Chapter 1

praj.shrish

@praj.shrish

I heard this endearment again when I announced that I do not believe in marriages and would rather prefer to be in a live-in relationship when I was asked to get married after returning from London completing my higher studies. I do not find anything wrong in my stance. How can you be forced to follow a system which you don't trust just because it has been running from ages? I am not against this institution, no I am not! But I don't support it for only sake of it. I have witnessed many couples getting conjugated reluctantly just to follow the path. And I do not support such conjugal. I believe to give a fair chance to everyone no matter a girl or boy to choose his/her own way of living life. My mantra is simple Live freely and Let live freely'. And I follow it religiously let people call me 'Shameless'. I even cleared to my Nani that I would have entered into such relationship long ago had I have found a match equally shameless as that of mine.

I guess my this crudeness sent high alerts to my Nani and this is how started our parades to different marriages where we were not even remotely supposed to be present. My Nani thought very highly of me considering me a naive person who would not understand her real intentions behind attending those wearisome affairs. I too pretended to be oblivion of her plan and continued accompanying her at every occasion. Of Course , I could have denied to trail her but then I love my Nani too much to refuse her requests( or better be called as emotional blackmails) and not to fall for her theatrical tears(She had been a famous theater artist in her young age). And not that I was going to fall in her traps at any time. She too knew how stubborn and determinant I can be when it comes to following my own rules. Still I wondered, what it was that pushed her to try her own level of resolution. Whatever it may be but I do not mind attending few weddings just to make her happy until it does not harm my resolve in any way. I found these tours amazing as every time I discovered a new way to kill my time and make my presence more exciting.

This is how we have landed here in Jaipur "The Pink City"!

It is my Nani's friend's sister's daughter-in-law's cousin's marriage. So we are very very closely related to the family and can't miss the wedding. As it is, I have to inspect a site for my new venture of " ASR Hotels" so I did not create much ruckus and obligatory joined her.

My SUV ran on the roads of the Jaipur and I recalled my distant memories of childhood of visiting the city with my family. It proved to be our last vacation as a family. Anjali, my kid sister was crazy for the color pink so much so that I do not even remember the times when she wore anything other than pink. Her obsession for Pink made my father to plan a trip to The Pink city , Jaipur. I hardly remember the places we visited then but Anjali's enlightened face after seeing the whole city bathed in pink etched on my mind permanently as one of the most happiest memories. I was 12 then and she was just six but then and there I planned to arrange a grand ceremony of her marriage in this city when she would be of that age. But all said and done.

At an unexpected turn I lost my parents and my little pinky , Anjali in a car accident. And thus the dream remained only a dream. After that I never visited this city again and not to mention started disliking the color pink.

But all says Time heals every wound. That must be true. Or why else I have suddenly started feeling so calm and excited as I never felt before ,looking at the color pink spread everywhere in the vicinity. The setting sun too was adding its own distinguished hues of pink all over the horizon. It is as if the creator did not find any other color in his color tray and hence painted this picturesque town, from sky to the earth only in pink.

Shaam gulaabi, sehar gulabi
Pahar gulaabi hai gulabi ye shehar..


[The evening is rosy pink, the morning is pink,
The time is pink, and this city is pink too..]

My car screeched and came to halt at the entrance of The Raj Palace' where the wedding had been arranged. Needless to say all the arrangements were as sumptuous and imperial as you expect them to be when you hear the venue The Raj Palace, Jaipur'.

I settled in my suit on 2^nd floor ,specifically allotted for me and Nani. There must be some magic in the airs. Because surprisingly I found myself standing in the balcony facing the huge gardens of the Mahal and keenly observing the pre-wedding celebrations. I hate the clamor and commotion in such functions to the core. But today, I started actually enjoying it when my eyes set on a lean figure clad in pink lehenga. It was hard to differentiate between the colour of her dress and complexion of her skin. It is not that I had never come across beautiful girls in my life or she was the only charming girl in that bunch of people but there was something different in her personality which I could not particularly keep my finger on and that was making her stand out in the crowd.

She was dancing her heart out on the music played in background without bothering about the large crowd surrounding her. She was helplessly inebriated by her own world and did not shy away from displaying her intoxication. She must be as Shameless' as me, suddenly I thought.

Main bhi gulabi, tu hai gulabi

Din bhi gulaabi hai gulaabi ye kehar..

[ I'm pink too, and you're pink
The day is pink and the havoc (that you have

created in my mind) is pink too..]

And here comes the most boring part of these kind of ceremonies, sit patiently watching the rituals taking place in front of you as if that is the most entertaining and watchable scene on the earth. I mean what is so interesting to watch the groom repeating some mantras after panditji and performing some tasks as per his instructions? And it was just the beginning. Yet the bride was to join him. So instead of sulking into that unbearable task of pretending enjoying the ceremony like others ,I chose to escape from the scene. Did not I mention that I am of a 'Besharam' kind?

Ignoring my Nani's glare, I simply exited the hall and preferred to roam around the palace. Well , that is far more interesting than watching those boring rituals.

As I passed the area where bride's room situated, I heard some hushed noises as in few stifled sobs of a girl and then loud scolds may be of another girl. I neared the balcony from where the sounds were emanated and peeped in through slightly ajar door. A girl wearing 'shadi ka joda' (she must be the bride I guessed ) stood there with her head bowed down in front of the same 'Besharam' girl I had seen in the evening. My curiosity kindled immediately thinking why on the earth both these girls are chitchatting here, in a comparatively deserted place when the bride was supposed to be at downstairs beside the groom. Instantly my hearing senses sharpened and I heard the girl in pink saying to the bride,

"No Shruti! How can you fall for these emotional blackmails? It is not any damn movie, it is your life, you fool! Why don't you understand? You both do not need to get married forcefully if you don't want to. Love cannot be created forcefully like this and such relations do not sustain for long"

Gulabi dori hai, bandhi ye chori hai
Naa jora-jori naa seena jori hai
Gulabi dori hai, Bandhi ye chori hai
Naa roka-toki hai na seena jori hai re

[ The thread that is tied between us in hiding is pink,
There is no force, and no ego..
The thread that is tied between us in hiding is pink,
There is no incessant interrupting, and no ego..]

"But Khushi, this is arranged marriage. And such incidences are normal to happen in arrange marriages. Nothing new. Once we get married everything will fall in place eventually. Don't you see our parents, neighbors and whole community doing the same? There is nothing wrong." I felt as if she was convincing herself more than to another girl.

"If everyone else is following the path that does not mean it is the right one and you too should follow the same. And I am not talking about arrange marriages here. You know very well. Arre, the groom himself told you that he loves some other girl and he is marrying to you only under the pressure of his family, did not he?"

"Yes the great Harishchndra had nobility to tell me the truth only one day prior to our marriage. But then what can I do now? For God sake can't you see all the guests have arrived, all the preparations are done and what about my family and our reputation? I have to do this, I want it or not. I don't have any option, Khushi"

Khushi (I knew her name now) fiercely held her shoulder and shook her vigorously trying to make her see through her parents' emotional blackmails.

" shruti, it is your life at stake , you idiot. This all sacrificing for reputation drama will destroy lives of both, of you as well as of him and would earn nothing in return neither for you both nor for your families. You have gotten this only life to live, yar. And you can't waste it after some stupid idea of prestige or such similar crap"

Shruti (I pitied the poor bride) spoke through her uncontrolled sobs now.

" But it's too late now, Khushi! Nothing can be done."

I could see Khushi's jaw hardened as if she determined something. "Do you know the girl, Shruti?" She asked.

Shruti bobbed her head and replied ," She is his best friend's sister. And to rub salt on my wounds she has come here to attend the wedding"

A small smile crept on Khushi's beautiful face. (I liked her half smile. So I thought I would just love to see her face brightened with a full smile. Just to note) she wiped Shruti's tears and assured her.

"You don't worry, my dear friend! You just show a little courage and I will handle the rest. You stay here and wait for the good news, okay?"And she winked sexily. My heart fluttered at that. Well, you can't blame me. Watching a beautiful girl winking is always a pleasant scene.

Before she could come out and catch me eavesdropping them, I hid myself in time behind a carved pillar and watched her going away from my vision swaying her hips prettily.

Raah bhi gulabi ye naav bhi gulabi
Dariya me jo main bahoon gulabi
Kahoon bhi gulabi, main sahoon bhi gulabi
Lagtaa hai main rahoon bhi gulaabi..

[This path is pink, and the boat is pink too,
I float in the river rosily too..
I speak pink, and I bear pink too,
I seems I'll remain pink too..]

I eagerly went downstairs to know what is she up to. But for my dismay, I could not find her there. Though I randomly answered my Nani's stern question "Where were you?", my eyes were busy spotting her in the crowd.

After few minutes of unbearable silence and then commotion for bringing the bride to mandap, she entered the scene with a bright smile (As I had thought, I completely loved her that smile)

She did a respectful Namaste to panditaji and informing him that bride will take few more minutes to get ready asked ,

"Panditaji , if you don't mind can I ask you a question?"

Panditaji startled with this unexpected happening at this rush hour and whole crowd waiting for bride's arrival too left confused with this conversation.

That seems interesting, I thought.

When Panditaji bobbed his head uncertainly, she continued in the same gentle but loud voice.

"Panditaji what is the meaning of all this rituals and mantras you are reciting? Sorry for asking it but I have very little knowledge of it and till the bride comes could you please explain it?"

"Beta, there are different rituals and mantras for different reasons. Earlier few were to seek blessings for bride and groom for their happy marriage and later few are actually vows that bride and groom are supposed to follow in their married life"

"Thank you so much for enlightening me with this knowledge Panditaji! But I am little confused. You said there are mantras for blessing the couple and for vows too but are not there some mantras for creating love between the couple?"

Till then she had grabbed complete attention of every single person present in the hall. And I was thrilled to see her courage.

Panditaji frowned at her question " Mantras for creating love? Beta love cannot be created by chanting some mantras. It just happens."

Khushi did not show it on her face but I could feel her almost smirking in triumph inwardly.

Jaane re jaane mann jaane hai
Rang, rang gulaabi hai preet ro
Jaane re jaane sab jaane hai
Rang, Rang gulaabi hai preet ro

[ This heart knows that the color of love is pink,
Everybody knows that the color of love is pink,]

"So you mean, if in the future love would not happen between the couple as we all believe then these mantras can't help them? Does it mean that there is no meaning to all these rituals if there would be no love in between husband and wife?"

Ohh, that was the googly. She cleanly bowled not only to Panditaji but to all the people present there who kept staring at the ground unable to find answer to her question. I was thoroughly impressed by her. That girl had something in her.

She turned to an elderly lady which I supposed to be Shruti's mother and said " Aunty, see! No one has the answer here. This hom-hawan, mantra all these can't guarantee us that Shruti will be happy in her married life. It is the love which can give us the assurance. And exactly that is missing in this marriage. Please don't do this with Shruti, aunty! Don't force her to enter into a relationship which has neither a base of love nor a future."

Shruti's mother dabbed her moist eyes with her pallu. And I understood , she has agreed to Khushi. But that was the only half battle that girl had won. The main attack was yet to come.

A feisty lady(she must be groom's mother) came marching there."Bahanji, what is all this? Who is this shameless girl? And why are you listening to her patiently? Call Shruti. We cannot miss the muhurat"

was it fortune of to-be-bride or result of Khushi's sincere attempts I don't know but suddenly the groom seemed to be wise-upped with the basic knowledge of companionship. He stood up on his feet. Taking turban wrapped around his head in his hands, he came near his mother.

"Ma, Khushi is right. I was fool enough to come under your pressure and get ready to marry a girl whom I do not love and may be never can. Because I love someone else. And you cannot compel me to love Shruti with these rituals. Love cannot happen with such completions. It would be just an adjustment. And I don't want to live my life with such a huge adjustment."




Gulaabi dori hai, bandhi ye chori hai
Naa jora-jori naa seena zori hai
Gulabi dori hai re, bandhi ye chori hai re
Naa roka-toki hai naa seena zori hai re

Throwing a thankful glance at Khushi's way, he reached near a girl who was standing all crumpled up in a corner watching everything with moist eyes. He held her hand. Bringing her in mandap , he announced loudly "I am marrying to this girl because I love only her"

His decision was appreciated with loud applaud across the hall.

If earlier I had loved Khushi's bright smile ,now I instantly fell for her heartfelt contented grin. And I could not stop myself from grinning ear to ear too watching her.

Panditaji again started reciting his mantras while instructing some tasks to the groom and new bride and everyone else settled peacefully to witness the marriage. I observed ,Shruti now wearing a regular suit and deprived of any jewllery or make-up too joined the ceremony happily. I did not miss the silent exchange of glances between two friends. Shruti seemed happy over turn of the events and grateful to her friend for helping her and Khushi looked satisfied as she could save her friend's life from ruining.

Dard gulabi, chain gulabi
Davaa bhi gulabi hai gulabi hai asar

[ The pain is pink, the relief is pink,
The medicine is pink, and the effect is pink too..]

As I kept looking at her ,the loud chaos, people surrounding me , aromas of different delicacies and everything else in the environment evaded my mind with only two hazel eyes enveloping my whole existence

Naam gulabi ye nain gulabi
Nain gulabi hai gulabi hai safar

[ Your name is pink, your eyes are pink,
And with the pink eyes, the journey is pink too..]

" Chalo, All is well that ends well" My Nani said loudly breaking my reverie . "Par us ladaki ko to dekho. Usane to besharami ki had he kar di (But look at that girl! What a shameless girl she is)"

I chuckled at her comment. I had known all the while. She was as shameless as me. Finally I had found my match. Marriage or Live-in nothing matters when you find the right partner, does it?

Haule gulaabi hain tez gulabi
Karte shararat lab bhi gulabi re

[ We're pink when slow, and pink when fast,
our lips make a pink mischief too..]

" Arnav, I think we should leave now. There is nothing left to stay" I heard my Nani saying behind me when I made my way towards the shameless pink girl.

'No Nani, not now. Especially when I have found my colour' I thought.

This time too, the pink city offered me something which I could relish all of my life. Most importantly it reintroduced the color I had unnecessarily hated in last few years. Color of mine, color of her, color of new love 'PINK'

Choom le gulaabi rangrez gulaabi
Haule le chal tez gulaabi..

[ Kiss me pink, O pink dyer,
Take me slow, take me fast, pink..]

P.S: King Harishandra is renowned for his two unique qualities. The first being, he kept his word and never went back on what he uttered as a promise. The other being, he never uttered a lie in his life. You can have a look at the link

Harischandra

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Movie: Shuddh Desi Romance

Music: Sachin Jigar

Lyrics: Jaideep Sahni

Singers: Jigar Saraiya, Priya Panchal Saraiya

~VM~

My friend Dumas has posted a VM for this story. I guess you would like to watch it. It feels as if the song is made for our Arnav and Khushi only. 😊

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUT-43YCa3s[/YOUTUBE]

Eagrly waiting for your views 😛

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