Chapter 3

Sudhir: Namaste mein Karthik ka pita hu.. He took daadi’s blessings..
Daadi: kush raho..
Sudhir: Aayiye.. He looked at his daughter who seemed rather different.. Priya tilak keliye kuch tulsi ke patte chaahiye..
Priya: Ji papa..
Sudhir walked daadi inside.. Priya walked to the left.. Ram stood watching her.. She walked towards a small mud pot and opened the lid.. Putting her hand inside she took a bronze kalash filled with water out.. She washed her hand.. He was lost as she slightly pulled her pleats up and poured some water on her feet.. She kept the kalash on the lid and placed it on the matka.. She walked to the tulsi and started plucking a few leaves.. The wind blew by.. Ram closed his eyes and smiled.. He was lost in the moment.. Priya wore her footwear and walked towards Ram.. He opened his eyes and smiled..
This perfect moment was disturbed by a ring on his phone..
Ram: Haan bolo Rishab..
Rishab: Bhai mein parking lot mein hu..
Ram: Ok Im coming.. He looked at Priyas retreating figure before he turned to walk towards the parking lot.. He was lost in her thoughts.. Her body seemed to be chiseled to perfection..
He walked slowly.. He could hear the leaves rustle.. The water ripple.. Somehow this whole place had a soothing effect on him.. Ram reached the parking lot.. Rishab seemed to have lost himself in the beauty of this place.. The charming chirpy young man was calmed.. He hugged Ram as they walked back..
Rishab: Bhai kitna khubsurat hai..
Ram: Haan..
As they walked towards the Puja, Rishab looked at Priya keeping Diya's at the entrance of the door.. Her hands and face were lit by the light coming from the diyas..
Rishab: Bhai woh Priyaji hai na?
Ram: Haan..
Rishab: Wah kitni khubsurat hai..
Ram smirked.. Haan bohot khusurat hai..


She looked at them and smiled..

Rishab: Haye.. Aise math muskuraayiye Priyaji..
Ram couldn’t stop smiling at Rishabs satement.. Woh tumse kuch 10 saal badi hai..
Rishab: Bhai.. Mein line todi maar raha hu.. Yeh toh saathvikam hai..
Ram: Saathvikam?
Rishab: Haan bhai.. Jab hum ladke aise aurathon ko dekhthe hai.. Toh there is only respect in our eyes.. Dekhiye na.. Devi jaise hai.. Dil kartha hai ke inke saamne haath jodu..
Ram: Haan.. Jab baathe karthi hai.. Toh sab chup chaap sunthe hai..
Both of them were so engrossed in the conversation that when they reached the entrance, she wasn’t there.. Ram watched everyone was decked up, he looked at how well the white hall had been decorated with Jasmine and roses.. He entered.. Everyone was engrossed in their talks.. All their relatives were there.. Busy gossiping about jewellery.. He noded his head in negative as his relative were gushing about now being a relative of THE architect Priya Sharma.. He walked to a corner.. He was  happy looking at his family..  Priya came with a plate full of flowers.. She walked to the water bowl kept in the middle of the beautiful white pedastal in front of the murthy of Durga.. She Slowly placed the flowers in the water.. He watched the flowers float along as she pushed the water with her hands.. Her hands moving in and out the water as she swayed her hand, was a feast to watch.. Ram walked towards her unknowingly.. She sensed his approach towards her and smiled.. She turned back towards him.. Ram came to her and looked at the water bowl.. He put his fingers in the water.. He was lost looking at the beautiful white flowers..

Priya: Aapko phool pasand hai..?

Rishab: Walked towards her giggling .. Nahi inhe poolon se allergy hai..

Priya gave a suspicious confused smile.. 

Sudhir: Chaliye.. Tilak Shuru karthe hai.. Ram beta.. Tum aao aur Karthik ke saamne baito.. Ram sat there.. 

Daadi whispering to Krishuji.. Are Krishna Kumkum ke thaali ko tho Ram ki biwi ko laana hai.. 

Priya walked towards them with the thalli.. Nutz Daadi and Krishna looked at each other and smiled.. Ram put the tilak on Karthik's forehead.. A lot of gifts were exchanged between the two families.. They started the engagement.. Rishab was busy clicking pictures.. Ram handed the ring to Natasha and she put it on Karthik's finger.. She blushed as everyone clapped.. Priya handed the ring to Karthik.. He slipped it on Natasha's finger and winked.. Natasha grew red.. Everyone was happy and the photo session begun.. Both Ram and Priya seemed to be lost in their thoughts.. They slightly moved away from the crowd..

Priya walked to the door and looked at the sky.. Thinking.. Kitne khush hai dono.. Bhaghwan inhe humesha khush rakhe.. 

Ram looked at Priya who was looking out and walked towards her.. He came and stood beside her.. There wass a slight breeze.. The wind seemed to play with her hair.. She moved her longs fingers.. Tucking the hair behind her ears.. She didn’t seem to have recognized Ram's presence.. Ram walked back into the hall with a smile.. Inki khubsoorathi ko kisi ka nazar na lage..

Rishab gathered everyone's attention..

Rishab: Attention everyone..Priya turned back..  Humaare Ram bhai bohot accha gaathe hai.. Toh is haseen mauke par..Rishab shifted his gaze to Priya who looked divine as she smiled away.. In khubsoorat haseenao keliye.. Ek gaana hojaaye?

Everyone clapped.. 

Ram: Arre nahi..

Rishab: Kya bhai.. Sunaayiye na..

Nutz: Bhai.. Plz.. 

Everyone requested him.. Then..

Priya: Sunaayiye na.. With her soft voice.. The hall grew silent.. Everyone looked at her.. Ram was captivated.. He smiled..

All the young single ladies surrounded him.. Ram drifted to his thoughts as he cleared his throat.. Ab insabko khush karnekeliye.. Jhuti taareef karna padega.. 

 Very few knew that THE Ram Kapoor was not only a great business man.. But was also very fond of ghazals.. He started singing turning away from everyone.. They were all lost as his soothing voice charmed the eve..

In haseeno ka ladhakpan hai wahi...

Ya alla..  Closing his eyes.. Exhaling..
Hosh aata hai to... Looking at Priya..

Aata hai.. Looking at Karthik and winking..

 Jalaana dil ka... 

Everyone lost themselves in the song.. wah wah.. 

Ram looked at all the ladies.. As if.. Each one had managed to impressed him..

Kis pe jaan dijiye..

Har chehara hai.. He walked by each one of the ladies with hands in his pockets..

Pyara chehara..

Rishab and Vikram smiled at eachother.. 

Kis pe jaan dijiye..

Har chehara hai.. 

Pyara chehara..

He walked towards the water bowl.. 

Baag mein phool hai..

Looking at Shipra And Krishna.. He smiled.. As if to convey something to them..

Kamare mein,

Tumhara chehara .. He looked at Priya..

Kis pe jaan dijiye..

Karthik looked at Priya: Aapbhi sunaao na..

Nutz: Haan..

Ram smiled at her..

Rishab: Aap agar mein hoti toh kya bolti..

Priya smiled teasing Rishab and started singing.. Everyone was lost in her voice.. 

She walked behind Rishab.. And..

Kithne chehare the...

Sare raah ke...

Kuchh yaad nahi..

Everyone giggled.. 

Nutz: Sahi bola aapne.. While others praised her.. Kya baat hai.. 

Priya continued.. 

Kithne chehare the...

Sare raah ke...

Kuchh yaad nahi..

She looked at everyone staring at her in amusement..

Le gaya bhid mein... She looked at the empty beautiful garden beyond the door..

Kaun aa ke..

Humara chehara...

There was a little bit of silence as everyone was lost in a trans where her voice echoed in their minds.. 

Ram continued..

Baag mein phool hai..

Kamare mein,

Tumhara chehara..

Rishab pitched in and looked at Priya..

Aappe jaan degaye.. 

Everyone smiled.. As Rishab walked around Priya.. 

Aape jaan..

Deegaye...

Ram continued.. 

Maashalla..

Kya paaya chehera.. 

Rishab:

Bhaag mein phhol hai..

Kamre mein..

Karthik looked at Natasha:

Tumhaara cheheraa...  

There was silence.. Everyone looked at Priya.. Her face truly seemed chiseled to perfection.. The twinkle in her eyes.. Her full soft lips.. And her radiant skin had every man's attention.. And every woman's envy..

Everyone cheered.. It had been a wonderful evening..

Sudhir: There is a buffet arranged.. Enjoy the rest of the evening everyone..

Everyone was hungry.. They had a delightful dinner.. Priya went around making sure they were all comfortable..

Krishuji: Biji.. Aaj tak.. Meine aise ladki ko kabhi nahi dekha..

Daadi: Haan.. Ghar bulaaya hai na tune use?

Krishuji: Haan meine Sudhirji aur Shipraji se puchliya hai..

Daadi: Pata nahi kyu.. Mujhe lagtha hai.. Ki Priya humaarein ghar mein ek shaanthi apne saath leke aayegi..

Krishuji: Haan..

Ram who was silently listening to this conversation said.. Woh humaare ghar..?

Krishuji: Haan..

Nutz: Haan bhai.. Meine hi bola.. Woh kya hai na.. Aap toh dekhichuke hai unka sajaaya hua har cheez kitna khubsoorat hai.. Aur.. Mujhe bilkul unke jaisa banna hai.. 

Karthik: Aur Nutz.. Iski kya zaroorat hai.. Aur weise bhi.. Di jaisa koi nahi..

Nutz: Haan woh toh hai.. And smiled..

Priya came to them.. 

Priya: I hope aap sab ne enjoy kiya..

Everyone.. Haan..

Nutz: Aap humaare ghar aarahe hai na..

Priya looked confused.. She had no clue.. She smiled and looked at Sudhir.. Who walked towards them..

Sudhir: Haan.. Priya.. Woh.. Natasha chaathi hai ki saari tayyaariya tumhaare hisaab se ho.. Isiliye Krisnaji ne pucha..

Priya just noded.. 

Rishab walked towards them.. 

Krishuji: Priya.. Hum sab tumhaare hisaab se karlenge.. Woh itna saara kaam itne aasaani aur khubsurathi se karthi ho.. And said looking at Rishab.. Is bigda hua bandhar ko bhi line pe laana hai..

Ram: Haan.. Sab ke saamne bade line maarraha tha.. Ram grinned.. 

Rishab: Held his ears and looked at Priya.. Sorry..

Priya smiled.. Nodding sideways.. Mere Karthik se bhi chote ho.. 

Everyone smiled.. 

Karthik: Toh di.. Yeh hogaya aapki chote..

Everyone laughed..

Krishna: Priya.. Tumhe koi problem nahi hai na.. 

Priya: Nahi nahi.. Lekin.. She thought for a moment.. Everyone was waiting for her response.. Each one of the Kapoors wanted her in KM.. Karthik.. Tumhe office ko samhaalna hai.. Baaki mein baad mein samjaadungi..

Sudhir: Haan.. Aur mein bhi chalajaaunga..

Priya: Are nahi papa.. Mein dekhlungi.. Aap chinta mat kijiye.. 

Karthik: Haan di hai na.. 

Krishna: Do hafton keliye kapde rakhle beta.. I'm sorry.. Yeh hum aise..

Priya: Are aap badi hai.. Aap maaufi math maangiye.. Aap bas hukum kijiye.. And she smiled as she turned to leave..

Nutz: Di..

Priya turned back to look at her.. Ram was just lost as he looked at her.. Her respect for elders, the softness yet firmness in her voice.. Her modesty and simplicity surprised him..

Nutz: Kya mein aapko Di bulaasakthi hu..

Priya: Haan zaroor..

Everyone had finished up.. And were leaving quickly as it was pretty late..

Ram saw Vik and Neha off.. While the Sharmas and Krishuji catered to the other guests.. 

Krishuji: Ram.. Tum Priya ke saath aana hum Chalthe hai..

Sudhir Shipra and Karthik saw the kapoors off.. Ram waved at them.. 

Ram: Sudhirji.. Bohot der hogayi hai.. Toh kya Mein Priyaji ko..

Sudhir: Haan beta.. Uska room.. He pointed towards the garden path way to the right.. 

The Sharma's say good night.. 

Ram thought as he walked along the pathway.. Apno ke saath rehethe hue bhi.. Alag rahena.. Ajeeb hai.. The wind blew by his face.. He looked at the small lights highlighting the pathway now.. He could hear the crickets.. There was a world within a world..