BIRTHDAY BASH
“Kaha ho aap madam?? Wait kar karke thak gaye hum” Ayush and Karanvir were waiting for Jasmine inside Karanvir’s Car. As usual, Jasmine was late. Finally after 15 minutes or so, she finally came. Ayush was wondering that there was something with Jasmine, every time, he looked at her; she looked more beautiful. She was wearing a white sleeveless kurti and black leggings. She carried a black sling back with her also. She then placed a packet in the hands of Karanvir and wished him a very happy birthday. She hugged both of her friends.
Karanvir then started the car and drove straight towards Punjabi-By-Nature Restaurant. Karanvir already got a table for three booked there. The food was as very delicious and the three of them were very happy. Suddenly, Jasmine put her hands in the bag she was carrying along with and took out two cards.
Jasmine said, “You both have to come. Are you getting what I am saying? I cannot hear a “No”. I have not called anybody else from the college. I am inviting only both of you and you have to attend all the functions.” She brought in her wedding cards along with a new wallet for Karanvir as his birthday gift.
Before that moment, Ayush was loving and enjoying his food, but now, the food seemed like poison to him and he stopped eating. He was given a setback. The last and final hope had also faded away. Karanvir congratulated her. Ayush excused himself for the washroom. And there his emotions just burst out.
Ayush knew that this was going to happen one day, but right now he was not prepared for it. He wanted to tell Jasmine how much he loved her. He wanted to tell her that he would keep her very happy, would love her more than anyone else. But what is the use now. “Ab pachtaane se kya fayda, jab chidiya chugh gayi khet”.
So, somehow Ayush composed himself, took some deep breaths and explained to his inner self that Jasmine’s happiness is all that matters to him. If she is happy with Yuvi, then I should not put her in an ugly situation at this phase of her life. So he washed his face so that Jasmine do not even get a hint that he cried and came out of the washroom. He then congratulated Jasmine and then looked to indulge himself in her wedding preparation talks.
The wedding venue was “SK Westend Banquet, Janakpuri” and the mehndi function was at Jasmine’s home only. But, the biggest tension for Ayush was if he would be able to attend both the functions or not.
I STILL CARE FOR HER
The fourth semester exams were over. Students were either looking out for suitable internships or for MBA preparation classes which they were planning to attend during the vacations. While Ayush got placement at HDFC Bank, Rajouri Garden, Karanvir decided to go to his father’s office and learn the new traits of the trade. And as for Jasmine, she was busy with her wedding preparations.
One day, during his internship, Ayush got a call from Karanvir. Because of the busy schedule, they had not met for the past ten days. So, he and Karanvir made a plan that they would first go to Gurudwara Moti Bagh Sahib and then will have dinner together at the Anand Niketan Club since Karanvir’s father was a member at that club. Karanvir was supposed to pick Ayush in a couple of hours and till then, Ayush had to wind up his work.
Karanvir played some great and super hit Punjabi numbers on his car’s music system as both of them drove towards Dhaula Kuan. Even though you are meeting your best friend after a gap of ten days only, but, you have so much to talk about. In between all the talks and the music, Karanvir avoided the topic of Jasmine since he knew that talking about her would spoil Ayush’s mood.
So, finally they reached the gurudwara. Both of them took off their shoes and went straight towards the main building. Both of them bow their heads in front of the holy guru granth sahib ji. Ayush prayed for Jasmine happiness and asked for more strength so that he could face this situation boldly. As soon as he got up, he saw Jasmine standing next to him. She said, “Ye Mr. Writer kab se gurudware aane lag gaye”. Ayush saw her and she was looking as a pearl in a white anarkali suit, with her hair tied into a pony tail. Yuvi was also standing next to her, wearing a white shirt with black jeans and a black turban along with a classic edition Rado Watch.
Jasmine introduced Yuvi with Ayush and Karanvir. They all shook hands. From the conversation, they got to know that Yuvi’s father was a state chief of some Political party. “What’s the plan after gurudwara?” asked Jasmine. “Nothing much, just planning to have dinner at Anand Niketan Club” replied back Karanvir. Yuvi asked if they could also join them. He said, “Frankly speaking, I have to ask you guys a lot of things about my ‘would be better half”. To this Karanvir immediately responded, “Sure dude, there are a lot of secrets about your fiancée which we can share.”
These words, “Fiancée/Would be Better half” hurt Ayush the most. Karanvir and Ayush were in Karanvir’s car and he even instructed Yuvi to keep his car behind Karanvir’s car since Yuvi was new to this route. Ayush was going to have a time. Just imagine this. Your love, who is now going to be a wife of somebody else in just a few days, is now having dinner with you with her soon to be husband.
They all reached the club in about fifteen minutes. Karanvir ordered tandoori chicken and chilly potatoes as they were the best delicacies of the club. The sitting arrangement was such that Jasmine sat exactly in front of Ayush. He could notice her every activity; from the way she ate her food, to the way little strands of hair fell on her shoulders. He even saw Yuvi placing his hand on Jasmine’s. Gosh!! Only a fire brigade was required at that time.
Though Ayush was sad seeing Yuvi placing his hand on Jasmine’s hand and Jasmine smiling throughout. But, he was happy at the same time for Jasmine since he felt that Yuvi was a nice guy as he himself initiated to have lunch together and hence found him friendly. Otherwise he would not have tried to get along with his fiancée’s friends.
Ayush found Yuvi to be a guy with friendly nature who did not believe in showing off his wealth. All four of them were talking very freely and frankly with each other that Yuvi even asked Ayush and Karanvir if somebody in the college had crush on his soon to be wife. “What would you do if somebody tells you that he has a crush on your fiancée?” asked Karanvir and then looked straight towards Ayush. To this Yuvi said, “I would ask that fellow that what he found attractive in her jo yeh uska crush ho gayi”. Yuvi put some extra emphasis on the word “yeh” and poked his shoulder towards Jasmine. Jasmine playfully slapped Yuvi on his face, to which he said, “Yaar mooh pe mat maara kar, saari daadi kharab ho jati hai”.
After having their desserts, they said a final good bye to each other and Yuvi asked both Karanvir and Ayush to be present on the wedding day.
During their way back home, both Karanvir and Ayush talked about the love birds Jasmine and Yuvi; how good they both looked with each other. Ayush told Karanvir, “Pata hai bro, in the beginning when Yuvi asked if they could also join us, I was personally not interested in it and wanted to avoid the issue. But after observing his jolly nature, I am rest assured about Jasmine; she has found the right guy for herself. Jasmine would definitely remain happy with this guy and if Jasmine is happy, then I am also happy”.
While saying so, tears rolled down from Ayush’s eyes. He genuinely love Jasmine a lot, but may be luck was not his side. So it was better for him to accept the reality and move on and focus on his career. “Bro, it’s time to seriously move on, Jasmine will be happy with Yuvi and this is what you want na bhai”, said Karanvir. “Bro, I would care for her throughout for my life and if she is in any trouble, I would help her out no matter at what cost” said Ayush as Karanvir dropped him home.
THE TRUE LOVE
So, the wedding was in few days and now it was the time for some pre-wedding functions. Finally, Ayush and Karanvir decided to attend all the functions. They even bought new clothes for each of the functions. Ayush somehow realized the fact that it was Jasmine’s happiness which matters the most for him. It was a very important day for his best friend, so he wanted to be happy and prepared his mind likewise.
First of all, it was the time for “The Sagan Ceremony”. It was a low key family affair with only the immediate family members attending the function. Ayush and Karanvir stayed with Jasmine and her other cousins’ at Jasmines home only. Everybody was pulling Jasmine’s leg, when Yuvi specially called from the ceremony to enquire about her.
After Jasmine’s family came back from the Sagan ceremony, Ayush and Karanvir went back to their homes to take some rest and get ready for the cocktail party which was organized at Jasmine’s residence only. Karanvir dropped Ayush his home where Ayush decided to take a small nap before getting ready for the Cocktail Party. Ayush was so tired and soon he slept and was in his own world of dreams.
In his dream, he saw Jasmine standing in front of him, looking straight into his eyes. She was wearing the same dress she was wearing on Valentine’s Day. She asked him, “You wanted to say something to me on that day, what was that Ayush?” Her face was shining like a rising sun and looking so serene. “I just wanted to tell you that I love you and will continue to love you till my last breath. I will love you whatever the times are; whether good or bad. I love your soul Jasmine, don’t clamor for your body. You have the most beautiful and pure soul on this planet. I will never leave your hand. I just love you and can/will do anything for you” said Ayush in his dream.” “We will see if you really love me or not and can do anything for me or not”, said Jasmine and suddenly she disappeared.
Ayush wake up from his dream with sweat running all over his body. He was breathing very fast, drank two full glass of water and realized that it was just a dream. He somehow composed himself. He picked up his phone and saw seven missed calls from Karanvir. He saw the time and it was already 7’o clock and he had just half an hour to get ready. Suddenly, he got another call from Karanvir. He expected those badly timed Punjabi abuses from Karanvir, but what he actually heard from the other side changed his life forever.
Karanvir- “Hello Ayush, yaar there is a big problem. I am quite near to your home and will be reaching there in next ten minutes. Come out of your house ASAP.
Ayush – Yaar, I am not yet ready and which problem you are talking about? Please tell me what happened? Why are you sounding so worried? Please bro, tell me, I am getting tensed.
Karanvir –Bro, I cannot tell you everything over phone. I am coming there in ten minutes; everything would be fine, just wait for me”
Karanvir cut the phone and drove as quickly as possible. Ayush too changed his clothes. Karanvir reached there in about ten minutes and saw Ayush already waiting there for him, looking quite tensed and worried.
THE INHUMAN ACTS
Karanvir told Ayush: “Yaar, someone threw acid on Jasmine’s face while she was going to the beauty parlor. Her mother told that she has been admitted to Khanna Hospital and has suffered some serious injuries, especially on her face.
Ayush was stunned. He was shocked. He wished that whatever Karanvir told him a moment ago was wrong/was a dream only. He was in tears and those tears were unstoppable. How on earth can such a thing happen to the most beautiful soul? The dream which he saw a few hours ago was turning out to be true. Her beautiful face was coming right in front of Ayush’s eyes. He just wanted to see jasmine as quickly as possible. Karanvir drove to the hospital as quickly as he could.
The ambience inside the hospital was dull, sad and gloomy. Jasmine’s father and mother were looking tensed; with folded hands were praying to Almighty. Yuvi and his family members were also standing there, looking quite disappointed. Jasmine was in the Operation Theatre (OT) and doctors were doing their best to save her life. Whenever a doctor came out of the OT, Jasmine’s parents surrounded them and doctors gave them the same answer that they were trying their level best; rest is in the hands of god.
Police officials too arrived at the hospital since they wanted to record the statement of Jasmine. Seeing Yuvi’s father in the hospital made the police even more conscious. “I want the accused arrested in the next twenty four hours”, Yuvi’s father directed the Police officer. Ayush and Karanvir sat at the chairs in the waiting area. All of them waited for the doctors to come out of the Operation Theatre.
EPILOGUE
Finally, the doctors came out of the Operation Theatre. Jasmine’s father and mother were called in first and were told about the situation. Hearing the words of the doctors came as a relief as well as horror. So here was the situation. Jasmine had survived and there was no danger to her life. But because the acid was directly aimed at her face, her face had suffered a thirty percent burn. The doctors told them that such types of injuries are of permanent nature; in other words, the scars will remain on her face throughout her life.
The accused was also arrested. He admitted that he use to stalk Jasmine regularly and he used to love her. In fact, once he hold Jasmine’s hand and proposed her. To this, Jasmine slapped him right in front of the public. Now, when he came to know that she was getting married and decided to take revenge for that slap. Therefore, he made this plan and decided to throw acid on Jasmine’s face just before her wedding day to teach her a lesson. But followed this was the most shocking part.
“Tussi saanu eh gal pehle kyun nahi dassi ki tuhadi kudi da pehle hi kisi aur de naal chakkar hai” the voice thundered through the hospital corridor. It was Yuvi’s dad’s voice. “Meri kudi da koi chakkar nahi si kisi de naal, unhe te us haramzade de mooh te thappad hi maar ditta si, te tussi iss time te iss tarah diyan gallan kyun kar rahe ho” said Jasmine’s father in a tone that sounded like he knew what was now coming next. Yuvi’s father took his family at one corner of the hospital. The talks looked quite animated. Ayush and Karanvir were watching all of this helplessly.
At the end, Yuvi’s mother called Jasmine’s mother and very politely said to her, “Parjahi ji, assi apne munde da vyah tuhadi kudi naal nahin kar sakde, saada ik hi munda hai, te har ma da sapna haunda hai ki oh apne munde liye koi pari vargi kudi labhe usde vyah layi, par hun te tuhanu pata hi hain ki Jasmine da chehra kadi vi theek nahi ho payega, te tussi saanu hun maaf karo”, she said and folded her hands in front of jasmine’s mother.
Jasmine’s mother was not even out of one trauma that other one came. She was completely shocked and traumatized. She could not control her emotions. “Now, who will marry my daughter?” was just she was able to speak.
Suddenly, Ayush came in the scene. He took Yuvi to a corner and tried to convince him. “Jasmine is a great girl Yuvi, I can say so since I have spent a lot of time with her, believe me, she has the most beautiful heart and she loves you very much. Also, which girl in this generation will sacrifice her studies and leave her graduation in the middle in order to marry someone. Yuvi, love is all about loving each other’s souls, not each other’s bodies, right. Say something Yuvi”, said Ayush in a tone which sounded of a man looking to win an already lost match.
“These loving each other’s souls and not each other bodies look good only in some silly love stories which are also becoming out of trend my dear friend and if you care so much for Jasmine, Why don’t you marry her?” said Yuvi in such a pitch/voice that everyone in the hospital could easily heat that. Ayush composed himself and said “If Jasmine starts loving me today, I will not think a second and marry her. You know what even today, after all this happened to her, she deserves a better man and she does not deserve a man who just love her body and is now leaving her when she needs him the most.”
Yuvi’s father just held his hand and took Yuvi out of the hospital. Karanvir put a hand on Ayush’s shoulder and told him whatever he said to Yuvi was absolutely correct. Ayush then went straight towards Jasmine’s parents who were also listening the conversation between Yuvi and Ayush. Jasmine’s mother, with folded hands said to him, “Puttar!! Tu sachi meri Jasmine naal shaadi kar lenge na”. “Hanji aunty ji main to vaise hi Jasmine se bahut pyar karta hoon, bas aunty meri ek condition hai choti si. I want her to complete her graduation and right now I don’t know whether she loves me or not. So, in the meanwhile if I am able to convince her, then I will definitely marry her.
Jasmine’s father and mother agreed to this. Doctors said Jasmine was to be kept under observation for the next two days. More than the physical scars, it was about handling the mental scars. The physical scars heal after a period of time, but the mental scars are the most difficult/sometimes impossible ones to heal up.
Jasmine’s parents were really worried about her, but Ayush always used to tell them not to worry and so, time passed on.
TO BE CONTINUE...
GURKARAN SINGH
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