I thanked god that finally we joined the party back after a long chase. We all were madly excited by then. The faces in the Barat were new and I was struggling to find a known face. Most of the time we usually dance with unknowns in Barats and that’s how we get to know the people. And at times the sexy gals too.
Manish and Anshul were busy dancing. I was able to notice their furtive glances on some ruddy female faces while enjoying the moment. I shouted loudly and said “Dada let’s bring Sameer out of the car and we all will dance together.”
Manish concurred and said “Ya lets go.” We took Anshul also to execute our plan and reached Sammer’s car which was crawling behind the band. Anshul opened the door hastily and forced himself partially in to pull Sameer out of the car.
Dammmm. Its was a gaffe of lifetime for three of us. First of all we were in an unknown wedding celebration and secondly we were pulling out the groom who was alien to us. Anshul reacted immediately after he saw the groom’s face. He closed the door of the car and jabbered “Dada katlo. Itthe to kat gaya si. Mundda Sameer nahi hai.”
“Ahhhh I knew that, the absence of single known face insinuated me fact that we were sailing in the wrong boat.” , I ratified Anshul’s statements.
“But I think we should spare some more time here”, said the beguiled Manish who was enamored of the beauty. “No No, we are caught now and it’s better to leave before somebody comes to kick our ass”, said Anshul. Dada was unhappy with the decision but he knew that we were late now. “But where the hell is Sameer’s barat”, said muddled Manish. We both were confused too. I caught one person of the band party and asked him “Did you see any other Barat going from here”.
“Hannn Babuji, they turned right on the last turn”, He said. We thanked him and launched ourselves in fresh chase.
10.37pm, A-23 Mussorie Gardens
We were late by now as this was not a new story with a trio of ours. I could barely remember if we had seen any movie from the beginning in spite of the fact that we haven’t spared visiting any multiplex of Delhi.
Before stepping in Mussorie Gardens we made sure that we were at right place. “Ya, We are at Mussorie Gardens now, I am sure this time”, I said after reconstruction the fainted pictures from my nebulous memory.
The place was looking gorgeous in misty moonlit night. Mussorie Gardens was the most famous marriage gardens of this place. The lush green carpet grass and the pine trees at the wall boundaries ornated with fairy lights were enthralling. Right before us was the couple seated on a stage decorated with flowers like a canopy, adorned with “Sameer and Shristi’s” name. The wedding décor was lavish, bold and infused with the gaudy colour scheme of Red and Golden.
While I was relishing the aura of wedding celebrations somebody nudged me from the back. This was Shikha. Before I could ask anything she said ”Bhaiya, can you come here for a minute”.
“Ya sure”, I rubbed my hands, as it was getting colder, and followed her after promising the guys that I will be back soon. She had a surprise waiting for me. It was implausible for me for the moment that the female in the sparkling brocade was she, the florist. She was standing right there in the corner as if she had a wait for someone. The roseate fabric “Leingha” with the silver embroidery was tied on her pinkish white waist. The thousands of spangles on it were shimmering in the glare of the bright lights. The other part of the attire, the “Chunri”, was well fixed on her right shoulder, a way down till her waist line covering the part of the belly towards right of the belly button. No sophisticated necklace. She was wearing rather a beautifully crafted elegant pendent tied to an argent color snake chain, which hung low on her neck. She was looking a paragon of beauty. Every now and then I see her I find her more alluring than ever before. In my miniscule lifetime I hadn’t seen a gal more gorgeous and enticing than her.
For the moment I thought that I was hallucinating but to my surprise she was there right in front of me. I looked at Shikha inquisitively. Before I could say anything she whispered and said “Bahiya, I know whom you were looking for since evening and I hope she is looking preen, as preen as Shrishti bhabhi”.
Her words insinuated that she knew everything. May be she was keeping an eye on my activity since evening. Anyways whatever happens happens for good. I thought that I should thank her for favor she had done. She had made my day. Her words blended with my thoughts and triggered a cheerful smile on my dimpled cheeks and I said “You have done a nice job and you deserve something great for that”. She was jolted since she hadn’t expected such audacious and prompt reply from me. She said “Hmmm. I do. But, before that, let me introduce you to her”. Now that was something I was waiting for thirstily since last night when I had seen her on the flower shop. The conspiracy of fate was evident from the difference between the nights in Mussorie.
In her articulate voice she said “Hi Dhristi, meet him. He is Abhighyan. Sameer Bhaiya’s best pal”.
“HI”, that’s all she said. She spoke to me for the first time. It would be silly enough to say that those words echoed in my ears till the faintest harmonic died in the most sensitive part of my ear. But all that happened for the first time and was special to me. I replied in an arrhythmic voice “Oh, Hi Shristi, Uff I am sorry I mean Dhristi”. Shikha gagged on my slip of tongue. And a smile also triggered on Dhristi’s face.
“I guess I am required there in the celebration for some work, so Dristhi you better be with him for some time. Bhaiya will take care of you”, said Shikha. At that moment the worst thing that I had expected to happen was Dhristi calling me Bhaiya, mimicking Shikha’s salutation. But fortunately the salutation was missing. She gave a laconic reply yet again and said “Ok”. Come on, I had expected more this time. At least she should have had asked some questions. She was wearing an infantile innocence which was setting a trigger in me to kiss her on those lips. It was hard to stay temperate and curb those nasty temptations. But I did it all against my throbbing heart.
“Bye”, said Shikha and she left leaving me and the florist alone, right in the corner near to that big tall pine tree.(Next Post on Sept 27,2010)
