“Wake up, slugabed.” Chandni strode into the bedroom wearing a bright red sleeveless jogging outfit closely fitting her body and accentuating her curves. She had a thick striped headband holding her hair behind where they were gathered in a thick, neat ponytail dancing around as she spoke.
Going to one of the windows, she whisked open the curtains to admit the morning light and was rewarded with a protesting groan from the bed. “Good morning,” she said cheerfully.
She busied herself at her dresser, marveling at her own reflection in the mirror. Out of the periphery of her vision, she saw Dev stretch, his body lithe and powerful, his skin glowing like clover honey.
“What’s this new avatar? ” Advay said in a sleep-darkened voice, drawing back the bedlinens.
A laugh stirred in her throat. “This is my morning outing avatar. I had gone out in the morning. Why? Don’t you like this avatar?”
“I like all your avatars. It’s just that yesterday you had switched back to your regular Indian dressing. I am more used to that dressing on you rather than this.”
Chandani gave him a severe glance. “Jaisa Des, vaisa bhes. Poojadi has taught me to experiment…. Anyway, it’s time for you to get up.”
“So early?”
“It’s not early. In fact, if you don’t wash and dress quickly, we’ll be late for our outing now.”
“We are on holiday and I need to relax, so no outing today.” Advay shook his head and smiled mocking wicked, as he always did when she said something he considered to be nonsense.
His gaze was hot and slumberous. “Rather, you come back to bed.”
“Nothing doing. Just get up.” She tried tug of war to pull away his covers which he held on strongly.
She gave a helpless gasp of laughter as he reached out with astonishing dexterity, snaring her wrist in his hand. “Dev, no.”
“You cannot fight me ever.” he teased.
“Oh? .... challenge?” she said breathlessly as she was pulled across the mattress, and clasped against his warm inviting body.
“Take it as a challenge if you want to.”
Chandni’s giggles died away. She knew something about him—a little secret—and today she was going to take ruthless advantage. Whether right or wrong, she couldn’t really decide. She only wanted to bring some fun and avoid Miku’s tuition.
“Dev, Naani wants me to clean the pooja room. Let me go and change, please. You also get up and get ready.”
She struggled vainly in his strong embrace. After hearing Naani’s name, Advay immediately released her and she took the chance to get up on her own feet. Advay got up, too, sleep evading his eyes completely.
“Get ready for what?” Advay challenged her.
“You just now said to take up a challenge, right? Fine! issi vajah se... Ab Dekhana....I take the challenge and I challenge you to fight my battle.”
"What battle?" Advay was perplexed. Things seemed to be taking a different turn than what he had intended.
“You will know!” Chandni gave an ambiguous answer and left.
The family was seated at the dining table for morning breakfast when Darsh came from his room and took a seat. With the intention of checking out Pooja’s mood today, Darsh glanced at her and found a happy Pooja looking straight into his eyes. Their gazes locked in a long, fascinated stare.
And then to Darsh’s surprise, Pooja smiled at him. A sweet, natural, brilliant smile, the first she had ever given him. Darsh felt his chest tighten, and he went hot all over as if some euphoric drug had gone straight to his nervous system.
It felt like … happiness.
He remembered happiness from a long time ago. He didn’t want to feel it. And yet the giddy warmth kept washing over him for no reason whatsoever. Something had changed about Pooja. Was she now beginning to accept his love?
Breaking Darsh’s reverie, Advay queried Pooja, “ Where’s Chandni?”
“She and Murali have gone out for something.”
“Again?......" His brows creased in a frown " She said she had come from out somewhere early morning. What’s happening today?”
“Bhaiyya, in the morning, she and I had gone out. Some altercation happened with a guy and Chandni has now taken a challenge that you’ll defeat the man.”
Advay’s ears stood up at the word ‘challenge’. Why suddenly everybody was speaking of challenge today? Was it just his perception or was some plan being cooked behind his back? An uncanny discomfort settled on his features.
“Where was the security when some man clashed with you?” Advay was curt. Even though worried about what the girls were planning, he would not be lax on the security aspect.
Pooja rolled her eyes, “No physical clash, Bhaiyya….. Verbal clash”
“And what challenge has Chandni taken?” Advay was aware some nautanki was on but he could not figure out what was going on.
“Come…. Let’s go. I’ll take you otherwise you’ll be late.”
Pooja avoided answering the question and pulled Advay out of his chair forcefully.
“Pooja, I haven’t dressed up.” Advay resisted her pull.
“That’s OK Bhaiyya. You’ll get to change after we reach.”
Noticing the boxing ring, Advay resisted. “Pooja, boxing??”
“It’s Ok, Bhaiyya. You had been trained in boxing when in school, weren’t you? Here is your attire, please change.” Pooja coaxed her bro.
Soon Chandni arrived there and put boxing gloves on Advay.
“Chandni, what’s going on? Boxing and all?” Advay showed his displeasure clearly.
“Please Dev…… Please….. Pretty please….. meri ijjat ka sawal hai ab….. Please enter the boxing ring.”
Between pooja and Chandni’s pleading and coaxing finally, Advay ended up in the ring..... fear written on his face.
But when the opponent appeared as a huge hefty man much taller than him, Advay was shocked. The man looked like a trained boxer, maybe a champion.
“Chandni, meri haddiya nahi bachegi. Socho jara. Tell me what fight you had with this guy. Let’s settle with him in a different way.” He tried talking sense in his mad wife.
Just then Miku, Aadi and Darsh arrived. All three started cheering him, coaxing him to go ahead.
“Don’t worry, Dev. He only looks strong. Just air inside…… balloon hai, tum phod dena isako.”
In her mind, she smiled wickedly thinking Dev would rather fight this strong guy rather than the actual challenge coming next for him. Outwardly she kept cheering Dev with others.
“Come on, AD! Saala apni ijjat ka sawal hai…… pakad ke maar isko…. Jai Bajarang bali, tod dushman ki nali.” Darsh cheered Advay.
“Bhai we are all with you and he has nobody! Chadh jaao iss saand ke upar.”Miku joined the cheering.
Advay somehow collected all his courage and turned from the family crowd to look at his opponent. He was intending to find some defensive boxing strategy just enough to save his bones. But then he just kept looking.
It all happened in a jiffy second. The hefty boxer fled the ring and Murali came from somewhere carrying a cane basket and threw all chickens in the ring.
This girl, Chandni….. she’s incorrigible. One and only phobia I have in this world and she exploited that?...... So this was all the challenge talk going on since morning.
Aadi shouted loudly putting his hands up. Murali, Chandni and others kept cheering. The hefty man entered the ring again wearing a chicken costume. The chickens whom Murali had thrown out in the open got scared and started fluttering and flying. Advay couldn't help his scared crying.
For him, it was the death of him!
Somehow, with the man’s help, Advay came out. “Chandni tujhe jhodunga nahi main.”
Advay ran after Chandni but she fled away laughing. The whole family was laughing their heart out and screaming cukadooo kooo. The catching cook run went on for some time around the ring. Advay had longer strides than Chandni but he was still suffering from after-effects of his trauma so Chandni managed to run ahead of him. While the two were running, Darsh suddenly brought a bucket full of water and threw in Chandni’s path to break her run. She was about to slip….. Advay tried holding her hand to support her but ended up slipping himself and pulling Chandni with him. The two thumped loudly on the ground, Advay below and Chandni on top of him, her face dangerously close to his.
Darsh teased first, “cukadooo kooo…….. Saale, kitna dara hai tu murgiyonse.”
“Bhai, aap chicken se itna darate ho, toh chicken khaate kaise ho?” Miku laughed loudly teasing his elder brother. This was something new he was learning about his brother.
“Bhaiyya, Chicks ko ghumaate hai par chickens inhe ghuma deti hai” Pooja jeered joining in the loud laughter.
“Kya CM aap bhi?..... Ijjat ka falooda kar diya.” Aadi was ready to put oil in fire.
When everybody reached home, Advay went straight for a bath, anger emanating from his aura. All through the return trip, he had been so angry……. Chandni wondered if smoke would come truly out of his ears….. She tried appeasing him once or twice, but he simply refused to respond or even look at her……. Unfortunately, only two of them were in the car and others had taken the second car, so she couldn’t take help from others to appease him. Chandni thought of making one last effort and stepped into his bath. He was fully clothed……. Letting the shower fall on him……. As if to cool his anger down.
“I am sorry!”
Chandni tried communicating standing right in front of him but he refused to respond.
“I didn’t intend to anger you; rather I wanted you to laugh a little. You look so stressed nowadays.” She appealed again, this time almost sticking her wet body to his.
“You made a laugh out of me.” Came the angry reply.
Chandni heaved a sigh. At least, now they were talking.
“All were family only….” Chandni pleaded.
“You made fun at my cost in front of my friend, my younger brother, my nephew… everybody!” The anger refused to subside.
“Aaaannnnnn……..even you yelled at me in front of everybody and when it was no fault of mine.” Chandni went on the defensive.
“So, you play dirty, is it?” Her defence went as fuel to the fire.
Advay came out of the bathroom. Chandni changed to dry clothes, rubbed her hair and came out.
“Soooorry naaa…… I won’t repeat this ever…….. forgive me, naaa”
Advay gave an empty laugh, “No question of that……I won’t allow it again.” His pitch rose in anger.
Chandni heaved a sigh again. His anger refused to abate.
“gussa thook dijiye na….. please” She folded her hands to plead.
“Hum!” He shook his head in angry denial, his brow creasing in irony.
Chandni left Dev alone and came out of her room. She saw Maasi, Pooja and Darsh sitting at the Dining table. She gave Pooja a thumbs down with a weak smile and went to Naani’s room. Naani was doing her jaap sitting on her bed. Otherwise, Chandni would have waited but today was an emergency. She hugged Naani from behind putting her head on Naani’s shoulder.
“Naaniiiiiiiii…….”
“Kya hua?”Naani patted her head lovingly stopping her Jaap.
“Ammmm……Khel ulata pad gaya” Chandni whined.
“Phir Khelate kyun ho?” Naani smiled.
“Majaak karna tha” Chandni justified.
“Toh ab bhugato.” Naani shrugged her shoulders.
“Kya Naaaaaani?........”Chandni grumbled, “Kuchh idea do na!”
“Kiss liye?”
Chandni hummed “Roothe roothe Piya, Manaau kaise?”
“Tera Piya to humesha hi rootha rehata hai…… Us mein nayee baat kya hai? Aur tu bhi kuchh kum nahi hai…… Dono ek doosare ke liye fit ho.”
Just then Pooja entered with Darsh. Darsh was still in the same jovial prank mood.
“Hi, CD!........... Kya bolati cukadooo kooo?” He jeered laughing.
“Naam mat lo” Chandni snapped.
“Kya hua, Chandni?” Pooja asked in genuine concern.
“Di…..Voh rooth gaye, maanate nahin.” Chandni cried.
“Arre, toh phir tu kuchh gaana vaana gaake thoda mana le na.” Pooja suggested.
“Rriiight!” Darsh encouraged with a smile. “Aise.”
He put a cloth on his head like a ghoonghat, took Pooja’s hand and started walking with thumkas (bouncing buttocks) in a feminine act. Then he started going around Naani who was now standing nearby singing in a nasal feminine voice.
“ Roothi hai shab the rabba
Rabba dil bhi hai rootha
Sab kuchh hai bikhara bikhara
Bikhara sa rootha rootha
Chup Maahi,Chup hai Ranjha
Bole kaise veh naa jaa
Bolekaise veh naa jaa, aa jaa aa jaa!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7LwfY5U5WI
Pooja hadn’t initially understood what was going on; but as the rounds continued, she got irritated and pulled her hand away.
“Kya kar rahe ho, DD?” She barked…. Her tone irked at DD’s prank.
“Kya hua?.......Shaadi kar raha hoon tumse!”
“ShaaDDi?......Aise?........Naani ke around?... agni ke saat phere lene hote hai!”
“Arre? Yeh kya baat hui?..... Shree Ganesh ji Prithvi ke pheron ke badale apne mata pita ke phere laga sakate hain….. Toh kya hum Naani ke around nahi laga sakate?”
“Bilkul Sahi!” Naani gave a thumbs up to Darsh.
“Naaaaani, Kya sahi?” Pooja was getting angrier by minute, “saat vachan karane hote hain; aise gaana gaate nahi!”
“Diiiiii……Your Bhaiyya carried me and gave some weird hatred vachans… still, we are married …. So Darsh is valid.”
Naani chided, “Ae Chandni, why do you blame my Chiku for everything? He did marry you again and gave new saat vachans of love, didn’t he?”
Chandni stared at Naani her mouth agape, “How do you know that, Naani?”
Naani danced her shoulders mischievously, “I know everything!”
Blushing, Chandni ran away.
She entered her room smiling in a chirpy mood, but the air inside was frosty dampening her spirits immediately. Dev was doing something on his tablet sitting comfortably on the bed. Chandni somehow managed the courage to walk up to him.
“Devvvvv……”
No response. He didn’t even look up at her. Chandni knew he was still angry.
“Chaay pioge? ””
He ignored her completely.
“Kuchh laaun Khaane ke liye?” She urged pleadingly.
“Insult khaake pet bhar gaya mera.” He spoke cruelly cold.
Tears stung at the back of her eyes at his bitterness. She moved away and started humming softly…. Just so he could hear her but not be disturbed again and anger further.
Nahi jeena tere baaju
Nahi jeena, nahi jeena
Main Tenu Samjhawan ki
Na tere bina lagada Jee
Tu ki jaane pyaar mera
Main karoon intezar tera
Tu dil, tuhin jaan meri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoCz3Vx1pXg
Her voice was sad and urging, but he got up uncaring and started walking towards the bathroom. Chandni cursed herself for having chosen to play the prank.
Ve bada pachtaiyaan akhaan, Naal tere jod ke
He turned immediately and looked at her.
What she had wanted to convey was that she was repenting for having challenged him but he took the meaning completely otherwise.
“Toh jaao na chhod ke…. Kiss ne roka hai.” He bedeviled her lashing out a derogatory curse.
She ran to him in desperation but then stopped just short of hugging him. She couldn’t tolerate his anger anymore.
Tenu chadd ke kitthe jawaan, tu mera parchanwa
Tere mukhde vich hi maine, Rabb nu apni pawaan
Meri duya haye, sajda tera, karti sada
Tu sun ekraar mera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2f7MZaw3Yo
She urged and pleaded through the song but he entered the bathroom closing the door behind him. Chandni heaved a sigh in despair. What Naani said was right, her husband was an angry inferno…. Any spark could light up the fire within him. She would need a different technique with him now.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Romance, Love, Stress, Anger ...... Many emotions had come earlier... and Now the Comedy! I couldn't help laughing at Barun's comical act. What about you?
It's clear now that Chandni and Naani are both Team Darsh-Pooja #Darja. So let's see how the saga moves ahead.
This time, things have boomeranged back at Chandni. The song fitted beautifully for her emotions. You can watch both versions. The female voice of Aliya and then the whole song with lyrics.
What technique will Chandni adopt to appease Advay? wanna guess?
Hit reaction button, drop your impressions/suggestions/objections.
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