It was already evening. We were getting late. I got dressed in a black bandhgala Kurta paired with a black pyjama. I adjusted my collar, applied ittar, and rushed downstairs. But it seemed only I was the one who was ready. Mummyji – Bauji, everyone was still busy with either getting dressed or with gifts or with rather something else.
'Mummyji Bauji, aap log taiyaar nahi hai abhi tak? Uday ne chhae baje ka waqt diya tha!', I said impatiently.
'Humare bina koi rasm thode hi shuru ho jayegi!', Mummyji said affectionately, from the seat infront of the dressing table.
'Haan Puttar! Thand rakh!', Bauji said, fastening the watch to my wrist.
'Lijiye main bhi taiyaar ho gayi! Main zara Bhaiya-Bhabhi ko dekh aati hoon!', Mummyji said, getting up.
'Hum bhi taiyaar hain sab!', Mamaji called out from the door. 'Chaliye Chaliye!'
'Ji, chalte hain. Der se jaana acha nahi lagta na!', I added.
'Haan puttar', Mummyji said, in a matter-of-factly tone and then stifled a giggle.

*

Our neighbourhood glittered with fairy lights and flowers all around. I, Mummyji-Bauji and all our family members arrived at Prem Niwas. Uday and Mukund stood on either sides of the door to greet of all the guests, each holding a 'sandal haath' in their hands - a bowl with chandan and rose water - A tiny bit is applied with a paan leaf to every guest's wrist to welcome them with fragrance and happiness.

I had never thought that my best friend would be on the bride's side on my wedding. To me, it was extremely cute and bizarre at the same time.
Uday and Mukund greeted us all gaily.
'Jach raha hai', Mukund remarked in a low voice, applying chandan to my hand. I returned a smile.
'Par kya fayda!', he added. I looked at him with a confused expression. Before I could I ask what he meant, he moved over to Bauji. I thought for a while but then moved inside. He just had a habit of annoying me without a reason.

Every wall was lined with criss–crossed strings of rose and motiyaa blossoms. Strings of these blossoms dangled down from the pillars and doors. The entire baithak was dimly lit and was decorated with fanous lanterns. All the mattresses now had beautiful glass lamps beside them with silver changairdaans (vessels) which held cones of mehendi. Many of the women were already getting their hands painted with mehendi.
'Namaste Rai Sahab!', Iqbal Chachaji greeted Bauji. Zaida Chachiji and Mogar Bhua too greeted Mummyji and the other family members. I touched their feet.
'Bachchiyaan dikhai nahi de rahi?', Mummyji asked Zaida Chachiji.
'Ji! Kahan hai sab ?', I chimed in.
Zaida Chachiji exchanged a giggle with Mogar Bhua and replied, 'Hum kya jaane?'
I looked at them uncertainly. I looked around the place but couldn't find the one I was looking for.

ulfat ke maaron se naa poochho
aalam intezaar ka!
patjhad si hai zindagi
aur khayaal hai.... bahaar ka!

'Kise dhood rahe hain bhaiya?', Gautam asked teasingly.
'Kisiko nahi.', I said carelessly.
'Aise bhi jhooth mat boliye ki kisiko yakeen hi na ho!', he said with a smirk.
'Bohot zyaada baatein nahi bana rahe tum?', I said glaring at him, with a smile.
'Uh.. thik hai. Waise mujhe pata hai bhabhi kahan hai!', he said a shrug.
I looked at him with raised eyebrows.
'Devar hain hum. Hume sab khabar rehti hai', he replied and turned to go.
I quickly moved to his front and stopped his way.
Crossing his arms, he said, 'Kyun? Main toh baatein bana raha tha? Aap toh mujhse baat nahi karna chahte the?'
'Uh.. nai Gautam...', I tried to mend things.
'Gautam!!', Mukund called out. 'Zara madad kara do meri!'
'Ji bhaiya, abhi aaya!', Gautam said with a mischievous smile and hastened away before I could stop him further.
I sighed and looked around again.

kya kahu tumse?
kya kahu tumse main ki kya hai ishq?
jaan ka rog hai, balaa hai ishq!

kya kahu tumse main ki kya hai ishq?
jaan ka rog hai, balaa hai ishq!
log kehte hain ki sazaa hai ishq
hum ye kehte hain k dawa hai ishq!

sab samajhte hain ki Khuda ki ye inaayat hai
hum yeh kehte hain ki Khuda hai ishq!

Ishq Allah hai Ishq Maula hai
ishq mere Khuda ka jalwa hai

Ishq Allah hai Ishq Maula hai
ishq mere Khuda ka jalwa hai

Just then Radha Bhabhi tapped me on my shoulder, 'Damaadji! Aapki dulhan to vo rahi!', she said pointing towards the foot of the stairs in the corner of the baithak.
As I turned, I saw Vashma standing there. I looked at Radhaji with a confused expression and turned again.
Just then, Amrit emerged from behind her with a smile. She was wearing a bottle green lehenga, with golden embroidery work paired with a golden chunri. She had left her hair open. How could she look more beautiful, everytime I saw her? She looked at me with a blushing smile for a moment and then looking down, she slid behind Vashma yet again.
I walked down towards them and asked softly, 'Is... saazish ka sabab?'
'Isse saazish na kahiye. Itni aasani se aapki mehbooba ke deedar nahi honge aaj!', Vashma said whimsically. 'Voh toh mujhe hi aap par taras aa gaya jo uski ek jhalak dikha-di aapko!'
'Aur, deedar ki... keemat kya hogi ?', I asked gently.
'Arzi toh daaliye janaab! Faisla mera hoga ki aapki arzi kubool hogi ya nahi!', she replied softly with a sparkle in her eyes.

I straightened up. Was she testing me? But the thing at stake was too valuable to be risked. I thought for a while and then replied,
'Ishq-nagina jadwaane nikle hai dil par
jise nigehbaani ke liye kiya tha aapke hawaale

kisi daulat se uska karobaar main na kar saku
jo chhod dene ko kaho toh do kadam na chal saku

dehleez pe tumhaare khada ae muhafiz
apne haq ki khwahish liye
mujhe mera ishq-nagina lautado
bas yahi ek guzarish liye'

Reluctantly, she gently pulled Amrit from behind her and gave her hand in mine.
'Aapka andaaz hi aisa hai, ki aapka haq nahi maar sakte hum!', she replied with an impressed smile. 

I led her to the decorated seat, where we were supposed to sit. As we sat down, Mummyji came up and lightly bumped our heads together. 'Duniya ki saari khusiyaan mile mere bacchon ko!', she said affectionately and embraced us.
By and by, my side of the family surrounded us to load her with presents.
I watched her as she gracefully accepted the presents. A while later, she nudged me, pointing out that now her side of the family was presenting me with gifts. I received them courteously. She widened her eyes with an embarrassed smile.

Leaning a bit towards her, I whispered,
'Jab pyaar ke bande ho baithe
duniya ka fasana bhool gaye
ab hosh ki baatein mat poochho
hum hosh mein aana bhool gaye!'
A crimson blush creeped onto her cheeks.

It was then that I noticed that Vashma was wearing a golden lehenga with a green chunri – perfectly complementing Amrit's. Yes now that I recall, they had probably planned something like this. And this turned out to be so beautiful!
They had been fussing over each-other the entire day, slightly more that the do every day. And after getting dressed alike, their fussing had increased further. One would be a fool, not to adore this extremely precious bond.

*

I was passing by the door of a room near the baithak, when someone grabbed my hand and pulled me inwards with a jerk. It was Amrit. The pull was not strong, but I was thrown so off-guard that I got disbalanced, almost upon her, pining her against the wall. Her flustered face showed that she was neither intending nor expecting this closeness. For a moment, we were too startled to say anything. But then I remarked, 'Waise, iski aadat nahi mujhe.'
Utterly embarrassed, she tried to reply, 'Maine toh... sirf haath pak...'
I shushed her gently mid-way, leaning against an arm on the wall above her.
I could hear her pounding heart. I took her hand in my other hand, looking down at it. Then without a thought, I gently kissed her cheek.
Turning scarlet, she tried to escape. But switching sides, I did not let go, pulling her into me.
'Aapka 'ooncha, lamba, gabru, jawaan' aapke saamne hai, aur bhaag jaana chaahti hain ? Baat kuch... samajh nahi aayi!'
'Bada dushwaar hai, is 'oonche lambe gabru jawaan' ke saamne rehna', she said timidly.
'Aur door rehna aasaan hai?', I asked tilting my face.
She shook her head, looking down.

'Is ... nawazish ki wajah?', I asked softly.

Hesistating for a moment, she revealed a fully bloomed red rose, from her chunri. She looked at me for a moment and then pinned it to the buttonhole of my kurta. I could warmth rising up my face. Hear me ye! I received a rose from my beloved!
'Isse apne dil par aapki mohur maan lenge hum!', I said with a twinkle in my eyes.
With a blushing smile, she ran away, gently swishing her dupatta over my face. As if I was any less love-struck that she'd charm me around like this.

'tan thirke thirke
mann behke behke
tera kehke kehke khud ko!

mere dil ki baat jaane kaaynaat
tere dil ki khabar hai bas mujhko!

tan thirke thirke
mann behke behke
tera kehke kehke khud ko!

mere dil ki baat jaane kaaynaat
tere dil ki khabar hai bas mujhko!

aana baatein pyaar ki laana...
aana thoda pyaar jataa na...

raanjhanaa hua main tera!
kaun tere bin mera!
kaun tere bin mera!'

I walked out of the room. I adjusted the rose even when it needed no adjusting, and looked down at it with a pleased smile. Amrit had already sat down to get mehendi applied on her hands. She gave me a bashful smile and I staggered on my way, knocking over a basket of flowers. I smiled sheepishly, stroking the back of my neck.

'rang bikhra bikhra
sab nikhra nikhra
jaaye jidhar jidhar ye naina

mujhe khud pe naaz hua
pagla aaj raha
apne hi bas hoon main na!

rang bikhra bikhra
sab nikhra nikhra
jaaye jidhar jidhar ye naina

mujhe khud pe naaz hua
pagla aaj raha
apne hi bas hoon main na!

aana mujhe bas kar lena!
aana jaan has kar lena!

hua chaaro ore shehnai shor
tu meri ore chal nikala
chaddhi prem lor o dil ke chor
kar meri bhor ab mukh dikhla!

Raanjhanaa hua main tera..
kaun tere bin mera?

raunakein tumhi se meri
kaun tere bin mera?
tera hai chaar chhupera
ho.. kaun tere bin mera?'

'Hmm hmm! Bhaiya!?', Gautam came out of nowhere. 'Ek gulaab hume bhi dilwaa dijiye!'
'Pehle tumhe mohabbat toh ho kisi se! Gulab toh fir kayi mil jayenge!', I replied carelessly.
'Sab aapki tarah kahan hote hain, aashiq-mizaaj!', he said with a smirk.
'Tum bas dil ki darwaaze khule rakhna, na jaane kab kaun dastak de jaaye!', I added with a glint in my eyes.
'Ji ji!', he replied with a chuckle.

*

Amrit had mehndi applied up till her forearms. She stood beside the door, her hands held out, waiting for someone. I walked up to her from behind and scooped her in my arms. She looked at me with a bewildered expression.
'Kya kar rahe hain aap?!'
'Apni dulhan ka khyaal rakh raha hoon, aur kya!', I casually replied, taking her inside, closing the door with my back. This room beside the baithak – I'm in love with it.
'Neeche utaaro mainu! Koi aa jayega!', she requested urgently.
'Uh huh! Sab kahin na kahin mashroof hain. Kisiko fursat kahan jo hume dhoondte fire!', I said making her sit on the bed.
'Par tussi?-'
'Khaana nahi khaaya hai aapne Amrit. Bas wahi khilaane laaya hoon.'
I lifted the plate from the side-table and uncovered it before her.
She looked at me with a surprised smile.
'Par Vashma to meri thaal laagane hi gayi hai! Main uska ki intezaar kar rahi thi. Usnu kya kahungi?', she asked innocently.
'Keh dijiyega ki aapke Dulhe ne khaana khila diya!', I replied with a bright smile.
She nodded cutely.
'Uh! Dhyaan se khilaana tussi! Meri mehndi kharaab nahi honi chahidi!', she added haughtily. 'Kisi khaas da naam likha meri hatheli vich!'
I looked at with a surprised smile and with a slight bow, replied, 'Jo hukm, begum sahiba!'
She looked down with a smile and I made her have the food.

'Aur ab kheer ki baari! Aapko bohot pasand hai na!', I exclaimed. 'Bani bhi bohot laajawaab hai!'
'Ji! Vashma bata rahi thi ki Mogar bhua ne khud khade hokar banwaayi hai! Bilkul jaisi mainu aur Bauji nu pasand hai! Khoob saare mewe milwaakar!', she replied with a pleased smile.

That's when Kabir entered the room excitedly. 'Poore ghar mein dhoond aaya aapko, aur yahaan baithi ho! Dekho main kya laaya aapke liye - Kheer!'
That's when he noticed me and his expression changed from a delighted one to an annoyed one. 'Tussi itthe ki kar rahe ho?!', he asked with a frown.
I looked at him uncertainly. I thought we were friends now?
'Woh inhe bhook lagi thi-', I tried to explain but he cut me off.
'Toh ?', he questioned, hands on his hips.
'Bas khaana khila raha tha inhe', I said innocently.
'Main yahaan tha na, main mummy ko khaana khila deta! Aap kyun?', he said adamantly.
'Tainu ki hoya?', Amrit asked, looking at us cluelessly.

I was not going to disclose about any of our conversations, atleast not in his presence. Now it was upto him if he wanted to tell her anything, which I don't think he would.
But I was stealing his favourite person, so I need to prepared for these mood swings I suppose.

Brushing me off, he sat on Amrit's other side. 'Ab tussi jao, mainu mummy nu kheer khilaani hai!'

'Galat baat bachche!', Amrit told him off sweetly. 'Aise nahi bolte na! Kisinu bhi aise nahi bolte. Maafi mangni padegi!'
I started to say, 'Amrit par uski kya-?', but she turned to me and shook her head in a serious manner.

He looked me with furrowed eyebrows and said in quiet tone, 'Mainu maaf kardo'
'Hmmm. Achcha baccha mera!', she said pecking him on his head. 'Ab kheer tussi dono leke aaye ho, toh main dono ke haath ke saath se bhi toh kha sakti hoon na!'
He considered this for a while and replied delightfully, 'Haan! Yeh toh ho sakta hai!'
Seeing that he was convinced, I smiled. We both fed her Kheer alternatively. Amrit was as pleased as a punch.

A moment later Vashma arrived, all huffy-puffy, 'Aap dono! Yahaan pehle hi kaam ka hai jo aap dono ne ek aur kaam mein laga rakha hai mujhe? Zara sa dhyaan hata nahi ki dono gaayab ho jaate hain!'
'Vashma!', Amrit muttered in an annoyed yet embarrassed tone.
'Sach mein! Aap dono se zyaada tang karne wale dulha dulhan nahi honge! Aate jaate sab poochhte hain Amrit kahan hai? Randheer kahan hai – na jaane kitne bahaane banaane padte hai mujhe!', she fretted. 'Ghar mein gharwaale itne hai, par aapki peherdaari kaun karega – main!'
'Bas bhi kar Vashma!', Amrit complained.
'Ammi, aap pehredaar ban gayi? Hein?', Kabir asked cutely.
Amrit started laughing.
'Abhi waqt na barbaad kariye. Randheer aap chaliye mere saath!'
'Ji main?', getting up, I asked in a confused manner.
'Shagun ki mehndi lagwaani hai!', she said with a glint in her eyes. 'Aur aapke haath pe apni saheli ka naam toh mujhe hi likhna hai!', she said whimsically.
In a hushed tone, I asked, 'Inke hatheli pe bhi mera naam aapne likha hai?'
'Isne toh khud apne baayein haath pe aapka naam likha hai!', she said with a smirk. I turned and glanced at her.

As Amrit looked on at us cluelessly, I walked out behind Vashma, with a smug smile.

*

Mukund and Uday were sitting on either sides of me; Gautam and Yash- Keerti were sitting behind us. All the bridesmaids had sat down surrounding Amrit, some distance away, opposite me. After writing Amrit's name on my palm, Vashma got up and moved to Amrit's side. All her friends cheered for her as she turned on the gramophone and began -

'sharmake ye kyun sab pardanashin
sharmake ye kyun sab pardanashin
aanchal ko sawaara karte hai?

sharmake ye kyun sab pardanashin
aanchal ko sawaara karte hai?

sharmake ye kyun sab pardanashin
aanchal ko sawaara karte hai?
aanchal ko sawaara karte hai?
aanchal ko sawaara karte hai?'

Gesturing towards me, she continued

'Kuch aise nazar waale bhi hai jo
chhup chhup ke nazaara karte hain!

Kuch aise aise nazar waale bhi hai jo
chhup chhup ke nazaara karte hain!

sharmake ye kyun sab pardanashin
aanchal ko sawaara karte hai?

With a swirl in the centre of the baithak, she proceeded to Amrit. Bringing her arms around Amrit, she addressed me.

'Betaab nigaahon se keh do
jalwon se ulajhna theek nahi!

jalwon se ulajhna theek nahi!
jalwon se ulajhna theek nahi!

Betaab nigaahon se keh do
jalwon se ulajhna theek nahi!
jalwon se ulajhna theek nahi!'

She stood up walked up to us haughtily.

Aana samhalke parda nasheenon ke saamne
Jhukti hai zindagi bhi haseenon ke saamne

Mehfil mein husn ki jo gaya...
shaan se gaya...
Jisne nazar milaayi wahi jaan se gaya!

Betaab nigaahon se keh do
jalwon se ulajhna theek nahi!

jalwon se ulajhna theek nahi!
jalwon se ulajhna theek nahi!

Ye naaz-o-ada ke matwaale..
be maut bhi maara karte hain!

Ye naaz-o-ada ke matwaale
be maut bhi maara karte hain!

sharmake ye kyun sab pardanashin
aanchal ko sawaara karte hai?'

'Dulhe ki saaliyon!', Mukund called out to Vashma. 'Kitna itraaogi?! Zara hume bhi mauka do!'

Vashma looked around. Literally none of the elders could be seen around. Grabbing the opportunity, she changed the song on the gramophon and pulled a protesting, reluctant Radha Bhabhi with her for a dance.

'o...

ude jab jab zulfen teri

o ude jab jab zulfen teri

o...

ude jab jab zulfen teri

o ude jab jab zulfen teri

kawaariyon ka dil machle
kawaaroyin ka dil machle
jind meriye'

Uday and Mukund joined in eagerly.

'oh jab aise chikne chehre
oh jab aise chikne chehre
toh kaise na najar fisle?
toh kaise na najar fisle?
jind meriye!'

 They dragged in an embarrassed, unyielding Amrit too.

'o...

rut pyaar karan ki aayi

rut pyaar karan ki aayi

o...

rut pyaar karan ki aayi

o rut pyaar karan ki aayi

Ke beriyon ke ber pak gaye
ke beriyon ke ber pak gaye
jind meriye

I too jumped in, accompanying Mukund and Uday.

'kabhi daal idhar bhi phera
kabhi daal idhar bhi phera
ki tak tak nain thak gaye
ki tak tak nain thak gaye jind meriye!'

I and Amrit withdrew while the four of them continued.

Us gaanv ke sanwar kabhi sadke
Us gaanv ke sanwar kabhi sadke

Us gaanv ke sanwar kabhi sadke
Us gaanv ke sanwar kabhi sadke

ki jahaan mera yaar basta
ki jahaan mera yaar basta jind meriye

paani lene ke bahaane aaja
paani lene ke bahaane aaja
ki tera mera ik rasta
ki tera mere ik rasta
jind meriye'

Everyone danced around us with joy & vigour.  I exchanged a blissful smile with Amrit. Every second of the day had been so special today!