24/01/2008
Hey Friends…this one was supposed to be the last Chhotu FF in 2007…but I had no idea that the connection will be disconnected on that uneventful day…..It is dedicated to all of you readers and of course my sweetheart JB!!!! Wishing you all a Happy New Year ……
This story is about our sweet couple JB and some confusion over pickles….hope you find it enjoyable….
Aam ka achhar Mere dil mein aaj kya hai
Tu kahe to main bata doon
Mere dil mein aaj kya hai…
Tu kahe to main bata doon Jay Walia repeated the lines as he dressed up to leave for office, eyeing Bani his newly wedded wife. Bani noticed that Jay was looking at her. She thought something for a while then got up and went downstairs. She found Jay's maternal aunt or Masi working in the kitchen. She helped Masi to prepare the breakfast. After Jay completed his breakfast and left, Bani moved behind Masi wherever she went as her tail.
Putting her hands on Bani's head affectionately Masi said, "Kya baat hai beta….kya kehna hai?" Bani held the corner of her Sari and rolled it on her fingers. Masi smiled, "Dekh rahi hoon…tu jabse neeche aayi hai….kuch poochna chah rahi hai..magar pooch nahi rahi hai….Munna ke samne to aur bhi chupchap thi…kya baat hai?"
"Wo Masi…kya hai ke mujhe lagta hai inhe kuch chahiye." Bani spoke in a single breath.
"Kya chahiye?" Masi was puzzled.
"Kya pata har roj subah subah gaana gatey hai aur….aur.." she paused with hesitation.
"Aur kya?"
"….aur meri taraf dekhte hain." Bani's cheeks became pink.
Masi wondered whether to ask or not which song he was singing but looking at Bani she thought how embarrassing it might be…she must help the girl. She casually asked, "Kaun sa gaana?" Bani replied, "Mere dil mein aaj kya hai/Tu kahe to main bata doon.." Masi wondered why that song troubled Bani until and unless it had some hidden as well as private meaning. Bani added, "Mujhe lagta hai unhe koi special dish ya kuch khana hai.." Masi laughed, "To phir ussise poocha kyun nahi?" "Wo kahan koi baat saaf saaf batate hain…hamesha mujhe confuse kar dete…clearly kuch kehte hi nahi…" Bani complained. A deep male voice from the back was heard, "Ek mahina hua nahi ke meri biwi meri burai karne lagi..hmmm…not bad..not bad…" Both Masi and Bani turned to see the person to be Jay although they knew from the voice that it was him. At the blink of the eyes..Jay left with Bani running a little behind him and stopping on seeing him go out of sight.
Bani turned towards Masi. Guiltily she said, "Wo mujhse naraaz ho gaye hain." Masi patted her cheeks, "Hat pagli..uski to aadat hai mazak karne ki!" Bani's heart was getting buried beneath guilt….she said, "Mujhe lagta hai ke wo naraaz……(getting excited suddenly) Masi main unke liye aam ka achhar banaoo?" "Unke..kiske liye?" Masi tried to hide her grin. "Wo unke liye.." Bani lowered her eyes feeling shy. "Hmm…tumhare unke ka koi naam to hoga…" Masi pulled her legs. Bani hugged Masi (to prevent Masi from seeing her blushing i.e. blushing any more) and said, "Aapke Munna ke liye."
As both Bani and Masi sat on the roof, Bani didn't let Masi to help in her in any way. Masi knew she wanted make the pickle completely completely on her own, so she just looked after what Bani was doing in case some guidance was needed. The girl was completely immersed in her work, often answering to Masi's question or responding to her.
"Tujhe pata hai Munna ko aam ka achhar bahut pasand hai."
Bani giggled in reply.
"Ab samjhi main…isiliye bana rahi hai uske liye…waise main bata doon usey aam ka achhar kuch zyada hi pasand hai…"
Bani mixed the spices so lovingly that for a moment she became unaware of Masi's presence. Later on when she realized that Masi was actually saying something to her when she got lost in her thoughts…it was too late….to hide..Masi had actually noticed her glowing and smiling on her own.
Must be Munna Masi thought and grinned.
"Waise Bani ab to ek mahine baad tu bhi Munna ke saath office jayegi….achha hi hoga…kam se kam kisi na kisi bahane se har waqt teri nazron ke saamne rahega…baatein bhi hongi…."
"Hmmmm…..main bhi wahi soch rahi thi…..kitna achha hoga…hum dono saath mein lunch karenge aur jab mann hoga jakey unhe dekh bhi loongi…mujhe to soch ke hi bahut excitement ho rahi hai…itne waqt saath saath….." Bani went on and on as if she was opening her heart out to some close friend, hardly remembering that it was in fact Masi. Suddenly something struck her and she saw that Masi was busy reading the newspaper. She bit her tongue and thanked God that Masi didn't hear what she had just said….or may be she heard…..
what a fool Bani!!!! Masi kya soch rahi hogi..iiisshhh. She got up and went downstairs making some excuse…Masi could laugh then whole-heartedly…she only knew how long she had to suppress her grin/laughter/smile behind that newspaper.
Bilkul pagli hai…kitna sharmaati hai….waise mere Munna ki to lottery lag gayi isse shaadi karke Masi smilingly thought.
Everything went normally in the house while Bani counted the days when the pickles will become actually fully prepared. Minimum of a fortnight were required. Bani wondered how she will be able to hold her anxiety till then!! Jay continued to sing the song every morning. Bani got more moments when she thought he was angry with her or disappointed with her…but as the day used to come to an end….he seemed to make a new beginning….no issues..nothing..he just played himself..may be keeping all his thoughts..pain..anger…everything safe in his heart according to her.
After about a week, Jay one day came to know that aam ka achhar (mango pickle) was being prepared at home. He was actually looking for Bani that day. He climbed the stairs to the roof and saw Bani and Masi guarding the pickle as it was left to dry under the sun.
"Aam ka achhar!!!!" he exclaimed with joy and hugged Masi.
"Hmm..kha ke batana kaise baney hain..waise abhi ek hafta aur lagega.." Masi smiled at him.
"Aur saat din…ufff! Waise aap banayengi to achha hi hoga….jaise hamesha hota hai.." Jay went on.
"Aur agar Bani banaye to??" Masi raised an eyebrow.
"I hope achcha hi banega." looking at Bani sideways he remarked.
Poor Bani. Already she was suffering with loads of anxiety and in addition to that now Jay knew that it was she who made the pickles. With every passing day, her anxiety grew. She was worried about how Jay will react…will he like the taste or not!!! She was not making the pickle to impress him….or may be she was..
okay a little she convinced herself. It was something that he liked tooooo much and Bani had taken the risk to lay her hands on it.
Finally the day had come. Bani was so impatient and curious that the first thing she did after having bath and offering prayers to God, was to pack the pickles in bottle. As she filled the glass jars, some spices and oil fell here and there on the table. Some of the spices and oil from the pickle also fell on her hands. Remembering something she got up and started walking towards the kitchen. She didn't notice Jay coming from the other side. Before he could stop it….they collided. Bani balanced herself against Jay. She raised her eyes to look at Jay apologetically when she found him staring at her and then at her hands intently. Fearing the worst she lowered her eyes and looked at her hands. Her hands……right on Jay's white shirt. The oil mixed with spices creating a hateful pattern and stain on the shirt. NO…she didn't want him to get angry at her but now it seemed inevitable.
She looked once again in his eyes gathering some courage. He moved his face in the direction where her hands were on his shirt. Frightened like a rabbit, Bani moved her hands…or better to say dragged her hands on his shirt….staining it more. Jay moved on his face looking at her hands while Bani smeared his shirt with the oil absent mindedly thinking that he was going to punish her in some ways. Finally Jay caught her wrist as her heart dropped in to her stomach with fright.
"Arre Munna ye tere shirt ka kya haal ho gaya hai..?" Masi was drawing close to the couple. Jay immediately let Bani's wrists go out of his hold. It was then that he saw what has actually happened to his shirt. Giving a quick glance to Masi and Bani, he left to change his shirt.
"Masi….Thank You….aap time par aa gayi…aaj ye bahut gussa huye honge mujhpar." Bani's eyes were getting teary.
"Par mujhe to nahi laga ke wo tujhse gussa tha…."
"Unhone jaise mera haath pakda tha uske baad to main sure hoon ke wo bahut naraaz huye hain mujhse…."
The daughter-in-law and mother-in law duo then settled the remaining pickles and hoped for the best to happen although the scowl with which Jay left for office worsened their 'be positive' spirit.
In the office Jay tried his best to act normally. But inside his heart he was impatient….impatient to taste the pickles!!!! The aroma appeared quite good to him and he couldn't wait to taste the pickles. In the morning when Bani collided with him, his senses were captivated by the aroma that lingered around him and may be by Bani's presence too. Without realizing what has happened to his shirt he moved to lick the pickles from Bani's finger but Bani!!!!!!
what was the woman doing? Moving her hands away from me? he thought. "Aur Masi bhi…theek usi waqt aana tha jab maine uska haath pakad hi liya tha…." he shouted in his cabin. He couldn't wait to go home for lunch.
He reached home before lunch time and as Masi enquired about the reason then he said that he had some work to do for which he decided to take the lunch little early. Plates and bowls with food got placed in front of him within moments. He noticed that Bani was not appearing in front of him much especially if Masi was not there. He ate slowly…waiting for someone to serve the pickles….to eat….or at least to taste.
"Kya hua Munna…aur kuch chahiye kya?" Masi noticed his impatient look.
"Nahi Masi…." Jay tried to hide his impatience and anxiety. He very well knew that if he had asked for the pickles..Masi would have given him but….sometimes we act stupidly….God knows to prevent what??? As Masi left for some work…Jay cursed himself for being stupid and not asking for the pickles. Planning to ask for it when she returns….he had almost finished eating. At the end of the lunch he once tried to ask for it but then thought otherwise.
As he reached office….his mood was worse than that in the morning. He couldn't justify why he actually did not ask for the pickles in plain language.
Ye Bani kahan reh gayi thi? Mujhe dekh kar aise bhaag rahi thi jaise main lunch mein usey hi kha jaata he thought. On the otherhand, after Jay left Bani heaved a sigh of relief. She was scared of him…she had noticed that his mood was not quite well when he left in the morning or when he returned in the afternoon. She had thought before he came for lunch
Chahe kuch bhi ho jaye main unhe aaj achhar taste karne ke liye nahi doongi. Achhar dekhkar kahin subahwali baat yaad aa gayi to phir meri khair nahi.. Thus she deliberately didn't give him pickles in his lunch.
Jay expected that in the dinner, pickles must be there but to his dismay it wasn't. He indirectly tried to broach the subject but Bani sensing any talk wandering near pickles, changed the topic. Finally an unsatisfied Jay went to sleep in an extremely bad mood. What was going on he couldn't understand.
Mera favorite achhar bana hai…aur ye log mujhe de bhi nahi rahe…kya inhe samajh mein nahi aata ke mujhe wo taste karna hai? Upar se wo khushboo….haye…Bani ne pehli baar meri favorite cheeze banai hai…aur ..duh!!! he thought while facing his back towards Bani.
It was past midnight. Bani was in the kitchen. She had actually come down to check something as she thought may be something that was supposed to be kept in the refrigerator was not kept. After she finished the checking…she went to the bathroom. When she came out from there she thought why not check the pickles. She was hoping that Jay will be over with the shirt incident and that day (as midnight has passed) she should ask him how the pickles tasted. When you make something with utmost love and care…you adore it too much. Thus although unnecessary yet due to her anxiety and her desperate need for a reassurance that the pickles didn't taste that bad that Jay won't like them, she reentered the kitchen.
Walking towards the shelf where it was kept, Bani waved her hand in free air. The jar that was there till the time when she went to sleep wasn't there!!! She hurried to switch on the lights which she didn't do previously as she was just going to have a raincheck….she collided with something or somebody! A pair of warm hands caught her. Just for that instant fear gripped Bani, thinking of who the person might be. But then the warmth, the feel……there was no need to switch on the lights to see who the person was. It was Jay. Even Jay didn't have any idea that there was someone else than him in the kitchen until someone collided with him. As soon as he reached out his hands to keep that person from falling……he knew it was Bani.
Forgetting the reason of their presence in the kitchen at the dead of the night……the situation appeared pleasant to them. As Jay got a better hold of her, he drew her closer. Hugging her tight he whispered in her ears, "Mujhe lagta hai isey hi Falling in Love kehte hain." Bani blushed and Jay need not see that..he could feel it with her head lowering against him. "Itni raat ko mujhe akela chchod ke yahaan kya kar rahi thi?" Jay said softly. His soothing voice encouraged Bani to talk about the pickles. "Wo main dekhne aayi thi ki wo achhar…" Jay exclaimed, "Achharrrrr!!!" He continued, "Tumne kya saara kha liya hai ke mujhe poorey din mein ek baar bhi taste karne nahi diya?"
"Wo subah aapki shirt par….mujhe laga aap gussa karenge…" Bani's voice fainted.
"Baniiiiii…to yeh wajah ke meri pyari pyari biwi ne mujhe achhar taste karne bhi nahi diya. Aur idhar mera haal tumhe pata bhi hai? Tumne meri favorite cheeze banai hai…main subah se uske liye wait kar raha hoon….dekho main abhi yahaan isiliye to aaya tha…chakhne ke liye ke meriiii Bani ne pyar se mere liye kaisa banaya hai achhar!!!"
"Sach" Bani raised her head with pure excitement.
Drawing her face closer to him…..he replied, "Sach"
Then only the lights turned on and they sprang apart. Now the situation was that Jay, Bani and Masi all were feeling embarrassed. Standing on the doorsteps Masi cleared her throat, "Mujhe kuch awaazein aa rahi thi isiliye dekhne chali aayi. Bani yahaan kya kar rahi hai tu? Aur Munna tu?" Bani said, "Masi wo main achhar dekhne…" Masi need not listen more..rest was known, she looked at Jay who got alert of her look. He fumbled, "Masi…wo main..Bani ke peechey….nahi Pani…nahi wo main wo…wo…". He scratched his head. He didn't want to admit that he was dying to taste those pickles made by Bani… he felt shy to share that feeling with Masi then..just like a kid and what he said didn't help him much…it appeared otherwise!!! Both ways he appeared desperate….what he hid and what he said. Bani also realized where the meaning of what Jay had said was going and she glared at him. Masi saved them from any further embarrassment although she had the urge to laugh on seeing the antics of the newly weds. She turned to go while saying, "Maine Achhar uparwale kamre mein hatake rakkha hai."
Next day afternoon Jay was having lunch when he got to taste the pickles. But not only him. His brother-in-law Aditya, his friends Ranveer, Saahil, Tarun, Pushkar, Nachiket and bunch more. Everyone appreciated Bani for making the pickles so tasty. Bani awaited Jay's comments but he was too busy in eating food. He hardly lifted his head from the plate!
Ab Shaam ka intezaar karo!!!! Bani thought.
In the evening when Jay returned, while opening the knot of his tie he glanced at Bani's reflection in the mirror. "Kal se lunch mein achhar mat dena" he said firmly and left for the bathroom. Tears stung Bani's cheeks. She tried not to feel disappointed but couldn't help. She had made it all with so much of love and care only for him and he didn't like it! She was getting angry at herself for having great expectations, for behaving childishly, for spending so much time behind making the pickles, for not washing her hairs today, for not straightening the pillow covers…for…..she didn't know what was making her angry! Her weakness was behind all that which she wanted to hide. Throughout the evening she was literally
switched off.
Jay noticed that pickles were not served at dinner. He looked at Bani with the corner of his eyes and then finished his dinner silently. Later on when Jay left his study late at night, he moved towards the kitchen. After a frantic search….he couldn't locate the pickles, not even in the other room where Masi kept them last night. He immediately went to his room and looked for Bani. With his hands in pockets he asked in an annoyed voice, "Bani…Achhar kahaan rakh diya hai tumne?"
"Tony Bhaiyya ko de diya hai" she replied without any emotions.
"What Tony ko? Kyuuun?" his voiced choked.
"Main usey store room mein hata ke rakhnewali thi to unhone kaha ke wo le jayenge."
"Magar tumne….arey tumne to wo mere liye banaya tha na?" Jay's eyes widened.
"Aapko pasand nahi aaya to…" she tried to hide the hurt in her voice.
"Pasand nahi aaya?? Kisne kaha tumse????" Jay was getting exhausted with the shocks.
"Kyun aapne hi to lunch mein kal se dene ke liye mana kiya tha na…" her voice contained a hint of anger.
Jay crossed the room hurriedly and held Bani's shoulders firmly. "Arey Pagli maine to isliye mana kiya tha kyunki agley kuch din..Jijaji..Pushkar, Tarun, ye log mere saath yahaan lunch karenge…main nahin chahta ke unhe aur achhar khane ke liye mile….warna mere hissey mein to kam aayega na!!" Jays eyes reflected an honest confession.
Bani bit her tongue. "Sorry galti ho gayi…." Jay nodded his head.
"Aapne bataya nahi ke aapko achhar pasand aaya ki nahin!" Bani spoke hesitantly.
Jay pulled her cheek and smilingly said, "Bataoon kitna pasand aaya?" Bani shyly nodded her head in reply. He whispered in her ears, "Bahut Bahut Bahut…lekin tumse kam." Bani punched his shoulder lowering her gaze. Suddenly he was gone. She followed him and saw him going downstairs at a very fast rate. He was following Tony, the lovable butler of the house. Jay heard his voice and immediately his stimulus prompted him to catch him. Before Tony could open the door to get out of the house and go towards his quarter, Jay held his arm in a tight grip.
"Sir, kya hua?" Tony managed to appear calm although he was surprised by the sudden pull.
"Bani ne jo tumhe achhar ki sisi di hai..wo mujhe do" Jay ordered.
"But Sir…." Tony sounded unhappy.
"Kya but? Mujhe chahiye abhi ke abhi" Jay frowned.
"Magar Sir wo mujhe Bani madam ne di hai" Tony protested.
"Main bhi tumhara boss hoon Tony! Aur agar tumne mujhe poori ki poori sisi abhi lakey nahi di to main…" he had a wicked grin on his face. He then whispered something in Tony's ears. Tony's eyes widened in shock.
"Magar Sir poori nahi….." Tony was extremely disappointed.
"Okay 1/3rd lo aur baki mujhe do…" Jay said with a tone of finality.
Next few days Bani and Masi were on a mission –
Mission Achhar ko Jay se duuur rakkho. Just like kids or teenagers, Masi had to always keep an eye on Jay and his eating habits, that is pickle eating habits. He used to take out a good amount of pickle from the jar every now and then and used to eat it. Masi had instructed Bani to keep Jay at check otherwise he might fall ill due to such high consumption of pickles. Once Tony slipped the fact that Jay had literally blackmailed him that day to return the jar. Bani who was initially excited with the fact that Jay loved the pickles so much, later on drowned in worry because of his such strong liking. She had determined that she won't make pickles in near future!!!
Jay was humming the song…
Mere dil mein aaj kya hai..when Bani was crossing the room. In a moment of impatience she blurted out, "Kya hai kya aapke dil mein?" while entering the room. Both of Jay's hands were behind him. He took out his left hand and held it inviting Bani. She hesitated for a moment and then closed in. He held her close to him and placed her head in such a position that her ears were above his heart. He then drew out his right hand too but cautiously and wrapped the arm around her other shoulder. He started singing haltingly,
Tujhe chchune ko dil kare
Tujhe pane ko dil kare
Jo baat mere dil mein chchupi
Jo baat mere dil mein chchupi
Wo batane ko dil kare Bani was so engrossed that she didn't notice that he was halting at times. Jay then pulled himself and placing a kiss on her cheeks went outside the room. Bani couldn't understand his sudden sudden reactions but he was like that, wasn't he?
Mr. Confusing Bani thought and laughed tracing her palm lovingly on her just kissed cheeks. Her palm suddenly felt oily. She took the smell from her palms – same as that of the pickles she had made. "Masi Jay phirse achhar kha rahe hain…" Bani ran throughout the house to inform her while Jay washed his hands with soap hurriedly and put a mint chewing gum in his mouth so that Masi won't get any evidence that Bani was right and the only evidence that Bani had was '
not to be disclosed'.
Take Care
ree
Edited by ree_views - 17 years ago
