked chic in black and red salwaar kameez in chiffon with embroidery in red and matching black minakari work jewelry to go with the dress. She had added red hand bag for the added zest to go with her red pumps.
Arjun has smiled broadly at Nupur the minute she had come and went up to her take her hand in old fashioned kiss which lingered a fraction of a second longer than the courtesy demanded. Nupur smiled back in acknowledgment of the gesture, but refused to heed the message his eyes told her to step away from Nargis and go with him. She advised him sweetly that she intended to stay with Nargis for a while.
Daadima had seen Nargis and Abs meet half way down the hall and were inseperable like two sisters. She felt happy that these two girls seem to get along well. Just as she was admiring them, she heard Poonam whispering to her which one is Nargis. Savitri had tried as much as she could to placate Poonam's fears, she knew that Poonam was still fragile. May be she should talk to Vicky and Nargis before Poonam pushes her insecurities on the girl. She pointed out Nargis and saw Poonam stiffen.
Just then, the Mrs Verma came to call them for the rasam of giving Mehndi from the boy's family for the girl and they all went ahead with the rasam. On the side there were the youngsters dancing away to the music.
Poonam had walked almost upto Nargis when she was pulled away by some girl wearing black and red suit to the dance area and even Vicky was pulled to dance as the Mehndi was being applied to Abs hand from Maan's family. Maan was standing on the side lines admiring them putting delicate designs on Abs hand as the revelry was on the way in the middle with Arjun and Nupur leading the dance and Vicky and Nargis joining a tad bit self consciously.
Vicky and Nargis were almost bumped into each other as they were pulled in to dance and he put his arms around her to stop them them tumbling or over balancing. Nargis felt a frission of awareness run up her arms as Vicky touched and she wondered for the hundredth time what was it about him that made her melt with a mere touch. Nargis saw desire flare in his eyes only to be controlled and dampened considering their current impasse.
As soon as he could he took Nargis away from the crowd on the pretext of dancing away and then asked her, "Zeno, I am sorry, have you not forgiven me yet?" Nargis could not help but ask a question in return, "why did you not call me?"
"Zeno,i was stuck, I wanted to come to you to talk but you did not call either and I did not know what to think. I have spent the worst nights of my life last two days. Please tell me what is bothering you?" he urged Nargis in a voice that so unlike the usual Vicky that Nargis melted, her anger had gone almost instantly and she only wanted to tell him her fears but was this the right time and then she told herself, to hell with it, they will work it out as long as they are together in this.
But before she could speak anything, they heard a voice calling out to "Sonu" and Nargis turned around to see a lady dressed in beige silk Sari with dark brown border and pearls similar to what she had seen Daadima wear. She would not have recognized her but for her eyes which were Vicky's and she knew it was his mother.
She immediately bent to touch her feet and said, "Pranam, mein Nargis." Poonam automatically put a hand on her head but did not say anything. Nargis rose to find her eyes on Vicky who seemed to have turned to statue. Nargis suddenly felt the tension oozing out of Vicky and knew something was not right and her fears were confirmed when she heard Poonam say,
"Toh ye hai, jisse aap mujhse milwana bhi jaroori nahi samjhte."
Nargis froze. She had never heard such harsh words spoken to anyone lest between a son and mother and that too for her. She darted a glance at Vicky but he seemed only focused on his Mom and he curtly replied, "Maa aap tamasha mat khada karein abhi, bas isiliye mein nahi le aaya Nargis ko aapke paas." He then put a hand on her elbow with intention of leaving but Nargis could not go just like that, so she stood her ground and replied to Poonam.
"Mein aapse milne aa rahi thi jab meri saheli ne mujhe kheench liya tha, isme inki koi galati nahi hai, Maaji." Nargis ventured saying her Maa the same as Vicky but saw Poonam's eyes turn steely and look at Vicky and replied to him rather than her.
"Achcha sikhaya hai aapne inhe bahane bananake Sonu."
Vicky then lost his temper and hissed under his breath and said, "Maa aapko kuch pata nahin hai Nargis ke baare mein, behtar hoga ki aap kuch na kahein. Mein inse shaadi karne waala hoon toh aap apna mizaaj theek kar le to achcha hoga. Kya Pitaji ko bhi aapne isi tarah se apne se door kiya tha Maa? Isiliye woh aapko chorrkar chale gaye the?" and he stopped knowing he had gone too far for he saw the wounded look in his Mom's eyes but he had told the words, they cant be unsaid.
He turned to leave giving one last look to Nargis who shook her head and stayed with Poonam to face her wrath if need be but she looked too fragile to be left alone.
Just as Vicky left, Poonam seemed to lose her fight and she slumped. Nargis held on to her and called out to Vicky who ran back and picked up his Mom and both of them went to the lobby and put his Mom on a couch in the lounge. The hotel staff asked if they needed assistance but Vicky dismissed them saying she just needed some air.
Her near collapse seemed to change Vicky completely and he went on his knees next to him Mom, hugged her and pleaded, "Maa kyon, kyon aap mujhe satate ho aise, kyon apne bte ko tarpate ho. Aap ko kuch ho gaya to mein kya karoonga Maa…"his voice catching in his throat, "….Mein kahin nahin jaaonga Maa, mein ghusse mein tha, mein aapke paas hoon Maa… mein aapke paas hoon…." And finally hugged his mother, whom he had been keeping at a distance to safe guard his sanity but in the fraction of moment when he had seen his mother lurch in Nargis's arms, he had felt the old dread come back and he knew life was too short and he had to grab it with both hands lest it slipped away. He was not going to let his Mom slip away again and neither was he going to let any misunderstanding come between him and his love.
Poonam hugged her son back and promised, "Sonu, mera bachcha…Mein bhi tumhein chorrke kahin nahin jaaongi…"
Nargis had tears welling up in her eyes as she saw this strange but touching interaction between mother and son. She knew then there was so much about Vicky she still needed to learn but she promised herself, she will not stop herself from telling him her fears to let any misunderstanding creep in between them. Their love was too precious and life too short.
Nupur then seemed to appear from nowhere to see where they had gotten and all three of them joined the revelry with some reservation but still with a lot lighter heart than when they had first come here. Poonam decided, it was her son's wedding and time for some fun and dance to happen.
The minute they reached the dance floor, she took Vicky's hand and motioning him to take Nargis's and dance with the music that was playing and apt one from Dilwale wale dulhaniya le jaayenge…mehndi lagake rakhna…doli sajake rakhna….
Cricket
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
29