The Strange Meet Part 3

Last Updated: 01-07-2015

The Story till now:

I am to catch a train from Delhi to Mumbai in Rajdhani Express. My co-passenger in the train a beautiful & charming girl and I start falling for her slowly & steadily. As time passes by, we get to know each other well.
There is an derailment of a goods train en-route and Rajdhani is made to halt by a small station in Rajasthan, which happens to be my native. It would take an hour or two for the track to be cleared. I decide to head towards the village to meet my family & take Kanika along.

 If you are not following the blog, Do read the Part 1 & 2 here:

A Strange Meer - Part 1 & 2

Get in touch with me here:
Vivek Gunawat

Special Thanks: Abhishek Gunawat

My younger brother for the beautiful poem " I Wish...", which is included in this part of my blog.

Like Poetry, Check out his blog [He's a little lazy though in updating his blog]:

http://intoxicationoflife.blogspot.in/ 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Ram-Ram…”, I said put down my phone.

“Ahaa, was that your native tongue?”

“Hmm…Yeah, I use it only in this part of the country. Otherwise back home its Hindi”.

“Nice, it sounds good actually. By the way, where are we heading?”

“That’s a surprise! Just wait & watch”

Before we got down, we heard another announcement coming our way:

“This is the Guard of the train; we should be up running after an hour or two. You may enjoy the evening outside as well if you wish to. Kindly don’t go far, because we won’t be responsible if you miss the train. The train will be put on the emergency stop beside platform #2. Thank You”

We put the luggage safely under our seats. I took my backpack & she took her hand bag. We were ready & good to go.

But before we got down the train, I made sure that I told my co- passenger, another young student traveling back home to call me when the line gets clear.

Oh, you still wondering what station that was?

So that was Lalpur-Umri, my ancestral village. We still had my grandfather and couple of cousins of my father looking after our agriculture & dairy business.

Lalpur - Umri : The railway station got its name from the two twin villages nearby. Both lying on opposite sides of the Railway line.

I had called my one of my Chacha (Uncle) , to come and pick us up ASAP, as we were short of time. I told him that, I would be waiting for him at the Railway Crossing.

The Railway Crossing at the background

Saw this boy, Must be heading towards the Annual Mela

The station - Lalpurumri

[ Photo credits for the last two pictures above: Kishan Meena ]

The sun was still up in the sky, still bright, but it would be dark by the time we are back aboard.

Kanika wore a silver jacket and had put a sky blue scarf around her neck. On the other hand, I had my sweatshirt on.

“What’s is the yellow flower in the fields?”

“That’s mustard, looks great na?”

“Yes, of course. I want you to click my picture in the fields”

“I love would love to do that … it would be my sheer pleasure ma'am”, I said and smiled

“Oh, C’mon Rajat. I am just another girl, no special”

Yeah no special, you were super-special to me, I wanted to tell her...

But I wish

I wish …

I wish I could feel you,
in every breath I took,
describe how beautiful you are,
without having a look,

I wish I could see you,
every time I want,
you will be my only choice,
and I’ll write your name in my favourite font,

I wish I could touch you,
tickle you to smile,
knowing you are around,
I'll just go wild

I wish you could understand,
how much I care for you
from deep inside,
I will never hurt you

I wish I could tell you,
in every breath I take,
in every object I feel,
I every person I see,
you are everywhere,

I wish I could tell you,
how much I love you

And wanna be with you … forever

I was too shy to tell this to her, but through this blog, I hope it gets conveyed. ;)

And within no time, a tractor came speeding towards us.

Reddish turban, long black mustache, sky blue kurta – white pajama, and black leather juti – that was my Chacha – a veteran wrestler, now handling our Agro & dairy business.

 

“Ram Ram Chacha!”, I greeted.

“Ram Ram, Bhaaya ! … and you must be his friend?”, to Kanika

“Yes, uncle!”, she replied

“Call me Chacha, sounds Desi ”, Chacha said and smiled.

“Come one now, hop on. Anyways you don’t have a lot of time”.

We climbed on the tractor, and started towards home - The Haveli. Chacha had conversation with Kanika involving some basic who, where, how questions. The good thing about Chacha is that he has always been cool about having friends of the opposite gender. The only person who has a problem is my Daadi [Granny].  But, hopefully, I had a plan in mind for that as well.

“Rajat, you have come at a very good time”.

“Why is that Chacha, any important occasion ?”, I asked

“It’s the Annual Mela going on! And your cousins have come too”.

“Wow, it’s been so many years that I got to see it. It’ll be fun. I’ll take Kanika along”.

“Yup, sounds good to me”, Kanika joined.

“Who all have come?"

“Radhika, Abhay, Naman  & Yashini . All were free this winter, so though of coming and visiting us.” They were my first cousins.

“Oh that's awesome, the last time we met was in one of the marriages of some relative. It seems it will be an awesome evening today, and would be great to catch up with them”.

Kanika was enjoying the scenic view of the fields, and could not stop her.

“The fields are so awesome, can we take some pictures here?”.

“Chacha .. can we, just 2 minutes …!” I asked.

“Sure, take your time”

We got down, and entered the fields; mustard all over, yellow all around.

And in one of such field was a cute girl posing for me. It could not have been any better ;)

“Ready? She had been fiddling with her hair for a long time now”

“Just a sec, hmm…done!”

And she started to pose – some were typically girly, some the model poses and in some she was what she was – a pretty girl.

After I finished clicking, she ran towards me to see the clicks.

“Show me, Show me”

“Just a sec ….” , and I pressed the Play button on the camera and showed the pictures to her.

“Okay, next … ahaa … “ , these were how she responded. And at the end, she said.

“Is it the photographer, the camera or what that made me look so awesome in the clicks?”. She asked.

“I’ll tell you, but you need to pose for me as I want”.

“hmm..okay”

“Can I have your scarf ..?”

“Here”, she said and handed over it to me.

“I first folded the scarf into a large triangle, and then put it on her head with the corners on the triangle downwards, pointing to the ground to make it look like a ghoonghat.”

It kinda clicked with what I was looking for. She then folded her hands as one greets Namaste and gave a charming & beautiful smile to make the picture memorable. I just loved it!

And then we stated to walk back towards the tractor.

“Answer my Q”

“Oh, that …!”

“Yes…the one I asked you”

“It’s not the photographer nor do cameras that make you look awesome!”

“Then, what is it …” .  She said and Give me an evil look. And walked passed by me, leaving me behind.

I ran towards her, hold her hand from behind, went close to her and said into her ears.

“It’s YOU”

“Awee…really”, she said with an excitement.

And within a second, she added.

“Jhoota” [Liar]

“Arey, Sacchi”, I smiled to her.

“Taarif karte rehana baad main, for now, we need to catch up. Chachaji must be waiting.”

“Haan, lets run”.

We ran and climbed up the tractor. During the whole journey, till we were about to reach home, nobody talked, it was our eyes that did all the talking.

At Home:

Since our home was at the hill top (a small one), the view from it was always mesmerizing, and I was missing this for long. The house - remain of our great grandfather, who was a Patel (Member of the Village Panch).

Since, my great grandfather had two sisters and was only son to my great grandfather; hence the Haveli’s responsibility came to him automatically.

This is how the boundaries and the walkway looked

The Haveli

Even though the village had been getting electricity since last decade, but we still used the huge metallic ring on our large wooden gate.

A Typical Wooden Gate, common in Rajasthan. It can still be found in rural Rajasthan & Forts of Rajasthan

Thak Thak … Thak Thak …I knocked on the door.

My Chachi opened the door.

“See, who is here Bacchon”, said to my cousins.

Chachi ran her hands over my head, blessed me.

 And now it was Kanika’s turn.

“Come in Beta, Rajat told me about you!”, said Chachi giving her a warm welcome.

I knew she must have been feeling awkward. But decided that I would try my best to make her feel home.

I, then, went out to meet my grandfather, who was reading something [Must be mythological, because it’s his favorite].

About my grandfather:

I must tell you this thing about my grandfather, when he is reading something; he has a very strong concentration. You need to call him twice or thrice to break his concentration and then he starts to talk.

I started walking towards the khatiya/Charpayi where he was sitting. Besides it was resting his Latth (a thick wooden stick that old men carry along for support as well as when they take herd of cows/buffaloes for grazing or water) and besides the latth was his pair of black coloured leather Jooti (A kind of leather footwear popular among rural region in North India, but today it has reached major cities in India including metros).

“Dadaji”

No response

“Dadaji

“Oh…!”, was his sudden response, similar to how a person would respond if he was woken from deep sleep. A second later, turned towards me and said;

“Beta Rajat, when did you come?”

“Just a minute back”, I responded and went on to reach his feet for blessings [The Indian tradition].

Nothing was said, but it was understood when he ran his palm over my head.

“I don’t see Dadi, where is she?”

“She went to fetch water from the well with your Tayiji “

I suddenly hear “Bhaiyaaa”, in a chorus. As soon as I turn around, I see hands coming towards me, to hold my neck, wait – scared? Don’t be, they were my cousins.

All came running towards me and we all had a combined hug.

“Wohoo…What’s up Bhailog (brothers) and of course meri pyaari baheno (my lovely sister)”.

“All good”, they responded.

“Accha; before we talk further, first let me introduce to my friend”.

“Kanika, come!”

They exchanged a formal ‘Hi’, but I continued.

Meet Radhika, She is 4 months younger than me, currently 3^rd year doing bachelors at NIFT Delhi.

Naman, Radhika’s real brother, 3 years younger than me, will join Singapore Management University soon.

  

Abhay – again 3 years younger than me, and he’ll be appearing for Entrances in a coming months.

Last but not the least, the youngest

Yashini, Abhay’s real sister– 5 years younger to me, and I assume, she is currently tensed about her 10^th board exams, I hope preparing well for the same?"

“Exactly Bhaiya, preparation is going just fine!!” Yashini responded.

“God, it’s been so long, the last time we met in that marriage, I remember carrying you on my back and your arms clutched on my neck, when we escaped the boring ceremonies for a stroll in the fields in the evening”. I said

“Yes, and bhaiya, do you remember we entered someone’s field, trying to steal sugarcane, and were caught. And then the guy asked our father’s names”.

“Ha Ha, I clearly remember the incident. But he was generous and gave us sugarcane each. Good Old days”.

We played this game “Do You Remember” game for a while, enjoying the scenic view from the large walkway of the haveli. Sitting on the Charpayee and enjoying the cool breeze.

 I saw Kanika listening and enjoying out our old Karnaame, and was mixing with cousins pretty well. And since Kanika & Radhika were of similar age, they mixed up pretty well. There might be a Delhi factor too involved, because Kanika did her graduation from Delhi.

“So, Kanika tell us about yourself”, Radhika asked.

“Hmm…I am basically from Chandigarh, did my schooling from there and then moved to Delhi for my graduation”

“DU?”

“Yup”

“Which College?”

“I was in Miranda House”

“M-I-R-A-N-D-A  H-O-U-S-E !!!”, I spontaneously repeated.
Miranda House - Yet another Girls college in Delhi University (D.U). Rest is well understood I guess :P

“Yes, I know why boys go crazy about that Rajat”, said Radhika.

I giggled, turned to Kanika; She smiling and winked.

“Absolutely true Radhika, boys will be boys”, Kanika said pulling my leg there. But we all had a good laugh.

And suddenly what we see is my Daadi (granny ) entered, placed the two matkas near the kitchen and shouted.

“Kaun laaya Choori ghar main, kaun ? “ [Who came along with a girl in the house?], I saw my grandmother entered the house furious & angry.

We were a good 25 meters near the boundary of haveli, but it was still loud to us.

“Bhaiya, you should go”, whispered Naman who was sitting beside me.

“I’ll come in a moment”, I said and ran towards granny. But I took my camera along, for a reason, because I had seen this coming already, was well prepared for it.

About my Granny:

She was typically orthodox in thinking, was very particular in maintaining the dignity of our family in the society. But the sad part was that she easily gets influenced by her bunch of friends – The Granny – Granny friends group. :P

“Daaadiiii”, I shouted and reached her feet.

And the tradition of giving blessing to young repeated. And as soon as she was done with that she twisted my ear.

“Yes, you are the one who got a girl in the house. Where is she hiding, temme?”

“Arey Daadi, Please leave me. I’ll tell you”.

She released me from pain, and I calmly sad down with her on a Charpayee and begun to explained her.

“Daadi, What age are you?”

“Two and a half years elder to your Daadu”, she said

“So that’s like SEVENTY SIX”, I emphasized, and continued.

“Daadi, today the average life expectancy in India is 65 years ONLY. You have already lived 10 years more than that, thanks to good food and clean environment in the village.”

“Accha, is it so. But I don’t see how is this related?”

Smart she was I tell you :P

“It is Daadiji. See, now I want you to play with your great grandson. For that, I need to marry and have a kid. And to marry, I am in search for a life partner. A girl who would LOVE you, RESPECT you and other elders of the family, not only maintain the DIGNITY  & TRADITION of the family, but make our family PROUD. ”

I saw her furious face turn with charm. Those big words did the trick. :D

And then I took the camera and showed a picture to her. It was Kanika, where she posed for me, keeping her scarf on her head – the one with the Ghoonghat.

“Here Daadi, see the picture”, I showed it to her.

“Wah, she is so beautiful. Is she the one? Can I meet her?”

To her Is she the one – May be! And Can I meet her – Why not, I too wanted you to see her.

“Kanika, come here. Daadi wants to see you.”, said loudly.

She came running.

“Namaste Daadiji”, stood beside us.

“Come close to me”, Daadi said.

Daadi put her palms on her cheeks, kissed her forehead and said. “God Bless you beta !”

I am sure, she had no idea what was going. And I loved her puzzled expression on her face.

It was not all, Daadi went a step ahead, and gave her a bangle from a bunch which she was wearing.

“Here, this is for you”, Daadi said to Kanika.

“Aaa…no Daadi, I can’t take it”

“Arey, take it. This is a token of her blessings”, I whispered to Kanika.

“Okay, I’ll take it if you insist.” she said and thanked her.

“Baccho, I’ll make something for you to eat. Till then, Rajat go and show around Kanika out village and the Mela too. I hope she’ll like it there”. Called Chachi

“Sure Chachi.”

“Let’s go then”

“Always ready”. Said Kanika

Abhay and Naman went to get the bikes, which we used to deliver milks to the town nearby.

I too went to get one for Kanika & I but was stopped by Chacha.

“Rukh”, and came to me and said softly.

“Mahemaan ko us main leke jaayega kya, poorani Rajdoot” [You would take guest in that old Rajdoot (A range of motorbikes from Yamaha)?]

“Phir?”, I enquired.

He put his arm around my neck and said.

“Come, I’ll show it to you.” He said and took me to our garage.

I saw a bike covered with a green canvas cover. Chacha took off the cover and said.

“I wanted to give you this on your Birthday, but I think, there could not have been a better time.

Here, it’s yours now”.

You won’t believe what I saw. A brand new …

Hold on your emotions. I know I am good at this, please don't curse me. :P

The journey just got better. I meet my cousins after a very long time, cherishing old memories, Daadi likes Kanika and Chacha just gifted me a new bike. Nothing could have been a better day in my life.

The evening is just turning better and better. Stay tuned. Share if you like it.

Do leave a comment after you read this. Thanks :)