Posted:
Hello all,
I am back with OS # 6. Thank you for the LOVELY comments on the earlier ones š¤. This is, by far, the most cliched scene I have written about, and hope it doesnt disappoint.
I am naming the title "Chupp tum raho, chupp hum rahein" from Is raat ki subah nahin.
This was the first time I was unsure of the song selection. Not because I was uninspired, but because I was over inspired (and it didnt help that someone confused me with even more options <coughing> @Nikki, are you reading this?)
These were the close contenders, please pick the title that suits your mood and liking if you didn't like the one I came up with š
- Jaane kya tune kahi from Pyaasa
- Na bole tum na maine kucch kaha from Baaton Baaon mein
- Baatein Kucch ankahi si from Life in a Metro... suggestion courtesy Nikki
******
It was Ruhi's birthday. The last time she had a mother present at her birthday was quite a few years ago, but this year it would be grand. Toshiji had declared this to the whole society. Mr Iyer and Mr Bhalla had jointly planned the whole event. The final decision was that the common park in the society would be used for the celebration. Ruhi's birthday was indeed an event everyone wanted to celebrate. She was not just another kid. She was a kid who was raised by all of them for the first few years of her life. She was the kid who had been resilient when her parents separated. She was the kid who had evoked maternal feelings in the sternest of people in the society.
Raman was embarassed. He thought they would just buy a cake from the super-market and celebrate quietly like they always did. But it was too late now. They had proceeded with planning the party, and he would not dare deny them their happiness. Ishita would surely show up, she would help plan the party, participate in the festivities. No, he wasn't worried about the party at all. He just wasnt sure if Ishita's heart would be in it, and if she was upto playing the role of the perfect Bhalla bahu. She was thawing, yes, but that didnt mean she was ready for a public display of love and affection. Sure, she could fool everyone in the society, his parents, and may be even her parents. But between them, things weren't completely resolved.
He had quite a few opportunities to talk to her, she had them too. But neither of them had ever discussed anything meaningful. He was dying for her to come back to their home. She was waiting for him to invite her. But they were both waiting for the other person to talk first. It wasn't pride or ego. It was just the unfamiliarity of the situation. Both of them didn't know what to do.
When Ishita and Ruhi walked into the party area, Raman choked. His daughter was dressed up like a princess, and she smiled and walked like one too. Ishita was magnificent in a green saree. "She looks good in anything she wears" he thought. He was reminded of those days when he used to tease her for being fat, or for choosing green as her favourite colour. He didn't think like that any more. But he wished he had the opportunity and the courage to talk to her like he used to. Even if it meant she would snap at him. Especially if it meant she would snap at him. Things had improved a lot between them after the Paramjeet incident. Their families had learnt to respect each other, and give Raman and Ishita the space and freedom to choose their own path.
Ruhi naturally walked towards him. He mentally thanked Ishita for that. Every time his daughter kissed him, hugged him, or even spoke to him sweetly, he acknowledged Ishita's role in the transformation.
The kid interrupted his thoughts "Papa, Ishima ne bola ki aaj sab log mujhe gift denge. BOlo na papa, what did you get for me?". Raman sweetly smiled at her and said "Ruhi beta, aapke cake cutting ke baad hi bolunga. Abhi gift dikha doonga to mazaa nahin aayega". "Roohi, come here come here" Shravan shouted. She ran to the group of kids who were playing some new game that didnt make any sense to adults.
Raman looked at Ishita and said "I thought I should let you know, mamma ke dieting ke chakkar mein aajkal ghar mein roz karela ban raha hai. And its not as bad as I thought it would be". She just threw her head back, laughed and said "Mr Raman Kumar Bhalla. I never thought I would live the day to hear you say this." He was surprised by her openness.
He decided he could push it. "Aur bolo, kya chal raha hai?". She didnt know how to answer that. She stopped her laughter and looked at him strangely. She didn't know how to answer that question. She wasn't mad or angry. She just looked unsure. She started blabbering "Woh, kucch nahin. Aaj kal patients ceramic caps maang rahe hain, not the gold/silver ones. Woh ceramic caps better hain, lekin costly bhi hain. You know, people in Delhi have just started being aware of their options for a cap for their root canal. Dental care is important you know." He tried hard to maintain a straight face. "Acchha, I didn't know ki itni badi problem hai. Iss saal ke election manifesto pe honi chaahiye thi yeh problem. Pakka that party would have won". She blushed. She knew that he knew that she was talking non-sense. That is not what he had asked her.
BEfore either of them could have recovered from that situation, they heard someone saying "Oye love birds. Itthhe aao... apni beti ko sambhaalo... usko cake cutting ke pehle hi icing ko taste karna hai" Romi could be so blunt some times. They both walked towards Ruhi, chiding her for misbehaving. She saw them coming and ran away to the safe protection of Mrs Bhalla. There was no way anyone could scold her now. Once they were walking together towards the cake, nothing stopped the neighbours. One by one, they had started coming to talk to them to wish Ruhi, and implicitly praise them for raising her so well. They could have been actors in another life, they both thought. The way they acted like a team in front of outsiders was worth an award.
After a few hours, everyone was a bit tired. The party had turned out to be a success. Everyone had so much fun; this occassion was no less than a Diwali or New Year celebration. It was that auspicious and special to every one . Raman and Ishita acted like perfect hosts. Once every outsider had left, Raman turned to his mother and said "Mamma, aap Ruhi ko apne paas sulaao aaj. She is half asleep anyway. Main yahaan pe pack up karwaata hoon. Romi meri help kar dega". Once the older generation left, it was only Raman, Ishita, Mihika, Mihir and Romi. They cleaned up most of the furniture and decorations. there were only a few chairs left.
Romi had already started making faces. There was no alcohol in the party, so he was bored. Bless his heart, he lasted so long without drinking only for his precious niece. Mihir and Mihika were still working hard, but they looked tired too. Raman gallantly told all of them, "Jaao yaar tum log. Waise bhi itni buri shakal banaa rahe ho. I know you dont want to be here. So, go. I will leave the rest of the stuff in the store room. Go on"
Mihika instinctively looked at Ishita. Ishita was reluctant. "Why should Raman end up doing all the work? He does so much anyway." She thought, and told Mihika "Tum jaao. Mere paas chaabi hai, main aa jaaongi". Mihir started, "Bhabhi, aap chaaho to main rukta hoon bhai ke saath, please aap jaake so jaao". Mihika made a face at Mihir that only he saw and understood. "Actually Ishita Bhabhi, woh mujhe thoda drive karke jaana hai na, So main bhi nikalta hoon. abhi jyaada kaam nahin bacha hai na waise bhi. I'll stay only if you need me to?" Like she could say no. "Nahi Mihir, jaao tum. Hum log manage kar lenge"
When they were the only two people left, they looked at each other. They didn't have to say anything. They started stacking up the plastic chairs and folding the tent. There really wasnt that much to do. "Main yeh samaan leke store room mein rakhke aata hoon. You stay here". He said carrying the Tarpaulin. She couldn't bear to be alone in that open area. She wasn't afraid any more. But she didn't want to be alone either. "Arre, give that to me. You carry a few chairs. IF we do this together, kaam jaldi khatam ho jaayega." He couldn't argue with that logic.
They walked into the store room together and started slowly putting all the party gear down. It took them a couple of trips before they carried the last lot down into the basement. They were arraging the chairs in a stack so no one would trip over them the next day. Little did they know that the watchman was making his nightly rounds at the exact same time.
The watchman was listening to an FM station on his headphones. He was grooving to "London Thumakda" in stereo sound, completely unaware that there were two people in the store room. He obviously couldn't hear anything, but he saw the door open. He remembered, "arre woh Iyer Saahab ki beti. Usne to poora paanch minute ka lecture diya tha us din jab darwaaza khula rakha tha maine. Usne bola tha ki Ruhi ek din kisi function mein aise hi room mein lock ho gayi thi aur kitna dar gayi thi. Bhagwaan na kare, kal koi baccha yahaan pe lock ho gaya to meri naukri hi nahin, jaan bhi jaayegi." He promptly locked the door, and kept on walking, dancing.
By the time Raman and Ishita realised that they were locked in, it was too late. They had tried everything; screaming, banging on the doors and even beating on walls looking for a secret opening that would lead them out. They didn't have their phones with them. Hers was at home. His was lying in his jacket pocket somewhere near where the cake was a few hours ago.
"Raman, ab kya karenge?"
"Karna kya hai, jitna ho sake utna chillaoonga main. Phir bhi koi nahin aaya to tum bhaashan dena chaalu kar dena. 100 % koi to aa jaayega. watchman ke kaan mein dard hoga pakka".
"Raman, please".
"Arre please kya... tum dhyaan nahin rakh sakti thi kya ? watchman aake chalaa bhi gaya, and you didn't even notice. Main to busy tha. tum kya kar rahi thi?"
"I was looking at you" she said, before she could take it back.
"huh, kya ?"
"Nothing" she said. She was secretly happy that they were locked in together. She did not want anyone to bother them for some time.She didn't know he had the same thoughts.
But he quietly arranged the tarp and a few old sofa cushions that were in the store room. He asked her to lay down, "Ab yahi pe raat guzaarni hai, koi option nahin hai. To please chupp chaap so jaao. Main do ghante mein uthaaonga tumko. Phir tumhaari shift OK? We have to keep listening for the watchman. We have to pray that the idiot is not listening to music on his headphones. Theek hai na?" What he was saying was completely logical. But she couldnt sleep.
"Woh Mujhe neend nahin aayegi, kaafi andhera hai, and its a creepy place." He felt sorry for her. He looked around and found a box with last year's Diwali candles in them. There were so many candles, that they could have lighted up the entire society.
"Candles hain yahaan pe. Main jalaata hoon." He casually took a lighter out of his pant pockets and started lighting them.
"Yeh aapke paas lighter kyon hain???"
"Kyon? daaru to band karwaa di meri, agar chaahoon to cigarette bhi nahin pi sakta main? tumko kya problem hai? Tumhaare saamne to nahin pi raha hoon na?" he teased her, knowing very well that the 'doctor' in her would start screaming murder.
"Raman" she started in her patronising tone...
"Arre jhansi ki rani, ruk jaao. Woh Romi ko maine society ke baahar paanwaale ke paas pakda tha. Woh cigarette pi raha tha, to maine usse uska packet aur lighter chheen liya. I didnt even know I still had it. OK? Khush? "
She let out a breath, "OK".
She settled down on the tarp and cushions, and he was sitting up next to her. She still hadn't closed her eyes. He didn't know what it would take to make her relax. He didnt know if the strange place was bothering her, the darkness was, Or he was.
There was only one way he could find out. He put his hand on her head, ran his fingers through her long, thick hair. And quietly asked "Aur bolo kya chal raha hai".
Neither of them knew when they fell asleep in each others arms.
****
@sai14 and @indian_isha, you asked for a 'locked up' scenario. This is the best I could come up with. š
P.S: IT LOOK A LOT OF WILL POWER to NOT CALL THIS ONE "Hum Tum EK Kamre mein band ho" š
Let me know what you think?
I am back with OS # 6. Thank you for the LOVELY comments on the earlier ones š¤. This is, by far, the most cliched scene I have written about, and hope it doesnt disappoint.
I am naming the title "Chupp tum raho, chupp hum rahein" from Is raat ki subah nahin.
This was the first time I was unsure of the song selection. Not because I was uninspired, but because I was over inspired (and it didnt help that someone confused me with even more options <coughing> @Nikki, are you reading this?)
These were the close contenders, please pick the title that suits your mood and liking if you didn't like the one I came up with š
- Jaane kya tune kahi from Pyaasa
- Na bole tum na maine kucch kaha from Baaton Baaon mein
- Baatein Kucch ankahi si from Life in a Metro... suggestion courtesy Nikki
******
It was Ruhi's birthday. The last time she had a mother present at her birthday was quite a few years ago, but this year it would be grand. Toshiji had declared this to the whole society. Mr Iyer and Mr Bhalla had jointly planned the whole event. The final decision was that the common park in the society would be used for the celebration. Ruhi's birthday was indeed an event everyone wanted to celebrate. She was not just another kid. She was a kid who was raised by all of them for the first few years of her life. She was the kid who had been resilient when her parents separated. She was the kid who had evoked maternal feelings in the sternest of people in the society.
Raman was embarassed. He thought they would just buy a cake from the super-market and celebrate quietly like they always did. But it was too late now. They had proceeded with planning the party, and he would not dare deny them their happiness. Ishita would surely show up, she would help plan the party, participate in the festivities. No, he wasn't worried about the party at all. He just wasnt sure if Ishita's heart would be in it, and if she was upto playing the role of the perfect Bhalla bahu. She was thawing, yes, but that didnt mean she was ready for a public display of love and affection. Sure, she could fool everyone in the society, his parents, and may be even her parents. But between them, things weren't completely resolved.
He had quite a few opportunities to talk to her, she had them too. But neither of them had ever discussed anything meaningful. He was dying for her to come back to their home. She was waiting for him to invite her. But they were both waiting for the other person to talk first. It wasn't pride or ego. It was just the unfamiliarity of the situation. Both of them didn't know what to do.
When Ishita and Ruhi walked into the party area, Raman choked. His daughter was dressed up like a princess, and she smiled and walked like one too. Ishita was magnificent in a green saree. "She looks good in anything she wears" he thought. He was reminded of those days when he used to tease her for being fat, or for choosing green as her favourite colour. He didn't think like that any more. But he wished he had the opportunity and the courage to talk to her like he used to. Even if it meant she would snap at him. Especially if it meant she would snap at him. Things had improved a lot between them after the Paramjeet incident. Their families had learnt to respect each other, and give Raman and Ishita the space and freedom to choose their own path.
Ruhi naturally walked towards him. He mentally thanked Ishita for that. Every time his daughter kissed him, hugged him, or even spoke to him sweetly, he acknowledged Ishita's role in the transformation.
The kid interrupted his thoughts "Papa, Ishima ne bola ki aaj sab log mujhe gift denge. BOlo na papa, what did you get for me?". Raman sweetly smiled at her and said "Ruhi beta, aapke cake cutting ke baad hi bolunga. Abhi gift dikha doonga to mazaa nahin aayega". "Roohi, come here come here" Shravan shouted. She ran to the group of kids who were playing some new game that didnt make any sense to adults.
Raman looked at Ishita and said "I thought I should let you know, mamma ke dieting ke chakkar mein aajkal ghar mein roz karela ban raha hai. And its not as bad as I thought it would be". She just threw her head back, laughed and said "Mr Raman Kumar Bhalla. I never thought I would live the day to hear you say this." He was surprised by her openness.
He decided he could push it. "Aur bolo, kya chal raha hai?". She didnt know how to answer that. She stopped her laughter and looked at him strangely. She didn't know how to answer that question. She wasn't mad or angry. She just looked unsure. She started blabbering "Woh, kucch nahin. Aaj kal patients ceramic caps maang rahe hain, not the gold/silver ones. Woh ceramic caps better hain, lekin costly bhi hain. You know, people in Delhi have just started being aware of their options for a cap for their root canal. Dental care is important you know." He tried hard to maintain a straight face. "Acchha, I didn't know ki itni badi problem hai. Iss saal ke election manifesto pe honi chaahiye thi yeh problem. Pakka that party would have won". She blushed. She knew that he knew that she was talking non-sense. That is not what he had asked her.
BEfore either of them could have recovered from that situation, they heard someone saying "Oye love birds. Itthhe aao... apni beti ko sambhaalo... usko cake cutting ke pehle hi icing ko taste karna hai" Romi could be so blunt some times. They both walked towards Ruhi, chiding her for misbehaving. She saw them coming and ran away to the safe protection of Mrs Bhalla. There was no way anyone could scold her now. Once they were walking together towards the cake, nothing stopped the neighbours. One by one, they had started coming to talk to them to wish Ruhi, and implicitly praise them for raising her so well. They could have been actors in another life, they both thought. The way they acted like a team in front of outsiders was worth an award.
After a few hours, everyone was a bit tired. The party had turned out to be a success. Everyone had so much fun; this occassion was no less than a Diwali or New Year celebration. It was that auspicious and special to every one . Raman and Ishita acted like perfect hosts. Once every outsider had left, Raman turned to his mother and said "Mamma, aap Ruhi ko apne paas sulaao aaj. She is half asleep anyway. Main yahaan pe pack up karwaata hoon. Romi meri help kar dega". Once the older generation left, it was only Raman, Ishita, Mihika, Mihir and Romi. They cleaned up most of the furniture and decorations. there were only a few chairs left.
Romi had already started making faces. There was no alcohol in the party, so he was bored. Bless his heart, he lasted so long without drinking only for his precious niece. Mihir and Mihika were still working hard, but they looked tired too. Raman gallantly told all of them, "Jaao yaar tum log. Waise bhi itni buri shakal banaa rahe ho. I know you dont want to be here. So, go. I will leave the rest of the stuff in the store room. Go on"
Mihika instinctively looked at Ishita. Ishita was reluctant. "Why should Raman end up doing all the work? He does so much anyway." She thought, and told Mihika "Tum jaao. Mere paas chaabi hai, main aa jaaongi". Mihir started, "Bhabhi, aap chaaho to main rukta hoon bhai ke saath, please aap jaake so jaao". Mihika made a face at Mihir that only he saw and understood. "Actually Ishita Bhabhi, woh mujhe thoda drive karke jaana hai na, So main bhi nikalta hoon. abhi jyaada kaam nahin bacha hai na waise bhi. I'll stay only if you need me to?" Like she could say no. "Nahi Mihir, jaao tum. Hum log manage kar lenge"
When they were the only two people left, they looked at each other. They didn't have to say anything. They started stacking up the plastic chairs and folding the tent. There really wasnt that much to do. "Main yeh samaan leke store room mein rakhke aata hoon. You stay here". He said carrying the Tarpaulin. She couldn't bear to be alone in that open area. She wasn't afraid any more. But she didn't want to be alone either. "Arre, give that to me. You carry a few chairs. IF we do this together, kaam jaldi khatam ho jaayega." He couldn't argue with that logic.
They walked into the store room together and started slowly putting all the party gear down. It took them a couple of trips before they carried the last lot down into the basement. They were arraging the chairs in a stack so no one would trip over them the next day. Little did they know that the watchman was making his nightly rounds at the exact same time.
The watchman was listening to an FM station on his headphones. He was grooving to "London Thumakda" in stereo sound, completely unaware that there were two people in the store room. He obviously couldn't hear anything, but he saw the door open. He remembered, "arre woh Iyer Saahab ki beti. Usne to poora paanch minute ka lecture diya tha us din jab darwaaza khula rakha tha maine. Usne bola tha ki Ruhi ek din kisi function mein aise hi room mein lock ho gayi thi aur kitna dar gayi thi. Bhagwaan na kare, kal koi baccha yahaan pe lock ho gaya to meri naukri hi nahin, jaan bhi jaayegi." He promptly locked the door, and kept on walking, dancing.
By the time Raman and Ishita realised that they were locked in, it was too late. They had tried everything; screaming, banging on the doors and even beating on walls looking for a secret opening that would lead them out. They didn't have their phones with them. Hers was at home. His was lying in his jacket pocket somewhere near where the cake was a few hours ago.
"Raman, ab kya karenge?"
"Karna kya hai, jitna ho sake utna chillaoonga main. Phir bhi koi nahin aaya to tum bhaashan dena chaalu kar dena. 100 % koi to aa jaayega. watchman ke kaan mein dard hoga pakka".
"Raman, please".
"Arre please kya... tum dhyaan nahin rakh sakti thi kya ? watchman aake chalaa bhi gaya, and you didn't even notice. Main to busy tha. tum kya kar rahi thi?"
"I was looking at you" she said, before she could take it back.
"huh, kya ?"
"Nothing" she said. She was secretly happy that they were locked in together. She did not want anyone to bother them for some time.She didn't know he had the same thoughts.
But he quietly arranged the tarp and a few old sofa cushions that were in the store room. He asked her to lay down, "Ab yahi pe raat guzaarni hai, koi option nahin hai. To please chupp chaap so jaao. Main do ghante mein uthaaonga tumko. Phir tumhaari shift OK? We have to keep listening for the watchman. We have to pray that the idiot is not listening to music on his headphones. Theek hai na?" What he was saying was completely logical. But she couldnt sleep.
"Woh Mujhe neend nahin aayegi, kaafi andhera hai, and its a creepy place." He felt sorry for her. He looked around and found a box with last year's Diwali candles in them. There were so many candles, that they could have lighted up the entire society.
"Candles hain yahaan pe. Main jalaata hoon." He casually took a lighter out of his pant pockets and started lighting them.
"Yeh aapke paas lighter kyon hain???"
"Kyon? daaru to band karwaa di meri, agar chaahoon to cigarette bhi nahin pi sakta main? tumko kya problem hai? Tumhaare saamne to nahin pi raha hoon na?" he teased her, knowing very well that the 'doctor' in her would start screaming murder.
"Raman" she started in her patronising tone...
"Arre jhansi ki rani, ruk jaao. Woh Romi ko maine society ke baahar paanwaale ke paas pakda tha. Woh cigarette pi raha tha, to maine usse uska packet aur lighter chheen liya. I didnt even know I still had it. OK? Khush? "
She let out a breath, "OK".
She settled down on the tarp and cushions, and he was sitting up next to her. She still hadn't closed her eyes. He didn't know what it would take to make her relax. He didnt know if the strange place was bothering her, the darkness was, Or he was.
There was only one way he could find out. He put his hand on her head, ran his fingers through her long, thick hair. And quietly asked "Aur bolo kya chal raha hai".
Neither of them knew when they fell asleep in each others arms.
****
@sai14 and @indian_isha, you asked for a 'locked up' scenario. This is the best I could come up with. š
P.S: IT LOOK A LOT OF WILL POWER to NOT CALL THIS ONE "Hum Tum EK Kamre mein band ho" š
Let me know what you think?
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Book Talk
6