Nandu stands rooted to the spot as Meghna tells him that she has guessed it was he who scared Angel out of her wits. Finally he finds his voice.
Nandu: (gulping) Toh…ab tum kya chahti ho…?
Meghna: (narrowing her eyes) Ummmm…?
Nandu: Tum sab ko bataa dogi kya?
Meg: (shaking her head for emphasis) Nahin!!
Nandu: (disbelievingly) Nahin???
Meg: As I said…..nahin!
Nandu: (suspiciously) Kyun?
Meg: Because I don't think yeh koi badi baat hai…….you won't believe it, par bachpan mein, main apne chotu…..I mean, Aryan ko aise bahut daraati thi….you should have seen his expressions….bechara bilkul darr se tremble kar raha hota tha!
Nandu: Really? Aryan darr jaata tha?
Meg: Haan!! (in a softer voice) ……mera chotu…..kid brother…..i miss you!! (sighs)
Nandu smiles sympathetically at her, thinking, "Main kahin sapna toh nahin dekh raha hun? Yeh Meghna Seth hi hai, ya uska bhoot……" Then he angrily pushes away the thought, "Nandan Verma, abhi bhi sudhar ja….phir kabhi yeh 'bhoot' shabd mat kehna……teri vaat lag jayegi!"
Meghna brushes away a tear and turns cheerful again, smiling conspiratorially at Nandu. "Actually, mujhe bahut maza aaya…..Angel ne bore kar diya tha….jab se aayo hai, complain kar rahi hai……issliye usse itna scared dekh kar, I really had fun!" Holding out her hand, she makes a surprising request—"Friends?"
Nandu takes her hand dazedly, and nods without realizing it.
Meg: Great! Toh tumhe meri help karni hogi!
Nandu: Help?
Meg: Haan……now see, tumne jhoot bol kar, mujhe bhoot ke baare mein excited bana diya….aur phir disappoint kiya…toh ab tumhe mujhe ek real bhoot se milana hoga…..kal raat auntie jis bhoot ke baare mein bataa rahi thi, main usse milna chahti hoon!
Nandu: Kaun…kaunsa bhoot?
Meg: Wahi, jo full moon night ko nikalta hai…..jo uss bayan tree mein rehta hai….Nandu, tum aaj raat mujhe wahaan le chaloge?
Nandu: Dekho Meghna….main tumhair har baat maane ko taiyar hoon….par yeh raat ko bhoot se milna jaana….yeh, yeh safe nahin hai….!
Meg: Come on…..don't tell me tum darr gaye…..and I assure you, koi bhoot hamara kuch nahin bigaadega…..main har bhoot se deal karna jaanti hoon….
Nandu thinks, "Haan……wo toh tumhe dekhte ho darr ke maare bhaag jaate honge!"
Meg: Well….?
Nandu: Lekin Meghna…..
She turns and walks off with an exaggerated sigh. "Hmmmm…..i think Puru uncle ko sab bataana hi….."
Nandu runs after her. "Please Meghna…….achcha achcha…..theek hai…..main tumhare saath chalunga!"
Meg: (grinning) Great! Toh aaj raat, theek 11o'clock….okay?
Nandu: (quaking) Okay!
He walks inside to find Beauty. She is helping Bua with the day's meal. Bebe is dangling Vedika on her lap. Beauty starts on seeing Nandu's washed-out face.
Beauty: Kya hua Nandu??
Nandu: (staring around at the others) Kuch…kuch bhi toh nahin!
Bua: Arre…kuch kaise nahin? Tumhare chehre se aisa lagta hai jaise tumne koi bhoot dekha ho!
Nandu: Bh…bhoot?
Beauty stares anxiously at him. Bebe rebukes, "Ab bas bhi karo….kal raat se bas bhoot-bhoot hi sun rahi hoon…….koi bhoot-voot nahin hota…..aur tum log, Vedika ke saamne aisi koi baat nahin karoge!"
Vedika: Badi dadi…..kal raat ko bhoot aaya tha kya?
Bebe: Arre nahin beta…..maine kaha na, koi bhoot nahin hota…Angel bua ne bura sapna dekha tha, bas……achcha, tum ab baahar jake khelo….
Vedika skips off. Bua looks disgruntled.
Bua: Bebe, aap meri baat maano ya na maano…..par uss ped mein, 150 saalon se ek pandit ka bhoot rehta hai…jo uss ped ke neeche guzarta hai, usse wo Hanuman Chalisa poochta hai…aur jisse wo nahin aati, usse wo kauva banaa deta hai……
Bebe sighs and walks out. Nandu looks ready to faint. He stumbles out of the room. Bua looks after him in consternation.
Bua: Isko kya hua? Iski tabiyat toh theek hai na?
Beauty: (hastily) Main dekhti hoon….(walks out)
Beauty: Nandu, kya hua? Maine Meghnaji ko aapse baat karte hue dekha….lekin sun nahin paayi…kahin unhe pata toh nahin chal gaya?
Nandu nods miserably. Beauty puts her hand to her mouth.
Beauty: Toh kya…kya wo sabko bataa dengi?
Nandu: Nahin….lekin uski ek shart hai?
Beauty: Kaisi shart?
Nandu: Mujhe uske saath, aaj raat ek bhoot se milne jaan hoga!
Beauty gasps.
Monday: In the dead of the night….
Celebrity Fan Clubs
