Raj has thrown a bombshell and everyone seems to have been stunned.
Puru finds his voice first. "Raj…you mean it? My God….this is such a surprise!"
Jassi beams. "Dadddy, aapke liye ye surprise hai, lekin mujhe aur Armaan ko toh bahut pehle se shaq ho gaya tha!"
Neha is still sitting stupefied. All eyes are now on her.
Raj: (gently) Neha……tum naraaz toh nahin ho? Mujhe out of the blue ye idea aa gaya aur maine keh diya…..tumse poocha bhi nahin…..tumhe koi problem toh nahin hai na? I…I promise ki main kal tak ring aur naya suit, dono le lunga…aur saari arrangements bhi karaa doonga….aur tumne jis-jis ko invite karna haim sabko bula bhi loonga…..time se…..maine thoda sa lost zaroor hoon par zindagi mein kabhi-kabhi, main bhi serious ho jata hun….
By now everyone is laughing indulgently. Neha's eyes are brimming with tears, but she raises her hand and puts it firmly in Raj's. Everyone claps.
Nikki, who has been nodding drowsily on Vedika's shoulder, jerks awake. She pulls at Neha's dupatta. "Mamma….kya hua? Sab log clap kyun kar rahe hai?"
Neha blushes and looks around. Then she says quietly, "Beta, aapke liye ek surprise hai….chalo garden mein chalte hai…main aapko walk karte-karte batati hoon….."
They get up and move outside. Vedika gives them a puzzled look. "Mamma…….Neha aunty na Nikki ko kaunsa secret batana hai?"
Jassi pulls her into her lap. "Doosron ke secrets ke baare mein nahin poochte beta….lekin I'm sure ki aapko bhi jaldi pata chal jayega…."
Later, as Jassi is putting Ashish and Vedika to bed, Raj talks over his concerns with Armaan.
Raj: Yaar, ab main thoda sa nervous ho raha hun…..maine bina soche-samjhe keh toh diya, par ek din mein saare arrangements kaise honge?
Armaan: Dekh, ab toh tu commit kar chuka hai…..ab koi changes mat karna….aur koi problem ho toh Meghna ka Cosmic Science hai na, teri help ke liye….!
Raj laughs weakly, then sighs. "I'm serious yaar…! Mujhe darr lag raha hai…..kya Nikki mujhe as father accept kar payegi? Pata nahin ye news sun ke wo kaise react kare?"
Armaan claps his hand on his shoulder. "Tujhe pata ho ya nahin….lekin mujhe pata hai…..Nikki ke liye tumse achcha pita koi nahin ho sakta…..aur ye baat, Nikki bhi samajhti hai…."
Just then Neha says from behind, "Raj!" They both swivel around. Raj looks expectantly at Neha, whose expression gives nothing away.
Raj: (nervously) Nikki ki….sab samjha diya?
Neha nods.
Raj: Toh usne…usne kya kaha….?
Neha: Usse waise toh koi problem nahin hai…..lekin uski ek shart hai….!
Raj: Shart? Kaisi shart?
Neha walks towards him. "Ki uske Raj Papa, usse shaadi ke baad, apni nayi secretary banayenge!"
Raj's tense face breaks into a relieved grin. Neha gives him a dazzling smile and throws herself into his arms. Armaan grins too and hugs them both.
After a while Armaan says, "Dekho, I know ki kal tum dono bahut busy ho….lekin subah-subah humne Gulmohur jaake, sabse zaroori kaam karna hai….sabko invite karna hai!"
Raj: I know yaar……bahut dino se office ki shakl bhi nahin dekh paya…..lekin kal toh main sabki shaklein dekhunga…jab unhe ye news pata chalegi!"
Tomorrow: Preparations
Anupamaa
