KTLK FF:Mere Jeewan Saathi[Th:2] Recap & Ch12-Pg132 - Page 33

Chapter-8

It was the next day of Ranji's reception, when all the Mathurs, along with Mallika, were sitting on the dining table, having their dinner... Ashutosh and Nidhi had made a point to talk the minimum infront of Mallika, not to earn any of her interest in their private talks, except, that they had to talk in general... Ashutosh breaking the silence spoke to Ranji-

Ashu: Aap dono ki packing ho gayi, Ranga-Anji...? I know, you won't have forgot to do that, neither you would have forgot the fact, but phir bhi, your flight is 5 in the morning, for your Honeymoon... Ready?

Ranga in his enthusiasm replied- " Ofcourse Bhaiya..." When he saw all the amused faces on the table, he tried correcting- "Nahin... Matlab, we are... matlab" he gave helpless looks towards Anji, who herself was in a search of some place, where she could hide her face... Her husband is too much at times n over-does himself in his excitement, earning laughs from all the family members... And that is what it actually happened... All of them, sitting on the table split into peels of laughter...

It was Night time, and all decided to retire early, so that they can get up to see Ranji off the morning... Rohan went back to his room, but, one face that was dancing infront of the eyes of his mind, was a disappointed and hurted face of his Ashu Bhaiya... He saw the same looks on the Dining table too... Although he kept smiling and laughing all throughout, but his eyes gave away the shine, as soon as he laid his eyes on Rohan or Mallika... He decided, he has to do something... He cannot bear those hurted looks on his dear Bhaiya's face everyday... If he's the cause of that pain, then he himself will go out of his sight, but, wont be able to see his bhaiya so disappointed... He picked out his phone out of his pocket, n dialled to Mallika... On the third ring, she picked up the call...

Mallu: Haan Rohan... Kya hua?

Rohan: Mallika ji, kya aap mujhse 2 minute mein mil sakti hain?

M: Par baat kya hai Rohan?

R: Milke bataata hoon... Bataiye, aap aa sakti hain..?

M: Haan! Lekin kahan?

R: Terrace par aa jaiye... Main bhi aata hoon...

Within a minute or two, both came over the terrace...

M: Haan... Ab bolo Rohan... Kya baat hai, jo itne urgent mein bulaya?

R: Mallika ji, aap toh jaanti hain na, Ashutosh bhaiya, kitne hurted hain...

M: (Cuts in between) Ashutosh mera dost hai Rohan, usko time lagega humara relation accept karne mein...

R: Par tab tak main, bhaiya ke chehre par wo hurt or disappointment nahi dekh sakta Mallika ji... Wo mere liye mere Baba se kam nahi hain... Maa-baba bhi kuch keh nahi rahe, sabki khushi ke liye khaamosh hain, lekin main dekh raha hoon, unki aankho mein takleef, Aur Ranga Bhaiya... Wo toh uljhan mei phanse honge, ki mere liye pareshan hoye, ya apni shadi par khush...

(Mallika puts a sympathetic hand on his shoulder... Then turns around to face Mallika) Bas, ab bohot ho gaya, jab tak wo log iss baat ko accept nahi kar lete, ya unki takleef kam nahi ho jaati, hum unke saamne nahi aayenge... Chote bachhe ki tarah hi sahi, aankh moond loonga, ke mujhe nahi dikh raha, toh kisi ko nahi dikh raha...

Hum, jald-se-jald wapas London laut jaayenge...

Mallika's face became all pale hearing that, all the colour of her face was lost... 'She has to do something quickly', she thought to herself, then calculated all in her mind and said- "Rohan! Jaldbaazi mei faisalaa mat lo... Main jaanti hu, ke tumko kitna bura lag raha hoga, lekin, this way, we wont be able to earn their acceptance... Rohan, maine tumse zyada duniya dekhi hai, isliye keh rahi hoon, agar ye rishta ek kadwa ghoont hai, toh humko isey peena hi padega, coz, at the end of the day, humein sab ka pyar aur aashirwad paana hai... Tum samajh rahe ho na?" Mallika tried to hold her breath, in anticipation of his reply... N was damn worried about her future, if he declined...

Rohan thought for a moment, then said- "Hmmmn... Shaayad aap theek keh rahi hain Mallika ji... Humko yahi rehkar, sabka dil jeetna chahiye..." Mallika heaved a sigh of relief...

M: Chalo Rohan, ab humein sona chahiye... Kal Ranganath aur Anji jaa rahe hain, na, we have to wake up early, to be there with the family... After all, unhe impress karna abhi se hi shuru karna chahiye na...

Both bade bye and goodnight to each other and returned to their respective rooms to sleep...

As the clock struck 12 at midnight, Ashu looked at his sleeping wife... He bent to kiss on her forehead- "Happy Birthday sweetheart..." and an immediate smile formed on her lips... 'He has finally learnt it...' Giving a kiss on his cheek in return, she muttered a cute "Thank you" And got to get up and settle on the bed, with Ashu putting her pillow to ease her seat...

A: Aaj raat sirf mere hi wishes milenge tumko...

N: (Confusingly...) Kyu?

A: Bec..cause (Leaning towards her side table to pick her cell phone) Aapka cell phone maine off kar diya hai ( Simultaneously switching it off)...

N: Arrey par... Kisi ko kaam hua toh...

A: Toh wo mujhe call kar lega... Aaj raat... Only you and me...

N: (Smiling and blushing at the same time) Aur ghar par?

A: Maine sabko keh diya hai, ke Nidhi thaki hui hai, isliye, koi usey raat mei wish nahi karega...

N: Arrey par, main kahan...

A: Arrey samjha karo Nidhi... Kal Ranga-Anji ki 5 baje flight hai... Uthna, fresh hona, khana-waana pack karne ke liye waise hi sab ke sab 3-3.30 tak uth jaayenge... Ab wish karne ke liye 12 baje tak jaagenge, toh sabko exertion ho jaayega na...

N: (Understandingly... But then holding a naughty glint in her eyes) Toh phir aap bhi kyu uthey?

A: Ab kya hai na Nid...dhi madam... ( Leaning towards her to take her in his arms in a side hug) Main thehra aapka pati... Mujhe neend nahi aati aapko wish kiye bina... (Then himself holding a naughty glint in his eyes, and leant further to her ear, as in to disclose a secret) Actually raaz ki baat ye hai, main phir se risk nahi uthana chaahta...

N: (Raising her eyebrows in confusion and turning her head to look at him) Risk? Kaisa risk?

A: Arrey bhool gayi tumhara pehla birthday yahan... Baap-re...!!! Kitna ghussa hui thi tum tab... Isliye, before it slips off my mind, main tumko wish kar deta hoon...

N: (Giving a hearty laugh on his helplessness) So cute Ashuji... Aap bhi na... (Then straightning herself on the bed) Hmmm... Ab kyuki, aap bhi jag rahe hain, aur main bhi, aur kyuki, aur koi wish karega nahi, (Signaling towards her turned-off phone), Toh ab kya? (She tried keeping as innocent face as she could... But, a sweet chuckle escaped Ashu's lips)

A: (Cupping her chin with his index finger and thumb) Kya kiya jaaye Mohtarma, aapke liye...

N: Mujhe kya pata... Birthday mera hai, wish aap kar rahe hain... Decide bhi aapne kiya ke aaj raat sirf aap aur main... Toh ye bhi aap hi decide kijiye, how u r going to please me, and do something special for me...

A: (Giving her his famous lopsided smiles...) I knew it... Nidhi, n letting go off any chance for something special from her husband... Uhhhuh! Ho hi nahi sakta... (Then quickly jumping out of the bed and came towards her side... Held her feet and turned her softly, so that, they reach out of the bed... Making her wear her slippers, without even giving her a chance to climb down the bed or react, he picked her up in his arms... Nidhi gave a small squeal...) Shhh... Koi aawaaz mat karna please... Main ye sirf tumhare liye kar raha hoon... Koi aur uth gaya na, toh phir, sirf "You and I" ka saara mazaa kikira ho jaayega...

N: (Softly whispering... only for him to hear... ) Arrey par, main khud chal sakti hoon, why have you picked me up? Main gir gayi toh?

A: (Securing her tighter in his arms) Kyu? Ab inn baahon par bharosa nahi hai?

N: (Winding her arms around his neck) Ye mumkin hi nahi hai... Bharosa in baahon par bhi tha, aur aap par bhi... Tab se, jab se humne iss rishte mein bandhne ka faisla kiya... Aur bharosa waqt ke saath badhta hi hai... kam se kam mere saath toh aisa hi hai... Maine toh bas yuhi kaha...

A: Toh bharosa hai na mujh par...

N: Beshak...

A: Toh bas... Go with the flow... Main kuch nahi hone doonga tumhe... Ye mera waada bhi hai, aur zimmedari bhi... (Then turns towards their cupboard, still Nidhi in his arms) Kholo...

N: Mera gift hai kya?

A: Haan... Gift hi hai...

N: (Excitingly opens the cupboard... And frowns seeing inside..) Icebox? Icebox kya kar raha hai cupboard mein? N is this my gift?

A: (laughs at her innconce...) Gift nahi hai... Iske andar gift hai...

N: Wow!!! Kya idea hai... kholoon main isko?

A: Nahi abhi nahi... Pehle apan chalte hain... Phir kholna...

N: Kahan chal rahe hain? Wo bhi night dress mein? Ashuji...?

A: Arrey... Kahin bahar nahi jaa rahe... Ghar mein hi hain... Ab apna mooh band karo and open the door...

She does as asked for, and Ashutosh, quietly took Nidhi in his arms, walking up the steps of the terrace, with the icebox in Nidhi's hands... After reaching there, he slowly makes her sit on the 2 person- swing on the terrace, placing a centre table infront of her... Taking the cue, she places the icebox on it... Ashutosh went to the door that connected terrace to the rest of the house, and closed and latched it... Then came back and sat with her on the swing...

A: Hmmm... Ab kholo... She immediately opened the box... It was filled with various things indeed... On top was a small cardboard box... Apparantly, was a cake box... But it was very small... Anyways she opened it... There was cake indeed... A cupcake actually... Like the one it usually is... But too small...

N: Kitna chotu sha birthday cake hai... (She said in a baby voice)

A: Haan toh, apan teeno ke liye kaafi hai...

N: Teen... Arrey iska toh mere saath hi pura ho jaayega... Hai na (She softly patted her small baby bump as if taking to their baby) Lekin achha kiya, apne liye itna hi cake laaye... Baaki sab ke saath hi bada cake cut karne mein mazaa aata hai... Kal karenge...

Ashutosh further dug his hand in the icebox and brought out a small packet... Took out a single birthday candle and put it on the cake, then a match-box, n lit it... And then handed her a cake knife and asked to cut it...

She bent down a little and blew the candle and started to cut the cake, while Ashu softely clapped with softly singing- Happy birthday to you...

They feeded each other the cake, which finished with hardly four pieces...

Nidhi shallowly looked at the empty icebox and frowned- Mera gift kahan hai... Aap toh keh rahe they ismein mera gift hai???

Ashutosh laughed at her impatience... and moved forward to remove the partition of ice tray from the box...

A: Hmmm... Ab dekhiye Dr. Nidhi... Ab hai ismein gift?

Nidhi again peeked inside the box, and her entire face lit up seeing the gift wrapped inside... "Her husband is indeed creative huh!", she thought... She took the wrapped gift out...

N: Toh, main kholoon isey...

A: Please... Go ahead...

She swiftly unwrapped the gift to find an off-white, pearls and white stones studded saree... 'Her husband has great choice...', she thought again... And in order to appreciate his gift she eagerly asked- "Pehen ke dikhaaoon?" on his nod, she got up...

A: Lekin neeche mat jaana... Wo terrace wale room mein hi change kar lo...

He indicated to the small rest room on the terrace itself... She nodded, and went inside... In the meantime, Ashutosh started browsing his phone, and when assumed, she is about to come out, played the playlist, he had made for the night, on a very low sound, audible only for them...

Nidhi's face lit up with his settings, and Ashutosh's, seeing his angel coming out in the white saree... Now he actually felt, the words of the song playing were so-so-so apt...

Mere rang mein, rangne waali,

Pari ho ya ho, pariyon ki rani,

Ya ho meri prem kahani,

Mere sawaalon ka,

Jawaab do... do na...

Bolo na kyu ye chaand sitaare,

Takte hain yu mukhde ko tumhare,

Chuke badan ko hawa kyu mehki,

Raat bhi kyu behki behki...

Mere sawaalo ka,

Jawaab do... Do na...

Kyu ho tum sharmaayi hui si.

Lagti ho kuch ghabraayi hui si,

Dhalka hua sa aanchal kyu hai,

Ye mere dil mei hulchal kyu hai,

Mere sawaalo ka jawaab do... Do na...

Dono taraf benaam si uljhan,

Jaise mile ho dulha-dulhan,

Dono ki aisi haalat kyu hai,

Aakhir itni mohabbat kyu hai,

Mere sawaalo ka jawaab do...

Do na...

Mere rang mein rangne wali,

Pari ho ya ho pariyon ki rani,

Ya ho meri prem kahani...

Three years after marriage, he felt the environment as tense and romantic, as on their first night... Nidhi came with slow steps towards him... She lowered her eyes, seeing his gaze fixed completely on her... And then reached near him, n put her palm on his cheek bringing him out of his trance...

N: Aise kya dekh rahe hain?

A: Nidhi, I've heard people saying, that wives look prettier when they are pregnant... But, You're beauty doesn't seems to face even after 3 years... Most probably, they wouldn't have looked properly at their wives, in the mean time, or they would have realised, that its not the beauty only, but, the love that keeps increasing too... You don't look any less prettier today than our wedding day... Equally mesmerising... Equally breath taking... I so wish, I keep looking at you all day long, and still I feel, I cannot have my fill...

Nidhi was touched by his words... His openly expressing his love, bowled her sometimes... 'Do all husbands love their wives, the same way, as he does to me... Probaby yes... Probably no...', thought Nidhi everytime when Ashu had showered her with his love...

Nidhi coming out of her trance, pulled his hand and make him sit with her on the swing, the same way, they were earlier...

N: Ye saree behad khubsoorat hai Ashuji... Kal main yahi pehnungi sham ko... koi si jewellery dekhungi jo iske saath match ho jaaye... Theek rahega na?

Ashutosh looked at his beautiful wife, and then, took the strand of hair on her face, and tucked all of them behind her ear, making her bare ears visible... He looked at her again... 'Yes! As he had thought, Nidhi, isn't wearing any of the jewelleries', thought Ashu... He knew it very well, Nidhi always used to take off all the jewellery before sleeping... He had once asked her the same thing n she had replied- "Mera gehna, mera saara zewar, aap hain Ashuji... Aap nahi, toh inka koi bhi matlab nahi... Aur aapke hone ka ehsaas ye dilaata hai (pointing towards her mangalsutra, whose pendant she had taken delicately on her fingers) Mujhe aur kisi cheez ki sote waqt zarurat nahi hai..."

Ashutosh came out of his memories, and yes, except the mangalsutra, there wasn't any jewellery on her... He brought that mischievous look in his eyes...

A: Aur agar, main khud tumhare liye jewellery chunu toh?

N: (Simply shrugging her shoulders) Toh main wohi pehnungi...

Listening to her answer, ashutosh brought his hand towards his back, towards the cushion on the swing that he was resting his back on, and brought out a jewellery box from behind it, and handed over to her-" Happy birthday Dr. Nidhi... this is your actual birthday gift..."

Nidhi immediately opened it... And was awestuck with the gift... It was a pearl set, a neck piece, earings and four kangans...

N: This is so beautiful Ashuji... I so-so-so loved all the gifts... Pehen ke dikhaaoon...

Ashu wordlessly gets up, and himself makes her wear them... She was looking extremely beautiful wearing them... she immediately ran into the terrace room, to look at herself in the mirror... She was falling in love with him again... Not because of the materialistic gifts aur the pain he took to arrange all this, but, for his thoughtfulness... He is indeed, incredible...

Ashu had followed her behind, and back hugged her...

A: Hmmm... So you liking it?

N: Bohot...

Then, he suddenly left her, and came and sat on his knees infront of her, putting his hand infront...

A: Will you favour me, to have a dance ma'am?

N(Smilingly): Ofcourse...

Ashutosh, took her out, and again played a song in soft volumes... Nidhi was just mesmerised... As if words cease to come out of her mouth... Just flowing with the flow, she started dancing on their favourite romantic number...

Baahon Ke Darmiyaan Do Pyaar Mil Rahe Hain

Baahon Ke Darmiyaan Do Pyaar Mil Rahe Hain

Jaane Kya Bole Mann Dole Sunke Badan

Dhadkan Bani Zubaan

Baahon Ke Darmiyaan Do Pyaar Mil Rahe Hain

Jaane Kya Bole Mann Dole Sunke Badan

Dhadkan Bani Zubaan

Baahon Ke Darmiyaan

Khulte Badn Hote Labhon Ki Ye Ankahi

Khulte Badn Hote Labhon Ki Ye Ankahi

Mujhse Keh Rahi Hai Ki Badhne De Bekhudi

Mil Yoon Ki Daud Jaayein Nas Nas Mein Bijliyaan

Baahon Ke Darmiyaan Do Pyaar Mil Rahe Hain

Jaane Kya Bole Mann Dole Sunke Badan

Dhadkan Bani Zubaan

Baahon Ke Darmiyaan

Aasmaan Ko Bhi Ye Haseen Raaz Hai Pasand

Aasmaan Ko Bhi Ye Haseen Raaz Hai Pasand

Uljhi Uljhi Saanson Ki Aawaaz Hai Pasand

Moti Luta Rahi Hai Saawan Ki Badliyaan

Baahon Ke Darmiyaan Do Pyaar Mil Rahe Hain

Baahon Ke Darmiyaan Do Pyaar Mil Rahe Hain

Jaane Kya Bole Mann Dole Sunke Badan

Dhadkan Bani Zubaan

Baahon Ke Darmiyaan

It was late at night, when Ashu had thoughtfully picked her up again in his arms and carried her sleeping figure back to the room before anybody gets up... She had changed into her night dress thoughtfully, after their love session up stairs... "Poor figure... Must have been very tired with all the things...", thought Ashu as her laid her softly in the bed and tucking her in the duvet, he too made and slipped in the bed, making sure, her phone is switched off...

Ashu in time had got up, to see Ranji off to the airport, while, Nidhi slept over... All the family members agreed to his stand... And all let her sleep, while Ashu went to see Ranji off...