A Silent Diwali - Part 1
Vidhi, Arti,
Paridhi and Pratik had been planning their annual family Diwali celebrations
when Ansh, Palak and Payal came running into the room.
"Mumma, Mumma..."
they echoed in chorus as the adults looked up enquiringly.
"What is it?" Arti
asked, preoccupied.
"Mumma, Papa says
we cannot get fire-crackers for Diwali" Palak complained.
"No bombs, no
phuljari, no anar or rocket ...or ...or anything" Ansh added, agitated.
"Your
Papa said that?" Arti asked, now perplexed. "Why?"
Unnoticed by Arti
or the children, Yash had come into the room as well. Now he spoke, crossing
his arms over his chests "Because Artiji fire-crackers are a waste of money.
All you are doing is burning money - when you can use that same money for some
good cause on Diwali. Candles and diya are fine, but no fire-crackers." Yash
explained his stance loftily before walking out of the room, without a backward
glance.
"Mumma!" the three
children wailed.
"Hush! Stop
crying...I will talk to your Papa, ok? Now run along, go to your room" cajoled
Arti as she sent them out of the room.
Pratik and Vidhi
exchanged glances. Barely suppressing a grin, Vidhi said "Good luck convincing
Yash bhaiyya on this one Arti."
"Why?" Arti was
puzzled.
Chuckling out loud
Pratik filled her in "Bhaiyya is scared of fire crackers Bhabhi! When he was in
7th he got hurt trying to light a rocket - since then, he won't
light fire-crackers."
"Really?" Arti mused "And what about his
lofty speech that burning firecrackers is burning money?"
"Well, he does
believe that now I guess. For the last few years, he has been using the money
to feed the poor on Diwali day."
Arti mulled over
the matter that evening. She knew how much the children wanted to see
fire-works, but her Yashji was right too - the way he had been using the money
was indeed worthwhile. How was she going to make the children happy while
keeping Yash's intents intact?...Inspiration came with the breaking dawn... she
would need the blessings and agreement of the family to pull this one off.
Diwali dawned
bright and clear, but with a chilly undertone. Winter was coming…..
Arti came out
after her shower, toweling her hair dry. Seeing Yash get out of bed she told
him "Yashji, we all have to leave by 5pm. Please be ready."
"Hmmm...?" Yash was
still half-asleep. "Where are we going at 5pm today, Artiji?"
"It's a special
Diwali ritual Yashji. Please - be home before that. We all must go together."
"What ritual?"
asked Yash, rubbing his eyes, finally awake.
"You will see.
Just... be here, ok?" Arti added, almost commandingly but with a slight smile
to take any sting out of the words.
Women and their rituals, Yash grumbled to
himself. What now? What special ritual had Artiji just concocted?
Yash was running
late - Artiji would have his hide. What ritual was this anyway?
Cursing the
traffic jam silently that had delayed him - not leaving time for even a cup of
tea - Yash practically ran into his room to get ready for the evening. And
stopped short - his new sherwani was laid out on the bed and on the bedside
table was a steaming hot cup of tea. Artiji! Bless her! Gulping the hot tea,
Yash went into the bathroom to get ready.
After a few
minutes, as he came out of the bathroom buttoning the silver buttons on his sherwani,
the sight of Arti stopped him in his tracks. She looked breathtakingly
beautiful in a deep red chiffon saree that clung to her curves. She had barely
put on weight during the pregnancy, just enough to accentuate her curves even
more beautifully and the lovely red of the saree dragged Yash's eyes to her stunning figure.
Speechless, nearly
breathless, Yash walked to her, unable to take his eyes off her. She was
struggling to clasp her necklace.
She was already late and now this necklace
wouldn't even close!! Arti was gritting her teeth in irritation when suddenly
she felt Yash's fingers on her neck. He took the necklace from her and closed
the clasp.
Slowly he turned
her around to face him.
She could feel his eyes roam over her body,
taking in every detail, putting every inch of her on fire.
Her ears were
bare! Where were her ear-rings? Tearing his eyes from her face he searched her
dresser till his eyes found her matching ear-rings. He showed them to her,
silently asking her permission. At her brief nod, he put the ear-rings on her,
his fingers delicately brushing her ears, first the right, then the left,
leaving her breathless this time.
What was he doing to her? Arti thought as
she closed her eyes, savoring his touch. He traced her arms, running his fingers
down the center of each arm till he reached her bare wrists.
Yash picked up the
bangles and placed them lovingly on her wrists. Her arms were now covered in
bangles, the mehendi from karva-chauth still showing through, even after nearly
two weeks.
He lifted her arms, crossing them over one
on top of the other and peered through the gap at her. She remembered the last
time he had made her wear bangles – in Mumbai. She had been peering at him
then... She gasped softly as he winked.
Smiling slightly as
he heard her gasp Yash put on the bindi for her. He took a long look at his
bedecked wife and then turned her to face the mirror.
Arti drank in the sight – Yash was right
behind her, holding her by the shoulders, gazing at her reflection. What was
that she saw in his eyes? Was it...could it be ...was it really longing? Could
he really be falling in love with her? Or was it just wishful thinking on her
part?
Barely removing
his eyes from her, Yash reached out for the kajal. Taking a small portion on
his fingertip, he turned her to face him and placed the kajal in her hairline.
"Kisiki nazar na lage...meri bhi nahin" he said softly.
His words brought a tear to her eye. And
what he did next left her standing still as a statue.
Yash cupped her
face in his palms. Bending slightly, he kissed her forehead, and then dipped
his head further to drop a light kiss on her cheek.
Immediately her face flamed. She could feel
her cheeks turning red. She closed her eyes as the tear rolled down one cheek.
"Bhabhi, Bhaiyya!!"
Pratik called, rapping their door loudly. "Are you ready?"
The sound broke
their trance. Yash took one last look at his wife, tracing her face with his
fingers and then turned towards the door "We are coming Chote" he called back.
"Chalein Artiji?"
he asked softly, turning back to her, holding out his hand for hers.
Placing her hand
in his, Arti smiled tremulously, "Chaliye Yashji."
Edited by kdsubs - 10 years ago
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