thanks everyone 😊 Remember Angad is a risk taker in this ff, that is why he used to make bets on everything. Even tho he does not bet openly, he is always taking chances as he believes in high risk-high gain 😊
PART 29:
Tanya reached home with Prateek but was still disturbed about Prateek's absence from the school for such a long time, and the whole driver/cap issue was just weird.
"kya mainey logon par vishwas karna chhod diya hai? Why have I become so cynical about everything? Will I ever be able to trust people again? Mishti kitni achchi hai…aakhir wo mujhsey jhooth kyon bolegi? Aakhir Prateek ka kitna dhyan rakhti hai….ho sakta hai jab Prateek ko apney ghar le gayi ho tho kuch aur kaam yaad aa gaya hoga…..No..No I should not doubt her…..sab log ek jaise thode hi hote hain…." Tanya reassured and promised herself that she would become a little more easy going-as long as prateek was happy and well taken care of-she would ignore some of these incidental happenings in her life.
NEXT DAY:
Mishti asked Tanya, "Tanya…Prateek ka birthday kab hota hai?"
"Oh wo…bas 2 din mein hai…kyon poonch rahi ho?"
"Well, main chahti hoon ki Prateek ka first birthday main apney ghar karoon…..wahan bahut log bhi aayenge….it will be a good opportunity to get to know some people in Mumbai….mere kaafi friends ke bachche bhi hain….Prateek ko aagey jaakar friends bhi tho banaane hain…what do you think?"
"Idea tho achcha hai…par..par.."
"Par kya? Then it is decided…..bas kuch school ke log honge, hamare kuch close friends and Prateek's buddies-to-be"
"Lekin Mishti tum mere liye itna sab kyon kar rahi ho? Aakhir I am just an employee…"
"Tumhare liye nahin kar rahi…Prateek ke liye kar rahi hoon….he is the superstar of our school…..hamare MD sahib bhi bahut marte hain tumhare bete par….kya khaakar paida kiya tha….must have good genes" Mishti just winked and made some phone calls to arrange for the party.
Tanya hesitated at the last comment and got up to leave, but remembered, "tho MD sahib bhi aayengey kya? Maine unki itni tareef suni hai…par kabhi mili nahin…."
Mishti's expression changed from a smile to a serious one, "well…Tanya….MD sahib badhi parties pasand nahin karte…jab se unki wife ki death ki khabar aayi hai….he has become a recluse you see….tho shayad nahin aayenge…."
Tanya was disappointed but left to join her group for the rehearsals.
PRATEEK's BIRTHDAY PARTY:
Angad had made arrangements to decorate Mishti's house very festively for his son's 1 st birthday. There were balloons and decorations everywhere. There was a clown, a bounce house and lots of party games to keep the kids of various ages entertained.
He had ordered various kinds of foods and a large cake for the birthday boy.
"Angad kitna achcha hota tum bhi party mein reh sakte…." Damini Bose said sadly
"Aunty…dekhna agley saal mere bina party nahin hogi…aap tho jaanti hain abhi thodi complication hai…." Angad apologized. Damini Bose was aware of what was going on with Angad's life. She had taken the liberty of mentioning this to Naina also. Naina was, therefore, very excited about the party and dying to meet her grandson. Mishti and Angad had prohibited Naina and Damini from revealing the secret out to Tanya.
Dilip was traveling and was unaware of what was going on.
Tanya and Nishant arrived promptly at 6 pm. The guests were expected to arrive in another hour or so. Nishant helped Mishti with some of the arrangements and was just happy to spend time with Mishti at some pretext. Mishti did not mind either, as she had started enjoying Nishant's company lately.
Angad settled himself in the guest room at Mishti's house with a closed TV circuit installed, so he could watch the celebrations himself. He was pleased to see both Tanya and Prateek in a cheerful mood. Tanya looked ravishing in her yellow saree and Prateek looked as handsome as his dad in a cute baby-tuxedo! Angad wanted to jump into the TV monitor and go and hug his family.
Tanya was amazed at the level of preparation Mishti and her family had done for her son's party. She was a little uncomfortable with all the glamour and glitter of the party-this was certainly not her idea of celebrating her son's birthday-but she decided to accept things as they came-after all they all loved her son! She was a little nostalgic about how her family used to celebrate her birthdays so simply …..wo din shayad ab kabhi wapas na aaye…..she remembered her birthday from 2 years ago……her life had never been the same after that day……kaash us din main uske gaane par fida nahin huyi hoti tho aaj…..tho aaj shayad meri zindagi mein Prateek bhi nahin hota…her inner voice tried to reason with her…….
Damini Bose was a gracious host and made sure Tanya and Prateek were very comfortable. She introduced Tanya to some of the other families and their kids. Naina arrived with a huge stuffed bear in her hand. She spotted her grandson in Damini's arms and rushed with her present.
"Arre….kitna pyaara bachcha hai….bilkul mere Ang..g….mera matlab hai mere bete jaisa hi lagta hai…" Naina corrected herself from a major slip of the tongue.
Tanya looked at this boisterous lady and was perplexed at how overly affectionate this lady was to Prateek.
Naina turned towards Tanya, "beti…main Naina Khanna hoon….tumhara beta bahut pyara hai….mujhey bilkul apne bete ki yaad dilatha hai….isko kabhi ghar lekar aana…." Tanya was initially startled to hear the last name, but realized that is a common surname......duniya mein aur bhi bahut Khannas hain....
Tanya smiled and nodded her head, "thanks aunty…..aapka beta kahan hai….party mein nahin aaya?"
Mishti intervened, hoping Naina would not blurt out Angad's name… "aao Tanya…main tumhey kuch logon se milaati hoon….."
"Prateek ko mere paas hi chhod do.." Naina insisted.
The birthday party was a big success with all the visitors, specially the kids. Prateek really enjoyed the attention. By the end of the party, his lips and face were smeared in chocolate, cake and frosting. He was beginning to get a little tired and whiny by now. Tanya excused herself, "main Prateek ko zara change karney le jaathi hoon," Tanya was relieved to get Prateek away from the over stimulating environment and get a breathe of fresh air.
She was directed to the guest room by one of the servants.
The guest room door was closed. Tanya gently knocked the door and entered quietly.
Angad was glued to the TV monitor trying to locate Tanya and Prateek. Suddenly, he heard the door behind him open with the crying sound of a baby. He turned around and to his shock saw Tanya trying to console Prateek by rocking him. Angad ducked below and slid underneath the bed. Tanya held on to Prateek, still rocking and trying to soothe him. Prateek's gaze fell on Angad's face peeking from under the bed. Angad made cute faces at Prateek. Prateek suddenly got distracted by the familiar face and started laughing at Angad's funny facial expressions. Tanya was bewildered at the sudden change in Prateek's temperament. She kissed him and put him down to change his diaper and clothes, "Prateek tum bhi bilkul unpredictable hote jaa rahe ho…bilkul apne papa jaise……"
Tanya's words were like music to Angad's ears……bilkul apne papa jaisa…..he had not heard more pleasant words in his life…..
…..to be continued…..
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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