Part Twenty Nine: Chand Chupa Badal Mein
Delhi
Gurgaon Central Apartment Complex
6:10 PM
She looked absolutely stunning dressed in a maroon Anakali with gold speckles and emerald green bordering; her wrists had two dozen matching bangles on both hands which she had bought earlier today at the mall with Suhaani Di and Sia. She had left her hair down and adorned very light make-up that she usually does for something formal. Her earnings and the recently gifted anklets from her mother-in-law were the only jewelry she allowed on herself, the black-beaded string with gold pendant was also there but that would never be counted as jewelry. It was a part of her identity, and not just any accessory on her dresser.
"Shaantanu!...jaldi aaiyeā¦dekhay chand nikal aayaā¦" she called out to her hubby dear from the balcony where she had been standing and gazing up at the dark skies in every few minutes, wondering when the brightest oval will appear in it.
"Agaayaā¦aik secondā¦!" hubby dear assures her while quickly preparing the brass plate with her favorite type of sweet known as gulab parkh, small portion of the main course from tonight's dinner, and water which he had poured in a miniature matching brass jug or cup type thing.
"Shaantanu jaldiiiā¦.!" She called out again and looked up at the moon with the netted and round filtering utensil that she held in her hands ever since she stepped out in the balcony after the sun set.
"Agaya Madameā¦! abb chilana band karo pleaseā¦" he came and stood right behind her so that he can look through the round netted viewing piece that she was using to gaze up at the brightest entity in the dark skies. Her eyes completely focused on the moon as his go back and forth from her stunning smile and mesmerizing kohl lined eyes.
"Saamne aaye naā¦" she requested without taking her eyes off the skies and he obliged gladly after placing the packed brass plate on the hammock swing which was their favorite spot in the evenings after work.
"Hmm agayaā¦abb jaldi karoā¦" he rushed her on purpose as she was still gazing and smiling at the moon, not noticing how her handsome husband was yearning for her undivided attention on his beautiful night of their first Karva Chaut.
"Arrey varat maine rakha thaā¦puray din bhooki pyasi main thiā¦app ko kyun itni jaldi hainā¦?" she questioned after his aarti as he stood staring in front of her. No funny comment, no reply to her query, just taking in her every little expression and embedding it all in his mind.
"Shaantanu, paaniā¦ paani pilaiyay naā¦" she looked over at the brass plate sitting on the swing as his reverie came to an end by her soft but pleading tone.
"Haanā¦sorryā¦! aik minuteā¦" He rushes over to the swing on his left and grabs the brass plate as she smiles watching him care of her more than ever. He had been like this all day even as he sent her off with Suhaani and Sia to mall earlier he kept calling to check on her, asking if she was tired and wanted to come back home.
She takes a sip from the miniature brass jug and holds on to his hand that supported hers. He watches her gulp down tiny sips, well aware of her thirst that she had endured just for his sake. It makes his heart skip a beat and a warm look appears in his light brown orbs that were fixed on her pretty face. She waits for him to set aside the water and feed her something off the plate and he does, starting with her favorite gulab parkh. She indulges in it as he cherishes her sweet smile and child-like glee; extremely happy to see her light upon his simple gestures. She feeds him the same piece she had bitten and he leans forward holding on to her delicate hand that reached forward to him.
"Thank Youā¦" He says pulling her to him, embracing her in his arms under the moonlight that filtered in from above.
"Hmmmā¦" she closes her eyes, leaning on his chest and hearing his heart beat in rhythmic pattern just as it always does. She listens intently for several quiet moments until noise from below breaks her trance. The apartment's official celebration is going on in full swing downstairs with fire crackers, lit up candle lights, married women of all ages aligned to do the rituals andā¦
Aaya re aaya chanda,
Ab har khwayish puri hogi,
Chandani raat mein har sajani apne,
Sajanaa ko dekhe ki...
They both look down from the balcony and witness the lit-up atmosphere below with bright smiles. "Shaantanu chalay naā¦neechay chalte hainā¦!" she sugessted rushing out of his arms, but in an instant he gets a hold of her delicate bangle filled wrist, draws her closer to him, and breathes in her scent before softly commencing his vocalsā¦
Chand chupa badal mein,
Sharmake meri janaa,
Seene se lagaja tu,
Balkhake meri janaa
She turns to face him briefly before concealing herself in his warm embrace. He permits her a still moment and then hooks his thumb under her chin and lifts her face up, erasing the distance that their eyes were bearingā¦and questionsā¦
Nazdikiyan Badh Jaane Deā¦?
Her heart is struggling with her mind and it's obvious to him as he observes her lashes move about in rhythms, hiding her from his warm and intense gaze as well his question...but she does reply back, swaying in his arms and dodging his every move he makes towards herā¦
Arre Nahin Baba Nahin, Abhi Nahin Nahin Nahinā¦
He attempts again and brings her closer withā¦
Yeh Dooriyaan Mit Jaane Deā¦.Arre Nahin Baba Nahin, Abhi Nahin Nahin Nahinā¦ She slips out of his grip smiling victoriously and he pouts, pretending to be mad and it works because she finds herself running back to him the very next moment, he seats himself on the hammock swing and she kneels down to be at his height, frames his her handsome husband's face in her delicate handsā¦then singsā¦
Door Se Hi Tum Jee Bhar Ke Dekho, He doesn't touch her but lets his intense gaze do the works as he continuesā¦
Tum Hi Kaho Kaise Door Se Dekhoonā¦?
She points to the intruding moon above and smiles at it before looking back at himā¦
Chaand Ko Jaise Dekhta Chakor Hai, ā¦He is compelled by her expressions to smile and so he does, forgetting his fake anger within a second, gets up and spins her around as if in a ballroomā¦
Aye, Gumsum Sa Hai,
Ye Sama Kuch Aur HaiHo Ho Ho,
Chand Chupa Badal Meinā¦ ā¦She finds her feet two inches above the ground towards the end of the stepā¦she looks down at his twinkling eyes, for the first time she is the tall one gazing down and then he brings her down slowly and gentlyā¦
Aanchal Mein Tu Chup Jaane De,
Arre Nahin Baba Nahin, Abhi Nahin Nahin Nahin, She finds an opportunity to run as soon as her feet are back on ground, but his strong hold on her dupatta pulls her back to him again, her careless hair sprawls all over his faceā¦he loves the smell of itā¦
Julfon Mein Tum Kho Jaane Do,
Arre Nahin Baba Nahin, Abhi Nahin Nahin Nahin, She untangles herself from him and his hold, he lets her have her wayā¦She takes two steps ahead of him and then turns and there he is staring at her as if he expected her to do thatā¦she smiles and then with a thoughtful look in her eyes she continues their verseā¦
Pyaar To Naam Hai, Sabra Ka Humdamā¦He has walked up to her by now and questions her back in rhythmic rebuttal,his eyes twinkling and his lips smiling..
Woh Bhala Bolo Kaise Karen Humā¦? She has to think for this one..he is too close, she looses control and then something inspires her and she answers..
Sawan Ki Raah Jaise Dekhe Mor Haiā¦ His smile vanishes with her poetic answerā¦another excuseā¦he is pouting like a child again. This time a little angry for real as here he was thinking and hoping she wouldn't have an answer for his questionā¦but she didā¦and she is full of surprises as always...
She notices his turned back and even her smile fades until she decides to pacify himā¦goes up to him, stands on her tipy-toes and throws her arms around his shoulders while peeking up at him from her right side with her chin placed on his right shoulderā¦
Hey Rehne Bhi Do,
Jaane Bhi Do Abb Choro Na, Moah Muro Na..
Yeh Saama,Haan Yeh Saama Kuch Aur Hainā¦ He is resisting her charmā¦but it's all in vain and soon he has her in his arms and they are on the hammock swingā¦their face touching each other, her fragrance driving him crazy, his grip on her making her feel safest and secure, and then right there in that silent moonlit moment they share a hearty laughter out loudā¦both surprised how their music has connected them to each other, defining them as soul mates in actualityā¦sealing it all with a kiss, they made their very first Karva Chaut truly unforgettable.
"Ajj Chand saari raat humay issi tarah dekhta rahay gaā¦?" her child-like curiosity made him smile while she played with his fingers as he had her wrapped in his arms still on the hammock swing.
"Shayadā¦Abb uss chand ka kasoor bhi toh koi nahi hainā¦Ajj jub Mrs. Shaantanu Khandelwal subko maar dalne kay iraade se tayaar huyi hain toh itna toh haq banta hain Chand kaā¦aur mera bhiā¦" He explained in his "matter-factly" tone.
"Itni saari tareef, voh bhi sirf meriā¦ajj toh such mein meray varat ne app ko impress kar diyaā¦app toh self-less ho gayeā¦" she laughs softly and he rolls his eyes with a "I-saw-that-coming" look.
"Haan toh voh tum karogi naā¦meri tareef main khud thodi karo gaā¦"
"Abhi jo itna saara gaana gaya tha voh app ki tareef mein he toh gaaya thaā¦isse zaaya aur kya kahoā¦" she turns her head a little so that she can look him his dreamy eyes as he comes up with a comeback.
"Hmmmā¦point toh hainā¦chalo tareef phir kbahi sahi lakin mujhay yeh toh bata do tumhay mujhse kya gift chaiyay humaray iss pehlay Karva Chauth perā¦"
"Kuch bhi nahi Shaantanuā¦"
"Aise kaise kuch nahiā¦maang ke dekho toh sahiā¦"
"App hainā¦main hoonā¦aur humari yeh chooti si duniyaā¦iss se zayaada aur kuch nahi maang saktiā¦"
"Aur voh gham jo tumnay bahut perfection kay saath apni ankhoon ki back wall mein chupa kar rakha hainā¦mujh se chupa karā¦"
"Nahiā¦aisa toh kuchā¦kuch bhi nahi hainā¦" she lowers her gaze instantly, she was guilty and she knew it, they both knew it.
"Baat karogi Bahiyya seā¦"
"Aap jaantay hain unhonay promise liya thaā¦"
"Khush rehnay kaā¦unn se dur ho kar bhi khush rehnay ka vaada kiya tha Khanakā¦Main jaanta ho tum bahut strong ho, meri khatir har takleef haste haste seh loongi lakin voh baray hain humarayā¦Bahiyya hainā¦"
"Haan Bahiyya hain per iss tarah dil tor denay kaā¦itni asaani se mujhe khud se juda karnay aur phir mujh per vapis jaanay kay saaray raastey band kar dena ka toh koi haq nahi hainā¦koi bhi haqā¦ nahiā¦un..hay.." her voice stars to break towards the end of her sentence and her eyes are filling up with salt, he realizes she is in painā¦has been in pain and so he holds her closer and tighter. His heart breaks a little as her barely audible sobs seep through his shirt in the form of wetness. Her internal storm no longer rumbling within her,
he is able to feel it too.
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