saadha khalbhala (Plain excitement)
Tai had to be taken to an urgent care hospital after she threw up her breakfast that Sat morning. When they returned home that night there was no time to cook
Suvi made a quick poha and boiled eggs again...
Tai was knocked out with the meds she was given
Neel was spending the day with Gags and the boys
Some science and art camp in Faridabad at some tech company
"Shaadi idhar karta to ghar use kar sakta tha" Gagan handed his two and Nihar an ice cream cone
"The family is all in Mumbai" Neel nodded
"No no toppings for me" "thanks" Neel shook his head at the clerk
Gagan handed him his scoop of plain vanilla
"Aisa kaise khayega... plain?" Gags teased
"My life has all the excitement I need" Neel chuckled
"Amma ne kuch kaha?" he asked
"Umm... no... no not really... u know... she is not thrilled... she is ambivalent" Neel walked with Gags
The kids were all at a corner table
"She will come around"
"the question they ask is if "I" will come around" Neel said softly
"Kya matlab?" Gags paused wiping smudge off his tightly wound Sikh beard and moustache
"U know... she suspects I will wake up one day and realize this is not what I wanted" Neel said gruffly
"Huh" Gags listened
"Since Nihar is completelly against it... I cant even make a strong case" Neel said
"Yes you can boss!" Gags said firmly
Neel looked at him
"Tu gall sun... Nihar is 11... he will obviously be pissed" "Dont connect the two issues"
His oldest came running "Dad... can I have a five rupee coin?" for the arcade machine in the corner
Gags felt his pocket, Neel handed him a Rs.50... "get change from the clerk" he pointed
Gags felt his pocket for his wallet
"Forget it" Neel stopped him
"Mamaji is on your side na?" Gags enquired
"sab hain bhi, aur nahi bhi... aisa sochen aap" Neel said
Gags understood
He nodded
"Dont let their sitting on the fence get to you... if you think its right... DO IT" Gags urged
"there is no IF anymore" Neel grinned
"haan sorry sorry" Gags chuckled
"August 7th keh rahin hain Amma" he pulled his phone out and showed Gags the text
Nihar was obviously not paying attention to the game
He was shooting daggers at his Dad
He had spent the whole afternoon doing that
"I am sure about this Gags... Nihar ka sochkar humey bahut dar hai" Neel whispered
Gags stood in front of Neel blocking out Nihar's view
"He will be fine yaar... trust me... Preet hai pados mein... if he doesnt get along with Suvi... Preet can step in" he said
Neel's face clouded with fear and concern
"Ummm..." he sighed
"GALL SUN... ik second... meri gall to sun" Gags placed a hand on Neel's shoulder
"Dont go in thinking the worst" he whispered
"Inko humne jab se kaha tab se inhoney na Suvechha ke texts ka response diya na baat karte hain" Neel was shocked
"You know kids... they have nothing in their hearts... they are extra expressive, just so as to make a point"
Neel was unconvinced
Gags turned around to check on the boys
Since the "view" was cut off Nihar was secretly relaxing and enjoying with his friends
Gags took the opp to sneak Neel out of the store into the 47C heat to be able to talk freely
"Dont make it look like you are unsure yaar, Suvi nu bura lagega..." Gags said as soon as he shut the heavy glass door
"Bilqul nahi... the thought of being with her makes me crazy" Neel broke into a glorious smile
"OYE HOYE... kee muskraahat hai boss" Gags punched him fondly
"When its this quick and this crazy then its normal for people to suspect its abnormal?" he asked
"Loki jo mann mein aaye... sochan de... tuannu ki?" Gags asked sipping his fast melting ice cream
"In all this I dont even know if Aadhya will like this" Neel said
"Kinne saal di haigi?" "Panj?" he asked
Neel nodded
"Bass... tu chinta nahi kar..." Gags reassured
"Hafte ki chutthi nahi le sakte aap?" Neel asked sadly
"Kaash yaar... do din tere waaste le liye maine... Preet ko karta hoon tere hawale, " Gags laughed
"Desh Nirmaan ka annual convention hai Aug 15th-20th Talkatora Stadium mein, I want to be back by 14th" he said
they talked about work for 20 minutes.. going back in when the boys ran out of money for the machines
Suvi called him late on Saturday night
He was overjoyed to hear from her
"Kisi kaam se kiya?" he asked
she laughed
"Batayen kya kar sakten hai aapke liye?" he asked smiling
"Tai so gayi... aur Aadhya bhi" she said
His heart hammered...
"Nihar awake hey?" she asked
"Nahi... aaj woh Gags ke ghar hai" Neel explained
"Oh" she said sadly
"Uski jagah hum hain" Neel said
He got in his car and drove to her society...
Jhanak
