Chapter 6

 

Chapter 6

Suman quickly got ready for work and ran down to the breakfast table. She pulled a chair and sat on the breakfast table.

 

"Suman! Kya decide kiya hai tu ne?", asked Manju.

 

"Maami ji, meri Shravan se baat ho chuki hai par hum dono ko decision lene ke liye thoda time chahiye. Wo iss weekend Delhi aa raha hai mujhse milne.", she replied.

 

"Ye to bohot achhi baat hai. Main guest room taiyaar karwa deti hoon.", she smiled.

 

"Wo, Pushkar bhi saath aa raha hai.", announced Sumo.

 

"Achha hai.. Kitna time ho gaya usse miley.", smiled Manju.

 

"Par Mami ji, hum 3 hafton mein kaise decision le sakte hain?", pouted Suman.

 

"Decision lene ke liye ek pal kaafi hota hai. Tujhe bohot jald pata chal jayega.", smiled Manju.

 

"Par why the hurry?"

 

"It's just that Nirmala ji has been wanting Shravan to marry for a long time and he has agreed to spare a talk with the girl for the first time so she is just hurrying things and I think there is no harm in it.", replied Manju.

 

Suman rolled her eyes and continued to eat her breakfast.

 

"Ab tum dono final karoge tab hi to shaadi ki taiyaariyan kar sakte hain.", smiled Sameer.

 

"Hum dono haan karenge, ye aapko kaise pata hai Mama ji?", she raised her brow but Sameer decided not to answer the question.

 

Suman finished her breakfast and said a quick bye to Sameer and Manju and walked out.

 

--

 

Sumo sat on in the garden of the orphanage after a meeting with the owners. They were demolishing the place and were sending off the children to different cities to other orphanages. That meant that her business was to shut down this week.

 

The caretaker and the owner had decided to start sending off the children in groups to various cities where NGOs provided care and support to orphans.

 

Suddenly her phone rang and she picked up.

 

"Aisa kaise kar sakte hain yaar Preeta?", she frowned.

 

"Kaun kaisa kar sakta hai Sumo?", she heard his voice.

 

"Tum?", she asked, stunned.

 

"Haan main. You're sounding low! What happened?", he asked.

 

Her eyes widened not understanding how he guessed her mood by just a mere statement.

 

"Wo.. Aisa kuch nahi hai hai!", she replied.

 

He smiled.

 

"Tumhe nahi batana.. To mat batao!", he replied.

 

She sighed.

 

"Aaj meri orphanage ke owner ke saath meeting hui thi. He has decided to close this place and demolish the building. He is sending off the children to different cities, to NGOs. So I have to close my kitchen this week.", she informed and gulped her saliva making sure that the tears that pooled in her eyes do not fall.

 

"Sumo, please mat ro. I'm coming day after and we can see what to do.", he said trying to calm her down.

 

"We can't do anything Shravan. Owner ka decision nahi badal sakte. He has sold the land to a builder. Kal mere kitchen ka last day hai.", she sniffed.

 

"Sumo, please dil chhota mat karo. We'll find a way together. Please smile.", he requested making her smile.

 

"Thank you!", she sniffed smiling.

 

"That's like a good girl.", he grinned.

 

"I'll see you, day after. Kal shayad baat nahi ho payegi. Lot of stuff to be transported back home.", she sighed.

 

--

 

Suman had managed to clean and shift all her stuff from the kitchen to the store room. The edible stuff was distributed to the staff and all the financial outstanding were cleared.

 

She sat on her bed blankly when her phone buzzed.

 

From: Shravan

"Are you feeling better?"

 

She smiled at his message and decided to call. He answered the call within a ring.

 

"Hey!", he wished.

 

"Hi, I'm fine!", she replied making him smile.

 

"Tum mujhe message karke reply kar sakti thi.", he grinned.

 

"Kyun? Call nahi kar sakti?", she asked.

 

"Ofcourse tum call kar sakti ho. Infact, mujhe achha lagta hai.", he replied.

 

"Ek baat bolun..?', she asked nervously.

 

"Haan.. bolo na."

 

"Mujhe bhi tumhari awaaz sunkar thoda sukoon milta hai.", she said.

 

"Mujhe bhi. You know hum ek doosre ko sirf 2 hafton se jaante hain, par mujhe tumhari itni aadat ho gayi hai ke tumse baat kiye bina neend nahi aati.", he replied.

 

"Wo Mami ji keh rahi thi ke tumne apni Mom ko kaha hai ke jo main decision loon wo tum maan loge. Kyun?", she asked.

 

"Iske baare mein kal milke baat karein?", he asked.

 

"Sure. And tum kyun nahi chahte ke main tumhe airport lene aaun?", she asked.

 

"Bas yun hi. I'll see you at your house at 9 in the morning.", he announced.

 

"Theek hai.", she smiled.

 

"Decision lene ke liye ek pal kaafi hota hai. Tujhe bohot jald pata chal jayega.", Sumo heard Manju's voice echoing in her head.

 

"Good night Sumo.", he wished.

 

"Good night Shravan.", she replied and disconnected the call.

 

"Kya usse mujhse pyar..", she wondered but trailed off. She shook her head and lay down drifting off to bed after a tiring and emotional day.

 

--

 

She sat on the swing in the garden of her house and glanced at her watch which struck 8.45am and she saw Preeta walking towards her.

 

"Sumo, tune kya decide kiya hai. Baaki ke workers ne to doosri job dhoond bhi li aur.. main tere bina kaam nahi karna chahti yaar.", complained Preeta, almost about to cry.

 

"Mujhe 2-3 din de.. main sochti hoon kya karna hai.", she hugged her, trying to control her emotions as well.

 

"Sumooo...", she heard Pushkar's voice and turned to see Pushkar running towards her making her laugh.

 

She laughed and before she could say anything, he lifted her off the floor hugging her.

 

"Neeche rakh mujhe.", she laughed.

 

"Kaisi hai?", he asked.

 

"Main theek. Tu to bada handsome ho gaya hai. Sangat ka asar hai?", she asked cheekily.

 

"Haw, how rude.. umm wait a minute. What do you mean by sangat? Just because you find bhaiya handsome?", he raised a brow at her.

 

"Pushkar stop troubling her early in the morning.", she heard Shravan and turned to see him smiling at her. Extremely tall and handsome, his physique, his chiselled jaw and his expressive eyes. He smiled at her making her forget all her worries.

 

"Ooh, possessive haan?", Pushkar teased.

 

"Ja, Preeti apne room mein hai. Irritate mat kar.", Sumo retorted.

 

A big smile graced Pushkar's face as he walked back into the house. Preeta smiled at Sumo and left giving the couple some privacy.

 

"Tum theek ho?", he asked with concern.

 

She closed her eyes and smiled wondering how concerned he was for her.

 

"Haan, Main theek hoon!", she replied.

 

"Good!", he replied.

 

"Tumne kya faisla liya hai?", she asked.

 

"Main to soch raha tha tumse pooch loon. I mean... Hum dono ki life hai to decision bhi hum dono ko discuss karke lena chahiye!", he said.

 

"Tumne apni Mom ko kyun kaha hai ke jo main decision loon wo tum maan loge?", she asked.

 

Mami ji walked out to the garden with 2 cups of coffee, placed it on the table and scurried away back into the house not wanting to disturb the couple.

 

Shravan walked and picked up bot the cups and handed one over to her. They strolled in the garden in silence as the birds chirped away.

 

Suman took a small sip and licked off the foam from her upper lip while Shravan did the same. He smiled as he saw her taking another sip of her cup and a milk moustache formed on her upper lip.

 

"Sumo, mujhe shaadi se umm.. darr lagta hai. You know it's a huge responsibility on both, the girl and the guy, kyunki they would have an addition of responsibility. More for the girl and that in our case is you. You would have to take up a responsibility of a wife, a daughter in law and a sister in law.", he explained.

 

She looked up at him with a smile.

 

"It would be the same with you. A husband, a son in law and a brother in law!", she reasoned.

 

"Yes.. But you would be staying with us and my responsibility towards your Mami ji, Mama ji and Preeti won't be be even half the amount of responsibilities you would have towards Maa and Papa and, Lala ji, Kamini Chachi and Pushkar", he replied.

 

She rolled her eyes and nodded in agreement.

 

"Sumo... I would be okay with whatever you decide. Just that if you decline this proposal, Maa would start the girl hunt all over again!", he chuckled.

 

Suman laughed, "You think I won't go through the boy hunting? I feel that Mami ji is waiting to throw me out of the house!"

 

"So.. uh.. give it a thought!", he said.

 

"Shravan.. I'll be okay with what you decide. I mean.. I know it won't be an easy ride for either of us but we have to get married someday to someone!", she replied honestly.

 

"See.. I told you earlier and I'm telling you this again. I'm kinda freaked out with all this and taking a decision is easy when it comes to cases but this is no case Sumo.", he said.

 

"If we agree, we'd be engaged in 2 weeks. I'm sure you're aware of that,", he said, unsure.

 

She nodded.

 

"And if not, both of us would have to go through the entire process with another person all over again!", he frowned.

 

Suman sighed and gently pressed her fingers to her forehead and finished her cup of coffee.

 

"Hypothetically, If we both agree, when do you want to get married?", she asked.

 

"Depends. May be a few months. Have a courtship period and get to know you more? Do the romance before marriage. I think most girls have those dreams.", he smiled.

 

"True.", she blushed.

 

"So does that mean you're accepting this proposal?", asked Shravan raising his eyebrow.

 

"What if I am?", she asked curiously.

 

"I'm okay with it if you are!", he replied.

 

"You're confusing me!", she pouted.

 

"What am I confusing you about? I just said that I'll agree to whatever decision you take!", he informed.

 

"Why don't you ever give your point of view here?", she asked.

 

"Because Papa came with the rishta to your house and not the other way around. So, the ball is at your court.", he smiled.

 

"I'll take a racket and hit the ball back into your court. Now the decision is yours!", she ordered keeping her hands on her waist.

 

He chuckled.

 

"I agree! Now would you tell me your decision?", he asked.

 

"You agree with what?", she raised her brow at him.

 

He smiled and sighed.

 

"I agree to this marriage proposal.", he said.

 

"Good! So do I because I don't intend to undergo this boy hunt and Mami ji's pestering all over again!", she replied.

 

"Haha.. Same here! Maa gets on my nerves when she starts this topic! She'll show me photographs and say.. Ladki choose karo! how can one select a girl just by seeing how beautiful she is on the outside!", he sighed.

           

"EXACTLY!", she agreed.

 

They both looked at each other and laughed out loud.

 

"Kya baatein ho rahi hain?", teased Pushkar as he walked out with Preeti.

 

"Itna hasa kyun ja raha hai? Koi joke hai kya?", asked Preeti.

 

"Inside joke hai.", Sumo rolled her eyes.

 

"Arey wah, bhaiya and bhabhi ke beech inside jokes bhi hone lage. Kya baat hai?", Pushkar waggled his brows at her.

 

"Kyun? Tujhe koi problem hai? Teri poll kholun main sabke saamne?", Sumo threatened making Shravan chuckle.

 

"Uski koi zaroorat nahi hai. By the way, aap dono ko ye rishta manzoor hai na? Kyunki Sumo ne abhi tak mujhe correct nahi kiya jab maine usse bhabhi bulaya.", thought Pushkar.

 

"Hum dono ko manzoor hai.", announced Shravan making Pushkar and Preeti smile wide and Suman, blush.