Masoom Mohabbat Chapter 4

The grand haweli of Behroz Khan’s was lighted up and the gates were thrown open to welcome  guests.

This was Behroz's father's home, he grew up in this small town and in his youth he had wanted to venture to Delhi with his then childhood friend Waleed Ullah to set up a new business. But his father was not so well and he didn’t have the courage to leave his father at his time of illness. Therefore, Waleed Ullah took off to Delhi and so did his business! Waleed Ullah would visit Hoshiarpur whenever he could and valued his old friend’s principles in making that life changing decision. Although it was he who had brought up the idea of making it big in Delhi. Hence, he trusted his instincts in making this alliance and wanted a companion for his son with those very family principles instilled.

Although Behroz’s father was unwell but it was at the untimely death of his wife when he had befriended a young Mohinder who had come with his mother from Amritsar to live in their ancestral home. He married a girl from a close by town whom his mother had chosen for him.

And today they stood next to Behroz Khan and his mother in law (Daijaan) as two strong pillars of support to welcome this new change in his daughter’s life. His ‘Bacchi’, his reason for not moving on in life despite becoming widowed so young in age.

Waleed Ullah brought with him an entourage of people each holding platters and trays of all assortments of sweets and fruits as shagun for his daughter in law.

‘Salaam Yaareey!’ shouted Waleed Ullah in excitement and hugged his old friend and now family-to-be.

‘Khushamadeed (welcome) bohot Mubarak din hai aaj’ Behroz said in return. ‘Salaam Bhabhi ji’ he said to Waleed Ullah’s wife Asma.

‘Walaikumsalaam bhaisaab, we have been waiting for this day for years and now it’s finally to be!’

‘Salaam Daijaan, aap kaisi hai’ said Waleed  ullah as he raised his hand to say salaam in a traditional manner to Daijaan. ‘Yeh raha aap ka beta Haider’ (here is your son now Haider) who stood behind his parents wearing a simple white kurta salwar and he raised his right hand in the same manner as his dad to say salaam to Daijaan and Behroz.

Daijaan said ‘Bohot khush hoon Waleed Ullah, tumne iss budhiya ki zindagi main rang bhar diye phirse’ (I'm so happy Waleed Ullah, you have filled this old woman's black and white life with new colours)

Behroz held Haider in a warm hug then released him and turned him towards Mohinder.

‘Beta yeh mere bhai se bhi badkad mera dost, Meer ka Chacha Mohinder hai’. (Son, this is Meer’s Uncle Mohinder, my brother like friend)

Mohinder had seen Haider a long time ago when the boy was still in high school and they had come to spend summer holidays here with Behroz’s family. Mohinder smiled at Haider and looked at the change in the boy appreciatively.Haider has grown into a handsome and tall young man with warm eyes and a friendly smile.He patted him on the shoulder and said ‘ Satriyakal ji Swaagat hai aap sab ka yahaan, yeh Jaswinder hai’ he hugged Jassi ji sideways as he introduced her to Haider and his parents.

Jassi ji smiled excitedly, came forward to hug Asma and said ‘Aap ko bohot mubarakan ji, aap andar aye humein aap sab ka bohot intezaar tha’ (Congratulations to you all please come inside we have been awaiting your homecoming)

Asma smiled back warmly at Jassi ji and added ‘Humein bhi, bohot saal baad hum sab aisey mil rahe hain’. (Yes we have been eager as well, it’s been many years since we all met up like this)

‘Yeh meri choti beti Noora hai’ Asma introduced her younger daughter ‘Mujhe yaad hai tumhari beti bhi hai na Noora jitni badi shayad’ (This is my daughter Noora, I remember you had a girl closer to her age too, right?) Jassi ji nodded and said ‘Haan ji, Geet hai meri beti, bas upar hai dulhan ke saath hai, dono behne zyada aur saheliyan kam hain’ (Yes it’s Geet she is just upstairs with the bride, they are more like sisters than friends)

Asma then realized that she needs to introduce other members of her family and friends who were also here with them.

Asma said ‘yeh lo!  humare khaas mehman ko toh main milwana hi bhool gayi’ (Oh gosh! I failed to introduce our most special guests with us here) she looked behind and found Savitri Devi standing there quietly watching everything with a smile on her face.

Asma went to her and held her hand to bring her at the forefront, she then hugged her sideways and said ‘ Behroz bhai yeh Savitri ji hai hum sab inhe Dadima kehte hai aur yeh Waleed ke business partner ki Ma hai aur humare sabse purane dost hai Delhi se, Haider ko apne pote se bhi zyada chahti hain’ (Brother Behroz this is Savitri Ji, we all call her Dadima and she is Waleed’s business partner’s mother as well as our oldest family friend from Delhi, honestly she loves Haider more than her ow grand child!)

Behroz looked at the elderly lady who stood infront of him emanating a strength beyond his age. He raised his hand to say Salaam and said ‘Aap humare yahaan itni door se humari bachi ko apna ashirwaad dene aye humein bohot khushi hui’ (You have come so far to give blessing to our daughter in her special journey ahead, we are very happy to welcome you here). He then turned to Daijaan standing next to him and said ‘Yeh meri Ma hai, Meer ki Nani, She lives in Amritsar with her son and spends time with my Meer in her holidays’. (This is my mother, Meer’s maternal grand ma…)

Daijaan came forward and held Savitri Devi’s hands and said ‘aap ka bohot swagat hai’

Savitri Devi held Daijaan’s hand tightly too and said ‘aap ka bohot shukriya humein swagat karne ka, hum bohot saare armaan aur khushiyan lekar aye hain Haider bete ki shaadi ke liye’ (we are thankful to you for welcoming us with such warmth, we have come here with many wishes in my heart and for Haider’s wedding)

Asma turned to then introduce Haider’s close uncles and aunts who were with them as well.

They then were all seated inside and given refreshments by the house servants under Jassi ji’s guidance.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Haider was sitting in between all the elders and was anxiously checking his watch. Jassi ji noticed that the groom to be was eagerly watching the time. So she walked towards him and said ‘kya baat hai hone waale Dulhe raja, itni bechaini kyun, ab aur intezaar nahi hora apni hone waali dulhan ko dekhne ke liye!’ (What’s going on handsome! you seem very anxious... is the wait too long to finally see your bride infront of your own eyes!) She chuckled out loud and caught attention of others sitting around.

Haider who looked embarrassed said ‘Nahi toh Jassi Chachi, woh woh main apne dost ka intezaar kar raha hoon, usne kaha hai ke woh aaj sham tak ajayega’ (No no Chachi, Umm I am just waiting for my friend, he had said he would be here by now)

Jassi ji laughed and said ‘haan haan acha bahana hai ji’ (Yeh yeh, he’s a good enough excuse)

Asma who overheard and laughingly added ‘Nahi ji woh sach keh raha hai, Savitri ji ka pota aur Haider ka sabse acha dost hai woh. Usi ka intezaar ho raha hai sagai ki shuruwaat woh aate hi karenge’ (No Jassi ji, Haider is  saying the truth he is his most closest of friend and Savitri ji’s grandson, we are all just waiting on him then we can proceed ahead with the ceremony)

‘Acha, kaun hai woh? Abhi tak kyun nahi aaya’ (Oh really! I wonder who he is and why has’nt turned up yet.)

‘Maan Singh Khurana!’

A young man announced from the footsteps of the entrance as he entered holding a duffle bag in one hand and a bouquet of roses in another, wearing a white shirt on denim jeans.

His deep voice resonated his name across the hall they all sat in and everyone turned to look at him. A head full of black hair with a light stubble not quite grown to its full maturity, sharp jaws set with a slight smile on his lips as he walked towards Jassi ji and Haider. ‘Main hoon jiska yahaan intezaar tha!’ (It’s me who everyone was waiting for)He said and then held the bouquet across to Jassi ji and added ‘Yeh gulab aap ke liye’ (these roses are for you)

Jassi ji looked at the handsome young boy and shook her head with a light laugh and asked ‘Mere liye?! Phool toh jiske liye laaye ho beta use hi dena!!  Apni hone waali Bhabhi ko’ (For me?! No no, give them to whom you have bought them for: your sister in law to be!!)

Maan smirked and said ‘Phool toh main Aap hi ke liye laya hoon, maine suna hai ke ladki se pehle uski Ma ko phasana chahiye, baat phir jab banti hai’ (Well, this bouquet is really for you, since I once heard that to get through to the girl, its important to have her mother on your own side first!)

Jassi ji rounded her eyes in embarrassment and exclaimed ‘Haww, kya gal karte ho tussi, sach main tum shehri munde bohot aagey ho hum sabse’ (Your fast forward big city banter is way ahead of us simpletons here!)

Dadi ma held Maan’s ears from behind and said’ kyun tang kar raha hai, abhi toh aye hain aur abhi se tamashe!! Dramebaazi yahaan nahi chalegi yeh sab bohot saade log hai, Aap ki chikni chipdi baatein nahi samajhte’ (You have already started the teasing and drama! The people here are nice and simple unlike your melodrama which won’t work here!)

‘Oucch ouch Dadi Ma!! Sab dekh kar kya kahenge, itna jawan aur handsome ladke par kitna zulm, mera kaan laal ho raha hai’ (Ouch DadiMa, what will all others say, so much of misery on such a handsome man!) Maan squirmed under his Dadi ma’s hands and watchful gaze.

She chuckled and let go his ear Maan then bent forward and touched Dadima’s feet and said ‘Satriyakal meri khoobsurat Dadi’ (Hi my beautiful Dadi) and then walked ahead to touch Daijaan’s feet.

Daijaan stepped back and said ‘yeh kya kar rahe ho beta, iski koi zaroorat nahi’ (Oh there isn’t a need for all this dear son)

Maan raised back up and gently said ‘Aap meri Dadi jaisi hai toh aap ka bhi ashirwaad lena tha bas aur waise bhi dulhe ko toh sab aashirwaad dete hi hai koi dulhe ke dost ko bhi poochle’ (You seem just like my grand ma so Im taking your blessing too and anyway the star of the show i.e. the groom gets all the attention so please spare some for me as well!) Daijaan laughed at his funny banter and blessed him with her hand on his head.

Maan then turned to Haider and said ‘sorry Yaar! The car broke down in the middle so had a detour ! But let’s begin with your engagement now that I am also here’.