Thanks everyone for commenting and encouraging 😊. I hope this update is bigger than the last 2...
I will try and update at a good pace. There will not be any updates on weekends. I hope you like it.
Chapter 3
Mid-afternoon at Sharma house. Shipra is relaxing and thinking if she should call the boy's parents now or later. She is disturbed from her thought by the mobile ringing.
Shipra: Is waqt kaun call kar raha hain. Main apne he soch main thi... She reluctantly looks at the mobile. Oh... and picks the phone. Hello, kaise call kiya? Kya baat hain? Sab teek hain?
Sudhir: Kuch khaas nahi Shipra. I called to see if you got the details from Mrs.Khanna.
Shipra: Good you called. I got the details. Actually, main wahi Soch rahi thi, ki ab call karun kya?
Sudhir: I suggest that we can call the boy's parents in the evening after I come back. It will be better because Priya will be home early today and we can discuss it with her as well.
Shipra: I think aap sahi bol rahe hain. Kitne baje Ghar aayange?
Sudhir: I should be home by 5 30. Ek baar Priya se baat karle na.
Shipra: Agar maine call kiya , to pakha who jaldi nahi aayegi. Main janti hoon apne beti ko, koi bahana bana degi. Aap puchiye, to woh maan jayagi.
Sudhir: Teek hain. Main hi khar deta hoon.
At Priya's institute.
Priya is thinking of her upcoming conference and the amount of work that needs to be done before she goes. She is contemplating her first time at this conference presenting a paper I front 500+ people. A bit nervous, but also excited about her research and exciting prospects of application of work in new ways. Deep in thought, she hears a knock on her office door. She adjusts herself, comes back to present.
Priya: Come in.
Anjali: Hi Ma'am. I am Anjali, a student in your molecular bio class. I hope I did not disturb you. I would like to speak with you a few minutes regarding the course.
Priya: Sure. Sit. I have an email I should send right away and then we can talk.
Priya suddenly realizes that she was supposed to have sent an email to the Dept. HOD regarding this class after Anjali mentions molecular bio course. She quickly starts typing the email. Meanwhile, Anjali starts looking around her ma'am's office. Anjali is smiling seeing how Priya's office is decorated with beautiful landscape painting, few molecular bio posters. However, her eyes fall on photos of younger Priya, playing volleyball at school, all masti with few other people (probably friends & family). Anjali thinks to herself, I cannot imagine ma'am like this, she is focused, strict in class. Cool... Priya finishes her email and briefly looks at Anjali's performance in the course as well. Better to be prepared right...
Priya: Anjali right?
Anjali: Yes ma'am
Priya: So tell me what can I do for you?
Anjali: There are a few topics in the course that I do not understand completely, especially some parts of gene regulation. She goes on to describe her issues to Priya.
Priya: Ok. I must say, you have a good understanding of gene regulation. The topics you have raised are very interesting and a little difficult to understand. I am very busy for the next week with a conference. I will suggest a few more readings for you to understand these topics during this week. One thing I want to make it clear to you is that these topics and material is not going to be tested, but will give you a deeper understanding of the subject. If you are interested, we can set-up a time after my conference, we can discuss these topics, and you can ask me any questions you want to.
Anjali: Excitedly, that would be great! Please let me know when you are free. I am interested in this field. I would like to pursue this field as a career. It would be wonderful to talk to you about this as well.
Priya: Sure. I would be delighted to help you in any way I can. Do one thing, send me an email with your open times for the following week and if I do not get back to you by next Friday send me a reminder email. OK?
Anjali: Thanks ma'am. I will send an email. See you next week.
Anjali jumps up and down and leaves Priya's office. Priya is also happy and her mood is better with seeing enthusiasm in students. I need to make the list of people/companies. She begins... AIMS-Dr Anil, BMC-Dr Geetha, KP -. Just then, her mobile rings...
Priya: Hi papa
Sudhir: Busy? Can we talk?
Priya: I am not busy. Boliye
Sudhir: Kuch nahi beta, wanted to find out if you would come home early like every Friday.
Priya: Most likely, I will papa. I have a few things regarding the conference to be done. It begins on Sunday. In addition, the conference is in Mysore. Therefore, I have to travel on Saturday afternoon with colleagues.
Sudhir: Oh, I had completely forgotten about that.
Priya: Is something going on in the house this evening? Maa ne kuch intazaam kiya hain??
Sudhir: Beta... No, nothing like that. You know Mrs.Khanna na. Her sister Veena has forwarded a proposal for you. We just want to talk to the parents over the phone to get details. It would be nice if you were present and had any questions for them. It becomes a lot easier Priya.
Priya: Papa, aap bhi maa ki tarah.
Sudhir: Priya, it is important beta to have a companion for life beta. You will not realize it today, but a few years from now...
Priya: Ok. Just to avoid all the melodrama from her parents. She agrees. Aa jaaongi. May be home around 6 papa.
Sudhir: Thanks beta. Have a nice afternoon. Bye.
Priya is back to her favorite pastime- thinking. I have no time for all this. Love my work and family. That is all that matters. I do not need anybody. Par kya Karen, all parents like to see their kids settled... Let me see what Maa has this time for me. She chuckles, remembering the "showing, meeting" boy times and gets back to her list.
At Sharma house, Shipra is singing away old song (Mera naam Chin chin Choo) ... {just could not resist myself imagining Renukha Israni singing and dancing this song}.
Shipra: raat chandin me aur tu... Wah wah... wah wah...
Not again... why do people disturb me so much while I am having fun. She goes and picks the landline slowly. Hello.
Lady: Hello. Is this Sharma's residence?
Shipra: thinking , arey koi phir se.. sales call hi hoga... Yes it is.
Lady: Ji, main Mumbai se baat kar rahi hoon. Veena ne mujhe aap ka number diya hain. Aap Shipra ji hain na?
Shipra: suddenly realizes who is calling and feels excited, happy, not sure what to speak.. Woh .. main..., haan, Shipra bol rahi hoon. Veena ne aapka number diya tha. Lekin Humne socha ki apko evening phone karange, jab mere pati aur beti aajayange.
Lady: Aap busy hain tho, main evening karun?
Shipra: No, aisi baat nahi hain. Accha kiya aap ne call kar diya. Veena ki sister Mrs.Khanna meri bahut achi dost hain. Aap log Mumbai main rehte hain na?
Lady: Haan ji. Dekihye Shipra ji, Mere teen bacche hain. Main yeh rishta apne bade bte ke liye dekh rahi hoon. Woh 33 years ka hain, apna kudh ki company hain. My husband passed away about 10 years ago, tab se mere bte ne yeh ghar sambhala hain. Hum log bhi ek upper middle class family ke hain. I was a teacher at school, 5 saal hogaya hain retirement ko. Both my younger kids are studying/ finishing their degrees in year or so. Waise hum log Bangalore main rehte te, when my husband was alive. However, we moved to Mumbai for studies for my kids and more so because my elder son started the company with his friend. Humari extended family Mumbai, Bangalore, delhi main rehte hain.
Shipra: I am sorry about your Husband ji. Dekhiye ji, mere do bacche hain ek badi beti aur dusra beta. Mere beti 28 yrs old hain aur ek institute main assistant professor hain, aur beta abhi ek MNC main job shuru kiya hain. Mere pati ek local bank main manager hain or main bhi bank main kaam karthi thi. Hum 15 yrs se Bangalore main hain, per use pehle delhi main the. Dekhiye ji, hume koi aapti nahi hain, isko aage badane main.
Lady: Mujhe bhi koi aapti nahi hain.
Shipra: Teek hain. Main apne pati aur beti se baat karke aap se phir se baat karungi.
Lady: Teek hain. Main rakti hoon. Mujhe bhi apne bte se baat karni padegi.
Shipra: Teek hain.
Suddenly thinks... Oh oh... naam nahi pucha... Before the lady hangs up..
Ek minute ji, aapka naam ji?
Lady: Oh.. Oh. Maine bataya hi nahi. Mera naam Krishna hain.
Shipra: teek hain Krishna ji, aap se baat karke acha laga. Talk to you soon. Bye
Krishna: bye.
At Krishna's house. Maa Maa.. we hear somebody shouting. Jaldi karo mujhe conference ke liye aaj hi nikhalna hoga. Meri flight evening 6 ki hain. Aur kal mujhe wahan se mysore bhi jana hain...
Next update... more about Krishna and family... 😉
Rules & Announcements
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
