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"Sab logon ne itne pyaar se aapke liye party arrange ki hai to aap itne nakhre kyon dikha rahe hain?"
"Geet! Mujhe nahin jaana hai - mujhe ye sab pasand nahin hai."
"Haan, haan - Pata hai. Aapko hansi-khushi waali koi cheez kabhi pasand kahan aati hai? Lekin doosron ki khushi ke liye bhi kuchh kar liya kijiye."
"Geet tumhein pata bhi hai ki Bachelor party mein kya hoga?"
"Kya hoga? Aasmaan sar par to nahin gir padega na? Bataiye kya hoga?"
Maan hesitated and Geet started again, "Dekha. Koi jawaab nahin hai. Bekaar mein bahane banaye ja rahe hain. Dekhiye - Adi Sir ne mujhse request ki hai aur maine unhein promise kiya hai ki aap party mein jayenge. Ab agar aab nahin gaye to main aapse baat nahin karoongi."
"Geet!"
"Maan!" she imitated him.
"To tum nahin maanogi?"
"Nahin."
"Theek hai. Marzi to tumhari hi chalegi. Lekin baad mein kuchh gadbad ho to mujhe mat kahna."
"Aap wahan ja kar logon par cheekhne-chillane nahin lagenge to koi gadbad nahin hogi."
Maan gave her an angry stare and walked out of the room.
"Babaji. Ab bas party mein inka mood theek rakhna."
--
Annie walked in to Geet's room, "Geet. Tumhein pata hai Bhai kahan hai?"
"Haan. Woh Arjun ne bachelor's party plan ki thi. To Adi Sir aur office ke baaki logon ke saath wahi attend kar rahe hain."
"Kya? Bhai aur bachelor's party? I can't believe it."
"Kyon?"
"Kyon? Tumhein pata bhi hai Bachelor's party mein kya hota hai?"
"Tum dono bhai-bahan ek jaisi baatein karte ho. Aisa kya hota hai Bachelor's party mein?"
Annie saw her cluelessness and decided to take advantage of the situation by giving a rather exaggerated description of the dancing girls who would definitely be invited to the party and what all they will do including a special private dance for the groom.
Geet was flabbergasted and Annie left with a mischievous smile on her face.
--
Maan was disinterestedly walking around in the party, mechanically replying to the wishes and jokes coming his way. The host appointed by Arjun announced the special surprise, which to nobody's surprise was going to be a dance by some half-clad girls. Most of the attendees forgot about him as they gathered around the dance floor to make the most of the opportunity. At this stage of life, it was not possible for Maan to feel excited about this teen-age entertainment. But if Geet came to know about the dance, she would go bonkers. He smiled as he recalled the moments when even the simplest hint of the attention from women for him had made her go green. She is as possessive as he is. Suddenly he felt a strong urge to be with her, to hold her in his arms, to kiss her. And then pushed more by this urge of his than the wish of avoiding the party, he sneaked out.
--
"Geet kar di na tune phir wahi baat. Aa bail mujhe maar," Geet was blabbering as she paced up and down in her room.
"Woh to mana kar rahe the jaane ko. Tujhe hi samaj seva karne ki padi thi. To ab bhugato. Pata nahin woh ladkiyan party mein kya kar rahi hongi. Aur Maan? Nahin - mujhe un par to bharosa hai, par ladkiyon par nahin. Waise bhi ye Delhi ki ladkiya kaise chipakti rahti hain unse. Babaji - ab main kya karoon? Aap hi kuchh raasta dikhaiye na."
"Haan - ye theek hai. Main phone kar ke unhein bol deti hoon ki woh wapas aa jayen. Koi party attend karne ki zaroorat nahin hai."
"Nahin. Ye achchha nahin lagega. Aur phir woh mera bahut mazaak udayenge."
She stopped pacing, held the rod of the bed and stood facing away from the door, "Babaji. Ab aap hi kuchh kijiye aur unhein party se wapas bhejiye."
Maan walked up to her from behind and covered her eyes with his hands. Without even touching his hands, she recognized him, "Maan."
She knew his touch so well and was so comfortable with it. She wasn't even startled. He smiled again recalling the old days, when even an accidental pull on her dupatta or a touch on her hand would push her to the edge of nervousness. They had come a long way.
He left her eyes and she turned around to face him.
"Aap yahan kaise?"
"Kyon? Abhi to tum apne Babaji se kah rahi thi ki main party se wapas aa jaun. Aur woh to tumhari har baat maante hain, hai na?" Maan teased her.
"Aap chhup -chhup kar meri baatein sun rahe the," Geet pretended to be irritated to hide her embarrasment.
"Ye lo. Main kahan chhipa tha. Main to saamne darwaze par khada tha. Tum hi apne Babaji se baat karne mein itni busy thi ki meri or dekha tak nahin."
"Aap meri taang mat khinchiye. Aap party se wapas kyon aa gaye?"
"Kyon? Tumhein achcha nahin laga? Theek hai main wapas chala jaata hoon," he pretended to be offended and turned to leave.
She held his hand, "Maine ye to nahin kaha."
"Lekin tumhari baaton se to yahi lag raha hai ki tum chahti ho ki main party mein jaun. Pahle bhi tumne hi mujhe wahan bheja tha. Main to nahin jaana chahta tha."
"Par ye party to ladke bandhnon mein bandhne se pahle apni aazaadi ki khushi manane ke liye karte hain na? Phir aap kyon nahin karna chahte ye party?"
Maan turned around, held her at the shoulder and spoke with emotions and seriousness, "Geet. Ye shaadi sirf duniya waalon ke liye aur tumhare liye hai. Taki log kabhi hamare rishte par ungli utha kar tumhein pareshaan na kar sakein. Jahan tak mera sawaal hai Geet, maine apne aap ko is bandhan mein bahut pahle baandh liya hai. Tumhari maang bharne se bhi pahle. Mujhe to pata bhi nahin chala tha Geet ki kab maine apni zindagi, apni taqdir, apni khushiyan sab tumse jod di thi. Aur jab pata chala, tab ehsaas hua ki is bandhan ke pahle meri zindagi mein khushiyan thi hi kahan, jo main unhein celebrate karne liye party karoon? Aur azaadi? Is bandhan ne mujhe jitni azaadi di hai, woh meri zindagi mein pahle kabhi nahin thi Geet? Hansne ki azaadi, khush rahne ki azaadi, zindagi jeene ki azaadi! Geet - meri zindagi mein jo kuchh bhi achchha hai, jo bhi hansi hai, jo bhi khushi hai, woh sab tumse hai Geet. Is bandhan ke alawa mere paas celebrate karne ki liye aur kuchh nahin hai. Lekin duniya meri in khushiyon ko nahin samajh sakti Geet. Unke paas tum jo nahin ho. To ye to sirf hum dono hi celebrate karenge."
Geet was overwhelmed with emotions as she heard his monologue. Their bodies naturally moved for a hug. In the process Maan moved her hair away from her shoulder and planted a kiss there. She shivered, but made no attempt to free herself. Maan felt her shivering and smiled as he embraced her into a bone-crushing hug. His intensity was limited only by the concern for their baby.
- The End -
If you liked this, you may also like my earlier OSes
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