The first light of the day peeped in through the bed curtains, breaking my slumber. I fluttered my eyelids opens slowly moving my strained arms lazily when I sensed something.
Amrit was sleeping next to me – a smile etched in her lips, as delicate as the morning mist.
After a while, she turned towards me, placing her palm on my upper arm.
I decided against moving my arm, lest she would wake up.

raat kali khaab mein aayi
aur gale ka haar hui!
raat kali ik khaab mein aayi
aur gale ka haar hui!
subah ko jab hum neend se jaage
aankh unhi se chaar hui!
raat kali khaab mein aayi
aur gale ka haar hui!

This precious lovely woman was my wife? Ah, my wife!

chaahe kaho isse mere mohabbat
chaahe hasi mein udaado!
ye kya hua mujhe
mujhko khabar nahi!
ho sake tum hi bata do!

tumne kadam jo rakha zameen par
seene mein kyun jhankaar hui?
raat kali khaab mein aayi
aur gale ka haar hui!

After a long while of gazing at my beautiful beautiful wife, she lazily opened her eyes.
For once she was in a daze when she looked up at me, smiling softly.
'Good morning Amrit', I said with a mellow smile.
That brought her out of her reverie. Tracing the curve of her face, I whispered, 'Aisi gulaabi si.... khoobsurat si subah pehli dafa aayi hai mere hisse aayi hai!'
She looked up at me for a while with a twinkle in her eyes and then looked down with a scarlet smile. I nuzzled against the crook of her neck.

*

Amrit was dressed in a raspberry red organza saree. Ah! She looked gorgeous. I wasn't ready yet. Still in my housecoat pyjamas. Without so much as a glance towards me, she walked past to the vanity. And I stood there, taken aback. That – should be made illegal.
She had already kept the jewellery on the dressing table before leaving to get dressed. She bent forward for it, and I clutched her hand mid-way. She caught her breath, as she half turned towards me.
'Koi... gustaakhi hui hai mujhse?', I asked softly.
'Nai nai... ', she meekly shook her head, turning crimson.
'Phir aapne meri ore dekha tak nahi?', I asked with questioning eyes.
'Voh mainu... jaldi taiyaar hona hai.. Mumm..yji intezaar kar rahi hongi', she faltered.
'Oh!' I remarked, raising my eyebrows.
She bent forward the other hand, and I clutched too on the other side, and closed my arms around her.
'Jaa..ne do mainu', she requested.
'Iski zimmedar aap hai!', I said whimsically.
'Ji..?', she asked timidly.
'Aap ek martawa dekh leti meri taraf, main wahin dher jho jaata! Par aapne yoon nazar-andaz hi kar diya mujhe', I complained.
'Mainu maaf kar do. Aage se.... maine kabhi nai karna hai aise. Sacchi!! ', she said cutely, looking up at my reflection in the mirror.
'Par agar aapko neeche hi na jaane diya jaaye... toh?'
'Nai nai nai nai nai!', she babbled, turning redder.
'Yoon bhi na sharmaiye! Dil ko samhaalna doobhar ho jaata hai', I replied tenderly.
I didn't know she could turn even redder but she did, averting her gaze. O Goodness!
'Aap bhi... taiyaar ho jao. Aapka bhi... intezaar kar rahe honge sab', she said timidly.
'Nahi kar rahe honge', I said softly.
I just shut my eyes and we stood there for quite some time. When I opened my eyes, I found her staring at me, with a satiated smile.
'Amrit? Kya dekh rahin hai?', I asked with a smile.
She looked down with a soft blush and mumbled , 'Apni zindagi'
I sighed. I kissed the top of her head and withdrew. 'Chaliye main bhi taiyaar ho jaata hoon. Yoon toh...', I trailed off.
She nodded sweetly.

I had taken two steps when she said, 'Theheriye theheriye!'
I darted back at double speed.
She had opened the armoire. Amused, I stood cross armed against the wall. She stood there thinking for a while, looked down at her sari once and then moved forward, probably having chosen something. 
She had taken out an off-white pathaani set.
'Aap... ye pehnenge?', she asked softly, turning to me.
With a goofy smile, I replied, 'Aap itne pyaar se poochhengi toh koi bhi kuch bhi karne ko maan jaaye, main toh fir aapka Randheer hoon. Laaiye!' I extended my hand out.
Flushed, she handed it to me, and I left with a smile.

After bathing, I walked into the room adjusting the sleeve of my pathaani. Amrit was still here sitting, legs down in the window alcove. She was looking down the street.
Seeing her haste earlier, I was under the impression that she must have gone already.

'Amrit?', I asked with a surprised smile.
Startled she turned towards me. 'Voh...Is ghiraunchi waali khidki ne mainu rok liya', she said in an embarrassed manner. 'Badi khoobsurat hai. Dil karta hai... baithi rahu yaheen'
I beamed. We had a common favourite spot. I knew it!
Sitting down near her, beneath the alcove, I asked, 'Bhale hi mera isme koi haath nahi... par kaisa laga aapko aapka kamra?'
'Bohot acha hai! Dekhne mein bhi itna nafees aur apni ore kheechta hua bhi!', she said with a pleased smile. I smiled to myself. Just as Vashma had said. She truly knew Amrit in and out.

With a pretentious sigh I took one of her hands into mine and said, 'Shukra hai! Mujhe toh darr tha, kahin kamra pasand na aata aapko aur aap kamre mein rehne waale ko chhod deti...toh!'
'Sochiyega bhi mat!', she retorted immediately but then bit her tongue with an embarrassed smile.
Stroking the back of her hand with my thumb, I said 'Chaliye thik hai. Nahi sochenge!'
Whiling away time had never been more beautiful.

After a few minutes Amrit said, 'Mainu kuch dikhaana hai aapko'
Withdrawing her hand, she stood up and proceeded towards the other side of the bed.
She had opened her trunk. Rummaging through its contents, she took out a big photo frame. Eagerly, she brought it to me and sat down in the alcove again.
'Ye dekhiye! Ye Vashma ke jamndin ke jalse ki tasveer hai! Chachaji frame karwaake le aaye mere liye!', she said joyfully, running a hand fondly across it.
It had everyone, Lalaji-Mummyji, Iqbal Chachaji-Zaida Chachiji, Mogar Bhua, Brij Chachaji, Uday, Vashma, Bhaanu, Abrar and of course – My Amrit.
'Kitni shaadmaan tasveer hai Amrit!', I said.
'Ye aakhri tasweer thi jo sabne saath mein khichwaayi', she replied with a smile. 'Sab kitne khush hai! Kitne nishchint!'
'Hmm'
Then I turned towards the photograph wall. I had taken off some photo frames to make space for those Amrit would bring.
Walking towards it, I pointed them out. 'Amrit isse hum yahaan laga sakte hain! Ya fir ... ya fir yahaan', I said pointing towards the other direction. 'Aur bhi kisi tasveer ki jagah lagaani ho aapko toh bataiye!'
She considered for a while and then pointing to the first spot I had noted, on the middle slightly towards the left. 'Ye jagah achi hai! Yahaan laga dete hain!'
I nodded in approval. She handed me the frame and I hung it there. 'Aur bhi tasveerein nikaal laiye Amrit , abhi laga dete hain!', I said, adjusting.
As I turned, I saw, Amrit had just one more small frame in her hand.
'Mere paas bas yahi ek tasveer hai- Mummy-Bauji ki. Beete saalon ki aur koyi tasveer nahi hai mere paas', she said softly.
I walked down to her. 'Aapne... koyi tasveer nahi khichwaayi?', I asked tenderly.
She shook her hand gently, looking up to me. I took one hands in mine and said with a sigh, 'Tasveerien toh hongi Amrit. Uday-Vashma ki shaadi ki tasveerein, Mukund-Radha Bhabhi ki shaadi ki tasveerein, Kabir miyan ke jamndin ki tasveerein. Aapmein se kisike janmdin ki tasveerein. Shayad aapki college ki tasveerein. Haan aapko dhyaan na raha ho, par aapki pakki saheli hai humaari madad ke liye! Unke paas ye sab hongi! Ye sab tasveerein behad zaroori hai.'
Bringing an arm around her on one side and facing the wall. 'In tasveeron ke bina ye deewar adhoori hi rahegi', I added whimsically. 'Hai na?'
She nodded with satisfied smile. 

'Chaliye neeche chalte hain', I said.
'Uh ek minute', she said stopping me. She hurried to the armoire and rushed back with my handkerchief, watch and wallet. 'Ye lijiye!'

'Amrit aap na bigaad dengi mujhe!', I said a with chuckle.
'Isse bigaadna thode hi kehte hai!', she said adorably.
'Toh ?', I asked tenderly, bending a bit towards her.
'Apne pati ka khayaal rakhna kehte hain', she said softly with an embarrassed smile.
I placed both my arms on her shoulders, one after the other. 'Dubara kahiye na Amrit'
Blushing up to her ears, a shy smile hovering over her lips, she said, 'Apne pati ka khayaal rakhna kehte hain'.
I was in no mood go anywhere at that moment and she was too sweet and bashful to drive me away. Didn't seem like she wanted to, either.
But annoyingly, there was a knock on the door. With a sigh, I released her and went to open the door.
Neero bhaiya greeted us with a bright smile. 'Good morning Babyji! Good morning Randheer Baba!'
We greeted him back with a smile.
'Voh Bibiji aap dono ko pooch raheen thi toh main aapko bulaane aa gaya!', he further said.
'Haye Rabba!', Amrit panicked behind me. 'Aaj pehle din hai aur inni der ho gayi mainu! Mummyji nu bulwaana pada mainu!', she blabbered, slapping her hand to her forehead.
'Aap chinta kyun karti hai. Voh koi aapse naraaz waraaz thode hi hain', Neero bhaiya reassured her. 'Aur unhone bulwaaya nahi hai waise. Main toh apni taraf se bulaane aa gaya!'
Why Neero Bhaiya? You could have waited for some more time right?! Duh!
'Pakka ?', she asked again.
'Haan Amrit! Aath hi baje hain. Aap bewajah hi pareshaan ho rahi hai', I too calmed her down.
She heaved a sigh of relief.
Neero bhaiya turned to leave. Amrit too followed suit.

On her way out, she quickly pecked my cheek and hurried away. And I stood there, startled, warmth rising up my face.

Ishq ki saazishein
Ishq ki baaziyan
haara main khel ke
do dilon ka jua

kyun tune meri fursat ki ?
kyun dil mein itni harkat ki?
ishaq mein itni barqat ki ?
yeh tune kya kiya?

phirun ab maara maara main
chaand se bichhda taara main
dil se kyuin haara main?
yeh tune kya kiya?

saari duniya se jeet ke main
aaya hoon idhar
tere aage hi main haara
kiya tune kya asar?

main dil ka raaz kehta hoon
ki jab jab saasein leta hoon
tera hi naam leta hoon
yeh tune kya kiya?

We walked down the stairs, looking at each other very now and then.
First we turned to the mandir, on the right of the stairs and performed the morning prarthna. 
Mummyji- Bauji, Mamiji- Mamaji were seated in the drawing room. Mummyji and Mamiji were sitting with their backs towards the staircase. Keerti was sitting on the chair near Mamiji, Yash on the sofa's arm beside Bauji.
'Ye lo, aa gaye bacche!', Bauji pointed out.
'Ji ?', Mamiji asked in a surprised tone and half turned towards us. Amrit went ahead and touched everyone's feet, greeting them.
'Bahurani ki payal ki run-jhun hi nahi suni humne?', Mamiji asked with a surprised look.
'Uh vo maamiji.. meri payal ki kadi shayad zara dheeli hai. Baar baar gir jaati hai', Amrit answered sweetly, shooting me a glance. I smiled to myself. That payal was clumped in my pocket at that moment.
'Itti si baat! Randheer, aaj hi isse nayi payal dilwa de!', Maamiji said fondly.
'Nai nai!', both of us responded together urgently.
All of them looked at us, confused.
'Kya hua?', Mummyji asked, with a curious expression.
'Uh kuch nahi mummyji. Maine yahi waali payaal thik karwa deni hai. Tussi fikar na karo!', she covered up. I swear I would hide both the pieces of payal she really intends to take it to the jeweller. Let her try!
'Jaisa tera mann!', Mummyji said with a smile.
Bauji chimed in, 'Puttar! Aaj meetha kya banaegi mere vaaste?!'
'Haan Amrit, kuch socha hai ?', Mummyji too asked.
'Mummyji, sirf meetha nahi, aaj poori rasoi main banau?', Amrit asked eagerly.
'Rasm toh meethe hai beta!'
'Mainu mann hai', she added cutely.
'Acha theek hai. Aaj dopahar ka khaana tu bana lena! Bas?', Mummyji replied.
Amrit gave her a pleased smile.
There, I could see Yash and Keerti bubbling with excitement.
'Mujhe paraathe chaiye!', Yash exclaimed.
'Mujhe Paneer pasanda!', Keerti added.
'Aur Daal Makhani!'
'Aur kabab!'
'Aur Lassi!'
'Aur halwa!'
'Aur Kheer!'
'Arey bas bhi karo dono!', Mamaji said with an amused smile. 'Itni si jaan hai bacchii! Kitna kuch banaegi!?'
Turning to Amrit he said, 'Beta tum in dono ki baaton par dhyaan mat dena. Tumhaara jo mann ho wahi bana do!'
'Sab ek saath nahi toh... do-teen baar mein toh ban hi sakta hai na?', Amrit responded with a glint in her eyes. 'Kuch aaj kuch kal kuch...'
'Amrit!!...', Mummyji looked at her with raised eyebrows.
Amrit smiled sheepishly. 

'Par aaj kya banaengi aap bhabhi?', Gautam appeared, asking with an amused smile. 'Jo bhi aap pehle chunengi, in dono mein toh ladaayi pakki hai!'
'Aaj main chole-kulche banau?', she asked. Mummyji loved Chole –Kulche. I saw her smirk at Bauji.
'Aur....Kalakand ?', Amrit asked further. This time I saw him curl his moustache while shooting a look at Mummyji. Kalakand was his favourite sweet.
Why do I feel, a silent favourite-parent war was on?
And I knew this so well because I had seen them do this all my life - giving each other smug smiles whenever I did something for either one of them. I could see very well that stealing my heart wasn't enough for Amrit. She had stolen my parents too. Nice!

'Haan puttar jo tera mann!', Bauji answered with a pleased smile.
Amrit too smiled brightly.
Mamiji and Mummyji made Amrit sit on the takht, between them.

'Randheer-Amrit ki shaadi ache se ho gayi, mera toh mann khush ho gaya ji!', Mamiji said, smiling broadly.
'Ji parjaiji!', Bauji added. 'Aur iska saara shrey sab bacchon ko jaata hai!'
'Ji! Uday- Vashma, Radha- Mukund bade pyaare hai saare. Kitne mann se lage the taiyaariyon mein!', Mamaji praised them.
'Humaari taraf ke bhi intezaam unhone hi samhaale hue the. Kahin koi kassar nahi rakhi!', Mamiji further said with an impressed smile.
'Bade honhaar hai saare bacche humaare!', Bauji remarked with a smile.
Everyone smiled.
'Chalo ab zara desh duniya ki thodi khabar paayi jaaye!', Mamaji remarked.
'Ji Bhaisahab!', Bauji nodded in approval. Turning to Yash, he said, 'Puttar zara akhbaar laana aaj-ka!'
With a nod, he brought the newspaper and going through the headlines, Bauji engaged Mamaji and Gautam and me in a conversation. I and Gautam found seats on moodhas beside them. 

I picked up bits of their conversation about a Pakistaani Army General being arrested for a conspiracy or something about 'Associated farms', a new concept brought in by our Prime Minister. I was a newspaper editor for goodness' sake! I ought to pay attention. However my attention, if not being asked occasionally by Mamaji or prodded by Gautam, only belonged to Amrit. Amrit too wasn't really paying attention to what Mummyji, Mamiji and the kids were talking about.

'Nehruji bada acha kaam kar rahe hai!', Mamaji noted.
'Bilkul sahi kaha aapne!', I added firmly.
'Aye khet waali yojna badi change hai. Wakaayi upaj bohot badhegi is-se!', Bauji remarked.
'Ji ji!', I nodded, half listening to what he said.
Out of nowhere Gautam whispered, 'Bhabhi badi pyaari lag rahi hai na?'
'Haan..', I replied dreamily.
The very next moment I realised what this person had asked. I shut my eyes and face-palmed in embarrassment.
'Aap unki taraf kam dhyaan denge toh main bhi aapki taraf kam dhyaan dunga!', he said with mischievous smile.
If only I could strangle this brother of mine.

The entire morning had been a family affair. After the partition Mummyji-Bauji had lost contact with all our other relatives. And the neighbours and friends here, were already acquainted with Amrit. 'Muh dikaayi' would be a purposeless ritual, Mummyji had decided. And I absolutely loved this 'just the family' morning.

*
Later, I dissected all the past few days' newspapers to know what all had taken place in the country as well as around the world while I was blissfully enjoying my wedding. I had taken help of the twins for these. Initially they had been disinterested and tried to get away. It took a lot of cajoling and a promise to read them a few of Amrit's stories, to convince them. We sat at the table in the study, all three of us, working with Neero Bhaiya occasionally dropping in with some snacks.
We studied the newspapers in detail. I had divided the work in terms of category of news. Some news interested Keerti more, while others intrigued Yash more. In a sincere attempt to help me they even made notes of the important points they came across. I was glad I had helping hands, and so we finished this much sooner than expected.

*

Around noon, Mummyji took Amrit inside the kitchen, showing her around fondly. Neero Bhaiya too was present there beside them, leading her around even more eagerly. Amrit was in a very enthusiastic mood. They were engaged in some happy conversation, and I was all smiles, savouring the moment from outside the kitchen.
When done with instructions, Mummyji walked out of the kitchen.
'Kya dekh raha hai?', she said with an amused smile, turning towards the kitchen herself.
'Aap jab Amrit se laad karti hai na, bada pyaar aata hai aap-pe!!', I said, putting an arm around the back of her shoulder on one side.
She looked at me with raised eyebrows.
I looked down and smiled sheepishly.

'Pehle mere mann mein tha ki jis ladki ko dekhte hi mere bete ka chehra yoon khil uthta hai, jisse mera beta itna pyaar karta hai usse main laad-pyaar se bigaad hi doon!'
We watched a bubbling Amrit bustling about the kitchen, taking out utensils, vegetables, ingredients.

'Par ab... vo meri gudiya hai! Meri bacchi hai! Meri saathi rahi hai voh in saalon mein. Sabse zyada waqt maine uske saath bitaaya hai. Pehle se kayi zyaada pyaar lutaana hai mujhe uspar!', she said lovingly.
'Aur teri koi hissedaari nahi hai isme!', she added haughtily.
'Ji mummyji!', I said with a chuckle. She too chuckled softly.
'She is a darling!', Mummyji said affectionately.
I nodded hard in agreement, with a smitten smile.

*

It was past an hour. Amrit was still in the kitchen. Was the time ticking away too slowly today or did cooking generally take this much time?!
And now I was running out of excuses for going in there. When I went in to drink water, Neero Bhaiya, as-a-matter-of-factly, reminded me that the pot of water was outside. When I pretended that the smell of delicious food had dragged me in, Neero Bhaiya pointed out that they hadn't started with anything which had an aroma. Amrit never interrupted him. She just stifled a giggle at my condition. Later I would know that this was deliberately done by Neero Bhaiya at Amrit's request. She wanted to keep my away from the kitchen for some time atleast.

I was hovering outside the kitchen door yet again, trying to peek in.
'Bhaiya ?', I heard Gautam's mischievious voice behind me. Did he smell that I was near Amrit?
'Aaj rasoi ghar pe kuch zyaada hi dhyaan nahi hai aapka?', he asked teasingly.
'Ab nazar toh wahin hogi jahaan noor-e-nazar hongi...', I muttered under my breath looking elsewhere.
'Kuch kaha aapne bhaiya?', Gautam asked pretentiously, bending towards me.
'Maine toh kuch nahi kaha. Mujhe lagta hai kuch zyaada hi sunaayi dene laga hai tumhe', I said with a shrug.
'Oh!', he continued dramatically.
Just then I saw Neero bhaiya going out of the kitchen with a vessel in his hand.
'Uh shayad Amrit mujhe bula rahi hain. Tum thehro. Main abhi aaya.', I said, and proceeded towards the kitchen brushing him aside.
'Arey kahaan chalee!', he exclaimed, pulling me back by my arm and shoulder.
'Kya hua?', I said irritably.
'Mummyji aa rahi hai!', he said urgently.
Alarmed I turned around. Mamiji couldn't be seen anywhere.

There Gautam stood, laughing hysterically. 'Bhaiya!', he exclaimed, laughing. 'Aapko sataana bada aasaan hai!'
I glared at him. Who would believe I was the elder brother?! 

He hurried up the staircase beside.
In an attempt to chase him, I accidently hit the hand against the corner of the wall. 'Ah!'
I looked at my hand and then looked around. No one was around. I hit my hand against it harder. 'AH!' I exclaimed, louder, in genuine pain.
Then taking in a deep breath and holding my arm, I advanced towards the kitchen hastily. 'Amrit!'
'Ah!...Amrit!'
'Randheer?! Kya hua?', she came almost running out of the kitchen.
'Vo zara chot lag gayi mujhe', I said with a pretentious frown.
'Chot kaise lag gayi? Kya kar rahe the aap?', she asked in a slightly alarmed tone. She led me inside and made me sit down, kneeling before me.
'Uh... voh... jaane dijiye na kaise lagi. Bas lag gayi', I replied timidly. 'Dikhaaiye kahan lagi hai?', she asked, taking my hands into hers, pushing the sleeves up and examining them for a wound.

'Ghaav nahi hai. Bas dard ho raha hai', I said meekly.
She looked up for a second and then started chuckling, 'Aap bahaana bana rahe hai. Pata hai mainu!'
'Arey nahi Amrit wakayi chot lagi hai! Sach mein! Aaah', I cried out slightly in pain.
Not convinced yet, she pressed my arm. I whined slightly. The pain though little, was there. I just had to exaggerate it.
'Dard toh hai... Aap bilkul dhyaan nahi rahkte!', she complained.
'Maaf kar dijiye!', I said with a frown.
She thought for a while and then rubbing the forearm, she replied with furrowed eyebrows, 'Thik hai!'

She rubbed my arm incessantly for minutes. 'Ab thik hai Amrit. Dard nahi ho raha', I stopped her, feeling guilty.
'Pakka ?', she asked again.
'Ji ji! Aap bana lijiye khaana.
Unsure, she returned to her cooking.
'Amrit!'
'Ji?', she turned to me.
'Main zara bhi pareshaan nahi karunga aapko. Bas yahin baitha hoon kuch der. Thik hai?'
With a soft blush, she nodded.

I just sat there, when she sat beside me in front of the angithi stove and cooked the food. An offer to help would be useless as I was alien to this arena. Curious, I asked a few questions here and there. She answered them eagerly. She said observation was the key to learn cooking but the choice is between obseving her or her work - I would probably never make the 'right' choice.
From time to time, I would wipe the perspiration off her forehead and she'd smile a bit wider everytime I did so. Atleast I could of some use.

In about half-an-hour, the lunch was ready to be served.
Taking her hands into mine, I said, 'Aaj toh sab aap haath choomna chaahenge. Sab ki khwaahish main pehle hi poori kar deta hoon'. I kissed her knuckles.
'Bina khaana chakhe?', she asked demurely.
'Mujhe toh koi shaq nahi ki khaana behad lazeez hoga', I said boastfully.
She turned pink at the compliment.