Chapter 11

Part 11- Hair oil ka khisa

Nisha stopped in her track. For some unexplainable reason, she couldn't turn around to face Manthan. Suddenly Tanya came into the room and Nisha was glad she didn't have to give a reply to Manthan.

T: Manthan, tum – Manthan! yeh kya hua?

M: Mom, kuch naahin, zaara si chot hai.

Tanya rushed to her son as if he was still a 5 year old. Nisha saw this as a great opportunity to escape the awkward situation that Manthan had created by saying "Chot mujhe lagi aur aaisa lag ta hai ki dard tumhe hua…" She went to Archita's bedroom and found KT, Archita and Isha there. They were all giggling and laughing. They welcomed her in.

I: Di, aap yahaan sohne wali hai, main ek minute ayee"

 

Isha had forgotten her text books on Eklavya's bed and so she went to fetch them. She was about to knock his door when she saw Damini come out of it.

D: Arre, Isha, accha hua ki tum mujhe mil gaye. Yeh tail (hair oil) Eklavya ko dena and say I'm just coming.

I: Uh-

D: Thanks a lot beta!

              With that Damini rushed off. Isha stood there with a bowl full of oil in her hand. She pushed the door open and saw Eklavya had his eyes closed and was clearly waiting for his mother to come and oil his hair. Suddenly Isha had an idea. She stomped her foot outside Eklavya's door to make it seem like Damini was coming up the stairs. She opened the door and closed it.

E: Maa, finally, kabse wait kar raha hoon.

Nisha silently took the oil and applied some to her hands and sat behind Eklavya. She took her fingers and started massaging his head.

E: Hmmm

             Nisha looked at him and tried holding in a laugh.

E: Maa, aap ke haath different feel kar rahe hai…Maybe it's just me.

             Nisha continued to massage Eklavya's head and enjoying it for some reason. Suddenly, the door opened and Damini appeared. She opened her mouth to say "Eklavya, I'm here," but was taken aback to find Isha sitting there massaging her son's head. Isha didn't think Damini would come back so soon. She got up accidentally pouring all the oil on Eklavya's head, face and down his shirt. Eklavya got up rapidly as he felt a cold rush of oil down his back. He opened his eyes and turned around.

E: Maa, yeh- Isha? Tum? Magar maa?

I: woh-

D: woh main chai garam karne gayi thi aur Isha mil gayi toh maine usse kaha tum Eklavya ko tail laga lo.

E: Oh...

Isha didn't know to be confused about why Damini was lying to save her or to be embarrassed about being caught oiling her son's hair. She just gave a weak smile.

D: Actually, Isha you carry on, I think Eklavya likes your massaging style.

Damini looked mischievously at her son and Isha, with twinkling eyes knowing what was going on. Eklavya realized that his mother was lying; she was obviously not very good at lying. He had figured out that it wasn't his maa massaging him before but he didn't think it could be Isha. Damini left the room closing the door after her, leaving the two in an awkward position.

E: Umm

I: Eklavya…

             Isha took a deep breath and blurted the truth and saying sorry repeatedly.

I: I'm so sorry I thought it would be a good joke. I'm so stupid. I'm sorry.

             Isha turned to leave, feeling stupid and sorry for herself. Unexpectedly, Eklavya grabbed her hand. Isha was shocked.

E: Heyy. Dost ho na meri? Toh phir aise sorry bol ke dosti ko apmaan kaise kar sakti ho? Dosti mein kabhi sorry ya thank you naahin kehte…Ok? Look at me…Tumare jaise ladki ko dost ke roop mein milna bohut muskil hai. I don't want to lose you, Isha.

 

             He cupped his hands under her chin and lifted her head to meet his gaze. He looked at her with twinkling eyes. Isha stared at him to see if he really meant what he had just said. His eyes clearly told him that he did. Eklavya realizing what he had just said, started to stutter.

 

E: Mera matlab hai-I-I– mean I don't want to lose uhh- a friend like you.

 

She looked up at him and she felt herself going red and smiled to herself like an idiot. It was so cute how he had accidentally said that and was stuttering now. True or false, it was the sweetest thing a guy had ever said to her. She freed herself from him and ran out of the room, blushing madly.

 

Part 12- Subha ki pooja
"Om Jai Jagdeesh Hare Svaami Jai Jagdeesh Hare
Bhakt Janon Ke Sankat Daas Janon Ke Sankat
Kshan Mein Door Kare Om Jai Jagdeesh Hare
Om Jai Jagdeesh Hare Svaami Jai Jagdeesh Hare
Bhakt Janon Ke Sankat Daas Janon Ke Sankat
Kshan Mein Door Kare Om Jai Jagdeesh Hare"
     
     Manthan pulled his pillow and stuffed his ear. "Subha subha …baa….." he mumbled to himself. Suddenly, he realized that the voice wasn't his baa's, it was different. He got up quickly and started getting ready.

"Tum Ho Ek Agochar Sabke Praan Pati
Svaami Sabke Praan Pati
Kis Vidhi Miloon Dayaa Main
Kis Vidhi Miloon Dayaa Main
Tumko Main Kumati
Om Jai Jagdeesh Hare
Om Jai Jagdeesh Hare
Svaami Jai Jagdeesh Hare
Bhakt Janon Ke Sankat Daas Janon Ke Sankat
Kshan Mein Door Kare Om Jai Jagdeesh Hare"
     
     Eklavya got up by the beautiful. He checked his alarm clock. It read 5:00. Even he didn't wake up that early. He thought he recognized his voice. It couldn't be Isha? He smiled to himself and went downstairs to see Isha.

"Maat Pitaa Tum Mere Sharan Gahoon Kiski
Prabhu Sharan Gahoon Main Kiski
Tum Bin Aur Na Doojaa Prabhu Bin Aur Na Doojaa
Aash Karoon Main Jiski
Om Jai Jagdeesh Hare
Om Jai Jagdeesh Hare Svaami Jai Jagdeesh Hare
Bhakt Janon Ke Sankat Daas Janon Ke Sankat
Kshan Mein Door Kare Om Jai Jagdeesh Hare"
     
      Nisha got up from her pooja in the temple and turned around to find Tulsi dadi, baa, Manthan, KT, Damini, Tanya and Eklavya stading there looking at her in awe. She suddenly realized that this wasn't her own house and she should have at least asked before performing pooja at 5:30 in the morning.
N: Hum maafi chaate hai-
T: Nahi, nahi, tumne bohut acha kara ke pooja kari.
D: Haan, Nisha, aab tum sab ko prasad bhi batlo.
     
     Nisha nodded and took her thali of aarti and went to give everyone the prasad. She went to the elders first and then to the younger generation. Tanya looked at Nisha in amazement. She was already thinking that this girl had everything that you needed to become a bahu. Nisha went to Eklavya offering the prasad.

E: Thank you, you know, mujhe laga ki-
N: ki Isha pooja kar rahi hai? Humari awaaz bohut mil thi hai, akir judwa jo hai.
E: Woh pooja mein naahin ayee?
N: Kyon? Isha? Arre, woh maharani toh 8:30 se pehle naahin uththi.
E: I'll wake her up and give her the prasad.
N: Well, good luck with that.

     Eklavya took some prasad in his hand and moved his way towards Archita's room. Isha would have to wake up now. Nisha smiled to see Eklavya trying to wake her sister up. All of a sudden, she realized that she hadn't given any prasad to Manthan. She saw that he was going away.

N: Going without getting what you came for? Prasad toh le lo.
M: I came to see who was singing so early in the morning.
N: Well, you can take the prasad since you're here.
M: I don't believe in this pooja, or prasad or aarti
N: This pooja and this prasad is an offering from God. And everyone believes in God. No matter what your bank balance is or who your family is or who you are…God is there for everyone. Haath do.
     Manthan looked at her. If it were anyone else, he would have yelled at them for even bothering to ask him for prasad. But with Nisha, he reluctantly let her give him prasad. If his friends saw him that moment, they would surely laugh at him. Nisha smiled at him, thinking he wasn't as bad as people said he was.


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