The staff in Gulmohur gaze in astonishment as they see Raj and Nandu leaving together.😆 They meet Beauty on the way and she too stops short on seeing them. Raj steps towards her with a broad grin.
Raj: Hi beautiful…..I mean, Beauty….(Nandu seethes)…aajkal toh tum nazar hi nahin aati…..arre yaar, hum ek hi office mein kaam karte hain, kabhi-kabhi milne aa jaya karo mere cabin mein…..😉
Beauty: (taken aback) Hello Raj sir….
Nandu: (impatiently) Beauty, main aur Raj kuch important kaam discuss karne lunch pe ja rahe hain…..toh aaj hum saath lunch nahin…
Raj: Kya baat kar rahe ho Nandu……bhool gaye, Beauty bhi hamare saath chal rahi hai…? (Nandu obviously has not forgotten but was trying to wriggle out of it!😃) Chalogi na Beauty…..iss boring lunch mein thoda interest add karne ke liye….?
Nandu glares but Beauty nods, perhaps understanding why this drama is being enacted. As the threesome step out together, Pari sees them and gives a staggered look. "Omigosh…..lagta hai ab mujhe bhi chashme lagane padenge….maine jo dekha wo toh ho hi nahin sakta!"😆😆
The three settle down in a nearby restaurant with cozy lighting. Raj gazes around with exaggerated appreciation.
Raj: A—ah! Kitni romantic jagah hai…..mann karta hai ki kaash yahan kisi special someone ke saath aayein…bas do dil ho, aur beech mein koi kabab mein haddi na bane….(gazes meaningfully at Beauty😕)
Beauty stares wide-eyed at him. Nandu gulps and grabs the menu card. "Order karein?" he says with asperity.
Raj: Of course, of course….(snatches the menu from nandu and hands it to Beauty)…..let the lady order her heart's desire!
Beauty timidly reads the menu and places the order. As soon as the waiter leaves, Nandu demands, "Raj, kuch socha tumne….uss baare mein..?"
Raj: (nonchalantly): Come on, kya jaldi hai….yeh baatein office mein hoti rahengi…..tum jab Beauty ko baahar leke aate ho toh kya hamesha hi aisi boring baatein karte ho…? Phir toh achcha hua ki main tumhare saath aa gaya….bechari ko company dene ke liye….
The soup arrives. Nandu looks ready to pour it on Raj's head. Beauty looks pleadingly at Raj. He winks back naughtily. Nandu sees the wink and spills his bowl of soup on himself.
Beauty: Arre……
Raj: Tch tch…..tumhari shirt pe saara soup gir gaya….jaldi jao aur washroom mein isse saaf kar lo…..(sees Nandu's reluctance)…Beauty ki chinta mat karo, main hoon na!
Nandu obviously is less in a mood to leave then ever but has no choice but to go. As soon as he leaves, Beauty looks reproachfully at Raj.
Beauty: Raj sir, aap yeh sab kyun kar rahe hain?
Raj laughs heartily. "Mujhe toh bahut mazaa aa raha hai….bechara Nandu yeh lunch kabhi nahin bhool payega!
B: Raj sir!
R: Beauty, main achchi tarah jaanta hoon ki Nandu Amritsar kyun chalna chahta hai…(Beauty blushes)….ab agar wo wahan itna achcha waqt guzaarne wala hai, toh uske liye usse thoda tadpana toh jaayaz hai…?
Nandu, as soon as he turns the corner, stops and watches them from his hiding-place. All he can see is that they are talking very earnestly.😉 He seems half-inclined to rush back, stained shirt and all, but a waiter passing by looks questioningly at him. Nandu is embarrassed and rushes to the washroom.
Raj finishes his lunch and gets up. Beauty asks, "Aap kahaan ja rahe hain?"
Raj: Waapas Gulmohur. Aaj mujhe bahut kaam hai….ab itne achche entertainment ke baad, main bilkul refresh ho kar kaam pe jaunga! Mr Nandan Verma jab aa jayein toh unhe keh dena ki wo Amritsar ja sakte hain!
Beauty: (delightedly) Kya….? Thank you so much, Raj sir…….!
Raj puts up a hand to stop her flow of gratitude. "It's fine…..wo toh main waise bhi approve kar deta…..par issi bahane mujhe free lunch mil gaya…..Nandu se kehna, mera bill wo pay karega!" With this he smiles impishly and walks off. Beauty gazes after him in amused admiration.
Tomorrow: JandA are discussing Meghna.
