FF ~A Midsummer Night's Dream~epilogue pg 45

The Phalgun brought with it the colours of the sun. The sleepy winters had broken to the spring bringing forth with it the warmth of the sun and the freshness of the flowers. The dusk had mitigated and the sun sank beneath the horizon slowly diminishing in the sand bed. The temple bells ceaselessly tinkled, the first pale stars chuckled out in the night sky littering the heavens with its magnificent hues. He slipped his feet inside the golden embroidered mojri, the delicate strings of golden thread weaved with hanging pearls tinkled and bounced as his feet tapped on the slippery and cool marble floor. It's been five years, five long years since he had seen her. He knew she was his destiny and she was his. A huge smile of glory and victory ran across his face as he carefully glanced at his reflection adorning the long corridor, as he walked towards his room. The place lights were swung and the last count of the hour was accompanied by the playing of drums and cymbals cheering his glory. For five years, he had dreamt about this. For five long years, her face had never left her, for five long years, he tossed and turned relentlessly every night tormented by her thought. For five long years, her smile had not left him. But now the wait was over. He rubbed his palms anxiously his feet tapping through the hallway. The pearl strings were hanging jauntily from his neck and   his Sword swayed in his hand and the huge jewel in his bright red turban was shining brightly. His heart hammering beneath his bosom as every step he took increased his anxiety to see her and hold her in his arms. A delectable shot of enthusiasm ran through his veins and his confused yet firm resolute steps led him to the huge door, intricately carved and painted in hues of gold with ruby embellishments. It seemed to him, as if he had been walking through centuries. It's been ages he had seen her but he could sense the same thrill in his body remembering her smile that could have captured the hearts of even the most barbaric souls, even a cruel one like Jalaal's.

The door slammed opened with a bang, so did his heart missed a beat. Sweaty beads threaded on his forehead. Who knew the Prince of the whole country, the heir to the throne, the valiant soul, the one whose sword could slay the mightiest and still not waver, would flutter and flip at the thought of going to his room. He peeped inside, his eyes obliquely set, his face widening an inch with a smile and his bewitching eyes enthralled by the ambience of the place. Everything was just as he had imagined. His huge room lit up with the candles and earthen lamps, the haze of the sandalwood incense sticks filled his heart with amorous fancies rekindling in hi the same spark as it was five years ago, when he had first laid his eyes upon her. The flower linings hanging like canopy over his round bed spread with rich silks from Persia swayed and sashayed with the tiny gust s of wind entering through a jharonkha. His heart felt a loud thud...There she sat,there she sat right there in front of his eyes,the one who tormented her since last five years.The one who had left him with a sting and had withdrawn herself from him. The beautiful bride in red, covered in veil sitting amidst the rich backdrop of his gorgeously decorated wedding bed. Seconds maybe minutes passed in STUPOR, Was this for Real? He pinched himself hard, trying to regain his consciousness which seemed entrapped in the figure that sat in front of him, her knees curled up near her bosom hugged by her hands which conjoined together, fingers entwined. The wind was blowing in fitful gentle puffs carrying with it the fragrance of the damp khus curtains on the window. She sensed his eyes upon her causing her to stiffen a bit as she pulled her knees even more closer to herself, her glittering red bangles tinkling at her gesture. He suddenly became dry mouthed, clueless at what need to be said or done at that moment. Though the weather was awesomely pleasant with the winds blowing and dashing across his bosom, yet his forehead was adorned by tiny sweat beads .He was very nervous and afraid. Moonlight  basked the already dimly lit room, adding a silvery sheen to the olive green silken bed  sheets which creased and crumbled due to the constant curling of her toes as she nervously sat on his the bed waiting for him. His aimless eyes glanced upon the warm glass of milk kept on a side table and his nervousness compounded manifold. He was in terrible dilemma. He was breathing heavily as the time ticked on. With each tick his impulsive heartbeat fastened its pace, as he removed his mojris and walked towards her, his feet fell on the fluffy, golden Persian rug beneath which tickled him in the best possible way. PERFECT!! He sighed this was what he had imagined every day. But now when she was here sitting adorned with heavy bridal jewellery...Jadau necklace,beautiful bangles,Tiny anklets, mangtika, Huge nose ring, beautiful jhumkas, peeping through her semi-transparent sequined veil his  big bright eyes fluttered more and more in nervousness than confidence .He watched her stiffen some more as he walked towards her,his eyes glued to her petite form.She was a slender woman when he had left her ,but now her curves fuller and more alluring dimpled her translucent gold embellished red veil. His heartbeats quickened as he was mesmerized by the very essence of her. . He soon realized the distance between them was diminishing. It was then he recognizes that it was he that was walking towards her. His feet stopped him all of two arm lengths away. He could now see her in her full splendour.

As if orchestrated, he took the remaining step forward when suddenly, he found the earth beneath him shattering to pieces and even before he could realise he had hit the ground toppling over a huge gold plated brass flower vase which rolled along with him causing the huge palatial room echo with a smothered bass. He was horrified and flabbergasted. His ears heard a   rustling, followed by the tinkling of anklets, and before he knew a touch so deep and thrilling overwhelmed him. Her fingertips were cool on his warm flushing tanned skin and there he saw her standing near him and holding his head. Blood in his vein congealed and a shot of excitement ran through his mind as he stared her slender fingers adorned with threads of pearls extending her hands towards him.

A deep sense of happiness carried him away and he flustered and touched her palms, fingers interlocked and suddenly in quest to get up holding her hand he slipped again this time falling flat on the ground.

"Hahaha", Peals and Peals of her crystalline laughter echoed in the silence of the night and Jalal just wobbled in excitement. The voice of her laughter brought him back from his short spell and he stared at her annoyed, His beautiful wife laughing away in full glory looking at his miserable plight.

Embarrassed he got up brushing off his clothes and stared at her deep and hard. Her giggle was unstoppable, laughing her guts, she took him back in time…Her giggle was just the same as he had first met her five years ago, The same shrill, the same pitch and the same wobbling laughing her heart out.

She placed her hand on her mouth and giggled again.

That was it...He could not take it any longer and her continuous giggle annoyed him to the core…A wife needed to respect her husband and that too a prince.Anger overpowered him and he grabbed her shoulders digging his fingers deep into her porcelain skin of the arms taking her by shock and shaing her violently,"Ismein itna hansne ki kya baat hai hmmm…"

Pulling her closer, he squeezed her arm, making her shriek in pain. Suddenly a gust of wind blew hard and her veil got off from her face forcibly and the fragrance laden wind, just extinguished all the candles in the room leaving both of them plunged into darkness. The silence in the room was scary and before he could react, the gap between their bodies were sealed as she just snaked her arms around him and clutched him hard and hugging him with all her might. A sudden light flashed in front of his eyes and everything just went blank for him. His heartbeat stopped and he almost froze with a sudden wave of need. She was there in his arms, His beautiful bride, shivering in nervousness scared of the dark, holding in her slender fingers the collar of his sherwani crumpled in her grip. He felt giddy headed as his hands embraced her unconsciously and then years of loneliness, the years of yearning and the years of wait all ceased to exist that very moment. His hands crawled up her back, making her shiver and then traced its way in the lengths of her hair which were kissing his palms. A sudden realization dawned upon her and she parted from him with a jolt. He could see her eyes and lips as the prodigal moonlight streamed through the window. He knew not what trapped him but suddenly he held her shoulders again. He watched her eyes dance and twinkle and he deciphered a long story that needn't a single spoken word. Staring deep into her eyes, he almost lost count of time. The wind tossed the limp curls around her face which shined in the impudent moonlight .Jalaal was STUNNED, MESMERIZED AND DAZED. Hair the deep shade of auburn, like the purple grapes viewed at midnight, eyes like the fire of diamonds and plump lips like the winter cherry. Jalaal stood there his eyes left wide open without even blinking his eyelids .She looked back at him .His eyes speaking about his desires. She lowered her eyes embarrassed; the sudden found shyness sent him into throes of ecstasy. He held her chin and made her look at him. Her eyelids still lowered. He could now feel her exotic fragrance. It was the same, yes the same, like the juhi flowers blooming at midnight.That lingering fragrance was the same when he had met five years ago and had lingered in his mind since years. He held her close, moved his face closer to her and she suddenly placed her hands on his bosom,"Ji wo dudh...pehle…" her tinkling voice reached his ears making him smirk.He could not rest any longer. Her sweet breath fanned his face as she spoke evoking in him urges beyond his comprehension. Without wasting a second, he lifted her in his arms glancing at her petite frame scooped in his strong muscular arms. A grin spread across his face as she saw her face blush with flattery and aspiration. With a few steps he walked towards the bed when suddenly he felt as if he could not lift her weight and fell down with a huge crash. .His chin was lying flat …and everything went blank…..

He opened his eyes with a jolt. The room was not where he was standing; it was not dark but brightly lit with the glass chandeliers hanging from the gold painted ceilings. His body broke in a cold clammy sweat realizing where he was. Sitting on the mattress on the floor adorned with silk robes and cushions, he was there right there in a huge hall, where he had fallen asleep. A deep sense of guilt dawned upon him. HE HAD BEEN DREAMING DOZING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS COURTROOM, TIRED OF ALL THE CEREMONIES THAT TOOK PLACE SINCE THE WHOLE DAY. He wiped the sweat from his face with the red silk cloth and heaved a huge sigh of relief that no one really noticed what he did. The lights had been swung and the gusts around sipped alcohol from the intricately etched silver chalices. His glass was right there is front of him; he had not even taken a sip. The huge velvet fans swayed by his side by the servants wafted the silk curtains beside him touching his shoulders. The hem of her dress rolled in a conical flare and her gunroom laden feet seduced the hearts of the gathering, as it thumped and played with the floor. She swayed around to the tunes of the sarong and the flute while the royal artist sang the finest thumri

Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Youn hi pehlu mein baithe raho 
Youn hi pehlu mein baithe raho 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Haaye mar jaayenge hum to loot jaayenge 
Aisi baatein kiya na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 

The fine hands of the courtesan rolled around and her brows arched sending everyone in wonders as they sipped the alcohol, but Jalaal looked disinterested. The whole gathering, the celebration for the homecoming of his bride after 5 long years did not interest him anymore. The whole scenario just tested his patience. His eyes moved around looking at his father-the King Humayun who sat on the glittering throne and beside him was the Wazir Bairan Khan .The richly orated golden curtains swayed back and forth with the breeze. Everyone's temperament seemed to be high strung except him who was restless now.

Tum hi socho zara kyun na roke tumhe 
Jaan jaati hai jab uth ke jaate ho tum 
Jaan jaati hai jab uth ke jaate ho tum 
Tumko apni kasam jaan-e-jaan 
Baat itni meri maan lo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Haaye mar jaayenge hum to loot jaayenge 
Aisi baatein kiya na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 

The glass chandeliers were brightly lit up with candles and faraway behind the transparent curtains sat amidst the bunch of ladies veiled was his life,the one who tormented him in his dreams every now and then. She sat there surrounded by his Dai ma Mahamanga and his sister Husna who giggled and whispered occasionally in her ears which made her stiffen again. She sat there just as he had seen her in his dream ,Princess Jodha ,curled up like a ball  ,frozen like a statue. Jalaal peeped hard trying to catch a glimpse of her .His eyes all over her frame. The gust of wind made the silk tissue golden curtain sway and all that his eyeballs could grab were her slender fingers entwined with each other and the slender stands of pearls which adorned them. Equally bright were her glistening tiny feet adorned with Alta which nervously moved .His heart flipped as he saw her stiffen a bit sensing his eyes upon her…..A smirk again ran across his face which lit up.

Kitna masoom rangeen hain yeh sama 
Husn aur ishq ki aaj meraaj hai 
Husn aur ishq ki aaj meraaj hai 
Kal ki kisko khabar jaan-e-jaan 
Rok lo aaj ki raat ko 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Youn hi pehlu mein baithe raho 
Youn hi pehlu mein baithe raho 

He stared at her deep and hard but she turned her face away fuelling his already simmering anxiety and anger. He gritted his teeth in frustration. The whole day had been eventful tiring and exhausting him and his ecstasy of his dream of leaving him unsatisfied made him boil with anger.
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Haaye mar jaayenge hum to loot jaayenge 
Aisi baatein kiya na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 

The courtroom echoed with cheers and claps. The courtesan moved around and suddenly the hem of her dress slapped his cheeks. He reached the barometer of his patience and anxiety and harshly grabbed the dupatta startling everyone and he roared loudly, "Band karo yeh sab tamasha ab bahut ho gaya. Hum bahut jyada thak gaye hain….",

The music came to halt and everyone looked shocked ,including the bride who sat there frozen. Stomping his feet in anger, the prince walked away and the rest giggled and whispered in hushed tones…

"Aaaj ki mehfil  yehin barkhasta ki jati hai….aap sabhi se darkhwasta hai ki dawat ka maza lein ….",King Humayun announced trying to ease the situation .Husna pressed her shoulders gently and giggling whispered in her ears, "Lagta hai Bhabhi..Bhaijaan se sabra nahi ho raha hai….".The words of Husna sunk inside the bride's ears and she froze again with fear.