Chapter 7

EPISODE – 19

 

Date for the wedding was fixed. It had 35 days left. Navin and Neetika's parents left them alone for some time while Rajveer and Naina also tried to escape because they knew they were about to get a nice scolding for whatever they have done. And they were right.

 

"Tum dono kahan jaa rahe ho." Navin stopped then as they reached the threshold.

"Congratulations Bhabhi!" Naina rushed towards Neetika and hugged her to avoid the topic.

"Do whatever you want to Naina but daant to tum dono ko phir bhi padni hi hai." Navin fumed pretentiously.

"Niti BHABHI... Please samjhao na Bhaiyya ko."

"Sorry dear... But you nearly gave us a heart attack... Thodi si daant to padni hi chahiye tum dono ko."

 

"Koi fayda nahin hai Naina. Kuch bhi kar lo in dono ke liye they would not give us any credit. Thanks bolne ki jagah ab bhi humein daantne ki tayyari mein hain dono." Rajveer interrupted.

"Stop those emotional blackmails Raj. You see Niti... maine kaha tha kuch gadbad karne waale hain dono."

"You were right. Yeh dono saath mein bahut dangerous ho jaate hain. In dono ko thoda door hi rehna chahiye ek-doosre se for others' sake. Tum dono ne to humein marwaane ki poori tayyari kar li thi."

"Come on Niti hum dono ko koi alag nahin kar sakta." Naina said that proudly holding Rajveer's arm.

"To ek kaam karo... hamare saath tum dono bhi usi mandap mein shaadi kar lo. Phir koi alag nahin karega tum dono ko." Navin snapped.

 

Naina and Rajveer looked at each other in shock and ran into opposite directions.

"Kya bakwaas kar raha hai yaar." Rajveer said.

"Oh come on Bhaiyya. Aapko pata hai kitni mushkil se maine Colonel Sahay ko pataya tha."

 

"That reminds me, tumne Dad se kab baat ki?" Neetika asked Naina.

"Parso jab main unse milne unke ghar gayi thi."

"But if I am not wrong to tu Bangalore gayi thi aur Dad rehte hain Mumbai mein."

"Haan but Bangalore and Mumbai mein difference hi kitna hai...Paas mein hi to hain."

 

"That means you lied." Naving stared at her.

"Chote mote lies to chalte hai na Bhaiyya."

"Jee nahin... Nahin chalte. Ab punishment milegi... Sabko dinner ke bahane se bula kar laayi hai na... Chal ab ja aur sab ke liye dinner bana."

"Sab ke liye? Oh come on Bhaiyya... Occasion celebrate karte hai na...Lets go out...Please."

"No... you..."

 

But he could not complete. Naina's phone was ringing. She saw the caller's name and a big smile came on her face.

"Acha Bhaiyya main kar loongi... me going."

Saying this Naina hurriedly left the room. The smile on her face told Rajveer who the caller was. It was Alekh.

"Isko kya hua... Abhi to khud mana kar rahi thi ab khud maan gayi."

Navin was bewildered at Naina's reaction to the call.

                            

********

"Hi..." Naina answered the call almost in a whisper.

"Naina!! You were supposed to come this morning aur abhi tak there is no news from you! Tum ho kahan?"

"So sorry Alekh! Woh kya hai na I got busy with Raj."

"Itna busy ki ek call bhi nahin kar payi."

"I said I am sorry. Acha woh chodo and guess what?"

"What?"

"Next month Bhaiyya is getting married... Isnt that too cool!!"

"Great news. Congratulations! To isi khushi mein let's go out for dinner."

"Dinner... Not possible.Bhaiyya ne sab ke liye mujhe dinner ready karne ko kaha hai. Besides Niti ke parents are also here. Ek kaam karte hain... Kal lunch pe chalte hain."

"Oh come on Naina. Waise bhi you are always busy with something or the other. Kabhi friend ki exhibition to kabhi tumhare Bhaiyya, unki girl friend, and that friend of yours... what's his name... Raj! Kabhi to thoda time mere liye bhi spare kiya karo. Ab tum iske baad apne Bhaiyya ki wedding preparations mein busy ho jaogi."

"Alekh... Just take it easy... Tum over react kar rahe ho. Maine kaha na kal lunch pe chalte hain. And don't worry I wont be much busy with the wedding preparations. Bhaiyya-Bhabhi want a simple private function. Aur woh sab Maa-Baba handle kar rahe hain. I don't have anything apart from my shopping sprees and I suppose tum mujhe uske liye accompany kar sakte ho."

"Whatever! Lekin kal ka poora din tum mere saath spend karogi."

"I Promise."

"Better. By the way, dad was contemplating a shift from 7 am slot for you."

"Kyun?"

"Kyun nahin? I suppose 8 am slot will be more convenient for you aur us time listeners bhi kafi hote hain."

"No way Alekh. I want to retain my 7 am slot. Itne saalon se Delhi ko Good Morning main bolti aayi hoon and I can not stand anyone else doing that now."

"But Dad has made up his mind for re-shufling the slots and I suppose you are gonna have a tough time convincing him to let you retain the 7 am slot."

"To tum samjhao na."

"Kya samjaaon... Naina meri girl friend hai so just let her be. Tum jaanti ho Dad ko. He won't let my personal matters interfere in his professional matters."

"But Alekh..."

"Listen there's no point arguing with me over this. Talk to Dad tomorrow. Waise bhi tum Radio Mirchi ki star RJ ho. At the most, if you want, I will support you but don't pin up hopes from me. It's Dad's call... Completely."

"Fine. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Okay. But remember your promise."

"I will. Bye."

"Bye."