11~NOT just a passionate affair~ 52 (2 PT) 8 SEP-2nd quarter

~COMPILATION THREAD~ (Thanks to Anushka)

INDIVIDUAL LINKS (Thanks to Nams)

SINGH HOUSEHOLD - LIVING ROOM

'Shhh... basss...' patting her cheeks dry with the hankie, Jodha took her seat beside the tearful mother 'Getting yourself this worked up is going to affect your health and papa's BP!'

'Just tell me he'll be fine...' she wept profusely, ignoring her daughter's words 'That he wouldn't be hurt...'

Jodha remained silent. That was one assurance she couldn't give her mom. How could she - when she wasn't aware of the reality herself? If only. If only she had the answers to this question - and to a ten others currently revolving in her head - but alas. With her distraught parents unable to regroup from the setback, with her having no access to the landline and with her own mobile now cracked, she'd neither had the time nor the means to uncover any information.

So, all she knew for then - and something that her mom thankfully wasn't aware of - was that Vishal bhaiyya had NOT sounded good when she'd picked up his distressed phone call at 10 pm. Two hours on and who could predict how the police constables would have treated a detainee in their custody - especially one who wasn't being backed by any big-shots!

'Oh bhaiyya...what mess have you gotten yourself into?' the sister agonized 'He's innocent Ambe Ma ... please keep him safe till bade bhaiyya is able to get him out... I beggg you!'

'Ufff!' Bhagwant's irked complaint shortly blared from across the room 'Ye Nandji bhi na...' he slammed down the receiver that he'd been speaking into for so long 'Waise hi, getting hold of legal advice at 12 in the night has been no easy task...how are we supposed to arrange for such a large sum of money now...I hope Kranthi brings some positive news...'

'But you promised that your contacts will get him out...' papa probed anxiously 'That if you tried your best...'

'Am I not trying my best, papa?' an overwhelmed bade bhaiyya retaliated 'The past two hours have been humiliating enough - waking people up to tell them our sob stories... now, Kranthi has been forced to roam around town in the middle of the night to seek monetary help from friends...' he flung the phone directory aside 'If nothing materializes we will just HAVE to accept reality... and wait till morning for the banks to open ...'

'Don't say that!' the mother complained voraciously 'We can't let him stay there overnight... take my gold bangles to the station, if you need!'

'Offer your gold bangles to the Inspector?' the enraged son grit his teeth 'Ma... understand the gravity of the situation ... your MAHAAN laadla has been caught in a bar with a POLITICIAN's son and his nalaayak group...they were indulging in illegal substances... in DRUGS! I have no idea since when Vishal started having friends in such circles, but if he spends the night locked up... if he receives ek aadh maar from the police, it'll teach him to amend his ways!'

'BHAGWANT!'

'Don't say that beta...'

'Ok ok ji' bhabhi tried calming her upset husband down

'Bade bhaiyya...' Jodha took a brief second to chip in 'I'm confident that Vishal bhaiyya is innocent... he's been trapped...'

'Tum chup raho choti...' he thundered back 'Obviously, you'll support him... after all, YOU were at this place too...at this crazy hotel...Amritha whatever!'

'B... bhaiyya!' Jodha protested 'Please don't look at me that way... it's a decent star hotel... and I'd only gone to attend an engagement dinner... I had no idea Vishal bhaiyya was at the same place, downstairs in the club...' her voice turned a tad whiny 'Besides...this is not the only hotel that's been raided... other discos and clubs have also been targeted today!'

'That's why we've always wanted you to STAY AWAY from such crowds and places...' bhaiyya picked up the receiver once more 'That scoundrel gets trapped in a drugs raid... you break your brand new phone...' grabbing the phone directory, he geared himself for the next set of calls 'Papa, I'm telling you ... ever since Jodha joined her MBA and Vishal got his job... both have become reckless and irresponsible!'

'Ok... ab tension mat ho...'

'Kyaa tension mat ho? She's already become the butt of many taunts lately... can you imagine what would've happened if she hadn't left that hotel in time? She'd be squatting in a jail holding cell now!'

Jodha looked away, dejected. While bade bhaiyya's condescending words pricked her ego quite badly, she couldn't deny that he was making absolute sense too.

It was the first time that she'd witnessed a police raid from close quarters - and from the subsequent scenes it was clear that she was lucky she'd got out in time. Any different and the night would have undoubtedly deteriorated into a very unpleasant one for her.

The minute the police had barged into the hotel, news had spread across like wildfire. Needless to say, what followed was pure chaos. Partying youth from many floors trying to get out at the same time. A stampede of worrying proportions erupting at the large hotel entrance. Men shoving each other in their selfish races to make a hurried exit. Drunk youths being crudely rounded up as they tried to scamper off. Women ducking and cowering from the media's flashing cameras. Belongings going amiss. Sandals going amiss. FRIENDS going amiss. It was mayhem all around.

Why, at one point she'd been driven to near-desperation too - she'd lost sight of Meera in the frenzy. Trapped amidst a suffocating vortex of unknown faces, all her attempts to locate her bestie were turning futile.

Till someone had taken note of the two 'lost' ladies and come to their sudden rescue. Till that someone had managed to simultaneously seize both friends - and mercilessly bull-doze them right through the mob, to relative safety outside the police blockades.

'If you hadn't dragged us away like that, we might never have made it out...' an appreciative Jodha mumbled for the nth time 'So, thank you Renu ... and thank you Jalal for sending her to us...'

Once freed, it'd taken Jodha less than a second to guess what must have transpired - and why Jalal didn't come himself. After all, a salwar-clad 'girls-only' group had better chances of escaping police scrutiny in such awkward raids and scandals, rather than a mixed crowd of 'girls-and-guys'.

However, what Jodha COULDN'T guess was where Renu had been swept off following that swift rescue attempt. Or, what had happened to Jalal? Had he been caught? Was he taken to the station too? What about the rest of his group? Had they all been caught?

She'd lingered around for as long as she could - hoping she'd spot him eventually emerging from the throng, but no luck. Neither could she locate him, nor his friends. She'd made nearly seven calls from Meera's mobile to his - but, no response there either. When a subsequent order to vacate the area had arrived from an irate female constable, she'd had no other go but to leave - praying for the best as she did so.

It was only when she got home half an hour later had she realized that even Vishal bhaiyya had been mistakenly caught up in this raid. A raid - which she later learnt - was nothing more than a mudslinging match between two political groups. Members of one party, playing dirty politics by informing the police about this hush 'rave party' to scandalize a member from the opposition!

'Damn' she kneaded her aching temple - as her worries constantly vacillated between Vishal bhaiyya's plight and Jalal's whereabouts 'I feel brain-fried now!'

Though her conscience knew that Vishal bhaiyya would eventually be set free, the concerned sister in her wanted him to get out of that hell-hole as soon as possible. Though her mind was quietly confident that Jalal's support-system was too well-connected to let him come in harm's way, her restless heart wanted to hear his voice just once 'Only a few minutes, Jalal ...just to make sure you're fine...' her heavy eyelids sealed shut 'Shaayad... you'd be able to help me find out what's happening to Vishal bhaiyya too...' she paused briefly, feeling a little selfish for having thought that way. After all, she hadn't even had a proper chance to clear the air with her boyfriend - and she already needed his help for something else.

Yet, with the scary mental pictures of her brother being tortured in police custody plaguing her mind, she didn't mind being a bit selfish there. Besides; if there was one person in this whole world she COULD be selfish with, it was with HIM 'Where are you, Jalal? God!' she realized again - there was something else that she'd forgotten about in all this mess 'I'd hoped to sort out this stalker mess with you before tomorrow... how do I get hold of you... hope Maan and Payal haven't got a whiff of any of this... main kyaa karoon ab...'

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Her contemplations were brought to an abrupt end with that hard thumping on the main door 'Kranthi bhaiyya?' she yelped in hope. At this point, the forlorn Singh household could do with some update. ANY update! Wasting no time, she darted towards the entrance and opened the door - but only to note the many puzzled frowns marking her brother's brow 'Bhaiyya...' Jodha stood anxiously still 'What happened?'

Observing Kranthi's eerily silent stance, Bhagwant rushed to their side 'Wasn't Chauhan uncle able to help?'

'What about Batti Saheb?' Papa fretted, joining them in no time

'Arre... say something na...'

Just then, they heard a strained groan coming from the dark corridors. A second later, a sickly figure emerged from the shadows. Another second thereon and the entire family froze - first, in disbelief. Then, relief. And finally, delight.

'Vishaaal!' the mother screamed, scuttling towards her visibly injured son

'You're back!'

'H...how... did you?'

'W...when did this...' bhabhi gasped, as she ushered the paralyzed family in before locking up the main door

'Wait...let him settle down first' papa tried mellowing everyone's frayed nerves, while helping Vishal take a seat on the couch nearby 'Get something to clean him up...'

'Haan ...' Jodha volunteered 'I'll bring him some warm water and fresh towels...'

'Get an ice pack too...' mamma urged, sitting beside her wounded son 'Thank God Kranthi managed to sort the issue in time...'

'Actually...' Kranthi gradually spoke up to correct his mother's assumption - his tone quite downbeat 'Neither did I manage to get the bail amount... nor did I go to the station... I met Vishal here... downstairs...in the car park... being dropped off by his friends...'

'W...what?'

'Kyaa?'

'Really?' Bhagwant exclaimed 'Then why didn't you call us? Was the inspector finally convinced he was innocent?'

'WHY bade bhaiyya?'

The clamour in the living room steadily quietened up. That last remark was from Vishal, who'd decided to interrupt the ongoing presumptions by finally ceasing his silence. The unfortunate young lad had quite a few sentiments to express - quite a few words to say - and none of them too kind 'Bhaiyya...' he let out a painful smirk 'When my OWN brothers weren't convinced that I'm innocent... why should the inspector be? Woh meraa kyaa lagtaa hai?'

'W...what?'

'Then what?' he fumed, his voice steadily amplifying in anger 'I call you up from the station to tell you that I've been wrongfully arrested and you start blasting me over phone... arre, that politician's son is a friend's friend... so, I just went by to say hello and got trapped in this mess... I had no idea what his mad group were up to... anyway, those big-shots got off scot-free... but since I had no one to back me up, those haraami constables...' darting his swollen knee a glimpse, he started choking on his own tears 'Not ONE of you even bothered to come visit me... to find out how I am...'

'Vishal...'

'It's not like you think...we've been trying to...'

'Trying?' he overrode their heavyhearted explanations, wiping his blurry eyes 'In tough times, families are supposed to be by your side with timely help... par, MY family were busy accusing me instead...'

'Don't say that Vishal bhaiyya! We've all been worried sick for you...' Jodha sternly countered his complaints, as she handed her mother the ice-compress - before whizzing off to fetch the warm water

'Timely help?' bade bhaiyya retorted 'Do you know how desperately we've been trying to seek legal advice for YOUR sake?'

'Do you think it's easy to get hold of such large amounts of cash out of the blue?'

'It's past midnight beta... explaining such an awkward scenario to friends and family...'

'Yeah yeah...' Vishal nodded at his family - his sarcasm plain for everyone to see 'Even if I'm innocent... I somehow embarrassed you all...' he shrugged away their excuses 'Anyway... this has only taught me to appreciate timely help all the more...'

'What are you talking about, Vishal?'

He didn't answer. Instead, the bitter young man looked up and waited - for his like-minded sibling to return - who re-emerged soon enough with the pot of warm water in her hand.

Discerning the sudden lull in the living room, Jodha brought her pace to a halt. It was then that she noticed her brother's unbroken stares directed at her. Intrigued by what he was trying to imply, she prodded him for further clarification 'What happened?'

'I'm grateful' he resumed from where he'd left off 'To the ONE man who wasn't daunted by how late it was getting... or how much money was involved... or how many formalities needed to be completed... or how sensitive an issue this raid was!' he paused 'I'm grateful that he stepped forth to get me out of there, before I was tortured any further!'

'What!' it took her an instant. Only an instant - but by the end of that instant, she'd absorbed the gist of his 'telling' statement. Having to grip the sides of the pot tightly so the water didn't slip, an immensely moved Jodha enquired through her expressions 'HE was there with you?'

'Yes' Vishal nodded

'HE helped you get out?' her misting eyes seemed to ask again 'And he's safe too?'

'Yes choti' Vishal addressed his sister and her alone - not too bothered by the fact that the rest of the family were growing bewildered by this semi-muted conversation 'He noticed me there... and saw what I was being put through... when he learnt that everyone's number was turning up busy... that I'd heard of no positive news in a while... he instructed his own lawyer to complete my formalities too...he requested his mother to bring over the extra cash required to bail me out...he put the inspector through to a few important people to ensure I wouldn't be troubled over this nonsense again... and then...' grimacing in pain, the hurt young lad tried to lean against the backrest of the sofa 'His group dropped me off here...but he didn't come up to our flat for obvious reasons!'

'Jalal!' she swallowed hard, as she'd vividly imagined every scene that he'd just talked her through. As every piece of the puzzle fell in place. God! She didn't even know what she felt more at that point - touched by her boyfriend's gestures, relieved that her brother was safe henceforth, elated by the welcome twist in the tale or exhilarated by the more-than-just-happy ending! However, what she DID know was that she was falling in love with herself - purely, for loving a guy like HIM.

My my, how spine-tinglingly fascinating could he get. Nope - not because a good man like he had rescued her brother from harm. But because he'd achieved the feat so smoothly - and with no expectations in return whatsoever! So boundless was the proud girlfriend's extent of happiness right then, that if he'd come up to the flat - she might have lost control of herself and hugged him dizzy - in front of her whole family! 'Thank you Jalal'

'Arre...can you both please tell us what's going on?' bade bhaiyya cut into the confusing exchanges - sceptical about this 'person' they were both singing praises about

'Yes...' the mother queried eagerly, while still pressing down the ice pack over his bruised knee 'Who are you referring to, beta?'

'Nothing ma' Vishal smiled dauntlessly 'I was just telling Jodha how I have to thank my stars that JALAL was there...'

'Jalal?'

'THAT ladka?'

'HE helped you?'

'But why was HE there in the police station?'

'Because his group were there for their friend, Salim's sake...' Vishal paused 'Salim was also hosting a party in that hotel... so, he had to clear his name at the station...'

'Oh!' Jodha set the pot down, casually beginning to wipe the blood off Vishal's scratched elbows. Only she knew how hard it was to NOT react to her family's flabbergasted expressions with a triumphant I-told-you-Jalal-was-amazing look!

'Whatever!' bade bhaiyya suddenly grumbled under his breath, brushing it all off. Not surprisingly, he appeared least impressed by the turn of events 'That ladka is from an influential family... all this must have been easier for him to achieve... isme kyaa badi baat hai...for us middle class people, things take longer...'

'Still bhaiyya' Jodha mentally chided her brother's false ego, having watched him closely all along 'It doesn't take away from the fact that he deserves to be appreciated and thanked for his help ... but... aapko kaun samjhaaye?'

'Bhagwant, you're mistaken!' papa spoke up thereafter - almost as though he'd just read his daughter's thoughts 'Tomorrow morning as soon as the banks open...withdraw the cash... go over to his house... and... thank his... his mother... his ma...m...mamma... his ma...'

'His ammi...' Jodha helped him out, flashing her daddy dearest a pleased smile as she did so

'Yes... thank his ammi for their help...' he shrugged 'Whatever our issues, they've helped us when others couldn't... and he deserves our gratitude...'

'Jee...' bade bhaiyya nodded - after a whole minute of rattling silence - and after waging a few battles with his own pride. Well, how could it be easy to accept that a stranger who used to be cursed as a 'Manhoos ladka' was anything but 'Manhoos' to that family now?

'Ok...' papa let out a long sigh, eventually standing up in the midst of his folks 'It's getting very late...let's wrap it up for now... Vishal, you rest on my cot tonight - your divan wouldn't be too comfortable... Malti ... I haven't taken my tablets yet...'

'Jee...'

With Vishal's scratches cleaned up, the remaining members took the cue and gradually started clearing up the area to wind down for the night. As everyone else dispersed from the living room, Jodha stayed back to help her bro.

'Hey choti...' the brother remarked impishly, once they were out of everyone's earshot 'You've got yourself a good guy...'

'I know...' her eyes twinkled

'But one thing...' Vishal pouted lovably, while limping towards the master bedroom with his sister's support 'You both have to reward me handsomely for becoming the bali ka bakra in your love story!'

'Reward?' she giggled 'Let me speak to Jalal about it...' a second thereon and her giggles slowly receded. There was one gnawing fact that still remained unresolved 'Bhaiyya... actually...I haven't spoken to him yet...I need to...' she stopped. Before she could complete her statement, something cold and metallic had been subtly-yet-firmly tucked into her palms. Voila! A MOBILE PHONE!

'Wow!' recognizing the instrument at once, Jodha almost squealed in delight 'Bhabhi?'

'Haan haan' bhabhi folded her arms nonchalantly 'Baat karlo... but after your lamba lamba midnight chat-session with him... don't forget to re-charge it...' she dropped her tone to a whisper 'Waise...I must admit...your Mr. Special has subtly and silently managed to pull everyone to his side... one fine day, when he DOES become a part of this family na... his interactions with your bhaiyya would be worth watching!'

'What?' Jodha laughed aloud. She didn't even know what to say to that comment now. So, she just blushed and blushed some more - with no qualms whatsoever. Her conservative family 'teasing' her about the man of her dreams? It was nothing less than music to her ears. Four months ago and she'd only been fantasizing about all of this - but, it was finally turning into reality now!

So, she winked back delightedly - deciding to live this precious moment to its fullest 'Thanks Bhabhi...I'll remember to recharge it...'

Part 2 below 😳