Chapter 68
Without a warning, Markaat disappeared with those he took hostage. Veer pulled out his wings and flew off. He knew Markaat would retreat to the cheel caves. Veer was burning with violence. Markaat had picked up on that streak now they were going to see exactly how violent Veer could be.
When Veer entered the caves, they shook to his rage. The cheels started to feel scared of the rage that radiated off Veer. They could feel that crazy even with Veer being around 30 feet away.
“Suryash, baby, kaha chupoge?” Veer taunted. “Bahar aa jao.”
Shakura felt a shiver at the tone. Several cheels ran towards Veer to attack him. Veer flipped his dagger and alone himself started to cut through the army. The blood spilled everywhere. Veer was savage in the way he killed. The enemy died with how many wounds were left on him. Veer moved ahead passing through the dead bodies. Stepping over a few of them. Veer didn’t care much.
His clothes were covered with blood. He smelled like sweat and blood. Madness in his eyes. Every inch as violent as Markaat himself. Markaat had created this monster and now it was set out on him. Markaat for the first time felt fear. He hadn’t understood fear properly. The monster he made turned on him. That fear. At that point, Markaat didn’t know what blood came from other cheels and what was Veer’s own.
Veer threw one of the cheels over one of the idols of Markaat. It was the hall of idols. When Markaat was still prayed to, cheels had made the halls to please Markaat. This very hall had become the site of his destruction. The idol fell and cracked. Veer stepped over the head and it crushed into pieces. Markaat winced at it. Almost as if Veer had crushed through his own skull.
“Abh kya karoge? Phir se body change karoge? Let’s face it. Na tum mein abhi itni shakti hai aur na mujhe mein. Fight or die situation hai.” Veer cracked the skull of one of the cheel and he elbowed the cheel. Another cheel tried to grab Veer, Veer threw him back.
“Kya chahte ho? Marna hai? Mujhe koi problem nahi hai yahan maut ka jaal bichane mein. Phir yeh mat kehna ki Veeranshu Singhania ked il mein zara bhi rehem nahi hai. Mere against jaaoge toh maroge. Woh kya hai, Markaat ne hi mujhe aisi training di hai.” Veer growled at them.
Veer remembered every day of his training as Aakesh. The times he had been stabbed. He was seven years old but that didn’t matter to Markaat. He had to make Aakesh strong. It made Aakesh heartless. Aakesh remembered how his mother was murdered right before his eyes. He had no right to rage over her death. He had no right to be sad over it. He wasn’t allowed to cry. He was allowed to feel remorse. He wasn’t allowed to save her. He wasn’t allowed to feel guilty about not saving her. His own people had murdered her. All because she left Markaat and took her refugee with Narayan.
Every second of pain was coming out now as rage. The rage over his mother’s death. How she was murdered in cold blood. The rage that his Chachi had left them. The rage that Jay had dared to touch Bani. The rage that Markaat took away his wings. The rage that Veer had tasted his first defeat. Rage on how he had almost died. The rage of the pain it caused while healing back. Rage on how much it had hurt Bani. Rage of all the naags claiming Jay was Bani’s partner. Rage of killing his brother Teer. Rage of having people question his authority. Rage on how those who till a while ago fell at his feet now dared to fight hi. Rage of having someone else wear his crown and sit on his throne. The rage that he had to disrespect his brother Monil’s corpse to get back alive.
All the rage, insecurity, jealousy, irritation, and displeasure of several things fell together over Veer. It burst out like a dam that was going to drown them. Veer started kicked down every single idol of Markaat while walked towards him.
“Just as how these idols are crashing to pieces, I’m going leave your reign in pieces.” Veer threatened.
The two had furthered into another cave. There was a large gaping hole at the center of the cave. Sunlight poured over freely in that area. Several pillars of stalactites and stalagmites around the edge of the central opening. They made the boundary of the cave’s top opening. There were stone pillars at the opening. The stone pillars had chains hanging over them. Years ago, it was used as a place to punish the cheels. The sun would burn them all morning.
“Veeranshu, meri baat suno.” Markaat tried to convince Veer to stop.
“Jis shaitan ko tumne banaya use aaj face karo, Markaat. Aakesh ko aise tumne banaya hai. ABh kyu bhaag rahe ho?” Veer asked. Several cheels had gathered around the cave.
Veer kicked Markaat and he fell, crashing through the stalagmites, over the side. Veer kicked the stalagmites, breaking it to let him walkthrough. Markaat slashed the dagger on Veer’s arm. Even with the injury, the crazy violence in his eyes didn’t suppress. Veer grabbed his hand and twisted it, kicked him. The cheels supporting Markaat tried to attack Veer but at that moment several raptors flew into the cave in Veer’s supports. Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, Kites, Vultures, Buzzards, and others.
All of them started attacking that cheels that tried to attack Veer. Veer clicked his fingers. Gandhak appeared. Every time one of the cheels tried to attack the birds, Gandhak would shoot sparks at them. Every time they threw arrows at the birds, gandhak would turn it to ash.
Veer threw a dagger at one of the cheel and the cheel died as it hit his heart.
Markaat started fighting Veer with all his strength. He pulled Veer in a headlock, Veer elbowed him in the chest and kicked on his knee. Markaat fell on his knee. Veer kneed on his head and kicked him on the chest. Markaat stabbed him on the foot. The boot saved his foot from being gravely injured but it still injured his foot. Veer pulled out the dagger and stabbed Markaat on the shoulder. Markaat threw away. Veer crashed over the stalagmites.
“Main tumhe bata raha hun, Veeranshu. Mere saath aa jaao. Abhi tumhare paas mauka hai.” Markaat told him. Markaat picked up Veer and threw him against the wall of the cave. His suparn strength was a little superior to that of his own. Veer closed his eyes and opened it again. His eyes turning golden. The eyes seemed exactly like that of an eagle who spotted its prey. That fierce look in its eye. The predatory gaze. Markaat was over him. The two almost seemed like wrestling on the ground. Violence flared in his eyes.
Veer pulled out his wing and flew up with a force that toppled Markaat off his. Markaat pulled out his wings and tried to fly to him. Veer dived down with his feet ahead and kicked hard on Markaat’s chest. It resembled an eagle flashing its talons to attack another eagle trying to steal its prey. Markaat pushed him in the air, throwing Veer off him but Veer controlled his flight.
The raptors started making calls. The sound of the hunt. Veer’s hunt. It was almost as if they were cheering Veer. His violence danced in their attack too. They started attacking more viciously. The talons attacking them. The icchadhari cheels felt scared. This was the call of the wild. Nature’s own violent dance. Even their advanced strength couldn’t stand against their vicious attacking. Veer whistled. All the raptors started flying around in a circle. They were circling around the area where Markaat and Veer were standing.
“Dekh. Acche se dekh. Yeh hun main. Wild, uncontrolled, powerful, vicious, and violent.” Veer growled.
Bani and the Singhanias showed up at the caves. The hall was like a colosseum. There were stands over the walls in a certain place. It seemed like a fighting ring while everyone else watched. The whole room was filled up with icchadhari cheels, baaz and giddh. Shapeshifting birds. Bani had never Veer like that before. She could recognize it as Aakesh. Gone was the Veer who called her sweetheart and gharwali. This was Aakesh. The greatest predator. King of the Sky. She didn’t know how to exactly describe the scene before her eyes. Raptor birds gliding around the area in a circle. It looked like a storm. Only that in place of fast-moving wind, there were birds. They all were making the call of the hunt. Like inviting their friends for the hunt.
“Yeh hai Cheelon ka Rajkumar, Aasmaan ka raja, Veer Singhania.” Balwant introduced this Veer to Bani. “Yeh hai woh Veer jisse sabh darte hai.”
Bani looked at Balwant.
“Bani, tumne sirf aaj tak Veer ka ek hi side dekha hai. Yeh Veer ka dusra side hai. More violent than you know. Iss Veer ko na toh maafi samajh aati hai, na hi haarna. Apne dushman ko phaad ke rakhne wala Veer Singhania. Yeh woh Aakesh hai jise Markaat ne apna heir banane ke liye chuna tha. Jiss Aakesh ko usne bachpan be banaya hai. Saalon ke dard se banne wala Aakesh.” He told her more about Aakesh. “7 saal ke Aakesh ko Markaat ne khud force kiya tha ki pehli baar kisi ki jaan le. Mujhe woh din aaj bhi yaad. Shikaar karna alag baat hoti thi but kisi ki jaan lena alag hoti hai. Shikaar bhuk mitane ke liye ki jaati hai. Usse kabh guilty feeling nahi aati. That is the law of nature. Murder. Murder isn’t the same.”
“Murder is purposely killing someone,” Bani answered.
“7 saal ka tha Aakesh jab Markaat ne usse pehli kisi ki jaan lene ko force kiya. Jab kiya tabh kuch nahi dikhaya. He hid it well. Uske baad 4 ghante tak uske haath kaanp rahe the. With every kill Markaat made him do, thoda thoda uske andar ka baccha marne laga. Markaat didn’t want a cheel Rajkumar. No. He wanted a killing machine. He made Aakesh be one. Until he met you. Jaan bachana Markaat ne sikhaya hi nahi.”
Bani at that moment realized why exactly Narayan chose to go find Aakesh. The fact that the 7 years old Aakesh knew that murder was wrong. A part of him was untouched. He was like the moon. It had a dark side but it also had a light side. Everyone only saw the dark side of Aakesh’s moon. Narayan saw the light side of the moon. Markaat was instigating the dark side. To counter it, Narayan started to bring out the light side of him. Aakesh had never seen light. Even as a child he lived in darkness. The child wanted to desperately see the light. Aakesh wanted to see the light but no one tried to show him the light. That part of Aakesh that wished to see light called to Narayan. How much compassion the Lord had to come to Aakesh’s rescue. He was trying to save Aakesh. Trying to protect him from going down a path from which he wouldn’t be able to return. No one around Aakesh was capable of showing him the light.
The only one who lived in light was Nageshwari. She was light because she was made by Shiva himself. The lord of the moon. The lord of all the creatures. He had made her because even as a regular naag, she had light in her. It came from living in the Naag Mandir. Shiva was himself light. Nageshwari lived in that light. Her devotion gave her light. Narayan wanted Aakesh to feel that light. To know that there was something worth dying for. Something worth fighting Markaat for. Aakesh never found a reason to fight Markaat. Markaat had killed every inch of light inside Aakesh. The moon that Aakesh was didn’t have the light of its own. Hence, Narayan hoped that he would be able to reflect the light that came from Nageshwari’s sun.
Nageshwari, in her foolishness, never saw that. She was drowning in the forced thought of enmity between Eagles and Snakes. She saw nature’s law but couldn’t see the hope of God. She didn’t extend her compassion to Aakesh. She held compassion for humans and all creatures but failed to pass it to Aakesh who needed it the most. He almost sat by her feet that day. It was proof that Aakesh was also capable of bowing down and understanding the difference. She had the chance to bring Aakesh to the light. She just pushed him away. She was expecting to be his saving grace but she turned her back to him.
“Welcome to the world of Veer Singhania, Bhabhi. Yeh humare Veer bhai hai. The complete Veer Singhania. That side of him that you saw and the side in front of you. Both of them together makes the real Veer Singhania.” Daksh told her with a grin.
The Singhanias accepted both sides of Veer. To them, both sides of him was their brother. He was their king, their lord, their prince, and their brother.
Veer clenched his fists and the cave shook. His energy crackled through the cave, shaking it. He clicked his fingers and Gandhak circling around him. It shined brightly as it circled both of them. All the birds settled over the stalagmites. Every single stalagmite had one bird sitting over it.
Bani felt her scales flashing. She had worn a coat covering her so none of the cheels could see her scales. Right now if they were to see her, they’ll attack her together. She knew that energy signal which made her scales flash.
Naagmani.
Bani couldn’t understand what the hell was happening. Why was Naagmani here? Did someone steal it? But she and Bela both went to keep it in a safe place. Nobody else knew where it was hidden. They both had taken an oath not to reveal it to anyone, no matter how much they trusted them. Neither of them would break an oath taken over the Shivling. Naagmani appeared. It started to circle around Veer and Markaat too. It circled in the opposite direction to that of Gandhak. Bani was surprised. Naagmani and Gandhak started spinning together and creating an energy circle.
Gandhak was a sky stone. It works with the element of air and fire. Naagmani was an earth stone. It works with the element of water and earth. The four elements of nature. The two stones circled in opposite direction. The two stones were creating an energy circle. It started flashing the runes in golden showing that it was working on his high potential.
Markaat looked at it and realized what it was. Markaat had broken the rules that came with Narayan kawach yet Narayan kawach needed high energy to break. The only thing with enough energy to break through Narayan kawach was Rudra jaal. Naagmani and Gandhak together were spinning the Rudra jaal. Veer had the ability to use both of the stones. The very proof that Bani and Veer were each other’s perfect halves. Gandhak listened to Bani which was a sky stone. Naagmani would listen to Veer’s command which was an earth stone. The opposite elemental control.
“Veeranshu….” Markaat tried to tell Veer to spare him. Markaat was himself the one who taught Aakesh about Rudra jaal. Another reason why Markaat wanted Veer’s body. No one else in the world could control both the stone. The only exception was Bani. Bani was Veer’s other half. Just as how Shiva and Shakti both could control each other’s trishul and stop it. Just as how both Shri and Narayan could use Sudarshan Chakra. Each other’s perfect halves.
“Mercy? Tumne mujhe yeh sikhaya hi nahi, Markaat. Daya kya hoti hai?” Veer asked. “Daya? Tumhe yaad hai kitne naagon ki jaan li tumne jinhone tumhe kuch bhi nahi kiya. Maine toh phir bhi unn naagon ko maara hai jinhone mujhpe attack kiya hai ya mujhe maarne aaye the. Tumne unhe maara jinhone tumse request bhi ki unhe baksh dene ki.”
The monster he had created was now bursting out on him. The monster he used to unleash fear on others was now turning on him. A perfect reminder of how Karma works. You’ve got reap what you sow. He sowed the seeds of monstrosity in Aakesh and now had to reap it as Veer.
The energy created a blast. Air and mud covered the whole area. It made everyone close their eyes. A golden light flashed into the energy circle. The energy cracked up over Markaat. There was a flash of a golden shield over him. It broke into pieces. His Narayan kawach broken. Now, it was him. A mortal Suryash. Standing against the beast of a creature. King of the skies Veeranshu.
Markaat had just a little energy to change the body but the Rudra jaal was spun up. Markaat’s soul wasn’t powerful enough to break through Rudra jaal. No one had that kind of power. Adi-Naagin didn’t. Cheel Rajkumar didn’t. Only ones powerful enough to break it were Narayan and Mahadev themselves. They both had their own Rudra element which gave them the power to break it. Neither of them was going to come to Markaat’s rescue. Markaat’s hands shook.
Veer started circling Markaat.
“Aaj tub hi dekh le. Yeh meri takat hai.” Veer grinned. His animalistic grin. Markaat could almost see Aakesh in him. The Rudra Jaal flashes light over Veer and Markaat saw the image of Aakesh in Veer. Black clad clothing. Black boots. The scar on his cheek. His eyes were predatory. His accessories.
Shakura might have tried to copy Aakesh well but he couldn’t be what Aakesh truly was.
After a moment, he saw Veer again. Markaat tried to fight Veer. They both were vicious in their fight. He injured Veer several times but Veer wasn’t weak. He kicked on his knee and cracked it. He elbowed Markaat on his head. Veer flew up in the end and dived at Markaat with a punch. Markaat stabbed a dagger on Veer’s shoulder but Veer didn’t even wince. He was reeling in the air of violence that Markaat had triggered. Veer grabbed his throat and dug his talon in his neck.
He pulled out the knife which was similar to the one used to kill Teer. Twirling it in his hand, Veer stabbed Markaat with it. Veer had gone mad and crazy, unable to cool down himself. He stabbed repeatedly.
“Aaahh…” Markaat exclaimed. Blood spilled over Veer. It splashed over his wings and his clothes.
Silence fell over the whole place. Markaat fell down. He was dead. The air and mud settled down slowly. Both Naagmani and Gandhak slowed down and stopped circling. Everyone saw Veer standing.
“Aur koi maai ka laal hai jise meri bhalayi batani hai?” Veer challenged in a growl.
All of the cheels kneeled down. No one ready to challenge Veer Singhania. The one who had killed Markaat. Balwant pulled down Bani.
“Kya kar rahe ho? Main cheel nahi hun. I’m not expect to kneel down.” Bani hissed.
“Iss waqt sabh ke liye better hai ki Veer ko challenge na kare. Paara out ho gaya hai Veer. Apne aape mein nahi hai. Pata chala use yeh laga ki tum use challenge kar rahi ho. Zara dekho. Markaat wahan mara pada hai. Markaat. Koi aam cheel nahi. After all Markaat tha woh.” Balwant told her.
“Main Adi-Naagin hun.” Bani threw a dirty look.
“Bani, abhi jisse tum dekh rahi ho woh tumhara pati Veeranshu nahi hai jo bade pyaar se tumhari har baat sun leta hai. Uski satak gayi hai. Bohot gusse mein hai. Iss waqt bakwaas ki toh tumhe bhi darshan ho jaayenge Cheel Rajkumar ke. Not the most pleasant person to cross.” Pawan told her.
Veer stepped off the place. He took both the stones and left. The cheels jumped away from the place to let Veer leave. No one had the guts to stop Veer.
“Papa, Chachi, Meera di aur Mehek Dehek ko dhundhna hai. Pata nahi Markaat ne unhe kahan band kiya hai.” Bani reminded. The whole hall was silent and Bani’s whisper rang. Veer walked back to see who the hell was talking.
He spotted Bani. Bani had never seen Veer look at her like that. He always looked at her with intense love in his eyes. This time, he looked at Bani like an eagle who spotted a snake. Bani held Balwant’s hand.
“Bhabhi, aapka marne ka irada hai kya?” Ponky squeaked. “Kyu challenge kar rahe ho abhi Veer bhai ko?”
“Seriously not the time to be Jhansi ki Rani.” Daksh agreed.
“Bas. Tum logo ka bohot ho gaya.” Bani stood up. Everyone turned to look at her. Whispers ran through the crowd. Bani walked down and soon stood face to face with Veer.
“Kya hai? Sabko darate phir rahe ho?” Bani asked. He titled his head. He twirled his knife. Balwant almost got worried. Balwant and Pawan both quickly went down and moved Bani behind them.
“She’s just being silly,” Pawan said, gulping.
“Arrey ek minute. Hato.” Bani pushed them away. She stood before him. Her eyes looking into his. There was no fear in her eyes. “Main tumse darti nahi hun, Veer. Chahe tumhe kitna bhi gussa aaye, kitne hi cheel mood mein kyu na ho.”
“Bhabhi ka definitely suicide attempt hai yeh.” Sam winced. Sam and Tapish both went down, trying to move Bani away.
“Bani, pagal ho gayi ho? Please move.” Tapish tried to tell her. Bani was looking at Veer. Her eyes turned blue. She looked at him straight. She tried to use her powers of hypnosis over Veer to calm him down. Veer titled his head and raised an eyebrow. Bani smiled at that. There was the sanki Veer. That signature head tilt and raised eyebrow. He was amused at her attempt.
“Mujhe control karne ke liye tumhe mujhe hypnotize karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Jo bhi ho, tumhare kehne se hi kar jaaunga, sweetheart.” He told her and walked away. Bani smiled at that. He called her sweetheart.
“Usne mujhe sweetheart kaha…” Bani told Tapish. She almost resembled a child who was getting her chocolate after pleading so hard for it. Almost adorable.
“Veeranshu…” Bani turned around and ran behind him. This wasn’t Adi-Naagin. It was Bani Veeranshu Singhania. Veer’s better half. His wife. His heart and the love of his life.
“Veeranshu, ruko toh.” Bani ran up towards him as he kept walking towards Aakesh’s room.
“Please jaao. Mera paara chadha hua hai, Bani.” Veer told her.
“Bani? Abhi abhi sweetheart kaha aur abhi abhi phir se Bani pe aagayi?” Bani pouted.
“Don’t. I’m pretty sure that you’re in no mood to kiss me when I’m covered in blood.”
“I’ll get back to you once I’ve found papa, chachi, Meera di and Mehek Dehek.”
Veer nodded.
Bani went around to find her family when she saw the Singhanias already in the work of getting them out of the magical trap that the cheels had put them inside.
“Papa, Meera di…” She ran to them. She helped Mr Sharma. He looked at her in confusion. The whole thing had completely shaken him. He had seen creatures he’s never seen. He had seen his adopted daughter turn into a snake. They saw Markaat. They saw Veer with his wings out. Icchadhari cheel, naagin, and all the mythical stories that he thought were just stories had turned out to be true. Meera spent the time to explain to them exactly what had happened. She had time to understand the truth.
“Bani…” He looked at her. She was still his daughter but there was a bit of fear.
“Papa, main abhi aapki Bani hi hun. Mujhe pata hai aapke liye thoda sa difficult hai yeh sabh accept karna but main kabhi aap mein se kisi ko chot nahi pohochaungi.” Bani tried to tell him.
“Yeh sabh…”
“Main sach mein sochta tha ki aam insaano ko kaise lagta hoga yeh jaanke ki icchadhari cheel, naagin, morni, nevla, baaz aur giddh hote hai.” Pawan commented to Balwant.
“Yeh. Aise dikhte hai.” Balwant answered with a chuckle. “Lost. Confused.”
The Singhanias chuckled. Bani threw them a look and they fell silent. Bani looked at her dad.
“Papa, aapko toh pata hai na ki main aapse kitna pyaar karti hun? Mujhe pata hai aapke liye difficult hai yeh accepta karna mushkil hai ki main naagin hun but it doesn’t who I am on the inside. Main abhi andar se wahi Bani hun jise aapne apne god mein khilaya hai. Pyaar kiya hai aur pariwaar diya hai. Main abhi wahi Bani hun jo school jaane ke liye roti thi. Main abhi wahi Bani hun jise aapne cycle chalana sikhaya hai. Jiska haath pakad ke aap ice-cream khilane le jaate the. Aur jab main roti thi toh aap mujhe gale lagake shaant karte the. Jab exams ke time pe der raath tak jag ke padti thi toh aap hi mere liye coffee banate the. Main abhi wahi Bani hun, papa. Aapki laadli, aapki Bani.” Bani tried to tell. She moved away thinking that he couldn’t take it this quickly.
Mr Sharma took a moment but then hugged Bani.
“Jo bhi hai, beta. Tu hai toh meri bacchi hi. Yeh sabh bohot hai samajhne ke liye. Yeh Naagin-Cheel, kuch samajh toh nahi aa raha par tumse abhi bohot pyaar hai, Bani.” He kissed her forehead. “Tumhe chot lagi thi. Abhi kaisi ho?”
Bani smiled at him. “Theek ho gaya hai.” Bani assured. She wrapped her arms around him. He was her father to her. The first man in her life. One of the most important men in her life. She didn’t remember her own father but whenever she heard the word papa, she only remembers Mr Sharma. He patted her back.
“Sabh theek hai, beta.” He assured her.
“Uff… kya emotional reunion hai.” Ponky teased, faking tears.
“Veer?” Balwant asked.
“Shayad calm down ho chuka hai. Usne mujhse baat toh ki.” Bani answered. Balwant nodded and went ahead.
“Bani, tum itni badi saanp ban gayi thi. Ek laal colour ka.” Chachi almost jumped away from Bani.
“Yeh koi aam saanp nahi hai, Adi-Naagin hai.” Balwant corrected.
“Nahi… Aadhi nahi, yeh toh puri naagin hai.” Chachi insisted. Balwant rolled his eyes.
“Maa!! Inke kehne ka matlab hai ki Bani woh pehli saanp thi jise Shiv ji ne icchadhari hone ka vardaan diya tha. Satyug mein.” Meera explained.
“Hey Bhagwan!! Matlab Bani Ram ji ke zamane se hai?” Chachi asked.
“Actually Shri Ram Treta yug mein the, Satyug mein nahi. Satyug usse bhi pehle hai.” Sam pointed out.
“Hey Ram!! Toh kya woh Ram ji se bhi pehle thi?” Chachi commented.
“Bani, tumhari age kya hai?” Mehek asked her.
“Aur agar tum itni buddhi ho toh itni young kaise dikhti ho?”
“Konsa cream lagati ho?”
“Tum kya bacchi ka roop leke humare ghar aayi thi?”
“You know jaise saanp apni kechuli badalte hai? Like shedding old skin? Waise hi Bhabhi ki purani ho rahi skin bhi unke kechuli ke saath nikal jaati hai and she gets a new fresh skin. Toh isiliye Bhabhi humesha hi aisi khoobsurat dikhti hai.” Sam explained.
“Shut up.” Bani told him and turned to her family. “Chachi, main tab se leke abh tak zinda nahi hun. Meri age 25 saal hi hai. Satyug mein mera pehela janam tha. Uske baad mar gayi thi aur phir abh janam liya hai phir se.”
“But the point still remainds that you’re never going to look old. Just as how animals don’t look ‘old’. You can’t find predatory animals looking ‘old’. Isiliye hum bhi ‘old’ nahi lagenge.” Sam explained. “Jaise mere dad. Dad kuch 200 saal ke hai.”
Pawan hit him on the head. “Kuch bhi bakwaas kar raha hai. Main 200 saal se hun toh kya Bhaisaab 400 saal se hai?”
Balwant looked at Pawan. The Singhania boys laughed at that.
“Technically, 204 saal bade honge. Bade papa aur aapki age difference 4 saal hai.” Daksh corrected.
“Idhar aa, mathematician.” Balwant tried to grab Daksh but he jumped and hid behind Bani.
“Arrey nahi nahi… sorry. Theek hai theek hai. Aap 400 saal purane hi hai.” Daksh said. The boys laughed again.
“Tu paise maangne aa tabh batata hun ki meri age kya hai.” Balwant commented. Bani laughed.
“Daksh bhaiya, samjho aapki pocket money cut.” Bani moved her fingers in a symbolic gesture of scissors cutting imaginary paper.
“Jeeju kya angel hai? Maine unke pankh dekhe.” Mehek asked. All the Singhanias broke into laughter at that. Every single one of them.
“Sure. Why not.” Tapish answered dryly. Meera hit him.
“Nahi. Woh icchadhari cheel hai.” Meera explained.
“Chidiya?” Chachi asked surprised. All the Singhanias, except Bani, looked at her. They were questioning with looks if she had brains at all.
“Ponky…” Sam signaled his brother. Ponky took his cheel form and flew around. “Aapko yeh konse angle se chidiya dikhta hai? Like chidiya? Seriously?”
“Cheel. Cheel aur chidiya alag hota hai. Hum cheel hai.” Daksh added.
“Guys, relax. Relax.” Bani laughed. “Chachi, cheel ko English mein Eagle ya phir Hawk kehte hai. Chidiya matlab chote chote panchi jaise sparrows, pigeons aur woh sabh. Isiliye inhe chidiya nahi keh sakte.”
“Yeh aurat pagal hai. Iske saath rahe toh hum bhi pagal ho jaayenge.” Balwant said to his family in a whisper.
“Daddyji, Chachi abhi abhi yeh sabh jaani hai. Thoda samajhne ka time do.” Bani calmed him.
“Ek doubt aur hai. Tum saanp ho aur yeh sabh cheel hai. Toh abhi tak tumhe kha nahi liya?” Dehek asked genuinely surprised.
“Haan. Daddyji ki dil ki khwasish thi. Main bhi dasne ke liye tayyar thi. But phir hum dono ke beech ek sanki cheel hai. Jisse hum dono kaafi pyaar karte hai aur use chahte hai. Inka ladla beta hai aur mera ek lauta pati hai. So, we’ve come to a mutual understanding.” Bani explained.
“Par jeeju ne bhi tumhe nahi khaya?” Mehek asked.
“Well, that would be a different kind of biting,” Sam commented. “If he’s into it.”
“Samrat Singhania, apna muh band rakho.” Bani hissed. The Singhanias laughed.
“Bani…” That thought made even Mr Sharma worry.
“Uncle, aap pareshaan mat hoiye. Hum sabh Bani se bohot pyaar karte hai. Use kabhi hurt nahi karenge. Mera bhai Bani se bohot pyaar karta hai. Veer ki jaan basti hai Bani mein. Aap bilkul tension mat lijiye.” Tapish assured him.
“Papa, itne mahino se Bani unke saath hi reh rahi hai. Abhi tak use hurt nahi kiya unhone toh aage bhi nahi karenge.” Meera added.
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