Next morning, JandA get dressed in mutual silence. It is only at the breakfast table that Jassi asks him coldly, "Tum Gulmohur chal rahe ho na?"
Armaan puts his hand to his head. "Oh, oh! Main tumko batana bhool gaya….aaj toh main nahi aa paunga…"
Jassi: Kyun?
Candy butts in sweetly. "Actually, Jassi…..mujhe bahut saari shopping karni hai….toh mujhe Armaan ki help chahiye hogi….usse mera taste achchi tarah se pata hai!"
Jassi looks daggers, then says, "Toh Angel bhi toh shopping karaa sakti hai…Armaan, Gulmohur mein aaj bahut kaam hai, tumhe chalna chahiye."
Candy gives Angel a meaningful look, and she immediately protests, "Main……I'm sorry, aaj toh mera dentist ke saath appointment hai….main nahin ja sakti…"
Armaan says cheerfully, "Well….I guess that's it….Jassi, aaj tum aur Raj handle kar lena, kal se main zaroor office aunga…..bye!"
He kisses her lightly on the cheek and walks out, whistling, with Candy following him. Jassi looks miserable.
At Gulmohur, neither Raj nor Nandu has turned up. She goes sadly to her office and starts thinking about the beautiful moments she and Armaan have spent together.
Nandu arrives a little late, with his head in the clouds. Jassi looks apologetic. "Main bhi kitni stupid hun…tumhe aur Raj ko toh aaj chhuti milni chahiye thi…lagta hai, Raj issliye nahin aaya…."
Nandu: Arre, usme Nandan Verma jaisi dedication nahin hai na! (Jassi allows herself a tiny smile) Haan, Beauty zaroor aaj ghar pe rahegi….usse darr tha ki sab log office mein uske saath aaj masti na kare…
Jassi: Tu khush hai na?
Nandu: Yeh bhi koi poochne wali baat hai….lekin tujhe kya ho gaya? Aaj tu itni khoy-khoyi kyun lag rahi hai?
Jassi: (sighing) Kuch nahin….tu apna mood mat kharab kar….main theek hun.
When she arrives home, she finds that Armaan and Candy have still not turned up. She is just about to call Armaan when there is the roar of a car outside. Armaan and Candy enter, laughing. She looks suspiciously at them. "Ho gayi shopping?" She looks pointedly at their hands, which are empty.
Candy: Oh….wo actually….mujhe kuch pasand ki nahin aa raha tha….kitna outdated stuff tha…hai na Armaan….mere taste se bilkul match nahin kar raha tha…..
Armu: Ummm…haan! Very disappointing!
Jassi deliberately walks up to him and grabs his hand. "Armaan, chalo aaj kahin dinner karne chalte hai….bahut din ho gaye…"
Armu: Dinner? Well…..i'm rather tired….
Candy squeals excitedly. "Chalo na Armaan…..shopping nahin toh at least dinner toh enjoy kare….maine yahan ka koi bhi naya restaurant nahin dekha hai….."
Armu: We-ll…..tum keh rahi ho toh chalte hai…..
Jassi storms off to her room and gets dressed in a black sari with a strappy blouse, taking extra pains to look gorgeous. "Armaan mere kehna par dinner pe nahin chal sakta hai…lekin uss Candy ke kehne par….inn dono ko toh main…."
When she is finished, she poses before Armaan, who is looking quite yummy himself in a black suit. "Kaisi lag rahi hun main?"
He glances absently at her. "Nice….chale?"
As they step into the hall, Candy walks in, in a long red slit gown with a black net shawl draped lightly over her shoulders. Armaan coos, "Wow….you look gorgeous!"
At the restaurant, Candy and Armaan have so many things to say to each other that Jassi can't get a word in edgewise. She drifts into a dream where she and Armaan are having a peaceful dinner while Candy is tied to a table at the other end of the room, a tape over her mouth.
Her reverie is broken when Candy laughs aloud. Jassi gives a forced smile and asks what the joke is. The other two give each other embarrassed glances.
Candy: We-ll…main apni ek neighbour ki baat kar rahi thi….usse apne husband pe itna shaq tha ki usne uske peeche ek detective laga diya…I tell you, some wives are so insecure…. I can't believe ki wo apne husbands ko itna bhi space nahin de sakti….Jassi, thank goodness you are not like that…koi aur hoti, toh mujhe apne husband ke saath iss tarah baith kar aaaram se baat nahin karne deti….
Jassi nods weakly. Armu says cheerfully, "Jassi is very understanding…hai na Jassi?"
Just then the waiter arrives with their order. As the soup bowls are set in front of them, a wicked look comes into Jassi's eyes. She leans forward to take a napkin and "accidentally" tips over Candy's bowl, spilling soup all over her shawl. Candy jumps.
Jassi: (gleefully) Oh…I'm so sorry…..tumhe washroom jaake isse dho lena chahiye, nahin toh stain pad jayega…..tab tak main aur Armaan tumhara yahaan wait karte hai….
Candy: No no…..that's not a problem…jab itne achche dost saath ho, toh washroom jaane mein time kyun waste kiya jaye…..iss shawl ko toh main cleaners ko de doongi…..
She coolly takes it off and drapes it over the back of her chair, revealing the low neckline of her gown. Jassi looks askance at her outfit. Just then a slow dance number starts playing. Candy says, "Wow…..I love that song….Armaan, chalo dance karte hai…."
And before Jassi can say anything, Candy takes his hand and drags him to the dance floor, where they are soon having a great time, apparently forgetting about her presence.
Jassi cannot stop the tears from coming into her eyes.
"Yeh sab kya ho raha hai Babaji…kya Armaan ko meri koi parwah nahin…kya hamare beech wo baat nahin rahi?"
Tomorrow: Jassi is suspicious
Health and Fitness
Pocket Mein Aasman
Indian Mythology
