JAYABHIRAJ:- The Fight Against Fate

Tilak

"Agar dono taraf ke log taiyar hai toh der karne ki kya zaroorat hai, aaj hi tilak kar diya jaye?"
"If people from both sides are ready then what is the need to delay, let the tilak be done today itself?"

Someone from Abhiraj's side said with a feminine voice.

"Haan bilkul, par Jaya, isme aapki kya raaye hai?"
"Yes absolutely, but Jaya, what is your opinion on this?"
Abhiraj's mom asked.

Even though she was asking, there was a tone which wanted an answer in yes.
I can't blame her for this, it's what runs in the royal blood.

Even though I wanted to reply, it wasn't proper of me to say something here when maa-sa was sitting right next to me.

"Maa-sa?"
I signalled her to say something.

She was hesitant to say anything, maybe she knew what I wanted but she also knew the order hidden in Abhiraj's mom's question.

I squeezed her hand giving her my permission, I will never let her down in front of anyone else because of me.

"Jii, rasam jaldi shuru karte hai."
"Yes, let's start the ritual soon."
Maa-sa said and everyone erupted with teasing and laughter.

In the evening

By the time everything was getting ready, Abhiraj and I were standing on the terrace.

"I.... I didn't want to be rude to you...."
I said.

Even though what I said was true and right, all I knew is that it came out harsher than it should.

"Oh.....I didn't mind it."
"Aap apne khayalo ko leke kaafi spasht thi, hame yeh kaafi accha laga."
"You were very clear about your views, I liked it very much."
I just nodded to his words.

"Waise aapka pasandeeda rang kaunsa hai?"
"By the way, what is your favorite color?"
He asked.

"Saffron....."
I said remembering all the memories related to this colour.

"Viraj! Viraj! Why do you love wearing saffron colours so much?
Nowadays, the light shades are most famous? "
I asked, hugging him from the back.

He slowly turned towards me with a smile.

"Aapko pata hai yeh rang kya darshata hai?"
"Do you know what this colour signifies?"

I just nodded still hugging him while looking at him.

"It represents brave warriors who died fighting on the battlefield.
My father died fighting for the country, one day it would be my turn -------"

"Aapko hamari Kasam ki aap is vaakya ko kabhi pura nahi karenge."
"I swear to you that you will never complete this sentence."
I said keeping my hands on his mouth to stop him from speaking further.

"Aap aisi baatein kyun karte hai?
Jis din Viraj nahi honge us din iss duniya mein Jaya bhi nahi hogi, kyunki Jaya Viraj se hai aur Viraj Jaya sa!"

"Why do you say such things?
The day you will not be here, I will also not be living in this world, because Jaya is from Viraj and Viraj is like Jaya!"
I said smiling.

"Accha baba hum nahi bolenge par sachai toh sabko pata hai na?"
"Okay Baba, I will not say it but everyone knows the truth, right?"
He said.

"Hoga yeh baaki sabke liye sach hamare liye toh bass aapka hona hi sach hai!"
"This will be true for everyone else, for me it is only true that you are there!"
I said hugging and snuggling close to him.

The memory started fading away as my and Viraj's giggle replaced Abhiraj calling my name.

"Kahan kho gayi Jaya?"
"Where are you lost?"
He asked.

"Nothing...... I just remembered something."
I said but my voice was shaking..... before I show any of my weakness to him it's better to leave.

"It's..... Better if I go in to change for Tilak"
I said and left.

Abhiraj's POV

She left almost crying.
I know she doesn't want to show me any of her weaknesses.

You want to show how strong and self dependent you are but deep down even the walls of this palace knows that how brave and self dependent you are, you are craving for a shoulder to cry on and let your emotions flow without any interruption.

One day, I'll be that someone for you, Jaya......

Jaya's POV

I was ready and was sitting in the ceremony room where everyone was waiting for Abhiraj to arrive.

"Bhaavi bhabhi-saa! Hum hai Aarti aur yeh hamare dusre Bhai-sa Aditya. "
"My future sister in law, I am Aarti and he is my other brother Aditya."

Before I can say anything or greet her back she again start speaking.
"Aapko pata hai hum kitne saalo se is din-----"
"You know I was waiting for this day for years-----"

Suddenly she stopped.
From under my veil I can see Aditya stopped him.

What did she want to say that he didn't let her complete...?

"Ohh! Bhai-sa is here!"
Aditya said and my eyes flicker to the side where everyone is watching.

"Bhai-se achanak se yeh kesari rang ka kurta?"
"Brother, why this saffron colour suit?"
Aarti asked.

Saffron colour!?
I looked back at him.
Because of my veil, it was difficult to make out the colour but when I looked  carefully it was actually saffron.

"Bass hamara Mann kar gaya"
"I just wanted to"
He said while sitting next to me.

"But we did shopping for 5 hours to pick that peach colour suit for you!"
Aarti said.

"Accha ab baat khatam, hame Jo accha laga humne pehen liya."
"Okay, the topic is over, I wore what I liked."
He said.

Almost everyone in his family looked annoyed at changing the plan at the last moment but he didn't look at them at all.

"Hume aasha hai ki aapko yeh pasand aaya hoga?"
"I hope you liked this?"
He asked.

He looked good.....but too much like Viraj......