As the heavy minutes pass, everyone grows increasingly tense. Angel is still squealing in pain, but judging from their expressions, no one except Chaman is feeling especially sympathetic. Meg thinks, "Angel toh pehle bhi hikes pe gayi hai, aur bahut baar injure bhi hui hai….aaj tak isse itna pain toh nahin hua……"
Nandu goes one step further. In his mind he is pondering: "Kahin yeh picnic se bachne ke liye jaan-boojh kar toh aisa nahin kar rahi?" He goes up to her and says quickly, "Angel, mujhe zara dekhne do kahaan lagi hai….." and before Angel can protest, he grasps her ankle tightly. She gives an anguished wail and pushes him away so hard that he falls backwards!😆
He gets up, brushing down his clothes, looking more than a little apologetic at his own suspicions. Beauty looks at him and shakes her head. Clearly, Angel's injury is real.
Eventually Meg says, "Guys, I think at least hame Vedika ka din spoil nahin karna chahiye….main koshish karti hun Angel ko tractor tak le jaane ki, aur wahaan se hum ghar chale jayenge….aur hum mein se ek tractor ko shaam se pehle yahaan waapas le aayega…..Nandu, tum mere saath help karne ke liye ruk jao, aur Vedika ko Beauty aur Chaman ke saath picnic pe jaane do…"
Nandu is about to give his dismayed assent, when Chaman pipes up, "Arre Nandu ji, aap kyun takleef karte ho…main hun na! Meghna ji, chalo hum log inhe le chalte hai!"
Thus assured, Nandu, Beauty and Vedika proceed on their picnic, while Meg and Chaman stay behind and look critically at Angel's foot.
Meg: (decisively) I think sabse pehle, hame isse bandage karna chahiye, taaki yeh apna pair thoda toh move kar sake…..
Chaman eagerly whips out his giant-sized handkerchief to do the needful, but Meg has beaten him to it: she has taken off her scarf and is busily engaged in tightening it around her friend's ankle. Angel winces, but her expression becomes just a wee bit relaxed as Meg finishes.
Angel: Thanks Meg….that's better. Agar tum log mujhe support karo toh shayad main tractor tak pahunch paun!
Accordingly, they set off, balancing her arms on their shoulders. Chaman is understandably over the moon to have his Angel in such close proximity.😃 Meg glances at him and smiles slyly. Angel catches the look and gestures with her eyes to ask what the matter is. Meg looks meaningfully in Chaman's direction. Angel gets her drift and gives her a "Oh no not you too!" look.
When they are around halfway back, Chaman suddenly smacks himself on the head. He exclaims something (obviously rude) in Punjabi before realizing whom he is with. He runs his hand over his hair and looks extremely embarrassed.
Meg: Kya hua…koi problem hai kya?
Chaman: (stameering) Wo…wo ji…..maine zara galti kar di….
Angel: Galti? For heaven's sake…..kya?
Chaman: (going red) Ji maine…maine tractor ki chaabi Beauty ko di thi sambhaalne ke liye…aur jaldi mein main….main bhool gaya……
Angel utters a huge groan. "Iska matlab hai ki tractor pahunch kar bhi koi faayda nahin? Hum ghar nahin ja sakte?"
Meg: Don't worry, Angel….Chaman abhi ja kar Beauty se chaabi le aayega…..right Chaman?
Angel shakes her head insistently. "Meg, main aur wait nahin kar sakti…..i want to get home quickly….bahut pain hi raha hai..."
Chaman: Main kuch kahun? Aap jaldi se ja kar chaabi le aaiye, main tab tak inhe tractor tak le jaata hun….isme waqt bhi barbaad nahin hoga….
Meg: Lekin tum akele kaise la jaoge isse….?
Before Meg can even finish her sentence, the eager Chaman swings up the flabbergasted Angel into his arms and starts carrying away, leaving Meg giggling in astonishment.😳
Oblivious to Angel's look of helpless fury, Chaman is lost in dreams: He sees a log bridge, hemmed around by beautiful countryside, and a dashing hero carrying his love across the bridge. The song "Tere liye" plays in the background. In short, he sees Veer-Zaara, the difference being that Chaman is Veer and Angel is Zaara!😉😆
Tomorrow: Raj and Nikki