Recap:
"Just a little passion." I simply reply. "Now go get ready."
I smile and leave.
Chapter 2 -
"Zahroo! They are here!" I wisper into my walkie talkie, standing behind a pillar, knowning that Zahra was on the other end of the line.
"Ooo! How does he look?" asks an excited Zahra.
"Uffo! They just got out of the car. O...first is an old guy, bald, short, wearing black. Very business like. I guess this is the dad. Lalit Juneja...was it?" I reply back, giving Zahra time-to-time description of what was happening.
"Oo...my future dad-in-law" Zahra wispers out, and we both giggle.
"Zaa!Oo...then there is this woman in a green-ish blue saari, her hair is tied in a bun, and is wearing not much make-up but heavy jewellery. I think..Gayatri Juneja, Lalit Juneja's wife."
"Saasu ma!" Zahra exclaims.
"Yea. And then, there is this other girl. I think...my age-ish, but younger. Wearing a cream anarkali party wear. Medium sized heels, lip gloss, and her hair is open. But unlike her mom, I think, she is not wearing heavy jewellery! I think...you would-to-be-sister-in-law? Shabo Juneja?" I state, impressed by Shabo's style statement.
"I think, Shabo and I shall make good friends, don't you think?" asks Zahra, but I knew, she was waiting for Prem Juneja to enter. "What are they doing now?"
"Nothing. They are just standing with chacha and chachi. And you know what? Your guy is taking forever to come! Anyways, I am going now. I think C & C need me." and with that, I turn the walkie talkie off and go outside to greet, my cousin's new family.
"Namaste" I say, as I bend towards Gayatri aunty in respect.
"Namaste beta" she replies back.
"Namaste uncle." I say, to Lalit Juneja, who seems more happy as if it is his wedding then his son's who has not even managed to show up yet!
"Namaste puttar." he retorts back.
"Hey Shabo!" I say, as I shake Shabo's hand.
"Hi Heer?" she says, confused if I was Heer or not. I simply nod my head in a 'Yes, I am Heer' manner, while I continue to laugh.
I go and stand beside Shabo, and I knew, before Zahra and Shabo could become good friends, Shabo and I would become one.
"Shabo...you know, I think I have met you some where before." I state, eyeing her carefully, to see if I had really met her somewhere.
"Ms. Chatterjee? Dancing School?" she states, starting to recognize me.
"Yes!!" I exclaim, not being able to control my happiness.
"Hi!" she states, more enthusiastically. We both give each other high-fives and hug each other.
Mr and Mrs. Juneja and Chachi and Chacha just stare at me and Shabo, to see that we had already met each other before, and then smile at each other.
"Looks like, things will work out fine" Mr. Juneja states while everyone else just nods their heads, smiling.
"Waise, Prem hai kahan?" asks my always-too-curious-chachi. But I couldn't blame her. Where was Prem Juneja.
I stare at Shabo for an answer, and it is then that she decides to talk.
"Actually, Prem is at the office. Some last minute work, but you don't worry, I know my brother, he will be here in no time!" she says, rolling her eyes at the office part.
I shrug my shoulders, and retail back to the fact that Prem and I were not meant for each other and, he is carelessness towards his marriage and his care towards his office, just proved it!
"Why don't we go inside and sit?" I say, dragging Shabo inside, while the rest followed.
After, everyone was well seated, I go inside the kitchen and come up with some glasses of water, and juice, and ask all of them for one. Shabo takes a glass of juice while everyone else took water. While I am putting the glasses away in the sink, my chachi comes and starts to wash the dishes.
"Heer, sun. Since Bahadur has gone to his village, I have called his brother, Ramlal to do the housework. Can you please go outside and see if he is there or not? If he is, then bring him in through the backdoor. Okay?" she says, trying to be as polite as she possibly could manage, but I could still hear her disbelief of having to say 'please' to me.
"Sure." I reply back, not wanting to start another big scene at Zahra's biggest moment of her life.
I simply walk out of the back kitchen door, that connected to the hallway, to the back door. I step outside in the hot sun, and look at my watch, waiting for Ramlal. He doesn't show up, so I take a watering can from the shed, and fill it up with water. Still on the look-out for Ramlal, I start watering the plants, sweating from the heat from the sun. Ye Ramlal ki toh khair nahin! Aane do usse, if I don't make him clean the house up in half and hour, then mera bhi naam, Heer Mann nahin!
Just then, I see a guy, wearing a buttoned light brown t-shirt, and black trousers, walking towards the front enterance of the house. I drop the watering can in shock, and run towards him.
"Aye! Ruko!" I yell out, keeping myself low, so that none of the other inside would be able to hear my voice.
The guy turns around and gives me a confused look. He had light chocolatey hazel nut eyes, a muscled and well toned body, with light soft brown hair. The outline of his face was so well crafted, that it was impossible, for me to think that this cute guy, would be a naukar!
"Ji?" he says, confused.
"Ji!" I exclaim, putting my hands on my hips, ready to blast him with my 90 degree rocket launcher.
"Don't you know how late it is? You were supposed to come here earlier, you know that?" I question.
"I am sorry, but I had work and then the traffic.", Ramlal tries to explain.
"Work? What kind of work?" I inquire.
"Office ka work. There was this important deal that had to be signed today." he states back.
"Stop lying! You know, I will tell you what is work. There are some people here to see my cousin today, and we don't have anything ready!", I explain, my voice getting heavy.
"Exac-" he tries to say, but then stops.
"Your brother Bahadur, left for his village, and we were waiting for you to come, but you didn't. So now, the ladke wale have come, and you better be ready to cook up something, FAST!" I order.
"But..." he tries to argue, but before he could, I take a tight grip on his arm, and drag him into the kitchen. I quickly make him stand beside the kitchen shelf and give him an apron to wear.
"Wear it! And remember, I need the food, to be delicious and ready in 10 minutes!" I order, not even giving him a chance to speak.
With that, not ready to listen to his argument or any other explaination, I simply stomp out of the kitchen.
~End of Chapter 2~
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
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