âMujhe accha nahi lagta kisi ka aankh utha ke tujhe dekhna.
Kyu ke har koi karta hai, chand ki khwahish.â
~Mehek Syed
The aangan of the Noor-E-Jahan bungalow was illuminated with soft yellow and colorful lights.
It was buzzing with Bollywood wedding songs, letting the entire town know that the first grand daughter of Shaikh's Sahab was getting married.
A mandap of light yellow and magenta pink covered the aangan. Each wall was embellished with strings of marigold and white jasmine flowers.
And could they forget their favorite fairy lights? The whole aangan was lit up with it, giving it a fairytale look.
A small table which was covered with red silk, was kept in the front, in the middle for the bride.
"Baji, sharma kyu rahi ho? Sab apne ghar wale hi toh hai. Abhi daant phaad ke nahi hasoge toh kab hasoge?" Mahoor whispered in Hadia's ear while the bride's mother, Jumana, circled some notes of hundreds around her daughter's head.
Mahoor was sitting on the right side of Hadia and her other aunt's daughter, Rehana on the left.
Seyran and the younger sisters of Rehana, Mubashira, Fozia and Sobia stood behind Hadia.
Hadia smiled widely, "Ab thik hai?"
Mahoor winked at her, "Ek dum bawal hai."
Hadia laughed at her statement while the elders were in their seats, men having their conversation on God knows which topic and women, taking coming one by one to smear hald on Hadia's face.
Altan stood there a little in the distance. He didn't want to attend the ceremony as it was only family affairs and he was far away from being there.
But Zorawar forced him and buttered him up. Then too he didn't get convinced.
Arya shrugged and targeted his soft spot by saying how Mahoor will be there, all dolled up and how other men will also stare and enjoy the beauty which ignited the feeling of jealousy and rage in his body.
Mahoor was wearing a softly embroidered yellow short kurti which ended above her knees and it's sleeves reached till her upper arms. A yellow patiala salwar and odhni which was spread on her chest completed her look.
Golden Punjabi jhumkas hung in her ears as her hair were partitioned from the middle and were french braided from the front, the remaining luscious locks were tied into a simple plait. A few soft tendrils peeked out from the sides of her head, caressing her cheeks. Her hands were adorned by the gajra which was made of mogra and roses.
She looked like a punjaban and when Altan saw her, she took his breath away.
He kept muttering Ma Sha Allah under his breath and prayed to his Khuda to keep evil eyes away from the beautiful soul.
If Mahoor was so enchanting, beautiful, alluring, magnificent to him, so how others couldn't see it?
And here he is now, glaring at her older cousins Rehan and Zubair.
Zorawar wasn't the problem for him because he saw the bond they shared but he only saw these two from afar and merely even talked to them.
Altan huffed. He wasn't a fan of Bollywood songs, he liked the retro ghazals; Rafta Rafta being on the top.
He clicked his tongue in annoyance as three kids were running around him and Arya, chasing each other.
"Yeh chote ande mera sukoon barbad kar rahe hai."
Arya smirked and pointed his finger at his front, "Ek chota anda toh Mahoor ke godh mein bhi baitha par woh toh uff tak na kar rahi."
A grumpy Altan looked at Mahoor and at an instant, his eyes softened. There was a baby in her lap, who kept on leaving wet trails on her palm whilst she kept looking at Hadia.
'Jab bhi isey dekhu, har dafa aur haseen lagti hai.'
She smiled broadly as one of the ladies smeared haldi on her round cheeks and kissed her forehead lovingly.
Feeling someone's eyes on her, Mahoor looked up and her eyes locked with Altan's. She immediately averted her gaze away from his, making him frown.
His jaw ticked in anger and his palm curled into a tight fist. When they arrived, Mahoor crashed into his frame but she lowered her gaze and walked away from him without saying anything.
He at least expected a greeting from her but nothing came from her.
For the past two hours, his eyes met hers a few times but she immediately broke their gaze.
The Mahoor he knows would have at least beamed and showed her excitement to him but tonight he was terribly getting avoided by her which was bothering him to the core.
Even the refreshments were served by her other female cousins, she didn't even get near him and this was pricking his mind and rage was enveloping in his being.
"Aaj ignore ho rahe ho tum." Arya smirked.
Altan scowled, "Aag mein ghee ni daal."
Shaking his head, Arya chuckled.
Aira stood with her sister-in-law and the other two sisters. Only Mahoor's mother, Aina, was absent from the ceremony.
"Aina baji bhi aayi hoti toh accha hota. Unki hi kami khalti rehti hai har dawat mein." Isha, who was the youngest sister of all, muttered.
They all hummed, however Razia was adamant to spoil everyone's night.
"Kaisi aati Aina bhi? Woh gore aadmi ke saath masroof hoti hai waha America mein. Beti ko bhi milne aati nahi hai isiliye bigad gayi hai. Woh phone videos mein aati hai, photo daalti hai har jagah aur ladke log se baat karti hai, hathein kandho mein daal ke bhi photo daalti hai, bin maa baap ki bacchia aisi hi hoti hai."
Isha and her older sister, Jumana ignored their sister-in-law. They all knew she was a gutter mouth and whenever she'd open it to say anything, her words always stank.
Aira seethed in anger. Mahoor was like a daughter to her. She didn't see her as her niece. She was equal to Seyran. Even if someone would ask her about how many children she has, she'd always say two. Seyran and Mahoor.
This was the major reason she always asked Mahoor to keep her mouth shut and avoid talking to any men at any cost as she didn't know how people brutally talked about her behind her back and Aira always made sure to never let these words even reach her ears or else her fragile heart would break into million pieces.
But she didn't know, Mahoor knew everything.
"Bhabhi, aap ko kisine koi haq nahi dia hai meri behen aur meri Mahoor ke baare mein kuch ghalat bolne ka. Aap apni zuban lagam dein, khushi ka mauka hai varna main bhi janti hu kaun kaisa hai." Aira mocked Razia angrily, who fumed in rage.
"Kaun kaise se tumhara kya matlab hai, Aira? Tum dekhi ho woh itna aage kaise badhi hai? Tum dekhi ho Mumbai mein bina kisi ke paiso ki madad ke kaise woh waha reh rahi hai? Tum dekhi ho kaun se mard ke saath usne kitni raatein..."
"BHABHI!" Aira yelled and raised her hand to slap Razia and everyone's eyes snapped to them.
Aira looked at everyone and smiled hesitatingly, she gestured at the kitchen, "Woh chai le aaye." Razia, who got scared by the outrage of Aira, nodded meekly and moved away to go to the kitchen as today it was confirmed that she would have been insulted, if Aira would have slapped her in front of the whole family.
Altan and Arya heard the whole conversation amongst the whole ladies.
Altan was blazing in the deep fire of fury and if it wasn't for Arya, he would have grabbed Razia by her throat, tied her to the chair and torture her mercilessly until she would have taken her last breath.
"Altan, tune kuch suna nahi vaisa pretend kar. Aur yeh gussa nikaal apne chehre se."
"Uss aurat ki himmat bhi kaisi hui uske kirdar pe ungli uthane ki? Mera dil kar raha hai, abhi uski zuban kaat ke usi ko kachha khila du." He harshly whispered.
He turned around and he rubbed his temples, "Jahil log! Bhench*d woh akeli rehti hai waha yeh fikar nahi aur woh baddzaat aurat uski mami hai. Chi! Ghair acche hai yeh saanp jaise rishtedaro se"
Arya's face crumpled in sympathy. He rubbed Altan's back to calm him down.
"Iss aurat ko toh main aisa sabaq sikhaunga tu dekh ab!"
'Ab uparwala bachaye woh aurat ko ab.' Arya thought.
"Accha, dekh. Gusse ko filhal ke liye pee jaa," Arya looked back at Mahoor then whispered to Altan, "Dekh Mahoor kaise has rahi hai, woh baccha uski kissi le raha hai. Kahi yeh sight na miss hojaye."
Arya held Altan's shoulder and swiveled him around.
The baby was sitting in Mahoor's lap and his wet lips attacked Mahoor's chin at which she giggled.
Seeing her beam, the baby eyes wrinkled and a toothless grin broke out on his face and he stuck his thumb in his mouth while still gazing at Mahoor.
Her smile caressed his anger and it gradually faded. The pain in his temples subsided and now his body can function properly.
"Baccha tak deewana hai iska, bado ke toh haal hi bhool jau." Altan murmured.
When every elder completed coating haldi on Hadia, it was the turn of youngsters.
Zorawar, the oldest son of the khandan and the eldest sibling of all, came first.
He took some haldi and smeared it lovingly on his sister's face. They were real siblings but they always stayed distant from each other as Hadia was more attached to Rehan, who was the second child.
So, he was more affectionate towards Mahoor and Seyran.
He took some haldi and applied it on Mahoor's face and said, "Allah tumhe bhi jald dulhan banaye aur ek accha susral dein."
Mahoor groaned in annoyance, "Haye, haye. Sare mood ki baap bhai kar di. Aisa kaho, Allah mujhe sau crore rupya de de, dulha na bhi mile toh koi gham nahi phir toh!"
Zorawar slapped her forehead and dakhni rolled off his tongue smoothly, "Haule baatan ich karo tum."
He stepped back and Mahoor rubbed her forehead, "Yeh log ko sahi baatein bolo toh deewane hi lagte hai sab cheezein.â
"Accha, bhai. Yeh bade sab kahi jaa rahe hai na? Yeh log ke rehte toh milne sa raha kuch nach gana karne." Hadia questioned.
"Ha, shukar ada karo phuphu ka woh sab bado ko ghar le jaa rahi hai abhi tou do ghante ki fursat hai. Jo karna hai karo."
"Shukriya." They both smiled and Rehan smeared haldi on Hadia.
Isha came and took the baby Zaroon from Mahoor, "Isey bhi le ja rahe hai khala, aap saath? Chod ke jaye na hum dekh lenge."
"Haa varna tum sab ko tang kar dega. Abhi saat mahine ka hi hai na, thoda aur bada hogaya toh chod diya karungi," Isha smiled, "Thike?"
Mahoor nodded in understanding and Isha left with baby Zaroon.
The ceremony stopped for a few minutes as the elders were getting out of the house, leaving the whole function on the youngsters' hold.
The bride was ecstatic as for her, the function starts now.
Due to the conservative background, they weren't allowed to dance or even have a dholki, so Zorawar had to ask his phuphu for a little help and she handled it well by threatening all the biggies and took them all to her new house for a tour.
Altan and Arya looked at all the old people leaving with confusion.
Seeing the cars drive away, Arya said, "Humein bhi chalna chahiye."
Altan nodded,"Chalo, Zorawar se baat kar ke nikalte hai."
Zorawar stood next to them, "Oh bhai, kahi nahi jana ab asli maze shuru honge."
Altan gave him a boring look and Zorawar pointed at his cousins,âDekhte jau bas ab.â
They all were smearing haldi on each other's faces, laughing and giggling in the delight of joy.
Mahoor's eyes went to Altan and Arya, they both were looking in their direction. Not to make them feel left out, Mahoor took the bowl of the paste and made her way to them.
"Assalamualaikum."
"Wa alaykummasalam." Altan replied, his voice void of any emotion.
Arya side-eyed him and he smiled at Mahoor, "Aaj toh humein ignore kia jaa raha hai, Mahoor bibi. Wajah janne ka haq rakhta hai yeh bhai yeh tumhara."
Mahoor looked at Zorawar, not knowing what to say and Zorawar understood her hesitation.
He inhaled, "Nahi bas sab bade the na aur woh log ghalat matlab nikaalte hai isliye unke samne, umm.. aisa.."
Altan understood and the words of Razia rang in his ears, making the situation very transparent in his mind.
"Koi baat nahi, hum samajhte hai." Altan interrupted and nodded in agreement.
Not to make them feel awful anymore, Mahoor called Arya, "Aap dono mein se kisiko allergy toh nahi hai na haldi ya besan se?"
Altan and Arya shook their heads and Mahoor smiled. Mahoor dipped her hand in the bowl and applied a thick layer of haldi on both the cheeks of Arya, who squealed.
"Aye, didn't expect that."
Mahoor laughed and moved towards Altan, who was intently staring at her. Not for once, his eyes left her.
His eyes assessed her face keenly. Her cheeks had a dry and fresh coating of haldi on them. Her neck had some blotches of the paste on it and some of the tendrils of her hair were glued to her face in the coating of the haldi and some were softly flowing in the air.
Mahoor lifted her hand to his cheek,"Ijazat hai?"
âMujhe jaan se maarne ki bhi hai.â
Altan nodded and very carefully, Mahoor smeared the haldi on his cheekbones above his fake beard.
For the first time in life, he allowed someone to touch his face and just by a mere touch of her on his cheek,his heartbeat fastened and
his stomach twisted in an unknown feeling and his ears felt hot.
After applying the haldi on both the sides, Mahoor stepped back and Arya's mouth formed an âOâ, seeing Altan's ears turn crimson.
âAccha bhai, main chali muh dhone ab performance bhi toh hai.â Mahoor winked at Zorawar and ran away.
Zorawar shook his head, âNa jane kya hoga is ladki ka.â
âFikar nahi karo, joh bhi hoga bhot accha hoga.â Arya said, while Altan was still in the daze.
He could still feel the lingering touch of her fingers on his cheeks. Though her fingers were coated with the paste, he felt everything precisely.
Altan hasn't been with any woman before. Surely, many have tried to seduce him at several events or have offered him one night stands but he has either denied them rudely or shooed them away with a glare.
In his whole life, he only shook hands with females. Letting them near or let alone have them touch his face, was out of his morals.
However now it seems like gradually he was breaking his own rules for one woman and he has no regrets about it.
Mahoor came running with a glowing and damp face. She went straight to Zubair, âBhai, gane bajaye varna bade log aa gaye toh ho gaya beda garg aaj.â
âHaa, haa.â
Hadia stood up and with the help of her cousins, Seyran cleared the space and arranged the chairs for them to sit and enjoy the dance.
Mahoor sauntered towards the men as Altan, Arya, Rehan and Zorawar were standing together, gossiping about god knows what.
Mahoor cleared her throat, grabbing their attention but Altan's eyes were already on her while she was on her way to them.
âBhai, chairs laga diye hai. Chalein waha baith jaye.â
Zorawar brows furrowed, âSirf Hadia ke liye chair rehne do baki sab khade hi rahenge.â
âHein, kyu?â
âTeen ya char dance performance hai aur fir baaki sab ko jo tum zabardasti kheechogi naachne, tab kya sab chair pe khade reh kar taa thaiya karenge?â
Mahoor glared at him, âZabardasti kya hoti hai? Khud ki behen ki khushi mein shamil hona ho toh ho varna jau.â
Altan was amused seeing her angry. She looked adorable with those squinting eyes and her big nose flaring in rage.
Zorawar gulped. Putting Mahoor in an angry mood wasn't a good sign for now.
âAccha, accha. Sorry. Chair uthwa do meri behen? Arey tum rehne do main kar deta hu.â Zorawar went to pick up the remaining chairs from the ground.
Mahoor looked between Altan and Arya. She scratched her eyebrow, pointing her thumb at the back, âUmm, chale?â
Altan agreed, âJi zaroor.â
Mahoor moseyed forward, with the two bulky men following her behind.
They all stood together and the dance performance of the bride's friends began on the song, mahi ve.
They all shouted loudly and cheered up the girls.
Altan stood there like an old man. The loud music was pricking his ears and he didn't find the dance entertaining.
He was watching the performance but he was zoned out. He eyes often changed their direction and they'd go to Mahoor, who was having the time of her life with Seyran.
She was enjoying it as dancing, singing and acting were her thing. She genuinely found peace in them and it soothed her. It made her forget all her sorrows.
The performance came to an end and the sound of the claps pierced the room.
Arya nudged Altan and gestured to him to applaud as well. He rolled his eyes and clapped his hands with boredom.
One by one dance performances took place and the people there enjoyed it to the height of felicity.
The song âSapne mein milti hai,â began to play and Zubair stepped up to dance.
Everyone cheered loudly as the retro song played.
âSapne me milti hai,
O kudi meri sapne me milti hai
sapne me milti hai,
O kudi meri sapne me milti hai.â
Zubair pointed at the girls who swayed with the music.
âSara din ghungte me band kudiya si,
oye oye oye oye oye..
He walked towards Mahoor and held out his hand to her which she gladly accepted and the crowd went loud, seeing her heading for the dance.
Sara din ghungte me band kudiya si akhiyo me khulti hai..â
Altan had a murderous look on his face. His gaze hardened by seeing her hand enveloped in Zubair's hand.
He was a short tempered man and very possessive of whatever belonged to him. Mahoor wasn't his yet but the sight of her with any other man than him was provoking the beast inside him.
Mahoor held Zubair by the collar and danced along with the song,
âSapne me milta hai, o munda mera sapne me milta hai,
Sapne me milta hai, o munda mera sapne me milta hai.
She left Zubair with a jerk who stumbled back with a smile.
Sara din sadko pe khali rikshe sa, haayee
Zubair followed her behind, whereas Mahoor had an annoying expression on her face.
Sara din sadko pe khali rikshe sa pichhe piche chalta hai.â
As the next lyrics played, Zubair and Mahoor were enjoying the dance and neither of them forgot a single step. The synchronization of their taal-mel was on point
âOye hoy kori hai karari hai, bhoon ke utari hai
kori hai karari hai, bhoon ke utari hai
khabi khabi milti hai,
o kudi meri, o kudi meri.â
Mahoor stepped away from Zubair and went to Hadia who was sitting on the chair with a huge smile. She kneeled down and sang to Hadia. She expressed each lyric of the song with her facial expressions and hand gestures with drama and the bride giggled.
âVe uncha lamba kad hai,
houda bhi to had hai.
Ve uncha lamba kad hai,
chouda bhi to had hai.
Dur se dikhta hai,
O munda mera,ha ha ha ha o munda mera.â
She got up and ran to Zubair and continued their steps.
âArey dekhne me tagda hai, jungle se pakda hai, sing dikhata hai.
Sapne me milta hai, o munda mera sapne me milta hai
Sapne me milti hai, o kudi meri sapne me milti hai.â
Altan couldn't take his eyes off her. The way she enjoyed the dance, the way she teased the bride with her expressions with each lyric had his whole form pulled into hypnosis.
âPaji hai, sharir hai, gumti lakir hai, chakrakh chalti hai.
Oye sapne me milta hai, o munda mera sapne me milta hai
Sapne me milti hai, o kudi mera sapne me milta hai.â
Zubair held Mahoor's chin and turned her towards him. She acted as a shy bride, teasing the real bride who blushed in embarrassment.
âHaye, gora chitta rang hai, chand ka palang hai
Gora chitta rang hai, chand ka palang hai.â
Mahoor blushed and pushed Zubair lightly away from her. She covered her face with both her palms and Zubair softly retreated her hands from her face and sang through the lyrics.
âChandni me dhoolti hai, o kudi meri ha ho kudi meri ha
Doodh ka ubal hai, hasi to kamal hai, motiyo me tulti hai.â
Altan was fuming in rage however his subconsciousness agreed with the song that indeed Mahoor was a doodh ka ubal, jab bhi woh hasi toh kamal hai, aur aisi khatoon hi motiyo mein tulti hai .
The reason behind his antagonism was the closeness between the two, the man touching Mahoor and Zubair looking at her with those twinkling eyes. Even though it was an act, the lava inside of him didn't seem to quiet down.
âSapne me milti hai, o kudi meri sapne me milti hai
Sapne me milta hai, o munda mera sapne me milta hai.â
Mahoor kicked Zubair who winced and swayed to the lyrics.
âNeem sharifo ke, ai ve latifo ke kisse sunata hai
Zubair got straight and joined Mahoor in dancing.
Sapne me milta hai, o munda mera sapne me milta hai
sapne me milti hai, o kudi meri sapne me milti hai.â
As the chorus of the song, the cheers went violent and the whole Noor-E-Jahan bungalow buzzed with blaring music and vibration of the people.
âSara din ghungte me band kudiya si akhiyo me khulti hai
sara din sadko pe khali rikshe sa pichhe piche chalta hai.â
Mahoor went to the crowd and pulled everyone in for a dance. Everyone forgot everything and they danced freely to the desi song which brought their inner piyakkad chachas.
Even Arya joined in doing his own bhangra but Altan stood there with his hands back, seeing the crowd with boredom.
Mahoor's gaze fell upon him and seeing him all alone, she sprinted towards him, startling Altan. She was smiling while panting, she held his arm and pulled him to the crowd.
âSapne me milta hai, o munda mera sapne me milta haiâ
Altan was a little surprised. As the whole mob danced with their own moves, he stood there between them. He didn't want to dance and he actually never did this thing in his life before.
Mahoor nudged her shoulder to his bicep and yelled over the music, âAt least taali maaro aur mundi hila do.â
âSapne me milti hai, o kudi meri sapne me milti hai hoi hoi hoi.â
Altan caught her words and did exactly what she said.
Dancing. Not on the music but on tunes of a five feet six inches woman.
âoye oye oye oye oye oye oye oye oye oyeâ
Who would have thought the violent mafia hulk would ever give in for a dance just by listening to one woman who was now becoming his junoon.
âoye oye oye oye oye oye oye oye oye oyeâ
Someone crashed into his back and Altan swiveled around to see it was Zubair who was now dancing along with Mubashira.
Altan's jaw ticked as he remembered how close he got to Mahoor and especially he touched her in places which only he wanted to.
Don't know what came over, but Altan tapped his foot and moved towards the right, pretending to dance.
And in a flash, Altan smashed his foot on Zubair's feet and lowering his right shoulder, he knocked it on Zubair's jaw, making him fall down and grunt in pain.
Altan smirked and nobody noticed it. Mubashira laughed and helped him to stand up on his feet.
The blow on Zubair's jaw was brutal and his eyes watered. He was so busy dancing, he didn't even notice who hit him up.
Altan looked at Mahoor who was dancing and his eyes looked up to see Arya staring at him.
Altan arched a perfect thick eyebrow and Arya looked behind him, letting him know he saw everything and he was also aware of the reason.
In return, Altan tilted his head and Arya shrugged, knowing there was no room for asking questions.
Indeed jealousy can make anyone's hands dirty in blood.
â¢â¡â¢â¡â¢â¡â¢â¡â¢â¡â¢
I'm disclosing a secret and that is I have always imagined myself dancing in sangeet, haldi or any functions of shadi and a mysterious or a joyous man, falling in love with me by seeing that sight. In my ears, I'd be hearing 'sapne mein milta hai' but he should be hearing a romantic song and everything should be going in a slow motion in his vision.
Main aur mere Bollywood scenarios ðð«°ð¼
This is hands down one of the best wedding songs Bollywood has ever come up with. This song brings out the barati and jungli dancer in me ;)
INSHORT
I LOVE THIS SONG TO DEATH!
Also a big hearty thanks to Riya273 and affykim77Â for constantly commenting on the story. I sometimes get a bit affected by y'all not commenting but these two gorgeous girls do and it makes me so happy. I feel considered and special, so does my story. I was feeling so unmotivated by seeing the lack of votes and comments then again I read the comment of the previous chapter where these two said they were waiting for the update, so I thought I cannot disappoint these two, also y'all. So I wrote down the update.
Next chapter will be filled with ð¤ððð¤¯
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