Naa khellun saakhiyo sang , main radha
Naa khellun pihaar tore dwaar!
Chedey mohe Kaanha bann rasiya,
Kare rango ki bauchar!
Holi hai Radha Shyaam ki,
Duji na holi koye !
Rang sindoori prem Abeer ka,
Duja rang rachey na koye!
(Radha can refuse her friends and family..but Krishna forces her, teases her with his mischief…Holi is festival where every boy is Krishna and every girl is Radha…Holi is festival of colors…and best color is the blush of first love.)
Ch8: Abeer (Scarlet)
Leelawati-Kala, ho kya raha hai? Itne dinn ho gaye, usne ek bhi ladki nahi dekhi? Tu kuch kar bhi rahi hai ya sirf usse killa-pilla rahi hai? Kalwati was annoyed- kya tai? Kitne saal baad mere ghar aaya hai,thoda dulaar na karu? Mumbai jao tobhi wo hamesha busy rahta tha. Ab sara din mere paas rahta hai. Thoda to mera bhi mann...Leelawati-to apne mann ki kar! Main bolti hoon roopa aur madhuwati ko!
Kalawati-errreyy! Nahi..nahi. Tai, maine kitni tasveer aur biodatas dikhayi hai, par ye baat taal deta hai. Mujhe to lagta hai,ye aapse us din majak kar raha tha.
Leelawati- uss din mazak nahi kar raha tha. Par haan, subha tak mann badal liya tha. Ye mujhe mallom hai, par ab bas, ab to uski shadi honi hi hai. Arey, aur kuch saalo mein ladki ka haath maangtey sharam aayegi..tees ka hone walla hai. Ab tasveer nahi seedhey ladkiya dikha. Agar koi sachmuch acchi huye to is ka sir phirtey der nahi lagegi.
Kalawati-teek hai tai..baarr..do din baad Dinky ki shaadi hai wahan ek ladki hai. Bas, mujhe yakeen hai wo sahi hogi. Sundar, padhi-likhi hai, arey marathi bhi hai ..umm kya tha..haan! Pinjarkar..apla punetun aale ahey.(Family name is Pinjarkar from our Pune.)
Leelawati- Kala..wo main..kalwati-kya hua, tai? Leelawati- tune jo mujhe bataya..wo ladki nakkusha ke rishtey ke bare mein. Tujhe yakeen hai tune sahi kiya? Matlab pahele mujhe lagta that tu saahi hai..maine bhi jitna nakkusha ko dekha..par ab..kuch badla hua hai,re! kahi kuch khatak raha hai. Main kal Tillu se baat kar rahi thi.kaisa hai, kaisa lag raha hai..aapne haal se jayada wo nakkusha ka haal bata raha tha..wo kya kahti hai, kya karti hai…kuch teek nahi hai kala, kuch kahin khatak raha hai mann ko..
Kalawati too had her own sets of doubts regarding the bonding between the two. It was not that she thought they were anything other than just companions but even in that companionship there was a level of comfort, an ease between the two that made them seem almost perfect.
Leelawati- waise uss ladki mein koi khot nahi..par mujhe uske pitah se shikayat hai..uski padhai nahi band karwani thi. Kalwati-aisi baat nahi hai Tai. Nishikant ji apne baccho se bahut pyaar karte hai. Aur..
Leela interrupted her- tu job hi bol. Nakkusha ki padai adhuri chodna unki majboori kum aur khudgarzi jayada thi. Unki hi galti thi nahi to government college hai. Aur kishore bhaisaab to madat karna chahtey the. Jhooti shaan ke liye bacchi ki padai, uska bhavishya barabaad kar diya..wo to nadaan hai..bhali hai. aapne pitah ke liye kuch bhi bol deti hai..kartavya to pitah ka hota hai..aur decision bhi. Ab uski shaadi ka soch rahe ho..ab tak pitah ke ghar-rasoi mein pisti rahi..phir sasural mein pissegi..ajnaabi logo ke beech..
Kalawati-nai tai, main uske liye koi accha ghar aur..Leelawati-Kalawati, sachai ko dekh..teri nakku sona hai ye tu janti hai..hum jaante hai..duniya nahi..accha ghar aur accha ladka millna dusri baat hai aur acchi shaadishuda zindagi dusri..tere bade jimaidada kaunse burey insaan the..mera sasural kaun sa kharab tha..par kahan sukh milla mujhe ya unhe. Mere pitah ne mujhe is layak banaya ki main toofan mein beh na jaun..par nishikantji ne nakku ko kacchi mitti mein dhala hai….
Kalawati was about to say more when Dutta entered throwing a ball to debbu and catching it. Dutta- tai, kaun hai? Leelatai? He took the phone from her when she nodded- Tai, kasha ahess(how are you?) holi ki badhai. Aap apni sad women club party mein jauge jaroor. Debbu giggled and quietened at kalwati's glare.
Leelawati-sad women club nahi Dutta, sashakt nari sangh, NGO. Tu majak banana bandh kar.
Dutta-yeah yeah..mujhe malloom hai...apke NGO ke members ke baare mein. Unhe main bahut acchey se jaanta hoon. Kafi kareeb se. samjh rahi hai aap? Leelawati-dutta, main jaanti hoon ke mere saathi sab ek se nahi hai. Lekin hum jiss baat ke liye lard rahe usme khot nahi hai. Duniya na poori kaali hai na puri safed.
Dutta laughed- aapki nakku se khub jamegi. Wo mujhe duniya ke rang dikhane ke picche paadi hui hai..pata hai..kal kya kah rahi thi....
Kalawati took debbu to the kitchen to feed him all the while listening to what nakku said,did and thought.
Debbu- Didi, kya hua? Kya soch rahi ho? Do naa gujia..bhook lagi hai!
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"Aur humein nayi raah dekhayi hai…" A loud giggle interrupted the minister's speech breaking his concentration from the by-hearted words. Many people sitting to attend the opening ceremony of Holi dehan at Gayatri Mandir Sangh turned to look in the direction of the sound.
Nakkusha colored deeply and shrank back in her chair, looking down at her lap. She wanted the earth to crack open and hide her. Dutta tried to swallow his amusement by sitting up straight and hiding behind his palm. After a seconds hesitation the minister started his long suffering speech about greatness of his party and his sincerity.
Dutta felt a hard pinch on his thigh and almost cried out when nakkusha hissed at him,"Shush…dekho aapki wajah se sab mujhe ghurr-ghurr k dekh rahe the. Abhi aap kuch bhi mat boliye ga."
Dutta-Haan, to ab mujhe kuch bolne ka maukka kahan millega. Wo stage pe chaddha haati jo sab bol dega.
Nakku giggled again but went quiet on receiving a glare from the man in front.
After the speech and cultural program that was organized by the Gayatri Mandir school, people gathered around the pyre that was set up for Holi. It was huge and tall like a full grown man almost as tall as Dutta 6'2" frame. Sonu came to him still wearing her dance costumes. Sonu-Bhaiyya, aapne dekha mujhe! Kaisa laga mera dance? Dutta pretended to gag and then smiled- it was amazing. You rocked! Sonu looked at nakku for confirmation. Nakkusha smiled and nodded at her, lovingly straitening the flower garland on her hair. Sonu-didi, main ye sab uttar ke aati hoon. Sab bahut bhari sa hai. As she ran away dutta turned to nakku- sonu is really gifted. Usse training ki jarurat hai and she has passion for it.
Nakkusha-hmm..par yahan koi teacher nahi hai. Jo bhi seekha hai wo choudhary madam ke paas. Par ab wo kahti hai ki unke paas ab sonu ko sikhane ka kuch nahi hai. Sonu dancer banana chahti hai par yahan…log ye sab bas bachpan ka shauk samajhte hai.. Babuji ko bhi nahi pata aur wo maanenge bhi nahi.
Nakkusha fidgeted with her plate that she had prepared for Holi worship. Dutta looked at the crowd gathered around. Ladies in their finery were holding thalis similar to nakku's. The pyre was lit by the chief guest. And he offered the first worship slowly followed by others. Dutta looked away least interested. Nakkusha- aapko pata hai. Prahlad ki bhakti ki shakti ne usse apne pitah aur bua holika se bachaya tha. Is liye holi jalayi jaati hai. Dutta-bullshit! Isska bhi ek logic hai. Nakkusha rolled her eyes as she was quite used to his logics now- kya?
Dutta- yahi ki Prahlad or whatever was the dude's name..wo apni aunty ke sath ghar mein kissi accidental aag mein trap ho gaya tha. Aas pass ke kissi bande ne bacchaya hoga. Par auntyji ko nahi baccha sakey. Ab tab 24/7 newschannels aur live coverage to thi nahi. Parosiyon ne aas paas ke logo ko kahani batayi..unhone dusro ko batayi..aur baat phail gaye..ab insaan ki niyat hoti hai bardha chaddha ke bolne ki..ye sab bakti wakti baad mein add kiya hoga logo ko darrane ke liye.
It was their turn to offer prayers. Dutta walked beside her so as to not lose her in the crowd. Nakkusha poured water on the ground-logo ko darane ke liye kyun? She handed him the pot and directed him to pour water. He took it and distractedly without noticing what he was doing, poured water- see, tab logo ko revolt se durr rakhne ke liye raja log aise kahaniyan fabricate karte the..just so that janta ko lage ki bhai, aisa karenge to paap hai..it was a way of maintaining law and order. Keep them scared of some mysterious power. Darenge to chori, khoon, ghapla, balatkar nahi karenge. Har citizen pe nazar rakhna mushkil hai..par agar wo sochey ki koi power unpar nazar rakhi hai toh!…darr bahut important hathyaar hota hai. Nishana sahi laga to bhakti hai...galat laga to paap hai.
Nakkusha offered some flowers to the fire and placed some in his hand- par raja ko kaisa darr. Wo raja hai, pitah hai. Apne bte ko maarne ki koshish kyu? She gave some flower in his hand he threw it in general direction of the fire forcefully, looking at her- that's the answer he is a king. He wants to stay a king. Prahlad was famous. people loved him and that made the king Hirankshayap scared. Agar beta umar se pahele baap ke jootey pahene to jaroori nahi baap ko khushi hi ho. Aurangzeb ne apne baap ko bhi nahi chodda aur hamesha is darr mein jeeya ki uske bte bhi uske sath aisa kar sakte hai. Psychological illness! She started walking around the fire offering rice grains, grams and pulses to the fire. He followed around her still excited about his logic- aur wo Narshimha avatar! He snorted and continued," ho sakta hai ki raja was eaten by a lion. Tab mahel mein sher,chiteh paalna badi baat nahi thi. Ho sakta hai koi entertainment circus act dekhte waqt sher ne raja ka kabab banaya ho. Prahlad ke advisors ne uss hadse ka istmal kiya takki log usse powerful samjhe aur satta haat mein rahey. Simple!"
Nakkusha kept walking around the fire with him walking beside her slightly bent towards her to hear her soft murmured words- theek hai gar main maan bhi loon ki yeh kahani bas kahani hai to bhi aap holika dahen ki importance to kam nahi kar saktey. Yeh bahut important din hai science ki taraf se bhi. Aaj thand khatam hoti hai aur phagun shuru hota hai. Mausam badalta hai. Har ritu ka swagat karna insaan ka tareeka hota hai aapne paas jo hai uska shukriya karne ka. Agar bhul bhi jaye Prahlad ki kahani to bhi socho..aag se jayada pavitra kuch nahi, paani mein,hawa mein sab kuch mein millawat ho sakta hai. Par aag mein nahi. She took her last circle and stood to bow to the fire. He stopped beside her with his hands in his pocket. Nakkusha looked at the fire and he saw the flames dancing the brown depths of her eyes. Nakkusha- iss liye aag ko shaakshi maan kar shaadi mein vachan lete hai takki har burai aur apavitra cheez bhasm, ho nayi shuruwat ho. Marne ke baad usse jalaya jaata hai takki sharer aur uski gandhgi, bimaari khatam ho jaye. Holi dehan us pawan shakti ki puja ke liye hai. Uska abhar maanne ke liye. Aajkal ke AC,heater ke kamro mein , sweater aur rajai ki garmahat mein hum aag ki importance nahi samajhte..yeh aag hi logo ko tand ki titurti raaton mein bacchati thi. Log thand ko vida kartey hai aur aagni aur uski garmi ka shukriya karte hai. Ye jo science, yeh sab aaj hai, kal nahi tha. Tab bas yeh aag hi thi. Agar bhakti nahi to koi baat nahi kumse kum prakriti ko shukriya kah sakte hai na aap. Accha hai, meri bhakti ko harane ke liye hi sahi aapne holi dehan ke parikrama to ki!.
Dutta realized how he had unknowingly offered worship to the fire all the time trying to make her accept his logic. He also thought how logically she had elevated the whole festival into something more humane and earthy. A celebration of nature rather than worship for Gods! He smiled and shook his head watching her bowing her head, joining her hands and praying with belief and innocence sparkling on her features.
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"Tu bahar aa! Abhi!" Dutta hissed at her from outside the kitchen window.
He had not been willing to play holi but kishore jamaidada had pulled him out among his friends and then Debbu and his friends needed his help in a balloon war. Then some men probably his own age had dragged him to some stall for some bhang. After a few glasses and a few tussles he began to enjoy himself. This holi party was far different from what he was used to in city. The Disc in the artificial rain setting and the exotic hor d'evers. The alcohol and other potent things. The senseless mindless dancing and jamming and moving of intoxicated bodies.
Here there was mildness and togetherness that gets to you in ways, those years of friendship in cities doesn't.
He was looking unrecognizable in his once white kurta and payjama which were now dyed in rainbow of colors. He was calling nakkusha to come out to play holi, while she was resolutely ignoring him.
Nakkusha- arey! Aap jao na. Maine thodi rokka hai. Main bahar aagayi to ye sab kaun karega?
Dutta frowned-yeh sab? Kya sab? Nakkusha- bahar pura mohalla khel raha hai. Sabko bhook lagegi. Kuch to banana hoga sev,gujia,mattri,namkeen laddu. Sab yun khatam ho jayenge. Sab thandai bhi piye huye hai.
Dutta glared at her-unhe bhook lagegi to lagey! Wo bana lengey apne liye..tu kyun andar bekaar mehnat kar rahi hai. Nakkusha- shhh..kya bol rahein hai! Koi sunn lega! Chee!
Dutta- to nahi to kya? Puri duniya ko khillane ka theeka tera hai kya? Chal bahar aa!
Jamima who was listening to the bickering for some time now felt her yes fill up with tears. Apart from Kaladidi no one has ever asked Nakkubibi to come out and play holi for many years now. Kaladidi still tried but not with so much force because she knew nakkubibi's answer would be no. Jamima and Abdul had tried so many times to say that they will take care of things but nakkubibi would forcibly push them out saying,"abdul, tu jamima ke gore gaal par gulaal laga ja!" Watching dutta babu forcing nakkubibi to come out anf play for herself brought happiness and contentment to her. She was ready to forgive him all his high-handedness for his concern for nakkubibi.
Nakkusha- aap jao khelo na! kitne log hai wahan, meri ek ke naa hone se kya phark padta hai. Jao na kissi aur ko rang lagao. Dutta-Bakwaas mat kar! Mujhe phark padta hai. Aur waise bhi to itni saaf-saaf lag rahi hai. Tujhe thoda to mailla karna hai.chal bahar aa!. Nakkusha- nahi, ab jao bhi yahan se! Dutta glared at her-theek hai!
Dutta spotted debu and his friends playing outside. He signaled them over.
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Nakkusha came out carrying the jug filled with the chilled lemonade she had made incase some one felt nauseous of the thandai. She smiled as she saw her siblings running around with their friends. Kalawati didi was all the aunties of the colony happily handing out plates of snacks to the men. She made her way towards them carefully side stepping the mad rush in middle of the clearing where the games were being played. Her white kurta and churidar stroke a startling contrast amongst the array of colored bodies that were running around throwing huge clouds of colors. She was about to reach the refreshment tables when a pair of strong arms grabbed her waist from behind and lifted her clear of the ground. A startled shriek left her lips and the container fell from her hand. Dutta twirled her around a circle and without pausing carried her to the huge tub filled with color. She kicked the air and hit his arm but he laughed huskily at her puny efforts. He counted to three to her screamed threats if he dared. At one he laughed menacingly and dropped her with a splash in the color. Debu and his friends laughed at her annoying her further. Nakkusha-debbu ke bacchey, tune inkey sath mill ke mujhse jhoot bola ki hema chachi sherbet manga rahi hai. Tujhe to main…. She tried to get up but slipped and fell further down. She came up sputtering and shocked of the coldness of the water. Dutta offered her his hand but she refused and kept looking away from him in affronted dignity. HE swallowed a smile and picked her up again like a rag doll while she screamed like a fishwife again and dropped her on the ground. Dutta-ab lag rahi hai tune gulabbo. Wah! She seethed- accha! Rukiye main dikhati hoon. She grabbed colors from the person closest to her and threw it on him. He turned his face away to save himself and turned back to take revenge. She ran away showing him a thumb and tongue while he chased after her.
She ducked behind kishore who was talking to nishikant and his friends. They all were shocked to see nakkusha running around laughing with such abandon with her wet and colored clothes. Dutta caem running and halted in front of them, trying to act with a little decorum. Nakkusha crept in from behind and screamed in his ears and threw a handful of color to his face and made her escape. Dutta ran after her without throwing a look at the astounded faces of the men.
Dutta spotted her hiding behind the refreshment table where all the aunties were gossiping. He grabbed the blood red colored powder in his bunched hands and silently walked up to her. He grabbed her from behind holding on her hand to stop her from getting away. She was heaving from her running and twisted her arm to get away. But he tightened his hold a little taking care not to bruise her skin and smeared the abeer on her face without turning her to face him. He touched her hair ,forehead, cheeks, neck and even the exposed part of her shoulder. She was heaving from her running as he smeared her with the scarlet color.
The woman standing there gasped- hey bhagwan! Ye kya kiya?
Kalawati turned to see what had happened. She was shocked into stillness of a second before coming to action. She went up to them and snatched his hand from nakku's. Kalawati raged at Dutta- Ye kya kiya tune,Dutta? Tujhe abeer aur sindoor mein pharak nahi dikhta? She turned to look at Nakusha who was standing there stone shocked with her eyes shut and her whole body shivering. Kalawati whispered as the women gathered around them- Dutta tune humare Bambleshwari Mata ke chadhave ka sindoor nakkusha pe daal diya.
Dutta- ye sindoor hai. Mujhe to gulaal laga. Sorry! He looked at nakkusha- tu theek hai. Aye nakku, kaha na sorry!
She opened her eyes and looked at the horrified faces of the ladies she had seen since her birth looking at her accusingly.
Bandita kaki- nakku, ye to naye hai yahan, tujhe akal nahi hai? Rokka kyun nahi? Itna bada apshagun kardiya!
Damini bua chirped in- aajkal ki ladkiya koi darr sharam hai inhe? Main to kahti hi hoon maa ka hona ladkiyon ke liye bahut jaroori hai. Warna inkey lakshan achcgran sab paani mein. Nakkusha looked with large terrified eyes at Dutta.
He felt his heart clench at her look. He cursed himself for putting her in such a spot, especially when she had such major self-confidence issues. Dutta-aap log nakkusha ko kyun dosh de rahe ho? Galati to mujhse hui hai. Damini bua-par beta tum naye ho. Shaher se ho..tum ne to shayad sindoor dekha bhi nahi. Isse to pata hai ki ye chadhave ka sindoor hai hata ke rakhna tha na alag mandir ke paas. Istni badi ho gai itni samajh nahi aayi. Dutta- ek minute! Aap log to yahi the aapne kyun nahi rakha. Sab kuch kya sirf nakku karegi? Itne log hai yahan kissi ne kyu jimedaari nahi li. Kalawati interrupted him- Dutta! Bas kar! Ho gaya jo hona tha. Galti sabki thi aur kissiki bhi nahi. Chupp ho ja. Dutta-pann tai, ye log nakku ko..Kalawati raised her hand to stop him-Bas,dutta, Bas! Nakku. She soothingly called out to her and lifted her face to meet her eyes- nakku beta, jaa. Ye sindoor poch le! Hmm! Jaa mere bathroom mein jaake shower mein dho le..wahan meri saari rakhi hai. Wo pahen le abhi ke liye. Nakkusha nodded and walked towards the house without meeting Dutta's eyes.
......To be continued.
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