" And you didn't even care to tell me that? "
Parth adjusted his spectacles. He did that particularly when disturbed.
" No. Because I didn't find it significant enough." , Shayara licked the cheese from the side of her palm.
" seriously? What according to you is significant? "
Parth bit his lips.
" What's wrong with you? I don't see a reason you are questioning me for!"
Parth realised he was overreacting and looked away. He changed the topic. Because not only did his girlfriend not inform him, neither did Dev. He himself seemed momentarily insignificant. But then, emotions had never clouded him for long.
" your mom had asked you to arrange for your own wedding costs. So, are you ready enough that she's pressing you for marriage now? "
" Huh! She wants everything actually. But till date I had overlooked my needs to fulfil theirs. Now I have started saving money, overlooking their bullshit demands. "
" But you just said you might finance your brother! "
" I can only decide if that's a bullshit if that doesn't work out. "
" Since when did you grow so sporting? "
Shayara smiled. " Maybe now you can take me to meet your friends? "
Parth smiled too but sarcastically, nodding his head.
" you are such an antic! Okay, I got to leave now. By the way, you regularly in touch with Dev? I wonder what both introverts can talk even! "
Parth left while Shayara kept sitting.
Keep wondering. Introverts have a world that can accommodate million outgoers, and yet there will be enough space to wander.
****
Jogeya was chopping vegetables while Shayara lay on the sofa flipping pages of a magazine.
" Met Parth today? "
" Hmm. "
" Good. "
Shayara sat up straight keeping the magazine aside.
" mom, what would you say if I...like...if I decide not to marry Parth? "
Jogeya stopped chopping and stared at her. " not Parth, then whom? "
" no...just generally. Like, someone else but not Parth...? "
Jogeya went back to chopping. " don't know what your intentions are, but I won't have a problem as long as he is a Bengali too. "
" Racist. "
Shayara murmured.
" You said something. "
" nothing. Okay now, if Parth doesn't want to marry me? "
Jogeya stopped chopping again, this time a bit more conscious.
"did he say that? "
"come on mom, I'm just asking. "
" what then. I'll be by your side to mend your broken heart. "
Shayara immediately burst out laughing, that continued for a long minute. Jogeya didn't even care and went back to business.
" Okay now, final question. I think I should really get married now, owing to your wish. I have decided to get married by the end of this year. So, should I? "
Jogeya stopped chopping permanently, thrashing the knife on the board.
" This year? Okay yeah I want you to get married soon, but...not sooner than everything else! Your brother has not even found a dependable foot... "
Jogeya's voice lost confidence.
Shayara kept staring, with a smirk at the corner of her lips.
I know mamma, you hardly mean it when you show concern about my future.
" you are the only earner... I know Parth won't ever stop you from doing anything for us, but, once you get married, asking things from you will look worse than anything. "
Jogeya began scratching the table. Shayara gazed silently.
" Still if you wanna get married, I won't stop you ever. "
" I can wait mom. But how long? "
" of course if you help your brother with the finance and if his work clicks in the field, there will be no looking back... "
" of course, it's me who need to take up everything. " , Shayara murmured.
Jogeya guessed that she was indeed sounding too selfish.
" ...but of course I want you to get married too, sooner. I just hope Dhruv's luck favours."
She gathered stuffs from the table and almost ran over to the kitchen.
Whom are you escaping mamma? Why even? Don't you worry. No one wants to get married soon. Absolutely no one.
****
" Now that looks brilliant! "
Dev kept staring at the Fender in Shayara's hand, while her face glowed.
" I wish I could touch the chords. "
" As if yours is not a Fender! That too a brand first handed. Mine is third handed I believe. "
Shayara struck the chord.
" Jesus! Play it! "
Dev seemed too excited to be separated by a glass screen.
" It's 2 am. My mom and bhai will come running and tomorrow I'll find this sold too. "
" When exactly did you buy this? "
" yesterday. I had kept it at the stores initially so couldn't show you. "
" Fine. Know what? I won't be able to sleep tonight. Tomorrow there's a performance on the radio. And I'm getting cold. "
" What are you talking? You are a celebrity Dev! When will you come out of this shyness if not now? "
" I'm not shy basically... "
" Don't tell me you are not confident. Don't tell me that!! "
" I know I shouldn't tell that after a hundred successful stage shows. But till now, everyday seems a challenge. "
" And yet you are not tired because you love your job. "
" wooh! Girl just got smarter. "
Shayara grinned at this.
" So, The Telegraph is treating you well Shayara? "
" I just hope I finish this month. "
" Why don't you start music classes? Doesn't Kolkata love music? "
" Are you kidding me Dev? Music classes will give me a fifty thousand per month? "
" Why not? "
" Go and sleep. Don't spoil my mood. "
And Shayara switched off the laptop without letting Dev speak anymore.
Every time he talked of music, Shayara backed out. Because it hurt.
But somehow, what he told tonight, registered at a corner of her brain, so deep that it echoed throughout the night, even within her sleep.
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Mangal Lakshmi
