Minister nehi bhau…hamare bhau a rahe hai, Dutta Bhau, he is bringing his newly married wife to be introduced to us and take blessings from the village temple…..The man sat still, so the news was correct…he finished the tea quickly, got up keeping a note next to the glass, not bothering to wait for the change…
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The Patil Niwas in the village was just like another village house, nothing elaborate…as the previous generation had moved to the city, the original house had become run down, so after Dutta made money, he renovated the same more of less keeping to the original design except for adding modern amenities. It was a double storied white house with a medium size garden.
The villagers were waiting for their arrival as Dutta had called the Sarpanch midway asking him to expect them around lunch time…
Groups of men and women had assembled to welcome them…Dutta got down and went forward towards the Sarpanch offering his greeting…
Areh Bhau rukiye rukiye, Vehini ke sath khare ho jayiye….you will have to do a 'Grihapravesh' …Dutta stopped turning his head slightly to see Nakusha getting down…..
The ladies came forward doing their arati, congratulating Dutta on getting a beautiful wife and then asking them to hold hands as they enter the house together…Nakusha hesitated….
Areh sharma math, hai hai aisa sharmana aajkal kaha dekhne ko milti …the ladies giggled …Dutta watched the toes curling …slowly he put out his hand….with a bit of hesitation she put her palm over his, he gripped it, soft and smooth he felt….they went inside the house ….
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In a softly lit room the man of the dhaba narrated what he saw, the figure half lying on lounge chair listened quietly, tears rolling down, Dutta at last, he whispered…..
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Dutta with his family will offer a puja in the village mandir…it is being decked up and then they will attend the weekly village market also, I just heard the panchayat members discussing at the village square….
Hmmm…
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Dutta and Bajirao returned from the village community hall after attending a stag party…the men discussed how their local MP was busy making money for his family and helping his children in setting up their business…
Hmmm I will have a word with him, Dutta assured them….after several such issues and couple of rounds drinking and eating…they finally returned to see the family members retired already, they had started early and it has been a long day..wishing goodnight to Bajirao Dutta entered his room and halted….then did about turn and went to his mother's…
Ayi he shook her awake….what is she doing in my room….
Must be trying to sleep if you are letting her…Ayi Sahab replied….what is it Dutta…?
But why?
What do you mean why…
Why in my room…
Toh kaha soweyegi…all the rooms are occupied…Kala, Leela, in two respective rooms with their husbands Bajirao is sleeping in the hall with other men….
Tere pass…
Tera dimag toh theek hai …see Roop is here already and what will the village ladies say who are now helping us in the house…mai kitna kharab saas hu not letting my daughter in law sleep with my son….
Dutta stormed out of his mother's room…standing in the veranda he contemplated if he will sleep in the hall with other men but then remembered what his Ayi said and recollected Naku is scared to sleep alone…slowly he went and stood holding the banister of stairs leading to his room.
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Kabhi Neem Neem
Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Kabhi Naram Naram
Kabhi Sakht
Mora Piya Mora Piya Mora Piya
Nazron Ke Teer
Mai Basa Hai Pyar
Jab Bhi Chala Hai Wo Dil Ke Paar
Lajja Se Mare Re Ye Jiya
Sitting on the floor with her knees upto her chin, she watched the TV trying to divert her thoughts…she knew what his reaction might be seeing her here but Ayi Sahib said there were no spare rooms and he was nice in the car…despite losing his temperature a couple of times, she noticed he generally obeyed Ayi Sahib unless he was extremely angry…her ears were alert…she heard a pair of feet…
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Kishore watched Kalavati walking up and down the room….he shook his head…for he knew what was troubling her…
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Dutta climbed the stairs slowly, he mind and heart were in conflict, he knew Nakusha was different but he remembered Ayi Sahib's face when she informed him about Sulekha when he came out of the jail, he remembered when Bajirao broke the lock of Supriya's house to see an empty room….he remembered the empty feeling followed by wave of insult and betrayal….He was a man with a lot of self respect, all he wanted is love and understanding….instead he realised his emotions were used, he felt angry with himself am I so foolish ki ek sundar chehra dekha aur dil de baithe…Dutta reached the door of his room, he only wished Naku had told him about her true self before the wedding…intead of him discovering he would have felt much better if she had confessed….clearing his throat he walked into his room.
Seeing him, she jumped up….
Tu sowee nehi, he asked casually as he took out his pistols from his waist and dropped them on his bed….
Nakusha watched them…gadi…gadi me sowee thi....should I take out your nightshirt, she asked hesitantly…
Hmmmm…he replied…Nakusha turned to go upto the cupboard, he noticed her deep cut choli tied with doris….as she turned holding his shirt, she saw him standing bare chested…..
Nakusha froze …she tried not to stare at him, her cheeks became hot and throat dry…
He leaned towards her by putting his arms on either side of the cupboard caging her in the middle….haven't you seen a shirtless man before? He asked huskily….
Nakusha will you switch off that damn TV I want to sleep tonight…Kalavati screamed entering the room….
Immediately Dutta moved away….Don't worry Tai, she won't be alone in the night…Dutta snatched the shirt from Nakusha's hand and put it on instructing her to switch off the TV…
Oh bhau tu idhar hai…Kalavati commented before leaving….Dutta watched her go…his eyes became hooded face serious…he stood still for sometime with his jaws clenched then turned and went to the toilet…
He returned and turned off lights flopping on the bed, giving a sigh of content…he realised she was not on the bed…
Tu kaha sowegi he asked….
Idhar, she replied from the floor
Kyu? He asked….
She hesitated, swallowed and then said…mujhe bandook se dar lagta hai…. ….
Dutta felt the pistols under his pillow, he smiled, she is not scared of the bandookwala but the bandook…strange!!
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Ayi Sahib was picking up flowers for the mandir, she was happy, Dutta was not up yet and he slept in his bedroom, she prayed everything should now go well ….once Dutta is settled I will take leave, go for pilgrimage…when she heard the guard quarreling with someone…No you have to come back later, I cannot allow you to enter without your name…I understand you must be knowing the family but instructions are strict…you leave your name here, I will take permission and then when you come….
I cannot come again and again, she knows me and I need to see her and I know she must be up, she is a very early riser…
Ayi Sahib walked towards the gate to see who can that be, the man saw her, Ayi Sahib froze then she turned around to go quickly indoor…Madhvi..Madhvi the man called out…Ayi Sahib walked away refusing to look back….
Madhavi yeh tu ne achha nehi kiya …the man shouted….
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Drops of water fell on his face, he opened his eyes to see Nakusha was brushing her wet hair standing in front of the mirror, he was about shout at her when she took the hair to one side and tried to tie the dori of her choli…somehow was not being able to tie it and was cursing, opening the cupboard to check other cholis without doris ….
Idhar a mai band deta hu…he called out getting up….Nakusha froze…she looked at him shyly…Dutta stared at her…Vehini, if you are ready the ladies are waiting for you downstairs somebody called out….breaking the spell,
I am coming, Nakusha replied hurriedly then coming to stand in front of Dutta, he slowly tied the dori, giving him another shy stare she ran out of the room….running his fingers in the hair, Dutta stretched himself…It is strange to see nowadays such shy girls…difficult to believe she is the same girl who replies back to him…
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Ayi Sahib sat in the mandir, hey bappa what do you have in your mind ….don't we have a right to happiness..why Bappa why….
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Naku sat in the middle of the courtyard, the ladies started applying mehendi on her….we could not be present for the wedding but we will dress you up like a bride for the puja in the village temple where you will sit with your husband…
Dutta pulled a chair and sat on the veranda overlooking the courtyard when Bajirao came with his breakfast…..putting the tray down they started eating…Bhau, ek khabar mila, patah nehi kitna sach hai but it seems for the last 2-3 days Anna is not to be seen in Mumbai….he seems to have left it….
Dutta stopped chewing….how good is the news, he asked….I mean who is the informer…
Good source..Bajirao named the person…
Hmmmm…so the news must be correct…
Do you think he has gone back to Hyderabad….
Nehi not yet, not without my dead body….Dutta joked looking thoughtful…
Areh aisa sajayungi tujhe humlog Bhau ka hosh udh jayega….tujhe raath bhar sone nehi dega….Dutta heard one of the ladies telling Nakusha…
Waise bhi nehi deta hoga…areh ladki kuch bata bhi ..hum bhi toh sune hamare bhau ishq kaise karta hai…another pushed Nakusha while the rest of them giggled….
Dutta blushed, such shameless women he thought to see Bajirao looking uncomfortable but peeping out
Baji Anna must have got the news that we are here, lookout for him…..must be around somewhere…
How can you be sure? Baji asked…
Here it is expected our guards will be down, I have come with my full family to mix around with the villagers…less security so what can be better for Anna…to get me as an easy target…..
Should we cancel our programme…
That will not be fair to the villagers..nehi aisa karte hai…just be alert, do not say anything to anyone, let them enjoy but then lets be careful…..
Achha vehini, tu toh apna muh hi nehi khol rahi hai…chal yeh bata, what did Bhau do to you on your Suhag Raat?
Dutta shook his head, Baji get that girl out of the clutches of those women before they corrupt her….
Sorry bhau, tera biwi hai, tu jane, mai toh chala, let me get the men to do some security drill…
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Anna handed over a copy of photograph to each of his men…take a look carefully and memorise her face by heart…I will not listen to any excuses later…this is a golden opportunity and we will not miss it…
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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