The story so far
Dev was having the same expression that Radhika had seen a couple of times earlier. She gave a confused look to him, in response to which Dev smiled and changed his expressions. He again was the confident Dev whom Radhika recognized.
Dev ordered coffee and took his sweet time to finish it. Radhika ordered nimbu pani.
She looked at her watch. It was 7:30. She said 'Dev hume chalna chahiye!!!'
Dev nodded, paid the bill and they left.
Part 8
Vishakha had still not come from her visit to her friend. She had called saying she would be late and not to wait for her for dinner. Dadima had gone for a kirtan at a nearby mandir.
Dev and was having dinner with Mrinalini and Radhika. Mrinalini had seen Dev and Radhika walk in late so she decided to bring up the topic of marriage.
M: 'Beta Dev, ab to tuumne apni padhai khatm kar ke business bhi join kar liya hai!! Ab age ke bare main kay socha hai tumne? '
D: 'Age ke bare main?'
M: 'Haan!!! Shaadi ke bare main?'
Dev looked at Radhika and then at his mother. Radhika was observing the mother-son conversation. She was contemplating whether to leave from there or not.
M: 'Haan, Dev!!! Its high time that you get married now!! '
D: 'Why bring up this topic now ma?'
M: 'Then when should I bring this topic Dev?'
Radhika decided to leave, so she got up.
M: 'Kyoun Radhika? Tumhe kya lagta hai?' Mrinalini purposely asked Radhika.
R: 'Ji Madam, main kya kahon. Muzhe agya deejiye.'
Dev looked at Radhika and said 'Nahi tum baith jaao!!'
M: 'Han Han Radhika tum baith jao, kahdi kyoun ho.'
R: 'Madam, muzhe nahi lagta ki muzhe yaha rukna chahiye!!'
M: 'Nahi tumhe yahaa jaroor rukna chahiye'
D: 'Baith jao Radhika!!!!', it was almost an order.
Radhika complied reluctantly and concentrated at her plate.
M: 'To Dev!! Batao tumhe Vishakha kaise lagti hai?'
Dev was surprised that Mrinalini would ask that question.
D: 'Kya matlab ma, ladki jaise lagti hai aur kya?'
M: 'Dev!! You very well know what I mean.' Mrinalini was actually yelling at Dev now.
D: 'No ma, I don't know what you mean'
M : 'OK Dev!!! If you want me to spell it ot then so be it.'
M: 'I want you to marry Vishakha and make her the Choti Bahu of Purohit khandaan'
D: (now laughing) 'You must be joking ma'
M: (angry) 'No Dev!! I am serious.'
D: (his expression were very serious now and he was almost turning red with rage)'Ma then I must tell you that, NO !! I won't marry Vishakha!!!'
Radhika looked at Dev with surprise. She WANTED Dev to marry her sister.
M: 'WHAT?!!! Why? Kya kharabi hai Vishakha main?'
D: 'Kuch nahi, maine kabhi bhi Vishakha ki oor us tarah se nahi dekha'
M: 'Toh ab dekhna shuru karo, Dev. Kyoun ki ab voh hi is ghar ki choti bahu banegi'
Radhika was very uncomfortable with this yelling, so she was about to get up when Dev said, 'Tum baith jao Radhika.' Radhika sat down with a fright.
D: 'Main apni pasand ki ladki se shaadi karoonga ma, aur Vishakha meri pasand nahi hai'
Suddenly evey body saw Vishakha standing at the door and in tears. She looked at every body and ran towards her room, with Mrinalini and Radhika in tow.
Dev sat transfixed in his chair deep in thought.
M: 'Vishakha beta!! Darwaaja kholo!!'
R: 'Vishakha!! Darwaja kholo, bhagwaan ke liye darwaja kholo.'
Dev came there and saw both his mother and Radhika in tears and persuading Vishakha to open the door.
M: 'Dev, she is not opening the door !!!!'
Dev broke open the door to find Vishakha unconscious with a bottle of sleeping pills in her hand.
Every body was shocked.
They rushed Vishakha to the hospital and the doctors were attending to her.
M: 'Main ja kar dadima ko khabar kar ke aati hoon' and left Radhika and Dev there.
Radhika was crying at the thought of loosing her sister.
Dev came near her to comfort her.
D: 'Radhika!! Fikra mat karo, Vishakha theek ho jayegi, kuch nahi hoga use'
Radhika was angry at Dev.
R: 'Kyoun Dev, aapki vajah se meri behen ki yeh haalat hai.'
D: 'Kya?'
R: 'Kya kharabi hai uskme Dev, ki aap use thukra rahe hai?'
D: 'Radhika!!!'
R: 'Aap jante hai? Thukraae jaane ka dard kaisa hota ha?'
D: 'Radhika!! Meri baat tho suno'
R: 'Kuch nahi sunana hai muzhe. Thukraae jane ka dard muzh se puchiye. Bahut jaan lewa hota hai yeh dard'
D: 'Radhika!! Par jab main Vishakha se pyaar hee nahi karta, tho aur kya keheta? Main nahi janta tha ki Vishakha vaha khadi hai.'
R: 'Agar meri behen ko kuch ho gaya tho main aapko kabhi maaf nahi karoongi, Dev, Kabhi nahi'
Dev looked absolutely shell shocked.
A doctor walked in and said 'Patient ko hosh aa gaya hai, aur vho Dev se milna chachti hai'
Dev looked at Radhika and went to where Vishakha was.
She asked the doctor how Vishakha was, to which the doctor told her that she was out of danger now.
Radhika prayed to her kanha for saving her sister's life and hoped that Vishakha would come home soon. Mrinalini walked in with dadima and asked Radhika about the Vishakha's condition. Both of them were relievd to know that Vishakh was out of danger.
Dev came out with a somber look on his face. When dadima asked about Vishakha's condition Dev told them that she was doing fine and now wished to rest a little.
Suddently Dev looked at verybody and said 'Main aur Vishakha shaadi karma chahate hain'
Every body was shocked. Both Mrinalini and dadima looked at each other.
Radhika was confused and was looking at Dev as if she had seen a ghost.
_____________________________________________________________________