Sunset at a beach,
Daya (checking everything): Sab ready hai? Jaldi jaldi karo…time ho raha hai..
Abhijit:Daya..sab ready hai naa? Sorry main teri madat nahi kar sakta..
Daya (smiles):arre..tu Ladki ka pita hai….tu jaa tera kaam kar..hum sab hai naa yahan..
Abhijit (looking here and there): yeh sab toh theekh hai..mera damaad kahin nazar nahi aa raha hai…kahin bhaag toh nahi gaya..
Daya:uski itni himmat kahan…waise woh raha…apne baal sawaar raha hai..
Abhijit buttons his coat and approaches the groom. He clears his throat.
Abhijit (attitude): tayyar ho gaye..
Rajat (turning): arre sir aap ? kaisa dikh raha hoon main..
Abhijit: kitna bhi powder lagaa lo..meri beti ke jitney gore toh nahi ban sakte..
Rajat (smile): woh toh hai..she is simply beautiful…he says dreamily…
Abhijit (stern tone):Meri beti hai who…uske aankh se ek bhi aasoo tapka naa…tohhhh..
Rajat (scared): Meri majaal hai kya Sir…main kabhi Purvi ko koi dukh nahi pahunchaaoonga…donot worry sir…I promise..
Abhijit (hugging him): Mujhe pata hai yeh Rajat…sab pata hai…tumse acha koi nahi milega Purvi ko…he has tears in his eyes.
Rajat: arre sir..aap ro rahe hai?
Abhijit (smile): Ladki ka pita hoon bhaii…rona toh aayega naa….
Rajat (laughing): Sirrr…koi tips de sakte hai…I mean shaadi ke pehle koi advice…
Abhijit (looking here and there, whisper): ab bhi mauka hai…bhaag jaooo…he winks..
Purvi side
Shreya: Purviiii…yeh lipstick itni dark kyun laga rahi hai..
Purvi (checking herself in the mirror):Hamle ki tayyari kar rahi hoon…she presses her lips..
Shreya:Hamlaaa? Tu kya karne waali hai?
Tarika (gasping): Haan mujhe pehle se bataa de….tera koi shocking avatar dekhke mujhe heart attack naa aa jaaye..
Purvi (fondling her huge belly): bass itna bol sakti hoon….tere inn teen 'bandaron' ke aankhen bandh kar le…inke baal mann pe asar padd jayega..
Tarika (scared): Kya kaha? teen bunder?...rishte me yeh sab tere chote bhai bahen hai samjhi..
Purvi: okay Mummji….she laughs..
RajatM:Purvi beta…tu tayyar ho gayi..
Purvi gets up and touches her feet.
Purvi: ji Maa..main kaisi lag rahi hoon?
RajatM: ekdum chand ka tukda….she kisses her forehead…
Purvi (smiling):Maa…aap toh ekdum 'sexy' lag rahi ho aaj…mujhe aapka yeh gown bahut pasand aaya..
RajatM: aakhir choice bhi toh meri bahu ki hai…Thank you beta…hamesha yeh saree, salwar pehenke bore ho gayii thi…tumhari wajah se aaj apne aap ko aise dekh rahi hoon..sach bataoon…mujhe lagta hai meri umar 10 saal kam ho gayi hai..she laughs…
Purvi (winking): toh hamari shaadi hote hi..main apne liye ek naya father-in-law bhi dhoond loon?
RajatM (eyes wide): chupppp…kya kaha?...she laughs..Purvi laughs too….
Rajat side
Rajat is tapping his foot nervously and impatiently. Finally he is called to take his place for the wedding. He stands there awaiting Purvi. He smiles shyly as she steps ahead with Abhijit.
Purvi (whisper): Jijuuu..Thank you…
Abhijit (softly): Anytime Purvi…khush rehna…
Purvi stops walking and hugs Abhijit spontaneously. She starts sobbing.
Abhijit: arre…kya ho gaya?
Purvi (sobbing): Kuch nahi…Papa…papa yaad aa gaye..
Abhijit: koi baat nahi Purvi….tum bhi hamare liye bahut special ho…Tarika ki bahen toh mere liye beti se kam nahi ho….aur dekhooo..hum dono ki shakalen bhi milti hai..hai naa…he jokes..
Purvi (wiping tears): uss hisaab se toh Rajat aapka chota bhai dikhta hai…she laughs..
Abhijit: ab tum hi khud rishta tayy kar looo…Rajat mera bhai yaani tumhara chacha hai yaa phir mera damaad aur tumhara pati?
Purvi: aapka damaad hi theekh rahegaa..aap zyaada dhauusss jamaa sakte hai..
Abhijit: Toh chalooo..waise bhi bahut utaavla ho raha hai..tumhara 'kadvaa karelaa'…
Abhijit walks with Purvi to the altar and makes her stand in front of him.
Priest (to Rajat):Do you, Rajat take Purvi as your in wife, in sickness and health, in good times or bad times, throughout your life or until death does you apart..
Rajat (smiles): I will take her with me even beyond death…Yes..i do..
Priest:Very well…he smiles at Rajat…he now looks at Purvi…before the preist can say anything…
Purvi: I love you Rajat…I really do…The priest smiles at them.. the guests laugh a bit..
Priest: Okay…so do you Ms Purvi take….
Purvi (impatient): yes I doooo…can I kiss him now?
Rajat (shock): Purviii…color creeps into his cheeks…he is blushing, he can hear the guests talking and hooting..
Priest (amused): I pronounce you as husband and wife…you mayyy…
Purvi steps closer and pulls Rajat into a kiss. Rajat gets disbalanced at the sudden tug and almost falls down. He holds her on time and with no other option shuts his eyes and enjoys the first public kiss!
The guests clap, whistle and cheer the couple… Behind them the sun is setting and the golden light reflects off them. They both are lost in the kiss and Purvi's tears flow..
Rajat uses his thumb to wipe away tears in that kiss. They both break the kiss…he hugs her gently and caresses her form, showing his love and protection to the world.
Purvi (in that hug): I love you..my kadvaa karelaaa..
Rajat (smile, kiss on her forehead): I love you too…my meethi strawberry..
Purvi (touching his lips): hmmm ab lag rahe hai tumhare hoth bhi soft…aur meethe bhi..
Rajat (wiping lipstick off his lips): yeh kya thaa..ekdum strawberry ka taste hai…
Purvi: ab main hoon hi strawberry toh…strawberry ka taste hi aayega naa..yeh khaas maine tumhare liye lagaayi hai..pata hai yeh lipstick poore 8 ghante tak rub nahi hoti…
Rajat (wiping lips harder): Kya? 8 ghante…Purviiiiiiii…
Purvi (kissing his cheek with a smack): aur yeh lipstick water proof bhi hai…she giggles…
The photographer clicks their picture together..
Purvi (getting nostalgic): Yaad hai…hamari pehli mulaqaat…theekh isi tarah…aaj zyaada handsome lag rahe ho…aur muskura bhi rahe ho…
Rajat: aur tum…waise hi khoobsurat ho..jaisa uss din thi..aaj bhi ho…May I kiss the bride? He asks her…
She nods her head shyly and they now share a gentle, loving kiss.
14 months later
Rajat: Purviiiii…Purviiiiiiii…
Purvi: kya hua Rajat..
Rajat: Baitho yahan..he looks upset and glum
Purvi: kya baat hai?
Rajat: hamari application reject ho gayi…
Purvi: kyun? Kya kaha unn logon ne?
Rajat (holding her hands): Orphanage ke rules change ho rahe hai..kuch naye committee members add ho rahe hai…unhone hume kuch mahine ke baad phir se try karne kaha hai..
Purvi (smile): Tum yeh sab mere liye kitna kuch kar rahe ho..
Rajat (kissing her hands): tum hi ne toh kaha thaa..he shows his hand..hamare 15 bache hai…unn 15 me 14 bache toh aa gaye…har mahine ek bache ki padhaai, kapde yeh sab sponsor kar hi rahe hai naa..hamare shaadi ko huye 14 mahine huye hai…aur 14 bache toh aa hi gaye naa..
Purvi (placing her head on his shoulder): hmmm….mere heart condition ki wajah se..koi bacha bhi god nahi le sakte…
Rajat (holding her shoulders): umm hmm…meri CID ki naukri ke wajah se Purvi..wajah jo bhi hooo…tum dil chota mat karoo…Tarika ke 'three musketeers' toh hai hi….main unhe train kar doonga..tumhe kal se Mummy Mummy bulaayenge..phir 14+ 3 = 17 bache ho gaye…2 zyaada hai..tumhare calculatione me kuch gadbad hai Purvi…he laughs..
Purvi (looking into his eyes): Mere calculations kabhi galat nahi hote Rajat…hamare 15 bache hi hai..
Rajat (confused): Matlab?
Purvi (smiling): Matlab 14 + 1…she places his hand on her belly….15 bache Rajattt… tears drop off her eyes..
Rajat (shock): Purviii….he looks at his hand…its on her belly..he moves it on her stomach…Purviiii…
Purvi (nods her head, hugs him tight): I…I am pregnant Rajattt..we are pregnant Rajattt..
Rajat (hugging her tight, scared voice): yeh..yeh kaise ho gaya? I mean…tumne toh kaha thaa…Purvi please..mujhe sach sach bataoo..
Purvi (crying, hugging him): Yeh sach hai…mujhe doctor ne bhi confirm kiya hai….kal hum dono ko bulaaya hai..mere complete check up ke liye…mujhe yeh bacha chahiye Rajattt..pleaseee…
Rajat (nodding head, kissing her): Haan Purvi….haan….
Some months later,
Purvi has just delivered a baby girl. She is holding the baby in her arms. Rajat has held her shoulders.
Purvi (crying): Yeh…yeh kitni sundar hai Rajattt…she kisses her forehead..
Rajat (wiping his tears): apni Ma ape gayi hai toh sundar hi hogi naa..meri choti strawberry..
Purvi (shutting her eyes): ab mujhe koi darr nahi…
Rajat: kiss baat ka darr?
Purvi (emotional): Mere jaane ke baad…tumhare paas jeene ki wajah hogi naa..yeh…she hands their daughter to him..
Rajat (kissing baby forehead): Mere jeene ki wajah aaj bhi Tum hi ho Purvi…mujhe koi aur wajah nahi chahiye….aur aindaa aisi baat ki naa..toh main..toh main…
Purvi:Toh kya? Tumhari gaadi TOH..TOH pe aake hamesha rukk jaati hai..she gasps…
Rajat places his lips again on her lips…
Rajat (after kissing): aaj toh main tumhe chodd raha hoon..apni 'Jiyaah'ke saamne uski Mummy ko sazaa nahi de raha…ek baar ghar aooo…iss baat ki aisi sazaa doonga naa..
Purvi: kya karoge tum? She has her hands on hips…
The baby girl cries loudly…Purvi laughs and holds the baby to feed her..
Rajat (watching the baby): sach me…mere JEENE KI WAJAH HO TUM….I love you my strawberry….he kisses her forehead..
Purvi: Ohhhh…I love you too…mere 'Meethe Karele'….
Rajat (surprise): Meetha Karela? mujhe toh Kadvaa karelaa hi acha lagta hai..
Purvi: jab ek kadvaa karela bahut din tak meethe strawberry ke saath rehta hai naa..toh who meetha ho hi jaata hai...she laughs..
Rajat: haan who toh hai...Kadvaa Karela + Meethi Strawberry = Jiyaah - aaj se hum dono ki JEENE KI WAJAH...He hugs his sweet family together!
….THE END….
Oh My God! This story ends...It breaks my heart but I am very satisfied...very emotional and very drained out...
Thank you so much for your love and appreciation. I am so glad you all loved this story. Kadvaa Karela and Meethi strawberry received so much attention and affection!
A big, big thank you to all my readers, reviewers and silent readers too... A special thank you to CID Ki Deewani (Teena) who was absolutely gung ho about this idea and pushed me to publish it soon!
I just wanted to write a hopeful story about Life ...Life is beautiful...The journey may look difficult but if you have a zest of living it - You will survive and live life :)
Its been a wonderful 20 chapters that I wrote...Thank you again :)
Please keep reading :) Please keep loving :)