Posted:
Hi guys, I'm Rinki. This is my first piece of writing in the Saathiya forum, I used to be mostly active in the Kis Desh forum a long time ago. I hope you guys like it. (: Do let me know what you thought of it. The song is the 2nd version.
Sabki Baaratein Aayeen...
"Gopi vau, yahan aana zara," Kokila Parag Modi slanted a glance at her daughter-in-law, motioning to her with a wave of her hand.
The younger girl furrowed her brows, a worried expressing finding its place on her face as always before she began to slowly head towards her, wringing the edge of her saree's pallu in her hands. She came to a stop before her mother-in-law and her guests, a glare aimed at from her husband, Ahem.
"Jee Maaji?" she questioned softly, smiling slowly at the guests that were curiously eying her.
Kokila smiled, "Gopi vau, yeh humare khaas dost hain. Vikas aur unki patni Jiya Grover."
Gopi smiled at the couple that appeared to be a few years older than her, "Jai Shree Krishna."
"Jai Shree Krishna, Gopi ben," Jiya replied while Vikas nodded with a kind smile. The woman had shoulder length brown hair and dark brown eyes while her husband had spiky black hair and light brown eyes. They both made an attractive couple and Gopi could just see the love that they had for one another as they stood there with their hands intertwined.
A hope began to bloom in her heart, could it be that one day she would be able to lace her fingers with Ahemji? She slanted a look at him and sighed soundlessly at his scowl. The hope withered away and she knew it was most likely never going to happen. Not when Ahemji hated her so, and believed her to be a cunning, distrustful woman.
Just when she began to get close to him, he would shut down and revert to his old antics. She thought of all the good memories she had with him; the time he had waved goodbye to her on the first day of school, when he wrapped her burnt hand and cared for her, when he had listened to her side of the story about her 'cheating', when he taught her on his own, the dance they had shared and won, him caring for her and getting her water. All of those memories haunted her, shining through the bad times for her.
Every time that he backed away, glaring at her with mean words, she would remember the good times. It gave her a small twinge of hope, and she held on to that hope with each passing day.
Ahem watched as the expression in his wife's eyes changed from excitement to sadness, and he felt a small twinge in his chest at that change. He had caused that, hadn't he? He looked away, eyes narrowing. He didn't need to think about her or pity her. She didn't deserve it. Maybe she wasn't uneducated now that she was learning but it still didn't help the lies she had told him, or the way she had used his money to buy herself an expensive necklace. The memory of that day brought back a flash of him slapping her, watching as her eyes dulled into nothing and tears leaked down her cheeks. His disliking her was justified but even he couldn't gather the guts to justify being an abusive husband.
"Gopi ben, humne suna hai ki aap gaati bahut acha hain, humme bhi kuch suna dijiye," Jiya smiled at the younger woman.
Gopi looked at Kokila warily, "Main? Main kaise?"
Her mother-in-law smiled and inclined her head in a barely there nod. Gopi sighed softly before smiling, turning her eyes to look at Jiya.
"Kaunsa gaana?"
Jiya grinned, "Koi bhi, humne toh bas aapki awaaz sun ni hai."
Gopi wrinkled her eyebrows, glancing around for a few seconds before her eyes connected with Ahem's dark ones. A tune began to play in her mind on its own and she remembered the time she had seen the song on the TV at the grocery store. The sadness that seemed to seep through the singer's voice had touched her heart in a manner that would forever remain with her. And now, it seemed to be perfectly accurate for her current life.
She turned and walked a little bit away from the group, twisting the edge of her saree's pallu once again. A lulled hush had fallen on the guests, eyes turning curiously to her.
Rashi frowned, "Ab yeh kaunsa natak karne wali hai?" she mumbled under her breath.
Sabki baaratein aayeen
Doli tu bhi laana
Sabki baaratein aayeen
Doli tu bhi laana
Dulhan banaake humko
Rajaji le jaana
Sabki baaratein aayeen
Her voice rang through the giant hall, starting from a whisper and becoming stronger with each word she sang. She swerved around, walking around with a small smile on her face, wistful. Her eyes rose and connected with Ahem's eyes. He watched her face carefully, a stoic expression on his face while unexplained emotions filled his dark eyes.
Baand ke sehra, humse milke
Niklenge saare armaan dil ke
Aankhon mein taare naache
Haye...
Aankhon mein taare naache
Ghoonghat yun uthana
Phir humko haule haule
Baahon mein chupaana
Sabki baaratein aayeen
Ahem turned his eyes away from hers, unable to see the pain that seemed to bleed from her every expression. Her face was one of those where her every thought seemed to be visible to anyone that tried to look.
Gopi smiled, unamused, as he glanced away before turning away and walking aimlessly though the crowd. Her every dream and hope of a happily filled married life had begun to break as soon as she entered her new house. Ahem's cold behavior had left scars on her as if she was whipped by a burning rod.
Just as every girl did, she had also dreamt of the love her husband would shower on her. But instead of the soft petals of roses, she instead found herself stuck in thorns.
Apno se judaa main hoti hui
Kuch hasti hui, kuch routi hui
Jab choodongi baabul ki gali
Tumre angna aayun gi chali
The image of her parents flashed through her mind; what she remembered of them was filled with love and care for her. She had lost them so easily, and without a warning. Her wish of a married life had always been to have the same care that echoed between her parents, regardless of time and place. Tears had escaped her eyes at leaving her uncle's house because she had grown up there but a smile had echoed on her face, filled with newfound wishes.
Jab tann mann se
Teri banoongi
Gori baiyaan meri
Dharna haule se
Mehndi wale haathon ki
Haye..
Mehndi wale haaton ki
Choodi khankana
Phir haule haule mujhko
Baahon mein chupaana
Ahem glanced back at her, the lyrics hitting a chord in his chest. Their relationship hadn't even progressed that far in so many months, they couldn't sit in the same room together to speak let alone get intimate with one another. Did she really have those desires? Maybe she had at the beginning, just as any newlywed woman would but he hoped she didn't anymore. It would make their relationship all the more awkward than it already was.
Gopi had a slight flush rising on her cheeks, lowering her eyes and chancing a glance at Ahem. She noticed the slight worried expression on his face and held back a giggle, knowing what he might be imagining. She was a true romantic at heart though, and to her just holding hands and sharing a few moments of silence gazing into each other's eyes was more than enough.
Sabki baaratein aayeen
Doli tu bhi laana
Dulhan baanake humko
Rajaji le jaana
Sabki baaratein aayeen
"Kakiji, aapki vau toh sach mein bahut sundar gaati hai," Jiya turned to Kokila.
The older woman was watching her daughter-in-law with slightly worried eyes, the song had hit a nerve in the older woman. She knew the base of her son and daughter-in-law's relationship was extremely weak. And to hear the sad tone she sang in only made Kokila wish there was something that could be done by her.
"Ji, dhanyavad," Kokila replied, smiling back before looking back at Gopi.
Aaa..
Aaa..
Aa, aa, aaa..
Ahem listened to the song finish with only half his attention on it, the rest was focused entirely on Gopi and her expressions. The pain, the hope and the fear on her face only made him want to gather her in his arms and shield her from the audience watching with enamored expressions. They didn't deserve to see her unmasked in such a way, so open with what she felt and singing in a voice as sweet as a koyal. But did he? After all that he had done to her, forced her to suffer through.
As if hearing his innermost thoughts, she glanced up at him for a moment before heading into their temple, leaving the audience to gush over her song. His feet led him straight towards her and he entered the exquisite temple to see her facing the idol of Lord Krishna, praying to him.
He walked slowly until he was standing next to her, their arms brushed and she opened her eyes to peer up at him.
"Aap?" she questioned softly, as if unable to believe he was there with her willingly.
"Nahin, mera bhoot," he snapped.
Her face closed off and she turned her eyes back to Kanhaji while he sighed and berated himself mentally. Nice going you idiot, be more callous I dare you.
"Mera matlab, haan. Woh.." he trailed off, and remained quiet for a few moments. Suddenly he turned to face her and grabbed her arms, forcing her to look at him. She blinked at him with wide eyes, slightly shocked.
"Mujhe maaf kardo."
She didn't question him about what he was apologizing for and he didn't elaborate. Their eyes spoke for them well enough. She smiled softly, shaking her head.
"Aapne aisa kuch kiya hi nahin ki main aapko maaf kardoon. Lekin phir bhi, koi baat nahin."
With that, she turned and walked back into the party, leaving him alone in the temple. He stared at the spot she had just vacated, wondering how she could say that. Didn't she remember all the things he said about her, the way he behaved whenever she came near, or the cruelty he showered her with?
'She remembers, but unlike you Ahem dikra, she has a big heart. Samjhe?'
His conscience sounded too much like his mothers' voice for his comfort. He shook his head, he didn't need to focus on this right now. He had better things to do, like his current project that needed to be completed before his meeting with the clients. He apologized for unknown reasons and he would much rather forget such an action.
'Ahem Modi kisi se bhi maafi nahin maangta.'
He scowled, heading back into the party and coming to a stop as his eyes caught the sight of his wife talking to a few guests. A smile was on her face as she blushed at something the woman had commented.
'You were saying?'
He huffed, deciding to ignore his inner voice for the moment. It was behaving idiotically anyway.
- end
Comment or press the Like button.
- Rinki
Current Affairs
Sampoorna
