The tractor-load of young revelers drives to the mustard fields some distance away from the house. After a while, Chaman signals to Nandu to stop the tractor. "Yahaan se aage tractor nahin jayega….hamein paidal jaana hoga…"
Angel: (turning up her nose) Paidal? You mean…on foot? No way….itna heavy saaman le kar hum kaise ja sakte hain?
Chaman: (flustered) Nahin ji nahin…..aap saaman kyun uthayengi? Main hu na…..(blushes and corrects himself)…mera matlab hai ji, hum ladke hain na…toh aap kyun takleef karte ho?
Angel: (grinning) Thank you Chaman…you're so sweet!
Chaman looks ready to faint for sheer joy. Nandu, however, glares at him. Needless to say, he does not relish the prospect of carrying all the things between the two of them!
They start trudging towards their picnic spot. Angel is walking on tiptoe, trying to avoid the grass from brushing against her jeans. Vedika skips along happily, followed by Meghna, who is keeping an eye on her. Nandu grunts as he shifts the rugs he is carrying from one arm to another. Beauty looks sympathetically at him. "Main kuch uthau?"
Nandu: (panting) Thanks Beauty…..lekin tum kyun saara kaam karogi…baaki dono ko bhi toh kuch karna chahiye…. (hands her one rug, which she deftly balances on her shoulder) …..Chaman ko toh main baad mein dekh loonga…..bada hero banne ki koshish kar raha tha na…. "hum ladke hai na!"
Beauty: (giggling) Praaji Angel ji ko impress karna chahte hai….aur lagta hai iss baar kaamyaab bhi ho rahe hai…..dekho na….
She gestures towards Chaman, who is gazing adoringly at Angel while trying to balance the basket of paranthas in one hand and the flask of lassi in the other. She gives him a cheesy smile and walks a little ahead. He follows like a puppy.
Nandu: Iss galatfehmi mein mat rehna….Angel sirf Chaman se saamaan uthwaana chahti hai, issliye itni sweet ban rahi hai…..tum dekhna, ghar waapas jake wo usko dekhegi bhi nahin….
It seems Nandu is right, for Angel is thinking at that very moment, "Thank heaven, mujhe saaman nahin uthana padh raha hai…yeh Chaman stupid zaroor hai, lekin mere kaam toh aa hi gaya…..silly!"
She is so lost in gloating thoughts that she doesn't notice when she walks straight into a log lying in the middle of the path. It hits her right on the ankle and she stumbles, falling across the path. She utters a piercing shriek. The others rush up to her, led by Chaman. He drops the basket (carefully) at the side of the path and bends down near her. "Kya hua ji…aap theek toh hai?"
Angel: (angrily) Are you nuts? Mujhe iss condition mein dekh kar bhi pooch rahe ho ki main theek hun? Do something….mujhe uthao!
With the help of Meghna, Chaman pulls her up. But as soon as she puts her foot on the ground, she squeals. "Ouch! Mujhse khade nahin ho ja raha hai….i think sprain aa gaya hai!"
Muttering comforting nothings, Meg helps her to the side of the path, where she makes her sit down on a large rock. Angel grimaces in pain as she lowers herself onto it. "Mujhe bahut pain ho raha hai…I don't think main aage chal sakti hun…mujhe waapas le chalo!"
Beauty: (looking worried) Lekin tractor toh kaafi peeche choot gaya…ab toh hum khet ke paas pahunchne wale hai….agar aap thodi si koshish kare toh, hum wahaan pahunch kar aapke pair ke liye kuch kar sakte hai…yahaan beech raaste mein toh koi madad karne wala bhi nahin milega…..
Angel: (shaking her head vehemently) I told you…main ek kadam bhi nahin chal sakti…..
Vedika: Toh kya hamara picnic cancel ho gaya?
Meg looks sympathetically as she answers, "Sorry beta….lekin Angel bua ke pair mein chot lagi hai….hum aise toh nahin ja sakte na?"
They all stand around Angel in dampened spirits, wondering what to do next.
Monday: Veer-Zaara!
Book Talk
