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OS inspired by a convo on twitter how Paro is obsessed with Sooraj Bharjatya movies
Rudra was sitting in his cabin going through some paperwork when the all to familiar tinkling of Paro's bangles made him look up. Sure enough she was there in the doorway, beaming at him. The look in her eyes made Rudra's heart forget to beat momentarily, it was her look for him, the one that said there was nothing more important in the world than him. He got up as he analysed her, she looked absolutely fine, more than fine, so what bought her here? He tried to remember if he'd forgotten something which she'd come to give him.
****earlier today****
Paro was stirring the simmering dal without really paying attention, she was disturbed by her husband's recent behaviour.
"Paro!" Maithili ran into the kitchen and pulled Paro's dupatta away from the gas cooker, "Aag lag sakti thi! Dhyaan kaha hai thara ?" (You could have caught fire! Where was your attention?) Maithili scowled, taking over from Paro, "agar kuch ho jaata toh divarji sa ko kya jawab deti mein?" (If something had happened to you what would I tell Rudra?) Maithili went on as she turned off the gas deciding the dal was ready. She remembered how Rudra began erupting like a volcano on her when chilli powder went into Paro's eyes, "waise kin khayalon mein khoyi hui ho?" (What thoughts were you lost in?) Maithili asked observing Paro. Paro was such a transparent person, Maithili could see the conflict she was going through dealing with Rudra and Mala.
"Apke devarji sa, matlaab Major Saab ke bartav ko le kar mein pareshaan hoon Jeeja, unke aur Maasa ke rishte mein jo khadvahat hai usse kaise mitau...meri toh kuch samajh mein nahi aaraha" (about Rudra and his recent behaviour, it has me disturbed. I don't know how to end the bitterness in his relationship with Mala) Paro poured out her worries to Maithili and instantly began feeling better. Maithili always had valuable advice for her.
"Dekh Paro, Devarji sa bohat teekhe dimag ke hai...itne saal woh bina parivar ke kathor halaton mein rahe,unke liye ye sab asaan nahi hai. Unhe itne mahine lage hum sabko parivar maan ne mein, apna ne mein. Unke liye Taisa ke liye jo mann mein khatas hai, usse mittah ne ke liye unhe parivar aur rishton ko samajh na hoga, ye samajh na hoga ke itna kuch hone ke badh bhi Taisa unse bohat pyar karti hai...mujhe lagta hai humme Devarji sa ko ye dikhana aur ehsaas dilana hoga rishton ki ehmiyat ke bare mein," (Rudra is a hot headed person, it's been so many years since he had a proper family so it's not easy for him to adapt right now. It took him several months to warm up to us. To wipe away his bitterness for Mala we need to make him value the importance of family and relationships, understand that Mala loves him alot...I think we need to show and make Rudra realize the importance of relationships and family) Maithili explained patiently.
"Dikhana hoga," (show him...) Paro repeated slowly, the next moment her face lit up as an idea sprung to mind, "haan Jeeja unhe dikhana hoga" (yes Maithili we have to show him) Paro smiled, hopeful again, hugging Maithili. Maithili looked taken off guard.
"Jeeja, mujhe abhi BSD jaana hoga," (I have to go BSD now) Paro said as she retracted, there was a bounce in her step now.
"Par kyun?" (But why?) A puzzled Maithili called after Paro.
"Major Saab ko kuch dikhana hai," (to show Rudra something) Paro echoed back over her shoulder, pacing toward the main door.
****back in BSD office****
"Mujhe apse baat karni thi...woh han...han...haneymoon ke baare mein," (I want to talk to you about honeymoon) Paro said blushing furiously as she thought of the possibilities of her and Rudra together alone with no distractions. That immediately had Rudra's undivided attention, he walked around the table as Paro's heart raced faster. Paro saw that glint in his eyes and she feared he'd start their honeymoon here itself.
"Rukiye!" (Stop) She held out her hands to stop him getting any closer, "aap phir itne paas ayenge toh..." (If you come that close again then...) Her voice quivered
"Awaz guchur muchur hojayegi, dimag kaam karna band kardega aur sab habbad dhabbad hojaye ga?" (Your voice will go, brain stop working and everything will be habbad dhabbad) Rudra prompted looking highly amused at his flustered wife.
"Aap phirse woh kar rahe hai...mera dhyaan bhang" (you're doing it again! distracting me) Paro reprimanded as she focus more on the topic now,"apne kaha ke haneymoon isliye jaate hai ta ke ek doosre ke saath waqt bita paye aur ek doosre samajh sake," (you said people go on a honeymoon to spend time with each other and understand one another)
Rudra looked confused now, was she giving into her own stubbornness of not going until things at home got settled or had she like him come to terms that nothing was ever going to be settled in their house.
"Hmm" Rudra simply hummed, a loose strand of hair on Paro's cheek was distracting him, he wanted to reach out and tuck it behind her ear but she still had her hand held against his chest indicating she needed that distance and he didn't want to invade it against her wish.
"Toh mujhe apke saath waqt bitana hai...apse kuch waqt mangna tha Major Saab, kuch saath karne ke liye" (so I want to spend time with you...I want to ask you for some of your time to do something together) Paro said softly, cheeks flushing pink. Surely her 'kuch saath karna' can't be what Rudra had on mind, could it? Rudra thought to himself. He had discovered with great satisfaction that he had the same effect on her as she on him, he left her equally breathless and speechless as she did to him.
"Kya karna hai...Shrimati Ranawat ko?" (What does Mrs Ranawat want to do?) Rudra asked in his best and most seductive voice.
"Phillum dekhni hai apne pati ke saath," (watch a movie with my husband) Paro tried to ignore his attempts to seduce her. His perfect fingers had engulfed her hands in them leaving a tingling warm sensation under where ever they touched. For a minute Paro just wanted to drop this idea, agree to the honeymoon he proposed and get away from everything to somewhere where there was just the two of them.
"Phillum?" (Movie?) Rudra was taken aback. She's done it again, Rudra thought referring to the number of times Paro surprised him, "Paro film mein kya rakha hai, waqt saath bitana hai toh hum teen ghante bahar ghoom ate hai," (what's in a movie? If you want to spend time together I can take you out somewhere) Rudra offered, his mind already thinking of possible locations nearby to take her out to.
"Nahi! Bilkul nahi, mhare ko phillum hi dekhni hai woh bhi apke saath," (no! Not at all, I want to wqtch a movie with you) she insisted like a child who was being denied their favourite chocolate. Rudra looked at her as she pouted and turned away. He had a strong urge to take out his phone and take a picture of her, she looked incredibly adorable when she was cross at him.
"Teekh hai" Rudra finally agreed to her wish, "Aman ko bol do jo film dekhni hai, woh CD le ayega...yahin pe dekh lete hai" (Fine, ask Aman for whatever movie you want to wqtch, he'll get the dvd and we'll watch it here) Rudra suggested. Instantly Paro's pout vanished and was replaced by her dazzling smile.
"Shukriya Major Saab" she chimed as she went to find Aman outside. Rudra was a touch disappointed as there was no thank you kiss this time. Paro could watch whatever movie she liked, he knew all he would be watching is her. How on earth was he supposed to resist this enchantress, she had him wrapped around her pinky.
*****
"Phillum idhar nahi udhar chal rahi hai," (the movie is going on there not here) Paro whispered shyly as Rudra gazed at her. He wrapped his arm around her and pull her close to him. It was Hum Apke Hai Kaun? Trust Paro to choose a Sooraj Bharjatya movie thought Rudra rolling his eyes. He tried to get engrossed in the movie like Paro was but couldn't, he was instead consumed by her expressions as she enjoyed the movie.
Paro's glee was that of a 7 year old in Disneyworld for the first time, as she watched Prem and Nisha's nok-jhok and flirting. Rudra looked exasperated at all the singing and dancing that lasted longer than meaningful scenes, he cringed at how cheesy all this seemed.
"Humme bhi aise crikat khel sakte hai, itna bada parivar hai, kitna maaza ayega Major Saab," (we can play cricket like this, we have such a big family, it will be so fun) Paro suggested enthusiastically.
"Acha," Rudra cleared his throat, "tujhe aata hai cricket khel na?" (do you know how to play?)
"Aap sikha dena jaise aap mujhe sab sikha te hai," (you can teach me like you teach me everything) she replied simply referring to how he'd taught her use the gas, blender, taught her to dance, along with many other things.
****
"Paro, kya hua?" (What happen?) Rudra asked, uneasy. Warm tears trickled out from her eyes, which he reflexively wiped away. He realised it was the scene where Pooja died.
"Shhh...shaant, shaant" Rudra calmed her, "ye sab haqeekat mein nahi hota , sab dikhava hai Paro," (this doesn't happen in reality, it's just acting) he patted her head.
"Hota hai...humare apne hum se dur chale jaate hai" (it does! Our loved ones leave us) she murmured against his chest.
"Na...humare saath aisa nahi hota...pehle meine tuhje dur bhej ne ki koshish ki par tu mere utne hi kareeb agayi, phir maut ne mujhe tumse dur karna chaha par tune nahi aisa hone diya, uske baad thari woh kasam...chahe kuch bhi ho hum aise alag nahi honge" (not with us, first I pushed you away but you came even closer, then Death tried to separate us but couldn't and then your promise...whatever happens we won't be apart" Rudra promised hugging Paro.
"Raat hogayi hai, humme ghar jana chahiye," (it's late we should go home) Rudra suggested as the thought he heard her tiny stomach rumble slightly.
"Major Saab, kal toh Ravivaar hai...sab ghar pe honge toh kya hum crikat nahi khel sakte?"(its Sunday so we should play cricket tomorrow) Paro asked as though I child hinting what they wanted for Christmas.
"Mere duty hai Paro," Rudra replied sternly.
"Aap maare liye itna bhi nahin kar sakte...Rudra," (cant you do this much for me?) she pleaded, addressing him by his name. He loved when she called him Rudra and she saved it for times like this so he couldn't refuse her.
"Ye na insafi hai Paro," (this is not fair) Rudra complained, his Shrimati wasn't as innocent as she seemed, she always got her way with him. One look at her pouting face and puppy dog eyes melted Rudra , "teekh hai" he agreed and she burst into a happy smile.
Holding hands they slowly walked outside and got onto his phatphati to drive away home.
What did you guys think?
Anupamaa
