Part - 1:
He woke up from his sleep sweating badly. "God! Not again." He murmured to himself. He rested his head on his palms and remained like that for a long time before reaching out to get a glass of water from the bedside table. He emptied the whole glass down his throat in one go, then again flung himself back on the pillows. But this time sleep eluded him. He kept staring at the ceiling for a long time. "Fir se wahi sapna, lagataar ek saal se har raat yahi ek sapna dekh raha hun mai, ye ho kya raha hai? Kuch samajh me nahi aa raha. Aur mai Maa aur Baba kko kuch bhi batakar unhe pareshan nahi karna chahta. Unhe kuch bataya toh ghar me bakiyon ko pata chal jayega aur agar aisa hua toh muft me sar par musibat tut padegi. Aakhir karun toh kya karun?" He kept on thinking and didn't realize when he dozed off to sleep. "Get up, get up you lazy bug." She pulled and pushed him hard but he simply pulled the blanket over his head and again snuggled back to the pillow. "Utho...... uthhhoooo............... na. It's already late. Kab tak sote rahoge?" she pulled the blanket and scrambled on to the bed next to him. "Please Ved, bas paanch minute." He pleaded. "Dekho mai jaanti hun kit um mujhe chidane ke liye bed me ho. Subah saat baj gaye hain aur tum jaage bhi nahi abhi tak? Ho hi nahi sakta." With a swift movement she pulled out the blanket and there he lay on the bed dressed in an off white kurta pajama. The moment he saw her disgruntled expression he burst out laughing. "Bhaiya, you are too much. Jao mai nahi bolti aapse. Ab 5 minute me neeche aa jao. Dadu aapko bula rahe hain." And she left the room in a huff displeased at his tantrums which were meant only for her. Once outside the room however, her face relaxed and a big grin appeared on her face. She knew that she was the only person who meant the whole world to him. She was well aware of the fact that her one action could bring a smile on his face, she could make or mar his day and she had no intention of doing any such thing which would spoil his day. And today was the New Year's day – how could she be angry with him? However, she decided to tease him a bit and therefore pasted the displeased expression on her face and went down the steps. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Prithvi went down the steps where everybody was waiting for him. After the usual rounds of greetings suitable for a new year had been exchanged and the puja session was done, Prithvi turned his attention towards Ved who was standing in a corner with a sullen expression on her face. He smiled inwardly because he knew she was only pretending to be angry. Just then a touch on his shoulders made him turn and look at the smiling face of his grandfather. He was an old man with a shock of thick white hair and long moustaches. "Fir se jhagda?" he queried with a faint smile. "Nahi dadaji. Wo sirf natak kar rahi hai." Prithvi returned with a smile. "Acha, thik hai, jao jake manao use. Aur fir aaj sham ke karyakram ke liye taiyar rehna. Shehar ke bahut bade bade log aa rahe hain isme." "Main nahi aaun to nahi chalega?" He asked sadly making a displeased face. He was sick of the parties, in fact hated them. "Aur mai bhi na aaun toh?" quipped Vaidehi who had been listening intently to the conversation and now forgot her fake anger. "Tu toh naraaz thi na?" Prithvi reminded her. "Oh!!! Haan, par mai bhul gayi." She replied airily making her brother and grandfather go into peals of laughter. They continued laughing for some time before controlling themselves with a great effoert. Finally the old man managed to control himself and said, "Jo Prithvi karega, jahan wo jayega kya aap bhi wahi karengi, wahi jayengi?" "Haan." Pat came the reply. "Warna bhaiya ko mai pareshan kaise karungi?" "Tujhe aur koi kaam nahi hai mujhe pareshan karne ke alawa?" Prithvi asked in mock irritation to which she retorted in big, noisy NO making him cover his ears in an attempt to escape from the sound. "Have some mercy on my ear drums Ved. Aise chillaegi toh mai behra ho jaunga." "Oh, I have the greatest concern for your precious ear drums bhaiya. Warna aap behre ho gaye toh meri baat kaun sunega?" "Point to be noted." He said dryly. "Tera chillana kaun sunega." "Oofho bas kijiye aap dono aur meri baat suniye." Their grandfather cut their argument in between. "Aaj raat party to nahi hai par haan, humare bahut purane mitr Pandit Mukharjee apni poti ke saath aa rahe hain. Kuch din wo log yahin tehrenge. Aap dono ko unki jimmedari leni hogi, khaas kar ki Prithvi aapko." "Aap pareshan mat hoiye dadaji. Mai aapko shikayat ka mauka nahi dunga." "Mai bhi nahi." Vaidehi added in a somber tone making Prithvi to retort at her again. "Tu apna khayal rakh le, fir dusron ka khayal rakhna." This earned him a glare from her. "Toh thik hai, saara kaam tum akele karo." She turned to go. "Arey ruk to, acha thik hai. Panditji ko mai sambhal lunga, unki poti ko tu dekh lena." And he turned to escape when his grandfather stopped him. "Prithvi!!! Panditji ki jyada dekhbhaal ki jarurat nahi hai, wo humare hi saath rahenge. Jab humne aapko jimmedaari saunpi thi toh humara matlab unki poti se tha. Unki poti Nandini ki saari zimmedaari aapki hogi." "Par dadaji..." "Hum kuch nahi sunenge Prithvi." And he left the room leaving behind a very disgrumtled Prithvi and a visibly amused Vaidehi. "Fas gaye na bhaiya. Ab dekhti hun kaise ladkiyon se bhagte ho." "Teri toh........... zara teher tujhe abhi batata hun." He ran after her but she was already out of his reach. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ok friends, done with this update. I'll continue with it only if you want me to. Hope you like it. Love
Guglu
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