Wedded Bliss
Part ~ 5
Baji, smiled as his eye fell on his mobile the name Bhao flashed..for sure it had to be him.."haan Bhao, I dropped her".Baji's report nevertheless faced Dutta's nonchalance,"yes, I suppose you have, whatever else" he said dryly.. Baji whilst driving the jeep rolled his eyes, unbelievable, his beating about the bush when it comes to her. But Baji decided, this stubborn oaf of a mate will have to speak up about what he really wants to say or know.After some waiting, the lion finally spoke minimum as usual,"ummh was she alright?",Baji seized the moment,"kyun, Bhao was Naku meant to be ill? she seemed healthy enough to me!" he jested.. Dutta surrounded by files at home, growled,"gadhe! I meant udhas tu nehi the, at separating from me..!",Baji widened his eyes as he continued with his drive,"hain? now why would she be sad? as you put it.. separation, you make it sound so tragic,tuk! tuk! kitna filmy.. kaunse long term judai hai?..nooo, she looked normal, hang on a minute, in fact although she didn't say so but, lagta tha kush the Naku"and he sniggered filled with mischief making. Dutta, swiftly reacted, his mouth screwed up."haan tu mein kaunsa na kush hoon! me too happy, got my space back,!"he roared..Baji shook his head devilishly..that's worked him up, but thought correction was needed before his yehra Bhao takes it to heart and self winds himself into an explosion! for Bhao excelled in that.. huumm boils like a pan of hot water.. sooo didn't want his beloved Bhao over spilling..."areee rok ja Bhao, me jokin', woh tu kuch down dekhte the", he clarified, but Dutta now proper hiked up ,replied,"pun mein tu serious hoon, mujhe koi problem nehi woh mera pas nehi hai, aacha hai.. bak bak kum hoge.. don't have to put up with her, bloody woh! maine! ye! nonsense! he bellowed..Baji knew full well, that it will take Dutta a bit of time to simmer down to normal temperature.."woh she asked me to look after you Bhao.." and Dutta blew another fuse,"what?! mein koi.. baby hoon and you my nanny ju I need you to feed me!, change my nappie! and sing me lullabies! kiya bikwas hai! chup kar! don't talk about her!",he hollered, and after a pause , he continued in a simmered tone, "ummh waise ummh Baji woh, ummh bole kya kab wapis aye ge... hummm? Dutta went off a tangent.. and Baji slightly reassured by Dutta's cooling off added,"errr Bhao, ab ye poochna tu tera kam hai..it's your prerogative! husbaaand to tu hai Naku ka, pun pyar se ask her dharr ke saath nehi" Dutta lightly pushed his head back on his settee, in his room and chuckled,"oyee nautanki, pyar aur dharr meri, she accepts both! he said with a semi conceited smile laced with a hint of brash primitive male ego .."Baji agreed, yet pointed out,"yep I know Bhao, Naku hai he itne aachi, tu lucky hai bahut Bhao.."Dutta nodded, but still riding on a wave of swelled boast, he murmured, "hummm, but woh bhi tu lucky hai, mera jaise aacha compliant, farishta pati, mila hai, use, ummh ab looks wise too, I know main koi actor nehi, but dekhna mein. thek thak hoon," Dutta admitted quite unabashed ,Baji, guffawed "haan looks wise to Bhao, tu intne lethal hai, bullet ke mafak..ke jis ko lag jae tu woh tu gaya kam se,"! Dutta, heard Baji's metaphorical description of his characteristic features but intentionally flickered them away. As no amount of verbal diversions, whiffle waffle, side tracked Dutta from her thought.So Baji was the sole individual Dutta laid bare his inner most thoughts and sentiments before.."ummh Baji.. ummh did she cry?" Baji, with eyes that gleamed,"haan she snivelled a bit, she was parting from her pyar sa Bhai, so yes you could say she wept for me!"Baji further pestered Dutta, who now stood up in his room, with folded arms across his broad chest.."well long live ye bahi behan ka pyar! ok now tell me uske maa babba kush thein use dekh ke.."Dutta asked directly. Baji ,very nearly blurted, about the fuss that Naku encountered by Babi's discord, but shelved it as incendiary feedback, so reported instead,"woh Naku ke Aye babaa missed your presence..". Dutta received,this remark graciously, but preferred to be quiet, as he had enough of the subject.Baji too sensibly, refrained from saying any more except,"ok Bhao, me nearly at this client we were meant to tackle together..."and Dutta ,retorted "good you recognise that there are times when I want you to deal with transactions on your own. You may say tere solo kam kerna ke training hai.."explained Dutta, and Baji, smiled seriously. Undoubtedly Baji understood even beyond what Dutta admitted ,and that was that Dutta trusted him completely with everything..."aacha Bhao, main jata hai"...
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Sethji dragged his sister to the kitchen, and Naku began the first nurturing task of preparing a meal for the family. She giggled as she chopped the bunched up spinach leaves with a kitchen devil knife. Baji had said she was to rest, but surely not.. and actually this was not nurturing she was engaged in, this had to be seen as serving and honouring one's parents she concluded.. for if as a daughter she fails to serve her parents.. her deities would refrain from looking kindly upon her, so she believed. She set aside the spinach ,and began the task of scraping the skin of the potatoes.. busily she mused, that by coming over to her parents in moments of their need, was also not really granting them a favour, for if she, their Naku did not step forward for their aid who would?.."Tai kya sooch rehe hai tu? nagged Sethji who sounded as if he wanted to help, or at least, Naku would ensure he did.."ye le Sethji, ye aloo cheel!, he looked at her aghast and pointed his hands to his chest, "main?" Naku nodded "hain tu, chaal help kar meri,"..she encouraged and with a broad toothy smile he obliged.. Ganapat came into the kitchen,"aree Naku, ye tu kiya kar rehe hai ?rasoi ka kam karwa ke ise choori bana rehe hai?". Naku turned to face her father,"aagar ghar mein help de reha hai tu kiya bura kar raha hai babaa,? ek useful insaan bun raha hai,".she affirmed. Sethji, continued with a beaming smile and added,"haan babaa main Tai ke mdaat kar raha hoon!", Ganpat slapped the back of his head,"to kar tu chorrion ke kam!"and then he turned to Naku,"aur tu khudghraz lardki! ap to tu udher Bhao ke ghar mein aish kar rehe hai, or hum yehan paise paise ko tarss gaye hain, uppar se, rokra lena ke bajie ye anaj uthe liya hai ab bata! meri hafat mein ek dafa ke daru ke botal kahan se aye ge?"he howled. Babi came into the kitchen, and yelled," eee! chor meri baache ka peecha! ja site pe mazdori kar aur phir daru kharid"! Naku, lifted the lid of the pot and nearly put off, stirred the mixed veg curry and covered the pot again with tears in her eyes.. and she thought she came home.. for a change..she wiped her cheek with the back of her hand and walked out of the kitchen.. and made way towards her room.
During their simple meal carried out in a simple manner on the floor from brass thalis.. she sensed that her father had to keep a lid on his behaviour due to her mother's intervention. She looked across the floor at her mother, who appeared pallid and ill, as she mopped her brow with her sari pallu, and Naku's heart went out to her mother.It's true a woman does make or break a household.. her mother held their home together.. that is the lesson now Naku needed to learn and implement in her own household..stand firm and strong under all strains..Babi gazed at her daughter whose beautiful face stood crestfallen due to unpleasantness within the home, "uth Naku aur seedhi apna kamre mein ja aur aram kar! she commanded, but Naku momentarily ignored her mother's command and as if it was part of her second nature, she carried the soiled dishes to the kitchen.. only this time she was not alone, but her brother too keenly gave her a helping hand in the task...
Once chores over Naku sat in her Room, on the bed, Sethji examined his Tai's flash mobile phone, and many a sounds gleeful fascination, escaped his lips,"Tai, tu kitne,lucky hai , Bhao buys you all the latest, gizmo's .. wish humera pas bhi dher sara paisa hota! tu phir main bhi apne friends ko dektha!, Naku , smiled and fondly ran her fingers over the top of his head..yes, she knew peer pressure was a big thing when one is growing up, but for her, mobiles were not such big thing.. but yes.. they have there uses. In the meanwhile, as his older sister, maybe she could set right a few things.." yes, Sethji, he has bought me this phone, several reasons, so we can remain in touch, for he knows our landline is temperamental, sometimes it works other times it doesn't..another reason is for safety, or in emergency. But I also confess that, there are many features of this phone that I am not familiar with and therefore, till I don't know how..ye phone useless hai mera liya".. she held it up in her hand.. paused but continued , as she tapped her baby brother on the back of his head,"aur ye tu kya bola, paisa hona lucky hota hai.. nehin Sethji! apne family ka pyar hona is the biggest blessing one can have.. so go for blessings ,not luck.. and love! not money..,haan paisa ho tu it helps in life, but remember, money cannot buy love", she sermonised. Sethji, by this time let go of the phone and crossed his legs on the bed and stared at his sister nonplussed."tu yehri ho gaye hai Tai?kaise ajeeb ajeeb batien kerti hai tu? main teach kare thuje phone ke applications? he offered, Naku agreed hoon",he beamed as he grabbed the phone again ,all geared up to teach his big sister... and both sat on the bed crossed legged, shoulder to shoulder ,heads touching, excited eyes fixed on the mobile that Sethji held and tested.. Naku.. suddenly sighed.. yes it was good to be back home.. she mused.
The clear drawl of their father, intercepted, and broke the short lived instant.."eee! Sethji! ja apne Aye ke pas se, tere Tai se mujhe baat kerne hai.!Sethji, for fear of being clobbered by his hot tempered father, stood up startled and scampered out of the room.. leaving the father and daughter alone.
Naku lowered her legs on the edge of her bed and invited her father to sit beside her.Ganpat, turned to her and stroked the top of her head,"dekh apna babba ke baat dil pe mat, liya kar, gussa mein bola main, thujhe pata haina tu to mera pyrai se beti hai.. sirf thujhe he apna babba ka khyal reheta hai, teri maa tu har dum larne ko tayeer bethi hoti hai", he moaned as he held her hand, and looked into his daughters green eyes, with pitiful soulful eyes. It didn't take Naku, to long to warm up to his touch and paternal affection,"kuch chahiye ap ko babaa?"she said quite simply. Ganapat thought it was of no use to pretend, direct admission had to be the order of the day, and why not it was only his daughter he was speaking to, and he moved and took hold of Naku's phone,"haan paise chaiye tha, nehin Naku, woh dukan se ghar ke cheezin ke liye uhar liye tha , woh chukna hai".. tu yehe tera mobile" he said greedily, Naku grabbed her phone "nehin babaa, ye nehin, mera pati ne diya hai , aagar mera pas na hoya tu woh dus sawal karien ge! is liye nehin!" she said emphatically. But her father persisted, in many ways than one,"tu main kiya kare ga? ise liye phoocha rokra ke liye tera se..",He suggested, "ye nehi tu kuch aur he kamte cheez de de." He eyed the little gold ring set in her birthstone on her finger.."dekh ye de de, ye tu teri maa ne thujhe diya hai.. tu humare de hoi cheez mujhe wapis lauta de", he proposed craftily.Naku, sat silently and twisted the ring on her finger, that held sentimental value for her, even her Saab knew about that. Facts churned through her mind, love for her family!, her father's plea !and simply returning in times of need what her parents gave to her in the first place.. and she twisted it off her finger, dewy eyed and held her father's palm and placed her ring on his coarse palm.."ye lo, babaa, ja ke karza uthar do ap ab.."
With the ring clenched in his palm, a victorious father! emerged out of his loving and loyal daughter's room, grabbed his waist coat and headed straight out..
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Dutta, moped around the house, it was obvious what went through him,"Bhao, ab itna bhi dil pe maat le Naku ka jana,"called out Kala from the lounge area after dinner, fixing her sari pleats daintly. Dutta turned his head and narrowly looked at her,.. hummh because of Tai, his good bye with his wife was rushed, he festered inside and finally came with a rebuff, "woh Tai, I fancied a cup of tea, but Naku tu hai nehi, so do you think you could make me one with your loving hands.."he requested. A stunned Kala felt her heart, and exclaimed,"main! ummmh main kitchen mein gaye tu mera nails damage ho jayen ge! abhi manicure karie hain"!she moaned..Baji jumped in, "areee Tai ap chalo tu sahe kitchen mein I'll help you, come!! he announced and literally, lifted her from her comfortable sitting posture.. and Dutta observed, much amused within.. and called from behind,"aur Tai, don't forget to put out a jug of water in my room for the night ,with your loving hands"!.AS, glared at him,"Dutta, kya ho gaye hai thujhe? apne bare bahen se kam karwate hai tu? hum nehi chate humari beta aise chote mote naukaro wala kam kare.. waise ye sab tu Naku ka kam hai, ab tune kudh use maika bheja hai tu..."and she stopped angered as she had made her point. Dutta slowly walked towards his mother as he received, his cup of tea ,that which Baji held on a tray in his hands.. Dutta, moved his eyes towards his mother and sister,"tu ap ke nazar mein Naku meri dasi hai? meri patni nehi? wah! kya sooch hai! ap logon ke!, he folded his arms and slanted his head,"tu yaad dila doon ap ko ke Naku meri patni hai, aur uske yahan na hona se mujhe aisa lagata hai ke woh mera har hal mein kitna khayal rekhte hai..!"he said soberly.Baji noted the gravity of the situation and, chipped in humorously," so you publically admit that you miss your wife! kya loving hubby hai tu!, and he moved over and put his shoulder around Kala's shoulders, "better look after him Tai, don't want him sinking into depression!". Kala shrugged Baji's arm off her shoulder, and went towards her mother and sat beside her, as the two friends went off to their rooms.."waise AS, suna ap na Bhao ko, bawara ho gaye hai, bilkul..us Nakusha ke pheeche..aisa bhi kya shaadi ka junoon, humari bhi shaadi hoi hai, ap ne kabhi Kishore ko aise behave karte dekha hai?" she grumbled. AS, looked at her daughters heavily made up face , and abstained from further engaging in this fruitless conversation.. her son, loves his wife and misses her a bit too much.. yehe sach tha.
Dutta flopped on his bed, and eased his back, as he folded his arm on his fore head. He closed his eyes and his free hand slowly shifted on the space where she usually laid beside him. Frustrated, he clinched his hand and then unfurled it and rested it on her bed space.. she hadn't phoned , hope she was fine? battery na dead ho uske phone ke, pagal aurat ko I forgot to tell her how to charge it! he growled as he became restless and then, pulled himself up and with one leg folded on the bed he dialled her number,"hummmh main hoon! phoonchne ka phone bhi ker deta hain Naki, I specifically instructed you! but you conveniently ignored it!"he yelled.Naku, gulped, and replied, feebly,"woh Saab, Baji ne nehi batya ap ko?, Dutta, snapped back,"he did but tune to nehi batya haina? kyun? itne busy hai tu!". Naku wiped her brow, and figured out what reply to give to his query, for she cannot possibly tell him her home truths..what happens in her home is her look out, besides, she doesn't want to lower her parents image in his eyes,"woh Saab, I was busy helping my Aye in preparing a meal..is liye was busy, she explained.Dutta rubbed his stubble chin and smiled, "why only prepare Naku? you should have cooked the complete meal yourself, tu help ke liye gaye hai tu give your Aye complete rest", she too now smiled," kerte hoon Saab, aacha chorru, ye batao, ap kahna waqat pe kha rehe hona?, rest kar raho hona waqat par, time se sau reha ho?",irritated he stopped her short,"bas kar meri Aye buna, aur apne baat kar..ummh kaise hai tu? ummh.."Naku blushed she didn't quite make out what he wanted to hear from her but a flush crept up her fair slender neck and moved up to her cheeks, "main.. woh.."she fumbled and he lay down on his back his hands free stuffed in his ear with one arm now folded on his belly.."ayeee bund kar apna main woh ka rut! bata yaad kerte hai mujhe hoon?",he waited but was confronted with a second's pause, "hain?? itna time lag reha hai thujhe jawab dena maine Naku.. a simple haan would suffice, still don't want to put words in your mouth"..he said roguishly, she giggled and he clutched his heart,"haan kerti hoon", she confessed in a small voice, he moved his head on the pillow with dreamy eyes, and teased in a husky voice,"kitna Naku..hummh?", she rolled on her side upon on her bed,"bahut zayeeda , aur ap kitna yaad kerto ho mujhe?" she probed,"ye kaise bekar ka sawal hai? he snubbed,"thujhe pata hoona chahiye, main mazza mein hoon, koi biwi ke rok tok nehi"!.. he jested,"Saabbb, maat thung karo.. nehi tu mein.."her voice faltered and she wept..he could hear her sobs, sniffles, muffled choking coughs,"oyeee bewakoof lardki! band kar apna roondu band baja! koi sune ga tu they'll think I am strangling the living day lights out of you! aacha chaal clam down, sun I miss you like mad, Naku, har taraf tu he nazar ati hai, tera Saab appears a bit lost without his Naku".. he noticed her weeping had stopped and she lapped up all that he affirmed, "there now kush? ok ab bata ke ghar mein sab thek haina?", Naku promptly, responded,"haan sab fine?, ap ye batao AS, Kala tai, Baji ,baki sab thek haina?, she inquired politely. Dutta chuckled,"pata hai Naku, aj Tai ke haat ke bene hoi chaie pe maine," and Naku smiled," aacha! that's wonderful, she really loves you, dekha Saab main nehi hoon tu woh ap ka kitna khayal rekh rehe hain, ap saach mein bahut kush kismat to have such a loving older sister.."Naku pointed out, Dutta's eyes nearly welled up, how simply honest and positive she is in her opinion about people..he deduced ,especially when he knew the real situation was far from what Naku had gleaned, and couldn't refrain from uttering,"tera Saab kush kismet hai Naku, because tere jaise.. bure se larki, us ke life mein hai "he laughed,"Saabbb! ap meri jaan lo ge kiya? main buri hai.. bolo?".Dutta hugged his pillow between his legs and in a throaty guttural voice,"haaan itne buri ke mujhe jala ke bhasam kar diya hai tune.. bas ab mujhe main sirf Naku he bache hai.. wapis ahh ja Naku, me dying.."Naku's hazel green eyes popped open, is he in his right mind ? what is he saying,"Saab ap ne aj bhi pe rekhe hai kiya?" she moaned, "nehi Naku main dry hoon bilkul, but idea aacha hai, apne independence ka jashan manana ke liye, to abhi main jata hai.. sau ja tu Naku.."he whispered, and Naku,shouted, "ruko tu! suno tu Saaabbb!.. but her Saab had disconnected the phone..
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No way did Dutta even look at his favourite type of bottles!. He emerged the following day as sober as a judge! thought Baji. It seemed to him Naku had taken with her, his Bhao's fetish with ek ghunoot as well... Baji eyed him in the jeep as he sat with a sullen grouchy swollen face. Baji turned on the ignition to the jeep, and almost tittered like a girl in silence,"haan phir bol tera mood kaisa hai Bhao? kuch hai maan mein tu off load ker le, mufat ka psychiatrist, hoon main tera so speak up , I am all ears to give you your much needed peace, that by the looks of it, you may be short of at the moment, in other words, teri surat bata rehe hai ke tu raat bher nehi soya..",Dutta turned his face the other way, his elbow jutted out of the jeep window, and his closed palm caressed his stubble cheek, while the Baji drove and continued his prattle. Dutta's ears were sealed.. he only heard the drone of Baji's voice.. his lips parted and the faint sigh of a pining lover escaped from the inner recesses of his heart.. Baji turned his head to check his friend, he looked not quite right,"Bhao tu thek hai?, Dutta, with a folded finger under his nose went,"hummm", Baji rolled his eyes ,and figured out the man had clamped down wholly and without wasting a minute he changed lanes on the high way and headed towards Naku territory. Dutta began to doze off till suddenly he noted the roads signs plus the local area, and sat up all alert,"oyee Baji ye khader ko chal para hai tu?"rumbled Dutta, Baji sniggered," udher ko Bhao, jahan tera sad face happy face bun jaye ga Bhao.. pun abhi tu sau.. suggested Baji to avoid further agro.. Hamlet53~ 24.5.13.
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