Chapter 7 : Jalan
While Surya leaves the room, Imlie looks at her reflection in the mirror, with flushed cheeks, and tries to calm down her quickened heartbeat. She then comes downstairs to join everyone for the function to begin.
The moment she comes around, her eyes search for Surya. Still wondering, since when did her heart started getting this restless, she then notices Anjali clinging onto Surya’s arms in a distant corner in the hall. From what she could observe this far, he definitely seemed irritated, while Anjali seemed to earnestly want to talk about something. In her curiosity, while Imlie takes a few steps towards their direction, Chachi calls out to her “Arey beta Imlie, Suno.. Kuch help chahiye tha. Tum please wo jahan Bulbul baithegi na mehandi ke liye, wahan thoda dekhlo, agar sab samaan ache se rakha haiki nai..
Imlie nodded, “Ji Chachi-ji”, and whilst turning back, and not finding Surya and Anjali standing at their original location, felt a sudden surge of irritation and something, something else, that she couldn’t understand.
While internally, going through a myriad of emotions, she started walking towards the stage to make sure, everything was as required, for the Mehandi function to take place.
Having checked everything properly, she was just about to get up, when Surya came-in and joined her, instructing the Mehandi ladies, “Didi suniye, Dulhan ke saath saath, Dulhan kibehan ko bhi ache se mehandi lagana please”.. and while smirking towards Imlie,“mera biwi baut exicted hai, saari rasme nibhaane ko..”
Before Imlie could really take out her, built up frustration on him, Mami came and asked her to see if Bulbul was ready to come down.
Excusing herself, she got up and left. On the way to Bulbul’s room, Imlie was fuming internally that how sometime back, this Ziddi Zaminkand said that he was all hers, while now, she just saw him spending time with Anjali.“Problem ka Pakoda, kitna jhoota hai", she muttered irritably.
Once she reached Bulbul’s room, she was pleasantly surprised to see her looking so pretty, all decked up in a dark green lehenga, but the exuberance of her outfit, didn’t reach her eyes.
Imlie : “Ka hua Bulbul..? Itni chinta ki lakeerein kaahe?
Bulbul : “Humka darr lag raha hai Imaliya.. Tum toh jaantiho, hum pyaar me ek baar pehle bhi dhoka kha chuke hain..”
Imlie : “Arey tu itna kyu darr rahi hai Bulbul! Prashant-ji kaafe ache insaan hain.. Tum toh unka pehle hi sab bata di thi na, phir darr kaahe ka..!”
Bulbul : “Hum nai samjh paa rahe Imlaiya.. ye shaadi kaise..”
Imlie : “Dekho hamari baat suno, pyaar hona bhi hamare haathme nai hai, aur uska chale jaana bhi hamare haath me nai hai.. Wo log kismat wale hote hain, jinka zindagi dusra mauka deti hai.. toh Koshish karke iss dusre mauke ko bhi, mauka dekar dekho.. Hum toh kar hi rahe hain Koshish.. tumbhi karo..”
Bulbul nodded with a determined affirmative, while Imlie smiled and arranged her dupatta, and took her towards the function downstairs.
While The Mehandi function commenced, Arjun took the stage and announced on the mic that Imlie would also be singing a song celebrating her sister’s happiness. Amidst the applause, and while quite unexpectedly taking the stage, she noticed the quick exchange in glances between Arjun & Surya, thereby confirming her doubt that it was indeed Mr. Rowdy Reddy who was behind all of this.
And holding the mic tightly, she began.. “Ajeeb dastan haiye.. kahan shuru, kahan khatam..
Yeh manzile hai kaunsi, na voh samajh sake na hum…….
Yeh roshni ke saath kyun, Dhuaan utha chiraag se
Yeh khwaab dekhti hun main, ke jag padi hun khwaab se….”
And while his wife was on the stage, shining brighter than the chandeliers all around, all he could think of, was the amount of cuss words coming his way, the moment, she steps down that stage..
Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly realized, Imlie’s accusatory stare at him, across the hall, while singing the next few lines:
“Mubaarakein tumhe ke tum, Kisi ke noor ho gaye….
Kisi ke itne paas ho, Ke sab se door ho gaye….
Ajeeb dastan hai ye…….”
Surya inner thoughts: “Hey Raadha Raani.. Ab maine kya kardiya.. Ye aapka fan girl, mereko stage se bhi, aise ghoor raha hai, jaise maar daalega.. Ye mera wife, sirf singing wale baat pe toh itna naraaz nai ho sakta”
While she steps down from the stage, and before Surya got a chance to approach her, Chachi whisked her away saying, “Imlie beta, baitho yahan,apni behan ke paas.. Usko bhi company mil jaaegi, aur tum bhi mehandi lagwa lena,Surya ke naam ka..” And smilingly teasing her, Chachi leaves..
Mehandi Lady : Didi, jijaji ka naam bataiye..
Imlie already being very irritated : Humka nai pata unka naam waam, jo likhna hai likhdo..
Bulbul noticing Imlie’s mood, informs the ladies to mention ‘Surya’ in her mehandi..
And between all of this, Imlie notices Anjali again lurking near Surya one instant, and again, both of them disappearing the very next..
Imlie : Didi ye mehandi jaldi lagaiye na, humko kuch kaamhai
Mehandi Lady : Haan Didi, bas 5 min aur..
The moment she got done, she just got up, and walked restlessly towards the place, where she saw both Surya & Anjali talking. Not finding anyone there, she went some more towards the end of the gallery,and was finally about to give up, when one hand, came and snaked around her waist and cornered her.
Surya : “Ooo Radha Raani ka fangirl, tum mereko toh nai dhundh raha tha? Ekdam stalker banta ja raha hai, chalo, maaf kiya.. patni hai tum mera.. haq banta hai.”
Imlie, while mincing choicest gaalis inside her mind, spoke “Haan tum hamari aakhon se door kya ho jaate ho na, humka to chain hi nai aata hai”
Surya : “Oh Wow! Taana. Pakka mai kuch toh kiya hai.. Ye tumko wo stage pe gaane ko bulaya isliye toh?”
Imlie not wanting to show the real reason for her anger (or wasit jealousy now?), feigned indifference and said, “Haan wahi, kyu bulaya aisesabke saamne, hume tumne koi choice hi nai diya.”
Surya, not convinced with Imlie’s reasoning, still not wanting to get into a fight, “Wo kya hain a Radharani ka fangirl, mereko pata hai, tum itna acha gaata hai, ye mauka kaise jaane de deta. Tum wo sab choro, ab idhar aa hi gaya hai, toh mehandi bhi dikha do apni please”, saying this with an endearing smile, he leaned close to her.
Imlie being quite irritated with everything, just wanted to get rid of him, and hence tried to leave, but Surya’s hands on either side of her,blocked her way.
“Acha Imlie, tum nai dikhana chahta toh koi nai, tum apna naam toh dekh hi sakta hai na.. And saying this, he smiled sheepishly, and raised his right hand, where in the very center, was a very bright orange ‘IMLIE’ written across the center of his palm..
Shocked, she looked at him and said, “Hey Radha Raani, ye kya? Tum hamara naam kyu likhwa liye?
Surya : Aur kya Imlie, ab tum toh in sabme believe nai kartana. kissi ko toh initiative lena padega..
Her entire anger evaporating regarding anything else, she smiled and also showed her mehandi with his name,and after exchanging a meaningful glance, they both came and joined everyone else in the celebration.
Much later during the evening, when everyone’s mehandi had dried up, and snacks were being served, Sangeet performances started. With everyone performing one after the other, Surya and Imlie’s chance came and they started performing on
“Mehandi laga ke rakhna, doli sajaa ke rakhna, lene tujhe oo gauri, aaenge tere sajna…
Surya looking at Imlie meaningfully while lip syncing:
“Main ek jawaan ladka, Tu ek haseen ladki, Ye dil machal gaya toh, Mera kusoor kya hai….”
And Imlie’s retort:
“Rakhna tha dil pe kaabu, Ye husn toh hai jaadu, Jaadu hi chal gaya to, Mera kusoor kya hai”
And while they were dancing, everyone came on the stage during the last verse: “Shava hoyye.. hoyye. hoyye.. (x7)”
Suddenly with so many people on the dance floor, Imlie and Surya got separated by the influx of family members, and well-wishers. Trying to find Imlie, with so many people huddled together, most of them having two left feet, and his dearest wifey, being of the cute height that she was, was not going to be easy.
And just when he thought, he might not be able to really seek her, he saw his ‘True North’, something glistening, something wrapped around protectively around his wife’s waist. The Body chain.The damn body chain. “Ye kamarbandh, marwaega mereko ek din”, muttered Surya to himself.
And just when, he took a step towards her, he was pulled back, by someone. Not sure, who would it really be, he found himself in close quarters with none other than the one person he was supposed to be the farthest from, i.e. Ms Anjali.
Surya : Kya Anjali, tum phir aa gaya, kitni baar main tumko bataaega, ki mujhse door raho?
Anjali : Nai Surya, mujhe tumse abhi ke abhi baat karni hai…
Saying this, she fisked him away from the dance floor, While Imlie, in her own search of Rowdy Reddy, again ended up seeing them together,and on top of that, going to a secluded corner.
Chapter 8: Nayi Shuruat
Surya’s anger had reached another heights now, and before he could really shout at her, Anjali started speaking : “Surya, main samjhti hun ki tumhari shaadi ho chuki hai, par wo toh majboori me hui na.. Imlie toh tumse dhangse baat bhi nai karti.. Tum uske liye mujhe, zindagi bhar ka dukh dene ko Tayyar ho?”
Surya : “Ek hi baat ko tum hazaar baar bolega toh bhi kuch change nai hoga Anjali. Main subah se tumko 3 baar samjha chuka hai already. Mereko apni puri zindagi bhi agar Imlie ka wait karna padega na, main karega, but usko cheat nai karega.”
Anjali not in the senses to have a logical conversation, just hugged him, and started crying, “Nai Surya, mujhe, khudse door mat karo…”
And just then, Imlie also came, searching for them. The moment, Surya saw her, all the colour drained from his face, knowing that she shall be assuming the worst. He forcefully removed Anjali away from him, and started explaining to Imlie: “Woh main.. Hum dono..Jaisa tum soch raha hai Imlie..”
Before he could explain anything, Imlie just gave him a death glare, and went and hugged Anjali.
On her end, Anjali was expecting some harsh words, a slap or two, or even public humiliation, but this, this she did not expect, and hence, given how vulnerable she was, she hugged Imlie tighter and started sobbing loudly.
After couple of minutes when Anjali’s crying had stopped, and she had some water, (handed by a visibly scared Surya, anticipating a volcano waiting to erupt, from Imlie’s end anytime now), what she said next, really stumped him.
Imlie : "Anjali ji, hum samjhte hain, apne pyaar ko khokar kaisa lagta hai.. par agar wo pyaar aapko na chahe, toh isse behtar hai ki aap apne liye, aur apne bhavishye ke liye, use bhul jaaein. aur aage badhein”
Anjali : “I am sorry Imlie, mujhe pata hai, main kuch dino se kaafi weird behave kar rahi thi. But mera dil ye manne ko Tayyar hi nai tha ki Surya ab mujhse pyaar nai karta. Main shayad apne ek-tarfa pyaar me andhi ho gayi thi. Clearly Surya toh tumhare saath kaafi pehle move on kar chuka hai, aur, aur shayad ab tum bhi...”
And without waiting for anything else to be said by either of them, Anjali got up, and left the house, and Surya, never to come back again...
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Once Anjali left, Surya tried stopping Imlie and talking, “Imlie main bas clear karna chahta tha ki..ki.. aisa kuch.. I mean, tum ye mat soch na ki…”
Imlie gave him again a very indifferent look and said : “Dekho Rowdy Reddy.. Hame pata hai, pehal tumhari taraf se nai hui thi, aur hume ye bhi pata hai ki tum, hume kabhi dokha nai doge, humne tumhari saari baatein sun li thi.
Par abhi, hum kuch waqt chahte hain, tumse door, isliye aaj hum Bulbul ke room me soenge. waise bhi kal uski shaadi hai, use aaj nind ache se aaye, aur agar usse hamari jarurat ho toh, hum uske saath hi rahenge.”
Before Surya could react, Imlie also left and closed the door behind her.
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It’s night time, and all the guests have left, and the Reddys and Bulbul and her family were also in their rooms, possibly asleep by now.
Surya walks into the Kitchen, once again, after tossing and turning in his bed, and not able to sleep for the last one hour. He is about to switch on the light, when he feels a sense of deja-vu, colliding with none other than, the reason of his restless sleep and catching her, before she could fall.
Surya : Radharani ka fangirl! Tum.. Yahan.. phrise? Tum decide kiya hai kya, hamesha mujhse aise hi takra jaaega..
Imlie : Haan Rowdy Reddy, wo tum kehte ho na, hum tumka stalk karte rehte hain har jagah.. (And then giving him an irriated look), choroge tum ab?
Surya chuckled: Pakka na Imlie? Chor dun? Uss din jaise tumko chora tha, aur tum floor pe jaake gira, Chapaak!
Imlie, struggling to come out of his arms, finally managed to stand on her own, maintaining some distance, “Baut hasi aa rahi hain na tumko Rowdy Reddy”
Surya: “Bas Imlie, ab baut ho gaya hai, ye tum mereko aur kab tak iss naam se bulaega? Tumko mera naam lene me kya problem hai? Bolo mera naam ache se.. Kaho.. Surya.”
Imlie : “Aeee tum ye aage kaahe aa rahe ho, door raho humse,hum sirf paani lene aaye the, ab ja rahein hain.”
Before she could escape him, Surya pulled her towards him,and twisted her one hand behind her back, so that she was pinned against him, and him leaning against the kitchen slab.
Surya : “Imlie tumhari narazgi ek taraf, par ab agar, tumne mera naam sahi se nai liya, toh main tumko kiss kar dega”
Imlie’s eyes started popping out of her sockets, “Kya faaltu ki baat kar rahe ho Rowdy Red…”
And before she could complete her sentence, Surya, removed the hair from her shoulders to one side, dipped his head, and gave a seering kiss in the base of her neck.
Not able to really understand, what was happening, Imlie’s other hand came onto his shoulder to take support, and stop herself from swooning.
Coming out of the trance, she said. “Rowdy Reddy.. tum ye kya sab..”
And again, with a naughty smile, Surya started towards her, this time aiming for her lips, when she started struggling in his arms, “Acha.. Acha.. Surya-ji, ab aap humka jaane do”
Surya (with a mischevious glint in his eyes) : “Surya ji nai Imlie, bolo Surya”.
Imlie while really hitting his chest with her closed fist this time, managed to come out of his hold, and said haughtily, “Bataiye zara.. Har Raat ko nikal aate hain, pata nai kis baat ke Surya devta hain..” and saying that, she quickend her pace and dashed from the kitchen, leaving behind her bemused and chuckling husband.
*Next morning: The Day Of The Wedding*
Imlie was all decked up in a light pink lehenga, and had adorned herself with all the jewellery. She entered her room to check on Surya and tell him to come downstairs, and help her withthe preparations. She entered the room and saw Surya almost ready, but still struggling with the saafa.
Imlie : “Ka Rowdy Reddy tum abhi tak READY nai hue ho?
Surya who was also looking in into the mirror, saw his wife’s reflections, and smilingly said, “Lagta hai, tum kal raat ka lessons bhul gaya hai Imlie, idhar aao, main tumko yaad dila deta hai”
Hearing this, a pink hue spread over her cheeks, very much matching the color of the lehenga, and she said, “Tum apna naam, aur saare akshar, humka baad me seekha dena, pehle tum khud toh tayyar ho jaao”. and saying this, she made him sit on the chair, and started making him wear the saafa, going around him.
In this situation, the way she was standing, and Surya sitting, the only thing going inside his mind was..yes..you guessed it right! “The Body chain” and before he could try to even touch her bare waist, he got a reprimanding slap on his hand by his dearest wife.
Imlie : “Sochna bhi mat, keh de rahein hai, peechle 2-3 din se tumhari harkatein badhti jaa rahin hai.. hume majboor na karo, phirse wo khusad Imlie banne ke liye”
And while listening to this Surya made a face, Imlie had to stifle her laughter, seeing her Rowdy Reddy sulking like a small kid.
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The wedding went beautifully, with Maami being teary eyed with Bulbul’s vidaai, and Imlie having to say bye to everyone, with a promise to meet again soon.
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They both came to their room, and before Imlie could go to change her clothes, Surya stopped her.
Surya : “Imlie ruko, main kuch laaya hai tumhare liye”, and saying this, he took out a dainty mangalsutra, just like her, and gave it to her.
“Ye main tab hi le aaya tha, jab hamari shaadi hui thi, par tab toh tum mereko kaante ko daudta tha.. matlab abhi bhi tumhara bas chale toh I am sure, tum mujhe dande se peet dega, par ye tumhare liye..”
Imlie : “Ab laa hi diye ho toh pehna bhi do hume”
Surya happily ties the mangalsutra around her neck, and said, “ab hum shaadi ki saari rasme kar hi rahein hai toh, main ye rasam kaise chor dun..” and while saying this, also re-filled her maang..
“Main tumhara life me wo sab rang bhar dega Imlie, jo meri wajah se cheen gaye tumse, main vaada karta hai”
Saying this, he was about to step away, when Imlie pulled him with his collar and said, “Toh iss Nayi Shuruat pe muh nai meetha karwaoge hamara”
Not able to comprehend, that his wife was capable of any double-meaning talk, he schooled his shocked expressions and said, “Haan chalo, neeche toh shaadi ki mithaiyaan hi mithaaiyan hain.”
Imlie : Aee Rowdy Reddy, tum itna shareef hone ka jo natak kar rahe ho, tumka sach me nai samjh aa raha, hum kya keh rahein hai?
Not wanting to keep his hopes high, and again get scolded, Surya said, “ Haan.. haan matlab kya hai tumhara..mujhe.. toh.. nai..”
Without letting him complete his sentence, Imlie pulled him more intimately, and gave a smooch on his lips and said teasingly.. “Ye tha humara matlab Surya-ji..hum ye muh meetha karne ko keh rahe the tumka..”
A dazed, and pleasantly shocked Surya looked at her, and then at her lips, and then back again at her, and without a second thought, pulled his wife, with all the haq in the world, and sealed their destinies together with a passionate kiss, which both of them felt in their very own being.
Epilogue
(3 years later)
(A bright sunny day, at around 4 PM in the afternoon)
Surya was sitting on his room’s study table and working on a case file, when he heard the usual melody that came accompanying, whenever his dear wife, walked into a room.
*Cham* Cham* Cham*, came his Imlie, adorned completely with the anklets, the bangles, the jhumkas, her other trinklets, including but not limited to the in-famous body chain.. (By now, Surya had brought in so many others, but Imlie’s favourite was this one, the one which started it all, the one her husband loved seeing her wearing, the most.)
Without even bothering to turn back, and take a look at his wife, he smiled still engrossed in his files and asked “Toh kya khabar laayi hai mera wife, Ms. Reporter?”
(Imlie is now a journalist, working with a local newspaper, and sometimes her profession does give her a chance to work with her husband on a case or two, and during those cases, she does take some liberties in the bedroom, to find out confidential information at times, the very damn fact which really irks Surya, but nevertheless still leaves him with hardly any alternative)
Imlie : “Filhaal toh hum off-duty hain, jaisa ki aap jaante hain.. so hum khabar toh laaye hain, par apne ghar ki.. Neeche kaaki-ma, amma, malti,chacha, baithkar shaadi ki tayaariyan kar rahein hain, aur aap yahan, apni files me ghuse hain..”
Surya (without looking at her): “Hmmm. Aata hai main Imlie, pata hai, hum sabko 4 din baad nikalna hai Sonali di aur Amar ji ki shaadi ke liye,par kyunki hum log sab ek hafte ke liye ja raha hai, mujhe kuch important kaam khatam karna tha nikalne se pehle”
Knowing her husband really well, that once he is into his work, he won’t have much time, for.. for well, anything else, Imlie goes to him, swirls his chair and sits on his lap.
Surya adoringly looks at her and smiles lovingly: “Acha madam, tum toh bilkul mere jaise banta ja raha hai ab.. Kyunki ghee seedhi ungli se nai nikala, tumne decide kar liya ki tum mera kaam ab aise band karwaega..”
Imlie : “Haan patidev, kyunki ka hai na, ye baat important hai, agar tumse abhi baat nai hui, baad me der ho jaaegi, aur phir tumhara rowdypana humka jhelna padega..”
Surya : “Kya hua Imlie, batao?”
Imlie : “Wo humka Sonali di ne bola hai ki unka hamari jarurat padegi tayyarion me, toh wo chah rahin thi ki hum, tum sabse pehle paunch jaate toh.. waise toh Chutki, Avinash ji, Chacha-Chachi, aur baaki sab log hai wahan, par un logon ko hamari jarurat…”
Surya : “Ek min.. ek min.. Tum keh raha hai, tum mereko pura 4 din akele chorke jaaega?”
Imlie chucked : “Akela? Ab na jyada ho raha hai Rowdy Reddy.. Pura pariwaar hai tumhre saath, aur wo dono bhi toh hai hamare natkhat bacche.. saying this, she adoringly looks outside the window, where two toddlers, their twins, their own personal galaxy, their daughter Chanda, and their son, Sitara, were playing in the aangan, under the supervision of a smiling & playful Chachi..
Surya, snapped his fingers, and brought her attention back to him, “Ye sahi hai tumhara, un dono ko dekhkar itna pyaar, aur yahan tum mereko chor ke jaane ko Tayyar hai”
Imlie smiled lovingly, looking at her Problem ka Pakoda making a sulking face, and intertwined her hands, behind his neck, “Toh Tum batao na humka, ab hum ka kare, jaana toh ab humka padega, humne Sonali jiji se promise kar diya hai”, and saying this, she pouted and made an innocent face.”
Surya being much too aware of his wife antics, and tactics to win him over, looked at her eyes first, longingly, and then at her lips hungrily, and said, “Ek kaam karte hai, shuru se shuru karte hain”
And with an excited glint in his eyes, in anticipation of the evening which was going to become an interesting one, he lifted her up and headed towards the bed.
And They Lived Happily Ever After 
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Glad y'all are enjoying this series, as much as I am enjoying writing this..
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