CHAPTER #1: MOTHER NATURE'S PLOT
"MAYANK! You let me go right now!" cribbed an enraged and agitated Nupur who was held against the latched door of Mayank's room by the habitant of the room himself.
"And why exactly should I NUPUR," came the pat reply from an equally furious Mayank.
The altercation taking place in Mayank's room was an aftermath of a series of events, initiated with Shilpa's implication to get Mayank and Nupur engaged to Mayank overhearing Nupur and Gunjan talking right after the distressed couple's engagement ceremony.
Nupur, who belonged to the remote town of Morena had first came to Mumbai after the unfortunate loss of her parents in a fatal car accident. Once Siddharth Sharma had been apprised of the ill-fated occurrence, he hadn't given his decision to leave for Morena immediately a second thought. Accompanied by his wife, once he came to know of the entire situation in Morena, post the demise of his childhood pal and his wife, he had reached the conclusion to bring along Nupur and Gunjan with him to Mumbai.
Siddharth and Shashi had been childhood friends since their school days and had been more like brothers to each other. Where Siddharth had opted to leave for Mumbai in quest of a better life- that he had been more than successful in achieving- Shashi had preferred the relatively retiring and serene life of Morena.
After Shashi's death, Bui being the next of kin, was the obvious choice for Nupur's and Gunjan's guardianship. However, the presence of a reluctant husband had made it difficult for her to express any eagerness in regards of taking the orphaned girls under her shelter. Siddharth being a firsthand witness to the untoward circumstance had come to the aid of Gujan and Nupur, as well as bui.
With an avid Shilpa's consent he had offered to take Nupur's and Gunjan's custody and consequently, the four of them had made their way to Mumbai, that had amused both the young girls to no extent, at their very first glance of it.
With the arrival of both the girls, the dynamics of Sharma house had changed overnight. Where Shilpa was more than happy to have the fulfillment of ever existing wish in the form of girls' presence, Siddharth had not only been ecstatic about the new additions to his family, but also his accomplishment to having been able to remain true to the cherished bond of friendship.
However, Mayank's response to the whole outcome was somewhat hesitant as compared to that of his parents. Where he had felt a bit disconcerted at now having to share the attention of his parents, that previously he used to enjoy solely, gradually he had grown to come to terms with the whole happening. Timid and similar-to-his-nature, Gunjan had turned out to be the undisputed member of his otherwise close and limited circle of friends, whereas Nupur had proven to be the ultimate embodiment of his worst nightmare.
He had found Nupur being the ultimate cause of disruption in his otherwise set and quiet life, with her boisterous and loud nature. To further his resentment, Nupur had grown closer and closer to his mother, whose amity he once used to enjoy alone. And had he ever tried to apprise of his jeopardy to Shilpa- in many indirect ways-, he had been chastised for his uncalled for behavior and later, had been consoled but with the advise to try and appreciate the joyful nature of Nupur.
"Try and be appreciative of her personality as an individual, not as that of someone who has come to bring a change into your otherwise set," and a short pause later," let's say boring life Mayu." Shilpa had once said to him when apprised of his misery, being reluctant to use the last few words that had earned her an irritated look.
"Dekh Mayu, I do acknowledge the fact that you and Nupur are two very different individuals," she had continued when Mayank had not resorted to any verbal protest. "But beta, in life we meet many a people who are drastically different from us. Some of them we might be able to ignore, and tolerate the rest. But among them, are a few, who despite their contrast, grow to become a part of our life. And beta, I might be wrong, but to me Nupur seem like one of them." She had gestured her hand for Mayank, who had opened his mouth to cut her in between and had continued, " I am not saying this because I am too fond of her, or because I have grown to love her to bits. But because I have actually become aware of who she really is. And I can bet my life on it that she is a wonderful person. You only need to look past your differences," she finished with a smile lovingly caressing Mayank's hair, at which he had shown sudden retreat and had complained," Maa."
But since that day onward, although, Mayank and nupur hadn't developed an unbreakable bond of friendship, but neither were they each other's sworn enemies anymore. What they now shared, was a relation to complex to give words to. Though, they tried to be cordial to each other, but their starkly differing personalities had made it impossible for them to engage into an argument every living day of their lives. Mayank, who had always preferred to have intellectual and long study sessions in the company of Gunjan and college brainiac Sheena, had till now hadn't been able to not be madden at the untimely and purposely acted out antics of Nupur, that resulted in the end of oh-so-interesting discussions.
Where Mayank was studious and a bookworm, Nupur had been a prominent member of the 'vela gang' and had passed only by a margin of few marks each time; Mayank took life too seriously, and apparently, for Nupur the word didn't exist; Mayank never dared to break any rules, while Nupur found no harm in bending the truth a little for the gain of meagre joys of life; to Mayank everything had to be planned and organized, but Nupur depended on spontaneity and luck. To one the other was an alien, but an alien who unknowingly- even to them- had become a necessary part of their lives.
Amid all this, Shilpa had assessed and garnered a notion, that to everyone else had sounded as absurd as it could be. But the farsighted lady had seen beneath the layers, and it was one of the weekend's mornings that Shilpa had reached Siddharth with her suggestion. Siddharth who was busy having his morning tea and sifting through the daily paper had spat out his tea and had looked at Shilpa for an expectant reiteration.
"Kya?" Shilpa had queried at his shocked his response. " What's so surprising about getting Mayank and Nupur engaged?" But at Siddharth's meaningful glare she added further," or at least suggesting the idea to them."
"Shilpa you know what's so surprising about it. The two can't stand each other, how is it even remotely possible that they would agree to share a room, let alone spend the rest of their lives together?"
"Well, because Mr. Siddharth Sharma I am aware of what you may never realize if of course, not for me." She replied with a mischievous smile adorning her lips.
"And what exactly is that Shilpa?" responded an amused Siddharth, at his wife's antics.
"Why Sid, I for one do not see any reasons for them to not agree to the suggestion. It's only a matter of time you see, that they realize what they are to each other. And for that precisely, I want them to consider the option and get engaged so that they shall spend some quality time together come to a realization that I have come to."
"It won't be as easy as you think. Both are stubborn and would resist to your wish in every way possible."
"One, it may be my wish, but it's theirs to too. They only need to realize it. Oh! And they would Sid, they would. The moment they will attempt at looking at each other beyond their perceptions they would come to know of how suitable they are for each other and if not for being together, what they might lose."
"I am still not convinced about the whole thing Shilpa. I don't know, it's just too unthinkable an idea for me."
"And it surely is. You know Sid, you really do need to stop looking at things too logically and rationally." At Siddharth's warning look she employed a pleading tone and furthered," Please Sid. You might be the practical one here, but can't you trust my instinct for this once. Can't you see how wonderful it would be have Nupur forever staying in this house? Not only for me, or you, but for Mayank too. All his life, he has never looked past his books and studies. Don't you think that Nupur is the only one who can keep him happy and add some colour to his life, despite his tantrums and sarcasm?"
And finally, Siddharth had to give in to his wife's pleadings and insistence, for he too would love to have Nupur as a permanent member of his household. Only thought that made him apprehensive, was that of Mayank's an Nupur's attitude toward one another and he hoped that everything turned out for the better.
"Kya! Maa! I think you need to consult a doctor immediately," was Mayank's shocked and uncharacteristically loud response at Shilpa's suggestion. Whereas, Nupur was taken aback so much so that she had been unable come up with any response. Instead, the usually talkative Nupur had silently walked to her room without the batting of an eyelid, and had remained so for the next few days to come.
PRECAP: Mayank and Nupur's engagement.
Seher Hone Ko Hai
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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