Two of her sisters came in the room to take her. They pulled her palla even lower. She smiled and went with with them. The next minute, she was on the stage, garland in hand.
The people from his side lifted him, and he looked down on her, literally. It took her a second to use her training and dominate him. The people around her did whisper, but for now, she didn't care. She didn't lower her eyes, she stared at him, did not act like a new bride, but like the commando she always knew she was.
Everyone whispered in her ears, taunted her to 'act like a girl.' She did. But not the girl they wanted her to be. At heart, she was always Special Agent Mj. Sanjana Dubey. Abhinav was the only one who smiled and cheered all along the ceremonies.
Time had passed, the ceremony was about to come to an end. Sanjana was waiting for the final moment.
As they both sat in front of the sacrificial fire, she asked him one final time.
"Kundanji. Hum aapse aakhiyon baar pooch raho hai." She replied looking at him through the red veil.
"Hmm." He did not even look at her.
"Kya...byaah ke baad, hum duty pe jaa sakte hai?"
"Sanjana tumhe kitni baar batana padega. Ye humaare ghar ki mariyada nahi hai. Aurat sirf ghar ki shaan ho sakti hai. Ab bas, aage ki rasme poori karenge aur tum kuch nahi bologi." He said, raising his hand to apply the vermilion. Before he could, she grabbed his hand, stopping his hand midway.
"Bolne ko to aapne kuch choda hi na hai."
"Sanju he ka kar rahi hai!" Her mother grabbed her shoulder, pulling her back. She shrugged her off. The whispers grew louder, as she got up and pulled off the palla. Kundan got up too, shocked and angered.
"Jo hume ek saal pehle hi kar deno chahiye tha."
"Kaa bol ri hai maudi! Chup chap baith neeche..." her mother said worriedly, looking at the crowd.
"Nahi amma. Aaj nahi. Itne saalo se chup hi to baithe the hum."
"Sanju...tujhe samajh nahi aa rao.." her father glared at her.
"Bapu...hume humaayi duty karni hai. Baat to aapko na samajh aa rahi hai. Seedhe seedhe bole, lekin aapko samajh hi nahi aaya." She walked towards him.
"Hum jaante ki yahan log humaaye baare me kya kya bolte hai. Aur hume usse koi farak nahi padta. Lekin Amma Baapu...jab apne hi aap par sawal uthaaye to...usse badi aur dardnaak chot koi na hoti. Hume doosro se farak nahi padta, lekin aap kya sochte hai usse padta hai." Her eyes were already brimming.
"Agar ask aapne humaayi khushi cheen kar, samaj ki khushi ko apni maudi se aage rakh liya, to kya for kabhi aap humse aankhen mila paayenge? Kya sabhi maa baap ki tarah aapke laane humaayi khushi maaine nahi rakhto?"
There was silence.
"Jab pehli baar wardi pehni thi, tab shapat li thi ki desh aur wardi ke aage kuch nahi. Humne aaj tak aapki har baat maani hai Baapu, aapka batera samman bhi karte hai. Lekin jab baat duty ki aaye, to je nahi dekhte ki aage kaun khada hai- apne khoon ka ho, ya na ho." She said, her voice strong. Karan, Monami and Faizi moved towards the mandap and came right in front of the crowd, hearing everything she was saying. Hearing her, they felt a sense of pride, a reminder of how honoured the uniform was.
"Agar aaj aap me se koi bhi hume rokega...to hum uspe hathiyaar uthaane se nahi katraayenge." She announced, facing the crowd. Karan smiled slightly, she was finally taking a stand for herself.
"Once a commando...always a commando..." he whispered to himself. Monami looked at him questioning.
"So..tum ye karaana chahte the?" She asked, a little tensed, remembering her own father.
