Chapter 26: Conversations and Confrontations
A/N1: Hello dearies! Our gaps between chapters seem to get longer and longer, but I hope this chapter is worth the wait. We are covering an important social issue in this chapter which Ashley at least was hoping would be covered when Mallika first made her appearance in the show, so do let us know if you liked the chapter. Your votes and comments mean a lot to us!
Lots of love,
Ashley and Ayesha
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30th July 1943, Roy Chaudhary Haveli, 8:30 AM
After getting ready for the day, Mallika was about to head downstairs when a sudden bout of nervousness hit her once more. After a long night of lovemaking, Batuk had finally returned to his room in the wee hours of the dawn. They had decided to tell the rest of the family about their intent to marry today, and this was making Mallika extremely anxious.
Mujhe itna nervous nahi hona chahiye na… I mean kal sab log itne welcoming thay, aur clearly sab ko thoda tou idea hoga hi na? She thought, as she stood in the corridor outside her room. Warna aise tease nahi kertein humein… mager Batuk ke Kaka… woh mujhe pasand nahi kertein… aur woh tou sabse bade hai ghar mein… agar unhone mana ker diya tou? Aur phir Batuk ke Baba aur Sampoorna Maa ne unki baat maan li tou? Sampoorna Maa ko bhi mien pasand nahi thy na? And ager Papa ko pata chala ke Batuk ki family, that they don't like me… tou… nahi… tou sab gadbad hou jaaegi.
By now the nervousness was almost making her nauseous. As she closed her eyes and tried to calm down, she was suddenly grabbed from behind and hauled into a room. Initially stricken with shock, she kept her eyes tightly shut, as her assailant pinned her against a wall. However, she relaxed immediately after, as her other senses recognised Batuk's extremely familiar presence.
A wide smile bloomed on her face as she playfully remarked, with her eyes still shut, "Don't mind, par mujhe pata hona chahiye tha ke tum aisi atrangi harkat kerouge."
Batuk let out a cackle of laughter in response, before leaning closer toward her.
His upper body which was still slightly damp with his shower and was not covered by his towel rubbed against hers slightly. Mallika's breath hitched as all their intimate moments came crashing to her mind, suddenly making her extremely, and dangerously aware of him!
Her eyes were still closed. But her heightening colour and the way her breathing pattern changed subtly made him aware that she was as much affected by him as he was to her.
Not to mention that he was finding her very delicious to look at!
Clad in a deep blue checkered elegant long dress with splashes of black and orange, she was looking stunning. The dress was neither sleeveless, nor backless, and yet it was alluring. Her make up was minimal, yet she looked so beautiful that Batuk felt his heart would explode. Her cheeks which were getting pink naturally were making him giddy with love. Suddenly, he wanted to do loving things to her that he was sure would make her cheeks flame more!
Her long and naturally curled thick eyelashes over her closed eyes felt like casting shades on her cheeks. And they somehow made Batuk's heart flutter too as he recalled how they had fluttered last night also when he had brought her to the peak of her ecstasy. Or how they had gotten wet with tears when he had proclaimed his love for her.
Her plump lips were enriched in mildly pink hues. The way her lips had partially opened up with her own desire when he had gotten close to her in his semi-naked glory made him feel the sudden urge to devour them again!
And it has been just a few hours since I came out of her room!
The sudden thought made him smile. He realized that he was a completely gone case!
He was totally bewitched by this enchantress in his arms…
And instead of feeling disturbed by the extent and depth of his feelings for her, he felt a strange joy… A euphoria that was making him believe that he was extremely blessed to be able to get second chances even with all his past mistakes.
A mixture of desire shooting through his nerve stream and a poignance of feeling so blessed made him push slightly harder into her until a soft moan escaped her parted lips.
He realized that the response was elicited because of his own desire! It had poked into her through the barrier of a white towel hanging low around his waist.
The realization brought another smile to his lips as he besottedly looked at her.
She was fully dressed and ready to start the day, while he was fresh out of his shower, and not at all decent to even step out of this room!
He knew that they were supposed to be out and about soon. But the temptation to love his beautiful enchantress right here right now was also getting very strong with each passing second.
Mallika's responses were also fueling his desire to give in to the temptation.
However, he needed to have her look at him. He wanted her to open her eyes…
Suddenly tempted to see his own image in those glorious orbs, he shrugged his wet hair slightly.
The action caused him to shower a generous amount of water on her face, which led her to slowly open her eyes, only to get lost in the sensual haze being created.
Feeling an inexplicable pull as her languorous gaze landed on him as if in a trance, he slowly leaned towards her to capture her beckoning lips.
However, the enchantress whose thrumming heartbeats he could hear now suddenly shook her head. Before his lips could land on hers, she put her hand in between, making his lips collide with her palm instead of her lips.
Disgruntled and confused, he looked into her eyes questioningly.
Turning a deeper shade of pink, smiling sheepishly, she said,
"Woh…Batuk… if we start, we won't be able to stop na. Aur abhi sab jaag gaye honge…aur neeche humari raah dekh rhe honge."
Feeling impatient, he said,
"Ohh, chhodo sab ko. Just focus on this superman in front of you na!"
However, the magic of the moment and Batuk's claims were interrupted by a loud grumble emanating from his stomach.
He, who was leaning toward Mallika again stopped in his tracks upon hearing the strange rumbles from his belly.
A horrified and embarrassed expression slashed across his features as Mallika looked at him incredulously.
And then, she burst into a major fit of laughter.
Closing his eyes, sighing, he leaned his forehead against hers as he too joined in her laughter.
When she was finally able to speak, still bubbling with mirth, she said,
“I think… let's focus on getting something in this superman's tummy now!"
Nodding his head, Batuk straightened up too.
"You are right. Superman seems to be quite hungry! I should get ready and then we should go down.” He said with a sheepish grin.
Gently caressing her cheek, he then sweetly asked,
"Pick out a shirt for me na, please."
His sweet request made her heart flutter as she nodded a yes. Batuk had never asked her to pick clothes for him before. But now that he did, she suddenly felt a wave of happiness along with nervousness washing over her.
Mallika stepped towards the wardrobe and started going through the clothes, all the while stealing glances at Batuk as he dressed. Batuk, too, was observing her through the mirror. His heart fluttered as he saw her doing something so domestic as picking out clothes for him. The fluttering intensified as he noticed that she had picked a shirt to match her own outfit. Her work complete, she turned to him and held out the shirt.
“Woh… Jaldi se ready hou jaao, phir neeche jaate hai.” she said, before hesitantly adding. “Breakfast ke baad sabse shaadi ki baat bhi kerni hai na?”
“Umm… Mallika… Woh… I think we should announce this after the Mukhe Bhaat…” Watching her face fall on hearing this, he hastened to explain. “Kya hai na, agar koi tamasha hua, tou Mukhe Bhaat ka bhi saara mood kharab hou jaayega.”
“You… you think tamasha hoga?” Mallika asked, her heart sinking.
Seeing Mallika look so uncertain pinched Batuk’s heart. He covered the short distance between them and caressing her cheek gently, attempted to reassure her.
“Actually, mujhe tou sirf Kaka ke reaction ka darr hai. Baaki everyone else loves you!”
“Really Jee? Sampoorna Maa bhi? I mean, last time woh bhi mujhe pasand nahi kerti thy na?” Mallika asked, still uncertain.
Batuk’s face flamed up as he remembered what Sampoorna’s problem with Mallika had been.
“Don’t worry about it…” He said hurriedly as he took the shirt from her hands and slipped it over his shoulders. “That was a weird misunderstanding… But ab sab sab sorted hai…”
“Misunderstanding? Kaisi misunderstanding?” Mallika asked curiously.
“Woh…” he looked down, suddenly feeling embarrassed. “Sampoorna Maa didn’t like ke unke bete ki girlfriend, unke doosre, shadishuda bete ko galat nazar se dekh rahi thy”
“WHAT!!! But miene kab…” she suddenly quietened down, her eyes widening comically with horror, as realization dawned on her. “Oh… no!” she whispered, stepping back and looking down, her own cheeks flaming.
“Arey… Don’t worry…” Batuk said, gripping her shoulders comfortingly. “Sampoorna Maa ko ab pata hai ke tum Boudi ke husband ko nahi, apne hi boyfriend ko waise dekh rahi thy, so ab it’s all good.”
“Ohh… okay then.” Mallika said silently, still refusing to look him in the eye as she busied herself in buttoning up his shirt. After a few moments of silence, she looked back at him, gripping his collar. “Waise Jee… Were you trying to say ki mera tumhe galat nazar se dekhna allowed hai?” she asked with a playful smile.
“Of course allowed hai!” Batuk exclaimed, a wide smile on his own face, as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to himself. “In fact, as far as I am concerned, tumhari yeh galat nazar is very very welcome!”
As he leaned in closer to try to kiss her again, she put her hand on his mouth, effectively blocking him from his advances, and with a worried but apologetic smile, she asked,
“Chalo Sampoorna maa ka tou abh masla nahi raha. But what about your Kaka, Batuk? He also doesn't like me so much naa?” The sadness in her voice and her genuine concern to be approved by his family melted his heart.
Sighing, he pointed towards his mouth that was still being covered by her hand, signalling her to let him answer.
Flustered, Mallika snatched her hand, releasing his mouth.
Heaving a deep breath at the failure of all his advances, he gathered her closer and said,
“Kiss tou kerne nahi de rahy ho. Abh baat bhi nahi kerne dena chahty thyn kia?”
Shaking her head, her cheeks reddening as she said,
“Nahi na jee… Aap kiss ker lena baad mien. Lekin pehle humara problem tou solve kerou na. Ghar walon ka… Kia hoga Batuk?” Her voice which was laced with worry quivered as she chewed on her lip while wondering.
Finding her extremely adorable, mulling over all such mundane things, he smiled, and caressing her cheek softly, he said,
“Don't worry na yaar. Dekho… Mien hun na tumhare sath? Aur tum Kaka ki bhi fikar na kerou. Unko handle kerne ke liye I have a plan.”
“Plan?” she asked in confusion.
Smiling widely, pinching her cheek lovingly, he replied,
“Yes, baby! We are going to gather allies.”
Mallika’s eyes widened as she exclaimed,
“You mean…?”
Nodding his head, still smiling, he kissed the place on her cheek where he had pinched her, and affirmed,
“Yes! Exactly!”
Relief washed over her face, finally a broad smile adorned her lips as she wound her arms around his neck and closing the gap between them, whispered excitedly,
“Bass…phir tou humara kaam ho hi jayega samjho!”
Nuzzling her nose with his own, he whispered mischievously,
“Darling, humara kaam ho chuka hai, aisa samjho. Kyunki humari shadi na ho, aisa ho hi nahi sakta. Ager Kaka ne ziada problem kia bhi, tou bhi koi farq nahi paday ga kyunki phir mien tum ko bhagaa ker le jaonga! Chahay Mars per bhi jaa ker shadi kerni paday, kerun ga. Lekin tum ko nahi chhodun ga akele.”
It was such a sweet thing to hear. Although Batuk had tried to infuse humour into such a sentimental statement, Mallika's heart fluttered with happiness.
Her man was going to stand with her through all thick and thin.
She felt a joy coursing through her bloodstream as an intense gush of love shook her to the core.
Embracing him tightly to herself, she whispered,
“I love you Batuk. Mien bhi tumhare liye har terha ka stand lun gy, hamesha.”
His lips that were again trying to reach hers stilled for a second on hearing this statement.
A scary thought occurred to him as he blurted worriedly,
“Darling, meri family ko tou hum handle ker lien ge. But what about your parents? Ager tumhare papa ne manaa kia tou?”
Smiling, she nuzzled her lips around the corner of his mouth, and said,
“Well… woh na maanay tou kia hua? Mien khud hi bhaag ker ajaongy aap ke pas. Phir aap khud hi nipatna apne sasur jee se!”
This reminder of the change in their relationship with each other, and how other relations will add on with just one change made his heart giddy with a strange mixture of nervousness and happiness.
Overwhelmed by emotion, he just did the only thing that was suddenly extremely urgent.
He captured her wandering lips around his mouth in a quick, hungry kiss!
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30th July 1943, Roy Chaudhary Haveli, 9:00 AM
“Patibabu, aapko kya lagta hai? Batuk ko kia baat kerni hougi humse?” Bondita asked, as she arranged the books on the shelves in the study. “Shayad, Mallika ke baare mein? Kal raat ko Batuk usay milne bhi gaya tha! Aisa hou sakta hai ke unn dono ke beech sab sahi hou gaya hou? Aur yahi khushkhabri sunani hou usey?”
Anirudh simply grumbled something inaudible, causing Bondita to turn to him in exasperation.
“Patibabu!” she called out, her hands on her waist. “Kya hua hai aapko? Meri baatein bhi nahi sunn rahe hai, bas wahan baithe baithe khudse badbada rahe hai!”
“Tou aur kya karu? Meri baat koi sunna chahta hai bhi?” Anirudh grumbled, looking up from his files. “Koi meri fikr kerta bhi hai yahan? Sab bas pyaar ke dushman bane baithe hai!”
“Pyaar ke dushman?” Bondita asked, confused.
“Haan bilkul!" Anirudh affirmed, "Abh dekho, kal raat Rudhir Aaradhya ko sambhalne ki baari Batuk ki thy na, mager wou apni Mallika ke saath busy tha. Humne usko samjha, ke itne dino baad Mallika ko mila hai, aik dou din adjust ker lete hai. Mager usne kya kiya? Aaj subah badi mushkil se thoda waqt mila, tou usko aake darwaaza khatkhatana tha, taaki bacche phir uth jaaye! Hum uske liye itna sab kuch ker rahe hai, mager usko padi hi nahi hai humaari.”
“Aap bilkul sahi keh rahe hai Patibabu! Batuk ko iss baat ki saza milni hi chahiye.” Bondita agreed with false solemnity, desperately trying to control her own laughter. The sight of the selfless, fitoori Anirudh Roy Chaudhary, who had decided to take the weight of the whole world on his shoulders, cribbing like a child about something so trivial, made her happy beyond limits. After all, even he should be allowed to be selfish sometimes.
Anirudh simply looked up at her and glared, before continuing his tirade. “Sirf Batuk akela gunhegaar nahi hai! Meri biwi bhi pyaar ki dushman bani gayee hai!" At Bondita's quizzical expression, he elaborated. "Abhi hum study mein akele hai, mager meri biwi ko bhi mujhse duur wahan bookshelf ke paas khada rehna hai, aur Batuk ke baare mein sochna hai!” Anirudh huffed.
Bondita's eyes widened as she felt an insane urge to laugh crazily at her Pati Babu's antics.
Stifling her laughter, she composed her features and sweetly tried to placate her roothe piya!
“Achha… Tou yeh aapki naarazgi hai… Usko tou mein turant duur ker sakti hu…” She said flirtatiously, as she sashayed over to the desk, before sitting on the arm of Anirudh’s chair leaning over him a little. “Ab theek hai, Pati Babu?” she asked, innocently.
“Umm…" shaking his head in the negative, he wound his arm around her waist, and without wasting another minute, he pulled her onto his lap and said victoriously, "Abh theek hai.”
Bondita, who was at first startled but then had started giggling suddenly stopped as she felt her Pati Babu's gaze intensifying. Pulling the hem of her sari up, his hand was now caressing her legs sensuously as he whispered, his voice thick with desire,
"I crave you so much, Jaan…"
Pressing her legs to entrap his fingers wandering around her sensitive spot now, all traces of laughter were gone from her face in a jiffy, replaced by a sudden need and an intense craving for him.
Quick stabs of desire started shooting across her entire nervous system as a moan escaped her mouth upon her Pati Babu's insistent and experienced fingers around her core.
As she involuntarily pressed herself closer to him, her eyes turning languid with desire, she whispered without thinking,
"Pati Babu… aaah… please…" to which, Anirudh's complexion heightened as he started working the magic of his fingers in an effort to give his wife what she wanted.
However, their ventures into the prem ki gali were interrupted due to a sharp knock on the study door.
It took them a minute to straighten up and control their heavy breaths and racing hearts when they heard Batuk call out, “Big D, Boudi! Can we come in please?”
To Anirudh's obvious irritation, Bondita immediately got up from his lap, straightened her sari, and quickly ran her hands across her face and hair to make them appear normal and casual. Once the restoration was done, stealing a glance at her completely irritated Pati Babu who was trying to control the evidence of his desires, biting her lips to stop herself from smiling at his frustration, she answered in the affirmative.
A disgruntled Anirudh also stood up and positioned himself carefully behind Bondita to hide the proof of their earlier activities.
Batuk pushed open the study door and entered with Mallika, their hands entwined and a radiant glow on both their faces!
Despite all his irritation, a small, knowing smile appeared on his lips. Bondita had also noticed the glow, and she had also reached the same conclusion. Turning her head slightly, they shared a meaningful look with each other as they confirmed within themselves.
It was clear evidence of what Batuk and Mallika had been up to last night!!
"Kal raat ko clearly sab kuch sahi hou gaya tha." Anirudh whispered softly to his wife from behind.
"Haan Patibabu, '' Bondita also whispered. But then, she wondered and asked her husband in hushed tones, "Waise Pati Babu… hum bhi itna zyada chamakte hain kia? I mean… kia humien dekh ker bhi loagon ko pata chal jata hoga ki hum kya kerte rahay hain?"
Her cheeks then turned pink as she recalled that they had actually initiated something like that just now also.
Feeling mortified, she subtly turned a little to look at her husband again.
However, Anirudh's reply made her forget her mortification and instead, smile widely.
"Agli baar koi pyaar ka dushman na bane tou khud hi dekh lena." Anirudh had whispered back with a flirtatious grin.
Matching his grin with her own, she suggested innocuously, “Aik kaam kerte hai, iss Batuk ke bacchay ki baat khatam hou tou usko duty pe lagake jaate hain dekhne. I am very curious now.”
Anirudh nodded his head in acquiescence with a determined look on his face. And then, he guided Bondita to meet Batuk and Mallika in the seating area.
"Bolo Batuk, kya baat kerni thy humse?" He asked, trying to sound all business-like and serious.
Batuk looked at him nervously. He found it odd that his brother was still standing behind Bondita. As if she was his shield!
However, he didn't put much thought into it and after looking at Bondita, his eyes shifted back to Anirudh's as he blurted out,
“Woh Big D, Boudi… Actually… Kal raat ko… I asked Mallika to marry me!”
“Ohh… achha…” Anirudh replied, his face expressionless as he then moved his gaze to Mallika. “Aur tumne kya jawaab diya Mallika? Kya tum Batuk se shaadi kerna chahti hou?”
“Yes Dada.” Mallika replied, with an earnest smile on her face. “Miene haan kaha. Hum dono yeh shaadi chahtay hai.”
Anirudh did not reply immediately, causing Mallika and Batuk to look at each other nervously. He exchanged a meaningful glance with Bondita, before turning to the duo with a big smile on his face, saying,
“Congratulations! Durga Ma ka shukar hai Batuk ke tumme akal aa gayi, warna humein tou laga tha tum dono aise hi dosti dosti khelte reh jaaoge!”
“Big D!!” Batuk whined, before turning to Bondita to see her reaction. The sight of her gleeful smile directed at him made him gulp in fear.
Ever since Batuk had interrupted his Dada and Boudi six months back, he had taken to teasing her relentlessly about her “colourful” sex life. This teasing would come up often, especially when Bondita would request Batuk to watch the twins so that Anirudh and Bondita wouldn’t be interrupted.
But now, Bondita was the one with ammunition against him, and She. Wanted. Payback.
Smiling widely, she looked back at her Pati Babu. Surreptitiously stealing a glance at the state of his manhood because of which she was being used as a shield, satisfied that everything looked normal now, she shifted her focus back to her devar and to-be-devrani.
Batuk took a tiny step back as Bondita approached them, a bit surprised when she embraced Mallika first, congratulating her and welcoming her officially into the family.
After that she turned to him, grabbing him in a bear hug and congratulating him as well. But he knew her too well now to be relieved so soon. And rightly so, because she took the opportunity to whisper in his ear.
“Tou abh kis cheez ko repair ki zarurat hai Chhote Zamindaar? Shower ko ya bed ko?”
“Boudiiiii!!" he whined, before retorting playfully, "Kaise ashleel sawaal puchh rahi hou? Roy Chaudhariyon ki Bahu ko shobha deta hai kya aisa puchhna?” Batuk asked, in perfect mimicry of Kaka, earning only a smack from Bondita in response.
The instinctive response to Bondita’s teasing reminded Batuk about why they chose to confide in Dada and Boudi in the first place. Batuk separated himself from Bondita and addressed her and Anirudh again.
“Woh… Big D, boudi, hum dono soch rahe thay ke Mukhe Bhaat ke baad sabko iss baare mein bata dein. Mager Kaka…”
“Uski tum chinta mat kerou Batuk." Anirudh reassured him. "Hum abhi chal ke Baba aur Sampoorna Maa se iss baare mein baat kerte hain. Kaka ko Baba hi sambhaal lenge.”
“Baba?" Batuk asked, confused. "I mean yes Baba recover hone ke baad kaafi open hou gaye hai mager…” he trailed off, the question on his mind left unsaid.
Kya Baba Kaka ke against koi bhi decision lenge?
Anirudh however, had picked up on the unsaid question. “Kal Baba khud aaye thay mere paas Batuk. Yeh kehne ke humein Mallika ke parents se baat kerke tumhari shaadi fix ker deni chahiye.” he answered. Seeing Batuk and Mallika’s shocked expressions, he explained with a smile. “Tum dono buht zyaada obvious hou, pata hai. Hum sab ko dikh raha tha ke tum dono ke beech kya chal raha hai. Kher, humnein phir tayy ker rakha tha ke agar Mallika ke jaane se pehle tum dono ne apas mein sab clear nahi kiya tou hum log yeh maamla apne haathon mein lenge.”
“Oh… oh… That’s great Big D! Aik dam brilliant! Tou phir hum abhi ke abhi Baba se baat kerne chalte hai! Chalo chalo!” Batuk excitedly exclaimed, whirling around to the door and starting to stride out, with Mallika struggling to keep up.
“Arey Batuk mere bhai… Ruko ruko…" Anirudh held on to his free hand to stop him. "Itni bhi kya jaldi hai Baba se baat kerne ki?”
“Big D!!! We need to go now, before sab Mukhe Bhaat ki tayyari mein busy hou jaaye!”
Anirudh and Bondita shared a grin seeing Batuk's eagerness before Anirudh straightened his face and asked Batuk seriously.
“Dekho, aik baar phir se soch lou Batuk! Tumhe sach mein turant jaana hai Baba ke paas!”
“Haan Big D!!! Of course! Aap kyun rok rahe hou humein?” Batuk asked, desperate and confused.
“Yeh lou, bhalai ka zamaana nahi raha. Theek hai, chalte hai turant! Mager abhi se warn ker raha hunn mien, aik baar tumne Baba se baat ker li, tou phir shaadi hone tak tum dono akele mein nahi mil paaoge!”
That declaration caused both Batuk and Mallika to stop in their tracks and look at Anirudh in shock.
“What?? Big D!!! Aisa kaise… But why?” Batuk asked with a wail.
“Arey, yehi reet hai, shaadi se pehle dulha dulhan akele mein nahi mil sakte! Sab ko kerna padta hai! Humein bhi kahan milne diya tha, hai na Bondita?”
“Haan Patibabu!" Bondita agreed, mock seriousness in place. "In fact, humein inke kamre bhi badalne padenge. Jaise humein door door waale kamre diye thay na Sampoorna Maa ne?”
“Boudiiiiiii!!! Aap bhi? Aur waise, aap dono kabse aisi “reet '' mein maan’ne lagey? Samjho na Boudi! Mien Mallika se mile bina kaise rahunga?” Batuk argued back.
“Sirf akele mein milna allowed nahi hai. Tum dono group mein mil hi sakte hou." Bondita said as if making a great concession.
"Haan…" Anirudh added. "Aur bhi options hai, tum dono aik doosre se khidki ke through baat ker sakte hou, phone pe baat ker sakte hou, prem patra likh sakte hou… Aur waise bhi Mallika jab wapis jaaegi tab bhi yahi kerna padega na?”
"Wahi na Big D!!!! Mallika sirf 2 aur din hai yahan, and usme bhi aap humein saath time spend nahi kerne douge kya?"
"Ab hum kya ker sakte hai Batuk, reet tou reet hoty hai na…"
"Big D!!!! Boudi!!!!! Please na!!! Sirf Mallika yahan hai tab tak tou humein saath rehne dou na!!! I promise, uske baad mien aap dono ki har baat maanunga. Rudhi aur Aaru ko bhi apne paas rakhunga, aap kaho tou har roz! Big D pleeeeeeease!!!"
By now Batuk looked like he was about to burst into tears, making it extremely difficult for Anirudh and Bondita to hold in their own laughter. With a playful smirk on his face, Anirudh turned to Mallika, and asked her solemnly, "Aik baar phir soch lou Mallika, kya tumhe waqai iss rondu se shaadi kerni hai?"
Mallika too had caught on to the fact that Anirudh and Bondita had been playing with them, with a soft smile, she turned to give Batuk a loving look before answering, "Ab kya hi keru Dada, iss rondu se pyaar ker baithi hu mien, ab tou majboori hou gayi hai meri."
Her words made Batuk's heart overflow with all the love he felt, making him look at her extremely intensely, causing Mallika to turn pink, and Bondita to groan loudly, "Ohho, get a room you two!"
This groan made both of them turn towards her with extremely red cheeks. Anirudh, still not in a mood to stop teasing them, remarked, "Na na, no getting a room, abhi buht kaam pada hai. In fact Bondita, yeh dono distract na hou isiliye inhe durr durr waale kaam dete hai."
"Dadaaaaaaaaaa!!"
The unexpected source of this whine caused Anirudh and Bondita to turn towards Batuk and Mallika in surprise. Batuk too was looking at Mallika with widened eyes, while Mallika was looking at all of them with a sheepish smile. Suddenly unable to say anything more, all four of them burst out into peals of laughter.
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30th July 1943, Roy Chaudhary Haveli, 9:00 PM
“Nahi! Yeh nahi ho sakta. Yeh ladki iss ghar ki bahu nahi bann sakty.” His thundering voice resonated against the walls of the Roy Chaudhary haveli.
Binoy’s hand that was reaching out for the telephone trembled slightly as he heard his Da’s harsh words.
Anirudh and Bondita looked at each other as anger started flaring in Anirudh’s eyes.
“I knew it! Humare ghar mein koi tamasha na ho, aur KAKA kabhi zindagy mein kuch asani se hone dein, aisa tou ho hi nahi sakta na!”, his eyes angrily told Bondita, who had an extremely disappointed look plastered on her own face as she silently agreed with her husband.
However, she was grateful that this tamasha was not happening in front of the whole village, as was the “norm of the Roy Chaudharys!” Thankfully, everything was happening after all the guests left and it was just the family members in the house now.
Sumati and Tapur had taken Rudhir and Aaradhya upstairs while Binoy, Sampoorna, Thaku ma, Anirudh, Bondita, Shashwati, Tupur, Batuk and Mallika had remained downstairs in the hall.
After speaking to Siddharth the previous day, and getting all her questions answered, Tupur had returned to inform the family that she had accepted his proposal. This had been a cause of much celebration in the family. When he had come for the Mukhe Bhaat, he had informed the family that he would be bringing his family over the next day to formalize the engagement.
Siddharth had just left and Thakuma, in a very pleasant mood, was discussing the wedding dates with Trilochan when Binoy cleared his throat and said,
“Kalindi Jee, Da, mien soch rha hun ki Tupur aur Siddharth ki shadi ke sath sath Batuk aur Mallika ki bhi shadi kerwa dete hain. Aur agle mahinay nahi, balki isi mahinay ki aakhiri tareekhon mien. Kia kehte hain aap loag?”
Binoy’s suggestion did not come as a surprise to Thakuma, nor to most of the others in the hall. Batuk and Mallika’s changed behaviour since morning had made it evident that such an announcement was inevitable.
“Arey wah, Binoy Babu. Yeh tou aap ne buht accha sujhav dia.” She happily conceded while casting a loving glance toward the extremely nervous couple sitting near Anirudh and Bondita.
Binoy smiled at her and replied lightly, “Bhayee, miene socha ki aik beti ko ghar se vida ker rahe hain tou doosri ko ghar le ker aana chahiye na.” And then, looking at Mallika, he said,
“Mallika, mujhe tumhare parents se baat kerni hai. You know, shaadi ke details wagera discuss kerne. So, please zara number batana takay mien yeh shubh kaam abhi hi ker lun.”
Chewing at her lower lip, Mallika looked nervously at Batuk, and then at Anirudh and Bondita who were happily smiling too. Finding courage from them, she quietly told her residence number to Binoy, but before she could complete it, Kaka’s bellowing voice stilled everyone.
“Nahi! Yeh nahi ho sakta. Yeh ladki iss ghar ki bahu nahi bann sakty.”
Anirudh and Bondita sharply inhaled, while Batuk all but mentally rolled his eyes as he thought, Lou… ho gaya wahi jiska darr tha!
Despite her own gut feeling and Batuk’s mild warning earlier, Mallika still felt terrible after hearing this. She knew that Kaka would object, but now that it really happened, her heart felt like it was sinking.
Quietly putting back the receiver on the cradle, Binoy straightened up as he looked into his brother’s angry eyes, and then calmly said,
“Da, isme galat kya hai? Mallika acchi ladki hai, dono aik doosre se pyaar kerte hai. Aur humien inki shaadi ka samarthan kerna chahiye, naaki pareshaani khadi kerni chahiye.”
Shaking his head angrily, Kaka rose up from his seat and stomping his cane on the ground, he said forcefully, “Nahi Binoy…mien aisa nahi hone dun ga.”
“Mager kyun, Kaka? Aap aise Batuk aur Mallika ki zindagy ka faisla unki marzi ke khilaaf ja ker kaise ker sakte hain?” Anirudh asked angrily.
Shaking his head, glaring hard at Mallika who seemed to have shrunk and was practically trying to hide herself by staying closer to Batuk, he roared,
“Yeh dekho isko! Yeh Batuk ke sath kaise chipak ker bethy hai! Aur… aur yeh jaise kapde pehenti hai, kia koi shareef ladki aise kerty hai? Humare ghar ki bahu betian kia iss Mallika jaisi hain kahin se bhi? Humari Bondita bahu bhi baahir se padh ker ayi thy, lekin kia woh apne sanskaar bhooli? Kia usay kabhi Anirudh ke sath, jo ke uska pati hai, aise khulay aam badon ke samnay besharmon ki terha chipakte dekha hai?”
Huffing out a blaze of fury, he then glared hard at Batuk and said,
“Aur tum! Bhool gaye yeh kaise tumhien dhamkaya kerty thy? Humien yaad hai acchay se. Hum ne dekha tha kaise yeh tum se ashleel baatien ker rhy thy, aur keh rhy thy ke ager tum iske pas roaz raat ko nahi gaye tou yeh Bondita ko sach bata de gy ke tum Anirudh nahi, Batuk ho! Tum bhool gaye hoge Batuk, mager hum nahi bhoolay! Humne apne kaano se aur inn aankhon se khud yeh sab dekha tha!”
Batuk’s face turned red as he realized that his Kaka had overheard his conversation with Mallika when she had come to the haveli all those months ago when Anirudh had gone missing. Sighing, he realized how incriminating it must have appeared to a conservative man like Kaka. Suddenly, he understood that it was going to take a lot more effort to convince Kaka than he had originally anticipated.
Mallika had closed her eyes in embarrassment. She felt as if, in front of everyone, Kaka had exposed her naked. Waves of shame washed over her as helpless tears pricked her eyes. She couldn't face anyone. She was drowning in her shame and misery when suddenly, she felt Batuk tightly clasping her hand, and then, her eyes fluttered open when she heard Anirudh’s firm voice,
“Kaka, uss waqt jo hua, woh ateet ki baat hai. Tabb Mallika ne kya kiya aur kyun kiya tha, hum jante hain aur samajhte bhi hain. Iss liye Kaka, aap maazi ko maazi mein hi rehne dein. Tabb in dono se kuch ghalatiyan hui thy, lekin abh yeh dono apni ghalation se sabaq haasil ker chuke hain. Inko pata hai abh ke aik doosre ke liye kitne zaruri hain yeh loag. Iss liye please, mien aap se minnati kerta hun, inki shadi mien rukawat na daalien.”
"Mager Anirudh, yeh ladki humare Batuk ke liye theek nahi hai. Arey yeh humare parivar ke liye hi theek nahi hai!" Kaka objected.
Batuk had had enough.
Rising up from his place, looking straight into Kaka's eyes, he asked,
"Kyun Kaka? Ager Mallika sari pehenti, western dresses na pehenti, meri dost na hoty, mere sath pyar ke rishte mein na hoty… aap ke kisi Delhi-based businessman friend ki beti hoty, tabb sab sahi hota na? Tabb tou aap ko aitraz nahi hota. Abhi aap ko sirf iss liye Mallika se objection hai kyunki woh apni marzi se jeene ki aadi hai."
Huffing again, Kaka glared hard at Mallika and acidly replied,
"Apni marzi se jeena aur besharmi se jeene mein buht farq hai, Batuk. Abhi tum jazbaati horhe ho… pyar mein andhe ho… abhi tumhien nazar nahi aarha. Mager iss ladki ko dekh ker iske maa baap ki tarbiyat, iski nasal ke aur khandan ke baray mein acchay se pata chalta hai. Aisi ladki humare khandan mein shamil nahi ho sakty. Yeh humari naslien kharab kere gy."
"Haan, jaise iss khandan mien tou sab heeray moti ke banay hue hain!" Thakuma muttered under her breath. Even she had had enough. Having been a victim of character shaming herself, she always felt a protective instinct towards other young girls who were similarly shamed. And while Mallika’s lifestyle may not be something she personally agreed with, it did not take away from the fact that Mallika and Batuk clearly loved each other dearly. And if they had no issues with this, no one else had any right to interfere. And it was time to explain this to Zamindar Babu, to put some sense in his head.
"Zamindar babu… Mallika ki tarbiyat se ziada zaruri yeh dekhna hai ki uski TABIYAT kaisi hai. Uski seerat kaisi hai. Aur kia woh aap ke bete ko khush rakh sakty hai ki nahi. Aur jahan tak mien Mallika ko samjhi hun, woh aik buht acchi ladki hai. Aur ghalatiyan kis se nahi hoty?"
Looking pointedly at him now, she couldn't resist from taunting, "Abh aap khud hi dekhiye na… itne Azeem aur Shaandaar khandan se hote hue khud aap ne kitni sari ghalatiyan ki hi haina apni zindagy mien!"
Kaka's face reddened on hearing this. He couldn't take such insults!
"Ghalatiyan hui hain hum se, mager hum CHARITRA ke kharab nahi thay iss ladki ki terha!" He hissed while glaring at Thakuma.
Bondita couldn't take such a stupid accusation pointed toward Mallika as she blurted out angrily, "Kaka Sasurjee! Kia chhote kapde pehenne se kisi ladki ka charitra naapa ja sakta hai? Wahan London mein itne saray loag chhote kapde pehente thay. Un mien se kitne mere dost thay. Aur mien janty hun ke unki soch kitni achi thy. Miene maana ki humare haan chhote kapde achay nahi samjhay jatay, mager kia yeh sahi hai? Yeh faisla kerna ki kisko kia pehenna pasand hai, kia yeh har insan ka haq nahi hai? Aur kya yeh doosron ka haq hai ki ager koi ladki zara sa apni marzi aur khushi se, kuch alag pehen le tou uss per chippi laga di jaye ki uska charitra theek nahi hai!"
Trilochan looked at his Bahu in surprise. While he knew that she was as fitoori as her husband, and shared his views on freedom and equality for women, she had never openly contradicted him in public like this. And clearly, everyone in the hall was supporting her, and by extension, that Bijli Mallika.
He too had been observing Mallika ever since her arrival yesterday and didn’t understand the behaviour of the family towards this girl. The last time she had come to Tulsipur, Som and Sampoorna had also shared in his discomfort and disapproval for Mallika, but Som wasn’t here now, and Sampoorna had completely changed her behaviour and ACCEPTED that girl as family. Batuk too was behaving like a besotted fool and the rest of the family was treating this completely inappropriate girl like a long lost family member. They had even shown her off to all the guests as Batuk and Bondita’s close friend from Italy! Didn’t they understand what it looked like in the eyes of society? And now, Binoy was planning on making her a Roy Chaudhary Bahu? And everyone was supporting him? No, that could not happen.
Closing his eyes in frustration now, he bellowed, "Bass! Buht hogya. Buht sunn lia hum ne. Tum mein se kisi ko samajh hi nahi aarha hai. Mager baat sirf kapdon ki bhi nahi hai. Iss ladki ki besharmi ki hai. Iske chaal chalan ki hai. Kitne aram se yeh Batuk ke sath reh rhy hoty hai. Arey ladkiyon ko apni lalsa kaabu mein rakhni chahiye. Jo ladki aik ladke ko apne paas bula sakti hai, kya pata aur kitno ko bulati hou. Kia aisi ashleel ladki kahin se bhi acchi biwi, acchi bahu, acchi maa ban sakty hai? Arey yeh sirf premika, mehbooba hi ban sakty hai! Aur Batuk, tum isko nahi chhodna chahte na? Theek hai. Tum isko mehbooba hi bana ke rakho jab tak tumhara dil na bhar jaaye. Isse shaadi kerne ki koi zarurat nahi hai. Shadi tou hum tumhari kisi buht acchhi, susheel, sanskari ladki se kerwayein ge!"
A gasp escaped Mallika's mouth as she heard such venomous words.
Nobody had ever made her feel so cheap!
She suddenly felt as if Kaka was calling her a prostitute!
Other people in the hall also felt their blood boiling. But before anyone could say anything, Batuk, whose facial expressions had turned murderous said ominously,
"WHAT. DID. YOU. JUST. SAY. KAKA?" He asked dangerously, emphasizing each and every word. "Are you saying, ke Mallika koi toy hai, ya koi tissue paper hai jisko mien use kerun aur phenk dun ga?"
Tears had started rolling down Mallika's cheeks, and Tupur, Sampoorna, and Bondita quickly went to sit beside her to console her. Shashwati too seated herself on Mallika’s lap and hugged her new Boudi.
Batuk watched this and his face hardened into granite as he bitingly said,
"Kaka, aap ki yeh baat itni giri hui thy ke mien believe nahi ker sakta ki aik AALA nasal ke, AALA khandan ke, jiski TARBIYAT bhi itni aala hui ho, woh yeh ghatiya baat kere ga… Woh bhi aik ladki ke liye!!"
Thakuma, who was also super pissed off at Kaka for his nonsensical remarks, felt happy to hear Batuk defending his love.
When Kaka tried to open his mouth to say something, Batuk shook his head, refraining from saying anything as he dangerously said, "Kaka, aur kuch mat kahiye, please. I respected you so much. Itna sab kuch hua… Aap ne mujhe bhi apne motives ke liye use kiya. Miene sab seh lia. Lekin aaj baat mere pyar ki hai. Meri Mallika ki hai. Pehle aap uske character assassination kerte rahay. Aur abh aap mien itni audacity hai ki aap mujhe yeh suggest ker rhe hain ki mien… ki mien Mallika ko use kerun aur phir chhod dun?"
His voice shook with anger as he said,
"Aap ke so called standards ke hisab se, chhote kapde pehen’na, pyaar mein padna, shaadi se pehle aise sambandh banana, yeh sab aapko ashleel banata hai. Mager Kaka, ager Mallika mere sath chipakti thy, tou mien bhi tou usko apne sath chipkata tha. Woh chhote kapde pehenti thy aur mien usko unn kapdon mien dekhna pasand kerta tha. Kyunki mujhe aise kapde pasand hain. Agar Mallika mujhe apne paas bulati thy, tou mien uske paas jaata tha. Tou apki theory ke hisab se tou mien bhi characterless hua na! Woh kia kaha tha aap ne…cha…charit…charitra.. haan charitra… tou mera charitra tou phir Mallika se ziada kharab hua na! In fact mera charitra tou aur bhi kharaab kehelana chahiye, kyunki Mallika tou sirf mere sath sincere thy hamesha se. Mien hi besharmon ki terha bhatakta rehta tha. Multiple partners mere thay, uske nahi. Lekin mujhe sab chhoot hai. Mere liye free pass hai. Kyun kaka? Kyunki mien itne AALA khandan ka hun? Zamindaar hun? Mard hun?"
His voice had raised a few notches higher by the end of his caustic tirade.
And that was what stunned Kaka the most.
He had put Batuk through so much, but he had never, like never really raised his voice while speaking to him.
But today… it seemed that Kaka had finally managed to snap his patience.
And all of this was happening because of that girl!
Feeling his blood boil all over again, he accusingly pointed toward Mallika and yelled,
"Yeh dekho… Iss ladki ki wajeh se aaj tum apne Kaka se oonchi awaz mein baat ker rhe ho. Ulta jawab de rhe ho humien!! Yeh sab isi ladki ki kaaran hai."
But this time, before Batuk could say anything, another voice thundered,
"Bass ker dien Da! Buht hua abh!!" Taking off his glasses angrily, Binoy got up from his seat and said,
"Batuk aap se oonchi awaz mein iss liye baat ker rha hai kyunki AAP ne usko uksaya hai. Shuruat aap ne ki, Da. Dikh nahi raha aapko Da? Ya aap apne ahem mein dekh hi nahi paa rahay ki aap ne kitni ghalat baatien ki hain uss se. Woh bhi uss ladki ke baray mein jis se woh pyaar kerta hai?"
Shaking his head, and putting back his glasses atop his nose, he looked disappointedly at his brother and said, "Da… Abh bhi waqt hai. Aap baar baar aisi harkatein ker chuke hain jis se inn sab bacchon ki nazar mien aap ki izzat kamm ho chuki hai. Mujhe yeh achha nahi lagta. Mien aisa nahi chahta ki yaha chhote baday ka lihaaz khatam ho. Lekin mien yeh bhi nahi chahta ki mere Da ghalation per ghalatiyan kerte rahien."
Binoy's voice was now very low and had a sad, sympathetic tone to it as he looked at his brother and said, "Da, aap ghalat hain aaj. Aur mien Batuk ke sath sehmat hun. Mallika ke kapdon se uske charitra tolne ka kisi ko haq nahi hai. Mallika humare Batuk se kitna pyar kerty hai, yeh hum jantay hain. Aur khud Batuk ki zindagy mien jo yeh itne toofanon se guzarne ke baad thehrav aaya hai, uss mien Mallika ka buht bada haath hai. Yeh dono har lihaz se aik doosre ke liye sahi hain. Aur aaj, Batuk ka baba hone ki hesiyat se, MIEN yeh faisla ker chuka hun ki yeh shadi zarur hogy."
Sighing, he went near his brother, and laying his hand on his shoulder, he said quietly,
"Aap ko aap ke pakshapaat se nikalna hoga, Da. Isi mien aap ki khushi aur sukh chhupay hain. Abh aap bada pann dikhayein aur Mallika aur Batuk ko ashirwaad dein."
Kaka thudded on the sofa heavily. He was defeated by none other than his own brother. The brother who had NEVER gone against him…
The brother who had always let him make the decisions related to family matters…
The brother who had always respected him so much.
That brother had today taken the matter into his hands!
Trilochan really had nothing else to say now!
Thakuma was surprised to hear such sensible things from Binoy as she gleefully thought,
Yeh Binoy Zameendar Babu itne aqalmand hamesha se tou nahi honge? Yaqeenan humari dawaon se hi inki soch badli hai!
Biting back her laughter at such an arrogant-silly thought, she went to Mallika.
Batuk had left the fight and was now crouching in front of his Mallika, holding her hands and consoling her.
He raised his tear-brightened eyes when Thakuma laid her hand on his head and said,
"Utho bacchon… Ronay dhonay ka waqt khatam hogya. Chalo, pehle apne Kaka aur Baba ka ashirwaad le lou, aur phir jaa ker Durga Ma se bhi ashirwaad le lena."
Patting her back, Sampoorna urged Mallika to stand up. Shashwati kissed her new Boudi's cheek sweetly and hopped off her lap. She then kissed her brother's cheek too and whispered,
"Sab se pehle mera ashirwaad le lien. Phir miene homework kerne chalay jana hai tou itna important kaam reh jayega!"
Stifling the sudden laughter that bubbled within him on hearing such an outrageously funny remark, he kissed her cheek back and whispered,
"Of course! Shashu madam ne ashirwaad nahi dia tou bhala meri shadi hoskty hai kia?"
After his fun banter with his sister, as Mallika stood up, Batuk also rose from his position.
Although Shashwati had effectively made his mood a lot better than before, he was still a little uncertain.
Taking Mallika's hand in his, they first bent in front of Thakuma who heartily blessed them.
And then, looking at each other, gulping nervously, they went towards Kaka and bent in front of him.
Kaka was so lost in his defeat that he didn't even register what was happening until Binoy gently took his hand and laid it on Mallika's and Batuk's heads while saying,
"Yeh lou, mein aur Da aik hi tou hain. Hum dono ki taraf se ashirwaad hai tum loagon ke liye. Hamesha khush raho."
Feeling more uncertain than being reassured, Batuk took Mallika's hand and they went towards Anirudh and Bondita.
Batuk was about to bend in front of Anirudh when he stopped him. And instead, crushed him into a bear hug as he whispered in his ear while swallowing his laughter at Batuk and Mallika's confused expressions,
"Yaqeen ker lou, Ullu. Humare Baba ne kaka ko complete check-mate ker dia hai!"
A smile appeared on Batuk's lips. First his sister, and now his brother were trying to make him happy. Acknowledging their efforts, he whispered back to Anirudh,
"Yaqeen nahi ho raha Big D. Ager Baba hamesha se hi aise hote tou Kaka kabhi ulti harkatein na ker patay."
And then, looking at each other, they both whispered unanimously,
"Tapur and Thakuma Zindabad!"
Kaka jumped up from his haze when the hall roared with the most ludicrous guffaws.
He was in so much sadma that he couldn't even react when he saw Kalindi jee also bursting into gleeful laughter.
The sudden change in the atmosphere amazed everyone else. But watching three people laughing heartily brought smiles to everybody's lips.
Except for Kaka, of course!
___________________________________________________________________________
A/N2: We hope you enjoyed the chapter! We also wanted to let you guys know that the next chapter will be the Epilogue, and hence the last update for SIR.
Yes, SIR is soon coming to an end. We started this story as a cathartic process to tie up all the loose ends left in the show. We were working with a list of loose ends and now believe that we have done our best to tie them. The last few little details will be wrapped up in the Epilogue. We hope we did justice to the show and the love you have shown us!
Lots of Love
Ashley and Ayesha
Anupamaa
