Mujhe is concept pe likhna tha
But  alas aa rahi thi
I asked heeba to write it for me...

Ye update heeba ne likha hai
With some mild editing by me.

........ Festivities were a  rare occurrence in ahluwalia house.... Since a very long time......

But the glow of those shimmering lights hanging on the porch walls........ Arcades... Doors.....  highlighting those carefully knitted flower cavalries..... In the gardens....
All that hustle..... Chiming bangles........ And noises... Sometimes familiar...... And sometimes... Completely unheard.  .......
She isn't coherently able to describe........ What is it that she feels.......
That dazzle and decorations mesmerizing her....... Smell of fresh henna being imprinted on her hands.... Which aren't surprisingly as callous.... And firm as a soldier's should be...... Instead..... They shiver...... In an anticipation...... As her destiny is being imprinted on them..... In the form of those curvy patterns..... And a name...... Which was for so long carved on her heart.... She wonders ....... Why is it.... That she feels those churnings inside her stomach.... As they tease her ..

Didi - nam kya likhna hai
The mehndi designer asked

"Rajveer sir"
She said with a blush.

Puja - hayee rabba iska kuch nahi ho sakta....

"didi..... Is dil pe aapke un ka naam jitna gehra hoga........ Utna hi zyada pyaar karenge aapko wo...." a girl drawing those patterns chirps....

"oye missed call...... Is mehndi ka rang to fir utarne se nahi utrega....... Rajveer sir ka aur naina ka network to dil ka he...... Once in a life time connection jese....." she smiles.....

"accha..... Uncle auntijy pas hi bethehe..... Baat karun unse... Tere lifetime connection ke bare me...." she teases pooja just to distract herself....

"haye neki aur puch puch.... Naina... Aap aaj kar hi lijiye baat..... Hamari tarf se......." pooja widens her eyes.. At ali's eagerness to step the aisle so soon... And also his guts .

"dekh punjaban.. Tera silent handset to bada sahi baj raha he....... Ke bolti he phoolan.... Ek mandap me dono ki shaadi nipta den........
" no way dude .. Ek shaadi ka khana miss kar denge...... Hum log... Are u crazy.... "ud who is filling his already preoccupied mouth with some kaju barfi.... Naina's mother is holding ......earns a smack on arm....
" ae bhukhad..... Bas kar... Ye baratiyon ke liyr he... Ladke walon ke liye... "aalekh adds.....

" aunty aap rehne do.... Hum bacche he na.... Hum kar lenge ye sab... Aap naina ke pas betho"aalekh takes the tray from eera.... And eera... Admiringly looks at her little gudia.... Wondering.... What she missed along the way.....
It seemed that yesterday.. She was that little girl running all around the house.... Whose chirpy laughter..... And bantering with her bhaiyya would fill entire home.......

She sits beside her..... And applies a tinge of kohl beneath her eyes... On her glowing skin..... Just behind her ear.........
Naina... Whose face is glowing...... Despite of all the nervousness....a shy smile.... Unknowingly playing on her lips......
"kya hua maa" she inquires... As her mother is slightly teary even though there's a constant wide grin on her face...

"kuch nahi..... Dekh rahi hun... Naveen ki gudiya... Aaaj itni badi ho gayi he..... Pata he.... Naveen jab chota tha.... Tab teri shaadi ki baat sun kar kitna chidta tha.... Kehta tha... Meri gudiya.. Ko kahin nahi. Jane dunga...." she smiles.... Covering up a hint of sadness......

" aaj agar naveen yahan hota to..... Eera leaves the sentence incomplete......
Her father watching from afar.... Comes to her.....
"wahi to hame dekh raha he eera..... Raajveer jese damad ka milna.... Usi ki to wajah se mumkin hua he... He na.... Wo bhi aaj bohot khush hoga... Uski gudiya  kal dulhan banne ja rahi he......."

Eera hugs ashok...... And the couple kiss their daughter's forehead..... And naina.... suddenly feels a heaviness in her chest......." maa baba...... Mujhe aap logon se dur nahi. Jana....... Ek mahina hi to hua he.... Ghar wapas aaye...... Aap log rajveer sir se KEH do.... Me kahi nai ja rahi un."

Era - bilkul nahi naina
Please shadi kar aur jaa
Is ek mahine mein hum to pagal ho gay
Rajveer rajveer sunte sunte
Na use chain padta hai Tere bina

Har Sunday to wo yahi hota hai....

Aur bahane to aise banata hai
Era looked at her friends doing mimicry of rajveer

Maa wo yaha se guzar raha tha, to socha milta chalun..

every one laughed

"Maa.... Unka mazak mat uadao"

She cries like a. Baby....... Hugging her parents....

Feeling the warmth she had missed for about half a decade now...... Ever since..... Her bhaiyya left them.... She ha never had the a privelege to ..banter and stomp like a kid...... Irritate her parents..... Be pampered by them....... Fluff hee nose over trivial things.....
. And threaten that she won't talk to anyone who teases her.......
She had to grow up way too fast..... Amidst all the responsibility and  circumistances....... A girl with a those starry dreams...... Of a handsome prince........ Who would vow to marry her and love her till eternity..... Were forgotten........
"is family hug me thodi si  jagah. Apun ko bhi. Milegi....." aalekh joined them.....

And era patted his head.

Era - aur tu kaan khol ke sun le.
Is bar chuttiyon mein Agar ghar nahi aya to
Main nahi Jane wali nilu ke liye tera rishta lekar

Alekh - ap Bolo to army chod dun
Yahi rahunga ap dono ke pass...

Everyone laughed

... In her room......

Pooja and neelu gigling and teasing her..... Looking at her sangeet and mehndi pictures...

Puja - naina is pic mein sir kya keh rahe hain tujhe kan mein

She asked pointing at one photo
Naina saw the pic and remember

Rajveer - ye Sharmana kaha se seekha cadet singh...
Koi coaching join ki thi kya

He had tried to lighten her mood as her eyes were moist.

Naina  - ap mera mazak udane ki koshish kar rahe ho..
She had pouted.... Shrinking her eyebrows

He noded

Rajveer - koshish nahi kar raha hun.
Main tumhara mazak uda raha hun

He giggle earning a cute deadly look from her.

Naina - mujhe nahi karna apse shadi.

She had shouted loudly
Making everyone turn to her
And rajveer saw here and there

Huda - tujhe pakka sir se shadi nahi karna
To main aun sherwani pehen ke

Rajveer threw a laddoo on him which he catch and started eating

Alekh - shukar mana laddoo phenk ke mara hai grenade nahi.

Era - naina...
Kya bol rahi hai.
Kuch to soch samajh ke bola kar.

Naina - maa ye mujhe sata rahe hain.

To which one of her mid age  aunt comment

Aunt- are bhai rajveer
Thoda sabar Karo.... Rat ko Satana abhi se Satana shuru kar diya.

He felt like drowning somewhere as era left the scene... And naina got flushed up completely

As her friends giggled hard

Shalini said softly only audible to the brats.

Shalini - waise I doubt ke captain naina ko kuch khaas sata payenge.
Propose karne mein to ek saal laga diya

Pata nahi main bua kab banugi

Rajveer strangle shalini's neck with his arm  to punish her for being such a beat...
As shalini cried for help.

-------------

She is laying on bed resting her head on her mother's lap

She is patting her daughter's hairs.
Trying to teach her few lessons

Era- jab bhi tum dono ki posting sath ho
Uski choti choti zaruraton ka dhyan rakhna.
Kabhi kabhi uske liye apne hathon se khana banaya karna.

Miya biwi ka rishta sabse khaas hota hai.
Aur rajveer ka to koi hai bhi nahi
Maa baap bhai behen....  Wo ye sare rishton ko tujhme dhundega.

uski kamzoriyon ko nazarandaz karna
Uski humraaz ban na.

Kabhi jhagda ho
To kabhi wo jhukega... Kabhi tum jhukna....

Kuch samjhi??

Naina - jii.. Maa
She said wondering whether it will be that difficult to live with him

.... Soon everyone retires to bed .. And she is left alone.... Gazing at the stars from the balcony..... Wind dancing through her hair..... Swiftly..... So are the whitish curtains . And the twigs...... And a fragrant air.....as if singing a sweet lullaby...... And she is ... Wondering looking at those twinkling stars  which one of them might her bhaiyya be.... And if at all he is watching her ......

Tears slide down her eyes....... And she whispers..

"miss u bhaiyya..... Just to hear a familiar voice   .....with a charm....... Able to skip her heartbeat........

" i miss him too.... "he whispers.....softly... Soothingly....
And holds her shivering fingers...... Counting the folds of her knuckles....

" aap kab aaye... "she whispers in a daze....... With glittery eyes......
" Tabhi jab tum akele akele apne bhaiyya se baat kar rahi thi..." "

She is mesmerized..... Looking at him staring at her with all the love and affection..... Gazing at her shivering hands.... And her skin... With a yellowish tinge....... Becuase of the haldi........and an unknown charm...... On het face ......... Glowing.......and all the happiness being reflected...... From her eyes...... He wonders how on earth...would he wait till the morning to make her all his....

But the wait..... Has its own flavour.... Its own beauty..... Its own fragnance ... For the henna on her hands would darken... Depicting the deep colour of his love... And he would finally be able to hold her and love her like he wishes to...... Just after the night..... Which seems like a lifetime.... But wouldn't it be worth to wait for a lifetime...... To finally make her his....

"aaj... Agar wo hamare sath hote.... To kitne khush hote na...." she smiles at him.... With moist eyes .....

"wo hamesha hamare sath he..... Naina.... Ab bhi hame dekh raha he.... Infact usne to dhamki bhi de di..... Mujhe.... Ke meri gudiya ki aankhon ke aansu aaye to tere daan tod dunga....."

She smiles.....
And he wipes her tears....

"use has kar bhi to yaad kar sakte he... He na..... Hamari zindagi ki nai shuruwat he.... Kal....... Jaha sif... Hasi aur muskurahat hogi..... No crying now..... Got it cadet singh......" he stresses over last part as if ordering her.... Fake seriously
"yes sir..." she replies......

He takes her in his embrace.... Smilingly wrapping his arm around this little blessing.... Bestowed by life and naveen on him..... He had coaxed her earlier...... To not shed tears..... But it is him...who misses his best friend all the more...... Nervous.... As from now.... He beholds.... A something very precious which belonged to his friend...... As his to be wife.... To love to cherish...... And the thought..... Makes him a little nervous too.....

Earlier that day..... He remembers ... How her father was teary....
"beta... Hum labzon me kabhi nahi keh payenge..... Ke hum tumhare kitne shukar guzar he..... Hamari beti ka khayal rakhne ke liye..... Hamare naveen ka samman wapas lane ke liye..... Bas hamari beti thodi si ziddi he.... Bacchi he.... Us se Kabhi  kuch..... Nadani ho jaye to maaf kar dena......

"sir aap kesi baatein kar rahe he .....kya aap mujhe is parivaar ka hissa nahi samajhte   .."

Eera remarks.....
"to kya bete apne maa baba ko sir aur mam bulate he...." she pulls his ears.... Playfully.....
. "wo.... Mam"he is shyly confused.....

" baba aur maa to keh sakte ho na hame...... "and tears slide her eyes    as his eyes are moist too..... And he hugs . Her maa and baba...... She blinks..... At him...... Admiring..... Her own family...which seemed... Happy... Feeling content..... Seeing smiles on their faces......
For him.... Having a  family to be called his own..... Was everything he could ever ask for ........ In this world... Which had been yet a little harsh.....on him......

Wedding rituals...... Were a cliché to her ... Until now...... When she being dressed up as a bride...... And as pooja makes her wear the choora... Which aalekh had bought ..... Telling her     ...that its a ritual to be carried out by bride's brother......

She now understands... Meaning if those little chimes..... Tied on her hands....
That vermillion colour of her wedding attire....and that jewellery...... Which raj.... Gave her the night earlier.....telling her that it belonged to his mother...... Making her feel a bit nervous.....but mostly honoured.....

As they guide her to the mandap...... Her feet heavy... Her demeanor changed. She is just this innocent girl with lots of dreams in her bright eyes...... Cast down..... Stealing glances of him.... With chunar on her head ....

He on the other hand is mesmerized  .... To watch her bold and fiesty cadet naina ah singh....... With all charms... Of a bride to be..... That shy smile... Those shivering hands........ That divine form of hers....... To him.... Its certainly the most beautiful site of his life.....

As pandit chants and hums all those vows.... He adds a vow by himself... That no matter what.... He would always be the reason of the smile on her face.... And so does she vow to herself.... To be the best of what she can be.... To love him comfort him....and make his home as well as his life.. A pure bliss.....

They vow to be with eachother for a lifetime........ And hope to be together for all other lifetimes to follow.......

But no matter how keen she was to be his wife    and to enter his life.. His home.
No wonder how prepared she was...... Her feet get heavier... As the time arrives... And she is supposed to leave...... To her new home...... It felt to her like the most difficult moment of her life..
.. As she gazes at her baba...... Teary eyed....... It was more difficult...... Than fighting on a battlefield.... To. Let go off his embrace..... And her mother's......

She tried to cling harder......

Rajveer... Smiled..... Though his. Eyes were teary as well.... Just to reassure her ......... That she isn't leaving anything behind..... Just growing up....... To start a new life.....

She holds his fingers tight in the car.... Quietly absorbing the moments..... Passing..... Like sand  . Swiftly .......

He worriedly looks at her and asks.....

"ghar wapas chalein....... Jab man kare.... Tab delhi chaein jayege...... Tum maa baba ko chodkar thodi ja rahi ho.....
Ya kaho to ghar jamai ban jaun
Mujhe koi problem nahi hai. "

Patting her back...... Holding her in her embrace   as she hiccups and cries.......

She blinks..... With a little smile......

And says frowning and nodding her head in a negative...

"mujhe apne ghar jana hain....
Aapke sath........" and the thought of having a home with her.... A family ...... Was so heart warming .... He smiles through his  eyes  ........ Infectiously.......

"hmm..... To cadet naina ah singh...aap meri patni bankar mere sath.... Mere gahr chalengi.... Soch lo... Irada to nahi badal dogi na...."

She hides herself in his embrace.... Hitting him on the chest....
"Bilkul nahi...."

"sach..."

He teases further.
"koi shak...." she matches his mischevious eyes.....

As  the night spreads its warm and dark cloak..... Over the sky.... Making it disappear...... And as the cool breezes run shivers down the spine the nervous lovers  .... Sitting on the bed....... Fingers entwined........

Her head in his embrace..... As he kisses her forehead....... She smiles shyly... As he slides. Her dupatta..... Off her head... And then off her shoulders....while she gazes at him... With pure love.... And complete submission.......

He kept talking to her
As he started touching her.
Making her comfortable with his touch on those parts which he never touched before.

She fidgeted at first but then got comfortable in his arms
As he rubbed her bare back

Helping her remove her jewelry
Kissing randomly sometimes on neck sometimes on shoulders.

"Ye hata dun"
He asked her after unpinnig the last pin... Of dupatta

She thought for a moment and noded slightly and he pulled of the dupatta from her....

Admiring her curves and beauty

She made a move and undid few buttons of his kurta.

Naina - wo
He said husky as he was kissing her side neck passionately

Naina - main wo nighty fir kabhi pehen lun....

Rajveer  - nighty??
He stopped kissing and looked at her

Naina - wo puja ne dilwai.
Par wo bohot transparent hai...
Mujhe sharam ayegi.

She said
And he smiled at her

Rajveer - I don't think us nighty ki zarurat padegi.

He said switching off the night lamp
The room in pitch darkness

And she felt his hands unhooking her brouse.
and lifting her lehnga

And the morning is evident of the love games played at night.... Those crumpled sheets.... That dried henna spread on the bed     those..... Fragrant flowers .. Crushed.. By their fingers ..... Her broken bangles.....he gazes lovingly.... At her.... Wrapped in a white blanket.... Barely covering her shoulders...... And her legs...... She shifts as the sunlight filters from the upper window....... And her payal chimes ........
That's the sound of music..... He would want to hear over and over again....
He smiles..... And adjust the curtains . Only to lay down beside her..... Taking her in his arms.... While she mutters something.... Too shy to say it out loud.... In the state she was......

She was peeping out of the bedsheet
Stealing a glance with one eye and again shelling inside the sheet.

With a blushing smile.

"Knock knock"
He tap her forehead.....

"Kaun hai"
She asked from inside

"Mujhe Mrs. Shikhawat se milna hai"
He played along.

"Kya kaam hai"
She ask

"Unse kuch puchna hai"
He said

"Kya puchna hai"
She said

"Ke kya Meri har raat..... Kal raat jaisi
Aur har subah aj ki subah jaisi ho sakti hai. "
He asked

And she was smiling hard.

"soch ke bataungi
Abhi mujhe sona hai"

She tighten the grip of her bedsheet

Still he managed to slip his hand inside the bedsheet...
His hand brushing her mounds
She jump with his touch and he managed to get inside the bedsheet with her.
Watching her naked....
His eyes roaming on her skin and parts.....  With desire in his eyes.
To which she gasped

Naina - ap bohot bure ho
She complain as she felt vulnerable and shy presenting herself naked to him in morning light.

Mujhe dekho mat

She kept her hand on his eyes.

and he smiled at this aspect of her.
Taking things further slowly
And she was no more conscious with her state

Asking for more and more.

......