FF- Naku's Call, Epilogue, pg32,note on pg 33 - Page 11

Dutta looked at his new bride groggily, leaned forward and patted her head before falling off to sleep once more'

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As sunlight flooded the room, Dutta opened his eyes, he could hear the chirping of the birds and voices, Bua giving instructions to the servants and her bahus'

Areh Gayatri koi jake naye dulha, dulhan ko uthayo, naha dhuke puja me baitna hai'

The words brought back Dutta to his senses, he looked at his side but Nakusha was not there, he got up, saw her sari lying on the floor alongwith her undergarments but Nakusha not to be seen'

Kaha chali gayi, Dutta got up and went towards the door, the lock was open, Dutta opened it to find Gayatri standing outside about to wake them up'

Aapne Nakusha do dekha, Dutta asked instead'

Kamre me nehi hai, Gayatri gave a puzzled look..

Nah, shayad bathroom me hoga'Dutta added as afterthought'he could see his parents standing with a apprehensive look, trying hard to cover their true expressions'

Areh Dutta bhai, have you forgotten aaj 1^st final match hai, Nakusha kaise rahegi kamre me, gayi hogi hamare players ko boost karne'Mukesh intervened..

Lekin itna subah'match shuru hone mai kafi waqt hai, Gayatri commented'

Bhabi tum bhi, unke breakfast supervise karna hai, purane choto me maram patti karna hai, aaj Nakusha ke pass time nehi hai, thank god Dutta Bhai shaadi tumne kaal kar liye aaj uske pass marne ka bhi time nehi hai..

Lekin woh gayi kaha se, sare bahar ke darwaja toh band the, maine khula subah'Gayatri commented'

Bhabi, Nakusha ko bahar jane me darwaja nehi lagte, yeh baath toh aapko maloom hona chahiye..Dutta smiled while replying to Gayatri's question'

Hearing the same while Mrs Patil looked disgusted, Mr Patil was puzzled'

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As Dutta made it to the grounds, the toss was done and the local team took fielding first, Dutta went towards the stand and took his seat next to Nakusha who was wearing her trademark salwar Kameez, without any jewelry including the mangalsutra put by Dutta last night, seeing Dutta taking his seat next to her's, she turned her face away trying not to meet his eyes..

Waise sabh puch rahe the tumne mujhe raat ko keya diya, Dutta whispered in her ears as the opposition players came out to bat'

Nakusha stood up, Vikas was fielding near the boundary line, Nakusha wished her brother all the best instead'.Dutta gave him his wave..

Maine kisi se yeh nehi kaha ki sow te waqt laath marti ho'Dutta whispered again'

It was a four on the first ball, Nakusha turned and glared at Dutta, chup chap baith ke match dekho, I don't want anymore disturbances'

Oh that's like my girl, I was thinking shaadi karke tum overnight palat gayi'thank god you are still the same'

Oh god, there are so many other places can't you go and sit there'

Dutta took her hand and made her sit next to him, mai agar udhar baithunga log keya sochenge Nakusha, aur tumhare papa abhi iss taraf dekh bhi rahe hai'

Nakusha darted a glance towards her father, he was indeed staring, she gave a weak smile to sit next to Dutta.

Soon they were joined by Nakusha's friends, Dutta started quite enjoying the match sitting amongst so many youngstars, fiddling with Nakusha's fingers, he started behaving like a true Jija..Nakusha time to time shouted instructions to Vikas, who dutifully carried the same to their captain at the opportune moment'Dutta started having self doubt, Nakusha toh idhar hai, looking quite relaxed enjoying the game, did he assume too much that it was Nakusha who played the other day 'it has to be, why would Nakusha otherwise adhere to his blackmailing?

The opposition's innings ended at 310 runs, before Vikas left the ground he glanced at Nakusha'Dutta became alert'he kept on holding Nakusha's hand'

Suddenly Vijay took out a pack of cards, dekho jijaji magic dekho'.he shuffled the cards, asked Dutta to pick one, Dutta picked one with his free hand, he then asked him to mix it with rest of the pack'Vijay picked out the right card, soon he asked Dutta to choose two / three cards from the pack, remember the sequence as he will find out the cards in the same sequence..Dutta had to release Nakusha's hand 'Vijay was good, he did not get nervous inspite of a big crowd gathering to watch his skills, infact he took out some other materials to add to the variety. Most of the tricks were common but Dutta was enjoying himself, Vijay was paying special attention to him, at times taking his help in holding some of the items, Dutta in between ensured Nakusha's hand rested on his thigh'

Abeh match shuru ho rahe hai, Vijay apni Magic band kar, said someone'

Ha ha hogiya'achha darshako, agar aapko mujhe bulana ho mera mobile number hai... aur paisa phone pe baath kar lenge...Vijay concluded his show'

Dutta thanked Vijay and sat straight when the voice next to him said, abh toh meri haath chhor dijiye jijaji'Dutta turned, to his horror it was Rano, Nakusha's friend who was sitting next to her sometime ago'Rano gave him a shy smile'

Nakusha?

Rano gave a coy look'

Just then clapping started, the opening batsmen got out to bat'Durgesh and Vikas written prominently on their jersies'the crowd shouted taking their names and wishing them luck'

The match started'Dutta looked around, nobody seemed to know that it was not Vikas but Nakusha, they cheered at him when he hit a four, Dutta started having doubts once again'jaroori nehi toh yeh Nakusha hi hai, with the helmet on, the face was barely visible, if it was Nakusha, Dutta noticed her actions too were similar to Vikas's, her shorts neat and bold'Dutta looked around, Vikas understandably was not to be seen and he could not see Nakusha even not even in the bench where team officials and some extra players were sitting'

Dutta could no longer sit still, he got up and went out of the sitting area towards the club house incase he gets to see Nakusha, his was getting nervous by each passing minute, keya hoga if someone challenges and finds out the truth, how many people know that is Nakusha and not Vikas who plays in big matches, her friends obviously and who else, the officials? the close supporters'

He looked around a bit more, now convinced he still could not keep still, what is this girl doing, agar pakri jayegi toh kitna badnaami hogi, not only hers but the whole village's 'the previous match was played somewhere else but this match, in home ground and why is Nakusha taking such a huge risk'

Dutta saw Nakusha's father leaving the grounds'

Aap match chhorke ja rahe hai ..Dutta asked him tentatively'

Nehi idhar hi hu, he gave a nervous smile, thora tension ho rahe hai..

Hmmm, Its understandable '.

Aap bhi idhar ghum rahe ho'

I was just ensuring something, Dutta said a bit half heartedly,

Her father looked in his eyes, Aap jo soch rahe hai, woh sach hai'

Dutta got startled, aapko maloom hai'

Ha, mujhe maloom hai'.

Aapne roka nehi'.Dutta was stunned'.

Her father gave a weak smile'dekho beta, aisa nehi hai ki they have confided to me, I know because '.akhir mai undono ka pita hu'.initially jab friendly matches me Nakusha Vikas ke sthan par utarti thi, it was more for fun, Vikas loved it as he is a bit nervous sort of person, lekin score jo bhi ho, shabashi uski ko milta tha, aur Nakusha'usko toh khelna hai, chaye friendly match ho, chahe competition'

Lekin ladkiya bhi toh aajkal cricket khelti hai'

Ha, lekin is gao me aur Nakusha utna ambitious nehi hai, matlab apne liye nehi hai, usse sirf khelna hai, ha lekin Vikas ka naam a bara parwa hai, she wants Vikas to play for Indian team'

Is she crazy, Vikas ko agar shield karegi, how can Vikas stand for himself'

Vikas bahut talented hai'

Lekin darpok hai, aap Vikas ko coaching ke liye kiyu nehi bhejte'

Dekho beta, mera pass utna paisa nehi hai, do ladkiya ka baap hu, unke shaadiya karani thi, Nakusha toh bara naseeb wali nikli aur sach batao beta, hamare yeha bachho par likh ke kuch ban jaye toh kafi hai'uske ageh hum nehi sochte, aap yuh keh sakte ho, sochna nehi jante'

Dutta stopped on his tracks, phirbhi aap Nakusha ko nehi rokhti'

He smiled, it was a proud smile, Mujhe bahut khushi milta hai soch tai meri beti itne ladko ka chhakke chhura rahe hai, ussi me agar uski khushi hai, mujhe koi problem nehi akhir ladki hai, kitna din karegi yeh saab, shaadi waadi ke baad iss desh ki kitne ladkiya aapni sapne pura kar sakti hai'waise Nakusha sirf khelna chahati hai, usse khelna bahut pasand hai, naam ki lalchi nehi hai woh'

Dutta smiled, apne liye nehi, apne Bhai ke liye jaroor'

Dixitji sighed, ha bahut pyar hai dono me, lekin abhi toh Nakusha ki shaadi ho gayi, aaj shaam ko aaplog chale bhi jayoge usko lekar, kuch din baad Nakusha shaayad cricket bat pakarna bhi bhul jayegi'aapko darne ki jaroorat nehi hai beta, yehi uski akhri match hai, mai aapko jaban deta hu'

Dutta realized they had come a long way from the grounds, immersed in their conversation they had not realized it'

Chaliye wapis chalte hai, dekhte Vikas ne kitna banaya..Dutta smiled at Dixitji''

Ha chaliye beta'but on the way they came to know that Vikas has just got out at 75'

Aap jayiye match dekne aur me jakar Vikas ki bahen ko pakarta hu, akhir shaam ko jane ka taiyyari bhi toh karna hai'

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