I just stood there shocked not able to react or differentiate between real or a dream! Only when the loud noise of "Surprise", fell on my ears and Annie and Meera barged in, hugging me so hard that I stumbled back with the impact. But there, was my pillar of support standing right behind me holding me firmly, did I realize they were here for real. It was Maan's plan!
Regaining my sense I looked at them with tears of happiness brimming in my eyes. It had been months since I had seen them.
What an irony not only my separation with Maan but this place had also witnessed my separation from my best friends. After going back home I could never call or meet them ever.
"Tu toh hume bhool hi gayi Geet".
"Haan Annie bilkul theek keh rahi hein".
Both Meera and Annie complained. I felt so guilty, no words left my mouth. I was chocked with so many emotions. But as my savior Dadima entered.
"Agar aap dono ka milna ho gaya ho to kya hum apni beti se mil sakte hein"? I had always heard about her from Annie and now from Maan never had I got a chance to meet her, but meeting her in person I could feel no amount of words could describe her magnanimous personality.
Savitri Devi Khurana had a definite and a distinct aura surrounding her which oozed out aristocracy, perfection yet simplicity. Clad in dull yellow-green combination Kanjeevaram saree, hair tied up in a simple low bun, with antique khandani jewellery adding on to her beauty. A red bindi on her forehead and her sindoor accentuating her complete look. I wonder if Dadimaa had such a strong persona one would become speechless and spell bound meeting Dadajee, The Ranjit Singh Khurana.
Coming to terms with myself as I was too lost in her magnetic appearance. I bent down to take her blessings to which she stopped me saying, "Hamaare yahan betiyaan paav nahi chuti sirf gale lagti hein, aur aap hamaari bahu nahi beti hein". She kissed my forehead and hugged me. Her hug had so much of warmth just as my Maa. I felt so relieved and light, all my restlessness and nervousness just vanished. I was whole heartedly welcomed in Maan's family. My Family!!!
"Aap to badi ho kar aur bhi zyaada khoobsurat ho gayi hein, hamaari hi nazar na lag jaaye hamaare Maan ki Geet ko!!!" She said placing a black dot behind my ear by her kajal. Her every gesture reminded me of my Maa, today I truly missed her and Papaji. Today was my biggest day but they could not be a part of it and can never be.
Like reading my eyes Maan nodded a no and Dadimaa also placing a comforting hand over me said, "Hum hein na aap ke saath bete. Sab theek ho jaayega". She assured me lovingly.
Breaking the heavy emotional moment Arjun complained standing at the door,"Maan yaar hume andar to aane de ke yahi darwaze par khade rakhna ka iraada hein". Arjun had come along with Annie, Meera, Dadimaa and Pinky, whom I assume is Maan's trusted employee Aadi's wife.
"Sorry to have left you out". Annie teased him to which Arjun glared at her adding sarcastically, "Ofcourse now that you have finally reached and met your loving bro and your dear bhabhi why will u need me around right".
"Stop it both of you ', Maan stated silencing them to which Arjun informed him saying these ladies had all the way troubled him as Yash had ditched them last moment by not accompanying them due to some urgent work issues.
To salvage the volatile situation I escorted all inside the house. As we moved in a staff of servants brought in a series of large thaals of shagun and wedding fineries. I couldn't believe my eyes in matter off few hours Dadimaa had arranged so much and that to so perfectly, but then it was Dadimaa after all A Perfectionist.
I guess Perfection runs in the Khurana blood!!!!
Keeping all the thaals on the table and carrying all required groceries in the kitchen, the servants moved towards our kitchen. Maan had it all planned. I had thought it to be a simple wedding but no. But Maan had planned otherwise. Everybody had flown down to Dehradun with all the requirements to make it A Wedding To Remember...
Suddenly Annie shouted getting upset, "Oh no Dadimaa! Hum jaldi jaldi mein 'shagun ki haldi' lana toh bhool hi gaye".
"Theek se dekho Annie yahi kahi hogi", Dadimaa told her to check.
"Kahin flight mein toh nahi reh gayi"? Meera added now all started searching but in vain.
"Meera, hum Khurana's ke private plane mein aaye hein agar kuch reh bhi gaya hota toh ab tak crew hume inform kar dete". Arjun said trying to clear the chaos around.
Bela, their domestic help informed that the haldi was never brought in the flight as she herself had arranged each and every item. So it was indeed left behind at the Khurana Mansion.
"Maa ne kitne pyaar se banayi thi Geet aur Bro..." She stopped abruptly looking at Maan, suddenly the atmosphere around became tensed. Maan and Arjun left making an excuse.
I was not happy at all with the turn in events, first the breaking of glass and now there would be no haldi. Again my fears started surfacing. Annie was very upset nearly in tears she started going towards our washroom. When I stopped her, all were looking at me waiting for my reason to do so. Controlling my tears I told Dadimaa about the abshagun of breaking of the glass in the washroom. Dadimaa smiled and caressed my head saying.
"Geet aaine ka toot na abshagun hota hein kaach ka nahi, kaach ka toot na toh shagun hota hein. Samaj lo jo bhi boori bala ya phir boori nazar thi woh uttar gayi. Aap kyon darr rahi hein. Dekhna kuch accha hi hoga"! As she completed her sentence we heard loud noise of a chopper landing nearby a sudden gush of winds started blowing and all the things started vibrating around.
Trying to find the reason to this sudden disturbance we all headed out of the house towards the open ground nearby to witness the most shocking sight. Probably we were all hallucinating, it can't be for real.
Shocked would be an understatement!!!!!
Every single person present there had their jaws dropped open and eyes brimming with tears, when they witnessed a not less than a miracle sight. When Dadaji, Uncle and Aunty were escorted out of the chopper and Maan, Arjun, Aadi and Yash looking over.
Geet's self thought
'Maan ne unhe bulaaya, hamaari shaadi mein hamaara poora parivaar shaamil hoga. Meri yeh khwaaish bhi unhone poori kar di. Barson ka faasla ek hi pal mein teh kar diya. Hamaara Parivaar Poora Ho Gaya'!!!!
'Jaise meri dil ki baat unn tak pohuch gayi ho'. He turned to me smiling and blinked his eyes assuring me.
Dadimaa was right.
'Ab sab accha hi hoga! '
I knew my this step had made everybody happy, specially Geet her wish to have our whole family at our wedding had realized finally. I looked at her I knew she was overwhelmed with my initiative to forget the past and move ahead.
After my confrontation with Geet, while sitting on the bench I had realized how wrong I had been all these years. She had deliberately hurt me so that I can look beyond my prejudices. I had already wasted a lot of time not any more. Making a call to Yash and Aadi to do the needful I had walked up to our room.
Indeed in a wait of a new tomorrow...
As the chopper landed Yash along with Shergill uncle got down, followed by my Dad. He was happy yet I could see the restrain in his eyes, it was really awkward for all of us. After so many years which seemed like ages and today...
I am glad they came, just then he turned around to help and I saw my Mom alighting, holding the haldi bowl securely in her hands as if it was something priceless. Her eyes beaming with happiness. I knew she had always dreamt of my wedding since I was a child and today finally all our dreams were finally realizing.
Mom started walking towards me but there was fear of my reaction she was looking here and there not able to look in my eyes. I felt so guilty she was scared to come to me, scared of my rejection. I walked ahead to cover the distance between us. She too walked a few steps but stumbled on the uneven surface but I just caught her before she could fall. Bela Di had already walked up to us and took the bowl from Mom.
Mom held me tight not believing that I was actually so close to her after so many years, she was caressing me, my face as if picturing my image clearly, feeling me, making sure I was in person right there close to her.
Then she spoke, "Kitna bada ho gaya hein tu, mujhe to pata hi nahi chala. Dekh tare haath bhi kitne bade ho gaye hein ab shayad main pehle ki tarah unhe theek se na pakad paun. Aur tera chehra bhi bilkul badal gaya hein bas aankhen wahi hein jo sab kuch chupa leti hein". She started kissing my face all over.
A lump formed in my throat. I was ashamed of myself to have caused them so much pain, she had been craving for me. I was right there so near yet so far.
Dad walked up to me when Mom told him, "Dekhiye na kitna bada lag raha hein kitna badal gaya hein, hain na"?
I just hugged both of them just couldn't control anymore and all I could say to them was...
"SORRY, VERY SORRY..."
"My son!!!" Dad just exclaimed
Our moment broke when finally Dadajee was being helped out by Nakul, Aadi, Uncle and Arjun. I excused myself and walked up to him. He had always been my hero and even today only Dadi and I know, I always try to be just like him. Dadi always sees him in me.
I bent down and touched his feet but all I could see was tears of remorse and pain in his eyes. I hugged him saying "Main aa gaya hoon na ab sab theek ho jaayega". It was like life had come back in a full circle. These were the exact words I had heard from him the last time I had hugged him.
I can never imagine a strong man like him in such a vulnerable state. I just lifted him off his chair and walked towards OUR AASHIYAAN...
Our house was beaming with happiness, we all went in our mandir. Today our whole family was present except Vicky he had his presentations so couldn't make it for the wedding. But still after so many years there was different calm and peace on all our faces. Dadimaa and Mom did some puja before our haldi ceremony. Then Dadimaa declared that now I and Geet will meet just at the wedding. Now that is impossible I will be the first one to apply haldi on my Meeshti, before her so called guards flip her away from me.
Wasting no time and taking advantage of the chaos in the small puja room I took the auspicious haldi in my hands and put it on her cheeks and hugged her rubbing my cheeks with her cheeks so that the haldi of her cheeks was transferred on mine.
"Mission accomplished!!!!" I concluded. All stood there shocked gawking at us and My Meeshti was a blend of yellow colour of our haldi and red colour of her blush looking everywhere but me.
I walked off declaring, "Sorry guys better luck next time!"
Ladies had settled themselves in the terrace for the haldi after done with me. Finally I had a shower and was feeling relieved. And now it was Geet's turn. Dadajee, Dad and Shergill Uncle (Aadi's Dad) were down in the TV room. Yash, Aadi, Arjun and me were in my room. I looked at Yash waiting for his answer.
"Kaam ho gaya hein Maan, Brij apni sahi jagah pohuch gaya hein. Jungle mein". He burst out laughing Arjun and Aadi too joined him.
"Hamaare aadmi ne taxi driver ban kar usse jungle ki taraf bhej diya hein, and ofcourse unn sab ki cars ke petrol tanks mein hole bhi kar diye hein. Ab unki gaadi sahi waqt par sahi jagah dhoka de degi. Kaash unhe tribals bhi pakad le aur loot le to Sone pe Suhaaga ho jaayega. Koshish to meri yehi hein. Sochon Brij Handa jungle se kapde bina sirf apne boxers mein yaa phir patte (leaves) pahankar bahaar aaye aur Press usse mil jaaye toh mazaa aa jaaye". Yash cracked up.
Aadi asked me why I chose the jungle? I didn't want take any chances with our wedding now atleast for a week or so Brij is out of our way. Yash added, "Aadi my friend jungli jaanwaron ko jungle mein hi chod dena chahiye. We will make sure this is breaking news soon. Handa's ki izzat ki toh dhachiyaan udd jaayegi".
"Yehi to mein chahta hoon. Chot hamesha wahi karni chahiye jahan sab se zyaada takleef ho. Aur Handa's ki kamzori unki khandaan ki izzat hein aur maine usse hi target kiya hein. Peeth(back) par vaar karna unki fitrat(characteristic) hein, lekin Maan Singh Khurana ka har ek vaar unki peeth hi tod dega. Woh haal karunga ke na keh paayenge aur na hi seh paayenge". I finished...
Kumkum Bhagya
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
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