🤗Hello Friends!🤗
First of all, an apology for updating so late - had exams going on - they started in March and ended just now! Have to prepare for my entrance exam now, so still going to be a bit busy.
And yeah, updates will continue to be "small", as a lot of readers complain, but they'll be regular, hopefully.😆 Those who don't like this format, umm, sorry, but I can't do anything about it.🤔 As it is, each part takes a lot of time to write - but in case you haven't noticed, they are all action-packed. So it's just that I prefer to say lots of stuff in just a few words.😉
Anyway, on with the story!😆
Part 29
Panchhi struggles, but the hand clamps down tighter. A voice hisses in her ear...
Voice: Door raho Siddharth se. He is not for you...
Panchhi struggles more, and suddenly she feels the hand releasing her. She spins around, only to see...nothing...
There is no one.
The forest is still, silent save for a sole cricket chirping away merrily.
Panchhi screams.
*
Abhay: Oh Dad! You are so cool!
Chaand (grinning): I am, aren't I?
Abhay: Yeah...but we must put her right before Mom wakes up. Aisa karo, you give her that green liquid from my cupboard. Tab tak main Pia ko chhod kar aata hoon uske hostel.
[Chaand looks at Pia, who is looking disappointed.]
Chaand: Umm...thodi der rehne do na ise yahin.
Abhay (looking at Pia sadly): No Dad. It is not safe.
Chaand: Hmmm...I understand. Samajhta hoon main.
Pia: Bye Uncle!
Chaand: Bye beta. May the Moon cool you.
Pia: Hain?
Abhay: Dad said 'bye'.
Pia: Oh..okayyy...
[Abhay takes her away before she can ask any more questions. When he comes back, Chaand has revived both the ladies, who have retired to thir rooms, and is sitting with a drink, staring into the flames as they dance around in the fireplace. He looks up as Abhay enters.]
Chaand: Ah...Abhayyy... We. Need. To. Talk.
[Abhay knows it then - he is in trouble.]
*
In the jungle, Panchhi is going on screaming when Sid reaches her. It takes him a few moments to calm her down. She turns to him, sobbing.
Sid (in a soothing voice): What's wrong, love? Why are you upset?
Panchhi (sobbing): Woh...Sid...main...count kar rahi thi toh ...
Sid: Toh?
Panchhi (crying a little less): Toh kisi ne...they said...tum...main.. *sobs again*
Sid: What, baby?
Panchhi: Oh Sid! Usne kaha tum se door rahoon! Tum...galat ho.
[Sid hugs her and pats her back until she stops crying.]
Sid (a little grimly) : Love, usne...galat nahin kaha ...but hey...if this is true love, we will sort it out!
Panchhi (looking up at him): Really?
Sid: Do you believe in the power of love? That it transcends the boundaries?
Panchhi: What boundaries?
Sid (exasperatedly): Arey koi bhi!
Panchhi: Umm..okay...yeah. I do.
Sid (smiling again): Bas then. Really.
Panchhi (whispering happily): Really.
[They hug. The cricket chirps happily.]
*
Abhay settles down in front of the fire for the 'discussion' with Chaand. Both are feeling very uncomfortable, and their discomfort shows in their stances. Finally, Chaand clears his throat and starts speaking.
Chaand: Look, Abhay... Tum ab bade ho gaye ho.
Abhay (muttering): Glad you noticed.
Chaand (ignoring him): Yeh talk...I mean...yeh baat karne ka...I think...er...time...uh...ho gaya...you know, hai.
Abhay (suspiciously): What talk?
Chaand (rapidly): You know...I have seen that you don't know how to neck... *Abhay looks at the floor, ashamed* and...you know...red lipstick...dye...shirt...Kabir...
Abhay (looking up, shocked): Dad!!!!!!!
Chaand: I know I know...humans mein aajkal legal hai...but hum vampires ke kuch rules hain. Rules ko chhodo. It is not wrong or unnatural...I mean, phir hum kya hain, right? Par Abhay, tum pehle Maithili ke saath...aur suddenly Kabir...
Abhay: But Dad!
Chaand: Abhay. Maana humne tumhein janam nahin diya. Maana ke I am not a good 'dad', human terms nein, but your well-being is still our responsibility. I want you to be happy.
Abhay: I understand Dad, but...
Chaand: Abhay. Let me finish. Jab tum Pia se mile, I thought...I was afraid, because of Maithili, but Abhay, it was...right somehow. Theek tha jo sab ho raha tha. Yeh Kabir kahaan se aaya?
Abhay: Dad...
Chaand (sighing): Is new generation ko itna mat follow karo Abhay ki tum khud ko bhool jaao. I like Pia. She will make a good vampire...
Abhay (angrily): NO!!!!
Chaand (startled): Abhay!
Abhay (pacing around the room): No Dad. I cannot. Pia...woh special hai. Woh...insaan hai. I cannot turn her into a monster.
Chaand (in a hurt tone): Monster?
Abhay: Yes Dad. A monster. A vampire. Ek khoon peeta...whatever jo Discovery Channel waale kehte hain Hindi mein.
Chaand: Yaar itni Hindi mujhe bhi nahin aati. Chhaddo. Tu bas itna bataa, Pia se shaadi karega ya nahin?
Abhay: No way! I belong to Kabir! Mera tann, mann, dhan, sab uska hai.
Chaand (laughing): Bestiii!!!!!!!
Abhay: Kyun?
Chaand: Humaare paas dhan hai hi nahin! We Raichands are bankrupt!!!!!
[He keeps laughing loudly, and goes up to his room. He enters the room, still laughing loudly. Haseena, who has been pacing in the room, turns.]
Haseena: Chaand.
Chaand (still laughing): Haan?
Haseena (hissing): We. Need. To. Talk.
[Chaand stops laughing. He gulps. He knows that he is in trouble.]
***
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