Part 69:
"Pari pari ek pari, aasman se aa giri
Mujhe usse pyar ho gaya...
Haye, mujhe usse pyar ho gaya!"
The Excel College Campus is all ears to Samrat's romantic song which he croons in rather uneven tones, distracted by a blushing Gunjan, walking by his side. In a reflex action, one of his arms go around her waist and the other is about to twirl her around, when she manages to escape by a hairbreath.
Gunjan: (looking around) Samrat? Tum apna dimaag Lonavala me hi chod aaye kya?
Samrat: kya chashmish, itna acha gaata hu main, dance toh banta hai na! (attempting to hold her again)
Gunjan: (brushing him off) bilkul nahi, aur yaha toh hargiz nahi. College hai Samrat.
Samrat: toh kya hua? Mera mann kar raha hai ke chilla chilla kar pure college ko bata du ke (raising his voice) I LOVE YOU..!!
The world around pauses awhile and many hearts audibly stop beating. Benji, having just arrived at the scene, rushes up to Samrat and gives him a tight hug.
Benji: I love you too dude! (smiling at the crowd and nodding) I love you too.
Samrat: (heaving him off) huh?
Benji: (watching the crowd disperse) dude, awaz kam pad rahi hai toh mike leke aayu?
Samrat: kya Benji tu bhi, main toh bas chashmish - (smiles at her even as she glowers)
Benji: Gunjan don't worry. Thoda time aur do, pura train kar dunga. Abhi bhi Samrat breed thodi si wild hai -
Samrat: oh hello? Kya matlab? Main toh bas gaana ga raha tha.
Benji: gana? Kaunsa?
Even as Gunjan gestures to Benji to talk him out of the subject, Samrat is all smiles at having been indirectly asked for an encore. The campus is all musical again.
"Pari pari ek pari'."
The library is still immune from the musical fever and Mayank is busily glancing through shelves, looking for a particular title. He turns when someone taps him on the shoulder. Its CJ, grinning at him with her usual buoyant air.
Mayank: (grinning back) hey CJ. Tumhari cousin ki shaadi kaisi rahi?
CJ: achi thi dude. Jaise shaadiyan hoti hai..pretty boring. Aur tumhari trip?
Mayank: (smiling in recollection) trip toh bahut.. (clearing his throat) I mean achi thi.
CJ: (chuckling) achi toh hogi hi, Nupur jo saath gayi thi.
Mayank: Lonavala ko credit dena padega CJ, wo saath thi phir bhi trip achi rahi.
CJ: (shaking her head) tum kabhi nahi sudhroge na?
Mayank: tum toh intelligent ho CJ, ab socho jiski company me rahunga wo - (noting a change in CJ's expression) kya hua?
"Main batati hu na kya hua, abhi batau ya, akele me?", Nupur says from right behind him, in a clear and articulate voice.
Mayank: (looking at CJ) main toh bas CJ ko yeh keh raha tha ke trip me humne kitna enjoy kiya.
Nupur: oh? Acha?
Mayank: acha kya, uh.. CJ se hi puch lo. Kyun CJ?
CJ: haan Nupur, Mayank tumhari tareef kar raha tha.
Nupur: (smiling) chalo acha hai, subah se shuru hoga toh jaake raat tak itni tareef kar sakta hai jo mere liye kaafi ho. (raising an imaginary collar) Aakhir Nupur Bhushan ban na itna aasan nahi.
Mayank: (softly) aasan? Mumkin hi nahi. Kam se kam normal logo ke liye.
Nupur: kuch kaha?
Mayank: nahi toh.
CJ: guys, Shukla ki class ke liye der ho rahi hai. Chalte hai nahi toh lecture sunne ko milega.
As CJ walks a bit ahead, Nupur and Mayank look at each other and burst out laughing till the librarian gives them a piece of her mind.
It's a big day for Chinu. The canteen has been renovated in the vacations and much to the delight of people like Uday, lots of new food has also been included in the menu. He is busy rushing about, taking orders and currently preparing iced tea for Dia and her gang.
Annie: (observing her nails) vacations kitni jaldi khatam ho gayi na babes?
Chacko: (giggling) toh kya pure saal chalti Annie? (to Uday) de taali!
Uday is busy with a hamburger and unsure about how to proceed with a highfive.
Uday: kaise du taali Chacko? Yeh mera burger - (cheering up and smashing the burger onto Chacko's hand) burger taali dude!
Annie: (disgusted) shut up guys! Jaake dekho na iced tea bani ya nahi.
Chacko: (glancing at the counter) kaise banegi, waha toh Chinu baato me laga hai.
Annie: (looking in the same direction) aur woh bhi us Abhay ke saath. Suna raha hoga use bhi lecture. Huh!
Dia: come on Annie, itna bura bhi nahi hai woh. (smiling) Actually, kal raat usne bahut sweetly meri help ki.
Annie: what are you saying? Sach me? Maine toh pehle hi kaha tha he likes you!
Dia: (shrugging and smiling at Abhay when he meets her eye) who knows.
As Abhay picks up his order and walks up to his seat, Sid gives him a knowing smile.
Abhay: (self conscious) kya hua?
Sid: yeh toh aap batao, kya hua?
Abhay: matlab?
Sid: matlab.. tere aur Dia ke beech.. you know?
Abhay: (sighs) tu aur tera one track mind. Dia aur main? Hum toh -
Sid: han haan tum toh chalk and cheese ho, usse nafrat karte ho etc etc..
Abhay: nafrat kyun karunga yar par -
Sid: (wide eyed) nafrat nahi karta? Tune hi toh kaha tha ke -
Abhay: shh, dheere toh bol loud speaker. Matlab, mujhe aisa lagta hai ab k she's actually a nice girl..
Sid: (coughing) yeah.. and?
Abhay: (looking away) rehne de.
Sid: (laughing) ok ok dude. Relax. Kitna laal ho gaya hai tu! I am just glad ke you dont hate her anymore. (sipping his coffee)
Abhay: (to himself, smiling) I never did.
Later that night
"Tu bhi chal na mere saath Gunjan. Kabhi bhi nahi maanti tu!" Nupur throws her just carefully ironed dupatta on the bed. Gunjan smiles, picks it up and wraps it around Nupur's neck.
Gunjan: sorry di, aaj nahi aa paungi. Please naraaz mat ho.
Nupur: (making a face) aaj nahi, kal nahi. Kya tu seedhe meri shaadi par milegi aunty se?
Gunjan: (brightening up) yeh acha idea hai waise! (giggling at Nupur's angry look) sorry di, aaj tum jaao na, bahut pyari bhi lag rahi ho. Next time main pakka aungi. Promise.
Nupur: (relenting to smile) thik hai. Achi lag rahi hu kaha isliye maaf kar rahi hoon.
As Gunjan nods seriously, Nupur chuckles and gives her a tight hug.
Nupur: toh main chalti hoon Gunjan, tu aaram se baat kar lena haan.
Gunjan: (stunned) kya di?
As Nupur winks and leaves, Gunjan smiles to herself.
Gunjan: yeh di bhi na, sab jaan leti hai. Ab Samrat se baat karne ka yahi toh time hai. College me na jaane din kaise beet gaya. (looking at the phone) ab 8 baje bola hai toh kya 10 minute pehle nahi kar sakte call? (hits herself lightly on the head, picks a book and sits by the phone)
At Mayank's home
A black forest cake on the table announces "Congrats Mom!". There are two candles lighting it up. As the Mom in question blows them out, both Mayank and Nupur rush to be the first one to feed her some cake. With her faster reflexes, Nupur succeeds and gives Mayank a smug look.
Nupur: congrats Aunty! Waise apka project toh successful hona hi tha. Aap bekaar tension me thi.
Mom: acha? Aisa kyun?
Nupur: arey aunty, yeh apka beta subah sham apke kaano me project project chillata hoga toh kaam toh ho hi jayega na.
Mom: (giggles) haan beta, yeh toh hai. Neend me bhi project project karta tha pehle. Ab toh -
Mayank: (cutting in) acha Ma, aap baitho. Main aur Nupur khana lagate hai.
Mom: (sternly) main aur Nupur matlab? Tu laga khana, kitne dino se Nupur se thik se baat bhi nahi ki maine.
Nupur: sachi aunty. Par main iski madad kar hi deti hoon. Phir plates tak toh isse uthayi jaati nahi. Aap baitho, main chutki bhar me aayi.
Mom: (smiling) thik hai beta.
Nupur follows Mayank into the kitchen and starts ordering him about.
Nupur: acha Mayank, yeh dishes bahar le jaayo. Aur haan waha se salt bhi utha lena. (spotting some split water) kya pani girate rehte ho tum? Glass bhi nahi uthayi jaati? (attempting to pick up glasses herself)
Mayank: oh madam, jo karna hai khud karo. Wo toh shukar hai khana maine banaya hai. Warna ek baar jo tumne roti banayi thi, mujhe laga rubber hai.
Nupur: (walking upto him indignantly) kya matlab? Wo aata kharab tha toh main kya karu? (lowering her eyes) jab dekho meri galti dhundte ho.
Mayank picks up a tissue from behind him and smiles at Nupur's cute little nose that is slowly reddening with irritation. When Nupur looks up slightly, to see if Mayank's expression has changed, he instantly pulls her closer to him. Completely taken aback, Nupur looks directly into his eyes. From experience she knew it was a mistake for she could never resist him, no matter how much she tried otherwise. Nupur lets her arms go lightly around him as his face draws closer. Mayank loved listening to her heartbeats, always wildly acclerated when he was close to her. He smiles a little when her breathing goes uneven. For him too, Nupur meant the world but as was the plan, he couldn't let himself be distracted. When Nupur closes her eyes, he allows himself to look at her for just a while before opening his mouth to speak.
Mayank: (very softly) Nupur?
Nupur: (with her eyes still shut) haan?
Mayank: wo, cake.
Nupur: (her eyes snapping open) kya?
Mayank: (bringing out the tissue) wo tumhare face pe cake laga hai.
Nupur is flustered and disheveled as she draws away from him and accepts the tissue. Mayank tries very hard to suppress a giggle and thinks it better to quickly pick up a few dishes and leave the kitchen.
The frame dissolves and fades for a moment before clearing up again to reveal Adi and Radz, sitting beside each other, with the blue waves of the Mumbai ocean in the background.
Radz: (smiling) kuch rishte sach me khuda hi banata hai, hai na Adi?
Adi: bilkul. Ab kisne socha tha ke Mayank aur Nupur ek dusre se itna pyar karenge? Koi unhe pehle dekhta toh sochta ke yeh zarur agli world war ki tayyari kar rahe hai! (laughs)
Radz: aur Gunjan ko hi dekh lo. Mujhe kabhi nahi laga tha ke Samrat ko itni akal hai ke ek itni pyari aur suljhi hui ladki se pyar karega.
Adi: Samrat tumhara bhai hai aakhir. Aur phir, pyar sochke thode hi hota hai. Hume hi dekh lo.
Radz: haan rehne do, bahut dekh chuki hoon tumhe. (giggling at his startled look) Waise Adi, hamari kahaani bhi koi kam interesting nahi rahi, kyun?
Adi: interesting toh kya, tumhe yaad hai wo - (raising an eyebrow questioningly when Radz puts a hand over his mouth)
Radz: shh, abhi nahi. Kuch kahaaniyan agli mulakat ke liye bhi chod deni chahiye.
Adi: (smiling) haan, aakhir, phir milenge hum tum!
Stories never end. But there are times we have to tune out. Presently, I leave Mayank and Nupur to enjoy their black forest cake and Gunjan to talk the night away with Samrat. Since Dia is already asleep, lost in pleasant dreams of the last night at Lonavala, I wish her all the best. Years down the line, may the rest of Dia's gang gain some sense but on second thoughts, the world needs all sorts of people. There is space for a food-crazy but big-hearted Uday, a loyal ande devoted Benji and even a pea brained Chacko. As for Radz and Adi, as they promised you themselves, theirs is a story that will be told at another place, in another time.
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A big thank you to all my readers for being loyal to this story. All your comments have always meant a lot to me.
Radz, I hope you don't mind the way I have written you too much. 😆 Lotsa love.
Likewise for you Pragya. Forgive me. 😳
Pallojee - thanks so much for your lovely feedback which has always made me smile. I love you.
Ayesha, Amber, Tina, Ruchi, Sunita, Pragya, Sanah and everyone else who has ever read any of this - Thanks a big bunch.
🤗
Adieu.
Edited by debby - 16 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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