CHAPTER 5
Akash wake up in the morning and was shocked to see that Ananya was inside the washroom and was taking a bath as Ananya never woke up early. Akash thought to himself, "Ye itni jaldi kaise uth gayi? Upar se naha bhi li? Akhir baat kya hai?" He thought for some time and then suddenly his expressions changed, "Oh shit! Kahin aisa to nahi ki Ananya ko lag raha ho ki main aaj hi use vaapas chodkar aane waala hun. Ab main kya karunga? Sab logon ne to mana kia hai abhi 1 hafte tak use vaapas bhejne ko to ab?" Suddenly he gave a sad smile and said to himself, "Vaise auron ka to pata nahi...main bhi nahi chahata ki ye ek haft eke pahale yaahan se jaaye...atleast 1 hafte tak to main iske saath rehe paaunga. Chalo jab bahar aayegi tab baat karunga." He sighed and sat on his bed.
After a few minutes, Ananya came out wearing a plain red saree. This saree was gifted to her by Akash on their first month anniversary. Every month he used to give her something but Ananya never even bothered to look at them. Now this was another shocking thing for Akash. he was staring at Ananya with his mouth open. Ananya noticed this and said, "Mujhe pata hai tum mujhe kyun ghoor rahe ho...kabhi socha nahi than a ki main ye saree pehenugni? She went towards him and continued with a smile, "Akash ab mujhe ghurna band karo...thoda sham ke lie bhi bachaake rakho." With this, Akash was even more shocked. He said, "Shaam ke lie? Matlab sham ko tum yahin rehene waali ho?" Ananya made a face like she was listening to some alien language. She said, "Shaam tak matlab? Tumhe aisa kyun lagta hai ki main tumhara sar itna jaldi khaana chod dungi. Abse main yahin rahungi. Tumhe itni asaani se mujhse chutkaara nahi milne waala." She winked and left.
Akash went running to her mother's room. After entering, he hugged her mother. Natasha was quite confused. She asked, "Kya baat hai beta? Tu itna ghabraaya hua kyun hai?" Akash in a terrified tone said, "Maa i think Ananya ko kuch ho gaya hai. Subha se ajeeb ajeeb baatein kar rahi hai." Now Natasha was also much tensed. She said, "Ajeeb batein matlab? Saaf saaf bata kya hua hia." Akash narrated the whole incident. Natasha thought for a while and then smiled and said, "Beta, mujhe lagta hai ki Ananya chahti hai kit u use jaldi se jaldi ghar chod aaye. Aur jab tak vo nahi jaati tab tak vo tujhe khush karna cha rahi hogi. Afterall kal itni kuch jo ho gaya." Akash and Natasha's convo was interrupted by Shaina. She came running inside the room and said, "Natasha ma'am...Ananya ma'am ko kuch ho gaya kya?" Natasha and Akash looked at each other. Natasha asked her, "Kyun kya hua?" Shaina said, "Ma'am mere pass aayi aur khene lagi ki aaj nashta vo banayengi. Aur ab puri kitchen take over kar li hai and saara kaam kar rahi hai." Akash said, "dekha maa maine kaha na use kuch ho gaya hai." Natasha smiled and said, "Use jo karna hai use karne do." Akash, Natasha and Shaina came out for breakfast. After some time, Prashant also joined them. They were talking about something and Prashant was about to sit when Ananya came out of the kitchen with a bowl in her hand. Prashant stared at her in half sitting position. He was shocked to see Ananya in a saree as she never wore one. Moreover, she was WORKING. She used to work earlier too but not these kind of things. She used to do work like passing the things and all. But today, she was actually cooking. Ananya came to him and smiled and said, "Papa, aap hawa mein kyun latak gaye? Baith jaayiye. Don't worry khaana inti bhi bura nahi hai."
Prashant was totally awestruck. That morning was the first time when THE SALLUJA FAMILY was having their breakfast quietly. Akash was not in a condition of speaking. Prashant was not able to understand that what was going on. Natasha was thinking about the possible reasons behind change in Ananya's behaviour and Ananya, she was just so surprise to see that everybody was so shocked just because she cooked. She said in her mind, "Ye log kitne shocked hai ye jaankar ki maine khaana banaya hai. Matlab inhe mujhse ye bhi expected nahi tha...vaise koi nahi...agar meri ye choti choti baatein inhe khush kar sakti hain to main sab karungi."
After that silent breakfast, Akash stood up to leave for his office. Finding Akash alone, he came to him and asked, "Akash, tune ise maara vaara hai kya?" Akash stopped doing his work and looked at him with a jerk. He said, "Papa aap kaisi baatein kar rahe hai?" Prashant said, "Sorry beta par puchna parta hai na...vaise agar tuna kuch nahi kaha to ise hua kya?" Akash nodded and said, "Pta nahi papa, para job hi hua hai na kaafi bhayaanak hai." Both laughed at this and then Akash left for his office.
The whole day Ananya helped her MIL in every work. In the afternoon, Akash called at home. Ananya picked up the phone. The convo-
Ak - Hello!
An - Hello! Haan Akash bolo?
Ak - Ananya..vo maa kaha hai?
An - Vo to abhi ghar par nahi hai. Kuch kaam tha?
Ak - Haan vo actually ek file mangwaani thi. Bohot important hai and i don't want ki koi aur lekar. I mean koi helper.
An - Its OK Akash...batao kaha rakhi hai? Main le aati hun.
Ak - Tum laogi?
An - Kyun? Main bhi nahi la sakti kya? Tum kehena kya chahte ho? Main koi helper ya servant hun jispar tumhe trust nahi ki vo file safely la dega?
Ak - Are nahi nahi! Aisi koi baat nahi hai...its just...chalo chodo...vo meri cupboard ki 2nd drawer mein hai. Blue colour ki. Usme thode loose papers hai to dhyaan se laana. OK?
An - Ya fine...laati hun.
Ananya disconnected the call and went upstairs to look for the file. She found it, combed her hair and left after informing Shaina. Akash told Shreya to inform the reception about Ananya's arrival. Shreya got busy with some other work and soon she forgot.
Ananya came inside the office and said to herself, "Aniket bhaiya was so right! Akash sachmain bohot hardworking hai." She came to the reception and the girl sitting there greeted her, "Good Afternoon Ma'am. How may I help you?" Ananya smiled and replied, "Good Afternoon. Actually I wanted to meet Mr.Akash Salluja." Now the receptionist had no idea about Akash's wife as she joined a few days back. Moreover, Ananya never came to the office so no one except Shreya actually knew who exactly Ananya was. Most of them had already forgotten her name and face.
The receptionist thought that she was one of salesgirl and thus said, "I am sorry but I can't let you meet him if you are not having an appointment." Ananya replied, "Well unhone mujhe khud bulaaya hai so I don't need any appointment. You just tell me that where is his cabin? I am here for the first time so I don't know the locations." The receptionist again replied, "I am very sorry ma'am but I allow you inside." Now Ananya grew angry. Still, she firmly said, "Look I think you don't know me. I am Mrs. Ananya Salluja and Akash is my husband." Many times the Salesgirls used to do tricks to fool the people and reach Akash to discuss the policies. The receptionist thought it to be one of them and said in a slow yet rude tone, "Ma'am bohot larkiyaan aakar bolti hai ki hum unki bua, mami, cousin, bhen aur pata nahikya kya hai...but seriously aaj tak kisi ne unki wife hone ka mazaak nahi kia...now you just get out of here or else mujhe security ko bulaana hoga." Ananya was looking at her with a weird expression. She then decided to call Akash. But Akash was talking to someone else and she was not having Shreya's number. So she again went to the Reception and said, "Look main tumse ladne ke mood mein nahi hun. Mujhe unhe ye file deni hai. Aap please unhe call kariye and tell him ki main aayi hun." The receptionist refused. After a lot of discussion, finally she called up in Akash's cabin. Shreya picked up the phone. The convo -
Sh - Hello! Ya Tina?
Ti (Recep) - I want to talk to Akash Sir.
Sh - Just a second.
By that time, Akash finished his call and took the phone.
Ak - Ya?
Ti - Sir ek lady aapse milna chahti hai. Appointment nahi hai par kheti ki aapne bulaaya hai unhe.
Ak - Par maine kisi ko nahi bulaaya. Koi hogi irritating salesgirl.
Ti - Ya exactly sir and ye to even ye kehe rahi hai ki aapki wife hai (laughed) imagine sir aapki wife tak ban gaye hai log aapse milne ke lie.
Akash's heart skipped a beat. He asked in a trembling voice, "K...Kha hai vo?"
Ti - Sir yahin hai mere saane. Pure security ko bula lia hai maine. Ab bas aapka order chahiye and we will throw her out."
Akash immediately disconnected the call and ran towards the reception. A lot of people were gathered around the reception and were expecting that Akash will come and will throw her out. Akash reached there and what he did next shocked everybody. He came their and joined his hands and looked down and continuously chanted SORRY. Ananya just glared at him. Akash then said, "Vo actually thori confusion ho gayi thi but now its fine." Ananya in an angry tone said, "Ya right! Thori confusion. Mujhe yahan se dhakke maar kar nikaala jaa raha tha and you say THORI confusion." Akash then glared at Tina and shouted at her, "Tumhe agar kuch pata nahi hota to kaam karti kyun ho?" Ananya also shouted, "Uspar kyun chilla rahe ho? Vo koi devi to hai nahi ki sabko jaanti hogi. Usne sirf apna kaam kiya. It's your responsibility kit um use batao ki main aane waali hun." She then turned to the security and people, "Aap logon ko tasalli ho gayi ab? Now will you please do the work jiske lie aapko paise milte hai?..." The crowd literally ran to their desks and places. Akash took Ananya inside his cabin.
35