Nupur's mnd was playing all sorts of games with her that night. In a mere few hours she had imagined all the worst case scenerios of both saying yes or no to Mayank.
Also, she spent alot of time considering Mayank as her future husband.
By the time the sun was rising, Nupur had not slept at all and was no longer sure of what she should say to him. She still wanted to say a yes, but she had now considered all the pros and cons and she wasnt so sure WHY?
as if on cue, she received Gunjan's message inquiring, "you decided anything yet?"
Nupur smiled affectionately and replied with, "can I ever decide something without a discussion with you?"
"I. Know Nupur. And I thought about what you said last night. About saying a yes. He is a bit stubborn but he has always been caring towrads you. I think maybe saying a yes wouldn be all that bad."
Npur felt a weight being lifted off her heart.
"But how? I cant just go and say, okay fine. Great lets do this."
"You can call him?'
"NEVER!"
"Ummm.. how about when you meet and if he mentions something"
"I am not going back in that house to do THIS!!"
"Okay how about you simply message him.."
"But what should I say?"
"Honestly I have NO idea.'
"And you call yourself my bestfriend.!"
"Exactly I am your bestfriend not a love guru."
They were still arguing about ways to say a yes. Without realising that both of them have stopped looking at the other possible answer.
They werestill clueless about what to do when Nupur's mother called her in her room.
"Nupur beta I have to talk to you about something."
"Jee mama.."
"Wo Mayank haina.. Mayank Sharma."
Nupur was taken back by mayank's name.
"Jee mama.."
"Usne tmara proposal bhejha hai. Bachpan se samne pala bara hai. Hmen to koi aitraaz nahe. Tmare papa keh rahe thay tmse poochloon aik baar."
"Agar apko koi aitraaz nahe to mujhe bhe nahe.."
...
Nupur was calling Gunjan constantly and she was not attending the call.
"Had hai. Pata nahe kahan chali gaye hai.."
Suddenly her phone rang and she quickly picked up, "Gunjan kidhr the? Kb se phone kr rah hoon. Ab jaldi se baat suno. Mama ne bulaya tha. Kehti hin mayank ke taraf se proposal aya hai. Aur in logon ko koi aitraaz nahe. Meine kaha apko nahe to mujhe bhe nahe. Uff. Keh dia han meine. Subah se samjh he nahe aa rahe the kese kahen.."
"Nupur.."
Nupur heard the voice and her mind went blank. She placed the mobile at an arm's lenght and saw the caller ID flashing the name Mayank Sharma.
she could have just disconnected the call and acted as if it never happened. Or she could just throw away her mobile, pack a bag and go to a far away place for as long as it takes to overcoe this embarassment.
Just when she was about to go with the latter she heard her name being called out again from a distance since she was still hoolding the mobile away from herself.
she took a deep breath and placed the mobile back at her ear," sorry. I thought Gunjan hai.."
"I am glad Gunjan nahe the. Warna mujhe ye sb sunne ka sharf kese hasil hota?"
"Apne kyun phone kia?"
"Tmare dad ka phone aya tha han ka aur mein tmse confirm kiay bagair baat agay nahe barhana chahta tha."
"Hogaya confirm? Mein Gunjan ko call krloon?"
She heard him chuckle and again thought about her other plan to escape.
"Han krlo. Sham ke liay invite bhe krlena."
"Kyun? Sham ko invite kisliay?"
"Sham ko tmare parents ne ghr bulaya hai. Baat pakki krne ke liay. Diya ke wajah se Mein abhe koi bara function nahe chahta. Tm Gunjan ko bula lo.."
"Hmm.."
"Kya hua?"
"Kuch nahe .. mein Gunjan ko call krloon.."
"Han theekh hai.. sham ko milte hain.."
Nupur disconnected the call and took a few deep breaths before calling Gunjan. She narrated everything but not with the same vigour and she wasnt sure why.
Gunjan on the other hand was very excited. "Sham ko mein to abhe a rahe hoon, acha ye batao sham ko pehno ge kya? Nupur tm wo pink wala pehan lo?'
They kept on discussing cloths and stuff and before Nupur could reflect on her mood, she was pulled into the hue and cry downstairs for everyone was panicking and she had to go manage the situation.
...
Everyone seemed happy at the gathering. It was a small function, but everyone seemed to be having a great time. However Mayank and Gunjan kept glacing at Nupur. She seemed, ... Off.
Gunjan had first thought it was because everything was happening so quickly. But she couldnt shake off the feeling that soMething was bothering Nupur.
neither could Mayank overlook the stark change in her tone. On the call she seemed excited, anxious but excited. Now she sounded troubled. That is if she said anything. Mostly she just kept quiet.
soon after the dinner the girls gathered in the other room but Gunjan had no chance to talk alone with Nupur.
aleena: "wese Nupur tmne bhe kamal kia parhane diya ko aye the, aur parha Mayank bhai ko dia."
Diya:" aleena.."
Aleena: "mein to bus aiwen he mazaq kr rahe the.. wese function proper bhe hona chahiay. Koi tuk banta hai aise.mayank sharma ke baat pakki hue hai akhir. Zaroor tmne kaha hoga Nupur.."
Diya:" -Nupur ne kyun kaha hoga. Mil kr decision lia hoga. Aur wese bhe ye ink personal matter hai Aleena.."
Aleena:"tm abhe se inka personal matter bana do. Aik to tmara masla nahe samjh aata mujhe>"
Gunjan: acha ap dono chai piyen gay? Ao Nupur hm ja kr bana len na.."
As soon as they were in the kitchen Gunjan hugged Nupur and asked, "Nupur mujhe tension ho rahe hai. Kya hua hai tmen? You seemed so happy and excited. But ab tmara ajeeb sa mood hai and dont lie to me."
"There is nothing to tell Gunjan. Mein.. mein hmesha kehte the ke yahan per sb manage krlia hai agay husband aisa ho jo sb khud manage kre. But na subah call per aik dum mayank ne aik dum se bus sb decide krke bata dia aur mujhe .. matlab.. I dont know.'
"Ye sb tm mujhse bhe keh sakti ho Nupur.."
Nupur and Gunjan both looked up to find Mayank standing at the door.
"Andaza to mujhe tha ke kch bother kr raha hai tmen but is baat ka andaza nahe tha.."
Gunjan:" mein zara Diya aur aleena ko dekh aon.."
Nupur pleaded with her eyes for Gunjan to stay and Mayank gave expression to hr words.
"Aik minute Gunjan. Ye baat mein Nupur se tmare samne krna chahta hoon.. this is new for me. Ghar ka bara hoon iseleye raye lene ke ya discuss krne ke adat nahe hai. Per iska ye matlab nahe hai ke mujhe tmara khayal nahe hai. Ya tmara nazriya mere liay important nahe. Mein koshish kroonga ke ainda ke is baat ka khayal rkhoon."
Gunjan: (looking at Nupur) tm bhe koi baat mere samne krna chahti ho ya mein jaon?"
Nupur glared at Gunjan while Mayank merely chuckled. Nupur saw Gunjan genuinely smile at Mayank and along with what mayank had said she felt herself relaxed.
she looked at mayank to find him looking at her as if waiting for a reply. She smiled and simply said thankyou. But Gunjan and Mayank bot knew that wasenough for the moment.
Udne Ki Aasha
Cricket
293