It was about ten at night. I had just arrived home in a tanga. I got down, paid the fare, walked down and opened the door. Kabir was seated on Radha chachi (old habits die hard) – Radha Jiji's lap. They were clapping in delight and Vashma & Veerji was joyfully dancing.

'Chhup gaye saare nazaare oye kya baat ho gayi ?!
Chhup gaye saare nazaare oye kya baat ho gayi ?!

Tune kaajal lagaaya din mein raat ho gayi
Tune kaajal lagaaya din mein raat ho gayi

Mil gaye naine se naina oye kya baat ho gayi ?
Mil gaye naine se naina oye kya baat ho gayi ?

Dil ne dil ko pukaara mulaqat ho gayi !

Ambua ki daali pe gaaye matwaali, koyaliya kaali niraali
saawan aane ka kuch matlab hoga
baadal chhane ka kuch sabab hoga
rimjhim chhaayein chhataayien oye kya baat ho gayi ?
teri chunri lehraayi barsaat ho gayi !'

As the song ended Vashma noticed that I was home. 'Oye Amrit tu aa gayi ?'
'Ae ki gal hui ?! Tussi dono mere vaaste ruk nahi sakde si ?!', I grumbled as I came in.
'Oye Amru !' Veerji said affectionately, 'Itthe koi laddu pede bant rahe si, jo tere lai ruk jaate ?'
'Nai Veerji. Ae ki gal hui ! Tussi itthe naach-gaana kar rahe ho aur mera intezaar bhi nahi kiya kisine'
'Par tu toh Daftar mein thi na 'apne Randheer' ke saath', she said in a teasing tone, 'Hume kya pata tu kab aati, kitni der mein aati !' she said with a shrug.
'Oye tu baat na palat', I said raising a finger
'Oye tu muh na fula', she said raising a finger
'Oye chup karo tum dono !', Veerji said pulling our ears – one with each of his hands. 'Bol bol ke sar kha jaana hai mera'. Kabir burst out laughing. 'O puttarji kya kar rahe ho tussi ! Bichaariyan de kaan laal ho jaane hai !', Radha Jiji exclaimed with concern.
'Oye chhod mere kaan !', Vashma muttered, trying to push his hand. He left them soon obviously. Both of us rubbed our ears vigourously. 'Koi apni votti ke kaan kheechta hai kya ?!', Vashma whined.
'Je votti inni jhalli ho to kaan hi kheechne padenge na mainu', he said irritably.
'Par main ki kitta Veerji ?!', I complained, rubbing my ear.
'Tu bhi te iske naal lad rahi thi !'
Vashma cut in, 'Acha ! Ab kaun lad raha hai ?!'. She turned to Radha Chachi, 'Aapka to puttarji hai na ye ? Thodi daant-shaant lagao na isnu !'
'O ji puttarji to laad karne vaaste hote hai na ! Aise daant lagaane vaaste thodi !', she said trying to pacify Vashma.
Vashma said haughtily, 'Chal Amrit yahan humaara to koi hai hi nai !'. I nodded whimsically.
'O hadd ho gi !' Uday Veerji grumbled, 'Ab to dono lad rahi thi. Je main rokiya to mere peechhe pad gayi !'
'Oye ! hum lad kaha rahi thi !', she said with a smirk, 'Tu hi hai kam-akal jo tainu aise laga !'
'Haan veerji, hum kade vi ladte hai kya ?!', I asked innocently. 'Acha vo sab chhaddo. Aaj naach-gaana kisi khushi mein ?! Hmm hmm?!', I asked excitedly.
'Aivayi !', Vashma said waving her hand. 'Aur itna natak na kar. Sahi samay pe to aa gayi tu ! Pehle ye bata ki humme se behtar kaun tha', she asked boastfully.
'Kya Vashma ! Dono saath mein kinne change lag rahe si! Ab –'
'Bata na!', she pestered.
Softly, I said, 'Aaj to Veerji ne teri chhutti kar di !',
Her smirk turned into a big frown. 'Hein ?!', she exclaimed, widening her eyes. Veerji perked up his collar proudly. 'Hain na Amru ! Dekh main kiha na! Ye na Kadambari jaake bas thitholi karti hai ! Bas baatein banwa lo ! Apne Guruji ka naam dubaana hai isne ! Mainu te badi fikar hoti hai unki. Jaane kya dekh ke isnu sikhaane layi raazi ho gaye!'
'Aisa kyun keh rahe ho tussi ?!', Kabir jumped up. 'Ammi to kitne ache se kar raheen thi !'
'Nai Kabir !', I said fondly. 'Veerji zyada ache lag rahe the!'
'Nai ! Ammi zyaada pyaari lag rahi thi !', he said with a frown.

'O ji ab tum dono na ladna ! Vashma aur Uday Puttarji dono hi bade change lag rahe si !', she said dotingly.
'Ae to hai !', I beamed. Vashma and Uday Veerji exchanged smiles. 'Acha tussi gallan karo ! Kabir sahab to soyenge na abhi ! Chal puttar', Veerji said.
'Par Bauji aap sab abhi jaagoge na ! Tussi sab abhi naach-gaana karoge ! Mainu bhi jaagna hai !', he said looking at Uday Veerji expectantly.
'Na puttar ! Abhi aur kahan ! Dekho sab soyenge abhi', he said pointing towards us. All three of us yawned falsely, to make him believe us.
'Pakki Baat ?!', he asked Veerji cutely.
'Haan bacche ! Pakki baat !', Veerji said assuring him.
'To theek hai !', he said, satisfied and flung his arms around Veerji's neck. Veerji lifted him and before going upstairs, he kissed each of us good night – the first one obviously mine.
'Agar ye na soye to mainu awaaz laga dena tussi', I told Veerji and he nodded.

Vashma turned to me, 'Waise aaj to mann bann gaya hai mera ! Aaj to jashn karenge !', she beamed, her hand on her hips.
'Par college ?', I asked.
'Oye Nalayak !', she said giving my head a slight push, 'kal shanivaar hai ! Chhutti hai !'
'Arey haan ! main bhi na !'
'Aaj to honi chaiye – ek shaam mohabbat ke naam !', she said dramatically. 'Kyun ?!', she turned to me, placing her elbow on my shoulder.
'Par sirf hum chaaro ?'
'Oye hoye hoye hoye hoye !' , she said with a teasing smile. 'Zara baaton pe dhyaan diya kar meri! Maine kaha 'ek shaam mohabbat ke naam'! To hum sab ki mohabbat toh hogi hi na !'
'Mainu to ae khayaal bada changa lag raha hai !', Radha Chachi said with a grin.
'Arey aap dekhti jao kitna maza aata hai !', Vashma said with a wide smile.
'Kya tu bhi wahi soch rahi hai jo main soch rahi hoon ?', I asked excitedly.
She nodded enthusiastically. We held each other's hands and jumped in excitement.
'Oh mainu bhi te batao kya chal raha aapke dimaag mein ?', Radha jiji asked eagerly.
'Aap bas dekhti jao !', I said.
'Acha je gaane-shaane hovenge to main ohnu phone kar keh deti haan ki apni Mandolin saath laeke aayenge!', she said eagerly. We nodded and she sprinted away to call Jijaji.

At that moment Veerji was coming down the stairs. Bright eyed, both of us rushed and stood on his either side. He looked at her, then at me, 'Kyaaa ?!'
'Hume madad chaiye', we said together. 'Abhi !'
'Hein ? Meri madad ki kabse zaroorat padne lagi tum dono ko ?', he asked skeptically, crossing his arms.
'Itna bhao na kha !', Veerji said giving him a nudge. 'Chahiye isilye to keh rahe hai !'
'Achaji bolo !', he said uninterestedly.
'Lakdiyan chaiye ! Khoob saari !' we said together.
'Itni raat ko kis bichaare ka sar fodna hai tum dono ne ?!', he asked bewildered.
'Oye tu paagal hai !', Vashma said giving him a smack on his head. 'Kisika sar-var nahi fodna humne !', she said.
'Hume to laal-loi manaani hai !', I said with a gleam in eyes.
'Hein ?! Oye din ka hisaab nahi rehta kya tum dono ko ? Lohri chali gayi do mahine pehle !', he exclaimed.
'Arey par iski Lohri to abhi aayi na ! Jab Randheer wapas aaye !', she said matter-of-factly. I nodded. 'Ab tu hi bata, Lohri matlab kya - ki thand aur udaasi ke din beete aur sunehre, garmaas ke din aaye ! To us hisaab se Amrit ki Lohri abhi man-ni chaiye ki nahi ?! Hein ?!' 
'Baat to teri sahi hai ! Chalo kade kade achi baatein vi kar leti hai meri gharwali !'
'Je baatein main achi nahi karti to aise hi tu mera deewana bana firta hai ?!', she said with a flirtatious smile.
'Oye ! Ab baandh liya tune, hun main ki karaan ?!', he added with a smirk.
'Ahm Ahm !', I intervened awkwardly.
'Main lakdiyaan dhoond ke laata hoon ! Pata nahi kithon milaangi ?!', Veerji muttered in an embarrassed way and left.

'Radha chachi kahan theher gayi ?', I said wondering what was taking so long.
'Jijaji ne phone rakhne hi nahi diya hoga !', she said with a wide grin. I too nodded with a grin.
Vashma pulled me by my braid, 'Waise sun le', she said whimsically. 'Aaj tujhe bhi Randheer ke vaasta gaana gaana padega!'
'Vashma ?!', I asked widening my eyes. Has she gone crazy ?!
'Kyun koi dikkat hai tujhe ?'
'Tu pagal hai ?! Sabke saamne ? Randheer ke liye gaana ? Main ?!'
'Oye tu chinta na kar ! Aaj to sabko apne apne humsafar ke liye gaana gaana to padega. Par je tune aaj gaana nahi gaaya na to merese baat na kari !', she exclaimed raising a finger to my face.
'Kya Vashma ! Ae ki gal hui !', I complained with a frown and turned to the other side.
'Kyun kyun ! Mann mein to tere bhi laddu phoot rahe hai !'
I looked at her meekly.
'Main jhooth boleya ?', she asked raising her eyebrows.
'Maine nai gaana koi gaana !', I said whimsically with an embarassed smile.
'Na to main sunungi nahi ! Tu chaahe to pehle mujhe Randheer samajh ke gaa le ! Asaan ho jayega tere liye', she said with a teasing smile.
'Tenu Randheer samjh ke ?!', I said with a mischievous smile, looking at her, top-to-bottom.
'Haan !'
'Tarkeeb buri nahi hai par uston pehle tera kuch karna padega mainu !', I said with a smirk.
'Oye kya karne wali hai tu ?', she asked unsurely.
'Tu chal !', I said climbing the stairs and pulling her along by her dupatta.

We went in her room noiselessly. I opened the almirah and pulled out Veerji's first kurta I could lay my hands on and made my way into my room, Vashma tailing behind me.
'Le ! Pehen isse !', I said handing her the kurta.
'Kuch zyaada nahi udd rahi tu ?', she said with furrowed eyebrows, hand on her hips.
I shrugged.
'Thik hai ! Dekho dosti kya kya karwaati hai !', she said dramatically as she pulled the kurta over.
'Tune kaha na tenu Randheer samjhu. Ab mainu lagna bhi to chaiye !', I said matter-of-factly.
'Le pehen liya ! Ab khush ?!'
I shook my head. Rushing her to my dressing table, I said with a sly smile, 'Moochhe bhi toh chaiye!'
And not letting her protest, I made her a moustache with kajal.
'Mann bhar gaya ?!, she asked irritably.
'Uh huh !', I said and brought a dupatta. 'Pagdi baandhni tere sar pe !', I replied with a wink.
'Oye Randheer kab pagdi pehente hai ?', she grumbled.
'To Randheer ki choti bhi nahi hai!', I answered, tying the dupatta like a pagdi on her head.
'Ab thik hai ?!', she said looking down at herself , then at the mirror and then at me.
'Aise to tu door door tak Randheer nahi lagti par.. thik hai main kaam chalalungi !', I said haughtily.
'Dekh tere liye Randheer bhi ban gayi main ! Koi karega aise ?!', she asked placing her elbow on my shoulder'
'Uh huh !', I said with a proud smile and we burst out laughing.

'Oh ji main poore ghar main dhoond aayi. Na puttarji mile na tum dono !', Radha Chachi came babbling at the door and stopped dead. 'Oh ji ! Inni sohni kudi nu ae ki bana diya ?!', she exclaimed widening her eyes.
'Main to iski taiyaari kara rahi hoon gaana-gaane ki !', Vashma said nudging me.
'O ho ! To tussi Damaadji bane ho ?!', she asked with a grin.
Vashma and I looked at each other, 'Tuhaanu kive pata chala ?!'
'O ji ae vi koi mushkil gal hai ? Amrit to vaisi ki waisi khadi hai. Vashma ne ye kurta-pagdi paaye hai ! To Damaadji hi hui na !', she said with a sparkle in her eye. We nodded with a smile.
'To shuru ho jao ji !', she said sitting down cross-legged on my bed.
'Yahan kyun ! Chatt pe hi chalte hai !' Vashma said and we happily went upstairs , carrying the gramophone with us.

***

I and Vashma were dancing around the terrace, carefreely and Radha Jiji was applauding for us.

'Gore gore O baanke chhore
Kabhi meri gali aaya karo !'
'Gori Gori O baanki chhori
Chahe roz bulaya karo !'

I was wooing her (or rather him) around the terrace and she was yielding to my advances rather happily. The game of chasing and courting each other was so much fun. We danced with all the fervour.

Just then Radha Jiji exclaimed, 'Lo ji asli Damadji bhi aa gaye !'. All my dancing came to a halt. Why did he have to be a silent spectator to everything I do and then suddenly appear with that knowing look on his face?! Extremely embarrassed, I turned around meekly. Randheer was leaning against the door with that wide grin on his face.
Before I could say anything, Vashma walked over to him in a boyish way, joined her hands and said 'Namaste, Main Randheer Raizada !' I slapped my hand to my head.
In return Randheer joined his hands and replied with an amused smile, 'Namaste ! Khud se milkar khushi hui !'
'Haaye Rabba !', I muttered under my breath.
'Waise aap zara naate nahi hai ?'
Vashma moved to his side and started comparing her height with his and said, 'Haan thoda naata hoon par jab ise koi dikkat nahi hai to mujhe kya fark padta hai !', she said matter-of-factly, pointing towards me. Oh this girl!
'Ab toh mujhe darr lag raha hai !', Randheer said with concern. 'Agar aap inhe bhagake le gaye toh?!'
'Hum toh kabse ise bhagaaane ki firaat mein hai !', she said walking towards me. 'Par ise to Ishq ho gaya na ! Aapse', she shrugged sadly. 'Ise lubhaane ke liye bhi aapka bhes banana pada mujhe'
I was looking first at her, then at him. Ho kya gaya hai inhe ?!
'Par lubha to ye raheen thi aapko', he said softly.
'Ye to dhoka kha gayi thi', she said quaint smile. I was turning redder and redder. 'Par ab to chori pakdi gayi ! Ab to mujhe mera pyaar aapko saupna padega', she sighed.
'Aapke pyaar ko palkon par bitha kar rakhenge ! Aap fikr na kijiye !', he said with a sparkle in his eye.
'Jaanta hoon isliye to peechhe hatt raha hoon. Warna main aur iska peechha chhod du !', she said whimsically. She was behaving like a heart-broken lover !
I whispered to her, 'Agar teri chapad-chapad ho gayi ho to jaake kapde badal le'
'Ahahaha jab mujhe Randheer bana rahi tab to bada uchhal rahi thi ! Ab kya hua ?!'
'Jaa na !', I pestered.
'Acha jaa rahi hoon !', she said to me and turning to Randheer she said, 'Chalte hain Janaab ! Khuda Hafiz ! Meri amaanat ka khyaal rakhiyega !', she said pecking me on my cheek and ran off. I glared behind her.
'Badi pyaari aashiq hai aapki !', he said with a chuckle.
'Ji !', I said with an amused smile.

***

We had lit the bonfire and were sitting around it . Veerji, I, Vashma, Radha jiji, Mukund Jijaji and Randheer – the same order. Vashma and Jijaji were in an argument as to which of them would begin.
'Tarkeeb meri thi na to shuru bhi main hi karungi !'
'Haan tarkeeb tumhaari thi par is dekho main mandolin leke aaya hoon. Sabke gaane mein main madad karunga to pehla mauka mujhe milna chaiye !'
They debated for some time. Finally Vashma won the squabble and Jijaji settled down to play the mandolin while she sang.

'laayi khushi ki duniya hasti hui jawaani
laayi khushi ki duniya

Ab bas mein phool ke hai, bulbul ki zindagani
laayi khushi ki duniya hasti hui jawaani
laayi khushi ki duniya

Tum neend banke jabse aakhon mein
aankhon mein ghul gaye ho
neend banke jab se aakhon mein ghul gaye ho
sapno mein naachti hai

sapno mein naachti hai
has has ke zindagaani

laayi khushi ki duniya hasti hui jawaani
laayi khushi ki duniya'

Vashma and Veerji were beaming.
'Ab baaki sab baad mein, pehle Uday ko jawaab dena padega bhai !', Jijaji chimed in. After hesistating a bit, Veerji began -

'Aane se uske aaye bahaar
Jaane se uske jaaye bahaar
Badi mastaani hai, meri mehbooba
Meri zindagaani, meri mehbooba

Aane se uske aaye bahaar
Jaane se uske jaaye bahaar
Badi mastaani hai, meri mehbooba
Meri zindagaani, meri mehbooba

Gungunanaae aise jaise bajte ho ghungroo kahin pe...
Aake parvaton se jaise girta ho jharnaa zameen pe
Jharnon ki ...mauj hai voh
maujon ki ravaani hai meri mehbooba, mehbooba

Meri zindagaani hai ...meri mehbooba'

We cheered for them. It was seldom that Vashma shied but she was shying away today and Veerji was smiling ear-to-ear.

'Acha acha ab meri baari !', Jijaji exclaimed.
'Sabse zyaada betaab to tum ho !', Randheer said. Though that was not exactly true, all of us were almost equally nervous and excited to sing for our beloved. It was just that Jijaji and Vashma were expressing it that way as well. Grabbing his mandolin, he stood up and walking around the terrace he began -
'Chaand si mehbooba ho meri kab
aisa maine socha tha...
Haan tum bilkul waise ho
Jaisa maine socha tha

Chaand si mehbooba ho meri kab
aisa maine socha tha
Haan tum bilkul waisi ho
Jaisa maine socha tha

Naa kasme hain naa rasme hai
naa shikwe hai naa waade hai
Naa kasme hain naa rasme hai
naa shikwe hai naa waade hai

ek surat bholi bhaali hai
do naina seedhe saadhe hai
do naina seedhe saadhe hai

aisa hi roop khyaalo mein tha
aisa maine socha tha
haan tum bilkul waisi ho
jaisa maine socha tha'

And then without waiting for anyone to say something, Radha Chachi began singing with a blush-
'Mann leta hai angdaai
Jeevan pe jawaani chhayi
Mann leta hai angdaai

Hothon ne muskaana seekha
naino ne sharmaana
ha naino ne sharmaana...
Hothon ne muskaana seekha
naino ne sharmaana
ha naino ne sharmaana...

har dhadkan gaati hai mann ki
ek anokha gaana
har dhadkan gaati hai mann ki
ek anokha gaana

phir yaad kisiki aayi,
jeewan pe jawaani chhaayi
mann leta hai angdaayi'

The fact that Jijaji and Radha jiji loved each other so dearly, made us so so happy! Probably her marrying Chachaji was only instrumental to bring us in her lives and make her meet Jijaji !



'Ab to humaari Juliet ki baari hai !', Jijaji said cheerfully.
'Vashma mainu badi dhuk-dhuk ho rahi hai !', I whispered to Vashma.
'Oye Amrit ! Ek gaana gaana hai ! Maine gaaya na, tu bhi gaa de !',
I nodded, took a deep breath and stealing a glance at him, I started -
'Ik pardesi mera dil le gaya
jaate jaate meetha meetha gham de gaya
Ik pardesi mera dil le gaya
jaate jaate meetha meetha gham de gaya

Jijaji joined excitedly -
'Kaun pardesi tera dil le gaya ?
moti moti akhiyon mein aansu de gaya !
oye Kaun pardesi tera dil le gaya?
moti moti akhiyon mein aansu de gaya !'

Briefly looking at him, briefly looking away I continued

'Mere pardesiya ki yahi hai nishaani
akhiyan bilaur ki, sheeshe ki jawaani
Mere pardesiya ki yahi hai nishaani
akhiyan bilaur ki, sheeshe ki jawaani
Thandi thandi aahon ka salaam de gaya
jaate jaate meetha meetha gham de gaya'

Jijaji took over -
'Kaun pardesi tera dil le gaya ?
moti moti akhiyon mein aansu de gaya !
hoye Kaun pardesi tera dil le gaya ?
moti moti akhiyon mein aansu de gaya !'

'Usko bula du, saamne la du
kya mujhe dogi jo tumse mila du ?
'Usko bula du, saamne la du
kya mujhe dogi jo tumse mila du ?'

Lowering my eyes I sung
'Jo bhi mere paas tha vo sab la gaya
Jaate jaate meetha meetha gham de gaya'

I was scarlet throughout the song ! Randheer had an embarrassed grin on his face. I so wanted to hide my face somewhere! But then, it was Randheer's turn now.
Vashma said, 'Sabne ne kya khoob gaaya aaj ! Ab is shaam ka akhri geet ! Koi dil chhune waala gaana aap bhi suna di jiye !', turning to Randheer.

Intently looking at me, Randheer started singing, as Jijaji strung the mandolin -

'Tum agar saath dene ka waada karo,
main yoon hi mast nagme lutata rahu
tum mujhe dekh kar muskuraati raho
main tumhe dekh kar geet gaata rahu

Tum agar saath dene ka waada karo,
main yoon hi mast nagme lutata rahu

Kitne jalwe fizaao mein bikhre magar
maine ab tak kisiko pukaara nahi
tumko dekha to nazrein ye kehne lagi
humko chehre se hatna gawaara nahi
tum agar meri nazron ke aage raho
main har ik sheh se nazrein churaata rahu'

Getting up, he slowly walked to my side – my eyes following him. He knelt down and forwarding his hand, he continued gently.

'Main akela bohot der chalta raha
ab safar zindgaani ka kat-ta nahi
jab talak koi rangi sahara na ho
waqt kaafir jawaani ka kat-ta nahi
tum agar hum-kadam banke chalti raho
main zameen par sitaare bichhaata rahu

Tum agar saath dene ka waada karo,
main yoon hi mast nagme lutata rahu
tum mujhe dekh kar muskuraati raho
main tumhe dekh kar geet gaata rahu'

I just didn't want to take my eyes off him. Vashma took my hand and placed it in his, because I didn't realize that I hadn't done it yet. Everyone started clapping. I got out of my reverie, a warm blush adorning my cheeks.

***

Jiji and Jijaji were staying with us for the night as it was quite late. All of us had just returned upstairs, to our rooms after seeing Randheer off. As I entered my room, I saw a bouquet of colourful sweet peas laid on my bed. I rushed to the bed and picked it up. They had a hearty-orange-jasmine-honey scent.
The bouquet had a note attached.
'Inki tarah mehekti rahiyega
aur darkhaast hai ki meri nazron ke samne rahiyega'

I smiled sheepishly and bit my lip – fallen for him yet again!

'