Re-cap : Gia comforts Kasturi and promises to help her out. Robbie and the girls go to visit their aunt in Mumbai. In the return, Robbie and Kasturi travel together.
PART - 18 : LAGAAM HAATH MEI LO
Robbie comes back to his seat and he finds Kasturi a little relaxed, the tension between them is not threatening to overwhelm them! He settles back in his seat and looks at Kasturi and she looks back at him and they smile at each other. 😊 He starts the conversation back and asks her....."Toh tumhaara dance school khul gayaa?" Kasturi nods her head confirming it and says...."It started 2 weeks ago aur already 20 students enroll ho gaye hai!" 😃
He sees the excitement on her face and in her voice and asks....."Tumhe dancing bahut pasand hai na?" Kasturi replies....."Haan, bahut pasand hai! 😃 Its a really beautiful way of expressing yourself plus a great way to keep fit too"
Suddenly Kasturi gets a doubt and so asks him cautiously and a little uncertainly : Tumko....dancing kaisa lagtaa hai? 😕
Robbie shrugs his shoulders and says : I am not sure.....I mean....Woh ek kalaa hai aur mujhe art forms mei zyaada dilchaspi nahi hai. I am afraid you will find me too technical!!! 😛
Kasturi : Toh tumhe koi bhi art forms mei interest nahi hai kya?
Robbie replies : Well, kabhi-khabaar music sunta hun.
Kasturi laughs at him unbelievably and says : All you nerds are of the same type....too serious and too sincere!! 😆 😆 😆
Robbie is just about to reply back when they suddenly hear....."Oooooh that is beautiful dear, lagtaa hai kaafi pyaar hai tumseh!!!" 😍
Robbie and Kasturi turn to look at the older lady sitting in 2B who was holding the airhostess hand and cooing at her large diamond engagement ring.
The airhostess smiles happily and says blushing : Haan!!! It costs a fortune! ☺️ ☺️
Robbie shakes his head and has a sarcastic look on his face. Kasturi looks at him suprised and says....."Kya hua?" 😛
Robbie says : Kuch nahi.
They both lower their voice so the women don't hear them and Kasturi asks : You found that conversation silly?
Robbie replies : Silly? No.....I found it insensible! Tumhe pataa hai diamond kya hai? Diamond is a stone, a mineral....has the same chemical composition as Carbon! But look at the undue importance it has gained in the wrold....it has become identical with love and symbolizes love!!! 😒 Aaj, ek patthar yeh decide karne ki shakti rakhta hai ke uske size peh yeh depend karegaa ke koi kisi seh kitnaa pyaar kartaa hai!!! 😲
Kasturi looks at him absolutely surprised! She had never heard anyone say this about something as beautiful as a diamond!! And so she asks him
Kasturi : Robbie, duniya mei sab paagal toh nahi hai! Koi na koi wajah toh hogi jiski wajah seh ek diamond ko romance ka symbol samjha jaata hai? 😳
Robbie : Aur woh wajah yeh hai ke yeh jo word 'diamond' hai, woh ek Greek word...'adamao' seh derive kiyaa gayaa hai, jiska matlab hai..."I subdue". So, when a guy gives a girl a diamond it is basically meaning that he is going to subdue himself to her and that he is tamed! That's the romantic angle, but it is still just a mineral!
Kasturi asks him : How can you always be so practical? Tumhaare mei sentiments ke liye koi jagah nahi hai kya? 😒
Robbie replies : Nahi. Atleast aisi sentiments ke liye toh nahi hai jinkaa koi practical basis nahi hai!! 🤓
Their discussion is getting heated and neither of them want to stop......
Kasturi says : Mujhe nahi lagtaa....ke itni practicality har cheez mei acchi rahegi....in fact, thode situations mei yeh possible bhi nahi hai!
Robbie says : Give me an example!
Kasturi asks : Samjho tumne koi keemti cheez khareedi hai....lets say for a friend or someone in your family. Tum usse yun hi kisi newspaper yaa magazine sheet mei wrap karke dedoge kya?
Robbie says : Ofcourse not.
Kasturi continues : Nahi na? You will get it gift-wrapped, right? Toh ab yeh practicality kahaan gayi? Why can't you just think that waise bhi unko gift seh matlab hai, naaki upar ke wrapping seh.....isliye paper mei lapet ke de detaa hun!
Robbie says : Lekin Kasturi....that is not practicality....that is having an aesthetic sense vs not having an aesthetic sense! Practicality is would I want to buy an expensive gift in the first place!
Kasturi says exasperated : Theek hai. Toh tum apne fiancee ko kya doge when you are at that point in your life?
Robbie answers : I don't know. Lekin jo bhi doonga woh diamond jitnaa worthless toh nahi hoga, it will be something way more special than that!!
Kasturi says : Lekin mujhe diamond hi pasand hai.....
She stops in mid sentence and almost bites her tongue off!!!! 😲 😲 😲 She looks at Robbie shocked but luckily.........very luckily for her, he had not heard her last sentence!!! Because the airhostess who was now standing at their seat, had just then asked Robbie what his preference was....vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Kasturi breathes a little easy and thinks........."That was a close call! I need to be more careful". 😳
They eat their dinner and continue talking when suddenly they hear the captain anounce that they will be landing in a few minutes. Kasturi and Robbie look at each other, a little shocked 😕 .......was the 2 hours over already? It seemed like time had travelled faster than light! He had not even opened his book and she had not even powered her Ipod on!!! Kasturi hastily looks out of the window before anything else is revealed to him by her eyes! Robbie continues to look at her and has no idea why all of a sudden he asks her......"Tum Chawla.E ke offices mei aati ho kya? Tumhaara koi kaam hotaa hai kya wahaan"?
Kasturi turns back to him and says......"Nahi". She looks at his eyes, was there a hint of disappointment.......did she see his eyes have a gleam of hope that was lost as soon as she had responded? Or was that her imagination?
No, it was not her imagination. Robbie was hoping that she was a regular visitor to the office but he had managed to cover his disappointment just in time!!
Soon they land. Robbie gets off his seat and first takes Kasturi's bag out and places it next to her. Kasturi had not asked him to....but it seemed so natural that he did it! They look at each other 😳 , a little surprised and then Robbie hastily turns away and grabs his bag and they both get off the plane and walk out to the terminal.
Robbie asks : Do you have a ride? Raat ho gayi hai.........
He lets his voice trail off. He was concerned for her but did not want to express it.
Kasturi replies : No worries, meraa ek dost aa rahaa hai mujhe pick up karne, tum..........
Suddenly she is pushed hard against him!! 😲 And Robbie tries hard to balance himself and her from toppling over!! His arms were around her, very tight and the frontal part of her body was completely against him!! Shocked, Kasturi does not move for a few seconds and then she realizes it and pushes herself away from him with her hands. That was a very awkward situation..........they had never been that close to each other!!!! Kasturi had a deep blush on her face ☺️☺️☺️. Robbie bends down to pick up their bags that they had let go when a couple of people behind them had pushed through roughly, running to catch their flight, which was closing. He is feeling very awkward too and mumbles...."I am sorry!"
Kasturi cannot look at him and they start walking again. They are almost out of the airport when Robbie clears his throat and asks...."Toh, kya keh rahi thi tum.....koi aa rahaa hai tumhe pickup karne?"
Kasturi replies : Haan.........Anand. You met him.
Robbie stops in his tracks and looks at her surprised!! 😲 Kasturi can understand his question eventhough he had not asked it. She turns to him and says
Kasturi : Mujhe pataa hai tum kya soch rahe ho.........Mei aur Anand, 6th class seh friends hai. He is a good guy.......a loner, sirf mei hi uski best friend hun. After that night, he was very ashamed of himself and he apologized to me and to bhaiyya and promised us that it will never happen again and so, meine usse maaf kar diyaa!
Robbie looks at her with an expression of disbelief, concern, anger and a bit of frustration. 😒 Kasturi looks into Robbie's eyes for a couple of seconds and then says
Kasturi : Anand mujh seh pyaar kartaa hai! And eventhough I will never love him, mei yeh baat usse itni bedardi seh nahi bataa sakti jaise kisi aur neh muhjseh kahaa tha!
Robbie stares at her, into her eyes......shocked, surprised and guilty at the pain her eyes and voice were expressing!
Kasturi continues : He would be a broken man if I did!! Woh mere jitnaa strong nahi hai!
They stare at each other quietly, Kasturi's eyes getting moist when Anand hits her lightly from behind and says........"Hey Kas!" Kasturi quickly turns to him and smiles and says...."Hey Anand....thanks for coming!"...........Anand says...."No problem yaar! God....I missed you!"
Kasturi quickly turns to look at Robbie who is still staring at her and says...."Anand, tumhe Robbie yaad hai?" Anand extends his hand to Robbie and says....."Of course. Raunak keh party mei mile the na?" They shake hands and Kasturi says..........."Accha Robbie, ab hum chalte hai! See you around and all the best for tomorrow!". She does not extend her hand and Robbie does not seek it. They just look at each other, the pain and hurt not even allowing them to smile and Kasturi turns and walks away with Anand and Robbie is left staring after her! 😕
A month passes. Robbie joins work and starts the process of becoming a part of the team and learning the work. Mr.Rasool is a very helpful teamlead and soon they bond with each other very well. The girls also come back to Delhi, ready to start another school year. Alaana has graduated. Shivani had moved into her second year and Divya was starting her first year of college. She is joining Shivani's college. Robbie meets Kasturi off and on at the studio but somehow never gets a chance to see her dancing.
Ajay takes the call as he was just then crossing the phone in the living room....."Mr.Chawla?" asks someone on the phone. "Yes" replies Ajay and he hears the girl say..."Hello Sir, Mei Dr.Awasthi ke clinic seh call kar rahi hun. Aap keh biopsy ke results aa gaye hai"... She pauses for a second and says...."The news is good........the results came out negative!" A frown creeps up Ajay's face and he thinks confused.....biopsy?? What biopsy, when did he go for a biopsy??"....When he hears her say again........"Dr.Awasthi neh request kiyaa hai ke aap aaj hi unseh mile. Isliye meine aaj 11.00 AM ke liye aapka appointment book kar diyaa hai. Aap aa jaiye ga. Thank you, Mr.Chawla!" Before Ajay can ask anything, she ends the call. Ajay puts the receiver down and suddenly it strikes him that did she mean his dad??? 😲 He is shocked and quickly goes in search of his dad! 😒
JP enters the clinic first and goes to the check-in desk. The girl at the desk asks him...."Aap, Mr.Chawla hai?"
JP replies : Haan.
The girl says : Please baithiye. Jaise hi Doctor saahab free ho jaayenge, mei aapko andar bhej doongi.
JP thanks her and goes and sits on a chair. Ajay had come to him this morning tensed and shocked 😲 and JP had to tell him that he had recently been feeling a little sick and so had gone to Dr.Awasthi who had found the tumor!! 😔 The Doctor had immediately ordered a biopsy done. Ajay was shocked beyond words and had been filled with anger and remorse............anger that his father had hidden this from his family 😡 and remorse that he was not taking better care of his father, was neglecting him!!! 😕 He had cancelled all his appointments and they had spent talking to each other till it was time for the appointment and Ajay had insisted that he will drive him to the Doctor. Ajay was parking the car....
Ajay walks in and finds his dad. He sits down besides him and they both are talking softly when they hear......."Mr.Chawla!" Both turn to look at the girl...."Ab aap andar jaa sakte hai" says the girl. JP gets up but Ajay is still sitting staring at her. It is that beautiful girl from the lift that he had met several months ago!!! 😲 😲 😲 JP touches Ajay's hand indicating him to get up and Ajay quickly gets up. They walk past her. Alaana looks at him and thinks...."his face is oddly familiar"...... Ajay continues to stare at her and then looks at the name plate in front of her. It has "Nishi Dhawan" written on it.
Kasturi has just finished her last class for the day when she sees Nithya standing at the door and watching her (Guys, in case you do not remember, Nithya is the lady that operates Arunodaya Naatak Mandali)
Kasturi wishes her : Hey Nithya!
Nithya wishes her back and says : You dance so well, Kasturi!! Har baar mei impress ho jaati hun!
Kasturi smiles and thanks her. She inquires what brings Nithya to her and Nithya says
Nithya : Kai dinon seh mujhe ek khayaal aa rahaa hai, lekin mei poochne mei thoda hichkichaa rahi hun!
She hesitates a little but on Kasturi's prodding she says
Nithya : Kasturi, hamaare kaam mei thoda spice chahiye! Actually, kabhi kabhi we come across crowds who are not very receptive to a play or skit. They need something more fun and entertaining to understand our message. For example, a dance would be a brilliant way to grab their attention! But unfortunately hamaare group mei yeh talent nahi hai! None of us can shake a leg!!! Toh, mei soch rahi thi....ke...ke if you could teach some of us a few moves or choreograph a dance for us, then it would be really great!!!
She looks at Kasturi hopefully. 😊 Kasturi is surprised and is thinking about her request when Gia says........"Nithya, I have a better idea!" Both Kasturi and Nithya look at her and Gia says........"How would it be if Kasturi herself volunteers to dance in your play?" Kasturi looks at Gia shocked 😲 and Nithya looks at her elated!!! Nithya says....."OMG! That would be awesome!!" She turns to look at Kasturi and grabbing her hand says..."Will you, Kasturi?" 😳 😃 Kasturi does not know what to say and so she says...."Well....idea buraa nahi hai! If you don't mind, mei thoda sochke bataungi!"
Nithya says : Theek hai. Magar mei yeh bataadu ke next weekend hamaara ek important play hai, agar tum usmei hamaare saath aaogi, toh humkoh bahut madad milegi!!! 😃
Kasturi assures her that she will let her know within a day and a happy Nithya leaves. Kasturi turns to Gia with a questioning look and asks........."Gia, kya kar rahi hai?"
Gia winks at Kasturi 😉 and says : Jo bhi kar rahi hun, sahi kar rahi hun! Ek mahine seh tu wait kar rahi hai ke Robbie kuch baat aage badhaye! Lekin jo baat airport mei khatam hui woh baat abhi bhi wahin peh hai! 😊 Woh toh kuch karne seh rahaa....so ab tujhe hi lagaam apne haath mei lena padhega!! And the best way would be to spend some time with him, for which this will be a lovely opportunity! Haan, lekin tujhe kai cheezon mei adjust karnaa hogaa....hum gaanvon mei jaayenge jahaan even some of the basic necessities will not be available! You will have to bear all that!
Kasturi replies sadly : Mei kuch bhi bardaasht karne ke liye tayyar hun Gia...........bas ab yeh dukh aur doori bardasht nahi hoti!!! 😕 I can't take it anymore....I just can't!! 😭 😭
Kasturi reaches for a chair and sits down overcome with emotion 😭 and Gia quickly goes to her and holding her by the shoulders says quietly...."Don't worry Kas, sab kuch theek ho jaayega.........aur bahut jaldi!"
Next part...............RK together and lots of fireworks! 😉 😆
Edited by pragalbha - 17 years ago
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Cricket
