P&P Part III - Page 43

Energy & Exhaustion

“Kya hua?” Ma growled “Hellooo… when did you get here?” Ma did a polite namaste, he reached for a quick hug much to Ma’s embarrassment

Ma was not “there” yet Viveka realized amused, the ultra wealthy always hugged everyone

“Bhabhi, iske husband aaye hain aur isne mujhe bataya nahi BATAO” like Dadi

“Haan to?”

“Hum nightie mein kaam karwa rahe the”

“KAUN sa kaam?” Ma had no ide

“Idhar aao aap” Chachi dragged her into an open room

Raanav and Viveka exchanged a look

“Sorry, I don’t know what to say”

“I am fine” he laughed

As he watched Chachi explain animatedly about how her dignity was violated by appearing in front of Raanav like that

Dadi walked by with two jars of something from the Raanav gift basket

Much to Viveka’s embarrassment

“Yeh kya laaya beta, padh to” she handed to Raanav

He read out the names of the nut butter and the fruit preserve

“Hamey to samajh mein aaya nah ai…. ITNI badi botal? BATAO?” she asked Viveka

Viveka squirmed

Raanav gingerly handed them to his wife

“Arey, hamey do beta, bachan ko doongi,” she pointed to the boys who were now hooked on video game in the living room TV

Viveka turned red with self realization

Dadi had done exactly what she had whispered

Raanav did not put her on a spot tho

“Did u burn the chai?” he asked softly

She ran into the kitchen and found a dark curdled mess on the stove

“Uffff” she began making more

Ma came to the kitchen

Raanav was helping the boys play

“Tumhe KAHA hai maine bachon ki responsibility MAT lo beta” Anu whispered, grabbing a glass of water

“I have to be here by Dadi, she acted like she was still sick, I cant take them downstairs right?”

“PAPA kaha hai?”

“Discharge remember? Dadi had already told everyone how her DIL was sleeping off jet lag

“Mere liye kuch kaha?”

“Nahi Maa” “Realx” Viveka lied

“Kuch do, bhai Raanav ko”

“He refused poha”

“Subah subah kyon aaya hai”

“Mujhe lene” she mumbled

She couldn’t look at her mother she was blushing like a giddy teenager

“Fridge mein idli ka batter pada hai wohi bana do”

“He wont eat” she growled

“POOCHHHO TO” Ma ordered raising her voice

She went out obediently

“raanav, idli khaogey?”

“No… I am not hungry he said turning to look at her

“MA HE IS NOT HUNGRY”

Dadi and Chachi were embellishing their sides of the story

“You have to eat something, I can”

“Don’t worry… I came to get her”

“Isko hum aur mahina rakh lete hain” Ma hugged Viveka after scolding her hard inside

“I am sure she will love THAT” Raanav’s lips twitched

“Of course I will”

“AAP?” Ma insisted

“Eh… uh..” he didn’t respond

“Press wala mere kapde laayega uske baad chalen?”

“Sure” he shrugged

“UNCLE? Jeejaji hain” Ma scolded the boys

“Jeejaaa jeee” the boys giggled like silly toddlers

Dadi came out inscrutable

“Mere liye kuch bana lo, jee ghabra raha hai” dadi began her complaints

“Aap Bauji se mil liye”

“Abhi kaha, GHAR KA KAAM ITNA hai” “Batao”

“Ek kaam karti hoon, aapko Veev ke saath bhej doon?”

“Umm… abi ruk jao” Dadi plotted

“Yeh kaun laaya?” Ma spotted the basket and quizzed

“For Dadu” Viveka explained

“ITNA saara kyon laaye beta?” Anu said politely in shock

“Arey bachan kha lenge” Amma embarrassed her “Isne abhi Naukri kee hai thak jaati hai” Dadi cooed about Chachi

“Ma, yeh Bauji ke liye laaye”

“Amma rehne do main nahi lekar jaaoongi” Chachi declared from the inside

Viveka handed him chai

Ma sat down in the living room, and he asked her about the trip, and about Germany, she described the town, and about Swords Ireland where she briefly went for a couple days

The mood changed with the topic

Viveka organized her things in a tote back

She had packed more books and journals to bring with her

“Is she applying someplace for Fall?”

Ma gave Raanav the respect and asked him about his wife

“I hope she is, I am pushing her to” he said politely

The truth was, she had wanted time to heal and he was not going to push

They talked about his work next

Chachi was locked back up in Viveka’s room

The parlor girl was being made to wait

Dadi realized Viveka was leaving so she waddled out and told Raanav OUT OF THE BLUE

“4 din Ma key yaha chhoda to patni ko lekar man tadap raha hai” Dadi joked

Raanav didn’t quite get Dadi’s twang he looked confused

“Amma aap bhi beemar ho gaye warna yeh chali jaati” Amma told her off

“Jyada mat satao hamari Biveka ko”

Hev didn’t get that either

“She is ordering you not to harass me too much” Viveka translated

“Is that right” he chuckled

“I cant promise” he smiled impishly at Dadi

“Ghar mein saara kaam kiya hai isne chaar din se, thoda soney do isko”

Dadi fondly caressed Viveka’s hair

“In case you needed conjugal advice” Ma hissed under her breath

Ranaav should have told aur chaar din see main theek se nahi soya.

Smrita seems to be better character as compared to chachi.

I’m low key sad to see Viveka go because Dadi with Raanav is hilarious to see 😂 As for Chachi, pft 😏

Originally posted by: Arshi67

I’m low key sad to see Viveka go because Dadi with Raanav is hilarious to see 😂 As for Chachi, pft 😏

Dadi is like garam masala, without which the food will be bland 😆

Just imagine if it was Dadi who had the heart surgery, they would have discharged her within few hours after she gained consciousness.

Hospital people would have said , arre leke jao isse, we cannot tolerate her anymore 😆

"Subah subah kyon aaya hai”

”Don’t worry… I came to get her”

Consistency...speaks his mind. Smrita when she deliberately walked on them, Lekha when she laughed at Vi taking the metro because she needed Rathji to lug her friends and today to Anu that Vi (my wife) needs to go home 🤗😘

All of us have blind spots and are not perfect and so is your characterization. Have a wonderful weekend 😍

Mam can we get two lengthy updates

Pls mam

Hi Nisha ,

Hope all is well. Waiting eagerly to read next update . Please do update today ..

Thank you 🙏

• "I want to write. I want to write stories that make people feel less alone than I did. I want to make people laugh about the things in life that are painful. That’s what I wanna do."
— Hannah Horvath (Girls Season 6, Episode 3: American Bitch)

Things

Maybe she wanted to keep the Mathurs out, maybe she worried for her husband’s health, Smrita did not want a big Lohri

Satyen’s brother was expected to come in with Mitalee and Viren and Nupur and Inder were expected to come by for a week as well

The house was going to be full again

Lekha was off to a “weekend getaway with girls the day Viveka returned

Lohri was on Thursday the 14th, 5 days from now, Ma had sent Dadi with her and Raanav

Chachi didn’t like it one bit, but it was Ma’s house, she was paying for Dadu’s surgery, SHE was hosting Dadu anD Dadi for months now

The boys went too, so they could ride the smooth luxury car

Ma let the plumber finish his work and went back to sleep, Chachi got dressed up after her “at home spa day” and went shopping. It worked out great for all

When Papa returned around 3ish from Bua’s he found Ma asleep and the twins fixing lunch

“Dekha maine Biwi ko lene aa gaye janab?” Papa was proud

“Even if they don’t care for her they want her around I guess” Ma scowled

“Kya hua?” he was worried

“Just sayin yaar” Ma combed and braided her hair, feeling refreshed and well rested

“Satyen ji ache hain yaar”

“I know he texted me how my trip was etc. I wonder how he remembers everything” Ma was ashamed a bit

“isko kehte hain modern technology and Rajeev Syal” Papa laughed tapping his phone

“Naina ko mili job?”

“they will tell her soon” Papa sighed

“Achhi khaasi Naukri thi”

“I know, but what to do, we have to let the kids make mistakes” Papa nodded

“You seem to be in a very pleasant mood” Ma smiled

“Papa ghar pahunch gaye aur kya?” he smiled sheepishly

Ma had a sister and a brother, neither of who could come to Viveka’s wedding

Ma wanted to go over at least for Holi

“Rajat Saxenaji ko kaho YAHIN aa jaayenge Holi par”

Papa stared at a text message Rajat Mama had sent to group chat

“How can we host all of them if Ma Bauji are here”

“Waise Lohri ka nyota aaya hai apne samdhi se” Papa laughed

“Asthanas ke yahan se?” Ma pulled loose hair viciously from her brush

“Nahi, Parashars ke yahan se”

Ma dropped the brush

“We never thought about what we need to gift” “That boy brought a giant basket when she was sick, aaj phir Bauji ke liye, na shaadi mein kuch diya humne”

“Maanga thodi” papa was relaxed “Bahar basket to khali hai” Akash laughed

“Who koi baat nahi, Amma Garima ko keh rahi thi she needs stamina since she is a working woman now” Anu said carelessly rearranging her closet “I doubt Bauji would have eaten any of those preserves and butters and granolas”

“Main kha leta, taaqat to mujhe bhi chahiye” Akash mumbled sadly

Anu laughed hysterically

He flung a pillow at her at the double entendre/ innuendo

“We don’t want Smrita to say, they got a whole country from Tandons, and got nothing from Mathurs” Anu choked getting words out

“Country to main de nahi paaoonga”

“Theek hai phir ek island de do” Anu laughed

He began to laugh

“It must be insane to be so rich yaar. Main dekh raha tha, hospital bills, after insurance, since Bauji is not immediate family, lagta hai kam se kam Rs.4.15 lakhs lag jaayega, pre post op, etc milakar”

Papa wore his glasses and stretched his phone out to arm’s length and stared at it

“Hmm… to de do na”

“savi pooch rahi thi who de de kya?” Papa spoke softly still not looking up

And he held his breath

“Kya matlab?” Ma stacked unworn clothes from her hand baggage back into the closet

“U know… Anil to de nahi paayega, who dena chahti hai”

“Akash are you serious?” “It fails the whole purpose of CARING FOR A PARENT” “Yaar” Anu was distressed

“To kya hua yaar, beti hai ghar ki”

Its inappropriate”” Anu was upset

Diya brought a large bowl of friend rice

“Aaja beta” he hugged her and had her sit down

“Can I bring one for Ma”

“Chachi ko diya?” Ma asked with concern

“Oh she left already to Saket Mall”

“Arey wah”

“She called Prit Uncle (taxi stand near by) and took the Toyota I think” Diya mumbled

Anu nodded

“Sahih ai yaar, inko sab procedure pakka ho chuka hai” Akash chuckled

“Aaj kal thodi aa rahe hain yeh log Dilli, they’ve been coming for 15 years so why not” Anu didn’t care

Akash admired her

Anu didn’t throw a fit about giving her newest car to a woman who systematically did everything to disrespect her. She didn’t attach childish value to things most women did. She was not a petty score settler

She was forthright and spoke up when Garima hurt or insulted her but there was no wrangling over things

“Who wahin se Savi key aha chali gayi to office kaise jaoogi?”

“Kal Sunday hai Monday ko main Metro le loongi”

“Ma ke liye lao beta”

“AAP MUJHE yeh bowl do, aur thodi wait kar lo” Ma dug in smacking her lips “Karu ne banaya?”

“Jee Ma…”

“Kya karogi Lohri ke liye, kya dena chahti ho?” Akash looked at his wife’s face with hunger

“Shame on you, this my first meal of the day” She scooped a spoonful and extended her arm

He accepted it with a laugh

“Kamal bhaisaab key aha se bracelet wagairah le aayen diamond ka” Ma mumbled

“Raanav ko kya dein?”

“Veev se baat kar lo”

“I doubt she will want anything specific” Akash spoke knowingly

“Kya pata? Abhi shaadi ho gayi hai, she has a data point in the form of Lekha Tandon in the same house, kya pata she might want something for Raanav that Lekha’s family gifted Rakshit” Ma spoke logically

The couple went home after too many delays along the way

“Were you actually going to sell the plumber’s things if he didn’t return?” Raanav whispered on her cheek fondling her with urgency shutting and bolting the suite door

“Nahi…bas dara rahi thi” she sighed

He chuckled

“You are a badass!” he smiled on her neck

“Tumhe mujhse dar lagta hai?”

“A lot” he said wrapping her tightly in his arms

He was willing to be a bum, with this woman…. Just lay there on her body, moving slowly,

She was the one that feared being alone in bed but he had found he had stayed up most nights when she was not around

He imagined his entirety of life

He would be making love and enjoying the wintry sunshine, the blazing hot summers the sticky monsoon rains

day after day with no care in the world

“I could easily be a bum” he groaned stretching unselfconsciously his chest muscles tautening, Viveka averted her eyes, rationalizing the prickle of hungry self awareness that swept her body like a rash. She felt so intimately connected to this man. Feeling a vivid tingling in her upper body

“Tumhara samaan bechoongi nahi” she promised weakly as he watched her curves tremble with each breath she took

He reached with his hand and weighed her on his large palm, his fingers cupping the swell, his thumb rode high

“Thanks” “I might put up a messy fight” he whispered as she groan chuckled massaging her in his hand