Guddan and Akshat - Made for Each Other

Chapter 31 - The Endeavour - Part 1

It's evening. Guddan has been in her room all day. Meera and Savitri Devi could forcibly feed her a few morsels of food throughout the entire day. Akshat was busy the whole day to arrange the surprise for Guddan. Meera had made Guddan ready in the "royal attire", but she hadn't paid much attention to it, as her mind was wrapped in her own world of guilt.

Meera brought Guddan downstairs blind-folded. And as she took off the blind-fold, she was awestruck. It was exactly what she had always dreamt of, her royal dream, every single detail, even better than her dreams. As if she was in some royal palace and not in her own house. So many lamps adorning each nook and corner, such a magnificent sight, antique decoration, guards stationed near doors, just like she saw in the movies. All the family members were in royal attires. She was elated and forgot everything in that moment. Just then, she saw her own reflection in the huge mirror, adorned with colourful stones, placed inches away from her. For a second, she couldn't recognise herself. Was it her or someone from the royalty? She couldn't believe her sight. She looked at Anshu, who was cheerfully talking with Savitri Devi. It must be Anshu who told everyone. She was overwhelmed with how much her family loved her.

Akshat's eyes were fixed on the happy face of Guddan. In this attire, she was really looking like a princess of some ancient kingdom. He wasn't able to take his eyes off her, that content smile, that smile he had been yearning to see on her face all day. Vikram's pat on his shoulder broke his trance.

Vikram (teasing tone) - Aapko toh yeh sab, woh kya kehte hain aap, haan "bachkaana" lagta hai na? Phir maan kaise gaye aap Anshu ke prastab ko?

Akshat (irritately, adjusting his Pagdi) - Bachkaana lagta thaa nahin, lagta hai Vikram. Yeh itne bhaari bharkam kapdon mein insaan saans bhi nahi le sakta. Uffff.......... (pauses for a while as he looks at a smiling Guddan, soft voice) Par agar iss bachkaani harkat se, Guddan phir se normal ho jaye, uske chehre par pehle jaisi hansi laut aaye, toh kya pareshaani hai. (and a smile appeared on his face)

Meera (whispering to Vikram, giggling) - Vikram, log asli shaadi mein itna nahi karte, jitna aapke yeh dost "bas naam ki shaadi" mein kar rahe hain. Inki koi aankhen kholo, aur batao, ki ab yeh shadi bas naam ki nahi rahi inke liye.

Akshat - Kuch kaha aapne?

Vikram shushed Meera, signalling her to stay silent, moving his eyebrows and nodding in "no".

Saraswati (nervously, walking with difficulty) - Haaye haaye Lakshmi Di. Yeh Saasumaa ke chakkar mein kahan phas gaye hum. Itni bhari bharkam jewellery. Meri toh haalat kharab hai. (stumbling over Lakshmi) Sorry, inn kapdon mein toh chala bhi nahi jaa raha.

Lakshmi (excitedly) - Tu chup kar Saru. Mujhe toh badaa mazaa aa raha hai. Mere armaan aaj Saasumaa ke chalte pure ho gaye. Woh kya kehte hain, ekdum khandaani Rajwadon jaisa lag raha hai. Hai na Vardhaanji.

Vardhaan (putting hand on Lakshmi's shoulder, looking into her eyes) - Aur nahin toh kya, aaj toh pura keher dhha rahi ho. (Lakshmi blushes) Sach mein Lakshmi, aaj toh mazaa aa gaya.

Lakshmi (excitedly) - Main toh kehti hun, agar Saasumaa ka mood thik karne ke liye AJ aise shaandaar intazaam karte rahe, toh roz hi Saasumaa ka mood kharab hota rahe............(and she bites her tongue, making a child-like face, when she realises what she had just said, everyone else staring at her) Aare main toh mazak kar rahi hun. Aise thodi na kisika mood apne faide ke liye............

Kishore (irritatedly adjusting his pagdi) - Tum sab yeh mazak-wazak chhodo, yahan mera toh pura mazaa nikal raha hai. Aise kapde kaun pehenta hai. Aur yeh jewellery, yeh toh ladkiyaan pehenti hai na? (holding the heavy necklace around his neck) Hum kyun pehne bhai? Yeh pichle zamaane ke log pagal thhe kya? Upar se yeh 6 kilo ki pagdi. Sidhi-sadhi pagdi mein bhi toh chal jaata, yeh itne saare........ pataa nahi kya kya lagaa rakha hai. Papa ko toh perfect royal feel chahiye thha. Aur karo royal look .......... Ufff.........yeh........ (holding his pagdi)