Just random stories turned thoughts

A soldier...

Shan and Roop, indeed a match made in heaven. That's what they thought , when Roop told his parents of his liking.

They liked Shan when they first saw him in a marriage of their relatives. Roop's grandfather was of a great help telling this to his parents. He too liked Shan from the very beginning, wanting Shan to be his grandson-in-law.

Usually people, to check the bride or groom for the son or daughter , sent a vichola/vicholan earlier.

(a/n: idk what he/she is called in English, but he/she is a person who takes rishta/hand for marriage of a person of a family to another, mostly he/she knows both of the families being connected. Mostly women were to ones to go for these things.)

So, Roop's family also sent a vicholan to Shan's village for their marriage and to their surprise, Shan's father had a condition.

He was okay with his son having a dumb, deaf, blind or lame person as a husband but was totally against the idea of his son marrying a soldier .

He was too afraid of his son living in fear of going widow after marrying a soldier. The vicholan didn't tell a word about Roop's real job (fortunately). She was scared of breaking Roop's little imagination of his to-be-family into pieces.

(Earlier people shared great relations , even with door ke rishtedar ,,, they were not bhenchods/motherfuckers like now-a-days)

She bid her farewell from Shan's village with a heavy heart. She then went to Roop's home and poured her heart out about all the information she got to them. Roop, though sad, was able to overcome this somehow and told that he agreed with the conditions.

The message of the acceptance was conveyed to Shan's family .

(They still didn't tell Shan's family about Roop being a fauji/soldier.)

~Time skip~

The preparations were all done. Tonight was 'Jago' and tomorrow morning were the 'Anand Karaj' . (A/n: 'Anand Karaj' is a ceremony of marriage, the to-be-married couple walk four times, "char lavañ", just like "sat phere" of Hindu wedding around the agnikund, around the jugo-jug-atal Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, in presence of an amritdhari pathi/priest.)

Roop was too excited because he was going to marry his liking tomorrow. But it didn't mean that he wasn't feeling nervous. He was nervous as hell and prayed to waheguru about his marriage going smoothly. Little did he know what awaited for him in his married life.

The night soon faded in dance and talks. All were getting ready for the 'Anand Karaj'.

Shan's house was in total chaos. (Well, only Shan's? The reason behind is that in old times, people from groom's side, who went to baraat , used to stay at the bride's house for a few days as they would come on feet or a bus altogether, and would go to their village after the marriage was all done.)

~~~~~~~

The marriage was completed 'pure riti-riwajaa de nal'. The new wedded couple went to their elders for touching their feet and getting blessings.

Suddenly, a soldier and Roop's senior officer (in uniform) came to Darbar Sahib. The senior announced loudly, "Soldier Roop Singh, you are expected to be on the the border for the war."

The words echoing in the Darbar Sahib, left all the people in shock, especially Shan's Father. The said was angry for this betrayal. He said, still in hope for all this to be turned into a lie, "Prahuna ji (respected son in law), what are they saying?"

"They are saying the truth , bapu ji (respected father)" said Roop now accepting his identity.

"Bapu ji" Roop continued "I'm deeply very sorry. But-"

He was cut by an anger filled growl by his father in law.

"Didn't I tell you?" , turning towards the vicholan, "that we didn't want a soldier as a husband for our son!"

"It was fine if he was langda-lula (lame) , bola (deaf), gunga (dumb) , annha (blind) or a kana (one-eyed) but not a fauji (soldier)!!" Shan's Father was now doing nothing but blaming himself that how he let his happen to his son.

Roop's grandfather now was angry too , but he realised the mistake they made by not telling Shan's family about Roop's profession. He came forward, and said with pure intentions "We can not change what has happened, puttar. So it's better that you let us take Shan with us. He has married our son and is now our son-in-law!"

Shan's Father replied in disgust mixed with angered voice,"Vadde Sardaar Saab (Mr. Big Sardaar) , chahan ta apne munde nu kl fer vyah skda, enne saak aunde ne . Thodi mehrbani nal ni hoye mere ladle de hath pile! (If I want I can get my son married tomorrow. It's not for your favour that my son got married!)"

{In background Shan's mother was crying because her son's marriage had lost the peace. More commotion could be heard alongside.}

Roop's father though angered by his kudm's (father in law of son or daughter) audacity to talk to his father like that, sighed deeply and told the senior officer and the soldier that they should go and Roop will come directly after them , completing his marriage ceremonies.

The soldier beside the senior then spoke , "No, Chacha ji! We are assigned to take Soldier Roop Singh along with us!"

Shan who was silently hearing and observing the surroundings, finally parted his lips and spoke loudly but softly, "Bapu ji" making everyone look at him.

"I'm so sorry, that I'm speaking such, but I'm married now , and my husband is my first priority as Bebe (a common term used for mother or mother like figure) taught me. I think I should go with them and fulfill my duties as a son-in-law of the family." Shan was nervous speaking all this but somehow managed to deliver it all without stammering.

Shan's Father then, went and pecked his forehead, "But lado, you know if he goes today, he might not-" he wasn't able to complete his line and tears found a way down his cheeks. Shan hugged his father in empathy.

Roop's father spoke after seeing the father-son moment. He told Roop, "See, puttar (son). Though you now have a family of your own, go to the battlefield and show how strong we are!"

This all attracted the attention of all the beings around. Roop's father continued,"you are a husband now , but before this you are a soldier, a soldier never backs off from the battlefield."

Listening this Shan's Father reluctantly said- "I'm still against this marriage but you're my lado's husband. I agree to it only on one condition. Our lado will stay with us until you come back from the battlefield, in case the other thing happens , which I don't want to say- ,,, i mean - we'll find another to get him married or keep him with us forever."

Roop agreed to this, despite his family's disagreement.

He said to his senior and fellow soldier with a voice filled with determination in an 'attention' position and giving a salute, "let's go , General Saab, a soldier never off duty!"

They exited the Darbar Sahib with everyone looking at them in awe.

Reaching Shan's house, Roop quickly changed into his uniform (guess where it came from ^⁠_⁠^ because idk myself) and went along to the border...

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To be continued...