Part 14
Bhalla House Living Room - later that evening, Sunday, July 7th, 8 pm
“Rinki sab ke liye paani la. Aur Romi, thodi zyada chairs nikaal andar se,” their father instructed. “Aap sab aayiye, please. Baithiye.”
Omprakash welcomed all the Iyers and made them comfortable. Everyone was there today -- including Simi and Vandu-Bala -- and that too for a reason they would have never anticipated. Raman and Ishita were getting married. The idea still needed getting used to, especially for both mothers. Santosh had always wanted to find a girl of her own liking from her own community for Raman. Ishita wasn’t her choice; neither was she Punjabi. But her husband convinced her for the union. After all, Ishita was who Ruhi needed the most. Plus, Raman had already been married to a girl of her choice before, and it didn’t work out very well.
Madhavi, on the other hand, was over the moon when she heard that Ishita had agreed to getting married. But when Vishwa revealed it was Raman, she was taken aback. The fact that Mihika was dating someone from outside their community was shocking enough. Why must it be Raman, she had asked. It didn’t seem right. However, when Vishwa explained that it was the best for her and Ruhi, she reluctantly obliged.
The rest of the family had similar reactions. Simi was worried that her brother was rushing into a marriage that he didn’t have his heart in. Rinki and Romi had serious doubts about the compatibility of the union. Mihika thought her akka deserved better than Raman. Vandu was weary of her sister entering a marriage that had no love to begin with. Bala was scared that Ishita might get her heart broken again, something he could not allow after his own brother had hurt her not less than a year ago. But in the end, Raman and Ishita convinced them by assuring it was happening only for Ruhi. Not everyone was particularly excited about it, but they seemed to get on board.
Only one person was ecstatic with the new course of developments -- Ruhi. When Raman told her that he and Ishita were getting married, and that she would come live with them shortly, the little girl couldn’t hold in her excitement. She had started jumping up and down, cheering and laughing that Mumma and Papa were getting married. In that moment, all of Raman’s doubts washed away. If the idea brought this much happiness to Ruhi, then it was all worth it.
Once the herd of people finally settled down in the Bhallas’ living room, Omprakash took command of the room.
“Dekhiye sab log, ab hum sab log ikattha huye hain, to phir shaadi ki taiyyari kaise karni hai, kaunse functions kab karne hain woh sab tay kar lete hain.”
“Bhalla ji, jo bhi ho, mere puttar ki shaadi to hum itni dhoom dhaam se karenge ki puri Delhi dekhti reh jaayegi,” Toshi beamed.
“Aiyyo, to hum kya choti moti shaadi karwaenge? Meri Ishu ki shaadi hain. Main to puri Chennai to bulaaungi,” Madhu countered.
“Bilkul nahi!” Raman, who had been brooding in a corner until now, suddenly spoke up. “Dekhiye, yeh shaadi hum kisi bade scale pe nahi kar sakte. It has to be a private affair on a very small scale. We can’t afford Shagun or Ashok finding out about this. I’ve already told Pathak and Mihir to make sure that this doesn’t get leaked into the business market. So all of you have to make sure not to tell anyone who doesn’t need to know.” He addressed his mother and mother-in-law, “Mummy, Amma, aap log bhi kaan khol ke sun lijiye. Sirf kareeb ke rishtedar ko hi bulana. Kisi door ke mama ya chacha ko bulane ki zaroorat nahi hain.”
“Thik hai puttar, tu chinta na kar,” Toshi assured him. “To ek kaam karte hain, pehle guest list taiyyar kar lete hain. Hamari taraf se to hum sab hain, aur Pulkit ke gharwale. Phir mere veerji bhi aayenge apni votti aur bacchon ke saath. Aur kaun reh gaya?”
“Oh Toshi ji,” Omprakash exclaimed. “Meri behen ko bhul gaye aap? Shaila bhenji bhi to aayengi?”
“Lekin Bhalla ji, woh to Canada mein rehti hain na? Woh apne pati aur bacchon ke saath aa payengi?”
“Kam se kam invitation to bhej hi sakte hain na? Unhe Raman se bada lagaav hain, to woh zaroor aayengi, mainu pata hain.”
“Jaisa aap ko thik lage, Bhalla ji. Aur haan! Pammi te Dolly ko bhi bulana paega.”
“Mummy, maine kaha na? Sirf nazdeek ke rishtedar,” Raman reminded.
“Puttar, Pammi te Dolly meri best friends hain. Unhe to bulana hi padega na? Bas, aur kisi ko nahi, thik hai?”
“Fine. Aur haan, Pathak aur Trisha ko bhi gin lena.”
“Thik hai puttar. To iska matlab hamare guest list mein huye Pulkit ki family, Veerji, Shaila bhenji, Pammi, Dolly, te Pathak aur Trisha. Haina Bhalla ji? Simi, sab aa gaye na?”
Both Simi and her father nodded in agreement.
“Aiyoo Vishwa, hum bhi apne guests bata dete hain,” Madhu cut in. “Hamari taraf se mere brother aur sister hain. Mihika, tumhari Soumya se baat hui?”
“Haan periamma, amma to bahot khush hain. Aur unhone kaha ki woh zaroor aayengi. Unhone chutti ke liye apply kar diya hain.”
“Yeh to bahot acchi baat hain. Tab use Mihir se bhi introduce karwana, thik hai?”
“Sure, periamma.”
“Madhu, lekin tumhare Anna aa paayenge kya? Unki tabiyat thik hai ab?” Vishwa asked.
“Pata nahi Vishwa. Lekin hum unke son aur daughter-in-law ko to invite kar hi sakte hain na? Gopal aur Vasudha ko? Aur unki dono betiyon ko?”
“GPS Anna!” Mihika was delighted to hear that they would be coming.
“GPS? Yeh kaisa naam hai?” Vandu asked her.
“Arey akka, Vasudha anni ne unhe naya naam diya hai. Gopal Krishnan Srinivasan ka short form, GPS. Aur unki dono betiyon, Mahima aur Preesha bhi aayengi? I am so excited! Main to kabhi Preesha se mili bhi nahi. I can’t wait!”
“Aur haan!” Amma exclaimed. “Vishwa, tumhari akka bhi to aayengi na?”
“Haan Madhu, unhe bhi bulayenge. To hamari taraf se sab aa gaye.”
Simi thought they had missed someone. “Vandu, tumhare sasural se koi nahi aa raha kya? Bala ke parents ya bhai-behen?”
“Nahi. Yahi meri family hain. Aur koi nahi aa raha hain mere ghar se,” Bala declared before Simi could even finish.”
Omprakash cleared his throat and tried to bring the conversation back on track. “Chalo, humare guests to final ho gaye. Ab shaadi ke functions ki baat kar le?”
“Aiyo main bol deti hoon, shaadi to Tamilian traditions se hogi,” Amma declared.
“Oye! Bilkul nahi! Shaadi to Punjabi tarike se hogi!” Toshi countered.
Romi and Simi backed her up. “Bilkul Punjabi shaadi hogi. Dhol nagado ke saath, naach gaane ke saath.”
“Excuse me, periamma ne kya kaha suna nahi kya?” Mihika cut in. “Akka ki shaadi Tamilian customs se hogi.”
“Right, I agree.” Vandu said.
And thus, the civil conversation descended into chaos. Both fathers tried their best to mediate the situation but to no avail. Finally, they suggested that Ishita and Raman decide, since it was their wedding.
“Raman puttar, tu bol. Aur bata de sab ko ki tujhe Punjabi shaadi chahiye,” Toshi urged him.
“Ishu, tu piche mat rehna. Make sure ki shaadi sirf Tamilian tarike se ho,” Vandu encouraged.
“Dekho, tumne Madrasi shaadiyaan dekhi hongi already. Isiliye keh raha hoon ki is baar Punjabi shaadi dekh lo. Humare yahan jaisa naach gaana hota hain woh tumne kahin nahin dekha hoga,” Raman told Ishita.
“Maine dekha hain Punjabi music and dance kaisa hota hain. Isiliye main keh rahi hoon, ki shaadi Tamilian tarike se karo. Tumhara bhi thoda cultural taste develop hoga. Apna loud music chod kar kuch aur dekhne ko milega.”
“Kya dekhenge hum? Tum Madrasiyon ko thodi na aata hain humari tarah maza karna? Main bol raha hoon, Madrasi shaadi karenge to sab ke sab so jaayenge itni boring shaadi dekh kar.”
“Agar baat sirf aap ke naach gaane ki hain, to phir sangeet Punjabi tarike se kar lo. Aur phir shaadi Tamilian customs aur traditions ke saath. It is really important to us.”
“Aiyyo, ab maan bhi jao na, please?” Amma pleaded. “Aap ke bete ki to pehle bhi shaadi huyi hain, lekin meri beti ki to first marriage hain.”
“OYE MADRASAN! Teri himmat kaise hui?! Tu kehna kya chahti hai?!” Toshi screamed.
“What amma?!” Ishita sighed. “Aunty, please aap shaant ho jaiye. Amma ka woh matlab nahi tha.”
Vandu quickly came to her rescue. “Aunty, we’re extremely sorry. Woh to Amma ne Ishu ki shaadi ka dream kitne saalon se dekha hain, isiliye muh se nikal gaya.”
Madhu too realized her folly and apologized. “Mera woh matlab nahi tha Santoshi. Lekin meri Ishu ko ek Tamilian bride bante dekhne ka sapna hain mera. Please shaadi ko Tamilian tarike se hone do?”
After much back and forth, it was decided unanimously by the bride and groom that there will be a Punjabi styled sangeet followed by a Tamilian marriage the next day.
“Nahi! Girls best dancers hain!”
“No! Boys sab se accha dance karte hain!”
Ruhi and Shravu’s shrieks from inside her room halted the conversation going on outside.
“Ruhi! Shravu! Kya hua?” Ishita called them.
At once, they came running outside.
“Ishimaa, yeh Shravu keh raha hai ki girls ko dance karna nahi aata! Woh keh raha hain ki boys hi best dancers hain!”
“To sach hi to hain, Chitti! Boys are the best!”
“Shravu! Aise bolte hain kya? Boys and girls are both the best,” Vandu chided him.
“Usme galat kya keh raha hai yeh Vandu?” Raman asked. “Boys are the best. Tingu, tu bilkul sahi jaa raha hain.”
“Bhai, mujhe aap se yeh ummeed nahi thi,” Rinki commented.
“Agar aisa hai Rinki,” Romi interjected, “to phir prove karo na? Sangeet mein, agar tum sab ladkiyaan hume haraa pao, to hum bhi maan lenge ki tum kitni acchi dancers ho.”
“Bilkul haraayenge hum aapko bhai!”
“Aur waise bhi, humaare paas to sab se acchi dancer hain,” Mihika chimed in. “Hamari Ruhi. Haina Ru? Tum hamare saath dance karogi na?”
“Main Ishimaa ke saath dance karoongi!” she announced and galloped to Ishita’s lap.
“Aur chitti ke saath nahi?” Mihika teased.
“Bua ke saath bhi nahi?” Rinki added.
Ruhi was in a pickle now.
“Koi baat nahi, Ru.” Ishita said. “Main, aap, chitti, aur bua, sab saath mein dance karenge. Aur in saare boys ko haraayenge. Thik hai?” she said earning a high-five from her daughter.
“Jitne sapne dekhne hai, dekh lo. Jab humari team aapke saamne aayegi na, tab pata chalega. Kyun Shravu?” Romi asked.
“Yes chachu!” he replied, giving him a fist bump.
Once the theme and details of the sangeet were finalized by the Bhallas, Madhu and Vishwa took charge of the meeting to explain how the Tamilian marriage would go. All the customs were new to the Bhallas but they obliged, even if reluctantly. It was official.
Kalyan Mandap Marriage Hall - July 17th, 4 pm
Ten days after Ishita and Raman had decided to get married, their sangeet was held in the same hall in which they were to be married the next day. All the guests had arrived and the families were ready to go for the sangeet. Ruhi and Shravu were especially excited about the dance off planned between the girls and the boys. Ishita and Raman were seated in the middle on separate velvet throne chairs. The Iyers sat on the side closest to Ishita while the Bhallas sat on the side by Raman. Mihir and Mihika were in charge of hosting the event. Well, truthfully speaking, Raman had appointed Mihir as the host and Mihika happened to join in as a representative of the Iyers. Raman had made it clear to him not to involve him in any of the dances. He was in no mood to dance.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Mihir announced. “Thank you so much for gracing us with your presence at my dearest Raman bhai and Ishita bhabhi’s sangeet ceremony! As you all may know, today’s sangeet is going to be a dance competition between the boys and girls. So first of all, to dazzle your senses, please welcome Romi, Pulkit jeeju, Bala jeeju, Neil, and Shravu, along with myself, to show you how it’s done!”
“Aap dance nahi kar rahe?” Ishita asked Raman in the midst of the applause.
“Nahi. I don’t dance.”
“Aap hi ne kaha tha, ki Punjabis ki shaan alag hoti hain. Aap ke naach gaane dekhne laayak hote hain. Aur ab aap hi piche hat rahe hain? Dar gaye kya?”
“Oh hello, hum Punjabis kisi se nahi darte. Tum Madrasiyon ko haraane ke liye mere do bhai hi kaafi hain, samjhi? Aur waise bhi, agar maine dance kiya na, to tum sab ka confidence chur chur ho jaayega. I’m just doing you a simple favor, all right?”
“Oh please, don’t feel obliged to grant us any favors. Go ahead. Knock yourself out. Main bhi to dekhu, aakhir Raman Bhalla ko dance aata bhi hai ya…”
“Madrasan, agar Raman Bhalla ne dance shuru kiya na, to sab ko complex ho jaayega. Isiliye rehne dete hain. Hmm?”
The rest of their conversation was drowned out by the music blasting through the speaker system as the boys took to the dance floor.
Ishq ishq mein pyar pyar mein no.1 punjabi
Dil lene mein dil dene mein no.1 punjabi
Baisakhi mein bhangra pake mast rahe punjabi
Heer sohni ki dhun gaake mast rahe punjabi
As the lyrics changed, Mihir, Bala, Pathak, and Pulkit pulled in their significant others to dance. Swaying to the music, Toshi and Omprakash joined in as well.
Hey ladki jo dekhe gulabi karde dhamal punjabi
Aankhen jo dekhen sharabi karde dhamal punjabi
Ladki jo dekhe gulabi karde dhamal punjabi
Aankhen jo dekhen sharabi karde dhamal punjabi
Ishq ishq mein pyar pyar mein no.1 punjabi
Dil lene mein dil dene mein no.1 punjabi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW8Db-BBV1Q
“Dekha hum ladko ka kamaal!” Mihir proclaimed into the mike after the performance. “Humne bhi naacha aur tum sab ko bhi nachaa diya!” he said, aiming for Mihika who stood beside him with the other mike.
“Zyada udo mat janaab. Abhi hum ladkiyon ka kamaal dekhna baaki hain. So please welcome our very own bride Ishu akka, and with her, our angel Ruhi, Rinki, Vandu akka, Simi didi, Trisha, and myself. Aakhir ladkiyaan kisi se kam thodi hai?!”
A round of applause followed and the girls took to the stage. Ishita and Ruhi danced front and center, while the rest were either beside them or behind them. Their track played.
Ho meethi meethi si yeh muniya
Sar pe daale hai yeh chuniya
Kyun
Haan kyun
Ho sohni sohni si kudi nu
Mauj mein rehne de na duniya
Kyun
Haan duniya kyun
Hai kinni shaandar kudi yeh kar degi dhamaal
Ise jhumne de apni beat te
Kudi nu nachne de
Haan nachne de
Tu aaj lagane de thumke
Haan jam ke
Kudi nu nachne de
Haan nachne de
Tu saareyan fikran nu chhad ke
Ban than ke
Kudi nu nachne de, nachne de
Haan nachne de, nachne de
Tu aaj lagane de thumke
Haan jam ke
Kudi nu nachne de
Haan nachne de
Tu saareyan fikran nu chhad ke
Ban than ke
Kudi nu nachne de
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSpMspvMkSQ
As the track came to an end, Mihir put on a playlist of Bollywood and Punjabi wedding/party songs. Rinki and Mihika managed to pull in everyone, including their guests, at one point or another for a brief dance. Even Raman budged and joined the crowd for a few minutes.
After a session of wild party dancing, Mihir and Mihika requested the guests to proceed for dinner. One by one, everyone got their plate, including the kids. Mihir asked Mihika to join him for dinner but she had plans of her own.
“Mihika, tum kya khichdi paka rahi ho?” Mihir asked her. “Agar koi bhi gadbad hui na, to bhai mujhe chodenge nahi.”
“Oho buddhu. Tum Raman jeeju se kitna darte ho? Kuch nahi hoga. Tum ek kaam karo, jaa ke dinner kar lo. Main baad mein kha loongi.”
“Nahi, main akele nahi jaaunga. Tumhari amma kab se mujhe ghurre jaa rahi hain. Dar lagta hain unse, yaar.”
“Pehle bol rahe the apne bhai se dar lagta hain. Ab bol rahe ho ki meri amma se dar lagta hain. Arey buddhu, tum mere boyfriend ho. Meri amma to tumhe ghurregi hi na?”
“Miku, tum please bolo na. Kya plan kar rahi ho?”
“Woh dekho, plan ke mastermind to ab aa rahe hain.”
Mihika waved towards the side entrance of the hall, and Mihir saw Bala walking in.
“Jeeju, do you have the CD?” she asked.
“Right here Mihika,” he waved the CD case at her.
“Perfect.”
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Once everyone was done with dinner, Mihika and Bala urged everyone to sit back down for one more performance.
“Hum jaante hain ki aap sab ne bahot dance kiya hai aaj,” she spoke into the mike. “Lekin, sangeet ke din agar dulha dulhan ka saath mein ek daance na hua, to phir kaisa sangeet?”
Raman was astounded. What the hell! He had appointed Mihir as the host for precisely this reason. He didn’t want to dance. And that too with Ishita? Ugh. He scanned the room and found Mihir standing towards the side. He caught his attention and widened his eyes. Mihir seemed to get his expression as he discreetly held onto his ears and gave a ‘sorry’ gesture.
Ishita smacked her forehead. What was her sister up to? There was absolutely no need for this to happen. Why did she have to dance with Raman? The man didn’t have one joyful bone in his body. Dammit.
“So please welcome the bride and groom for their first dance as a couple!” Mihika announced.
Both Ishita and Raman wanted to say no, but then they saw their little girl jumping with joy.
“Yay! Mumma aur papa ka dance! Yay!!” Ruhi cheered.
Well, there was no turning back now. They had to dance.
While Ishita and Raman made their way to the dance floor, Bala set up the CD in the music player. The idea had come to him right after the sangeet started. He knew that Ishita and Raman both had given up on the idea of love and companionship. But life was bringing them together and it couldn’t be for no reason. They definitely could discover the partnership that they so desperately needed. He knew that neither of them would listen to him if he directly said what was on his mind. So instead, he hoped the lyrics of the song would get to them and convince them to give life another chance. He prayed that they would allow themselves the luxury of hope and love. After all, music had great power.
Ishita placed her hand on Raman’s shoulder while Raman placed his hand on her waist. They interlocked their fingers on their free hand. And the music began.
In dino, dil mera, mujhse hai keh raha
Tu khwab saja, tu ji le zara
Hai tujhe bhi izaazat, karle tu bhi mohabbat, karle tu bhi mohabbat
So that’s what they were up to. Ishita had the urge to thoroughly admonish her younger cousin. How was she to explain that she and Raman could never be that kind of couple? They weren’t compatible, they were poles apart, and they pretty much constantly fought. Heck, even dancing with him was a task. They just didn’t seem to find the rhythm with each other.
Raman held back an exasperated sigh. So this was their big plan? Get them to dance together and watch them fall in love? It wasn’t that simple. He couldn’t find it himself to love again. He had tried it once and it destroyed him. He wouldn’t do it again. And with Ishita of all women? Never. The woman was infuriating.
Berang si hai badi zindagi kuch rang to bharoon
Main apni tanhai ke waaste ab kuch toh karoon…
Jab mile thodi fursat…
Khud se karle mohabbat
Hai tujhe bhi izaazat, karle tu bhi mohabbat
Everyone looked on upon the new couple. They were having some trouble finding their rhythm, but they complemented each other very well. All their well-wishers -- their parents and siblings -- hoped they would find happiness with each other. Both of them had been through a lot. The colors of their lives had been drained away, being replaced by an undercurrent of pain. They all hoped and prayed that they could find the colors of life again. That they could fall in love again. With themselves. With life. And hopefully, even with each other.
Usako chupaakar main sabse kabhi le chaloon kahin door…
Aankhon ke pyaalon se pita rahoon uske chehre ka noor…
Iss zamaane se chup kar…
Puri karloon main hasrat
Hai tujhe bhi izaazat, karle tu bhi mohabbat…
In dino, dil mera, mujhse hai keh raha
Tu khwab saja, tu ji le zara
Hai tujhe bhi izaazat, karle tu bhi mohabbat…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk3HIOJIjz8
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Kalyan Mandap Marriage Hall - the next day, July 18th, 6 am
Ishita and Raman were seated in the mandap as the priest chanted the sacred wedding mantras. One by one, each ritual was conducted as instructed. Bala stepped in as Ishita’s brother when necessary while Appa performed the kanyadaan.
However, Ishita’s mind seemed to be on a tangent of her own. She was getting married. She had been waiting and dreaming of this day ever since she saw her Vandu akka get married. And it was finally happening. Only difference from her dreams was the groom. She had imagined this to be the happiest day of her and Subbu’s life. But destiny had different plans. What a drastic turn her life had taken in the past year? She had been dumped by the man she thought was her soulmate and was now getting married to someone she didn’t love. It was hardly believable.
Raman tied the mangalsutra around Ishita’s neck. He filled her forehead parting with sindoor. Every step was familiar, but in the wrong way. He had done this before and the fallout had nearly destroyed him. Only he knew how he had gathered the strength to show up this morning. On his wedding day. Well, his second wedding day actually. He had vowed never to get into a marriage again, yet here he was, being wed. What a move fate had played! Betrayed by his ex-wife, separated from his son, and getting married for the custody of his daughter.
“Ruhi, tum gathbandhan karo,” Madhavi called to her and Mihika brought her forward.
Ruhi tied the gathbandhan with guidance from Mihika. All throughout, she was practically glowing with joy. Her mumma and papa were getting married. Ishimaa was coming to live with her. Now she, mumma, and papa will be a real family forever.
Ishita and Raman’s gaze fell on their daughter, and they were reminded of the sole reason behind their union. Ruhi’s happiness. The grin on her face was so bright, it outshined every bit of their poignancy. They would go through anything for her, let alone being tied in holy matrimony. Suddenly, a smile broke out on Ishita’s face and Raman was momentarily enthralled. It was the first time he had seen her smile that day. She looked stunning.
“Aap dono pheron ke liye khade ho jaiye.”
Ishita and Raman stood up and began their rounds around the sacred fire as instructed by the priest. One after another, they performed each ritual. And finally, the deed was done. The deal was sealed.
“Aaj se aap dono pati patni huye. Congratulations.”
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Edited by Aditii - 3 years ago
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