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Swara stood shocked, completely bewildered by what had happened in the last few seconds. She was still on the high of reuniting her mother with her love, and finding out she has a sister and a family. There were little dark spots of her father’s parents not approving, Ragini’s initial reluctance to trust her and not to forget the antics of Laksh and his family.
But still she was happy, the moment her mother had only dreamed about, became reality even though Dida disapproved. She could understand, her father, in his cowardice, left her pregnant mother. Too afraid to stand up to his parents.
But she was happy for her mother. Happy for her half sister who was going to be engaged to a guy she liked. Laksh seemed like an okayish guy, capable of standing up to his family. But she was happy, she was content, she did not move in with Ghadodiyas like her mother, did not change her surname like her mother, still she was happy with her additional family.
She loved her Dida, her teachings, her Bengali roots, she was very happy but now. Why do men have to go and ruin every good thing, and not even a man but an immature guy who can’t tell someone’s head from its tail. Why? Why can't good things last? At least, dessert tak toh ruk jata? Par nahi sir ko abhi saare tamashe karne hain?
‘Mera hi dimag kharab tha jo family dinner ke han kar diya, isse achha toh dida ke saath fuchka khane chali jaati. Naa yahan hoti, naa iss Laksh ka dimaag phirta. Agar Ragini se shaadi nahi karni thi, toh pehle hi mana kar deta. Mujhe bich mein ghasitne ki kya zaroorat thi.’
She could feel the stares of Gadhodiyas and Maheshwari’s, she was still frozen from the shock. She could almost feel the tears welling in Ragini’s eyes. How to deal with this situation? Should she faint? Nahi, varna sab meri hi gale pe aa jaayega? Kya hai vo sabka favorite insult , han, characterless because fatherless?
She slowly looked around seeing the stricken faces of all the present, she could see the anger starting to bubble in her father’s and she knew sooner or later it will be directed at her. Because people who are cowardly in nature, vo gussa ussi pe nikalte hain jinpe bas chalta hai. Aur Laksh Maheshwari ko vo chune se rahe, at least jab tak vo damad nahi ban jata.
Then she thought about what she has to do, what she must do. Apne aap ko aur insult nahi hone de sakti, promise kiya hai aakhir usne. Sorry Laksh for what I’m about to do, but you brought this on yourself when you decided to peer pressure me in front of my whole family.
Before anyone could get over the proposal that Laksh Maheshwari had just dropped, everyone was again startled by the crisp and sharp sound of a Slap.
Swara Bose had just slapped the precious son of Maheshwaries.
“SWARA!” came multiple shouts at her audacity.
She turned to her family, her face marred by a frown line, “Was I wrong to hit him? Yesterday he got engaged to Ragini, my sister. And today he is saying he loves me”.
“But Swara….”, Laksh tried to say, still kneeling on the floor. He was kneeling to apologise for the hurt he had caused and then in the same breath proceeded to declare his undying love for her. Before he could utter any more rubbish, Swara cut him off.
“Get up first!”, she raised her voice. “Why are you still kneeling? Get up!”
Laksh, still in shock, stood up and tried to hold her hand, “Listen Swara…”
“Aa chori na jine degi mhaari laado ne”, Parvati said, but was largely ignored.
She shook off his attempts, her voice rising with each word, “Dur! Dur se baat karo. I don’t know tumhe kis angle se appropriate laga, especially Ragini ke saath tum aisa kaise kar sakte ho?”.
“Main usse pyaar nahi karta, toh kaise usse shaadi kar lun. Agar chup raha toh dono ki life barbaad ho jaayegi”.
“Tumhe ye engagement ke pehle yaad nahi aaya?”, Swara almost shouted at him, her hands raised to grab onto something, but she stopped, throwing her hands instead.
“Swara ye kya tarika hai baat karne ka?” Annpurna Maheshwari stepped up, not liking the Bengali girl’s attitude.
“Abhi koi beech me nahi bolega”, Swara snapped, then took a deep breath to calm herself down. “I am sorry aunty, par galti yahan aapke bete ki hai, aapki family ki. Aap mujhe kaise react karna hai ye aap dictate nahi kar sakti. Aaj bolne ka haq Ragini ka hai, ya uski family ka, kyunki aaj voh hurt huye hain”.
“Ek toh vo tumse shaadi karna chahta hai aur tum….”
“Annpurna ji, aap bhi uski badtammezi me uska saath de rahi hai”, Shekhar has finally found his voice apparently but Swara doesn’t need anybody now.
“Main usse shaadi nahi karna chahti”, Swara asserted, then turned to Laksh. “I will not marry you, for god’s sake, you are my sister’s fiance”.
Sujata standing on the side was silent for the first time when drama was unfolding in front of her eyes. ‘Ab milegi mhaare kaleje ko thandak, Laksh ki nasamjhi me humesha uska diya na thaane jiji, dekhlo natija. Mahare chhore ki khushiyan na de paya na je parivaar, je toh hona hi tha. Mhaare chora ke liye koi nahi bola, ab dekho kaise lad rhi hai sab se’.
“Swara, I really love you. Main na bohot kush rakhunga tumhe”, Laksh replied.
“Laksh, main aakhri baar keh rahi hoon”, Swara said, moving forward with deliberate steps. “Main….tumse…..shaadi….nahi….karungi!”.
“P..par tum mujhse py..”, he stuttered looking at her glaring eyes “pyaar karti ho na? I..I can feel it”.
“Tumhara dimaag kya kiraye pe de aaye ho”, Swara shouted at him. “You know what? Main yahan se jaa rahi hun. And you better apologise to Ragini properly and fix this”
She huffed out of there, into the bose house and very angrily slammed the doors shut.
****
Swara was huffing and puffing as she finished narrating the drama to her Dida. “Aushisht! Humari naati ko bolta hai vo Parvati. Maheshwari ka samne toh mooh nahi khulta hai. And that…that manipulative boy! Tumne itna help kiya uska jabki usne tumhare saath itna kuchh kiya, abhi bhi man nahi bhara uska”.
“Dida, Śānta ha'ō”, Swara said. “Phir Bp ki goli leni padegi”.
“Humko chhodo tum, mood dekho apna”, Dida chided her. “Jaake muh dhoke aao, hum dinner lagata hai. Drama ke saath dinner nahi kiya hoga na tumne”.
“Abhi aayi, mujhe call bhi karna hai ek”, Swara hugged and went off towards her room.
Both were unaware of the chaos that was unfolding in Ghadodhiya house. Laksh has somehow convinced his mother Annpurna that he really does love Swara, and she too loves him and only refused him in order to not hurt Ragini and her family.
Parvati and Shekhar thundered at the Maheshwari’s as much as they could, as Durga Prasad Maheshwari was still the Samaj head. Maheshwari’s left to discuss this matter privately.
Swara was enjoying ice cream for dessert, unaware that Laksh had convinced Ragini to help him, giving an oath on their friendship. Ragini with great reluctance and heartbreak agreed.
In the Maheshwari mansion, a huge drama was unfolding. Annapurna was pleading with her husband to let Laksh marry Swara.
“Hum kaise haan kenden Annapurna”, the patriarch of the family asked. “Humara tamasha bana ke Laksh ka dil nahi bhara joh ab tum bhi uska saath de rahi ho”.
“Aur jiji, Swara bengali bhi toh hai”, Sujata interjected, even though her husband tried to silence her. “Na mhara matlab hai ki, Bangalan bahu lavanga ke”.
“Sujata sahi keh rahi hai. Hum samaj ke adhyaksh hai aur humara hi beta… Nahi hum ye kabhi nahi hone denge”.
“Parji, swara sirf Bangalan nahi, marwadi bhi hai. Shekhar ji ki beti hai vo… Laksh itne din ghar se bahar raha hai, ab toh sudhar gaya hai”
“Jimmedari nahi hai usme kissi cheeze ki”
“Jimmedari sikh jaayega shaadi ke baad, aap ek baar sochiye toh sahi”
“Papa main Laksh se baat karke usse samjha dunga, maa ye uski jidd hai bas. Aise faishle jaldbaazi me nahi lete hain”, Adarsh interjected, he did not want to witness what happened years earlier.
“Apne bete ki baat mano Annapurna. Arey Laksh toh yahan hai hi nahi apni baat humare saamne rakhne ke liye, chupa behtha hai baadi mein. Vahin, jiske ghar ki ladki aaj uski vajah se ro rahi hai”
“Isme sirf Laksh ki galti hai kya, Swara bhi toh….”
“Par Ma, Swara ne toh saaf inkaar kar diya hai, Laksh bhaiya se shaadi karne ke liye”, Parineeta bhabhi reluctantly spoke, clutching her pallu.
“Aap chinta mat kijiye bhabhi, mujhe pura yakeen hai ki voh bhi mujhse pyaar karti hai sirf Ragini ki vajah se keh rhi hai”, Laksh replied, entering the house.
“Par bhaiya….”
“Aur vo chhori Ragini ka ke”, Sujata asked. “Thaari sagaai hogai hai uske saath, tilak ho gya. Matlab jaane hai”
“Jaanta hun chachisa, lekin agar main usse shaadi kar leta hun toh vo khush rahegi?” he asked, getting agitated.
“Khush na rahegi, par samaj me badnaami toh na hogi”, Sujata replied.
“Hum samaj se darke toh nahi ji sakte na. Aur maine Ragini se baat karli hai”, Laksh said, trying to make her understand. “Voh samajti hai ki iss faisle se kitni zindagiyan barbad ho sakti hai”.
“Par Laksh, tumhari chachi baat toh sahi kah rahi hai, yeh samaj sagaai tooti hui ladki ko jeene nahi dega”, Durga Prasad interjected.
“Papa kisi ko nahi pata ki humari sagaai hui thi aur phir, Ragini ki shaadi main karwaunga, vo meri jimmedari hai”
“Tum khudki jimmedaari toh lelo pehle! Hum tumahri baat kyun maane? Kitna kama lete ho, khudko aur apni patni ko paal paoge?”
“Ji aap ye kya keh rhen hai? Hume bhi vo Swara kuchh khaas pasan nahi hai, dekha nahi kaise badtameezi se baat kar rhi thi”, Annpurna interjected. “Lekin Laksh ko usse pyaar hai, toh main tyaar hun….”
“Apni mamta ki aankhein kholo, kami Swara me nahi, tumhare bete mein hai. Laksh ne aaj tak kya aise jhande gaade hain…….”, DurgaPrasad sighed and sat down on the sofa, he then turned towards his wife who was stubbornly standing beside Laksh “Hum aur kuch nahi sunna chahte, Swara Bengali hai baat yahin khatam”.
Laksh came to stand in front of his father and knelt to look him in the eyes and plead with him, “Ab toh Shekhar uncle ki shaadi bhi ho gayi hai, Swara marwaadi hai papa. Voh bohot acchi ladki hai papa, maa please mujhe usse shaadi karni hai”, Laksh said, folding his hands, Annpurna came to the father-son duo and she too knelt down.
“Dekhiye ji, please maan jaayiye”, Annapurna pleaded.
Durgaprasad slumped back, seeing Annpurna folding her hands in front of him, she said, “Mere bachhe ki khushiyan…”
“Thik hai, tumhe joh karna hai karo Annpurna, tumhara beta hai. Par agar yeh rishtah unki taraf se nahi juda toh main kuch nahi kar sakta”
Laksh is now angry, first Swara’s rejection and now all this, “Aap kya ab Shekhar uncle ko dhamkaenge ya unhe blackmail karenge”.
He’s tired and frustrated. He abruptly stood up, “Rehne do maa, inse bheekh maangne se koi fayeda nahi hai. Inme dil hota toh samajhte na. Aakhir 5 saal pehle bhi toh….”
“LAKSH!”, Annpurna shouted, as everyone’s face turned to Laksh in sheer horror. “Kya keh rahe ho, kyun gade murde ukhad rahe ho”.
“Kya galat keh raha hun main maa, agar koi inki baat nahi maanega toh use ye ghar se nikaal denge”, Laksh too raised his voice. “Sanskar bhai ke saath bhi toh yehi kiya tha inhone”.
Laksh was slapped twice in the day, this time by his own mother, “Jiss baare mein pata nahi ho, tumhe bolne ka koi haq nahi hai. Voh apni marzi se chhod ke gaya tha”.
“Sanskar me agar himmat hoti toh humare saamne se ladta, yun kayaron ki tarah ghar se bhag nahi jata”, Durga prasad said, all tiredness gone, his voice hard. “Aaj toh uska naam le liya par aaj ke baad…”
“Kyun bhaisa?” Sujata’s voice trembled as her hand left her paloo, all the resentment she had been swallowing for years came bubbling out. “Kyun mhaare chhore ka naam nahi bola jaayega?”
“Sujata…”, her husband tried to stop her but she shook him off.
“Aur bhaisa, lada tha, yahin issi jagah mahinon tak gid gidaya tha aapke saamne. Pure ghar se lada tha, aur akele lada tha”, she then turned to her sister like bhabhi. “Sach bolo na jiji, kab gaya tha voh ye sab chhod ke. Jab uska daftar jaana band karva diya, kisi aur se jabardasti uski shaadi karave rhe the bhaisa”.
“Sujata shant ho ja… chup ho ja”, Ram prasad tried to hold her, but she shook him off forcefully, the frustration came bubbling out.
“Naa aaj main bolungi, mhaare chhore ka naam le kar lad rahen hain”, Sujata raised her voice, for the first time. Her eyes were welling up, throat was closing up but still she continued. “Mhaare seene me churiyan na chalti jab uska band kamra roz dekhti hun. Jiji se toh apne chhore ki judayi 5 din bhi bardasht na hui aur main 5 saal se reh rahi hun uske bina”.
“Koi na, sab bardasht kar liya, khali phone par awaaz sun ke kush ho jaati hun. Jinda toh hai mhaaro chhoro”, Sujata replied. “Par usko naam lekar apni baat kaise manga skate ho. Aur usse kaayar toh bilkul na keh sakte ho”.
She turned to Laksh, “Thare liye khush hun Laksh, thane ijjazat milgai na? Khush ho ja. Mhaare Sanskar ko toh nahi mili”.
“Sujata bas karo!”, Annpurna said. “Humne kabhi Sanskar aur Laksh me phark nhi kiya hai. Tum aise”.
“Main khush hun jiji, ki Laksh ko bhejna ka kaleja na hai bhaisa mein”, Sujata replied. “Swara ke liye main khud shagun leke jaaungi bas Sanskar ki yaadon ko toh mere liye chhod do”.
Sujata stormed out of the hall, up the stairs. They could hear the door slam after a few minutes.
“Bhabhisa, vo sanskar ka naam sunkar aape se bahar hogai”, Ram said after a few minutes of silence. “Aap shagun ki tyaari karo, subah tak sabh thik ho jaayega”.
Annpurna nodded in silent understanding as Durga Prasad left the hall after looking at all the sad faces in the hall. One by one everyone left, as they entered their room Parineeta suddenly smiled and said to Adarsh, “Abhi jaise chachi ne drwaja mara na, mujhe voh Swara ki yaad aa gayi”.
****
“...thanks for the ice-cream yesterday”, Swara’s voice was heard from the opposite terrace as Ragini opened the door to hers. Swara was talking with someone and skipping around the terrace. She had tried to talk to her multiple times but Swara shut it down the moment Laksh’s name came up.
Ragini was truly heartbroken after Laksh’s announcement yesterday, she had promised him she would get Swara ready at any cost today even though her heart was wrenching apart with every word he spoke. She cried her heart out to Dadi, who was cursing Swara and her modernity.
At first she wanted to defend Swara, but the more dadi spoke the more her resentment grew. Still she was ready to sacrifice everything, her life partner, her reputation. What she was not ready to see was Swara carelessly tossing Laksh while he was fighting his family for her.
“Surprise! Kya?”, Swara suddenly shrieked, she was still talking on her phone. “Are bolo na. Please, please, please with a cherry on top”.
“.......”
“Tumne Dida ko bata diya aur mujhe nahi?”, Swara said. “Accha let me guess, fuchka? Cake? Ooh Pizza?”
Swara still didn’t see her, hidden behind the clothing line. And she didn’t know what to do so she decided to just listen. “Kya matlab khane ke aage badho? You know na food is my life.”
“.......”
“Itna kya chhid rahe ho”, Swara replied, she could hear her silently giggling. “Agar yahan hote toh batati tumhe. Maar maar ke hadiyan ek kar deti tumhari”.
“......”
“Mera toh yehi tarika hai, tumhe bhi toh yehi dekh kar……”, Swara suddenly turned and saw her standing at the edge of the terrace. “Accha main baad me baad karti hun”.
“........”
“Han, pakka abhi bye bye”, Swara finally hung up. “Are Ragini aao na”.
“Nahi, main bas wait hi kar rahi thi tumhare call khatam hone ka”, she replied.
“Arey! Should have called out to me”, Swara answered, jumping over the wall towards Ragini’s side of the terrace. “So what’s up?”
“Humare sath chalo na swara, hume ek dress try karna hai par humse zip nahi ho raha hai”, Ragini asked, hesitantly.
“Chalo phir”, Swara replied. “Isme kya hesitate karna?”.
“Accha Swara….?”
“Han Ragini?”
“Tum apne kisi friend se baat kar rahi thi”.
“Aisa hi kuchh samajh lo”.
“Kafi acchi dost lagti hai, agar tum usse maarne ki baat kar rahi thi toh”, Ragini asked as they climbed down the stairs, going towards her room.
“Arey uss pagal ko meri maar khane ki ab aadat ho gayi hai”, Swara answered, following her inside her room, she was looking around her room. “Ab toh shayad miss karne lagah hai”.
“Ladka…?”Ragini paused, rummaging through her cupboard. She took out two dresses, a lehenga choli and a heavy suit.
“Haan, toh kya hua”, Swara replied. “Usse chhodo, ye pink suit bohot accha lagega tumpe”.
“Haan hum pehen ke aate hain”, Ragini then turned around and left for the bathroom.
‘Why does she get everything? It was me who always obeyed my elders, I know everything, I am cultured, educated, sanskari, always in my limits. Perfect daughter, grand-daughter. She is loud, defiant, doesn’t follow rules, is friends with boys, why, why? I have done everything that was expected of me and never asked for anything. For the first time in my life I wanted something, I wanted Laksh. How can she just swoop in and take him. How! Why?’
Ragini shook her head trying to stay positive, ‘No I have to be strong, I can do this. Maybe Laksh will realise that Swara is not for him.
She came out wearing the heavy suit, Swara helped her zip up. Swara was going to go from there, but Ragini stopped her. “Swara humare sath raho na, vo Maheshwari’s aa rhe hain”.
“Maheshwari’s? Kyun?”
“Vo baaki ki rasmon ke baare me baat karne”, Ragini replied, swara was surprised hearing that, itne drame ke baad they’re going ahead with the wedding. Then she turned and eyed her jeans and top and pushed her lehenga towards her. “Accha ye pehenlo phata phat”.
“Arey tum ready hov na, main kyun?” Swara asked bewildered.
“Voh hum itne saj dhaje hon aur tum jeans me. Please humare liye pehen lo”, Ragini replied.
“Accha thik hai lekin main abhi apni dress leke aati hun, tum itni patli hona mujhe fit hi nahi hogi”, Swara replied. ‘Ye pagal vagal hai kya, ho kya raha iss ghar me in?’
“Accha thik hai, lekin ready tumhe yehin hona hai”, Ragini said, continuing her make-up. Swara moved to go but stopped and looked at her hesitatingly. “Ragini, kal Laksh ne joh kuch kiya… uske baad bhi tum usse shaadi karna chahti ho?”.
“Nahi, par hum nahi tod sakte ye rishta. Papa baat karenge aaj unse”, Ragini replied, her hands clenched tightly. “Tum jaake dress lao na”.
Swara went out and Ragini threw off her stuff from the table in anger, ‘she really doesn’t want me to marry Laksh. Dadi was right.’
****
“Han, vahi wala, Ragini insisted toh isliye. Yahan hote toh dekh lete.”, Swara was talking on the phone as she again entered holding her pink and orange lehenga. “Phone rakho taiyaar hona hai”.
“Swara tum change karo hum aate hain”, with that Ragini went out to instruct her family. Sharmishta tried to tell everyone not to deceive her but they didn’t listen.
Maheshwaris entered and everyone greeted each other, only Sujata was silent in all this.
“Swara kidhar hai Ragini?”, Annapurna asked her.
“Mu… Auntiji voh Swara ko pata nahi hai iske baare mein, humne taiyar hone bola hai usse”, Ragini replied. As soon as she finished speaking, Swara came down trying to fix her dupatta. Adarsh nudged Laksh who was struck seeing her like this.
Swara stopped seeing everyone, and awkwardly greeted them. She stood in the corner but Ragini dragged her to sit beside her. She just shrugged at everyone’s weird behaviour.
Annapurna came to drape the ceremonial dupatta on Ragini but instead she draped it on Swara and before she could react tried to place a coconut in her hand.
Swara abruptly got up, making the coconut and the plate fall with a loud clang.
“Wha….? Yeh kya kiya aapne, auntie?”, Swara stammered, too overwhelmed, should she faint now, she really really wants to dramatically faint. “Ragini is the bride, not me”.
“Par Laksh ko tum chahiye”, Annpurna answered politely.
“Na vo bacha hai aur na main koi khilona”, Swara replied angrily. “Meri marzi ke bina aap ye kaise kar sakti hain”.
“Swara beta, humne marzi di thi….” Shekhar started but Swara stopped him.
“Meri shaadi ke baare me mujhse bhi toh koi puchh lo”, Swara then turned to her mother. “Maa apko pata tha na, phir bhi”.
“Shoru maine bohot samjhane ki koshish ki par koi mana hi nahi”.
“Ab manenge”, Swara removed the dupatta and threw it on the ground. Then she angrily stomped towards Laksh, “Apne chhote se dimaag me yeh baat daal lo, main tumse pyaar nahi karti. Samjhe?”
“Par ab problem kya hai? Sab toh maan gaye na”, Laksh said trying to calm her down, Sujata was just observing uninterested in the whole affair. Laksh's attempts just made her more angry.
“Problem ye hai ki itni simple si baat tumhaare pale nahi pad rahi. I don’t love you, and right now I don’t even like you as a friend”, before she could say anything further, loud dhols started playing in the baadi.
Swara glared at Laksh, “Agar tumne kuch publically karne ki koshish ki toh main tumhe chalne layak nahi chhodungi”.
She came out to yell at the dhol wales to go away, Dida too came out of the Bose house. Everyone followed Swara confused when they heard a shout, “SWARA BOSE!”
Swara, who was angry just now, suddenly became excited and ran towards the dhol walas as fast as she could, carrying her lehenga. Everyone was confused, ‘achanak ke hogya ye chhori ko’. But what happened next tilted their world completely, especially Laksh’s. Because Swara has run and leaped at the man standing in the middle of the baadi, dancing on the beats of the dhol wearing a three peace suit.
Her arms wrapped around his neck and his arms covered her whole back as he twirled her in the air, making for a shocking display of intimacy. Dida came and distributed the money to the dhol walas in happiness.
The man put her down and Maheshwaris were shocked to see their exiled son, Sanskar. Sharmishtha came forward running and stood with Dida, happy for them as Sanskar bent down to take their blessings and then stepped back to hold Swara’s hand.
“Best surprise ever!”, Swara exclaimed and again hugged him. Sanskar kept holding her as he playfully told her, “Ab tum dramatically faint ho sakti ho”.
Swara slapped his bicep playfully as he turned towards her small family.
Sanskar has still not noticed his family, he took Dida’s hand and signalled dhol walas to stop playing, then said very seriously, his voice soft, “Dida maine promise kiya tha na ki jis din aapki natin ko saari khushiyan de paaunga, uss din aaunga uska haath maangne. Aaj main aagya dida, mujhe ijjazet dijiye ki main usse shaadi kar loon”.
“Humara permission 5 saal pehle bhi tah tumhare saath”, Dida replied and turned him towards her grand-daughter. “Uss sherni se pucho humse nahi”.
Sanskar suddenly knelt down and everybody gasped in surprise, he ignored everybody and took out a solitaire ring. Swara’s hand flew to her mouth in shock “Meri Bengali sherni, bohot wait kar liya hum dono ne. Bohot hurdles aayi iss journey mein, par ab humare bich me kuchh nahi aayega. Kya tum humesha ke liya mujhe apna logi. Kya tum mujhse shaadi karogi? Will you marry me, Swara Bose?”
Swara nodded as her eyes teared up, she hugged him, and they both toppled over falling over each other on the ground.
“Yes?”, Sanskar asked, laughing.
“Thousand times yes, yes I will marry you Sanskar Maheshwari.”, the dhol wale started playing loudly as Dida shouted over music for Sharmishtha to bring sweets.
Sanskar got up and helped her up, he started dancing with her on the dhol beats pulling Dida with them as Sarmishtha fed them sweets.
Sharmishtha then fed the still bewildered members of Gadhodiya family, “Kabse samjhane ki koshish kar rahi thi aap sabko, par aap log sun hi nahi rahe the. Khair chhodo, chaliya na”.
With that she pulled Shekhar and Ragini to dance with her. Ragini didn't know what was happening, so she awkwardly started dancing with her parents. She glanced back at the frozen Maheshwaris. Laksh stomped forward, while Sujata Maheshwari hesitantly moved forward, everyone was frozen in shock.
Laksh moved forward with a purpose, Ragini was worried about what he was going to do next. But she made no move to stop him, he should see the reality now, Swara doesn’t deserve him. Laksh reached the dancing couple and separated them, Swara was surprised, the dhol walas stopped playing.
Everyone expected another drama, another accusation but were surprised when the angry Laksh suddenly hugged Swara’s new fiance. “Bhai! Bhai, you are here? Bhai, it’s been so many years. I missed you bhai”.
Sanskar, surprised for a minute, hugged him back, “Same old Lucky, I missed you too”.
Sujata stopped before him and her eyes turned glassy, Laksh broke the hug and she hugged him tightly as if he might vanish, “Mhaara chora! Mera beta, kitna yaad kiya maine tujhe”.
“Maa!”Sanskar, too emotional to form any word, just hugged her. “Mom, main aa gaya hun. Maa bas ab roa mat”
He then took Swara’s hand who was watching everything and brought her forward, “Mom, yeh Swara hai. Meri Swara”.
Sujata hugged them both tightly, she didn't care about anything. No culture can prevent her from giving her son his happiness. It’s been 5 years since she saw him properly, he can do whatever he wants, she doesn’t care that Swara is Bengali. She just wants her son to be happy.
She blessed both of them, then glanced back. “Parineeta, Adarsh, jiji. Dekho mhaara chora aaya hai”.
Her shout finally released the trance they were under, Adarsh rushed forward holding Parineeta, almost dragging her with him. “Sanskar!”
“Bhaiya!” Sanskar replied, moving forward to hug him. They shared those bro hugs before breaking it up. Adarsh brought Parineeta forward. “Ye teri bhabhi, Parineeta. Parineeta, ye ghar ka sabse hoshiyaar bacha, Sanskar”.
“Namaste devarji”
“Arey bhabhi, Sanskar kahiye na”, Sanskar replied. “Yeh hai meri mangetar, Swara Bose”.
Sanskar saw the rest of the elders, and reluctantly bent down to take their blessing. They reluctantly blessed him. Sanskar stood up again holding her hand, tilted his body so he was almost covering her, he stood protectively. Even though he knew, they couldn't do anything because Durga Prasad Maheshwari loved nothing more than his reputation.
Before anyone could say anything, Sanskar stepped forward, “Aap sab baadi mein kya kar rhe hain?”.
Before anyone could answer, Swara whispered something in his ear. Everyone tensed, they knew about Sanskar’s defiance and didn’t want him airing out all the dirty laundry in front of all these people. Nobody knows what went down in Gadhodiya house and they would like to keep it that way.
“Oh aap Laksh ke rishte ke liya aaye the”, Sanskar smiled. “Ragini se, right?”
Annapurna wanted to correct him, telling Sanskar they came for Swara not Ragini but Laksh interrupted, “Haan bhai, Ragini ka aur mera tilak ho gaya hai”.
“Congratulations Lucky”, Sanskar said, hugging him with one hand while still holding Swara’s with the other one. He then turned to the timid girl standing beside Sharmishtha ma, “Congratulations bhabhi”.
Laksh came and stood beside Ragini, startling her. “Bhai… vo hum… main chahta tha ki aap meri shaadi ke liye ghar aa jao. Of course pehle aapki aur Swara ki shaadi hogi. Aap bade hain na”.
“Lucky….” Sanskar started but was interrupted by Durga Prasad Maheshwari. “Laksh thik keh raha hai Sanskar. Tumhari-Swara ki shaadi aur Ragini-Laksh ki shaadi Maheshwari mansion se hi hogi. Itna sab kuch jab sabke samne ho hi chuka hai, ab aur aanch nahi aane denge Maheshwari naam pe”.
Shekhar, hearing this, went to righteously demand an explanation when Parvati Gadhodiya stopped him. She then patted Ragini’s head and whispered, “Laado apni daadi pe bharosa rakh, ab toh Laksh ne bhi keh diya hai. Main teri shaadi karwake rahoogi”.
“Hume toh kuch samajh hi nahi aa rha hai dadi, Laksh achanak se apna faisla badal diya”.
“Apne bichde hue bhai ke pyaar me jazbati ho rha hai par ab i Bengalan toh aade na aavegi mhari laado ke khushiyon me”, Dadi replied, watching Maheshwaris.
Sanskar then suddenly went ou, calling out that he’ll just come back. Everyone stood awkwardly not knowing what to do, Laksh was avoiding looking at Swara and was apologising to Ragini under his breath. Sanskar came after a few minutes and brought a thali covered by a silk cloth. He gave that to his mother and said, “Mom, swara ke liye chunni aur shagun laya tha. Aap pehna dengi?”
Sujata happily took the thali, Sanskar guided Swara towards the center of the baadi where Laksh and adarsh had carried a sofa from the Bose house. “Sanskar, Swara betho”.
Sujata lovingly draped the red dupatta on Swara’s head and did her tilak. She then took the jewelry from the thali and made her wear it. She was too emotional to say anything, then she thought of something and took the bangles from her wrist and made her wear them too. “Swara chori, ye sab toh Sanskar laaya hai, saas ka bhi shagun hove hai. Ab angoothi tumne pehne li hai toh ye rishta pakka”.
Sharmishtha and Dida too did Sanskar’s tilak and gave him shagun ka coconut. Dida had already prepared the ginni and clothes to be given to the groom.
After the rituals Parvati spoke up, “Ji voh Ragini aur Laksh ke baare me baat karni thi”.
“Annpurna, Laksh vo anguthi do jo tum laayi thi”, Durga prasad said, “Unki bhi ye rasam karwa hi do”. With that Laksh too completed the ritual with Ragini.
The Maheshwari’s then left from the baadi taking Sanskar with them for a discussion. Sujata was still clinging to her son, who reassured her again and again.
****
Just like yesterday everyone again stood in the hall but this time Sanskar Maheshwari was also present, his presence undeniable, his back relaxed as he faced his bade papa, the Maheshwari Patriarch, Durga Prasad Maheshwari.
“Tumhari aur Laksh ki shaadi ek saath…”
“Sorry bade papa, ye baat nahi maan sakta main aapki”, Sanskar interrupted him. “Maine Swara se vada kiya tha ki main usse uski dream wedding dunga, usi dream ko pura karne ke liye we waited so many years. Sorry Lucky par humara vo din main share nahi kar sakta”.
“Don’t apologize brother. Aur agar humari shaadi saath me hogi toh main aapki baraat me naachunga kaise?”, Laksh replied cheerfully infact too cheerfully, which worried Annpurna. Just yesterday he was fighting to marry Swara and now today happily planning her wedding with his brother.
Durga prasad nodded, Sanskar then again opened his mouth, “Kal aap Swara ki family ko invitation jaroor bhejiyega, aur Ragini ke family ko bhi. Kal panditji aayenge dono dates nikalenge aur mere hone wale sasural wale hain, bina dinner ke toh nahi bhejenge na”.
Ram tried to interrupt, “Sanskaar kaise baat kar rhe ho, yeh tarika hai pucchne ka?”
“Papa, main puch nahi raha, bata rha hun”, Sanskar replied, they have never seen him so relaxed yet so sharp. “Maheshwari industry se ab mera koi vaasta nahi hai, ab aap log mera future kya present bhi control nahi karte toh mujhe kyun permission ki jarurat hai”.
“Sanskar ye mat bhulo ki hum abhi bhi tumhare bade hain, iss ghar ke mukhiya hain “, Durga Prasad reminded him.
“Hain Bade papa, par ab main iss pariwar ka hissa nahi hun. Yaad nahi hai aapko aapne mere saath kya kiya tha? Yaad dilaaon. Aap toh sukar maaniye ki mujhe iss Drame me koi dilchaspi nahi hai. Aapko apni image ke liye meri jarurat hai, aur iss baar sab kuch aapka daaon pe laga hai, mera nahi”, Sanskar replied, sitting down on the sofa while others remained standing. “Sunna hai ki samaj ke adhyaksh ki kursi jaate jaate reh gayi haath se”.
“Parivar se itne saal dur reh kar ye sikh rahe the kya, ya uss Swara ne sikhaya hai”, Annpurna finally spoke up. “Ab apne hi parivar ke khilaaf tum…”
“No badi ma, mujhe nahi jaana iss parivar ke khilaaf, ye sirf ek warning hai ki ye shaadi dhoom dham se hogi, aapki taraf se Swara aur uske parivar ko koi takleef nahi hogi. Kharche ki chinta mat kijiye, voh main utha sakta hun”
“Hum apne bhatije ki shaadi dhoom dham se karne ka paisa rakhte hain”, Durga Prasad informed him. “Annpurna, Swara aur Ragini ke parivar walon ko kal yahan aane ka nyota de do”
“Jaise aapki iccha bade papa, hopefully mera kamra saaf karwa diya hoga”, Sanskar said getting up, and he went upstairs to change.
****
Sanskar was wiping his hair after a hot relaxing shower while stepping out of the washroom into the room he left 5 years ago. He was contemplating and smiling, remembering today’s events when he saw the fluttering curtains of an open window. Which he clearly remembered was close when he entered the room and he did not open it.
He threw the towel on the sofa and closed the window before latching it properly.
"At least you didn’t throw it on the bed, I hate it”, came the voice of the person he was just going to call. Sanskar turned immediately, hearing her voice and saw her sitting on his bed.
He went and hugged her, “Swara? Yahan kya kar rhi ho?”
“You know, today I got engaged. Toh socha ki uske saath kuch romantic time spend karna chahiye”, Swara replied cheekily, as she put her arms around his neck. She then pecked his cheek. “Aur yeh tumhara reward, itne acche surprise or tumhari dhuandar entry ke liye”.
“Agar timing right nahi karta toh tum peet nahi deti Laksh ko”, Sanskar replied, leaning back and sprawling on the bed, pulling her with him. “Tumhare in nazuk haaton ko kaise takleef de sakta tha”.
“Acchaji, apne bhai ki bajai tumhe maar khani hai? Tumhe pata kaise chala ki vo direct engagement ki tayyari karke aayenge?”
“Meri hi family hai, itna toh jaanta hun na”, Sanskaar replied. He brought her fingers to his lips, joining their hands and playing with her fingers. “Tum unhe chhodo, ye batao ki tumne ghar par bataya hai ki tum itni raat ko kahan gayi ho”.
“Dida ko pata hai, maa Gadhodhiya house me busy thi”, she replied, watching him playing with her fingers. “Gossip batao na, kya hua ghar me, phir se drama?”.
“Tum tension mat lo, kuch nahi hua. Kal tum aur tumhari family ghar aaoge date final karne”, Sanskar told her, turning to face her, still laying on the bed. “Khana khaya?”
“About that”, Swara sat up with a sheepish smile. “Dilevery hone hi wali hai tumhare front door pe, go and get it”.
“Swara”, with a groan he got up, kissed her forehead. “I’ll be back darwaza ander se lock karlena, agar kisi ne dekh liya na toh mahabhart ho jaayegi”.
She was looking around his room but he was back within 5 minutes, she noticed his sweatpant and sleep shirt, which was clinging to him like a second skin, “Aajkal ke ladkon ko koi lihaj hi nahi hai, aise abhadra kapdon me gaye the kisi paraye mard se milne”.
Sanskar placed the pizza and dessert on the coffee table and then pulled her towards him, in his arms, “Accha aur aap joh itni raat ko, iss crop top aur jeans me, mere kamre me kyan kar rahi hain”.
Swara wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, “Apne fiance ke saath besharmon ki tarah flirt karne aayi hun”.
“Besharam ladki”, Sanskar whispered back. “Niyat phisal gayi tumhari, itna handsome ladka dekh ke”.
Swara held his collar and pulled him closer, “Niyat toh meri us library me hi phisal gayi thi jahan tum mujhe dekhne aate the jaaneman, ab aur intezaar nahi hota mujhse”
“Toh kisne kaha hai tumhe intezaar karne ke liye, banda aapki khidmat me haazir hai”, Sanskar replied, spreading his arms.
“Pizza ne”, with a smirk she sat down at the sofa to open the box.
“Swara yaar, it’s always the food”, Sanskar groaned, taking a seat beside her. She then asked him to feed her and she fed him to stop his whining.
“And you like me like this”, she replied, biting a pizza slice from his hands.
“Everytime”, but still he fed her and they also split the small chocolate mousse in celebration.
Sanskar put away the garbage and came out of the washroom after washing his hands. Then silently they went down the silent mansion and out of the door, he then drove her back to Baadi's back entrance.
They both got out of the car, reluctant to part with each other. Suddenly Swara wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him towards him, looking into his darkened eyes. “You’re such a good boy Sanskar, you definitely deserve a reward”.
Her eyes darkened in anticipation as she went on her tip-toes to kiss him, his hands wrap tightly around her waist, pulling her impossibly closer as their lips meet. His were rough against her softer ones, but the passion was equally igniting in their bodies. Sanskar stops his hand from wanting to wander on her body. With their eyes closed they taste each other's lips. It had been months since they saw each other, touch each other. And they could feel the desperation in that one kiss. Swara’s back hit the wall, she didn’t even realise she was moving as she got lost in the passion. She slowly opened her eyes to find him looking at her with awe.
She pushed his chest away and winked at him. Even though all she wanted to do was admire his handsome face and snuggle in his arms, “Go back, jitna jaldi date niklawaoge utna intezar kam karna padega”. She sent him a flying kiss before skipping inside.