SS~Dutta~a trilogy~ thread 1. Follow the Heart. continued on thread 2 - Page 92

Originally posted by: mirage123

hi hamlet hi mirage😊
fab ud.dutta is so cute na😆bansuri ,kajri,jothish & fooling around..naku is smart gal.😳waiting to reading further😊 soo glad you like the flow of the story so far.. keep reading ,will update tomm.. and i love the heart felt thank you image.. my pleasure to write for you.. much love hammie.

Originally posted by: sona89

HI Hamlet

hi sonaaa.. tell you i saw your comment last night.. i laughed.. gosh you like this FTH so much?

Awesome UD...you r caught in cricket fever we in FTH😆 perfect meeting & immensely cute couple..i liked the way each wanted to meet other...Drama & get up too good..UD soon

so happy you enjoying the story.. and you will find out more about them tomm.. in the ud.. thanks much love hammie..

Originally posted by: uwith

hi hamlet hi uvi..😊
awesome ud dutta has fallen deeply madly in love with naku ..dutta as astrology 😳very nice meeting..naku is expert in face reading😆next ud i 'm waiting ..regards uvi
good you found humor in the joytsi.. segment.. please to note idea baji ka tha.. dutta even in LTL1 lacked humor.. naku.. too fancies him.. read on more about the two.. in tomorrows update.. thanks for the lovely flowers image.. much love hammie

Originally posted by: emilymine32

Hi hammie helloo imli.. yaar me was looking for your comment.. soocha phir chale gaye hai? but then this morning ! ta da! tu ah gaye..😊
Enjoyed the update
bechara dutta apne hi ghar mein shanti se nahi reh sakta ..
for a change baji took dutta home
mela part too good happy you liked it
dutta jyotshi ban gaya acha tarika hai naku se baat karneka and she too ready to chat up..
Tasha aise hi milte rahe ..hummm .. tu aise hi read karte reh
thanks for update
waiting for Next thank you for reading and giving an encouraging comment.. will update tomm..so catch it tomorrow. much love hammie

Originally posted by: Hamlet53

Originally posted by: Hamlet53

Mishal Raheja

As Dutta

Follow the Heart

Part 4

"humm, main baachai gi.. jotysi ko.. pun yeh tu kehna pare ga aap himmatwale ho.."...Dutta doubled his stubble chin and wondered what exactly she implied by rescuing his masquerading version? did she not want to save him? the man underneath this imposed image of a psychic ?he needed clarifications

" bata Nakusha, sirf jotysi ko baachai ge? aur us ajnabee jis ne teri jaan bakhshi us din jab tu uske kemtee cheez chora ka le ja rahe thi.. use dushman ke hawale kar de ge?.. bata! mujhe suna hai tera jawab" urged Dutta as he peered directly into her eyes. Naku blinked her big bold green eyes at him across the table, grinned and replied shyly..

" haan main baachie ge joytsi ko.. kyun ke woh ek bhess hai... pun bhess ke peeche ju aadmi hai.. uska apna dum aur himmat use baachai gi apne dushman se! meri himmat pheeke par jaye ge us ke samna! mujha pura bhorossa hai is baat ka" Naku confirmed. Dutta just stared at her delicate fine features, and his eyes shifted lazily over each detail that compiled her face. the fine sharp nose; winged noir eyebrows; petal like rose bud mouth.. and the big bold green doe eyes, that stood out as the key attraction on Nakusha's face. Taken aback by his forwardness of gawking upon this girl's face, Dutta shifted his lion like eyes on to her maang tikka that sat comfortably on her smooth forehead.. and rather stupidly he wished he was it! He sighed with parted lips and attempted to delve upon her words and thus pretended to show complete attention. That is what he was meant to do.. listen, yet maintain eye contact with her.. an accompaniment Dutta certainly approved of. However on a graver note, this girl did have the power to raise certain issues, about which he himself, was quite unaware of.. he too accepted silently... but mind you he preferred to latch on to, the obscurity of his persona..

However, her admission, that she thought of him as fearless, naturally gave his male ego him a tremendous boost. For so long due to the traumatic domestic lifestyle he led, Dutta too believed along with his immediate family ,that he was some juvenile delinquent, who simply lived life with ease and scoffed off his family. This was initself an unbecoming expectation of the general type cast male image prevalent in the area where Dutta lived in. Naku shook her head a little and bit her bottom lip worried lest she had upset him by what she had said about him...

" errh, I think it is brave of you to come into a territory where entry is banned and heads may roll! she clarified. Dutta sighed, sided his face away from her, then faced her again and gazed upon her with intense eyes.. and expressed in a slow guttural voice how he felt..

" if you consider me brave ,then it's not my head that I put at stake. It's my heart.. he whispered as he touched the left side of his broad chest, " I followed my heart, and I came.. wanted to know more about the lardki whom the love of my life Kajri followed so devoutly.. dekhna chata tha, jana chata tha , ke meri Kajri ne kya mahsoos kiya tha thujhe pa ke?" Naku seemed perplexed at the mention of the name.. and then giggled.

" haan! woh pyari sa mamna Kajri! She blushed, but then her face gave away possible signs of assuming the presence of someone else in Dutta's life..

" humm.. woh Kajri.. tum ne kya soocha koi.. larki?.. koi nehin hai.. main charra chandar hoon.. ghar wale ko mere laagan ke chinta nehin! it's people's general perception, mere jaise nakara banda se kaun lagaan kare gi? he confessed tersely. Naku looked at him with her bright bold green eyes and nearly died at his innocent earnestness. Naku just regarded his smooth broad forehead, those kajal riddled eyes, that emoted a range of his sentiments. One minute he was; aloof and distinct, next he simmered with intensity, and then alongside was his tender disciplined passion. Dutta studied her then pushed his head forward towards hers, across the small table and his eyes questioned her with a confused furrowed brow.. right above his eyebrows..

"kuch gulat bola maina? saf saf bataya hai thujhe apne bara maine"...then he paused .. and hoped for her to tell him crucial details.. more about herself. But before she could, Babi barged in and stood behind the partitioned curtain, as she spotted Naku and this jotysi bound in some kind of an eye lock. She had to intervene, after all Naku was her responsibility. Some palmist from nowhere surely will be disallowed ,from filling her darling baachi with some way ward ideas.. so Babi does the needful..

" Nakusha! bahut ho gaya apne var ke bare mein tera janana.. ab chal! Naku startled and the moment was shattered. Dutta sat up and glared past Nakusha at the intruder ,an old biddy.. and he yelled!

"main abhi gahaq ke saath hoon! inteezar karo tum jo bhi ho! Naku who jumped up to leave, explained.

"it's ok ! she is no stranger, meri dai maa hai.. Babi maa..and she turned to Babi.. "ap chalo mein ati hoon Babi maa," and she rotated to leave. In a moment of uncertainty that surely meant he might lose her indefinitely .. Dutta stretched his long strong arm over the table, grabbed her arm just above her bangle clad wrist!. Her glass bangle snapped in two! under his hasty clumsy grip! Naku winced! Panicked he lurched forward and with his pincer grip, carefully picked the two ends of her broken glass bangle with his slender fingers, and placed the pieces on the table.. he sighed, much relieved she wasn't hurt.. and slowly drew back his palm. But with narrowly sided eyes he asked in a whisper

"ayee Nakusha... mere dakhshna nehin mile ge? Naku too bashful to reply , instead bowed her head once . Dutta's eyes latched on to her green doe eyes , then reluctantly let her go , but still mumbled..

"kab? and she replied , "jald !.. giggled and spun around and Dutta regretfully watched her longingly as her shapely rose pink and purple clad figure, serenely lifted the curtain and slipped away. Dutta then, hauled himself and extended one of long dhoti clad leg over the little table, pushed aside fiercely the sheer curtain, and then stood across the entrance to the kiosk, with both his arms pushed sideways against the door post..

Dutta eyes avidly followed her.. as Naku walked away with her chaperon , cutting through the throngs of people. Dutta arched his neck sideways and strained not to lose sight of her. Somehow he was becoming clingy by the second to this girl.. like he is for Kajri..he shook his head at the comparison he inadvertently drew.. Kajri, he smiled belonged to him.. was beside him when he wanted her.. aur ye Nakusha larki.. kya lagte hai tere Dutta? he mused and stared so hard his eyes welled up.. she's nothing to me, he reflected.. but he can dream and work at making her something? Dutta swerved his head with a wishful expression on his face.. and suddenly looked across the crowds, blinked his eyes to locate her.. his watery eyes lit up as he spotted the rose pink and violet clad Naku.. with her Babi maa huddled beside her.. both women clearly, headed towards the shopping area that bustled with women of all sizes and ages. There Naku too went and joined her friends who were elated to get her back at the ladies accessories area.. Dutta watched and narrowed his eyes with a cheeky smile and wondered what she would tell her friends about the jotysi experience?. Meanwhile he bit the end of his lower lip.. and craved for his friend.. who would resolve his Bhau's impediment..? but there was no sign of Baji rao.. and Dutta began to go down in the dumps.. if only Kajri could talk.. he churned under emotional duress.. he felt her absence.. there was no point in bringing her here to the mela.. she would be seen as his mascot. A dead giveaway in future if ever he was hunted by Nana Sahib's henchmen.. Dutta mused.

Ultimately, Dutta receded back from the door into the kiosk and felt mighty frustrated. Time ticked way.. if only he could freeze it ? Seemed now that his disguise curtailed him from roaming around across the mela with Nakusha. He thought once again of Baji.. where was he? he should be here with me seeking a solution for his Bhau's problem!..if he's not here fast.. Naku would perhaps leave!

Daksha roamed around with Baji.. he ensured that she visited stalls that she showed keenness towards. Daksha ,of course hadn't met him before, but now found him to be a delightful, caring and amiable boy. It was good that Dutta had him in place, to turn too.. in hours of need. Eventually she felt she needed to roam around on her own ,and thus she turned to Baji, and asked sensitively..

"dekh Baji, you don't have to hang on to me.. if needed I know Dutta kahan hai.. I can always go to him. Baji heard but still insisted, that he would be around and not too far from her. He pointed to the bangles stall where he wanted to be in the first place, because of Roops and her gang of friends..

"dekho Daksha vahini.. mein us churre wale stall ke erdh girdh hoin ga.. zayeeda dor nehin jaon ga.. if I am not there then I'll be at Bhau's kiosk.." she nodded in agreement. Baji meanwhile, seeing that he had sorted Daksha, and packed off naku to the palmistry session with his Bhau.. gambolled adventurously back to Roops.. in the hope that he might score too!

"tumhe kheien jane ke zaroorat nehin.. kaniya! main us jotysi ka trainee hoon.. tum khao, tu tumhare haat dekh ke bata doon ke tumhara var kaisa hoga? he said sweetly ,as he enlarged his eyes innocuously.. Roops took one look at his dimpled cheeks and recalled how they fell out the last time they met.. he had driven his black jeep past her and her gang of friends. She shook her neck between her shoulders with attitude and snapped at him

" tum phir edhur ah gaye ho, bhin bhinata hoi? Baji replied with complete cheek

"ab jidher phool hoga edhur he tu aya ga bhanwara?! he flirted and Roops blushed and encouraged him and demanded as she stuck her hand before him.. Baji looked down at the lines of her hand pulled a face and shook his head..

"afsoos se khena pare ga kaniya! ke tum kanwari he raho ge! aagar tum ne kisi dimple wala se laagan nehin kya...? now the choice dear lady is yours .. marry a guy with dimpled cheeks or remain on the shelf forever.." predicted Baji.. but before the two could interact further , Naku and Babi maa turned up and looked at Baji dressed in a long gown of sun, moon, and stars, beads around his neck and a turban on his head.. she grew suspicious and pulled Roops away from this boyish man..

"eyeee.. jader dekho! meri larkiyoon ke pas jotysi hi mandla rehe hai ! she turned to Naku, "lagta hai ke mujhe Nana Sahib ke BGs ko bolna pare ga" she threatened. By now it was clear to Naku that this young man may well be .. unka saathi ho ,so she hastily, ordered Baji..

"dekho tum jao yahan se! tumhara boss woh jotysi jis ke pas tum mujhe le ke gaye the.. he is waiting for you, so best you be on your way!.. Baji turned to leave but not before he winked at Naku and replied with his charming dimpled smile..

"dekho.. woh apun ka boss nehin hai.. Bhau hai.. got that? then realized he sounded dubious he speedily changed his reply slightly... woh.. boss ko saman se Bhau bulta hai main" Naku smiled knowingly and literally turned him around, so he could be on his way.. Babi gathered her bevy of beauties.. still unconvinced about the validity of the psychic pair. They headed through the crowd and made a stop at the way side eateries. Dutta finally was calmed to see that Baji headed back towards Dutta. One look at his bhau's face narrated to him his friends angst. Baji bit his lip and tried to clean away the look of personal joy he received from meeting the rude girl whose name too he didn't even know. He took a deep breath and braced himself to meet Dutta's fury... Baji leapt into the kiosk and found Dutta in a foul mood.. was it an indication, that his session with that beautiful girl, whoever she was ? was far from positive? Baji's heart nearly sank. It cannot be as the girl too was giving his Bhau the eye, near the churri stall.. aag tu dono tarif barabar lage hoi thi, tu phir kya lotcha hoya hoga?? mused Baji.

Dutta deliberately ignored Baji so he could take on board that his Bhau sulked!..he paced up and down in the limited space of the kiosk and fumed inside ,then finally blurted out

"oyee kidhar mar gaya tha tu? I have been waiting for you! maasala hai! I want to roam with that girl jis ke liye main edhur aya hoon..but can't do it for fear of being recognized and booked for stalking her! Dutta rumbled. Baji sniggered.. seeing Dutta had lost his rag! But nevertheless he was pleased to note that his stubborn Bhau.. showed vivid signs of being emotionally moved towards the pretty girl..

" areee Bhau! why are you getting so het up? no problem! you are a psychic.. and I am your apprentice.. you are roaming around in the mela.. advertising your skill.. and as for stalking.. tune suna nehin.. dor dor se takna.. bas that's what you and I both need to do.. look at our dears! from far! maintaining a safe distance.. of course hoping for plenty of eye locks with our dears! He laughed.. Dutta smiled broadly , fixed his dhoti, smoothed his kurta, aligned his turban and announced,

"chaal phir let's move on.. and not waste these moments.." but Baji stopped him and asked an important question..

"nam ,pata challa thujhe Bhau.. kaniya ka? Dutta sided his stubble face shyly , rubbed his stubble under his lip with his forefinger and replied..

" humm.. Nakusha.. Naku , I guess for short, uske Babi maa , called her Naku.." Baji smiled..

" aacha .. Naku.. and as for that chaperon of hers.. maa ke bajie mujhe tu wo aurat thanedarni lageti hai.. ! Dutta chuckled.. and jested ..

"kyun Bajirao? chance nehin mila thujhe apne wali ka nam pata kerne ka..? maybe the old woman, is committed to keeping an eye out for Naku's friends too..? she seems inquisitive , brash ,but loyal".. Dutta commented..then turned to Baji and suggested..

" chaal, Baji ! let's continue with our adventure.. after all teri wale ka naam bhi tu pata lagana hai" Baji chirped at the notion.. but mostly he was joyous to note Dutta was being proactive in matters of the heart..

~~~~~~~~

Both friends still dressed up as psychics! stepped out of the kiosk. Baji called out to confirm their identity, upon the slow moving crowd, and also to goad customers to get their attention..

" apne, hal aur kal ka jano! jeevan mein sukh hoga ya dukh? sab jano! chalte pharte jotysi se! he yelled. Dutta gave him a sided glare as they walked side by side.. and gradually proceeded to the section where the girls stood, around the food stall , having fun, as they laughed and scoffed up savouries, and chilled kulfis.. Dutta also noticed that Daksha too was part of the small group of friends , and he nudged Baji and drew his attention to his vahini.. enjoying the mela food.. so he rebuffed Baji at his loud publicity ..

"bas ab haad se bhar maat ja Baji!.. wo larkiyoon ke neghein par gayien hai hamre par, aur Daksha too has spotted us.. tu chaal hum bhi, kuch kahane ke cheezien la lein.." Slowly they drew closer to the stall.. and Dutta dared and stood directly behind Naku.. she sensed him as he loomed directly behind her. Daksha noticed the spot where Dutta had chosen to stand.. behind this pretty girl.. the prettiest in the whole mela crowd .Daksha had also watched Dutta and this girl interact surreptitiously as they roamed around.. Daksha checked her out and judged that she was from a privileged back ground.. her clothes and gehna spoke the tale. A shadow crossed over Daksha's face as she saw some burly men holding arms, pushed the crowd away from this pretty girl.. Daksha heard the public groan,

" lo ah gayean hain Nana Sahib ke.. paltu kutta! Daksha's hand went to her heart and she held her breath.. could this girl be from Nana Tavde 's household? deva! ise Dutta se dor rekkna.. she fretted, as she had already noticed something brewing up between this girl and her devar.. why else would she go and get her palm read? Something odd she reflected.. but for now she decided she would watch both of them with caution. Then unexpectedly, Daksha noticed Naku ate from a bowl of golgappas..

That Naku was about to pop a golguppa in her mouth.. but stopped suddenly and sided her breath taking sided sharp profile.. and lifted up her eyes.. only to meet Dutta's lowered eyes which stared into hers from behind her.. slowly she raised the golguppa in her hand and offered it to him! but Dutta was vigilant.. not to partake off it.. it may be the time ,his heart cried.. but certainly not the place his good sense ,signalled.. Hence Dutta levelled up his head and shoulders. Naku slighted, moved her hand back to the front and carefully .. placed the savoury, watery tamarind filled crunchy sphere back into her paper bowl.. Dutta meanwhile, receded and walked up to the kiosk of readymade tote bags and crafts stall, directly opposite the savoury food stall.. he paused and ensured that Naku turned to look that he had moved. She did. Dutta stood hidden behind the tote bags stall.. and then slowly he revealed a bit of his turbaned head from the side of the kiosk.. then more of his partly shielded side of his tall body. Naku spotted him and dispatched a beaming smile his way, all the way from where she stood by her friends.. the bowl of golguppa still cupped in her hand.. Dutta fixed his eyes on Naku.. then jerked his head, and shifted his narrowed eyes subtly to the space beside him.. and invited her to come to him.. behind the hand crafted bags, stall!..

Naku's heart leapt to heed to his calling.. she turned to Babi maa. She felt she had to let Babi know where she was about to head for ?but abandoned the idea, as she well may be stopped. She looked across to Dutta's head that still peeped from behind the opposite kiosk. He jerked his head, his eyes fiery as he urged her to come with speed. She pleaded with her eyes ..and then grabbed Roops by the arm and dragged her to the craft store.. Babi glanced swiftly and could see Roops and Naku pouring down over some trinkets displayed at the face of the stall. Dutta twitched his jaw as he watched discreetly from the side of the kiosk he stood behind.. that Baji too headed to the handicrafts kiosk and likewise stood partly hidden like him! .. Roops looked at Naku , squeezed her arm and before Naku questioned her, she moved to Baji's sided figure at the side of the kiosk. Dutta glared at Naku and growled hoarsely..

" chal ab ah bhi ja ! and Naku moved sideways to him as he withdrew his body a little, and ensured that both were behind the kiosk away from the eagle eyes of every one. Naku stood before him. The disposable bowl of golgappas still cupped in her tiny fair hands. She looked up into his hooded eyes and slowly raised up the bowl before him and said softly

"Saab .. ab tu aap kha sakte ho? edhur tu aur koi nehin.. lo! Dutta with doubled chin looked down into her green eyes that sparkled like emeralds as the sun shone on them.. he too let himself go and replied.. amorously, opening his mouth just a bit..

" tu khalie gi tu kha loon ga.. don't want to dip my fingers in the bowl".. he excused , and parted his lips.. Naku before he changed his mind popped one golgappa in his mouth and he closed his mouth, raised his eye brows and screwed his nose! shrugged his shoulders and suddenly his mouth fell apart ! he cringed and protested loudly as he pulled in fresh air via his mouth.

"mujhe ye samhje nehi ati how can you eat this khetti theeki cheez??? mera danth ghate ho gaye hain !" he moaned as he flapped his right hand back and forth. Naku giggled.. and turned to leave..

" roku main pani le ker ati hoon! but Dutta leapt forward and grabbed her lower arm just above the wrist and veered her back gently to him, stood her before him.. looked down into her eyes and assured..

" ruk ja Naku! nehin is ke koi zaroorat nehin, I am fine now.." Naku stood before him her big bold green eyes stared at his troubled expression. Strange, it's like he doesn't want to lose sight of her.. she mused, and fumbled nervously for her sheer pink chunni end .. and once she found it she twisted it's corner on her finger. Now Dutta watched her nervy odd action, with bemused hooded eyes.The last thing he wished to do was to keep her here against her will. Abruptly he stiffened his neck, cleared his throat and suggested..

"look if you feel awkward , then tu ja sakte hai.. maine koi sazza nehin de thujhe.. dakshna mange thi thujhe se.. woh tune yahan ah ke puri kar de hai.. kisi haad tak.." he pointed out curtly. Naku shook her head and replied boldly

" no it's ok.. main bhi thek hoon Saab.. aur kya dakshna dene hogi mujhe? she asked with a little shy smile. Dutta rolled his eyes, then asked her with a grave expression, as he evaded her question..

"ek baat bata Nakusha.. I told you my name is Dutta .. tu phir why are you calling me Saab?? Naku, cheekily swerved her head a bit and replied with a wee smile

" aap jante ho ke Marathi mein.. anjaane mard ko Sahib bolte hain.. pun since you are no stranger now, Saab.. just springs to my mind.." Dutta smiled shyly and moved his face away from her and added

" aacha laga sun ke, that I am no stranger to you..tera Saab bolna bhi pasand aya.. pun ye tu bata that am I the only Saab in your?.. ye koi aur? Before he completed. She very nearly prevented his mouth from saying more ! as she brushed her palm against his full pink lips... his face flushed at her action.. and his heart palpitated as he waited for her to supply him with the answer that would give him the all clear.. and she did eventually

" nehin! aur koi Saab nehin hai meri zindagi mein.. aur ye bhi.. ke aap phele Saab ho .. she replied innocently. Dutta was overcome by her spontaneous admission, that he was her first. His heart leapt with joy...and he couldn't resist in sharing his response.

"humm.. jaise mere zindagi mein bhi ek he Nakusha hai..", but he felt he needed to touch upon his domestic image.. just wanted her to know everything about him.. he walked away from her to a tree behind the stalls and stood.. with his back to her. Naku, looked at his broad back.. dressed in the saffron kurta with a black waist coat. His white dhoti.. revealed his smooth heels at the end of his black sandals. Naku raised her neck and called out concerned..

"kya hoya Saab?.. aap chup kyun ho gaye hain achanak se?. Dutta swallowed , then turned and walked back slowly to her, and shared..

" kuch nehin Naku.. you calling me Saab.. just made me reflect on all those other negative epithets I have to hear at home.. good for nothing! useless! waste of space! " and then his voice cracked .. when he continued, "burden! .. Naku's eyes welled up and the earlier vivacity left her face and a cloudy expression crept up.. she daren't ask , but it seemed to her his family life seemed to be in shambles.. still as she may have orchestrated his grief ,she piped up courage and consoled him..

" har parivaar mein problems hoti hain.. pun hum pariwar se nata tu nehin tor sakte..she says weakly. Dutta heard and raised his palm in her face..

"bas! baashan nehin.. sab janta hoon, sab sun chukka hoon bahut bar! it's easy for you to say! tu nehin rehte mera ghar par! so I should know better! He snubbed her..Naku tried to compensate and offered..

" Saab , mujhe batao .. if you share worries, then they seem less daunting.. so tell me please." Dutta bowed his head and looked into her wide green eyes and replied calmly.

" sab kuch aaj he bata doon ga .. tu aagle mulaqat mein kya bola ga main thujhe? Naku blinked and then giggled and mused.. so he 's asking me or rather telling me to meet him again.. she figured..

" aap mujhe next meeting ka pooch rehein hai, ya agle bar milna ka hukam de rehe hain? Dutta screwed his eyes and responded..

"ju samhaj na chate hai samjhe! as long as we can meet again.. then he paused and changed his tone.." abhi chal wapis ja! and I'll follow shortly.. too.. " ordered Dutta. But Naku was in no mood to leave him or the mela..

"you mean to say that you won't accompany me at the rides.. haven't sat on any one of them! dekho merry go rounds! mujhe jana hai! "Dutta couldn't believe her childishness and he stopped her the only way he knew.. he raised his finger up and roared..

"ghup! ek dum chup! how old are you? five? rides pe jaye ge aur woh bhi with me?.. apni izzat pyari nehin thujhe? stop it! aur ja yahan se! before tere woh dia maa.. mere warrant nikalwa de! Naku's ardour fizzled out at the sound of his angry outburst...and she flared her nostrils and left him in a strop! Dutta watched her closely till she had reached her Babi maa.. and gang of friends.

~~~~~~~~~

Baji too had a time of his life.. the girl he fancied was called Roops ..they both laughed and spoke sweet nothings.. she got what she wanted off him! in terms of gifts. Food, jewellery, souvenirs! Baji mused, it was a good thing he carried cash otherwise how else could he have make a lasting impression.. upon her? still he had to report all this to Dutta.. speaking of whom? He wondered how he got on? Baji walked behind the kiosks as he had seen Dutta there , but he was not to be seen..

A small crowd had gathered round the snake charmer, who played his hypnotic, mesmerising bein, a flute .. that enraptured and charmed the minds of the magnificent cobra nags.. the menacing scaly male serpents stuck out their necks out of their coiled body, most of which stayed in the small special round shallow wicker basket.. that were their homes.. during these performances.. that never failed to grip the attention of awe filled spectators.. Naku and her friends too, along with both young children and adults watched deeply fascinated by the effect the snake charmers music had on the snakes.. how the nag uncoiled from the basket.. Baji spotted Dutta , serenely standing behind Naku again. By the looks of it.. the way Naku threw her head back slightly , she seemed happily aware of his Bhau's presence right behind her. Baji smiled at Dutta's clout at giving a damn! .. and he too walked towards his Bhau and strategically stood behind Roops! Dutta turned his neck towards Baji and asked in a low tone..

" apne wali ka naam pata chala?.. Baji nodded with a dimpled smile and Dutta doubled his chin.. "hummm" Naku sided her head and caught sight of Dutta's indented stubble chin.. she whispered..

"kuch kha aap ne Saab? Dutta looked down on the top of her pink chunni covered head and replied curtly

" you are hearing things Naku.. waise darr nehin lagta thujhe nag se..? he asked. She continued to look at the snake as it wavered and vacillated at the sound of the charmers bein.. and replied..

" darna kaisa.. ye tu nag Devta hai.. Shiv ji ki gharden ka shingar! and Dutta watched her devotion silently as with joined palms she prayed.. Dutta couldn't help but ask what she prayed for ? Naku sided her neck and looked sided into his tender hooded eyes..

"maine aap ke kushi mange nag Devta se .. Saab.. " she whispered .. Dutta blinked and sighed.. and slowly. receded back from where she stood , grabbed Baji's arm and jerked his head to the side, and commanded..

" chaal Baji, let's leave quietly, before we are found out to be who we really are.. Both friends, gave their dears.. a last look and headed toward's the fence gate. The mela was very nearly coming to a close.. crowds dispersed in large numbers, as twilight dwindled into night time.. Dutta, Daksha and Baji too engulfed by people.. just discreetly were huddled away with others out of Nana's area i to their own territory. Naku suddenly felt quite alone amongst the small crowd around the snake charmer.. she spun around and her Saab!.. Baji .. were not behind her any more! they had gone! She grabbed Babi maa's arm and cried..

"main thak gaye hoon , ghar chalien abhi Babi maa".. she said as she fought her tears back.. swallowed them by throwing her head back. Babi looked at her suspiciously .. Naku's face had turned pallid.. Babi felt her brow, then put her arm around her and walked Naku home.. her friends too wondered what went wrong with their friend? Roops just nodded and suggested ,the mela was about to wrap up ,so best they too went to their homes. But what the truth was about Nakusha? Roops was well aware off..dangerous liaison.. but then she herself was part of a dangerous liaison too ..concluded Roops .. heaven alone knows? when she would meet the dimple cheeked boy again?

~~~~~~~~

As the three walked home, Daksha asked Dutta, if he had feelings for Nakusha? he was taken aback.. hence, he neither owned it nor denied it. Daksha understood the general distrust he harboured in his heart for his vahinis. She of course was not like the other two.. helping Dutta in being the soft touch in their small group ,was her way of getting her devar's faith.. but it seemed to her that Dutta had wounds inflicted on him by his own.. that would take some time to heal. Silently Daksha , decided she was aware of Dutta's feelings for the girl.. pity she was from the enemy's camp.. but Daksha would support Dutta where she can and will keep this fact hidden in her heart.. in the hope that he would one day, trust her and appreciate the sentiments she held in her heart for him.. devar hi nehin.. Dutta ko apna Bhau mana hai Daksha ne.. she mused .. but then she wished Dutta could hear the words, but he didn't.. instead he stopped by their hivali, Patil Nivas and suggested..

"tum jao undar Daksha.. main kapre badal ke , Baji ke ghar se ata hoon.. " Daksha wanted to ask him if he surely will return? but his serious expression said it all.. that she'd best get on with it.. she prayed that he would return home soon..

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Babi watched Naku her dear child, as she dragged her feet to her room. The girl flopped face down on her bed and conveyed that she was tired and wished to sleep. Babi looked down at her, gently pulled off her mojiri and asked..

"sab thek haina meri baachi? dekhoon tu bukhar tu nehin ? and she tried to feel Naku's forehead. Naku moved her face the other way and protested

"thek hoon Babi maa ! zara thakawat ho gaye hai , aaj jaldi sau jaon gi , tu subah tak thek ho jaon gi.." Naku mumbled. But Babi being her Babi maa.. insisted.

"tu taher Naku , main haldi wala dhood la ker ati hai tera liye.. abhi"..and like a gust of wind, Babi left the room. Naku just closed her eyes and rested her face sideways on her folded arms .. she just wished to dream about this man who in no time became her Saab.. seemed like he was meant for her, any other way couldn't be right.. Babi returned with the therapeutic milk. But found Naku had already given in to the hustle and bustle of the mela.. she was in the land of nod...

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Nana Tavde sat on a murah on the marble chipped court yard in the cold night. Silently he sipped some expensive desi sharab. He heard Babi as she shuffled about in the verandah, watering some house plants. Nana mused , this would be the right moment to take this loyal menial into confidence regarding Naku's marriage with Kaido..

"zarra ana edhur! Nakusha ki Babi maa.. kuch baat kerne hai tum se." he ordered silently as he brushed his bow shaped thick black moustache. Babi came and was surprised he seemed disinterested in whether Naku enjoyed herself at the fair or not? instead what he mentioned to her nearly moved the ground from under her feet. Babi mopped her brow and spoke out timidly..

"chotta mau aur bari baat hai, Nana Sahib , pun woh ap ka dost Kaido tu umar mein Naku se kuch zayeeda hai.." Nana Sahib glared at her and commanded.

" hum ne zabaan de hai, Kaido ko.. ab hum apne zabaan se pheer nehin sakte! Tum woh karo ju tum se khaha jar aha hai! Nakusha ko , razi karo is baat par ,ke Kaido use sone mein tol de ga.. kush rekha ge zindagi bhar! raj kare ge meri baachi uske mahal mein.. rani bana ke rekhe ga! he stopped as he could tell that Babi continued to be unconvinced.. so he decided to persuade Babi another way ..

"dekho.. apne naukari pyari haina thujhe?.. kahan is umar mein dar badar dhakke khao gi.. isliye.. wohi karo ju maina bola hai.. Nakusha ko manaoe.. woh mane ge tu sagai ho sakte hai.." he said quietly and reached out for his drink, sipped and then waved his hand and dismissed her. Babi went straight to her room, stood before Bappa's wall mounted stone carved image .. and wept before her diety..

"Bappa.. meri phool jaise baachi ko bacha lo.. koi bheejo uske zindagi mein ju use Kaido se baach le.." Suddenly, Babi could have sworn she heard the distant soulful tune of the flute.. somewhere in the stilled calm dark night... to be continued Hamlet53. 6.3. 15.

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Happy Holi! to all..