PART 3
Rahul and Muskaan sat on the same sofa for almost 2 hours. They were not allowed to even move. Muskaan almost fell dizy out of hunger. Everybody was in a great mood to chat, not bothering about anything else. During the talks when anybody teased them , they didn't show any reaction. Just a pleasant smile. It was Rahul's touch that made her feel intoxicated. Rahul almost ignored her. Even she did the same.
They didnt want to start fighting in front of everybody. Later on Muskaan started talking to her friends and Rahul with his. The girls mostly talked about Muskaan's beautiful jewellery and her dress and her marriage shopping. While there was a dare game going on between Rahul's friends and relatives. Except Armaan none of his other friends knew in what circumstances did this engagement take place. They all thought it was love , coz they had been together for almost ever.
"To bol hamare samne usse 'I love you' bol ke kiss karega ke nahin?" said one of his friends.
"Stop it guys..Tumne dance bola..woh maine kiya..ab what non-sense is all this..aur yahan pe itne saare log hai.." Rahul replied.
"Haan..aaj ke liye itna hi..baki baad main..pareshan mat karo bechare ko." Armaan said.
"Hmmm.." Was the only reply from his friends.
Then Rahul and Muskaan were shifted to another room after the dinner. The ceremony was almost over , but their friends didn't let them go. All were sitting in a group of almost 15 and talking.
"Okay..ab hum yahan pe akele hai..sirf friends..ab to humare liye cmon..be a man?" said his friend.
"Tum log kabhi nahin sudroge..but no thanks..main jabhi chahun usse kiss kar sakta hun..par mujhe ye kisi ko prove karne ki zaroorat nahin hai." He said with a smile.
Just then one of Rahul's friend came with a bottle of wine. All the guys poured in to glasses and spread it around. It was mainly among boys. A glass was passed to Rahul.
"Rahul..tu sharab peeta hai??" Muskaan asked him.
"Not daily but occassionaly."
"Chup-chap glass neche rakh..mere friends ke samne piyage to woh log kya sochenge?"
"Big deal?! Its my wish."
"Rahul..please..ab tum mere liye itna bhi nahin kar sakta?" She said sadly.
"Okay fine." He said firmly. He kept the glass on the table. "Happy."
"Arre guys..check this out. Muskaan bhabhji ne ek baar kaha aur hamare Rahul ne glass neeche rakh de. Abhi se ghulami chalu kar di isne." All laughed at this statement.
Rahul ignored it , but to his suprise Muskaan spoke. "Bhaiya..maine to suna hi ke roz subah ka chai aur nastha bhabi ke liye aap banate hai? Kya ye sach hai?"
He became red with embarassment. While the others again laughed.
"Arre Amit..maine to tumhare bare main bhi kuch suna hai..Kya Priya har din tumhare calls aur messages check karte hai? Aur phir uss din..jab tumhara jhagda huya tha..tab tum uske pairon me
gir gaye...aur usne to tumhe laat bhi mari thi...!!!" Everyone almost rolled with laughter.
Rahul was laughing too and hi-fying his friends. He came close to Muskaan and caught her hand & whispered.." Your awsome!! I love you!!"
Muskaan looked at him dizzly..what had he just said..and he was holding her hand?
"Oops..I..I..didnt mean that." Rahul tried to hide his words.
"Its okay, I understand." She gave half-a-smile.
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Mean-while Sonia and Atul were on the terrace talking. They stood close next to the pillar looking down at the streets and the dimming lights. It was past mid-night and almost everybody
would be fast asleep. Perfect time for them to meet personally.
"Tum kal jaa rahi ho? Phir pata nahin hum kab milenege?" Atul said sadly.
"Aww..Atul aise mat bolo..please.." She replied sweetly. "Main aayungi..tumhe bombay me milne..pakka.."
He smiled . "Theeke. Aur phir main tumhe phone bhi to karunga.."
"Haan..woh to hai..waise tumhara kaam kaisa chal raha hai ab? All okay?"
"Haan..pretty much..aur ..tumhara Mumbai transfer ka kya hua?"
"Im still trying..waise mujhe Muskaan ke bare main kuch baat karni thi.."
"Ab usne kya kiiya??"
"Usne kuch nahin kiya..just that shes very disturbed about all this Rahul thing..aaj usne Muskaan ka haath pakad liya and all.."
"Haath hi to pakda hai..and I know Rahul...woh bahut acha ladka hai."
"I understand..par phir bhi..you know..mujhe kuch ajeeb lag raha hai."
"Kuch bhi ajeeb nahin hai. Main uska bhai hun , uska bura thodi jo chunga."
"Haan..par Atul you know she doesnt like him..aur usse love marriage ka kitna bhoot savar hai."
"Arre..abhi uski shaadi kara denge..jab ek saal bad love hoga..tab phirse shaadi karva lenge..huye na love marriage?"
Sonia started giggling amongst sadness. "You are hopeless Atul. Thats why I love you." She whispered.
"I love you too Sonia."
"Okay..ab main chalti hun..kal milte hai..kaafi raat bhi ho gaye hai.."
They wished each other good-night and went to their respective rooms seperatley not trying to get caught.
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Almost an hour later Radhika and Sonia slept off. But Muskaan still lay on the bed admiring her diamond ring which she never noticed before. She didnt bother what Rahul slid in her finger.
She just wanted it to get over. But now when she glanced at him..She loved it..It was so beautiful..She kept thinking about him for a few mins..She took her phone and slowly dialed his number..Not knowing why
though..It was not her who dialed the number , but somebody inside her. She knew it was an excuse. She badly wanted to talk to him..the reason unknown. She promised herself that she would cut the call after three rings. She carefully press the dial button , ready to cut..but he picked it up in the second ring itself. She felt scared.
"Hello..Muskaan..hey wassup?"
"Hi Rahul..kya kar rahe tum? I hope maine disturb nahin kiya tumhe.."
"No..I was just changing..bolo.."
Its as if she was imagaining him shirtless she started trembling. "Acha theeke main baad main phone karti hun."
"Muskaan..tum to aise bol rahe ho..jaise mere peeche khadi ho..bolo aaj tumne kaise phone kiya.?" With this he plopped on the bed.
"Woh..maine thanks bolne ke liye phone kiya..umm..mujhe ring bahut hi achi lagi hai..thanks."
"Bahut hi jaldi realise kar diya tumne..ur welcome.."
"Acha theek hai..main rakhti hun.." She tried to hide her shiver on the phone.
"Ruko na..itni jaldi bhi kya hai..tumne pehle baar phone kiya hai..aise kaise chod dunga.."
"Tum thak gaye ho..aur phir subah uthna bhi to hai..isliye maine kaha.."
"No..that's okay..we are officially engaged..ab hum late night talks kar sakte hai.."
"Maine aise kab kaha..??"
"Tumne kaha nahin..par main samajh gaya.."
"Whatever!"
"Waise..tumhe idea hai ki jo couples ki engagement ho jaati hai..woh log puri raat kya baatien karte honge?"
"Mujhe kaise paata..meri to aaj hi engagement huye hai.."
"Mere bhi aaj hi huye hai..100 saal pehle nahin..idiot"
She made a face. " Jinki love marriage hote hai woh romance karte hai..aur jinki arranged wo romance karne ki koshish karte hai."
"Hum to dono hi nahin kar sakte..right?"
"Umm..right.."
"I think woh log apne future ki baatien karte honge..you know house ke interiors..room's ka decoration..children..and.."
It was as if Muskaan's head bulb lit. "Pata jab main chote thi na..tab main sabko kehte rehte thi..ke mere shaadi ke baad mere 5 bacche honge!!..I love kids!!" She said excitedley. But hearing Rahul's reaction ,
she wished she hadnt said that.
He started laughing. "Muskaan 5 bacche..apne aap ko sambhal to sakte nahin..5 ko kya sambaholge."
"Tu na chup ki kar..zyada bol mat..mujhe acha lagta hai..tujhe kya problem hai.."
"Waise jinke sach main 5 bacche hote honge..unki night life amazing rahe huye hogi.." He said laughing.
"Matlab? Main samjhi nahin."
He started laughing even more. "Muskaan tumhara mind ekdum do saal ke bacche ka hai."
She sneered. "Tu kya bol raha hai? Dhang se bol main samjhe nahin.."
"You want me to explain that?" He said rolling with laughter. "I meant night life.." He said it again slowly.
After 10 seconds she realised. "Rahul..tujhme na bilkul sharam nahin hai..gadha..kitni gandi baatien karta hai..Shiiii..agar tu mere paas hota..to main tujhe ek chanta marti."
"Okay..lets cut that topic."
"Hmph!"
"Okay..I said sorry na..ab relax kar."
"Hmm..tu na mujhe bada pareshan karta hai."
"Maine kya kiya?"
"Kuch nahin..acha theke 5 nahin to mujhe 4 baacha to chiaye hi hai..samjha tu!"
"Nahin Muskaan...2 bas hai.."
"Dekh main tere liye 5 se 4 pe aaye na..?"
"Kya ye koi bargain offer hai? 2 pe 2 free?"
"Aisa hi samajh lo."
"Tum to bolti hi jao..shaadi ke baad jo main bolunga wohi karna padega.."
"Main tumhari ghulam nahin banene waali..jaan le tu.."
"Woh to hum shaadi ke baad hi dekhenge..mere bina waise bhi baaki 2 bacche hone nahin waale.."
"Haiyyo Rabba..tune phir apne gande se baatine shuru kardi.."
He smiled and then changed the topic. "Waise tum internship ke bad kya karne waali ho?"
"Hmm. main na..Pediatrics main jaane ki soch rahe hun..waise surgery ke waqt mujhe chakkar aa jaata hai..aur mujhe dar bhi bahut lagta hai."
"Dar kaise lag sakta hai..A doctor isn't scared of anything...they are dependent upon the lives of all."
"Oyye..zyada philosophy mat jhad! Main kya karun agar mujhe dar lagta hai?"
"Ya..tum to bechari doodh ki dhuli ho..tume to koi fault nahin hai..only others are wrong."
"Agar tera ye mazak khatam hogaya..to main phone rakhti hun."
"Okay..Im again sorry.."
"Waise tu aaj apne doston ke saath kya khusur-phusur kar raha tha?"
"Oh..that? Nothing..they wanted me to kiss you." He said casually.
Muskaan was drinking water and she almost spit it out. "Kya? Rahul tere dost bilkul tere tarah kamine hai."
"Main kya karun? By the way kya maine kiss kiya? To zyada bol mat."
"Hmmm..."
"Waise thanks..aaj jo tumne un sabka muh band karwa diya. Was not expecting it!"
"Tum sab ladke ek jaise hote ho..Khud paane main hote ho..aur dusro ko dubte dekh haste ho. Aur waise bhi ye maine tumhare liye nahin kiya."
"To phir kiske liye kiya?"
"Tum se matlab? Aur woh jo dance tha? Woh bhi tumhare doston ne bola tha?"
"Ya..wohi dance jisme tum mujhme kho gaye thi.." He said jokingly.
"Main kuch soch rahe thi..."
"Kya..?"
"Bas...kuch khaas nahin..maine to kuch realise hi nahin kiya.."
"Oh..waise howz Atul and Sonia?"
"Haan..they are good..Sonia aur Radhika yahin hai..mere kamre main.."
"What? Tum unke samne baat kar rahe ho?"
"Nahin main balcony main hun..buddhu..main unke samne kyun baat karunge?"
"Okay..I thought so.."
"Aur waise bhi woh dono so rahe hai."
"Okay..tumhe nenend nahin aa rahi hai?"
"Nahin..aur tumhe?"
"No..Is liye to tumse baat kar raha hun.."
There was silence for a few seconds. They didn't know what more to talk.
"To tumne kaunse new movie dekhi?"
Muskaan got excited again. "Shahrukh ki RNBDJ..kitni soni picture thi.."
"I always wonder how can you like ShahRukh?"
"Kyun woh itna cute to hai.."
"I hate him..I like Katrina Kaif though.."
"Woh pata nahin yahan kya kar rahi hai? Angrez hai puri.."
"Usse kya farak padta hai?"
"Farak padta hai."
"Nahin padta.."
"Padta hai."
"Acha ab bus karo Muskaan."
"Tumne chalu kiya tha."
"Dekho ab hamare logon ki pasand bhi ek nahin hai."
"Hum bilkul opposites hai."
"As they say..opposites attract.." He said cunningly.
"Tumse aur attraction..never.."
"Im sure..ke tumhe mujhse pyaar ho jayega.."
"Nahin hoga.."
"Dekh lenege.."
"Acha..ab main rakhti hun..mujhe subah Sonia aur Radhika ko drop karna hai."
"Okay..Mujhe bhi Armaan ko drop karna hai..bye."
"Bye."
Muskaan cuts the call and goes back to bed. She sees that Sonia has moved to her side leaving space only in the centre. She hated sleeping in the centre. But she had no choice. She didnt want to wake them up. She lied down and shut her eyes.
"Radhika...tujhe pata hai..ke Muskaan ne Rahul se abhi hi keh diya hai ke usse 5 bacche chaiye.." Sonia said still lying down. Radhika started laughing.
Muskaan was in shock. Both of them were awake. And they listened to her talk! Uggh! She was angry now.
"Tum dono ne meri batien suni?" She sprang from the bed facing them.
"Sari..nahin..bas ye 5 bachon waali.." Radhika said teasingly..
"Hayee..Rahul aur Muskaan ke 5 bacche..how sweet..." Sonia said.
"Good she warned him now itself. " Radhika said with a wink.
Sonia started laughing..Muskaan was fuming with anger..She took a pillow and wacked Sonia with it..
"Muskaan!!" She also took a pillow and started hitting Muskaan..Radhika also did the same..they kept muttering...
"Muskaan is in love!!!" But Muskaan didn't know why..but she found herself blushing..
Sonia and Radhika tore the pillows..the feathers coming out..they made Muskaan sit in the centre..and they kept putting the feathers on her..It was as if raining feathers..raining of a little love , that had developed with
a small phone conversation..they jumped on the bed..and teased Muskaan to the core..Muskaan didnt feel like fighting anymore..she sat there silently smiling..and realising the feeling which her friends were telling
her about..She had no choice..rather than living a dreary life..she could like Rahul..he was the one who called her..and was sweet..ready to adjust..then why was she acting smart?
But then she spoke. "Guys..you know after this conversation..well..I wouldn't mind marrying him..but he should change for me.." She said proudly..
"Ohh..howw??" Both of them said excitedly.
The music played..Of No Life Without Wife..[Bride and Prejeduce.]
Muskaan went totally in her dreamland..It was as if..she was ordering someone for her. She told them all her dreams and desires..
I just want a man with a real soul(She stood up closing her eyes..and dreaming)
Who wants equality and not control(She opened her eyes and smiled.)
I just want a man good and smart..(She adjusted her clothes and hair to show them.)
A really sharp mind and a very big heart..(She pointed towards her fore-head and opened her arms wide..)
I just want a man not scared to weep..(She put her arms around Radhika..and pretended to cry..)
To hold me close when we're asleep ..( She hugged her pillow tight and fell on the bed..closing her eyes.)
Ohhh yeahâŠ.(Sonia and Radhika said..)
I just want a man who loves romance..( She jumped up from the bed and gave each of them a flower from the vase and threw some pillow feathers on them)
Who'll clear the floor and ask me to dance..(She pulled Sonia and started to dance)
I just want man whose spirit is free..(She put her hands up and then tugging her pillow)
To hold my hand, walk the world with me..( She caught both their hands..and started walking swiftly..as if on the moon..)
No life
Without Wife
Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
No life
Without Wife
Oh yeah yeah yeah
Oh yeah yeah yeah
They started imagining a guitar in their hands..and started dancing..going mad..jumping around..hugging each other..and totally enjoying..they jumped on the bed and played with the feathers again and finally lying
down on the bed...
After a few minutes of tiredness they spoke.
"Sonia..Radhika..will he change for me?"
"Ofcourse..he will..dont worry.." Sonia said hugging her..
"Ya..shes right..dont worry.." Radhika said hugging both of them.
It was as if Muskaan went into dreamland..She slept..
Sonia and Radhika checked..and spoke in whispers..
"Sonia..Muskaan usse itni nafrat karti thi..phir achanak.."
"Im wondering the same..Rahul ne aise kya kaha..ke Muskaan ne usse haan keh diya..?"
"I dunno..but she wants him to change..She was so happy.."
"Even im happy for her..leave it.."
"Haha..I know..Muskaan's weird..her mind changed every second.."
" I know..Good night for now..Hume subah uthna hai.."
"Good night."
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