Sach hote Khwaab

Family

It was such a sweet morning. I snuggled deeper into the blanket. I had slept so soundly and blissfully! And I had dreamt that I was sleeping in Randheer's arms. Haaye Rabba! I buried my face in the pillow. It was extremely rare that I remembered my dreams and it was this dream that had stayed back in my mind (thankfully).

tu nazm-nazm se mere hothon pe thehar ja
main khaab khaab se teri aakhon mein jaagu re
tu ishq-ishq sa meri rooh mein aake bas ja
jis or teri shehnai us or main bhaagu re..

But how did I come inside ? The last thing I remember is that I was waiting in the balcony for Randh... I woke up with a start and looked around. Subah ho gayi hai – ab tak te aa hi gaye honge. Main bhi na! I smiled to myself and fell back again. Dwelling on that dream for some time, I got up and went downstairs.
Vashma and Veerji were sitting in the drawing room, preparing the guest list but it seemed some argument was on its way.
'Neelam ko nai bulaana maine vyaah mein!', Vashma whined.
'Arey par vo to changi saheli hai na tum dono ki ?'
'Haan par Amrit ki ladayi ho gayi thi usse kuch mahine pehle', she said with a humph.
'Amru ki ?', Veerji asked with raised brows
'Acha Amrit ki nahi meri!', Vashma accepted, turning her face away.
'Je ladayi ho gayi to kal suljhaa leyi. Aise vyaah mein nahi bulaane se changa thodi lagta hai!', Veerji tried to convince her.
'Maine kaha mujhe nahi bulaana use!', she said with a humph
'Soch le! Teri hi saaliyon ki toli mein ek kudi kam ho jaani hai. Fir mainu kuch na boli!', he said with a shrug.
'Oye saaliyon mein to main akele hi kaafi hoon! Koi toli-sholi nai chahidi mainu!', she said dramatically.
'Ji Mem Sahab. Aap akeli hi bohot ho!', he said accepting his defeat. 'Par fir bhi Vashma. Kyun ladayi rakhni kisise?! Tainu vyaah mein nahi bulaana usnu, to na bulaayi par jhagda to nakki suljha liyo'
'Chal rakhli teri baat. Kal baat karungi usse', she said with a smile. 'Acha ab aage badhe?! Warna yahin dopahar ho jaayegi'
Veerji nodded with a smile.

'Mainu vi dikhao ab tayi tussi kis-kis ka naam likhia', I said as sat down beside Vashma.
'Ae le', Veerji said, handing me the list. 'Rishtedaar nu kisnu bulaawan. Bas tere-mere nanihaal nyota bhijwa dainge. Unha to ilaawa itthe humaare dost-yaaran sahakarmiyaan nu bula laenge.'
'Haan Veerji, inna bohot hai', I nodded in approval, going through the list.
'Tainu kisida naam likhwaana hai to hun likhwa de mainu', Veerji said, taking back the list.
'Ye hai na itthe!', I said pointing to Vashma. 'Iske rehte main kyun dimaag lagau!'
Vashma gave me a pleased smile and I reciprocated it.
'Acha sun Abbu ka telephone aaya tha. Ammi-Abbu dono 15 tareekh tak pahaunch jaayenge!', she said excitedly.
'Aye kinni changi khabar sunai tune Vashma!', I said joyfully and hugged her. 'Aur Abrar Bhaijaan ?'
'Vo to nahi aa payenge! Ghar band nahi kar sakte na! Unhone kehelwaaya hai ki vo kuch dinon baad aake mil lenge hum sab se.'
'Ye bhi theek hai !'
'Tera joda leke aayenge Ammi-Abbu !', she said with a teasing smile.
Looking down, I smiled abashedly.
'Naanu aur Naani Ammi aa rahe hai ?!', exclaimed Kabir from the top stairs and came running down. He jumped into Vashma's lap and gave us both a peck on our cheeks.
'Haan puttar!', Veerji replied.
'Par pichli baari jab telephone par baat hui thi to unhone kaha tha na unhe kaam hai. Vo nahi aa payenge ?', he asked innocently, turning around looking at Vashma.
'Haan puttar par us baat nu to ek mahina ho gaya na. Par abhi to Amru ka vyaah hai na. Isiliye vo samay nikaalke aayenge!', Veerji explained.
'Vyaah ?!'
'Haan vyaah. Jaise Radha Maasi ka hua tha aur voh Maasarji ke saath unke ghar chali gayi thi waise hi!', Vashma explained, putting her arms around him.
'Par vo to humesha se hi Maasarji ke saath hi rehti hai na ?!' he asked utterly confused.
'Nahi puttar', Veerji said slightly laughing. ' Woh pehle yahan humaare saath rehti thi'

'Aur ab Randheer - iske raajkumaar aayenge aur ise le bhi jayenge!', Vashma said nudging me.
'Raisahab ?', he asked looking at all of us.
'Puttar Raisahab nahi Fufaji!', Veerji said affectionately.
'Oh! Mainu vi laga vo inne bade main ohnu kya bulau. Aap sab to unko naam se bulaate ho par main to inna chhota hoon. Mainu to kisine bataya hi nahi!' he said with a goofy smile.
'Koi baat nahi. Abki dhyaan rakhna. Waise khoob saare jashn honge! Khoob saara naach gaana hoga!', Vashma said gleefully.
Kabir grinned.
'Ye kaam to abhi kuch der mein ho jaana hai. Iske baad mainu nyote chhapwaane jaana hai', Veerji said.
'Main bhi chalungi tere saath. Kapde-latte lene hai na jaake! Ab tak umeed hai taiyaar ho gaye honge', Vashma chimed in.
'Mainu vi le chalo !', Kabir pouted.
'Tu kya karega wahan –',Vashma tried to talk him round but Veerji stopped her gently and said to Kabir, 'Thik hai puttar, tu bhi chal leyi'. Kabir gave him a broad smile.