Hi again! So, I got this idea while I was on my morning walk. This is after the episode on 17.8.2018, yesterday. I loved the scene between Shivam and Ritwik, I think that set the light tone that yesterday's episode finally brought. So, this is inspired by that scene and is set in the flight scene shown in the precap.
OS An Entertaining Flight Journey
They were on their way to Mumbai, to find Sethu. The seating arrangements would have been perfectly suitable had the atmosphere been slightly less awkward. Ritwik and Palak sat together, while Ananya and Rohit sat on the other side. It was perfect, nearly. Ritwik and Palak were supposed to be the new couple on town, but whom are we kidding? Ritwik and Palak tried making some small talk about the entire happening, but Ananya had glared at them, and they felt guilty and dropped it.
Presently, the flight was getting delayed due to some technical issues, and they had time to kill. Ritwik got a call from Shivam, who had been anxiously trying to reach him, "Bhai, I forgot to give you the shopping list. Both Shanaya and I have mailed it to you. Don't forget anything. And we'll..."
Ritwik cut him off, "Listen, I don't have time for shopping and stuff. I have enough on my plate as it is. Stop irritating me."
Palak could hear Shivam's voice at the other end of the line, "I should have called Palak Bhabhi instead, she would have agreed easily."
Despite herself, a half smile formed on her face when Shivam said that, just as Ritwik turned to her before replying, "Shut up. I'll whack you nicely when I am back."
He was going to cut the call, when Palak snatched the phone from him, much to his shock.
"Shivam, hi. Palak here. Don't you worry, your brother would do all the shopping you have asked him to." She said, confidently.
Ritwik threw his hands up in the air, shaking his head, "No goddamn way am I going shopping again. Ask him how much time I spent shopping in London for them!"
Palak shushed him with her eyes, and continued haughtily, "Ignore karo apne Bhai ko. Main shopping karwa lungi Bhai se."
Shivam was ecstatic but still unsure, "Bhabhi, I mean, Honewali Bhabhi, are you sure you'd be able to do it? I mean, Bhai usually doesn't listen to anyone and Mom definitely won't convince him to go shopping."
"Of course, I am." She said with a confident smirk on her face, daring Ritwik to disobey her, who was still denying vehemently.
Taking advantage of the situation," Shivam decided to take a risk, "I have another shopping list actually. But I was afraid to send it to Bhai..."
"You mail all your shopping lists to Bhai, I'll take it from there. I'll make sure he does all the shopping and doesn't miss out on anything. Don't get boggled by his threats. And next time, he threatens to hit you or something, give me a call."
"Excuse me! Am I some abusive brother that he needs to be saved from me?", Ritwik was left speechless.
"Shut up, let me talk.", Palak quietened him, while Shivam who had heard the entire altercation couldn't stop laughing.
He was mighty pleased that he'd found an ally, someone who could easily handle his brother and get him what he wanted.
"By the way, Shivam, when are your exams? Don't you have Prelims or something?" Palak continued in the same jovial tone.
Ritwik snapped his fingers at that, and said, "Finally. Please ask him if he's studying. He's failing this year for sure, and no way, are we getting him admission anywhere. Mind you, if you fail this year, you'll be made to wash utensils at home." He said loudly for Shivam to hear when Palak groaned, "Why do you do this? Wait."
"Bhabhi! Look at how demotivating he is!"
"You ignore him, when are your exams?"
"In a month's time."
"Oh, that's brilliant. So, let's have a deal."
"Okayyy. What deal?"
Palak covered the phone with her hands and asked Ritwik, "How much do you want him to score? Be realistic and give me an approximation."
"Forget scoring, he is failing. I am telling you. He's a lost cause."
"Oh my God, what is wrong with you!" Palak hissed crossly.
"Anything between 80 and 85. I know his limitations and how much he's prepared." Ritwik said helplessly after giving it a thought.
Palak continued talking to Shivam, "So the deal goes like this. You score anything between 80 and 85 in the exams next month, and you get all of the goodies you have ordered for. Right now, you get half of what you want. However, mind you, if you fail to put in efforts, then everything would be sent back until an unforeseeable future. If you do achieve the target though, Bhai would get you something better. Like a surprise! What say?"
She was cool and calm, while Ritwik flipped, "I am not getting him a single thing."
Palak eyed him cockily that made him want to kiss her.
"But what if Bhai doesn't agree?"
"He would, don't fret. I am giving it to him now, he'll tell you what he is going to do."
She covered the phone again and issued Ritwik a warning, "You must tell him you would do as he wants if he studies well, and get all the shopping done. And, don't forget the surprise."
Ritwik tried protesting but he got such a scary look from Palak, that he decided to give up. He reluctantly took his phone from her and unwillingly committed to Shivam, "Yeah, you'll get everything. Now you better study and do something productive. If you don't, you know what I am going to..." He stopped as he glanced at Palak, and murmured a hasty goodbye.
Before he could question her, she clarified, "Tumhara kaam ho jaana hai." She was referring to the motivation she'd just given Shivam and Shanaya, too, to work hard and Ritwik too figured it out. He just nodded, thoroughly convinced that there couldn't have been one other soul to have done what Palak just did, accede to her wishes. And, he had no qualms in doing so.
This moment was so poignant that it would have been impossible for anyone to reject Palak, let alone his family. This was the exact same bond that Ritwik's parents shared with each other, Palak was the Mamta to Ritwik's Vijaypath Noon; calm, assured, firm, resolute, understanding, loving, considerate.
Ananya and Rohit sat watching the entire altercation; they didn't like it one bit, but even they couldn't deny the easy-going camaraderie that these two shared. It wasn't something that had developed as a result of conscious effort. It was a thing between them, that had had them at loggerheads in the beginning and then made them into the best of friends and then into something more.
"Have you like forgotten why we are going to Mumbai in the first place? It isn't a shopping spree." Ritwik sobered looking at Ananya and Rohit.
Palak chirped, "Nope. Not at all. But, I am confident that we'll find Sethu, confident that you will find her for Rohit. I am concerned but unworried."
Her tactless confidence in him, swelled his being with pride, that a man usually carries with him knowing that his wife, cherished him the most. As he kept pondering about various things, he realized Palak had fallen asleep from exhaustion. He shifted slightly in his seat, so she could lean on his shoulder, which she did involuntarily. It was a thing, he decided, that both of them could feel the other's presence.
Wait, what was wrong with him? Why was he getting so emo about all of this? This was so unlike him. Love is messed up, he decided sleepily, made people emo and melodramatic. That was his last coherent thought, before he too fell asleep, his hand holding Palak's, an unsaid assurance being communicated between them.
They woke up after half an hour or so, sleep is the first thing that gets messed up while traveling.
"Did I sleep too long?" Palak probed, her voice ridden with sleep.
"I wouldn't know, I woke up like thirty seconds ago", Ritwik replied, equally drowsy.
They untangled themselves from each other, trying to see if their co-travelers were angry. Ananya and Rohit were consciously and pointedly ignoring them. Deciding to focus their attention on something else, they shrugged.
"Coffee?" "Coffee?"
They uttered the same thing at the same time, laughing mildly.
"I think we are becoming twins," Palak said carelessly, pressing the buzzer for the air hostess.
"Twins? Seriously? Please do not gross me out further. We still haven't reached a Game of Thrones age." Ritwik said, clearly and visibly disgusted.
"Oh, shut up," Palak said, hopelessly.
Just then the air hostess appeared, "Two coffees. One with one sugar cube, and the other with two. Add more milk to the second one."
"Not bad", Ritwik commented as the air hostess disappeared.
Palak didn't even bother giving a proper reply to that.
And just like that, things were fine between them. Knowing someone's coffee preference didn't qualify as a record-breaking task, but here, it was a further validation that none could have been a better choice for Ritwik. After all, he had to be given credit for being and choosing the best for himself.
As they sipped their coffees, Ritwik got back to the topic at hand, "I am not shopping alone. I am making it very clear right here."
"Who asked you to? I can't trust you."
They reclined back in their chairs, closing their eyes, regaining some of their strengths.
The End
So, this was shorter than the others, but I think of whatever I have written till now, I liked this the most. It gives me husband-wife feels.š I wanted to add a scene where Shivam mentions how Palak handles Ritwik to his parents, but well, I didn't add it.š
Also, I need to write something on Homemaker Ritwik Noon, I will get to that soon enough. Till then!
Find my other stories here -
OS: An Interview with Rajeev Masand
OS - The Aftermath of the Storm
Naj
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Anupamaa
