KTLK FF:[TH:1] Mere Jeewan Saathi- Chp-6 Pg-117 - Page 10

Chapter-2

Nidhi's sleeps had become sensitive over the period, specially as the countdown for their wedding began... Nidhi's sleep broke hearing some sniffles... As if someone was crying... Nidhi bolted up on the bed & open the side lamps... She still had her wedding card in her hand... She kept it aside and quickly looked towards the sound... A 20 year old girl , with glasses on her nose was shedding tears... Seeing Nidhi awake, she adjusted her already stained specs in order to show, she was ok! Nidhi immediately turned towards the girl and jolted to her... "Neets? Baby why are You crying?", Neeti, a petite girl, student of Mbbs II year, was Nidhi's only sibling, that her mother left for her, before leaving this world... Neets, a darling of her sister & a jolly bubbly girl, who was going frenzy about her sister's wedding, was silently shedding tears...

Nidhi immediately took her specs out and wiped her baby's tears as well her glasses, n kept constantly urging to tell her what happened , but she kept shaking her head in a no... But, finally Neets looked at her elder sister, with teary eyes, n innocently asked- "Di, tum hum sabko chod ke chali jaaogi? Main tumhare bina kaise rahungi?" In return she received an "Awww..." From Nidhi and a huge bear hug, cuddling her little baby in her arms...

Nidhi: "Mera bachha... Main kahin door thodi na jaa rahi hoon... Lucknow mein hi toh hoon... You can meet me whenever you want... Moreover, I'll be coming over here na... And you yourself study in KMC, you can come over to the hospital, any day... What's the big deal?"

Nidhi, tried to pacify her child-like sister... "Par di, mujhe tumhare bina rehne ki aadat nahi hai... Main ab kya karungi... Tumko meri yaad aayegi bhi ke nahin... Tum kyu jaa rahi ho di...?", Neeti tried to put her heart out, resigningly looking at her sister, at her own helplessness...

Nidhi picked up her phone to call someone... On Neeti's questioning look, Nidhi replied- "Tumhare jeeju ko call kar rahi hoon... Ab unhe inform toh karna padega na, ke main apni shaadi mein nahin aa paungi..." Both the sisters started giggling & soon those giggles turned into whole hearted laughs...

Neeti: Kya di... Ek taraf main tumhari shaadi ke liye itni excited hoon, aur doosri taraf, sad bhi... kitni ajeeb si mixed feelings hain..

Nidhi: Hmmm... Anxiety, happiness, sadness, excitement, all at once...

Ne: Di, kal ki hi baat lagti hai, jab jeeju ke ghar waale aur jeeju rishta leke aaye they apne ghar...

Ni: "Hmmm... Yaqeen hi nahin hota uss incident ko 6 months ho gaye..." Nidhi looked dreamingly, looking at nothing in particular...

Ne: Aur yaad hai, unke aane ke pehle kitna hungama hua tha...

Ni: Haan!!! Dadi ko humaara age difference bohot zyada lag raha tha... Main 25 ki, wo 36 ke... Par, mera dil unpar Internship ke time se hi aa gaya tha, KGH mein duty karte-karte...

Sirf, kyuki, hum dono iss rishtey ke liye raazi they, sab maan gaye... Unhone bhi toh ghar par sabko kitna convince kiya tha...

Nidhi's thoughts, went to the day, when, the Mathurs were to come to meet the Vermas that evening...

~FLASHBACK~

That whole morning had been tense at the Verma Mansion... Dadi had been sitting on Sofa fuming, and Yograj & Kapil Verma, pacing in the hall...

Dadi: Ye Nidhi, ko koi aur ladka nahin mila gul-charre udaane ko?

Yog: Amma!!! Aisa kuch nahin hai... Wo log ek aspataal mein kaam karte hain... Aur wo log bhi koi aise-waise nahin hain Amma... Kotnis Aspataalon ke maalik hain... Bhale parivaar ke hain, acche log hain... Main khud Alokji se personally mila-jula hoon... Bohot hi nek-dil, aur Bhale log hain...

Dadi: Toh??? Bhale log hain, toh nain-matakka karenge ye dono ? Hain na?

Yog: Phir wohi baat amma... Unke beech, aisi koi baat nahi hui hai... Wo dono sirf ek doosre ko pasand karte hain... Par Ashutosh ke maa-baba ghar walo mein milke baith kar baat karna chahte hain... Ismein harj hi kya hai?

Dadi: Ladke ki umar dekhi hai yog? 36 saal ka hai... Humari bachhi sirf 25 ki hai... 11 saal ka farq... Arrey kaise nibhegi dono ke beech...???

It was time when Kapil butted in...

Kapil: Amma, Babuji aapse kitne bade thhey?

D: 15 saal... Kyu?

K: Aap logon ne nibhaayi ke nahi nibhaayi?

D: Tu humare zamaane ki baat mat kar... Hum log ke zamaane mein shaadi ka matlab, Zingadi bhar saath nibhaana hota tha... Pita ke ghar se doli uthti thi, toh ab pati ke ghar se hi arthi uthegi... Aaj-kal ke bachho ke tarah nahi they, ke shaadi ke baad sochne lagein ki sasural mein rehna hai ya nahin...

K: Amma...!!! Aisa sabke saath nahi hota hai... Kuch logon ki wajah se aap aisa kyu soch rahi hain...

Hearing all the conversation, Nidhi came in the hall and said-

Ni: Agar aisi baat hai dadi... Toh main aapko bata doon... Waise toh main puri tarah se uss family mein adjust karungi, lekin, aapki tasalli ko, aapse promise kar rahi hoon...( She sits on her knees infront of her daadi, & took her hands in hers) Chaahe, jo bhi situation ho, main puri tarah se wahan ke environment mein adjust karungi... Har haal mein unka saath doongi... Chahe Kitni bhi mushkilein aayengi humari shadi mein, I shall face them... Aur dekhiyega, ek din aapko bhi naaz hoga, humare rishte par...

The matter was left for the time being till the Mathurs come, and then, would be decided, what has to be done...

The meeting with the Mathurs, was a unexpectedly pleasant for Dadi & the rest of the Vermas... Both parents of Ashutosh, were quite humble and nice while talking... Dadi, discussed her fears, that were to a great extend removed by the Mathur couple...

Alok Mathur: Ammaji, Shuruaat mein humein bhi aisa hi laga tha, jab Ashutosh ne apni pasand bataayi... Hum bhi achambhe mein they... ke isko koi apni umar ki ladki nahi mili kya... Lekin, phir humne Ashu ke dil ki baat jaani... Usko Nidhi bohot pasand thi... Humne bhi Nidhi ko saalon se dekha hai.. KMC se MBBS kane ke baad se, isko humne Kgh mein dekha tha... Bade hi meethe swabhaav ki bachhi hai... Anu khud Nidhi ko observe kiya karti thi, uske internship days se, usko bhi achhi lag rahi thi... Isliye, aaj hum aaye hain yahan... Aap sab ki sehmati jaan ne... Yadi aap log sahi samjhein toh...

Ashu came & sat by Dadi's side on the sofa, n took her hand in his- "Dadi... Aap mujh par thoda sa bharosa kar lijiye... Thode bohot Anban har rishtey mein hote hain, kabhi-kabhi.. Main waada karta hoon, aapko humare beech ki anban se kabhi koi dikkat nahi hogi... Chaahe jo hoga, main aur mera parivaar uske saath honge... I promise...!!!

Ashutosh's words, and the sincerity in his voice, made Dadi's eyes glisten with tears of happiness...

D: "Theek hai-theek hai, ab rulaayega kya...", said dadi, wiping her tears from the back oh her hand... & then putting her hand on Ashu's head- "Mujhe ye rishta manzoor hai..."

With this finally, the wave of Joy spread among both the families...

~FLASHBACK ENDS~

Ne: Aur aapka rishta finally pakka ho gaya...

Ni: Really!!! Jitni khush main iss rishtey se thi, utna hi pagal tum sabne mujhe mil ke banaya tha, with your endless teasing sessions...

Neeti giggled remembering the day, when the Mathurs were coming to their home, for the first time with the proposal... Inspite of the tension around, She and Anji had turned Nidhi insane with their super excitement, and constant teases with the song-" Sunn-sunn-sunn Didi tere liye, ek rishta aaya hai..."

Both sisters kept their chitter-chatter on, until they felt really sleepy... Nidhi engulfed her baby in her arms in a hug and slept cosily...

Next morning, everybody was working at a great pace... With all the things of Shagun put together, all the 'Chadhaava' for the Pooja was put together to be loaded in the cars to the Mathur Mansion for the Ganesh Pooja...

It was 12 Noon, after getting Anji ready for her engagement, Nidhi was sitting infront of her dressing table wearing a Yellow Saree, with Red borders done with heavy Zardozi work on the borders, trying to wear the 'Shagun ke Kangan' that her Mother-in –law gave her, thinking over her life in this house, where she has spent all her childhood...  Some tiny tears threaten to escape her eyes... Her thoughts broke, hearing a feminine voice- " Ab rone mat lagna Nidhi... Shaadi mein abhi kuch din baaki hain..."... Nidhi looked up to her side to see a lady in her late 20's ...

Ni: "Arrey Bhabhi... Aap?", Avantika was actually, Anji's elder brother, Armaan's wife, who shared an equally lovely relation with Nidhi n Neeti...

Av: Kya hua Nidhi? Abhi se rona chalu?, Asked Avantika, lovely cupping Nidhi's cheeks...

N: "Aisi baat nahi hai Bhabhi... Bas feeling nostalgic... Kitne armaano se pali-badi thi iss ghar mein... Aur ab..." Nidhi felt her throat clogged up...

Avantika fondly smiled to her... "Hota hai... Mujhe bhi aisa hi feel ho raha tha, jab tum log mujhe itne pyaar se, armaano se byaah kar iss ghar mein laaye they... Every girl feels that way... But, see the other side na... You have a lovely family at your sasural... A loving husband-to-be, wonderful parents-in-law, Two brothers-in-law... They all love you...",Said Avantika, to make her feel at ease...

"Aur nahi toh kya?", came another voice from the threshold... There stood 2 ladies, one quite elderly,  and another lady in her 50's both wearing Banarasi sarees... The elder one in a traditional 'Seedhe pallu' and the other one in a simple style... There were Nidhi's Dadi, Mrs. SarojRani Verma & Taaiji...

Taaiji, Nidhi's mother figure, Wife of Mr. Kapil Verma- Mrs. Shyama Verma, who had loved all the children of the home, equally... Specially Nidhi n Neeti... serving as their mother, after their mother's death on Neeti's birth...

Taaiji: Meri bachhi... Main bohot khush hoon tumhare liye... Mujhe pura yaqeen hai, Samdhiji-samdhanji tumhe utna hi pyaar karenge, jaise tumhare baba-taauji, main aur tumhari dadi karte hain...

There was an emotional scene, when Armaan, a chubby, happy-go-lucky man, son of Mr. Kapil Verma, entered the room muttering- "Arrey yaar tum ladies ko kitna time lagta hai..." He stopped in his tracks, seeing them like that- "Oye-hoye-hoye-hoye... Koi toh rok lo... Ro rahi ho aap sab... Achha hota hai rona, eyes clear ho jaati hain... But Deviyon, agar aap sab bhooli na ho, toh humko pooja ke liye nikalna hai..." Armaan had barely uttered, when Anji, came along with Neeti... "Arrey jaldi kijiye na... Hum late ho rahe hain... Ranga kab se wait kar rahe hain...", Anji said in a jiffy... But, then realised, what she said, But, then it was too late... Armaan chuckled to Nidhi... "Dekh lo... Iski sagaai bhi nahin hui, aur ye apne hone wale pati se milne ko betaab hai...  Aur ek tum ho..." Everybody, along with Nidhi started laughing out loud on Anji's cost...

    There came Mr. Yograj Verma, Nidhi's father, along with his elder brother, Kapil Verma... "Chalo bhai... kitni deir lagaaoge?" said the two men... Everybody piled out of the room.. Only the girls, Nidhi, Neets, Anji & Avantika were left behind... Neets brushed her sister's left over hair, rest of which, half were braided stylishly over the top, leaving half open... Anji took out a yellow-red Bindi & put it on Nidhi's forehead... Avantika put on Nidhi's earings and neck piece, and finally, pulling out some kajal from her eyes on her finger, to put a dot behind Nidhi's ear lobe, smilingly... The quad rushed out of the room to pile in one car...

Soon, the Vermas reached the Mathur's Mansion... After the exchange of the pleasantaries and giving shaguns, on the Mahurat, the Pooja began... Nidhi & Ashutosh were made to sit together in front, while the Pandit Performed the various rituals...

Soon after Pooja, began Anji-Ranga's engagement... An over-enthusiastic Neets, stood by their side, clapping over the exchange, when Rohan came & stood beside her... He initiated with clearing his throat, gaining her attention- "Toh aap hain, humari Bhabhiyon ki behen... Miss Neeti Verma?"... Neeti replied a yes, adjusting her specs on her nose with her index finger... Rohan muttered- "Attitude" under his breath & frantically asked- " Aap usually aisi hi hain, ya aaj ke special occasion ke liye rakha hai aapne apna attitude?"... Neeti cluelessly looked at him & then shifted from there to stand beside Nidhi, & whispered to her- "Di... Tumhara ye chota wala Dewar thoda crack hai..."... Nidhi looked at her giggling, trying not to laugh, but flared her nose... "Kyu kya hua?", asked Nidhi... "He said, I have an attitude?"... Nidhi further tried to suppress her giggle, But could not resist saying-" Toh kya ghalat kaha hai usne?", earning a gasp n "Haww!!!" from Neets...  This time, Nidhi could not control her laugh... N an irritated Neets asked- "Tum meri behen ho ya uss idiot ki bhabhi...?"... Nidhi further laughed- "Dono ki..." "WHAT???" "Ab tumne hi toh kaha ke, main tumhari behen hoon, ya uski bhabhi... So logically, dono ki hoon..!!!"... With this, Neets placed her hands on her hips, in resignation, n a sad look on her face, when an arm came around her shoulder... "Hmmm... Kaun pareshaan kar raha hai meri Saali Saahiba ko?", asked Ashu happily... Neets gave him a fond smile n then said- "Huh!!! Jeeju, meri behen ne party badal li..." Ashutosh smiled to Nidhi hearing this, but went back to Neets, and asked her what happened... And finally after hearing her he said- "Achha!!! Toh aap mere bhai ki burayi kar rahi hain Neeti madam...???" This time Neets gave a frown, fearing, may be in her jiff, she had hurt him... But, her smiles came back in a millisecond, hearing him- " Lekin kya karein, wo hai hi aisa... Paglu... Neets, I hope U didn't mind him..." "Ofcourse not Jeej!!! We are family afterall... Just enjoying each other's company..."... To this Ashu smiled back to her n with a "Lagey raho" he moved around to others, who were congratulating Ranji over their engagement...

Towards the evening, Finally Ashu grabbed sometime for his Love, who, as usual was found keeping the rose, in his room...

He came in, with his hands in his jeans pocket, n said- "Ho gaya?" pointing towards the hidden rose... On her Nod, he came closer, still hands in his pocket, n kept looking into her eyes intendly... After few seconds, Nidhi spoke- "Aise kya dekh rahe hain?" "Nidhi... Tum ye bindi kabse lagaane lagi ho?", Nidhi smiled back to him... But, instead of answering him back, asked- " Kyu? Kya hua?" " Nahin... Aaj-kal, tum roz ghar par aa rahi ho, aur mere... Sorry!!! Humare washroom ke mirror par bindi chipakna, badhti ja rahi hain... Kabhi, choti si silver bindi, sabhi choti si laal bindi, kabhi black, kabhi blue... Main soch raha tha, kuch saal baad, humare mirror mein, humari shakal ki jagah, bindiyan dikhaayi dengi..."... Nidhi gave a cute laugh... And then said- "Ab kya kar sakte hain... Ek ladki se shaadi kar rahe hain toh bhugto bhi... I can't help anyways... Aapko koi problem...?" "Nahin... Problem kyu hogi... Tumse pyaar karta hoon, toh tumhari har cheez se pyaar karoonga... Waise, wardrobe banwate waqt, pehle socha, ke dono ke alag-alag cupboards banwaoon... Phir laga, jab hum apni zindagi ek doosre ke saath share karne wale hain, toh cupboard kyu nahin...? Ab mere kapdon ko tumhare kapdon ke saath rehne ki aadat ho jaani chahiye... kyu?"... Nidhi passed a lovely smile on his thought, followed by-"How sweet..."... But then, she looked at his hands... "Kya baat hai, aaj bade style se haath pockets mein daale khade hain..." Ashu passed her his famous lopsided smile, n took out his hands out of his pocket... There came along few red-blue metallic bangles... she immediately recognised them... "oh! Ye toh main kal pehni hui thi... I left them here..." she came forward to take them from his hands, only to see, Ashu backing his hands off... He took her wrist in his hand, and pulled her to the cupboard... He opened it, to show her a Bangle-stand... It had all those bangles hanging, that Nidhi used to leave everytime... Nidhi's mouth left agape- "Aapne ye sab itni sambhaal ke rakhi hain?" "Hmmm...(While putting the new ones in the stand) M waiting for the day, when, You'll put them all, there on the Dressing table... When I could see you dressing here, in our room... When we shall go to the hospital together...(Then he turned towards her) Nidhi, main sach mein sirf din gin raha hoon, ke kab hum saath-saath honge... Kab, main garv se tumhare kandhon pe haath rakhke, while embracing u, n Introduce you to be my wife... My wife in EVERY sense..." This earned Ashu, seeing his lady blush to the roots... He continued, cupping her face, to make her look in his eyes- "Bolo na Nidhi... Aaogi na...? Jald hi?" Nidhi nodded to him smilingly... But, Ashutosh sensed something else too in her eyes... He again cupped her face, n said- "Kya baat hai Nidhi? Kuch aur hai, jo tum mujhse kehna chahti ho? Ya mujhse share karna chahti ho?"... Nidhi  shook her Head tentatively... But, his reassauring eyes could not held the thought in her heart... N she finally said- "Ashutosh, bohot ajeeb si feelings ho rahi hai... Iss ghar mein aane ki, iss ghar ki bahu banne ki, aapki wife banne ki khushi aur excitement ka apna hi ek mazaa hai, khushi hai... Par, phir jab palat ke dekhti hoon, uss ghar ko, jis mein, main pali-badi hoon, wo rishtey, jinsey main janm se judi hoon, unke chootne ka bhi afsos hai... I know, there is not going to be any difference, even after the wedding... I can come and go to both the houses... But, mujhe Neeti ki bohot fikar lag rahi hai... Wo mere bina aise kabhi rahi nahin hai..." Then she narrates the incident of last night, How she was crying alone, n her fears...

Ashutosh whole heartedly heard her say, n then finally spoke- "Nidhi, sach mein, hum ladke kitni khushi se, kitne excitement se apni aane wali zindagi mein jaane lagte hain.. Par, kahin na kahin ye bhool jaate hain, ki humare iss naye Parivaar mein shaamil hone ke liye, Tum ladkiyaan apne parivaar ko, apni cheezon ko, apne ghar ko, aur kabhi apne Surname tak ko chod ke aati ho... & Hats-off to you all... Par Nidhi, (He holds her by her shoulders) maine tumse, aur tumne mujhse jis din se rishta joda tha, uss din se Tumhari Family, Meri family jaise terms maine chod diye they... This is our family... Aur uske har member ka achha-bura sochna maine apna farz samjha... Neets apni jagah bilkul ghalat nahi hai... She had lived with you past her entire life... And her insecurities are eligible... But Nidhi, I promise, this wedlock, shall never be the limitations to your family... Neets has full right to have her sister, when ever she wants to meet, see or talk with you... I will never be the barrier in the relations you had your entire life... And I promise to keep them... (Then, in a lighter mood said) And, tumhari behen, kya meri kuch nahin lagti??? Usko ek Jeeju muft mein bhi toh mil raha hai... She has all the benefits  of this relation..." Nidhi gave him a satisfied happy smile...

  Both spent some quality time with each other, discussing the next few days to come, n Finally, the topic for Honeymoon started... "Achha ye bataao Nidhi, where do You want to go to the honey moon..." " Baad mein bataungi..", was only answer that he got from her... They spent somemore time together, when finally, it was time for the Vermas  to leave... When Nidhi was about to step out of his room, Ashu said-" Suno! (Nidhi slowly turned to look at him) Mujhe tumhara intezaar rahega...!!! Kal bhi aur 9^th ko bhi..."... Nidhi smiled back to him, "Ok! Filhaal mujhe kal ka intezaar rahega... Time par aajaiyega, hospital se... Aur haan! Wo white wala, pyajaama kurta, jo main aapke liye laayi thi, pehen lijiyega... (the last 2 words came with some twinkle in her eyes, that made Ashu gaga, whenever he saw that...), with finally giving a lovely smile, she went out...

Finally, the families bid-adieu, to each other, with the promise to meet tomorrow... Until, the Vermas went into their cars n drove off, there was a constant bicker going on between Rohan and Neeti, almost over petty issues, & who's functions are going to be better, until, both the elder siblings Ashu n Nidhi, glared at their respective brother n sister, to behave themselves... After the cars went off, Rohan's mother, Mrs. Anu, standing on the patio, smilingly looked at the direction of the cars, then at Rohan,n then at her Husband- "Kitna ladte hain dono bachhe... Rohan ko dekh kar abhi bhi lagta hai, humara bachha abhi bhi chota hi hai..." "Sach Anu! Pata nahin ye ladka kab bada hoga...", said Rohan's father... Ashu chipped in- "Aap log khaamakha fikar karte rehte hain Maa-Baba... Ab nahi karega masti toh kab karega... And dono hi bachhe, have been, the youngest in their homes... And when the elders are there for them, why do we want them to grow so quickly..."... rohan heard this & side hugged his Big-brother-"Dekha maa-baba, mere bhaiya kitna correct bolte hain..."... and Rohan left with Ranga n his baba, continuing his playful antics with Ranga... Anu: "Bohot khoob Ashu... Teri hi shayy ke wajah se ye bigadta jaa raha hai...", Scolded his mother... To which Ashu wound his arm around his mother's shoulder, engulfing her in his embrace and walked taking her inside the home- " Aap bilkul fikar mat kariye... Main hoon na... Chaahe, aapka ye chota beta, kitna bhi chota rahe, mere rehte kisi ko aanch bhi nahi aane doonga main... I promise..." ... Anu leaned against his shoulder,keeping her hand on his chest, taking a sigh... "Thank u beta...", she uttered... in return, received a love filled kiss on her forehead from her son... "Good night maa... so jaiye jaake... kal phir din bhar busy rahega..."

Ashutosh finally taking a shower, retired to his bed, texted Nidhi a sms- "So gayi kya? :-))"

... Soon received a reply- "Nahin... bas abhi change karne jaa rahi thi... Neeti ko Dadi se daant padi... ;-(" "Kyu? :-o" "Ghar par, wo aur Rohan ke jhagde sunn-sunn ke daadi pak gayi thi... So she was giving her lessons to grow up...:-(" "Same here... ;-) " "Rohan ko bhi ? :-o" "Hmm... Maa seems so worried over his childishness" "Hmmm... Yahan par bhi yahi haal hai..."... They continued talking , finally, wishing Good nights, and Love yous, Each drifted to sleep...

The next day brought another, hither-tither at both the houses, for the arrangements for the day... Nidhi wearing a white Anarkali suit and light jewellery, along with the rest of the family reached the MM... This time Rohan n Neets seem Cordial, and together, with the rest of the family, participated in the function... Ashu and Nidhi sat on two small stools like patlas, for the Haldi, together... And the family members, relatives and friends one by one, came & put haldi on the couple...

Function, came to an end, and finally, Nidhi & Ashu took bath and cleaned themselves up... Both sat for the lunch together, having talks over the day, and all the siblings and cousins, continuing their teasing sessions with them, all the while, Rohan & Neeti, sitting near the poolside, talking over their studies, N common interests...

Soon, Vermas left for their home...

Comments, likes ect-ect are welcome...😃