Jassi's god-bharai is due to start in a few minutes. She is standing before the mirror in her room, pinning her sari in place. It is an ethnic one with a large border, in pink and blue, quite different from the gauzy, designer ones she has been wearing so far. Armaan comes in and stops short in awe. She looks shyly at him. "Armaan…main theek lag rahi hoon?"
He comes closer and takes hold of her shoulders. "Perfect", 😳he whispers. "Lekin…."
She looks up limpidly at him out of her appealing black eyes. "Lekin…..?"
He smiles slowly. "Bas…..ek final touch baaki hai……" Picking up a little jar lying on the table, he takes a pinch of sindoor between his fingers and lovingly draws it across her maang.😳 😳She closes her eyes. Gently, he kisses her forehead. She opens her eyes, looks at him, and slides into his waiting arms. He holds her close and murmurs into her ear, "Jassi, main tumhe kuch dena chahta hun!"
She pulls away slightly to look enquiringly at him. "Kya?" she asks, as eager as a child.
"Abhi nahin….."He winks at her. "God-bharai mein doonga…kyunki wo hamare special gift ke liye sabse special time hoga…"
She pouts. "Phir toh mil gaya mujhe mera gift, Armaan Suri! Tumhe nahin pata ki iss rasm mein sirf auratein ki baith sakti hain?"
Armu is unfazed. "Jassi, gift toh main tumko de kar hi rahunga….just wait and watch!"😛
In Mumbai:
Raj and Neha are having their lunch in Gulmohur's cafeteria. Nazneen and Ruby mom, on an adjacent table, smile and wave at them. Pari sees and has to bury her face in her cup of coffee to hide her annoyance.😆 Oblivious to all this, Raj and Neha are having a comfortable conversation about their plans for Gm's publicity campaign. When Raj mentions that they might need to work longer hours for a few days, Neha looks a bit reluctant. "I'm sorry, Raj, lekin is week toh main ruk nahin sakti…."
Raj: Well…..no problem…..lekin main pooch sakta hoon kyun? I mean…..agar koi problem ho toh shaayad main help kar saku….
Neha: (hesitating) Aisa kuch nahin….lekin mujhe har shaam hospital jaana zaroori hai….meri beti ki chemotherapy chal rahi hai….
Raj: (mildly surprised) Oh..? Arre haan……she's Nikki, right? Armaan ne bataya thaa…..par uska cancer toh theek ho gaya tha na?
Neha: Haan…..lekin relapse na ho, isliye kuch time tak treatment zaroori hai…
Raj: (firmly) Toh theek hai….aaj tum ghar jaldi jao….aur main tumhe hospital chod doonga…provided, ki tum mujhe apni beti se milao……theek hai?
She smiles her most radiant smile and agrees.
After a brief puja by the local pandit, the ladies gather in the front room to give Jassi their blessings. Chaman is about to follow, but Bua shoos him out. He looks aggrieved. "Kyun jhaiji? Main andar kyun nahin ja sakta?"
Bua grimaces at him. "Itna bada ho gaya hai, lekin akal abhi bhi nahin aayi! Yeh rasm sirf auraton ke liye hai….tera wahaan koi kaam nahin…..tum sab log baahar jaa kar kuch kaam karo….!"
Chaman makes a face and walks away. Armaan overhears this exchange. He smiles naughtily to himself. "Buaji…..Chaman bhale hi maan jaye.,….lekin main Jassi ko issi rasm mein apna special gift doonga…..aur wo bhi aapke saamne!"😃
Tomorrow: Armaan's gift
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