It was almost time for Nidhi to get ready and thus she went to the washroom to freshen herself up... Some time later, she heard Ashu calling her again and again... Nidhi hurried out of the washroom wearing her gown to see Ashutosh wearing his shirt and Pant with his room slippers on, shirt's top buttons open, hair ruffled and gave her his messy looks...
N:Kya hua Ashuji? Kyu chilla rahe hain...?
A: (Giving her his hurted looks) Mere Kapde?
N: (Self smiling) Pehne toh hain...
A: Aur baaki ke?
N: Aur kya hai Ashuji,Coat aur tie pehniye, Shoe-socks pehniye, hair brush kijiye and I think, you are ready...
A: Aur agar mujhe ye sab mil raha hota, toh main tumko aawaaz hi kyu de raha hota...?
N: (Putting her hands on her hips and then wonderingly said) Ashuji, kya maine aapko 3 saal mein itna bigaad diya hai? Jin Dr. Ashutosh se maine shaadi ki thi, wo ek behad organised, and well managed Insaan they... Jinki ek cheez bhi agar unko jagah par nahi milti thi, toh unke ghusse se koi nahi bach sakta tha... Aur ek aap aaj hain, ek dum Mis-managed...
A: (Standing up and engulfing her in his arms, locking them behind her waist) Managed and Organised toh Dr. Ashutosh aaj bhi hain... Lekin DOCTOR Ashutosh... Ashutosh nahin... Aur Nidhi ke Ashuji toh bilkul nahin... Kyuki, unki manager, organiser, owner, sab kuch aap hain...( And he pecks her on her forehead)
Nidhi smiled at him, and went to their cupboard.. Picked up a Navy blue tie, his socks, Hankerchief and coat and put them all on the bed and the tie around his neck...
N: Hmmm... Ye lijiye.. Pehen lijiyega... Aur tie bhi baandh lijiyega...
And she turned to go, when she was stopped by Ashutosh's hand gripping her wrist and making her turn around, and gently pulling her towards him...
A: Tie kaun baandhega?
N: (Resting her arms on his chest) Aap khud...
A: Ji nahi Patni ji... Aaj aap baanjhengi...
N: (Reaching on her toes to highten her level, and slowly reaching her fingers to hold the tie..) Kya baat hai? Aaj janab ko khud kuch karne ka mann nahi kar raha kya? Aaj sab biwi se karwa rahe hain...
A: (Breathing out, in a sigh) Huh! Ab kya bataaein Mrs. Ashutosh Mathur, aaj aapse dur jaane ka dil nahi kar raha hai.. Isliye, aapse hi saare kaam karwa raha hoon...Isi bahaane aap mere kareeb toh rehti hain...
Nidhi shook her head smiling, while she started tying his tie, Mean while, Ashu's hand slowly started moving all over her back... Nidhi immediately elbowed him, and mock glared him...
N: Tie bandhwana hai ke nahi?
A: Bilkul!!! Koi Shak?
N: Toh seedhe khade rahiye... Apne haathon se kahiye, ke manners mein rahein, warna aapki tie royegi, ke Nidhi ne usko baandha nahi...
Ashutosh laughed at her analogies, n with a sweet sorry stood still, till she tied his tie...
N: Hmmm... ho haya...
A: Thank you madame...
N: Aur kuch? Kahiye toh shoe-socks bhi pehna doon?( Nidhi mocked...)
A: Ji nahi... Main aisa kuch nahi karawana chahta aapse, jisse aapko mere aagey jhukna pade... Main toh sirf wo karwata hoon, jisse aap mere aagey sir ooncha karke rahein...
Nidhi was truely touched by his simple words... They may be mere words, but had very-very deep meanings... Over these 3 years, this was what, among his many priceless virtues, that Nidhi had admired, adored, loved and what not, was His respect for Females specially his Mother and wife... He had never let her touch his feet on any of the occasions, including Karwa Chauth... She shall always remember the evening of her 1st Karwa Chauth, when after drinking water from his hands, she bent down to touch his feet, he had almost grabbed her arms, not letting her touch his feet, and angrily glared at her, because, he had allowed her to keep the fast, only on the condition, that she shall not touch his feet... But the "Indian Wife" As he refered her to be, she still did the same, what he had asked her not to do... But then, he hugged her to his heart... "Tum mere dil mein basti ho Nidhi, yahan, mere pairon mein nahi... Jab bhi tumko ye sab rituals karne ka dil kare, aake, mere galey lag jaana... Mera saara pyaar tumko yuhi mil jaayega..."
Nidhi was tear filled thinking of all those incidents... What good had she done, to get a husband like Ashutosh... How can one be so loving... She was brought back to present, by ashu's words...
A: Phir se kahan kho gayi? Main dekh raha hoon, aaj-kal tum bohot sochne lagi ho...( Ashu cupped her face in his big palms, and wiped those involuntary tears from her cheeks...)
Nidhi tried to come back to normalcy, by saying, in the same manner, the way, once Ashu said to her, when she again and again had opened the Dori of her sari-blouse, to be tied by him, to semble the tiff between them...
N: Aapka ye sab ho gaya ho toh( eyeing towards his socks and coat and other stuff), Main ready ho jaaoon? Warna aapke in sab ki wajah se main late ho jaungi, aur phir sab delay ho jaayega... Aur mujhe aur humare baby ko bohot sari bhook lagegi, aur dinner bhi late ho jaayega...
Ashutosh simply smiled at his lady and left her free to get changed... Soon she returned wearing a parrot green colour Kurta and a chudidaar pyajama, after a bath, drying her hair with a towel... Ashutosh simply smiled seeing her... Few moments back, he had almost forgot the fact that his wife is pregnant, but, this dress, that seems to be almost tightly fitting at her waist, brought the fact back to him... Indeed, she needed a new range of dresses, and she was rightly grumbling for new clothes... She might have been so uncomfortable with them... She has gradually started growing from her waist... Ashutosh felt clogged up with multiple emotions... Love for her and amazement for the Mother Nature being supreme...
Nidhi had till then untangled her wet hair and combed them straight and was about to take a pinch of sindoor from the sindoordaani, to apply it to her hair parting, when an emotionally overwhelmed Ashutosh took it instead and applied more than she puts, just like he did on their wedding day... Finally cupping her face in his palms, deeply kissed her forehead with a heartfelt-' Thank you' leaving a confused Nidhi behind...
N: Wasn't I supposed to thank him? Why did he thank me, for putting sindoor on me? Ashu ji bhi na...
Nidhi quickly wearing her dupatta and flat scandles, Because, since her pregnancy, she had started avoiding heels; she came down the hall to a waiting Ashutosh... She went and put her palm on his arm, "Chalein Ashuji?" After bidding bye to rest of the family, Ashni went out of the house... Seeing them come out, the driver rushed to the car, to which Ashu said-
A: Nahi Mohan Kaka... Aaj gaadi main khud chala ke le jaunga... Thank you...
The driver smilingly gave the car keys to Ashu and went away... Ashu, like a perfect gentleman, opened the gate for Nidhi to the car, and after ensuring her comfort came to the driver's seat and drove it off...
The first destination was clothes... Both for the wedding and Normal days for Nidhi, at 'Bahurani Sarees and Lehenga store' She picked up an Orange-pink combination Patiala Salwar-kurta for the Haldi, A cream-maroon Lehenga for the for the Sangeet, and And a Magenta coloured Designer, stylish yet a light work Saree, that Ashutosh chose for her... She has been fretting with heavy clothes, since she conceived, that gave her very uncomfortable feelings... Ashutosh was actively participating with Nidhi in chosing her dresses, unlike the initial days of their wedding, when he went clueless, when Nidhi asked his choice...
After, all the clothes were done, Nidhi along with Ashu went to 'Aabhushan Jewellers' to buy jewellery for the wedding... While Nidhi got busy, looking at different designs of ornaments suiting her dresses, Ashutosh, kept browsing through the entire store... Quite sometime later, Nidhi looked up to find him patiently sitting beside her, seeing her selecting her choice...
N: Ashuji, ye dekhiye, ye wala pendant kaisa rahega iss dress par? (Nidhi put the pendant on her chest displaying him, her selection...
A: Bohot badiya Nidhi... Lekin, you'll wear this on your sister n Dewar's wedding... Mujhe toh lagta tha, ke ladkiyon ko ghar ki shaadi mein bhaari-bhaari jewellery pehen na pasand honge...
N: Ji bilkul Ashuji... Lekin sab ladkiyan pregnant nahi hoti hain na... isliye pehen leti hain... Aapki patni ko haal-filhaal wo sab nahi pehen na hai...
Hearing their conversation, the shop owner congratulated the couple... and towards the end of their shopping said- "Bhabhi ji... Aap itne shubh avsar par humari dukaan par aayi, jab aapne paav bhaari hain, hum isko apna saubhagye maante hain... Humari taraf se aapke liye ye uphaar... Bhagwaan aapko Nand-Laala, Shri Krishna jaisa, bachha de..." He handed Nidhi a silver idol of Lord Krishna... Nidhi thanked him for his gift, and headed out with Ashutosh, who helped her climb down the steps, while carrying all the shopping bags with him... Ashutoh carried all bags in one hand, while his one arm came around her waist, holding her possessively...
N: Kya kar rahein hain Ashuji... Beech market mein... It would look so awkward...
A: Tum meri kaun ho Nidhi?
N: Patni hoon...
A: Maine tumse hi shaadi ki hai na?
N: Haanji...
A: Phir, main apni biwi ko hold karoon, iss mein kisi ko kya problem hai... And moreover, its just that, tumko kahin koi thokar na lag jaaye... Main hoon na...
Nidhi just leant her head on his shoulder and then walked with him... After shopping for himself for the wedding functions, Ashutosh and Nidhi headed back to their car...
As soon as they sat in, Ashutosh picked up one hand bag and brought out a square gift wrapped box and gave it to Nidhi...
A: Dulhe ke bade bhai ki taraf se, Dulhan ki badi behen ke liye, unki shaadi par tohfa...
Nidhi giggled at his antics and cutely asked-
N: Dulhe ke bhaiya, kya main ye gift khol ke dekh sakti hoon?
A: Ji bilkul... Bataiye dekh ke, kaisa laga...
Nidhi opened it excitedly and found 4, diamond studded kadaas in it...
N: Wow! Ashuji... This is so beautiful... I'm so loving it... Yeh aapne kis pal mein khareed liye? Mujhe toh pata hi nahi chala...
A: Aap jab jewellery dekhne mein busy thi, tab...
Nidhi opened her seat belt and leaned towards him putting her arms around his neck and gave a lovely kiss on his cheek... Fortunaltely, no one saw them like this, courtesy to the tinted glasses of the car...
Ashu turned the ignition of the engine on and drove to the restaurant... Reaching the Shaan-e- Lucknow Restaurant, Ashu climbed down the car and immediately went to Nidhi's side, opening the car gate for her, and helping her climb out of the car... Parking it to the parking, he took Nidhi along into the restaurant...
Taking up the special reserved seats at the far end of the restaurant, He along with Nidhi, went to the dimly lit corner, with candle lit on the table... Pulling for her the chair, sat down himself...
A: Hmmm... Starters se start karogi, ya main course se?
N: Aapka baby, mere stomach mein choohon ke saath khel raha hai... Starters jadi aa jaayenge, tab tak main course aa jaayega... mere peit mein kuch toh khaana hoga... Starters please...
The waiter came with the menu as well as the specials of the Day menu too.. "Madam-Sir... Today's special starter is a special Paneer Tikka, by one of the renowned Chefs of India..."
Hearing the mere name of Paneer, and Nidhi excitedly jumped on her chair...
N: Wow! Paneer tikka!!! ( But then, realisation dawned on her seeing Ashutosh, and she corrected) Nahin-nahin... Not Paneer Today... Kuch aur hai kya?
A: (To the waiter) Ek plate Paneer Tikka, and these starters too... (After The Waiter went away) Nidhi, tumko meri wajah se Apni pasand maarne ki zarurat nahi hai... Agar tum mere liye Karela kha sakti ho, toh kya main tumhare liye Paneer nahi kha sakta... Mujhe bas Palak paneer mein zyada interest nahi hai, baaki paneer toh main kha hi sakta hoon na...
Ashni hearing to a beautiful song at the orchestra, Ashni negan their Dinner...
Sajde kiye hai laakhon,
Laakhon duaaein maangi,
Paaya hai maine phir tujhe...
Chaahat ki teri maine,
Haqq mein hawaaein maangi,
Paaya hai maine phir tujhe...
Tujh se hi dil ye behla,
Tujhi se kalma pehla,
Chaahu na phir kyu na main tujhe...
Jis pal na chaaha tujhko,
Uss pal sazzaein maangi
Paaya hai maine phir tujhe...
Sajde kiye hain laakhon,
Laakhon duaain maangi,
Paya hai maine phir tujhe...
Jaane tu saara wo,
Dil mein jo mere ho,
Padhle tu aankhein har dafaa...
Nakhre se naaji bhi,
Hote hain raazi bhi,
Tujhse hi hote hain khafaa...
Jaane tu baatein saari,
Kat ti hain raatein saari,
Jalte diye si anbujhe...
Uth-uth ke raaton ko bhi,
Teri wafaaein maangi,
Paaya hai maine phir tujhe...
Sajde kiye hain laakhon,
Laakhon duaain maangi,
Paya hai maine phir tujhe...
Chaahat ke kajal se,
Kismat ke kaagaz pe,
Apni wafaaein likh zaraa...
Bole zamaana yu,
Main tere jaisi hoon,
Tu bhi toh mujhsa dikh zara...
Mera hi saaya tu hai,
Mujhmein samaaya tu hai...
Har ye lagta hai mujhe...
Khud ko mitaaya maine,
Teri balaaein maangi,
Paaya hai maine phir tujhe...
Chaahe tu chaahe mujh ko,
Aisi adaaien maangi.
Paaya hai maine phir tujhe...
Next day, Armaan came Mathur Mansion at the evening, to check with the size of sherwani, that Ranga was to wear on the wedding... After, doing his intended work, Armaan seeked everybody's pemission to leave... Ashutosh accompanied him outside the home to see-off... In these 3 years, their relation had built up more or less as friends, discussing anything they needed for their common family welfares... Armaan with expectant eyes over Ashu asked-
Ar: Ashutosh, tumse ek sawaal karoon?
As: Haan-haan Armaan... Tumko mujhse pemission kabse leni pad rahi hai...
Ar: Actually, main in teeno ladkiyon ko dekh raha hoon, aur Avantika bhi bata rahi thi, ke shaayad Neeti aur... Aur...
As: Aur Rohan ke beech kuch chal raha hai... Yehi na?
Ar: Actually yes! Kya tumko iss barey mein kuch pata hai?
As: Armaan, directly toh kabhi, na Rohan ne kuch kaha hai aur na hi Neeti ne... Wo toh hum sab andaaza laga rahe hain... Neeti se kuch bhi poocho, toh she says, they are friends... Pagli...!!! Hum sab bewkoof hain kya? Ya uski age se guzre nahi hain? Humko nahi pata ke kab dosti hoti hai aur kab pyaar...
Ar: Aur Rohan? Usney kuch nahi kaha?
As: Armaan... Tum jaante toh ho usko... Mast-maula banda hai... seedhe se baat kar raha hota toh kya baat thi... Wo directly kuch kehta nahi hai, lekin iss baar toh main ussey pooch loonga... Bas ab Ranga ki shaadi complete ho jaaye, phir iska dekhta hoon... Tum bilkul fikar mat karo...
After hugging each other, Armaan went into his car, that the driver drove off...
Few days, later, the most awaited person, Rohan Arrived back home... As usual the entire home went into a hallabaloo... Rohan seemed to be more charged up this time... Unlike Ashutosh's wedding, Rohan was having almost no interest in the wedding preparations... He seemed all the more frenzy around his Nidhi bhabhi,who soon was going to make him a "Chachu"... He had been practically making her sit and he would do all the work for her... The entire family was adoring this Bhabhi-Dewar Relationship... Even Ranga kept swinging between his wedding preparations and pampering his Bhabhi...
It was a day before the wedding functions began, when all the Mathurs sat discussing the order of the functions... Ashutosh seemed to be in the most active form, taking care of all the preparations, but, managing time enough for his family, especially his wife...
The discussions about the Sangeet started, and Nidhi excited said- "Main toh 'Lo chali main apne dewar ki baarat leke lo chali main' par dance karoongi..." Ashutosh, who sat just beside her on the Sofa came to his protective mode and held her by her wrist...
A: Ji nahi Nidhi... Tum iss haalat mein dance nahi karogi...
N: (Pouting) Par kyu nahi Ashu ji...? Bohot light dance hai... I won't exert myself...
A: Nahi matlab nahi Nidhi... Main tumko waise manaa nahi karta... Lekin please... Zaraa socho toh, you're carrying another life in you...
N: Par Ashuji...
A: Main kuch nahi sunna chahta Nidhi... No compromise with your and Baby's health... Tumhare paas ek aur dewar hai reserve mein... Uski shaadi par dance kar lena...
With the topic of Rohan's wedding brought unfathomable shine on his, Rohan's face... That was unbeatably seen by everyone... yet no one said in that matter... It was to be discussed soon after RanJi wedding...
But the topic of dance, yet was to be continued... Nidhi poutingly looked at her Mother-in-law, with an expectation of some help... After all, she herself is an OBG... She gave a reassauring smile to her Daughter like- Daughter-in-law, along with a blink of her eyes, saying, she'll handle this... So, she proceeded to have a convo with her Son...
Anu: Ashu... You're over reacting beta... She can have a light dance...
Ashu: Par maa... She's pregnant...
An: Pata hai mujhe... But beta, she's having a very normal and healthy pregnancy... Why do you worry so much...
As: Par Maa... Dance?
An: Ashu, Beta, light excercise and light dance during the gestation period is good... She had already shown me her dance... She wont exert herself... Dont worry...
Finally, Ashu gave in to both these ladies...
The wedding functions began, soon...
It was the night after Haldi, when all had been back to their rooms, Ashutosh's mother was in her thoughts, folding her clothes, when Baba came in...
B: Kya baat hai Anu? Kya soch rahi ho?
An: Kya aapne aisa notice kiya, ke Neeti ke chehre par ek alag hi khushi rehti hai Rohan ko dekh kar...
B: Hmmm... Mujhe bhi lagta hai aisa... lekin Rohan... Uska kya lagta hai tumko?
An: Aap dekh rahe hain, aaj kal shaadi ki baat par kitna chehekta hai? Mujhe lagta hai, shayad usey bhi Neeti pasand ho...
B: Haan... ho sakta hai... Samdhiji ke ghar ki teeno betiyaan, humaare ghar ki bahuein...
A: Actually, it would feel good, bahuon ko maayke aur sasural mein zyada farq nahi lagega... Kitna achha hoga na?
B: Haan... ye toh hai... Chalo, ek baar Ranga ki shaadi nipat jaane do, then we'll talk over them too... What say?
An: Ji... it would be great then...
Soon, the day of the wedding arrived too... This time after doing the Aarti for Ranga, all left with the baraat... Only Nidhi wasn't made to dance, but Ashu made up for her, by dancing overly, enjoying the baraat...
Soon, the baraat reached, and with all the rituals, the wedding began...
It was time for the Baraat to return after the wedding... Nidhi graciously stood with her in-laws and joint her palms, asking for their permission to leave... Somehow, the Verma's got all teary eyed, with that simple act of their daughter-Nidhi... Allowing them to leave, after another tearful Vidaai of another daughter...
The Mathurs, soon reached their Mansion... Nidhi did the Aarti for the newly weds... It was the ring finding ritual going on, when suddenly Rohan stood, after spending quite a restless time... And now, because all the guests were gone, and only the family remained...
Rohan: Attention everyone... Mujhe aap sab se kuch kehna hai... ( Everyone looked at him from their sitting positions) Mujhe aap logon ko kisi se milwaana hai...
Baba: Abhi? Shaadi mein nahi bulaaya tha tuney?
Rohan: Nahi baba... Waha nahi bata sakta tha...
Baba: Achha bata kya bataana chahta hai... kisse milaayega?
Rohan: Main... main, kisi se pyaar karta hoon... (Everybody's eyes shone with the declaration... As if, whats new in that... They all know, whom he loves... Yet giving him the chance to speak...) Aur wo yahin hai...
Everyone looked around the hall, Neeti stood at the main gate, transfixed... She had probably come to return Nidhi's cell phone, that she forgot to take back from her...
Rohan: Aur wo hain ye...(A girl in her mid 30's came out from the Drawing room...) Mallika Ji...
The entire family was hugely shocked seeing who's there...
And an absolutely stunned and shocked Ashutosh, just managed to stand on his feet...
Ashutosh: Mallika, TUM???
Now, dont throw joote-chappal on me...😆
Shiv Shakti
