At last, Bau jhi agreed. He came to know that Mayank was indeed an extremely nice guy and was perfect for his daughter, Nupur. He cursed himself to have judged Mayank that way. Bui too felt sorry. Shilpa and both Bua jhi and Bui decided to get Mayank and Nupur engaged.
"Dekhiya behen jhi, ab jab sab tay ho gaya hai toh kyun na bachoon ki shaadi bhi kardi jaye?" said Bui.
"Tokne k liye sorry Bui par main abhi shaadi nhn karna chahta?" Mayank said in return who had just entered the room.
He touched the feet of all the 3 elders sitting in the room out of respect and sat next to his mother.
"Kyun beta?" questioned Bau jhi.
"Bau jhi, abhi to humne graduation bhi nhn ki hai, main pehle kuch banna chahta hun aur khud ko is kabil banana chahta hun ki Maa ki retirement k baad main unka aur apni biwi dono ka acche se khyaal rakh paun." He replied.
"Beta, maine sach mein tumhe parakhne mein galati kardi. Idhar aao, tum ne aaj mera dil jeet liya." said Bau jhi and hugged Mayank.
****
On the day of the their engagement, all the Excelians were invited. Adhiraaj too was a guest.
"Hi Suhaani." he said as he approached Suhaani who was standing with some of the classmates.
"Hi Adhiraaj. Tum?"
"Kyun? Main nhn aa sakta yahan?"
"Nhn wo main toh bass ye puch rahi thi ki tum khud chal k mujhse baat karne kaise aa gaye?"
"Suhaani . . . actually I wanted to talk to."
"No way. I dun wanna talk to you ABOUT ANYTHINIG! Please jao yahan se."
"Par Suhaani . . ."
"Please Adhiraaj, aaj bahut dino baad hum sab bahut khush hain, aisa karke sab ka mood off mat karo. Please.Mujhe thoda time do. Hum phir baat karenge." she said and left.
*******
Nupur was ready and it was time for Gunjan to get ready . . . she thought of making a bun of her hair or a pony tail but didn't really like either one. Just then Samrat came from the window and hugged her from the back.
"SAMRAT?"
"Haan, kyun? Tumhe kya laga Mayank phir seedi se aayega?"
"Nhn to, tum yahan kyun aaye ho?"
"Tumhe ye batane ki tumhare baal khulle hi acche lagte hain."
Gunjan blushed.
"Tum please jao yahan se. Mujhe tayar hona hai."
"Par jo mujhe karna tha wo toh abhi tak maine kiya hi nhn!"
"Kya?"
Samrat gave Gunjan a quick peck on the cheek and ran out.
"Idiot. . . "
******
Finally, Mayank and Nupur were to get engaged. The function started. Uday and Benjy were amazed to see Dia in a saree.
"Didz . . . ye kya kiya tumne? Jitni bhi frocks thi sab ki ek saaree bana dali?"
"Shut up Uday."
"Uday? Tum mujhe Uday bula rahi ho?"
"Haan Uday, aakhir tum mere bade bhai ho, toh main tumhe Dodo kaise bula sakti hun?"
"Benjy . . . mere bhai, mere dost . . . main behosh ho raha hun, mujhe sambhal please."
"Maine marna hai kya tujhe sambhal ke?" Benjy joked.
Just then, Nupur patted on Dia's shoulder. Dia turned around just to see an amazingly dressed up, beautiful as ever . . . Nupur.
"OMG NUPUR! Tum kitni sundar lag rahi ho!" she complimented her.
"Haan Nups! Aaj toh Mayank mar hi jayega." Benjy said.
"Mr. Ben!" she glared at him
"Yes Nups??" questioned Benjy, horified.
"Jaa, aaj nhn maarungi main tujhe." she joked.
"Phew!!"
All 4 laughed while Gunjan too joined em.
*****
"Bhai . . . Maa ka phone hai, baat karoge?" said Suhaani.
"Suhaani wo . . . main." replied Samrat.
"Please Bhai."
"Theek hai."
Samrat took the phone from her. He was hearing his Mom's voice after almost 11 years.
"Hello!"
"Hello, beta! Samrat . . . kaise ho tum?"
Samrat had tears in his eyes and on the other side, his Mom also got all sentimental. Suhaani simple smiled at him.
"M . . . Mom."
"Haan beta! Main. Teri awaz toh bilkul badal gayi hai. Suhaani sent me a picture of yours, bahut handsome hai mera beta toh. Kaise ho tum?"
"Main . . . main . . . theek hun. Aap?" He said out of his sobs.
"Main bilkul theek hun bass apne bachoon ko miss kar rahi hun. Mujhe lene aayega na tu kal Airport?"
"Haan! Aaunga."
"Thank beta!"
"Kyun?"
"Apni Maa ko maaf karne k liye."
"Bye."
And Samrat hung up without saying any other thing. He gave Suhaani her cell bakc and was about to leave when Suhaani stopped him -
"Bhai!" she said.
And he immediately hugged Suhaani. He was crying.
"Bhai . . . bass karo. Dekhna ab se hum sab phir khush honge. Sach."
*******
It was time for the engagement to take place. Mayank and his Mom arrived. Nupur looked away, she was too shy to look at Mayank.
"Nupur beta . . . ring pehenao." Bui said.
Nupur placed the ring in Mayank's finger. So did Mayank.
"Congrats. Meet me at the terrace within an hour." Mayank whispered in her ear.
Nupur simply smiled and nodded.
After 1 hour . . .
Nupur wne t up to the terrace. She serached for him but couldn't find him anywhere.
"Lagta hai khud hi nhn aaye, le."
She turned around and saw Mayank there.
"Aah!" she shouted in an impulse.
"Bhoot dekh liya kya tumne?" he teased her.
"Shut up. Mujhe ek dam dar lag gaya aur kya."
"Ek dam se nhn! Tum pichle 3-4 ghantoon se dar pari hui ho."
"Haah?"
"Aur nhn to kya? Isse acche tumhari shaadi Adhiraaj se hi kardete. Kam se kam tab tum mujhse baat toh kar rahi thi. Mujhe dekh bhi rahi thi lekin aaj engagement mere saath kar rahi thi aur dekh logoon ko rahi thi." he joked.
"Tumhe bada maza aa raha hai na?"
"Bahut!"
She punched him in the stomach and went near the railing of the terrace.
"Yahan kya karne aayi ho tum?"
"Chand ko dekh rahi hun . . . kitna pyaara lag raha hai."
"Main bhi."
"Tum pyaare kahan lag rahe ho?" she joked.
"I mean main apne chaand ko dekh rahe hun jo bahut hi pyaara hai."
"Tumhare paas apna private chaand hai?" she asked. :P
"Haan, hai na, tum!" He said and held her by her waist.
"Heh!" she said and ran away.
"Kahan bhagee jaa rahi ho? Do you really think I won't be able to catch you?"
"Yes, I do. Pakad k dikhao." she challenged him.
He ran after her but couldn't catch her. They kept runnig for about 5 minutes but in vain. Finally Mayank caught hold of Nupur's saree's pallu.
"Hah! Pakad liya." Mayank said.
"Choodo."
"Kyun?"
"Please choodo, aur mujhe jane do." she said trying hard not to blush.
Mayank pulled her by her pallu towards him.
"Ab toh main bilkul bhi jane nhn dunga. Kya karlogi!"
"Please chodo."
"Ahan!"
Mayank her hand up, the one with his engagement ring and kissed it.
Shivers ran down her spine and she shut her eyes tight.
"Itna daro mat. Main koi filmy hero nhn hun. Jao."
"Mayank . . . tum na." she said as if irritated and hugged him.
"Aaj main bahut khush hun."
"Main bhi. Ab sab theek ho gaya hai. Jo hum chahta the wo hume mil gaya hai."
*THE END*
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