Part 15B
Tera Haath Haath Mein Ho Agar. .
Tuesday 2 September 2014
11.00 am
Delhi Marriage Registry Office I
shita sat in one of the waiting rooms at the Delhi Marriage Registry, Ruhi and Rinki on either side of her. Mihir and Neel stood nearby while Bala was pacing nervously around the room.
She had arrived at the Registry some 15 minutes ago, after meeting Bala at a shopping mall close by. She had been nervous when she arrived, desperate to catch a glimpse of Raman, wondering what he would think of her outfit, how he would react to his first glimpse of his bride. She knew that his wedding with Shagun had been an elaborate affair, and she wondered what thoughts were going through his mind this morning - would he compare her to Shagun? Compare this austere ceremony to the pomp and pageantry of his first nuptials? Would there be regrets in his heart for what could have been? Or was he as excited about the future as she was?
What he was thinking was to remain a mystery to her for a little longer however. For while Ruhi, Rinki, Mihir and Neel were already in the waiting room, Raman was no where to be seen. He had to rush out for something, Mihir had explained, he would be back soon.
So Ishita had waited. And as she waited her nervousness grew. Her cheeks were flushed a delicate pink and tiny beads of sweat appeared on her delicately made up face. She pulled at the pallav of her sari, and bit her matte Ruby lips, her heart thudding faster each minute that he did not come.
She had been pacing nervously in the room before Ruhi had pulled her to sit beside her and her Rinki bua, grabbing at her Ishima's hand.
"Don't worry Ishima. Papa aa jaayenge" {Don't worry Ishima. Papa will come}
"I know beta" Ishita clasped Ruhi's hand tenderly, before pressing a kiss on her palm. She thought guiltily that she was transferring her anxieties to Ruhi, and forced a smile onto her face "Meri beti beautiful lag rahi hai aaj" {My daughter looks beautiful today}
"Sachi Ishima?"{Truly Ishima?}
"Sachi. Bilkul little lady lag rahi hai aap" {Truly. You look like a little lady}
"
Thats because I am a lady"
Ruhi jumped up and pirouetted in her anarkali. Her outfit reflected the colours of Ishita's sari - white lace with a red border and red churidaars. Her dupatta was also red and her red and white bangles matched Ishita's Chooda. She had a white gajra wrapped around her hair, which was tied in a miniature jooda again just like her Ishima. Her matching tiny jhumkas swung around her face as she whirled in glee.
"Ruhi, beta, calm down, you'll fall down" Mihir grabbed his niece in a tight hug, and then looked adoringly at her as she ran to the door to let the sunlight fall on the glass work in her dupatta. Mihir motioned to Rinki, who stood up and moved over to Ruhi, capturing her attention away from her Ishima.
He then turned to Ishita, his voice soft. "Ruhi is right bhabhi, Bhai aa jayenge. Don't worry."
"Lekin Mihir, why did Raman go?" Bala asked, a frown creasing his forehead.
"I told you jeeju, I mean Bala, we picked up Ruhi and Rinki and got here. Then the next minute he jumped back into the car and said he had forgotten something really important and he would be back. And I was holding his phone, so we can't even call him."
It was almost time for Raman and Ishita's appointment with the Registrar, and as the clock struck 11.00, her anxiety intensified. "It's time" she thought to herself. "What if he's changed his mind? What if he's decided he doesn't really love me anymore? What if something's happened to him? "
She hadn't realised that she had whispered her doubts out aloud until Mihir grabbed her hand, kneeling beside her.
"Bhabhi" he said firmly "kuch nahi hua Bhai ko, and he hasn't changed his mind. He will be here. Don't worry."
Ishita grasped Mihir's hand gratefully. On her arrival, Rinki had just been starting to help her wear the Chooda when Mihir had walked up to them. "Rinki, mujhe do" he had said. "Bhabhi" he continued, looking unwaveringly at Ishita. "Meri koi behen nahi hai. Kya aaj mein aap ka chota bhai ban kar, aap ke liye yeh kar sakta hoon? {Rinki, give it to me. Bhabhi, I don't have a sister. Can I be your younger brother today and do this for you?}
Ishita had been touched by the sincerity in his voice and his eyes. She had extended her hands and he had slid on the Chooda, before attaching the kalire to them.
"Mihir" she said now, tremulously. "Lekin woh kahan..." {Mihir, but where is he...}
"Raman Bhalla aur Ishita Iyer" the booming voice of the Registry attendant interrupted her. Her voice died in her throat and she stood up nervously, still holding on to Mihir's hand.
"Ab kya hoga Mihir? Raman isn't here yet." Her voice rose in panic. {What will happen now Mihir?}
"Bhabhi, mein dekhta hoon" {Bhabhi, I'll see}
Neel said reassuringly, moving towards the registry door, even as Bala and Mihir clustered protectively around Ishita. "Raman" Ishita whispered. "Kahan ho aap?"{Raman. Where are you?}
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11.00am
Inside Raman Bhalla's car
"Damn. Damn this bloody traffic." Raman Bhalla thumped his hand furiously on the steering wheel of his luxury car, which was currently stuck in traffic some minutes away from the Registry.
Mihir and he had arrived at the Registry well ahead of time, after having picked up Rinki and Ruhi on the way.
A thought had been nagging him all morning, a feeling that he had forgotten something really important. What it was had only clicked though when they arrived at the actual venue.
The wedding ring. He had forgotten to buy Ishita a wedding ring. This may be a wedding with few trappings and scant ceremony, but how could he have forgotten that one small item which truly symbolised marriage. More so than the engagement ring, this was truly the symbol that the deal was sealed, the public affirmation of the fact that they would now be one, joined to each other for ever.
And so he had jumped back into his car, calling out that he would be back soon, and had sped away, not even realising that his mobile was with Mihir, anxious only that he not mess up his Ishita's special day by his forgetfulness.
He had located a shopping mall close by and had managed to find a simple gold band studded with diamonds, understated and elegant, just like his Ishita. He had then remembered that he also needed to buy her a mangalsutra. He had almost decided on a design when a thought had struck him. "What do South Indian brides wear?" he asked the helpful assistant. A few minutes later, he had selected a thalli, and had rushed back to his car with his spoils. All in good time.
And then he had fallen victim to Delhi's infamous traffic.
Now as he sat fuming in his car, he glanced at his watch and was horrified to see the time. 10.55. Five minutes to go. Ishita would be frantic, what would she be thinking? Imagining?
He wound down the car window and looked out. The high domed roof of the Registry looked tantalisingly close, but the traffic showed no sign of abating. Well, he couldn't expect his bride to wait. He pulled out of the traffic, parking in the courtyard of a adjacent shop. Then, shoving some cash into the hands of the startled security guard, and shouting to him to look after the car, Raman Bhalla peeled off his jacket and started to run. ********************************************************************************************************************
11.05 am
Registry Office "Bhabhi, I spoke to the Registrar. He said they will wait for fifteen more minutes, then the Registrar has to leave at 12.00 to attend an off location wedding. If they don't start by 11.20, it will be too late and we will have to take another appointment. Bhabhi?"
"Ishima, kya hua?"
"Ishita, I'll kill that Raman Bhalla when I see him. How dare he? How could I have allowed this?"
"Bhabhi. Please, Bhai aa jayenge. Please don't worry."
Ishita brushed aside the well meaning voices that crowded around her. Her heart sinking, each nerve in her body protesting, she put up a hand to ward everyone off.
"Please" she said stiffly, holding back her tears "let me be. I... I just need some time alone." And then she turned on her heels and walked out of the waiting room, into the courtyard. ********************************************************************************************************************
11.15 am
Courtyard Raman came running into the courtyard of the Registry Office, his jacket in one hand, his breath coming in gasps, his heart in his mouth.
Their allocated time had been 11.00 am. Was he too late? He was not too worried about the Registrar, Neel would be able to handle that, but what about Ishita? What must she be thinking of him? Would she have waited? Or ... no, the alternative was unthinkable.
He ran up to the stairs leading to the main entrance to the office, and then stopped suddenly.
She stood before him, a vision in white and red.
Her white lace saree was moulded to her curves, the deep red on the wide border, pallav, and her cap sleeved blouse a stark contrast. Her luscious locks had been tied up in a severe bun, softened by the strands of white gajra wound around it. Red and white choodan covered her arms from wrist to elbow and the kalire twinkled in the breeze as she put a hand up to her soft ruby lips. He could see henna designs on her feet, and she had on a maang tikka which matched the jhumkas dangling from her delicate ear lobes.
She looked elegant and understated but she looked every inch a bride. His bride. And she had tears in her eyes. Big fat tears which were spilling down her creamy cheeks, brushing past her coal black lashes. Tears because of him.
He started up the stairs as she came running down.
"Kya hua aapko?" Her eyes blazed through her tears, as she pulled at his collar. "Kahan gaye theh aap? Itni der kyun kiya? I thought.,. I thought..." {what happened to you? Where were you? Why did you take so long? I thought...I thought...}
"
Ishita, Ishita, calm down jaan. Mein hoon yahan, I'm sorry I'm late" he tried to pull her into his arms, but she pushed him off. "No, kyun kiya aisa? I thought..." { No, Why did you do this? I thought...}
"
What did you think Ishita? That I wouldn't come. That I didn't want to marry you? Is that what you thought?" He disregarded her attempts to push him away and grabbed her hands in his, locking his fingers around her wrists like a vice, pulling her into his arms.
"Yes" she whispered.
"Paagal" he responded. "Bilkul paagal ho." {Mad. You're completely mad}
"Kahan gaye theh? {Where did you go?}
"Ring bhul gaya thah na yaar. Toh woh laane ..." {I forgot the ring yaar. I went to get that...}
"Raman, ring ka kya fayda agar hum shaadi hi nahi kar paate?"{Raman, what's the use of the ring if we can't get married?}
Her tears had stopped flowing and she looked critically at him, his face grimy with the dust from Delhi's streets, his silver tie askew. "Kaun kehta hum shaadi nahi kar sakte?"{Who says we can't get married?}
"Bhai, Registrar kahe ga agar hum jaldi gaye nahi." {Bhai, the Registrar will say it if we don't go quickly}
Mihir's amused voice interrupted their embrace, causing Ishita to move back out of Raman's arms. "Chal Bhai, aap zara apni chehra ko saaf karlo. Bhabhi, aap Rinki ke saath jao aur yeh asoon poch lo. Yaar Neel, tell the Registrar, this shaadi is on." {come Bhai, you clean your face a little. Bhabhi, you go with Rinki and wipe your tears. Neel, tell the Registrar this wedding is on!!}
And Mihir and Rinki led the slightly dishevelled bride and groom away to where their destiny had brought them.
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11.30 am
Registry Office His hold tightened on her hand as they sat across from the Registrar.
The Registrar had just finished explaining the legal ramifications of marriage to them.
"Are you entering into this marriage of your own free will, without any force or coercion, Ms Iyer?"
"Yes" she said, her voice firm, her eyes shining.
"And you Mr Bhalla?"
"Yes, of course. I mean Jhansi ki Rani ne thoda bahut force kiya magar..." His voice died down in the face of the stern disapproval radiating off the Registrars face. {Jhansi Ki Rani did force me a little but...}
"Yes" he repeated meekly.
"Are there any objections?" The Registrar asked the attendant, who shook his head. "No sir"
"Very well" the Registrar said, unbending a little as he glared at the gathered crowd. "I believe there are some rituals that you want to perform? Please go ahead."
Raman and Ishita stood up, their hands still clasped together. They looked up at the same instant, catching each other's eyes, and Ishita lowered her gaze shyly.
"Ab kya sharmana?" he teased her, as Ruhi came slowly up to them, her little arms full of the two elegant slim red and white garlands that Rinki had just handed to her. {It's too late to be shy now}
"Ishima, Papa, take it please, kitni heavy hai." she said with a pout.
"Is ki kya karoon Ruhi?' Raman asked, finally relinquishing Ishita's hand as he bent down to his daughter. {What do I do with this Ruhi?}
"Uff o papa, aap kitne buddhu ho. Aap Ishima ko garland karo aur Ishima aap ko" Ruhi gave her father a long suffering look. {you are so dumb papa. You garland Ishima and she'll garland you}
"Theek hai, aisa hi karte hai" He took one of the garlands from Ruhi and gestured to Ishita, who took the other, ruffling Ruhi's hair as she turned around again to face Raman. {Allright then, that's what we"ll do}
"Pehle aap" he said softly as she stood before him with shy eyes, a soft smile on her face.
The room and the others in it seemed to fade away as she raised her eyes to his. The Registrar and his attendants, Neel with his camera, the smiling faces of Mihir and Rinki, the slightly nervous face of Bala jeeju, even the little bundle of joy that was Ruhi. All that remained was him. Raman. Her Raman.
She lifted the garland and slipped it over his head then closed her eyes as she felt him slide the matching garland over her head. The flowers seemed to caress her face as they slipped down to nestle around her shoulders, the petals sending shivers through her.
"Mihir, the ring" she heard Raman's voice, sexy authoritative, the voice of a man who knew what he wanted and who was going to get it. Another delicious shiver ran down her spine and she opened her eyes to see him extend his hand toward hers. The next moment, he had her hand firmly in his, sliding a slim gold diamond studded ring above her engagement bauble.
He bent towards her, his face close to hers.
"With this ring, I thee wed.
With my heart, I thee cherish
With my body, I thee worship" The vows were softly spoken, a mere whisper, just for her ears. There was no laughter in his voice, only passion.
Ishita clutched his hand tightly, her eyes swimming with tears, her heart flooding with love. He squeezed her hand once, then released it and stepped back as Bala approached, handing a ring to Ishita. He had bought it as the family's present to Raman, and Ishita had been deeply touched. Now she took it with trembling hands and took Raman's hand in hers again. "Mein hamesha aap ke saath rahoongi. Mein hamesha aap se pyar karoongi" she vowed as she slid the ring on his finger. His hand tightened around hers and she saw through her tears an answering sheen in his eyes. {I will always be by your side. I will always love you}
"Bhai" Mihir's voice intruded on their togetherness and Ishita became aware again of the happy faces surrounding them, the ubiquitous presence of Neels camera.
Mihir handed Raman the thalli and Ishita stared in surprise at it. "Raman" she whispered. "Yeh..."
"Tum punjaban ban sakti ho, toh mein bhi thoda madrasi ban sakta hoon, kyun?" He nodded to her choodan and kalire. {If you can become a Punjaban for me, I can surely become just a bit madrasi for you}
Bala had moved behind Ishita and supported her as Raman passed the thalli around her neck. A sudden sadness gripped Ishita. "It should be appa" she thought. "It should be appa holding me in his lap, appa giving me away in marriage." Then she looked at the man standing opposite her. Raman was tying a knot on the thread around her neck. His face reflected nothing but love. Ruhi stood by his side, clutching his legs, her eyes shining. "Appa will understand" Ishita thought, her heart lifting again. "Appa will be happy for me"
Raman had moved away after tying one knot and Bala called Rinki forward. Ishita smiled as Rinki stood behind her and tied two more knots to the thread.
Then she was being ushered back to the chairs before the Registrar, Raman beside her. She smiled tremulously at him, and he smiled back, a look of triumph, joy and love on his face.
"Ok?" He asked, as he pulled her chair forward for her.
"Hmm" she nodded, sitting down,
"Please sign here" the Registrar indicated the Register.
"Ishita Vishwanathan Iyer". She signed, her pen on the paper, her eyes gazing into his.
"Raman Kumar Omprakash Bhalla" He signed, smiling back at her.
He retook her hand the moment the signing was over, entwining his fingers with hers. They sat there, hand in hand, as the Registrar finally smiled at them.
"Congratulations Mr & Mrs Bhalla" he said. "You are now husband and wife"
.
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Tera haath haath mein ho agar
Toh safar hi asle hayaat hai
Tere har kadam pe hai manziley
Tera pyar agar mere saath hai
Meri baat ka mere hamnafaz
Tu jawab de na de mujhe
Teri ek chup mein hai chupi
Woh hazar batoon ki baat hai
Meri zindagi ka har ek pal
Teri husn se hai juda hua
Tere Hoonth thirke toh subah hai
Tere zulf bikhre toh raat hai
Tera haath haath mein ho agar
Toh safar hi asle hayaat hai
- Kabhi Kabhi
Part 15C: Jhooth Bole Kaunwa Kaate - pg 21
Edited by Veeann - 10 years ago
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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