Thanks for all your lovely comments
Heres the next part - hope you enjoy it š
Chapter 6 - Ishq vishk pyar vyar
"Nahi, Robbie sir, mujhe yehā¦"
"Kasturi, you trust me, don't you"
"Jee, Robbie sir, sab se zyada"
"Toh daro mat"
"Par mujhe bata nahi...kaise..."
"Main tumhe sikata hoon. Yeh haath, yahaan...aur...yeh haath mere haath mein"
"Phir..."
"Phir mein tumhe 'lead' karoonga...aise"
Expertly, he waltzed in time to the music, circling the floor. Kasturi's worries soon vanished and she relaxed, enjoying this new style of dancing. Robbie dropped her right hand and twirled her with the other. She giggled in excitement. The tango music finished and a slow romantic song began.
"Tu hi toh jannat meri, Tu hi mera junoon
Tu hi to mannat meri, Tu hi rooh ka sakoon
Tu hi aakhiyon ki thandak, tu hi dil ki hai dastak
Aur kuch na jaanu mein, bas itna hi jaanuā¦
Tujh mein rab dikhta hai
Yaara mein kya karoon
Tujh mein rab dikhta hai
Yaara mein kya karoon
Sajdhe sar jukhta hai
Yaara mein kya karoon
Tujh mein rab dikhta hai
Yaara mein kya karoonā¦
Robbie slid his arms gently round Kasturi and they rocked slowly, lost in the music, lost in each other.
***
"Mmm, kaash mein bhi khaana banasakta" Robbie commented wistfully as Kasturi stirred the fragrant 'khichdi' and heaped it into the saucepan.
"Aapko khaana banana nahi aata, sir?"
"Kasturi..."
"Acchha baba, Robbie sir"
"Chalenga. Haan, toh...jee, Kasturi, I never needed to learn. Ramu Kaka did it"
"Mein tumhe sikaaoonā¦" Kasturi offered shyly, noticing Robbie's disappointed tone.
Robbie flashed her a cheeky smile. "Shukriya, Kasturi"
"OK, Robbie sir, aloo ke parathe kaise rahenge?"
"Fantastic"
***
Kasturi poured the water into the bowl of flour and began to mix with her hands.
"Pehle, paani aur atta milaanaā¦aiseā¦"
"Mein try karoon..."
"Jee...ek minute, mein mere haath..."
"Nahi, hum saath karenge." Robbie moved behind her and fitted his hands around hers, pressing down as Kasturi kneaded the dough. "Mujhe already mazaa aa gaya"
"Robbie sirā¦" Kasturi protested, then gave up, smiled and continued.
"Aur abā¦thoda sa namak aur mirchiā¦bas. Ab aise, chotteā¦" Kasturi broke off a chunk of dough and rolled it into a small, flat shape. She then filled it with mashed potato and sealed the edges to make a sphere. "Ab aapā¦"
"Tum."
"Ab tumā¦"
"Aise?"
Kasturi laughed. Robbie's first attempt lacked a bit of finesse ā the potato was spilling out of the many cracks in the hastily flattened cylinder of dough.
Robbie pouted petulantly. "Mein itna funny nahi hoonā¦"
He smiled wickedly as an idea occurred to him. Swiftly, he grabbed a handful of potato and smeared it on Kasturi's cheek. "Ab kaun funny hain?"
Squealing in outrage, Kasturi flung flour into his hair. Laughing, he grabbed the salt and shook it wildly; she retaliated by pouring the half-full jug of water over him. Screaming, they collapsed on the floor.
"Yeh kya kiya, Robbie sir?"
"Tumne shuru kiya, Kasturi"
"Maine?" she began, indignant, but then realized he was laughing. "Sab parathe ruin hogaye"
"Toh hum aur banalenge"
She smiled. "Chalo."