Chapter 4

[NOCOPY]

Here's the chapter 2. Have tried to keep it a bit long. Hope you like it. 

"Nupur Bhushan has created a world record!!!" exclaimed Dia. Getting dressed in exactly five minutes was no less than a world record for Nupur.

"Dia, it will be better if you stop teasing me, and concentrate on the road instead. It's already late. Gunjan must be getting tensed." She was getting restless.

"I am, Nupur. Still, I will say that Gunjan has made you achieve the impossible today. I wonder what more is to come." She too was excited to meet her cousin.

"Yes. I can do anything for her. Without her, there's been hollowness in our lives ... Feels like something's missing. I don't know how these three years passed away just like that. She never let us feel her absence. Every day, she used to talk through phone calls and Skype ... Still, until I see her standing in front of me, bone and flesh, I won't get any peace."

Dia had to agree on this.

They were on the way to airport. Nupur was ever eager to take Mayank along as well but luck was not in her favour this time. He had an important meeting to attend. And on top of this, the ever famous Mumbai's evergreen traffic jam was too generous today. In taking them as its next victims.

******

Flight No. AI-245 New York to Mumbai had already landed. Unusually, it was on time today. Not a minute here and there.

Gunjan was waiting in the Arrivals area, having collected her baggage. But they weren't to be seen yet.

They must have got stuck in the traffic. Maybe I should get a taxi. But ... Will I even manage to get one, she wondered.

"No need to do that, doll." she heard one's voice. She wondered who it might be. And that voice could read her mind. She turned towards its direction. Lo and behold, she saw two girls of nearly her age heading towards her. No. They sprinted towards her. And hugged her ... which literally crushed her.

'Finally, Nupur and Dia have arrived,' she thought. 

Gunjan was struggling to get some breath but to her bad luck, she was held tightly by her sisters. She had never expected such a welcome, that too from Dia. Once upon time, Dia had been hostile to her but soon had a change of heart. Now there wasn't any scope for any tension between them. They were all now a happy family. The only person missing in this family hug now was her beloved cousin, her Uday Bhaiyya.

******

"So, how was the journey? Was it too tiring?" asked a concerned Dia.

"No. No. It was fine. Just feeling a bit jet-lagged, I guess."

"By God! Gunjan, your dressing sense has improved a lot. This skirt looks so lovely with the top. Where did you get such knowledge suddenly? As far as I have known, you never even bother to look up from the pages of your books. What say, Dia?" Nupur was highly ecstatic to see her sister like this.

"Yeah, Nupur. Even I am very much eager to know about this. Tell us, what's the secret, Gunjan?"

Gunjan laughed a bit. It felt very good to see her sisters like this.

"Ammm... Nothing specific. Just changing myself with the need of the hour, I guess. Also Clara and Sameera have a big hand behind this."

"Your besties, right? Back at NY." asked Dia.

"Yup. You've guessed it right. We have become really good friends. They always pushed me to achieve more and more. Oh, how can I imagine my life without them?" said Gunjan thoughtfully.

"Then what about Sammy, Gunjan? ... Wasn't he your best friend too? ... Why did you leave him? ... Alone ..." Dia threw an accusing look.

"Alone? What are you saying? He has all of you. The gang. He's with Sheena too. Then why will he be alone?"

Nupur could sense trouble coming. She immediately signalled Dia to stop it then and there. Soon she took charge of the situation.

"Ammm...Gunjan, won't you tell us about that concert which you went? Did you meet my Raj there? By god! I can't wait anymore to see his autograph. Have you got it for me or not? Oh! So badly I want to meet him." saying so, Nupur got lost in her dreamland.

"Di. You and your DDLJ kaa Raj. And autograph in this age? I have got something better for you."

"And what is it?" enquired a highly amused Dia, who was now used to Nupur's speeches on her Raj, better known as SRK to the world.

"A selfie." said Gunjan, taking out her I-Phone. Nupur gave a loud shriek on this. She pounced on her right away and gave her a bear hug. Gunjan once again got squeezed by her sister. By then, they had reached Bhushan mansion.

"Offo! If you two are done with the Raj-SRK drooling session, can we go inside?" said an irritated Dia. But she ended up laughing out loud, soon joined by her cousins.

"Of course, Dia. Di, hurry up. I can't wait to meet Bauji."

"Yeah, Gunjan. Let's go inside."

It was after a long time, that Bhushan sisters were back together again.

********

Shashi Bhushan was beaming with pride. His daughters, Nupur and Gunjan, the gems of his eyes, have never failed in fulfilling his dreams. And he was more than happy to see his laadli, Gunjan, who is exactly like her mother. She had made a name of her own on the foreign shores despite being the baby of the family. And now she's home after a long time, he is at peace.

He was lost in his thoughts when he heard some noises. The trio must be up to some mischief, he thought and chuckled to himself. He went to see the source of this commotion. Surprisingly, he was right this time.

Nupur and Dia were having their spanking time. And their victim was ... Dodo ... Uday, their sweet and naive brother.

Sitted on the grand sofa, with Uday sandwiched between the two, they were conducting his court-martial.

"Ouch. Deeds. Please don't spank me. It hurts."

"Dodo! You deserve only this ... How dare you spoil our surprise plans for Gunjan?" said Dia fuming with anger.

"Absolutely right, Dia. How can you do this, Uday Bhaiya? Can't you keep a single secret in your tummy? Thank god we reached there on time else you would have let it out by then. By God!" joined in Nupur.

"Yeah, Nupur. Gunjan shouldn't know about this else all our hard-work shall go down the drain."

"But Deeds, she was asking me about Sam, so I was going to tell her. Why blame me?" asked a confused Uday.

" 'Coz you are a duffer. You weren't supposed to tell her that. And if at all she comes to know, from you or else's mouth, then there won't be anyone worse than me. Do you get it?" warned Dia.

"Yes, Deeds." replied Uday meekly but he was still scratching his head. He turned to Nupur for some answers.

"Nupur?"

However, Nupur was oblivious to Uday's calls. She was lost in some deep thinking.

I hope this works out. What's wrong with Gunjan? She's so lost. It's been a week she has come but it appears that she is hiding something. As if she wishes to tell me about something, or to ask about someone or something, yet she shies away. All the time, why do I have a feeling that she is wearing some sort of mask. We really need to figure out. I can't trust Uday Bhaiyya with this. I think I have to check on her myself.

And so she promised herself.

******

Later, in the evening, Gunjan entered her room to find her sisters waiting for her. Dia looked a bit apprehensive while Nupur was clueless about what's the matter.

"Gunjan dear ... Glad that you came back from your evening stroll ... Actually we were waiting for you only ... It's long time since we had fun together ... Why don't we go to RG's today? What say, Nupur?"

"Yes, Dia. Definitely an awesome idea. Only us. Bhushan cousins. Party and fun. Reliving the college life." Nupur beamed.

Gunjan wasn't in the mood at all.

"Ammm... Sorry Dia. I don't think I will come. You know naa, me and pubs are not related in any manner." She looked a bit low.

"Oh, come on, Gunjan. Don't be a spoilsport. I wonder how come your besties couldn't change this thing of yours?"

Gunjan frowned a bit on this. She seemed to have been touched on a wrong nerve.

"Okay. Okay. Not a single word against them. But at least come this time, no. For old times' sake, please." Dia made a puppy face. And Gunjan was bound to melt.

"I will join you," she agreed, and smiled at her pleading cousin.

'She will never change.' She thought.