In a village near Mumbai.

As the sun begins to set, the sky is painted with hues of orange and pink.
Villagers winded up their work and were going back to their homes.
The chirping of crickets and the occasional barking of dogs create a soothing soundtrack. In the fading light, the village takes on a cosy, intimate atmosphere, offering a peaceful contrast to the hustle and bustle of city life.

Somewhere, in an open garden. Villagers gathered to celebrate some occasion. A group of people were playing dhokal, flute, band. Ladies were singing the wedding song to the tune of the music. A few people, kids were dancing and enjoying it.

Somewhere, in a house. One man was busy on a laptop with an irritated face as he was not able to use his laptop because of an internet issue. Another man stood at the window, peeping out and looking at the celebration.

Man (who was looking out of the window): Abhi bhai ye dekho ye log kya kar rahe hai?

Abhishek (who was trying to work on his laptop): Jai jo kar rahe hai karne de. Tu dekh to tere phone me network hai kya? Yaha work hi nahi ho raha hai.

Jai: Arey!! Oh, mister look at them

Abhishek: Jai... Khushi ko video call karna hai. Vo baithi hogi mere wait me.

Just then they heard a knock on their door. Jai went to open it. Sarpanch walked in.

Sarpanch: Namaste apsar sahib (Officer)

Abhishek (sighed): Namaste sarpanch ji.

Sarpanch: Vo humare gaav me chota sa utsav chal raha hai. Aap dono bhi shamil hoge to hume bahut prasanta hogi.

Abhishek and Jai looked at each other and nodded.

Sarpanch: Aayiye.

Abhishek: Sarpanch ji... Hume apne ghar par phone karna tha par network nahi hai humare phone me. Aap humari madad kar sakege kya?

Sarpanch: Aap humara phone le lijiye. Ye koi badi baat nahi.

Sarpanch gave him a phone.

Abhishek: Aap aur Jai chaliye. Hum, do minute me baat karke aaye.

Sarpanch nodded. Jai and Sarpanch left. Abhishek dialled his mother's number.

Abhishek: Hello maa...

Vibha: Abhishek kaha hai tu? Beta khushi kab se tera intezaar kar rahi hai.

Abhishek: Sorry maa yaha network hi nahi hai. Video call nahi ho payega. Aap khushi ko phone do na.

Vibha: Tu kiske phone se phone kar raha hai?

Abhishek: Sarpanch se liya. Unka number hai.

Vibha: Acha ruk.

She handed the phone to Khushi.

Khushi (angrily): Papa...

Abhishek: Khushu baby khana khaya?

Khushi: Khushu, Papa katti.

Abhishek: Bacha... I am trying to call you but yaha seriously network hi nahi hai. Kya karu main batao?

Khushi (sad pout): Khushu chor ke nahi jao. Khushu missy missy papa.

Abhishek (teary eyes): Papa miss you too bache. Papa kal morning me aa jayege. Khushu ke uthne se pehle.

Khushi: Pomise?

Abhishek: Promise. Khana khao aur jaldi se so jao. Morning me papa aayege phir Khushi and papa icecream khane jayege?

Khushi (happily): Papa... Khushu boyfend date gaye aaj.

Abhishek (chuckled): Khushu... Boyfriend nahi Chachu.

Khushi (stubbornly): Boyfend.

Before Abhishek could have replied.

Siddharth: Bhai kya hai aapko? Choro hum dono ko. Dekho meri biwi ko bhi problem nahi hai hum dono girlfriend boyfriend se. Aap ye typical papa banna band karo.

Abhishek shook his head in disbelief.

Siddharth: Ye sab choro. Deal hui? Land sahi hai hospital ke liye?

Abhishek: Haa. Deal bhi ho gayi. Morning me main and Jai ghar aa rahe hai.

Siddharth: Acha okay.

Abhishek: Khushi ka dhayan rakhna. Main kal milta hoon.

Siddharth: Okay. Good night.

Khushi: Khushu deam papa (Happy Dreams)

Abhishek: You too baby. Jaldi se so jao.

With this, he hung up the call. He took his phone when his eyes fell on the wallpaper of his mother, daughter and dead wife Vaishnavi. He pecked on it and pocketed his phone. He walked out and went to the garden.

Jai came towards Abhishek in shock.

Jai (panicking): Abhi bhai ye celebration ho raha hai because the young 18-year-old girl is going to get married to her chacha in the morning.

Abhishek (shocked): What nonsense? Kuch aur hoga. Tu pagal ho gaya hai.

He walked towards Sarpanch and gave him his phone back, thanking him.

Jai: Sarpanch ji... Abhi bhai ko bhi celebration ka kaaran batao.

Sarpanch: Sahib vo kal subah humari beti ki shaadi hai. Humare bade bhai ke sath. Hum chahte hai aap dono shaadi me aaye aur hume seva ka mauka de. Aao hum aapko dulha dulhan se milate hai.

Abhishek heard this and was shocked. Jai nodded, looking at Abhishek's expression.

Sarpanch walked towards the girl and the old man who are a bride and groom. Abhishek and Jai followed him.

Sarpanch: Bhaiya, sahib aaye hai aapko Mubarak dene.

Abhishek and Jai looked at the girl. Her face was covered with a veil. She seems young teenager. They looked at the man who seemed an old man in his 60's. They noticed the girl's hands were shivering.

Jai: Aese kaise shaadi ho rahi hai? Vo uske father ke age ka hai. Ye kya bakwaas chal rahi hai idhar?

Sarpanch: Haa vo pita ke umar ka jarur hai. Tabhi to hume pura barosa hai. Bhaiya humari beti ka poora dhayan rakhege.

Abhishek: Chacha baap saman hota hai. Aapko log rishto ka kya mazak bana rahe ho?

Man: Arey sahib! Beti ya biwi kya farak padta hai? Pure gaav me isse koi ladka shaadi nahi karega. Barvi me fail hui hai. Pehle to zid ki padhne ki. Besharamo ke tarah padhai ki dasvi ke baad bhi. Ab dekho barvi me na pass ho gayi. Kat gayi na baap ki naak. Aap batao aesi ladki se koi karega shaadi? Iski kismat achi hai ke chalo Hum kar rahe hai. Ghar ki bachi hai. Aese samajh baat sambhal rahe hai.

Jai: Kyun nahi karega koi inse shaadi? Fail hona koi naak katana nahi.

Sarpanch: Kaun karega? Arey! Pure gaav me naam kharab ho gaya hai. Pehle to padhne ki zid. Gaav ke har ghar me bola jata hai sarpanch jaisi beti bhagwaan kisi ko na de. To aese ladki ko koi kyun hi bahu banayega?

Abhishek: Padhna koi gunah nahi. Ulta garv ki baat hai. Fail hui hai mana par ek mauka doge to ho jayegi pass.

Sarpanch: Na na sahib. Ek nahi do baar naak kat chuki hai. Ek to zid ke mamle me upar se fail hui. Ab nahi. Ab zindagi aur nahi kharab karni.

Jai: To aese kya zindagi ban rahi hai?

Sarpanch (angrily): To aap batao aap karte aesi ladki se shaadi?

Jai: Haa isme kaun si badi baat hai? Fail hona life kharab hona thori. Main to apni wife ko bolta phir se exam de aur man laga kar padhna. Uski madad bhi karta.

Sarpanch: Aap sach shaadi karte?

Jai: Abhi to bola haan... Likh kar doon?

Abhishek looked at Jai and then at Sarpanch.

Abhishek's POV: Mar gaye!! Ye gadha kya bol raha hai. Vo log iske samne girl ka marriage proposal rakh rahe hai. Ye agree kar raha hai. Beta Reem tera bharta banayegi, khoon piyegi aur kapdo jaise dhoyegi bhi.

Sarpanch: Bhaiyo aur behno dekho humari Aarya ke liye var mil gaya. Sehri babu humari beti ke liye. Humari beti ki kismat pakka sone ki pen se likhi hogi bhagwaan ne.

Jai (shout in shock): Kya????

Abhishek smacked his forehead.

To be continued...

creations_tr Thank you so much for amazing cover