hey u guys! continue after a long time.
chapter 9
"I can't believe you actually did that! Ha ha!" Mukti laughed.
Kasak, relieved that the fear was fading from Mukti's eyes, answered, "Areh mein kya karoo he was hitting on me so bad. By the way did you know that fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails."
"Oh Kasak. Not again."
"You are just mad cause I beat you last time."
"Cause you are geek. And fine did you that an olive tree can live up to 1,500 years!"
"That was random. Um, for beer commercials, they add liquid detergent to the beer to make it foam more," Kasak said.
"Psst… you call that a random fact here is another one: Approximately one-third of the population can't snap their fingers."
"You are just saying that to make me mad because I'm one of the one-third who can't snap their fingers. Ok, Only 1% of bacteria cause disease in humans."
Mukti took a deep breath. "Your mother was here."
Kasak laughed. "Stop it Mukti. That's funny. How can my mother be here-."
Kasak's voice trailed off as Prerna came in through the adjoining door from Rishu's room to the living room.
"Areh Mukti ab tak nahin soh-."
Prerna looked up in shock at her daughter. It had been six years since the departure of Kasak from the Bajaj House and Prerna had not realized till she had seen Kasak how much she missed her baby that Mr. Bajaj and she had.
Mukti cringed as Kasak sent Choti Ma a cold stare.
"Aaah… Mrs. Rishab Bajaj, our own Mother India. I'm sorry I couldn't be here when you were
here earlier but please welcome to my humble home." Kasak smiled bitterly.
Mukti felt uncomfortable. "Kasak Choti Ma ko tum aisi kiyun bol rahin hein-."
"No Mukti. Let Kasak say what she feels," Prerna interjected.
Kasak laughed. "Aaah as diplomatic as usual aren't we Mrs. Bajaj. Or are we still Mrs. Bajaj and not Mrs. Basu-."
"Enough." Prerna said, coldly.
Kasak arched her eyebrow. "Enough? Are Mrs. Prerna Basu ap ko to pata nahin hein ki mujhe ap se kya kya baton kari hein. But I don't like mosquitoes buzzing in my humble adobe so please leave."
"Kasak!" Mukti said, shocked.
The person in question turned around and said, "Please Mukti. I want her out. Or do I have to call the hotel security."
Prerna's heart clenched with pain as she stared at her daughter. Her vibrant daughter had left and in her place stood a woman who could speak to her mother and not turn a hair.
"Mein chalti hoon Mukti."
"Magar Choti Ma-…"
"Chodo beti. Kabi kabi phone kar na, ha? Aur kabi kabi Rishu ko mujshe chod do…"Prerna hugged Mukti, picked up her handbag, and walked through the door.
As Mukti turned around, Kasak yelled. "Why did you have to invite her!"
"I did not invite her. She came. I didn't ask her to. And whats wrong with her visiting me?"
"Because I don't want to see her! I hate her! Who the hell does she think she is! I mean all these years she is not been there and all of a sudden 'its hello Kasak.'"
"That is not true. Choti Ma-."
"Is not my mother anymore."
Exasperated, Mukti said, "That is what I don't understand about you and Prem. You have a wonderful mother who would give up her life for you but all you two do is bicker about the father."
"Shut up."
"Look you are going to have to resolve-
"Watch you place Mukti. Remember, I'm her daughter and all you are is her husband's driver's daughter-"
Both stood still in shock. Tears welled up in Mukti's tears.
"No Mukti I-."
"Chod do Kasak. Jo hona sa ho gaya. Ek naukar ki beti zindagi bhar naukar ki beti …"with tears burning her eyes Mukti walked out.
As she walked to the lobby she bumps into someone. She looked up and was shocked.
"Prem?"
Prem looked down. "Mukti? Tum?"
"No Prem. Mein ek toofan hoon. Mein nahin to kya tu?"
Exasperated he said, "All I was saying was that I did not think that you would stay in a hotel like this."
She narrowed her eyes. "To kya mein bahar sleep kar roo kya? Look here Prem I can afford to stay in rooms like these."
"Yes Mukti-."
"No you listen. I mean I am not dirt-poor-."
"Tuh roh rahin thi?"
"No Prem mein tume dhek kar has rahin hoon."