The morning after Diwali, everyone stirs and gets up a little later than usual. Surprisingly, though, Meghna is the first to wake. When Beauty goes to the handpump to draw out her water, she is taken aback to see her pacing round the courtyard.
Beauty: Meghna ji, kya hua? Aapko neend nahin aa rahi kya?
Meghna: Neend? Oh c'mon Beauty….ab toh suabh ho gayi hai!
Beauty: Haan, par…..aapko itni jaldi jage hue maine pehle kabhi nahin dekha, issliye pooch liya…..
Meg hesitates for a moment, then grabs the surprised Beauty's arm. "Actually….main bahut impatient hoon…..main jiss kaam ke liye yahan aayi thi, wo abhi tak nahin hua hai….kya tum meri help karogi?
Beauty: (cautiously) Kaisa kaam? (thinks: Ab yeh phir kisi bhoot-voot ke chakkar mein mujhe ne phasa de!)
Meg: Beauty, mujhe un siddh baba se milna hai….
Beauty: (taken aback) Siddh baba? Wahi jo parle pind mein rehte hai….?
Meg: Whatever…..mujhe inki location kaise pata hogi? Par mujhe Chaman ne bataya tha….ki unhe maatha padhna aata hai…aur wo..wo har problem ko cure kar sakte hai….I have to meet him! Tum mujhe le chalo na!
Beauty: Achcha…..(thinks) …..Theek hai, lekin ghar mein sabko bata ke jaana hoga…aur hum dono akele nahin ja sakte….
Meg: (impatiently) Kyun? Hum dono kyun nahin ja sakte?
Beauty: Aap pind ki khatara bus mein kabhi nahin baithe honge……wahaan pahunchte-pahunchte aapki haalat kharabho jayegi….aur koi raasta nahin hai jaane ka…
Meg: Kyun? Armaan ne car rent toh ki hai….wo kis din kaam aayegi?
Beauty: Aap car chala loge?
Meg: What do you think? Main Austalian outback mein har tarah ki transport se aboriginal colonies tak gayi hoon….Africa ke jungles mein ja chuki hoon….Peru ke Andes mountains mein Incas ki talaash ki hai maine….aur main tumhare iss pind mein car nahin chala sakti?
Beauty: Par…..Armaan jeeju maan jayenge kya?
Meg: (grimly) Usse manna hi hoga!
Beauty shudders to herself. "Babaji, pata nahin ye kaise gaddi chalati hogi….hamari salamati ab aapke haath mein hai!"
Armaan looks annoyed when Meghna nonchalantly informs hi that she will be taking his car for a trip to the nearby village. "Kyun?" he demands, jaw clenching.
Meg: We-ll…..main yahan thoda bore ho rahi thi toh socha, thodi drive pe chali jaun….Beauty bhi mere saath chal rahi hai…
Armu: Meghna, tum jaanti ho ki hum yeh car issliye laye the, taaki agar koi emergency ho toh hum Jassi ko nearest hospital tak le ja sake…..aur tum usse saara din….aur waise bhi, tumhe yahan ke raaste nahin pata….
Meg: Wo tum mujh par chod do…aur jahan tak car ki baat hai, mujhe nahin lagta ki ek din mein Jassi ko koi emergency hogi….
Jassi comes from behind and gently puts her hand on Armaan's arm. "Armaan", she whispers, "Jaane do na usse….mujhe koi problem nahin hogi…"
Armu turns protestingly. "Lekin Jassi….."
Jassi: (looking pleadingly into his eyes) Please Armaan….uska dil mat todo….pehli baar toh wo tumse kuch maang rahi hai…..
Armu shrugs resignedly and turns back to Meghna. "Theek hai, le jao….lekin shaam se pehle tum dono ko ghar aa jaana chahiye, got it? Main nahin chahta ki tumhare kaaran mom aur dad ko chinta ho.."
Meghna actually grins at him and skips off. Armu puts his arm around Jassi and sighs.
Next day:
A jittery Beauty and cock-a-hoop Meghna set off towards the neighbouring village to meet the siddh baba. Meghna is thinking, "Finally wo din aa gaya jiske liye main yahan aayi thi….aaj main un baba se milkar unse saari knowledge le loongi: forehead-reading, future dekhna, healing…….aur Mumbai jaakar, apna Yantric-Tantric Healing Center start karungi……Meghna Seth will be famous!"
Tomorrow: The meeting
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Cricket
