Chapter 20 :: Roka....?
1727 Words
Meanwhile in England,.....almost a month passed since Blaze came back from his trek....mm
Blaze was going crazy. He could not keep a certain pretty brown eyed brat out of his mind.....
and It's been days!
It was insane!
It surprised him that how easily she made him reveal his secret without even trying to be intrusive.....and when he realized what he said, he just could not look at her
god knows why!
He never told anybody that he has been away from home for so long, not even Sankalp and even if Sankalp had doubts, he never dared to ask.......
A 15 years old brat was driving him nuts, making him feel things he should not be feeling, it's wrong....and ever since he came back,.....he can not not think of her.
what's he turning into.....
a pedophile ?
He scoffed while drinking his beer in a bar.
But...
but f**k!
everything about her is so refreshing,.....
like a breathing a fresh air after a long time!
absolutely intoxicating.....
her silly questions, her thirst for knowledge, her nerdiness, her singing with her brothers, her dancing around the streets without caring about the world, her simplicity, endless curiosity, her daring, reckless adventurous side,.......
it was as if she imprinted herself on him in a few days.....
........
and just in time a skimpy clothed girl came from behind and brush passed giving him a suggestive wink and a seductive smirk.
'would you buy me a drink!'
"I've got to get her out of my mind......there is no way in hell a teenage brat is capable of doing this to me, It's all in my mind and nothing else".......He thought and smirked back at her.
'yeah.....i definitely would'
Blaze never looked back after that day and......
Insiyaa moved on too.
after all why wouldn’t she!
well!
probably.....
And.....2 years passed ever since,.....
At Bikaner palace....
"c'mon Insu di....today's special, let us hear your voice......sing a song for us" Swarna excitedly said
"but...."
"yeah, Raichand, just this once.....last i heard your voice was when we were on trek" Sankalp said
there was no outsider in the Palace today.....just two families Raichands and Rathods having a get together.
And today Amarendra Raichand fixed Insiyaa's marriage with Sankalp Singh Rathod, Yuvraj of Bikaner.....it wasn’t a full blown engagement party just a Roka ceremony.
it's a ceremony where the bride's father will visit the groom's house.......Upon his arrival, he will offer a blessing by applying a tilak on the groom's forehead and presenting gifts such as sweets, money, and clothing.
now whoever is thinking about them following different religion......that's a story for another time, though it felt ridiculous at point to Insiyaa especially, considering Insiyaa's parents' marriage was interreligious as well......it was first of It's time and big thing then but now, noone gives a damn about it.
She tuned her guitar and with a deep breath she started singing in middle octave.....
Uljhan bhi hoon teri, uljhan ka hal bhi hoon main
[ I'm your problem and the solution to that as well ]
Thoda sa ziddi hoon, thoda pagal bhi hoon main
[ I'm a little stubborn and a little bit mad ]
Barkha bijli baadal jhoothe, jhoothi phoolon ki saugatein
[ Rain, lightning, clouds and the gifts of flowers are false ]
Sachi tu hai sacha main hoon, sachi apne dil ki baatein
[ Just you, me and the conversations of our hearts are real ]
Dastkhat haathon se haathon pe karde tu
[ Put your signature on my hands using your hands ]
Naa kar aankhon pe palkon ke parde tu
[ Don't put the curtain of eyelids on your eyes ]
Kya yeh itna bada kaam hai, elaan hai
[ Is this such a difficult thing for you to do ]
Jab tak jahaan mein subah shaam hai tab tak mere naam tu
[ You're mine till the time there's morning and evening in this world ]
Jab tak jahaan mein mera naam hai tab tak mere naam tu
[ You're mine till the time my name exists in this world ]
and with that there was a huge round of applause from all around her both families and even servants who were eagerly listening her singing.......
"bhai....i have to say baccha, you are very good with that thing, Amar you should have let her continue to take classes...i mean if she can do this only in few days of basics" Ranaji Alok Singh Rathod said..... though no male species of her side of the family said anything, one brother vanished right after Senior Raichand finished doing the rituals and another was scrolling through his phone,.....he shifted uncomfortably on his seat, obviously he was trying to be nonchalant, even Ruthba who was sitting beside her looked away from her......
Swarna came out and started pulling those 2 girls away from there saying she wanted play some new board game she bought, half reluctantly and half willingly she and Ruthba left with her.....
and yes!.....Insiyaa never got to learn guitar to the fullest......not to the point where her teacher would yeah now you are ready......she only learned some basic tuning first few week before her father let the teacher go...after that, various youtubers were her teachers.
if anything.....thank Allah that her elder brother Rahat didn’t think of cutting the WiFi service
when for the first time which was like 2 years ago before the trek, Insiyaa asked her baba that she wanted to learn guitar,......he agreed but when she came back from trek, Amma suggested just before her board exam that....."what would she do by learning guitar,...She's wasting time, she should learn household work in those time when she wasn’t studying"
safe to say, that one simple thing she wanted and loved in her monotonous life was gone just like that,......now she wasn’t even allowed to learn guitar like many other thing. All she could do was either study or household works because.....
Let's face it, she never have to work and earn for herself.... obviously three men will deciding her final fate by handing her over in marriage to another orthodox family where she will be known just as a housewife just like many other before her
--- HOMEMAKER......they says, these days.....elegantly
"but one thing though.....I'd like to hold on the press release about all these" Sankalp said...
"what.....why ?" Rahat walked in just in time and asked....and his voice came out harsh enough for Shawkat to flinch.....
"well, i just took over the business not few months ago and Raichand is still studying...I'm sure she wants to continue. Now none of you are unknown to the cruelty of press, they'd go anywhere and start harassing her and me" Sankalp answered him as a matter of fact
"are you having second thoughts here.....i mean, Roka is already done and now you don't want the news to go on air...." Rahat said
"brother...i'm sure--" Shawkat was about to say something when Rahat glared at him making him stop...
"listen you can wait, but we plan to announce it two days from now on at the inauguration ceremony in Mumbai of our latest jewellery shop...all the fashion press would be there as well.
if anything It's good for business....2 prominent families coming together, don't you think!" Rahat gave him careless shrug and said rather haughtily.
Insiyaa and Ruthba was watching everything silently from upstairs.....Insiyaa only let out a scoff while Ruthba's face was void of any emotions.
in few months passing only Allah knows how many times Insiyaa wondered if this was actually her brother standing there....Everytime he's talking or was it someone else......even Her baba didn’t look very impressed either of Sankalp's idea.
she stole a glance at her now fiancee but Sankalp's expression did not give away anything either just like Ruthba's......
he just smirked before saying,
"mere pyare future saalesaab [ my dear future brother-in-law ] why are you in so hurry....it's just a matter of 2/3 years, i say let her finish her study, we'll announce then, i think right now announcing engagement and marriage is not a good idea....it will only serve to pressurize me and my fiancee"
"that's exactly what they want......" Insiyaa wanted to say but kept quiet
"we are not stopping her.....she can continue after marriage" Rahat said again
"Let's go Ruth......i don't wanna stay here any longer, Swarna is getting impatient" Insiyaa muttered looking down at them one last before leaving from there
"yes! Sankalp....i don’t see any__
"Raanisa- Ma......like i said, what's the hurry,..... if we announce a long term engagement in media, people will talk....you know how elite society is, they'll eat her alive with questions"
"then there's a solution.. is it not ?.....announce the engagement and marry, i don't see any reason to wait"
"but we -- i do!......with a new jewellery store opening, people just started recognizing her work, she is slowly becoming the face of that side your business, it's already blooming......
and I'm sure it's overwhelming for all of us,.....we should take a break and let her breath, besides the way you are talking, looks like you have no trust in me, brother, do you think I'll ditch her at last moment ?" Sankalp said in challenging tone, looking directly in Rahat's eyes....making his jaw clenched tightly.........he looked away
and that's when Shawkat stepped in.....
"now, buddy,.....why would you say something like that, of course we trust you......beside it's just a matter of 2/3 years, i think it's good Rahat, she's still young and still in need of adjusting in new environment,.....Raanisa would be able teach her things or two that's needed to be a perfect Yuvrani of Bikaner and in meantime, she'll complete her semesters.....Don't you think baba!"
"but ---" Rahat was about to protest when Amarendra Raichand cut him by raising his hand
"i think he's right Rahat.....we can wait"
"but dad....i already __
"Rahat......i don't see anyone else objecting here, so maine ek bar kehdiya na...bas khediya"
[ Rahat i already told you once.....have i not ]
Amarendra Raichand cut him off this time in rather stern voice.....and Rahat surrendered at last
"ji baba" He muttered letting out a harsh breath
[ Yes! Father ]
Ruthba let out a sigh of relief and left from there as well......
from that day on....Insiyaa moved on too.
after all why wouldn’t she!
well!
probably.....
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- Writer
