Pyaar Ka Rang

"Finally engagement hogayi..! Kitna cute lag rahe na dono.. but Itna thak gaya na mein.. par jo bhi ho shaadi ke ghar me kuch jyada hi maza aata nahi?" Shakti asked leaning back to the wall.. "hmm.." the reply seemed little dull. "Oye! Mana ki bohot thak gayi hai, par itna bhi kya laash jaisi awaaz nikal rahi ho?" Shakti said before continuing when he got no reply "ajab.. kya baat hai, bhai ke baare mein soch rahi ho?" This grabbed her attention. "Kya? Pagal nahi hu mein.. jo uss casanova ke baare mein sochu. Huh." Shakti chuckle at the expression ajabde made. "Hmm.. toh yahi baat hai!" "Bola na aisa kuch nahi hai!!" She snapped "shant shant jhansi rani! Waise tumhe pata hai woh ladki jo dada ke saath ghoom rahi hai woh kon hai?" He asked. "Koi bhi ho mujhe kya.. " she said. "Abe teri problem kya hai? Pehle meri poori baat toh sun.." shakti said irritated. "Mera problem ek hi hai. tera dada! Aise toh badi deenge maarta rehta hai 'mein bohot shareef hu, seedha saadha hu' huh.. jhoota kahi ka! Ab dekho kaise uss miss beauti-fool ke saath has has ke baat kar raha hai.. mere saath toh kabhi itne acche se baat nahi ki.. acchese chodo yeh toh kabhi seedhe muh baat bhi nahi karta!" She paused and glanced at shakti who was sniggering. "Tu has raha hai?! yaar.. mein jaa rahi hu" she started walking towards their designated room in the hall "arre.. baby doll! sun toh..!" He suppressed his laughter and ran behind her but failed to catch her pace. "Pagal hai bilkul.. man mein itna pyaar hai par bol hi nahi paati.. aur mera yeh ghadha bhai! Itni pyaari ladki hai, kuch samajtha hi nahi.! Ab mujhe hi kuch karna padega.. nahi toh yeh dono pagalon ke chakar me, mein pagal hojaunga.. Chal beta shakti lag jaa kaam pe" he smiled a determined one.
________________________________________

"Dada! Dada!!" Shakti's voice wasn't reaching pratap as the hall was totally packed up and the sounds of dhol taasha along with loud music wasn't allowing him to hear his own voice let alone reach his brother. Pratap was guiding the guests on stage as people flooded to wish the newly engaged couple who will be happily married soon. But finally pratap's eye caught him shouting something and shakti grabbed the opportunity as he waved his hand indicating him to approach him.. "Yaha aao na.." and it worked as pratap marched towards his direction.. "kya hua?" He asked. "Woh mom ne bola ki dulha dulhan ko lagne wali haldi laana hai" he grinned. Pratap narrowed his eyes at him "haa toh laake dedo.." he turned to go. "Kya. Nahi! suno na dada! Woh mom ne bola ki aapko bolu haldi laane keliye.." he said. "Oh! Toh theek hai, mein mom se baat karlunga.." pratap smiled and turned to go but shakti came in front of him making him take a step back. "Mere agyakaari bhai! Mom bechari waha kaam mein busy hai, tum please unhe pareshaan mat karo yaar! Aur waise bhi meine bola na ki mom ne hi bola hai, ki aapko boldu haldi laane keliye.. room mein rakha hai. Ab kya tumhe apni bhai ke baaton pe bhi vishwas nahi?." Shakti said in a melodramatic tone "ha ha theek hai jaa raha hu. Tu apni dramebaazi limit mein rakh! Nautanki..!" Pratap signed as he headed towards the rooms. "Dada! Pehle se 2nd room! Second!!" Shakti shouted and smiled satisfied when pratap showed a thumbsup sign indicating he got what he said. "chalo.. plan A successfull. now its time for plan B" he smiled evily
_____________________________________________

Pratap entered the room and started searching for the haldi bowl. "yeh shakti bhi na.. Yaha toh koi haldi waldi nahi rakha hai." He was looking here and there when he heard a clicking sound. He turned around for the source and found the door closed. "Yeh door.. kaise bandh hogaya?" He muttered as he ran towards the door and tried to open the door but it felt as if it was locked from outside "Oye!! Kon hai bahar? Kisne lock kiya darwaza ha? Jaldi kholo. dekho, yeh mazak ka wakt nahi.." he shouted but to no avail. "Kon itna chilla raha hai?" Ajabde came out of the bathroom shouting at the person who was yelling this loud but stopped in her track when she spotted pratap there. Shock was clearly evident on their faces. "Tum!" He narrowed his eyes as he scanned her top to bottom she was looking gorgeous in her elegant lehenga choli. With all her jewellaries on and minimal makeup. Her kohl eyes were wide and her red lips sligthly parted.. 'hold on to your horses pratap! Damn this door!' He turned and concentrated on the locked door. "Agr... koi hai? Darwaza kholo."

At other side of the door shakti was having a great time listening to his brother's helpless voice. He somehow sensed it wasn't due to irritation but due to nervousness and this made him grin more wide. "Bohot bhaagte the na ek dusre se.. ab bhagke dikhao.." he whispered as he smirked at the locked latch and walked out whistling his favourite tune..

#Room#
Pratap glanced at ajabde, she was still standing fixed to her place. Her heart was beating double the speed. Her hands were cold.. his black eyes looked all the more deep as he stared back at her. He seemed all the more charming in his indowestern sherwani..  'Oh how she can spend her entire life staring at his handsome face' she smiled and signed at the thought. Whereas pratap shook his head at her and turned his gaze again on door "mujhe ghoorna hogaya toh yaha aake thoda help bhi kar sakti ho!" He said while checking the knob of the door. This brought ajabde back to reality as she closed her gaping mouth and turned her gaze. "Mein..? mein kyu tumhe ghooru? pagal thodi hu mein.." she fumbled looking here and there. "Arre yaar koi hai kya bahar.!? Darwaza kholo jaldi.." he continued banging the door without replying. Ajabde glanced at him when she didn't got any counter reply and this irritated her. She looked around and got a knife that was lying in the table and hopped towards the door but she stumbled as her lehenga came her way and she ended falling in pratap's arms.  Her both hands were on his shoulder and his hands held her through waist.. hearts skipped a beat as eyes met. Ajabde downed her eyes not able to take his intense gaze. They parted away and an awkward silence prevailed between them. "Ah.. mein shakti ko call karta hu shayad woh hume yaha se nikaal sake." Pratap said. Ajabde managed to nod. "Ek min. Yeh chaaku yaha kaise aaya? oh my god! Kahi tumne toh yeh sab plan nahi kiya? Mera khoon karne keliye?!" He exclaimed. "What!! Have you gone mad?! Mein tumhe kyu maarungi?" Ajabde asked amused. Pratap laughed sarcastically "toh kya yeh chaaku mein koi aatma aagayi.. jo khud chalke yaha aayi?" "Dekho.. mein yaha.," ajab picked up the knife and took a step forward as pratap moved a step back. " dekha.. tum mujhe hi maarne aayi ho.. chudail, dayan! Peeche hatho!" "Chup! Mujhe koi shauk nahi tumhara murder karne me.. woh toh mein isse lock kholne ke baare me soch rahi thi.." ajabde said looking at the knife in her hand. "Tum ladkiyon ke paas dimag toh hota nahi but aankhe toh acchi dikhti hai ya nahi. Chaaku ka size dekha hai? Isse kisika gala kat sakta hai lock nahi! Bewakoof.." He shook his head while ajabde's mouth was wide open at his remark.. "oh hello! Bewakoof hoti na, toh yaha tumhari tarah har baat pe argue karti baithti.. nah ki yaha se bahar nikalne ki koi tarkeeb sochti, samjhe?" "Arre ha.. tumne toh bohot badi cheez discover kiya nai?! Aur mein koi argue nahi kar raha bas sach bata raha hu. Aur rahi baat tarkeeb ki mein shakti ko abhi call kar leta hu toh.." he paused as he rechecked all his pockets 'mera mobile! Mera mobile kaha gaya?' "Oh shit!" He muttered under his breath and glanced at ajab where as ajabde gave a confused look. And finally after a few seconds of complete silence, pratap moved towards ajabde grabbed her hand and made her stand infront of the door "try!" He said. "Huh?" Ajabde was indeed confused.. "meine kahi suna tha ladkiyon ki koshish kabhi kabhi kaam kar jaati hai. Toh apply your theory and try to break the lock." He said and sat on the nearby cot. Ajabde looked at him preplexed and at knife in her hand and then at the closed door. "Nahi nahi rehne do.. tum shakti ko call karo woh nikalega hume yaha se." "Yaar kamaal karti ho. Pehle toh mere mana karne ke baawajood bhi, itna confidence ke saath chaaku leke lock kholne chali thi. Ab khud bol raha hu toh mana kar rahi ho! Woman!" He signed amused. "Shut up! Mobile do apna mein khud kar lungi tumhare sahare baithungi toh poori raat yahi pe.." "oh for god sake! Poori raat tumhare saath! No ways!" Pratap said in a hurried tone. Ajabde shook her head "mobile..?" "Nahi hai!" He shrugged. Ajabde raised her eye brows at him. "Woh mom ke saath hai.. unko uncle se baat karni thi aur mein usse wahi pe bhool gaya. So woh ab unhi ke paas hai" he cleared her doubt. "Kya!!" Ajabde's mouth was wide open. Where as pratap looked away sheepishly. "Ab theek haina.. bhool gaya toh bhool gaya! Insaan hu robot nahi jo sab yaad rakhu.." "ab kya kare..?" "Dekhthe hai agar koi yaha se guzarega toh awaaz lagaayenge.." pratap suggested. "Accha.. aur woh kaise?" Ajabde asked. Pratap scanned his surroundings and smiled when he found a chair at the corner. He adjusted the chair near the window which was way too high to reach without a chair. "Iss khidki ko kholdu bas.. phir., khul gaya" pratap opened the window after few efforts. "Hello…. Koi hai?!!" He called aloud so that his voice can reach any passerby but it wasn't working "tumse ek kaam theek se nahi hota mein try karti hu.." ajabde climbed the same chair and this disbalanced pratap as he stumbled and for a support he held the nearby locker but instead grabbed something which is not fixed at it's place and in a reflex pratap grabbed ajabde's wrist for support but she came along with him and landed on floor. And the unfixed bowl fell on them which seemed like some kind of liquid. They were inches apart when ajabde leaned in closer to his face in a trance. Pratap howered his eyes on her face, admiring her beauty but something more curious caught his eyes, his eyes widened at her right cheek which was by now smeared with haldi. He jerked her back & stood straingtening himself while ajab fell on her back. She hurriedly stood up facing her back to him, dusting her clothes. 'Tum kar kya rahi ho ajab! Abhi toh badi badi baatein kar rahi thi ki uske baare mein sochna nahi usko ignore karna hai aur ab..' she thought amused. 'Yeh mujhe pagalkhana bhijwake hi maanegi..!' Pratap thought calming his racing heart "Umm.. woh tumhare chehre pe haldi lagi hai, saaf karlo.." he said still not facing her. Ajabde came out of her thoughts & touched her cheeks to check what's wrong. "Yeh haldi... kaha se.." she turned around to say something but paused when she saw his condition was more worse than hers as he was almost half drenched in haldi. His left cheeck, neck and upper chest part was smeared with haldi. "Tumhare chehre par bhi.. woh.." she didn't continue further but pratap understood as he touched his cheeks.. he looked at his hand and then at ajab. Eyes met and looked away as they knew what it meant..  and the same awkward silence filled the room.

The door opened as shakti and jaiwanta along with heer made their way into the room. "Yeh ho kya raha hai?" Jaiwanta enquired. "Woh mom.. kya haina ki.. woh haldi.." pratap stammered. While jaiwanta guessed the situation and smiled knowingly. While shakti and heer chuckled looking at their siblings and then at each other. "Aaj bechare dulha dulhan ki haldi hone se rahi.. kyuki saari haldi toh yahi hogayi, kyu dada?" Shakti smiled mischieviously. Pratap and ajabde looked at each other awkwardly "shakti ke bacche, tujhe toh mein.." pratap began but was stopped by shakti "arre dada.. mujhe baad mein dekhlena pehle fresh toh hojao.. ya phir haldi ka rang aise chad gaya ki ab isse mitane ka man hi nahi horaha.. Hmm?" Shatki nudged. Pratap rolled his eyes at his brother's antics. "Di.. ab chalo bhi.!" Heer dragged ajabde who let her do so after casting a quick glance at pratap. Jaiwanta smiled at them "shakti jaldi se aur haldi piswao.. haldi ki rasm keliye der ho rahi hai.." she left after asking him to do the required as soon as possible to which shakti obliged happily. He left after saying " ahem, meine suna hai, ki dulha dulhan ki haldi agar kisi kuwaro pe lage toh unki bhi shaadi jaldi hojati hai.." "shakti..!!" Pratap warned and his one look was enough for shatki to ran out of the room.
Pratap heaved a sign of relief. He smiled as he touched his haldi smeared cheeks .. "hmm.. waise itni buri bhi nahi hai.." he smiled running his fingers in his hair slightly messing it up recalling the previous incident.