Ode To Togetherness

Sameer Maheshwari 23rd April 1996

Gosh! She knocked the wind out of me! she looked ethereal in that Green lehenga for our sangeet. After our conversation on the phone, though we had spoken a few times over yet we were meeting for the first time in days. My eyes were not ready to leave hers and soaked in her being like a parched soul. All the guests present sung sonnets of praises in her honour while my chest broadened in pride. My friends Munna and Pandit gave me thumbs up for the choice. I was dressed in a simple cream shirt and black trousers with a black linen coat thrown over. Together we were a sight! Not in my words but in pandit's. I smiled as my mother slowly led her to me and sat her by my side. My eyes surreptitiously went to check her red palms. Her mehendi looked deep and rich. I could sense the blush that came over her cheeks. I couldn't stop myself  from holding her hands. She was taken  by surprise. She tried beckoning me with her eyes to let go. But I was in no mood. Today was my day to put her in a spot. her hands felt warm against mine and they fit in like a piece of puzzle. I tried turning her palm, in order to check the intricate design of her red Mehndi. I knew, she had my name in there. But she sensed my mischief and wouldn't let me. But I remained persistent in my quest. Today in the morning, when my phone had given out the similar two bell signal, I was a bit taken aback. After all given the number the guests and the number of rasms that we were involved in throughout the day, I hadn't expected a call from Naina. After all being the groom was difficult but being a bride was all the more taxing. Atleast we were spared the horrors of make up and getting our hair done in a certain way for ever other function so that we looked perfect. I had picked up the receiver in haste while tugging on the sleeves of my kurta, folding them up. I was worried as to all was ok on her end? But then her mellifluous voice made all my worries vanish. Since it was our mehndi ceremony and it bears a special significance, she wanted to know whether I wanted my full name on her palms or just the alphabet S. I had smiled at her query and teased her saying, I wanted all of her and that no matter what design she had on her palms, I wanted my name on her heart. I could sense her pink cheeks from across the phone. When she insisted that I choose one, I had simply replied that I wanted her to as per her wish since its her mehndi too. She had smiled and agreed. That was in the morning while now I was in no mood to let go. I was intrigued to know her choice, while she was unrelenting to let me see.

Naina: yeh aap kar kya rahein hain?

Sameer: kuch bhi toh nahi

Naina: acha! Kuch nahi!

Sameer: mujhe apna naam dekhna hain

Naina: jee nahi, abhi nahi

Sameer: phir kab?

Naina: shaadi k baad

Sameer: haan who main samajh gaya, lekin kab?

She looked at me with perplexed expression, while I tried keeping my expressions stoic yet the corners of my line turned and finally it dawned on her what I hinting at. She blushed a deep red.

Sameer: sharma gayi? Lekin usdin toh tum badi bahadur ban rahi thi phone pe?

Naina: nahi...woh main...actually... who

She stuttered

Sameer: don't worry naina today am not in mood to test your bravery but given your knowledge on the subject, I guess I would love to test you on our first night together.

She gasped and turned her face away in shyness.

I was enjoying myself thoroughly. The evening turned out to be perfect. We had chosen yet again a closed venue. Given the heat, it was impossible to have an open air affair. All the arrangements had been in order and the menu was a mix of Indian continental and Chinese. The guests from both ends were enjoying themselves to the hilt while we both were busy soaking in each other. In between my step father along with his mom had emerged to bless us. My step grandmother had never been a hot favourite of mine. She never left a chance to put me down and today was no different. Looking at Naina she smiled rather smirked her evil smirk while she commented on her being too simple. She went a step ahead in commenting that her jewelleries seemed fake while expressing her sorrow over her social status. I was at the tip of the iceberg and was ready to retort with an equally snide remark when the great Jayprakash Maheshwari chipped in. He once again saved the day. On the pretext of tasting some new dish, he pulled both my stepfather and his mom away. I was relieved and nodded my head in a silent thank you while he winked at me silently saying anytime!

Naina had watched us in awe and when I saw that she was gaping at naanu's retreating back, I told her that we were more of friends.

Sameer: Naina, of all the people I have in my life, naanu is the most special. He is more of a father, even a mother, teacher, friend, philosopher, guide to me.

Naina: haan mujhe dikha abhi. Aap dono dost jaise ho bilkul.

Sameer: hmm, and you need to know this Naina, that when my mother had remarried, my step father was not open to the idea of sharing families. He didn't want me to be with them. Then my naanu had taken over the duties of my both my parents and since then he has been my saviour.

Naina: I know he is special to you and though I have interacted very less with him, I could tell that the bond that you two share is precious. I am waiting to know him better. Aap mujhe shaadi k baad Ahmedabad le jayenge na?

Sameer: haan, pukka kyunki naanu bade utaavle hain apni honeywaali bahu k saath time spend karne ko. Who bhi us din keh rahein they ki tumse thik se baat nahi hui. Par don't worry, bahut saara time milega tum dono ko saath mein. Acha Naina uss din jo tumne sawaal poocha tha phone pe uska jawab abhi doon ya phone pe?

She looked at me perplexed

Naina: sawaal, jawaab? Matlab? Main samjhi nahi? Kaunsa sawaal?

Sameer: arey tumhi ne toh poocha thaa us din aur kahan bhi thaa jaldi nahi hain, but I think shaadi se pehle hi yeh saari baatein clear hojaaye toh acha hai nahi?

Naina: aap gol gol baatein kyun kar rahein. Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aaraha. Seedhe seedhe boliye naa kya bolna chahte hain?

Sameer: ok seedhe seedhe bata deta hoon. Well Naina I don't have any problems using protection but I would prefer you also consult your gynaecologist so that we can also explore the other options. You see what if there is a slip up.

I said all of it with an impassive expression fixed on my face. i peeked at her only to find her squirming while her face appeared red. I knew my job was done. Round 2 won by Sameer Maheshwari

The rest of the evening glided in a blur with a mix of dance performances from both ends. Songs of ddlj and hahk ruled the roost. I could see my friends having a gala time. Especially pandit since he seemed to be charmed by Preeti. He followed her around and even during her performance, had not blinked an eyelid. I could the first blossoms of love there. if all turns out well then Naina would never miss the company of her sister at her in laws. I was the most surprised by the gesture of my would be father in law. Since he had already announced that he would not be dancing, we were not expecting much from him. But he shocked us all with his singing and given his grumpy image I was not so hopeful but turns out he is quite a good singer! I was surprised. My mother too shook a leg along with my naanu who was overjoyed and couldn't stop smiling. But main hitch came when it was time for us to dance. I knew Naina was always a good dancer. I had seen her in our school days performing at our fest. But the problem was with me. I always had two left feet and hence when we were pulled on to the stage to dance, I was awkward and conscious. But I guess my would be wife could read my hesitation and hence as if on cue, she became my teacher guiding me through the performance, holding my hand, steering me in the right direction. We were engaged in a soft waltz on the song, mere sawaalon ka jawab do, from maine pyaar kiya. The song had been Naina's choice and how apt, I thought. The song suited us perfectly!

My friends had always laughed at me whenever I had tried dancing and my seniors in the army had forbidden me ever from dancing. At all the events that we would have, I would always take to the bar stool in the corner while sipping on to my wine. This is was because I had once stepped on to the foot of A colonel's wife. God I had been mortified. Though the lady in question had laughed it off as innocent mistake her husband till date gives me murderous glares everytime we meet at the cantonment.

But today with Naina, it seemed like my feet had found their own rhythm, they danced in sync with hers, never for once stepping onto her feet. And in all of it, I couldn't stop staring at her. Her eyes glittered with happiness,the smile that tugged at her lips added to her beauty, her earings danced and kissed her cheeks every time I twirled her around. Her dress accentuated all the right curves while her grace as a dancer added to her effervescent charm. Wow! She looked beautiful! And I was convinced that god was too happy with me to be granting her as my life partner. I couldn't wait to marry her now. In all of this, I didn't realise that the song and had come to an end and we both had stopped dancing. Wow! I thought she could make me dance to her tunes already. While I was busy smiling at this thought of mine my friends came over on the stage to pat me on my back and I eventually turned to Naina only to find her looking at me with pride. As if an unspoken conversation took place between the two of us, where I was in awe of her while she told me through her eyes that I could always turn to her whenever stuck in trouble. I knew I had fallen in love with her since the day I laid eyes on her but today I saw myself falling all over in love with this woman who was to be mine tomorrow. My Naina, my wife.

Naina Agarwal 24th April 1996

Looking at my hands, I felt shy, since I knew Sameer wouldn't have to look for long, before he found his name on my hand. It was there all over. When I had asked him about what kind of design he preferred, he had simply replied that he wanted it to be my choice. I had smiled then, since in my mind I wanted my hands to be painted in his name and hence the instructed the the lady to draw a pattern across my hands that would have my husband's name all over. She had looked at me in surprise and then had insisted that it shouldn't be the way since it's a game and usually the name is written in a way to keep it hidden from the prying eyes and also to keep the groom in tenterhooks. But I was stubborn and hence she had relented eventually. But then, she told me, that she would try and keep it in a way that though the name would be all over yet be hidden. I was a bit wary at first but when she showed me a demo on my hands , I had smiled at it since I wanted just the same. And now I staring at the design, while I waited for my husband in his room.

Husband! Wow! The very word made so many emotions course through my veins. It had happened all at once. Until a few years back he was just a boy who would wait at the gate of his school staring at me while I sneaked glances at me. the boy whose hair would dance in the wind while he smiled that charming smile that could melt a million hearts. The boy with whom I didn't words to converse with. He was one of a kind. And then he had been lost but my heart never stopped pining for him. How in every prospective groom I looked for him until he came and swept me off my foot. Technically our relationship was only 10 days old since it has been only over a week that we have started to speak to each other but it felt like we know each other for ages.

My riverie was suddenly broken by the approaching footsteps and also the giggles and chatters that followed. I could hear, they were bartering with Sameer for money. What were they calling it, tax! I chuckled to myself, tax to see his own bride! I could imagine the exasperated and haggard expressions that he must be giving out to them. He looked suave and handsome today in his white sherwani and red turban. I saw my friends getting jealous for once since he had his eyes only for me. while we sat in front of the holy fire, chanting hymns of togetherness, held my hand tight. The seven promises, that we made while going around the fire, never for once did his eyes left mine. While he was tying the mangalsutra around my neck, he had whispered mine in my ears ever so subtly but I couldn't stop my blush. He filled my maang with the red vermillion while he painted my heart and my soul in red in his name. I was his now, forever. From me and you, we had become us.

In all of this Sameer remained undeterred in his quest to find his name in my hand. While we were seated at the tage receiving guests, I saw him trying to sneak a glance. And even while seated at the mandap, his expressions remained stoic, but he kept trying to get a peek. But luck had been on my side all through. While on the stage, the intermittent flow of guests kept us busy, at the mandap it was pamditji who kept bringing his hand in between ours blindsiding his attempts at a peek. At one point, I had seen him muttering to himself. I couldn't help but giggle and he had looked at me narrowing his eyes to slit. While chachaji did my kanyadaan as papa had bestowed him this right, for he has been a father figure to me all my life. I remembered being misty eyed. At the very oment Sameer had leaned in

Sameer: sweetheart, you didn't let me sneak a peek at your mehndi, its ok! But be ready for the torture. I wont leave you tonight.

He had whispered.

His words had sent an electric current course through my being. All at once I was aware of his virility and his maleness and the thought had made me go stiff not with discomfort but with the nervousness and the shyness that comes with the territory. He had winked at me.

The ride to his house had been quite uneventful though I had expected some mischiefs from his end. But my emotional state probably had deterred him to try something mischievous with me. and then we were welcomed in with all the grandeur and showered with love. My mother in law did my aarti while my grandfather in law blessed us with all his heart. His smile I could see reached his eyes. Then a flurry of rasms followed. When I was being led to my room, rather Sameer and my room, I felt my heart beat real loud. I was nervous but at the same time eager to be with my husband.

The giggles had finally ceased and I heard the retreating footsteps while I heard, someone whispering. And then, the saw the door opening through the veil. It seemed that Sameer had changed into a blue kurta and pyjama. He bolted the door and I could feel the butterflies in my stomach do a somersault. He inched closer with every step towards the bed, my heart wouldn't stop racing while I felt my palms go clammy.

He sat on the bed, staring at me, while I fretted under the veil. I saw his hands move towards the veil. He lifted it up, and I couldn't stand his heated gaze and hence I closed my eyes tight.

Sameer: meri taraf nahi dekhogi?

He said, while he lifted my chin up.

I simply nodded my head in a no.

Naina: nahi, mujhe sharam aarahi hain

Sameer: aise sharmaaogi toh neeche naanaji ko jo promise kiya hain who kaise poora karunga

At this, I opened my eyes in confusion,

Naina: kaunsa promise?

Sameer: kyun unhe par poti ya par pota chahiye, toh maine kahan thik hain. Lekin tum aise sharmaogi toh phir usmein toh kaafi time lag jayega.

I could see the corners of his lips turn up in a smirk. He was pulling my leg but for once I was a loss for words. I stared dumbfounded.

Sameer: so naina shall we start?

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