Note - This is a Sequel to OS: The Aftermath Of The Nikki Fiasco
OS - Sleepover At The Bose House
"How will I convince Mr. Aubhodro, for another sleepover? What kind of mess have I gotten myself into?" Sonakshi was talking to herself. [Sonakshi says this in Bengali]
Just then, Dev walked in, planning to check on Nikki, but found Dr. Bose deeply reflecting instead.
"Ms. Bose." He called out, and got no response.
He called her, again, a little louder, and on getting the same reaction, he gently touched her shoulder.
"Huh! Mr. Aubhodro!" Sonakshi jerked saying the first thing that came to her mind.
"You are speaking in Bengali again. Hindi please, Ms. Bose." Dev said.
"It is Dr. Bose for you."
"Where is Nikki?"
"She's just gone out..."
As Dev turned around to leave the room, Sonakshi stopped him, "Mr. Dixit?"
"Yes?"
"I need to speak to you. Woh actually..."
Dev waited.
"Mr. Dixit, Nikki is fine now. I spoke to her, and she has calmed down. But, I personally think, though I know I have no right to interfere in your matters, that, she needs a change. And, my cousin, Elena is also in town. Elena and Nikki are almost of the same age. And, they seem to be quite similar interests. So, I really think, if they meet and spend some time together, have their own share of girlie fun, Nikki's mind would get diverted and she'll forget the ordeal sooner." She finished.
"That's a good idea, Ms.. I mean, Dr. Bose. What were you hesitating about?" Dev wondered.
"Ahm... Nikki and Elena want to plan a sleepover at my house." Sonakshi closed one eye, and looked at Dev with the other for his reaction.
"At your place?" Dev asked with a pause.
"Ya... I promise, I won't take her out at all. And, ghar mein, as you know, Ma, Baba, Dada, Dadi, everyone's there. And, we don't keep drinks or anything, just so you know..." Sonakshi added, as a precautionary measure.
"Dr. Bose, I am not stupid. I know all of that. Nikki!" Dev called out, well aware that Nikki was just outside the door.
She walked in, haltingly, not knowing what to do or say.
"Don't you think you need at least an overnight bag?" Dev asked, very seriously.
Nikki nodded, nervous.
"Then, go start packing. Agar, ab tu ne shuru nahi kiya, toh agle hafte hi sleepover ke liye jaa paogi." Dev said, smiling, looking at both Nikki's and Sonakshi's astonished faces.
Nikki hugged him, and he hugged her back. "Thank you Bhaiyya!"
"Dr. Bose, see? I told you. Bhai, aapki baat nahi talenge." She said, much to the embarrassment of both Dev and Sonakshi, and ran out before they could even respond.
In The Evening
Neha and Riya walked in together, to find Nikki all excited and pepped up.
She was barely listening to the barrage of instructions her mother was giving her. "Nikki, Nutrition ke ghar mein, dhyaan se rehna, aur thang mat karna. Aur, aisi waisi cheezein khan eke liye mat maangna. Aur, achche se pesh aana. Samjhi kin ahi? Aur..."
"Haan, haan, Ma. I know. Slowly khana hai, aur jo who kahen us se maan na hai. Shaitaani, badtameezi aur zid bilkul nahi. Okay now? I promise." Nikki said, pacifying her agitated mother.
"What? Kya chal raha hai, yahan? Kahan jaa rahi ho, Nikki?" Riya asked.
"Dr. Bose ke ghar, for a sleepover. Her cousin has come over from Kolkata." Nikki proudly informed.
"Arey waah! That's so exciting!" Riya added, with her childlike amusement.
"Achchi baat hai, ek raat toh shanti se sone milega." Neha mused, half seriously.
"Neha Di, I don't want to talk to you now. Riya Di, why don't you come too? It will be a lot of fun! You know how fun, Dr. Bose is, unki puri family aur unki cousin, bahut maza aayega." Nikki just had a brainwave.
"Theek hai. Sab jao. Main jaa rahi hoon, aaraam karne." Neha's mood had soured. She felt left out, and such outings reminded her of the very fact, that, she had had no opportunity for such fun and frolic, like girls of her age, had had.
She walked towards her room, and met Sonakshi on the way, who smiled at her, as usual. Neha didn't return the smile, and Sonakshi gauged her change of mood, but didn't know what caused it.
She came to the living room, and found Riya and Nikki imploring with Ishwari, "Ma, please. Come on. Why not Riya Di also?"
"Nahi. Ab, tum dono jaa kar nutrition ke ghar walon ko pareshaan karoge." She said.
When Sonakshi who had heard the exchange asked, "What is it, Auntyji?"
Nikki answered instead, "I was suggesting that, Riya Di also come with us, we'll have super fun!"
Riya looked sheepish but eager.
Dev too walked in then, and gave a questioning glance at everyone.
"I don't think this is a good idea, Nikki. Everyone cannot go, can they?" Dev interjected.
"Who everyone, Bhai? Just Riya Di and me?" Nikki pleaded, with puppy dog eyes.
"Ya, sure. Why not? Riya, tum bhi aa jao hamare saath." Sonakshi replied, before Dev could argue and, Riya's face brightened.
"Okay then, I'll go get ready. Thank you, Dr. Bose!" Nikki and Riya turned to leave when they stopped.
"By the way, Bhaiiya..." Riya started.
A Little While Later
Nikki and Riya came into Neha's room, to find her gloomy as usual.
"Di, aren't you ready? Hume nikalna hai."
"Kahan?"
"Dr. Bose, ke ghar, aur kahan? Hum teeno jaa rahe hain unke saath. Bhai agreed." Riya piped in.
"Mujhe nahi jaana, bacchi hoon kya?" Neha wasn't interested now.
"But why? Bachchi nahi, toh kya hua? Dr. Bose bachchi hain kya?" Nikki asked.
"Mujhe kya, Dr. Bose, jo bhi kare. Mai nahi jaaungi."
"Toh phir, hum bhi nahi jaa sakte." Nikki claimed, with an exaggerated expression on her face, and sat on the bed, with her hand on her head.
"Kyun?"
"Because, Dr. Bose, really wanted all of us to go. And, so do we. Aapke bina maza nahi aayega." Riya said.
Just then, Sonakshi walked in, "Neha. Please? It's a request. I wouldn't force you. It's your choice, really."
Neha, melted looking at the cute expressions on all the three faces, and agreed. While, Riya and Nikki yelled a Yipppee', Sonakshi smiled, satisfied.
Outside, Sonakshi called her mother, "Haan Mom, the three of them are coming. Yes. We'll leave now. Okay, bye!"
She cut the phone, and saw Ishwari standing in front of her, "Koi pareshani nahi hai na, teeno ke aane se?" She asked.
"Not at all, Auntyji, main bas inform kar rahi thi. Don't worry. I'll take care." Sonakshi reassured the old lady with a smile.
Dev, witnessed this from the first floor, and shook his head, smiling to himself.
...
"Okay then, we are leaving. Ma, hume miss mat karna! Bye, Bhai!" Nikki was being overtly obtuse.
"Please, you are doing us a favour. Good riddance. Ab jaogi bhi, ya raat bhar bye hi bolti rahogi yahin?" Dev said, pulling her leg, while working on his laptop in the living room.
"Dr. Bose, I'll send the car, you can leave your scooter here. And, you can come here in the morning with them." Dev said.
Sonakshi was about to deny, when Dev interrupted, "Not because you are dependent, but because, I don't really trust my sisters."
Ishwari seemed wary still.
"Ma, fikr mat karo. Hum dhyaan rakhenge." Neha added, and after the elaborated farewell, the party of four girls left.
The Bose House
"Wow! Dr. Bose, your house is so cozy! I mean, bahar se, it is so beautiful andar kaisa hoga?" Nikki wondered aloud.
"It isn't elaborate, like the Dixit House, Nikki. But, yes, we love our house." Sonakshi added, gently.
"Toh kya hua? Hum thodi na mehlon mein pale badhe the, Dr. Bose? Ghar toh logon se banta hai." Neha said, with her quiet calm.
As they stopped just outside her door, Sonakshi exclaimed, "Arey? Why is it so dark? Light nahi hai kya? Let me ring the bell. The bell is working." Sonakshi rang the bell, and heard it from outside.
Nobody opened the door, and she could make out the pitch darkness inside.
"Sab bahar chale gaye kya?" Riya asked.
"No, no. I had told them, you guys are coming. They wouldn't leave." Saying so, Sonakshi gently pushed the door, to find it opening on its own. The door, wasn't locked.
As the four of them walked in, they were greeted with a boisterous and collective BOO' from the occupants of the house, and the three sisters got terrified and clutched each other's hands.
"Dr. Bose, you have ghosts in your house." Nikki murmured with fear.
"Kya bhoot, laga rakha hai, Nikki, chup kar." Neha tried to reprimand her, but, she too was scared, and the fright made her reprimand sound like a reassurance; to herself.
"Dr. Bose? Aap kahan hain?" They suddenly realised that Sonakshi wasn't with them. They didn't even know when she left their side, in the dark.
And, the lights came on, and the Dixit sisters, were confronted by the entire Bose family, including Sonakshi, laughing heartily at their sorry plight.
"How was the surprise, girls?" Mr. Bijoy asked.
Neha, Nikki and Riya weren't used to such playfulness back at home, and to find, the senior of the family, participating in such childish fun, was endearing to say the least.
They,too started laughing.
Sonakshi regained her composure, and introduced the two families to each other.
"Okay, enough fun for now. Bolo, bachchon, kya khaoge?" The kindly Asha asked, as they were seated in the crowded living room.
"Maashi, aur kya khayenge? Jo aapne specially banaya hai, obviously!" Elena chirped.
"Maashi specially prepared, some multi cuisine but Bengali dishes, for you guys, so you could taste our cuisine." Elena proudly, informed them.
The three of them, smiled, already feeling welcome and at home.
"Really Aunty? Tab toh maza aayega? Dr. Bose, toh sirf Bengali bolti hain. She doesn't cook at all. So, itne dinon ke baad bhi, we haven't tasted Bengali homecooked food." Nikki said, taunting Sonakshi's culinary skills.
Neha said, "Nikki, muh band kar. Tujhe aata hai kya khana banana?" She was afraid, Nikki would say something inappropriate, but to her amazement, they all just laughed.
In fact, Saurabh added, "Haan. Sona doesn't really have time for anything except her books. Go, look at her room. It is full of books on nutrition and ghas poos khana." He said, scrunching his nose.
Neha got up and went into the kitchen, intending to help Asha. "Mrs. Bose, main madad karti hoon, aapki."
"Arey, tum kyun karogi, beta? Ek hi din ke liye tum log aaye ho. Enjoy karo."
"Beta bhi kehti hain, aur madad bhi karne nahi deti? This.. is... not... corre,,,ect." Neha said, fumbling but speaking in English.
Asha thought better than to say anything about it, and agreed. "Okay, as you wish. Pehle juice, uske baad sab milke dinner karte hain."
When Neha took the tray and started to leave, Asha stopped her and caressed her head gently, "Such a smart girl. Hamesha khush raho."
"Chalo, sab, juice aur snacks haazir." Asha announced, as they brought the food outside.
Nikki was quick to comment, "Neha Di, you don't do anything at home. Yahan aakar madad kar rahi hain. Sab dikhava hai." She chided.
"Chup kar. Wahan, naukar kaam karte hain. Agar apne kaam karein, toh haath batan banta hai." Neha said.
"Ab chalo, bahut serious baatein ho gayi, let's attack." Elena diverted everyone's attention, and clapped her hands in glee.
All of them, gorged on the delicious Bengali items, relishing every bit of them.
Tring Tring'
Sonakshi's phone rang, and she excused herself.
Daadi looked at Elena and Saurabh questioningly, and they just shook their heads knowingly.
"Wait, are we missing something here? Does Dr. Bose have a boyfriend who keeps calling her?" Nikki was quick to figure out something going on.
"Arey, nahi na. Boyfriend hota toh bhi chalta. Yeh, uska Boss hai, boyfriend nahi." Daadi said, feigning sadness.
Riya was surprised, "Really? Bhai? I am sure there must be something important."
"Important ho ya na ho, usually, Sona gets calls, and frequently and regularly,only from your Dev Bhaiyya." Saurabh said.
"Arey, aise kaise, I am sure, ki koi aur hai. Dekhna." Nikki tried defending her infamous brother.
Just then, Sonakshi walked back in, and Daadi deliberately asked, "Kiska phone tha?"
Sonakshi, not realizing anything out of the ordinary, casually answered, "Woh, Mr. Dixit, he was asking if we reached and how things are going." She said, turning to the Dixit sisters who genuinely looked surprised and embarassed.
"I told him, you guys are having fun. What? What happened?" She asked, looking at all their faces.
They didn't say anything, and Saurabh and Elena started humming the tune of Ho Gaya Hai Tumko Toh Pyaar' much to Sonakshi's chagrin.
"It is not funny Dada." She said walking off, and everyone started laughing.
"Okay, chalo. Kuch khelte hain." Elena announced.
Asha was quick to respond, "Arey, Elena, we are all just eating. Khane ke baad khel lena, jo bhi."
"Nahi, Maashi. This game is meant to be played like this. So, it is called I have never..' and we have to sit in a circle. Mr. Bijoy Bose, you have to move a little. Go sit on that chair, it isn't a proper circle otherwise."
"Arey, you tell us the game first. Yeh small details, we'll look into later." Bijoy said, but complied nevertheless.
"Okay, so the game goes like this. Each one of us will make a statement starting from, I have never...', basically aisa kuch jo aapne kabhi nahi kiya. Anyone who has, will take a sip from the glass of juice in your hand. And, whoever does drink it, must tell us the detailed account of how it happened."
"That's an interesting game. Where did you learn it?" Asha asked.
"Arey, when I went for parties with my boyfriend in Kolkata, we used to play these games all the time, but with drinks. This is just juice." Elena proudly declared much to the shock and dismay of everyone present, who gave her a death glare.
"Arey, stop staring, start playing. Saurabh Dada, you start."
"Ahm, okay... Maine kabhi Sona ko ice cream khate hue nahi dekha." He said.
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
"Arey, Saurabh Dada, yeh kya? This is cheating. You can't give such obvious ones." Elena and Nikki grumbled together. And Saurabh just gave a winning grin.
Sonakshi was suddenly reminded of the time when she had bought ice-cream on an impulse when Dev was dropping her home after his success party. Thank God, no one else saw me then, she told herself, relief visible on her face.
"Okay. Ab next one, Nikki, you are in line." Elena said.
"Ahm... I haven't ever seen Dev Bhai laugh." She said with a spark in her eyes.
Sonakshi remembered the time Dev scared her to death when the electricity was out in his house once, and was just about to was about to take a sip when she realized everyone's eyes were on her and she stopped midway.
"What?" She asked no one in particular. "Don't stare at me in that manner. I felt thirsty. With the kind of I have never' things you are coming up with, I doubt this glass will ever be over." She said diverting everyone's attention.
Well, if she had admitted to seeing Dev laugh, Elena would once again begin her chant about their relationship status and she didn't want it, especially in front of his sisters.
Soon, they moved on to more fun activities. The entire family played Housie with Daadi as the host, cheating for one and all of them as the occasion demanded. Soon, there was a pillow fight that ensued with the sofa cushions until Asha called it a time out for them to have dinner.
Neha, the quiet and reserved one, too, was shedding her inhibitions in the Bose House. She loved it. Their house was much bigger, with better facilities, but this family was endearing and adorable. She could see how both the Bose children were treated equally, Asha Aunty did not feed one child at the cost of ignoring the other, nobody was ignored, everyone happy and smiling. She wished she were a part of such a beautiful family.
As she was lost in her own thoughts, someone called her. "Neha!" She turned, and came out of her reverie, to see everyone waiting for her, to begin dinner.
Dinner was very much like the earlier meals, full of fun and leg pulling and drama and a whole lot of noise and din.
The Bose family hadn't hosted such an informal gathering in a long time, and being a predominantly fun filled family, with no insecurities about family ties they enjoyed such gatherings.
After dinner, Bijoy stood up and began, "Ladies and gentleman, of today's evening, I have something for all of us."
Asha gave her husband a knowing smile, while Bijoy continued, "Any guesses?"
"Ice-cream!" They all screamed in unison, Sonakshi included.
And, Bijoy shook his head in a big No'.
"Movie!"
Everyone guessed again and were met with the same response.
After a couple more failed tries, Bijoy finally decided to take pity on the children and said in a hushed, theatrical whisper, "Kulfi."
Saying so, Asha brought in the Kulfis they had bought earlier in the evening.
"These are so delicious!"
"Uncle, Aunty! You sure know how to make us fall in love with you guys! We don't even want to leave now." Nikki said, echoing her sisters' sentiments too.
Saurabh was quick to counter that, "Nah. If you happen to live her, you'll be treated to shoes, not kulfis." He said, his father was still upset with him about his new business.
"Aapko toh, wherever you go, you'll be treated to shoes, Dada. Our house is no exception." Sonakshi said, not bothering to control her laughter.
After a while, Daadi, Mr. and Mrs. Bose followed by Saurabh, went to bed, leaving the girls to themselves. Saurabh had an important consignment the next day.
Sonakshi, Elena, Riya and Nikki were in the girls' bedroom, indulging in some harmless girlie gossip.
Neha had quietly escaped from there, and stood in the balcony adjoining the living room, gazing at the stars, engaged in her own ruminations.
"Neha beta. What are you doing here?" Bijoy had come out to drink some water, and found the oldest yet sweetest Dikshit girl outside.
"Kuch nahi, Uncle. Bas aise hi." Neha muttered.
[Neha and Bijoy speak in Hindi, but for convenience sake, I have written in English.]
He didn't say anything, just nodded and stood beside her, "Do you mind if I ask for some company?" He asked finally.
"Not at all." She said with a smile, Neha really liked, the Senior Mr. Bose, earlier in the evening, he was a very charming host, then, he was a loving father, now, he was just a quiet companion, a father figure.
Inspite of herself, she started talking, "I was just wondering, how lucky Dr. Bose is, to have such a loving family. A family that not only loves her, but also respects and values her. In fact, both your children are extremely fortunate to have parents who are unbiased and love their children equally." She said with a rare and pained smile.
"I am sorry; I must seem very jealous. But, I am. I realized tonight that there are families, where the oldest sibling doesn't have to mother the younger ones."
Bijoy just nodded and said, "Well, do you really think, that Saurabh can be trusted with any children? He hasn't even grown into an adult." He joked and Neha laughed.
"I wouldn't say, I understand, but then I would be lying. But, every one of us has faced challenges, I have, Sonakshi has. And, even you have. We always feel the grass on the other side is greener. But, when we go to that side, we realise every side has its own difficulties. Maybe, not the same as yours, but equally complicated and unnerving. The challenge lies, in solving our respective challenges and emerging victorious. It is probably what everyone tells you, highly clichd but true. I never could become a big man that every man dreams of becoming. I couldn't afford the luxuries that many people could, for their families. They didn't complain, but I still felt guilty. And, then one day, slowly, I realized, that, this was the best I could do and I did it. When, I decided, that I had done my best, all my past worries vanished. I am not giving you an example, just narrating an incident. You may have different problems, but I found the solution to mine, within myself. Maybe, you'll find it too, within yourself." He finished with a smile.
Neha, felt incredibly lighter, than she had ever felt. Maybe, it was his age, or the fact that he was a stranger, or maybe because, Bijoy Bose didn't trust her, and ask her to forget, or maybe it was owing to the reason that, he never asked her what her problem asked, and in a manner so uncommon, offered her a solution with offering one. He hadn't given any advice, or counselling. Her issues weren't solved yet. But, now Neha knew, she could solve them and knew how to. And, that sufficed for her. This was one of the most memorable evenings Neha had had in ages.
Back in Sonakshi's room, the girls were playing Truth or Dare, and it was Sonakshi's turn, and as the bold girl she claimed she was, she chose a dare.
Elena, Nikki and Riya whispered in hushed tones in each other's ears, knowing a simple one wouldn't work. And, then Nikki hit upon an idea, well approved by the other two.
"Dr. Bose. Aapka dare yeh hai, ki, you will make Dev Bhai watch, your favourite Shahrukh Khan movie, which happens to be Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, as I now know from sources..." gesturing towards Elena, and continued, "in the next forty-eight hours. "Shart manzoor? It is a dare, Dr. Sonakshi Bose. Inkaar karne ka sawaal hi nahi utha." Nikki finished, with an outrageous flair of drama.
Sonakshi stared at the three girls, open mouthed.
Watching an SRK romance, with Mr. Aubhodro?
THE END
Again, there is a HINT for another future OS of mine. Last time, no one guessed it right. Let us see who does it this time. The time limit is till I post the next OS.
More Stories -
DevAkshi Index - Flowing Thoughts - My Fiction Index
Note - This OS is extra-long, with 3500+ words, the future ones won't be. I am sorry, if there isn't much of Dev here. It was supposed to be such. I congratulate every member of KRPKAB Forum on the tremendous increase in our Forum ranking this week, consider this my gift for the Forum, since I have only this means to express my gratitude and pleasure. 👏👏Let us maintain this tempo, and increase the ranking, by discussions, and active participation. I also happen to notice people making many posts on the same topic, instead, if you could contribute in the existing ones, that would help us. The same topics, get deleted, being considered spam. Love you all! ❤️'
I really want to hit a 70 page target for the Forum by next week. What say?😉
I credit those who characterised Dev Dixit and brought him to life in such a unique manner. Dev Dixit is truly an enigma, especially after Wednesday's episode. He isn't the angry young man, I thought he was, he smiles, he laughs, he cries, he dances, he feels, and does not deny having a heart. Dev is unimaginably a star in his own right. This OS is for such an enigma.
Cricket
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
