NAUC -TSC #2 |Cousins till the End| - Page 6

Scene 1 : Jwala in school

Jwala was walking in the corridor with her friend Charu when suddenly her heartbeats increased. She couldn't walk further. She couldn't help but stare at what she was seeing. Her heart started thumping louder when he neared her, but he went from her side and turned towards right. She closed her eyes and sighed.

"Kya hua Jwala? Ruk kyu gayi? Chal, hame late ho raha hai." Charu called out.

She walked with an army of thoughts running in her mind. Since the last some days, Jwala had been feeling weird especially when she saw that guy. Whenever he came in front of her, she couldn't help getting lost into another world. Jwala had never felt this way before for any guy. Afterall he was Rishi Binani - the cutest and most famous guy in her class. But this thought again brought her to the reality. This fact itself was enough to remind her the disparity between them.

They entered the class. The teacher hadn't yet arrived. There was a group of girls sitting next to Jwala. All talking and chirping about their new clothes, favourite brands etc. Jwala as usual felt she is a misfit there.

Suddenly there was a silence. Jwala looked up thinking that the teacher had arrived but was shocked to see Rishi standing in front of her desk.

"Hi Jwala! Woh..mujhe na tumse kuch baat karni thi."

Jwala's hands and feet grew cold. She couldn't even open her mouth, yet managed to say two words. "Ha..bolo.."

"Uh, actually mujhe na economics ke notes complete karne hai. So can I have your notebook?"

Jwala said nothing. She quickly took out her book and handed it to him. He thanked her and left. Jwala could still feel blood gushing in her veins.

"Kya yaar Jwala?! Class ka sabse cute ladka tujhse baat karne aaya aur tune usse kuch bhi nahi kaha!!" Charu said.

"Woh mujhse notebook maangne aaya tha, toh maine de di.!"

"Chhod yaar Charu! Tub hi kisse pooch rahi hai? Tujhe to pata hai na Jwala kaisi hai!" Kiya said with a smerk.

"Ya, agar Rishi hum me se kisi ke paas aaya hota. Toh hum use side me le jate, usse baat karte, thoda flirt karte and if possible uska number bhi maangte.! But ye Jwala bhi na.." Rita joined.

"Jwala to bachpan se hi aisi hai. I tell you guys, agar koi ladka ise date pe le jae na toh pata hai ye usse kya poochegi?!..Aapko organic chemistry pasand hai ya inorganic?..." Priya added and they all started laughing.

"Yes guys. I am sure koi ladka ise apne saath le jana hi nahi chahega. But Jwala tu itni boring kyu hai, aur tu kab sudhregi??" Kiya asked.

Jwala was angry and felt like crying at the same time. Charu felt bad for her. Jwala stood up and turned around, but was shocked to see Bunty standing behind. She went to him and took him to a corner.

"Tu yaha kya kar raha hai Bunty??"

"Wo Jwala di, aap kal jab mujhe padha rahi thi na tab aapki geography book mere bag me aa gayi, wahi dene aaya tha."

"Theek hai, thanks. Ab tu ja."

Bunty left and Jwala just wished that Bunty hadn't heard what happened right now.

Scene 2: Viraj's place(Dubai)

Vasu had just come home from shopping and was settling things on her bed when she heard her laptop vibrate. She opened it and saw it was a video call from Nisha.

"Hello Nisha!! Kaisi ho tum?" Vasu smiled.

"Main theek hoon mom. Aap kaise ho?" she replied.

"Hum theek hai. Aur jojo kaisa hai?"

"Kabir bilkul theek hai. Woh apne new job se bahut khush hai."

"Kaash hum waha use office jate hue dekh pate. Waise achha hua tumne call kiya. Hum abhi shopping karne gaye the. Aur ye dekho humne kuch sarees li.." she showed her some sarees.

"Bahut hi sundar hai mom." Nisha replied.

"Hum na waha aane se pehle tumhare liye bhi kuch lekar aaenge."

"Ok Mom!" Nisha smiled, "but aap yaha aa kab rahe ho?"

"Pata nahi beta. Viraj ne koi date decide ki hogi but hame toh ab tak nahi bataya." Her voice trailed.

"Mom, kya Viraj sir ab bhi aap se naraaz hai?"

"Ha Nisha! Aur humne galti bhi toh aisi hi ki thi. Lekin hum sahi me sharminda hai aur hame apne galti ka ehsaas ho chuka hai." She said sadly.

"Main jaanti hoon mom. But you don't worry, sab theek ho jaega. Aap jald hi India aa jaiye. Fir Kabir aur Viraj sir dono aapke sath honge."

"Ha beta, umeed to yahi hai." She tried to smile.

"OK Mom. Mujhe na thoda kaam hai. Main aapse baad me baat karti hoon. Aur agar aapko kabhi bhi kisi se baat karne ka man kare toh aap without hesitation mujhe call kijiye."

"Ya sure beta! And take care." Vasu closed her laptop and smiled.

Scene 3: Bunty's room

Both Jwala and Bunty were doing their respective studies. Bunty was bored and suddenly got an idea.

"Jwala di! Ek kaam karo na, mere ye maths ke problems aap solve kar do. Aapke liye to ye sab easy hoga na!"
"Bunty! Laxmi chachi ne tumhe kaha hai na solve karne ke liye.?! Main aisa nahi kar sakti."

"Par Jwala di, ma ko thodi na pata chalega. Aur aap bas solve karke do. Main ek baar read kar loonga. Please!!" Bunty again requested.

"Nahi bunty! Tumhari exam aane wali hai. Aur jab tak tum khud in problems ki practice nahi karte,tum seekhoge kaise?" Jwlaa tried to explain.

"Kya Jwala di aap bhi!! Aap itni boring kyu ho? Hum baaki cousins ki tarah kyu nahi ho?? Sahi kehte hai aapke friends, ladke toh aapse door hi bhaagte honge.!" Bunty yelled at her angrily.

Jwala was disheartened. This was the last thing she wanted to hear after what had happened in the morning. She went to her room and started crying.

Scene 4: KN House

Finally Nisha had completed cooking food. Though she had improved, it wasn't something she liked much. She came to the hall, and was surprised to see Kabir sitting on the couch.

"Kabir!" she went and sat beside him, "tu kab aaya??"

"Just abhi aaya." He smiled.

"Oh! Waise pata hai, aaj kya hua?!" Nisha said excitedly.

"Kya?? Jaldi bata!" he smiled.

"Aaj maine mom se baat ki..." she saw Kabir's smile faint gradually, but he tried to retain it for her. She stopped. For sometime both Kabir and Nisha were silent.

Kabir broke the silence, "Waise wo kaisi hai?"

"Yahi agar tu khud unse poochega to unhe kitna achha lagega Kabir!"

"Main jaanta hu tu kya kehna chahti hai Nisha. Lekin main unhe call nahi karna chahta. Although maine unhe tab maaf kar diya tha, but wo bonding, wo connection khatam sa ho gaya hai. Main unse pehle ki tarah baat nahi kar pata."

"Lekin Kabir, wo teri mom hai. Aur tu aaj bhi unse utna hi pyaar karta hai."

"Ha Nisha! But mujhe thoda time lagega, is awkward zone' se bahar nikalne me." Nisha nodded in agreement.

"Chal ab tu jake fresh ho ja! Main khana laga deti hoon."

Kabir got up and started towards their room. Nisha was confused. She couldn't understand why Kabir wasn't playful and naughty the way he always is. She studddenly stopped him. "Kabir ruk!" he turned behind.

"Kabir, tu theek hai na?"

"Ha Nisha! Kyu??" he asked confused.

"Office me toi koi problem nahi hai na?"

"Nahi Nisha! But why are you asking this?"

"Nahi...wo...tu..tu aaj hamesha ki tarah nahi lag raha. Matlab ..."

"Are Nisha! Main na aaj thoda, infact bahut thak gaya hoon. Aaj office me bahut kaam tha, final dance complete karna tha aur kuch hard steps bhi sikhane the...toh physically exhaust ho gaya hoon."

"Achha, koi nahi! Tu jake abhi fresh ho ja. You' ll feel better.' Nisha smiled at him and went to the kitchen.

Scene 5: Dolly's room

Dolly was still thinking about what had happened in the office that day. She wondered what could be the reason for such bitterness of her boss. Just then Vimla arrived.

"Maa, aap?"

"Ha beta. Tu ab tak soyi nahi." Vimla asked.

"Nahi ma, thoda sa kaam baki hai. Uske baad so jaungi."

"Dolly! Beta aisa nahi karte. Aisi haalat me toh maa ko samay pe sona chahiye. Chal ab sara kam band kar aur yaha aa."

"Lekin ma.." She held Dolly's hand and made her sit on the bed.

"Dekh main tere liye ye sarso ka tel layi hoon. Ise tere balo me lagaungi na toh achhi neend aaegi tujhe." She started oiling Dolly's long hair.

"Bachpan me bhi aap aisa hi karti thi na ma! Mujhe tel lagana bilkul pasand nahi tha lekin aap mujhe daat kar, bitha kar mere balo me tel laga hi deti.''

"Tabhi toh tumhare baal itne ghane aur lambe hai. Waise Dolly, tu theek toh hai na? Mujhe pata hai tujhe bahut kuch ek saath sambhalna pad raha hai. Par is sab me sabse zaroori hai apni tabiyat ka khayal rakhna." Vimla explained

"Ha ma. Main bilkul theek hoon. Main apna aur baby ka theek se khayal rakhti hoon. Aur kabhi bhool bhi jau toh aap, papa, cousins aur baki gharwale hai na mera khayal rakhne ke liye." Dolly smiled.

"Dekh Dolly. Is waqt tere jeevan me bahut kuch chal raha hai. Par koi bhi baat apne dil se mat lagana. Agar kisi baat ke bare me zyada sochegi toh tujhe hi takleef hogi. Tu samajh rahi hai na?"

"Ha ma." Dolly felt that her mother was right. Right now her baby was most important for her and she should avoid thinking about petty issues.

"Pata hai Dolly, ye tel hai na khaas Rupan lekar aayi hai tere liye. Ise roz istemaal karegi toh bachcha aur ma, dono..." she looked at Dolly and realized that she had already fallen asleep. She smiled as she remembered how a small and tired Dolly used to sleep in her lap after playing the whole day. She caressed her face and kissed her forehead. She realized however old the children grow, they are always the same for their parents.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:- Sorry for giving a break to Nibir's romance. Please dont throw your chappals