CHAPTER 5. MELA DILON KA AATA HAI...
"Kyun na aap sab log mela dekh aayein?", Rano broke the bomb in front of the youngsters during the tea time. Geet's eyes widened and she and Khushi exchanged a look of excitement. Arnav smirked at Maan while Maan rolled his eyes.
Mohinder spoke up, "Mela?" Rano smiled, "Haan haan! Mela! Dekhiye Maan puttar yahaan aaye hain Geet se milne! Lekin agar dono ko akela nahi chodenge toh dono ek doosre ko jaanenge kaise?", Rano passed a smile to Maan' who smiled back in fake manner and then looked at the real Maan knowingly. Rano continued, "Agar dono saath mein mela ghoom aayein toh Maan puttar Hoshiarpur bhi dekh lenge aur dono ek doosre se baat bhi karlenge!"
All four youngsters started to think on ways to make sure Arnav' and Khushi were also involved in the trip when Mohinder replied, "Idea toh achcha hai! Lekin kudi nu iss tarah akele ek ladke de naal bhejenge toh gaao waale sawaal nahi uthaayenge? Na! Main nai bhejna Geet ko akele Maan puttar de naal! Sagaai hone ke baad jitna akele phirna hai phirlo! Lekin abhi nahi!"
Arnav and Geet were disappointed. Arnav wondered how to get to his Dream Girl while Geet worried that she will never have her chance with her Prince Charming. That's when Rano spoke, "Aise kaise aap manaa kardenge?", she looked miffed. After few minutes she spoke again, "Ek kaam karte hain! Khushi aur Arnav' puttar nu bhi saath mein bhej dete hain!"
All four youngsters perked up in excitement. Mohinder thought for a while and then nodded, "Theek hai! Jaao kudiyon! Tayyaari shayyaari shuru karo! Maan aur Arnav puttar de naal shaam ko mela vekhan jaana hai!"
Geet nodded demurely while passing another look of excitement to Khushi who winked back at her. Soon the girls went to their rooms and there Geet squealed as loud as possible. She grabbed Khushi and hugged her tightly. Khushi laughed at her best friend's antics. Soon the girls started to get ready for the trip and half an hour later both got down the stairs ready for the trip.
Half an hour later found both girls with Maan and Arnav walking towards the mela situated near the village. As they walked ahead, Geet grabbed Khushi and pulled her aside. "Kuch bhi kar lekin mujhe aur mere Prince Charming ko akela chod!" Khushi nodded. At the same time, Arnav, seeing the girls pull away, grabbed Maan's arm and whispered to him, "Do whatever you want! But get me some time with my Dream Girl!" Maan rolled his eyes but when Arnav glared at him, Maan sighed and nodded.
As the four youngsters started to walk together again Khushi spoke up, "Waise Maanji!" Both Maan and Arnav looked towards her and she blinked in confusion. "Maine Maanji ko bulaaya Arnavji ko nahi!", Khushi giggled. The men shared a look and Khushi frowned. Yeh kya tha? She looked at Geet and even she looked puzzled. Maan' spoke, "Ji boliye!"
"Ji hum keh rahe the ki humein aapse baat karni hai! Woh kya haina humein parakhna hai ki aap humaare Geet ke laayak ho na nahi!", Khushi spoke. Before Maan or Arnav could say anything, Khushi grabbed his hand and dragged him away. Arnav looked at Maan incredulously as he was dragged away. Waah! Kya luck hai mera! Jo ladki pasand aayi wahi mujhe ghaseet ke le jaa rahi hai! Jiyo Arnav bitwa! Jiyo!
Maan shook his head. That was too easy! Chalo! Atleast Arnav got his chance with Khushi! He glimpsed at the girl walking beside him who blushed at his look. Maan rolled his eyes. Lekin ab mujhe iss musibat ko jhelna padega!
Geet was almost vibrating with excitement. She was walking with her Prince Charming! Hey Babaji! Aapne toh mera sapna poora kar diya! That is when the man glimpsed at her and she blushed.
Maan sighed. He cannot walk like this! He had to make conversation to keep the girl occupied. Or else she would wonder about her friend and go searching for her. Maan mused on what to say!
Arnav looked at Khushi with excitement. His face might not show it but mentally he was jumping around. He was with his Dream Girl! Yes!
"Toh aapko Hoshiarpur kaisa laga?", Khushi asked as she tried to get Maan' conversing enough that he would forget his friend. This way her best friend could talk to her Prince Charming. Hey Devi Maiyya! Kya kya karna padta hai dosti ke liye!
"Achchi hai!", Arnav blurted out and gave a bright grin, "Bahut khoobsurat!"
Khushi blinked at mile wide grin and then smiled back uneasily. Kya namoona hai! Aise koi muskuraata hai kya!
"Aur Geet kaisi lagi?", Khushi asked next.
Arnav shrugged, "Achchi hai!"
Khushi nodded, "Aur Handa Haveli kaise hai?"
Arnav grinned again, "Achchi hai!"
Khushi looked at him in shock. Gaao bhi achchi, Geet bhi achchi, Haveli bhi achchi? Iss bande ko achche ke siva kuch bolna nahi aata kya!
Achchi? Seriously? Did he just say that? Arnav was disgusted by himself. The business tycoon of Dilli who gave so many great speeches to thousands of people, today cannot even say anything more than a word to a girl! You are doomed ASR!
"Kuch kahaa aapne?", Khushi asked.
Arnav shook his head.
"Waise favorite color kya hai?", Arnav asked suddenly.
"Laal!", Khushi replied, "Geet ka favorite color laal hai!"
Maan'chuckled, "Main Geet ki nahi tumhaari baat kar raha hun! What color do you like? I like red!"
Khushi frowned. Humaara favorite color kyun pooch rahe hain? Shaadi toh Geet se karne aaye haina! Bade ajeeb insaan hai!
"Waise aap yahaan ki hai yaa kahin aur ki rehne waali hain?", Maan' asked.
"Lucknow ke hain hum! Lekin Dilli mein College ki hai! Wahi Geet se mile the!", Khushi replied still feeling uneasy about the situation. Why is he asking about me? Devi Maiyya! Kuch toh gadbad hai!
"Achcha! Ghar mein kaun kaun hai?", Arnav continued to ask questions and Khushi replied all the while growing more and more uneasy. She was not happy with the way Maan' wanted to know more about her than the girl he came to marry.
"Toh aap kahaan tak padhi hai?", Maan asked as he looked at the girl walking by him.
The girl looked at him with wide eyes reminding him of the phrase deer caught in headlights'. What! Did she really expect us to walk in silence? Weird girl!
Geet gulped. He is talking to me! Hey Babaji! Mujhe toh himmat hi nahi ho rahi inse baat karne ki! Ab main kya bolun?
She fiddled with her duppatta as she tried to speak, "Ji main woh... B... B...B. Com...!" She wanted to say that she finished M. Com then, want to study further and open a boutique too but before that he cut her off.
"Oh! B.Com!", Maan mused as he tried to think of what to ask next. Kitna haqlaati hai yeh! Achcha hua main isse bandhne waala nahi hun! Warna mera toh jeena mushkil ho jaata! Chai chaahiye subah poochne aati aur sawaal poochne tak shaam ho jaata!
"Hobbies kya hain tumhaare?", Maan asked.
Geet felt her heart beat double. Her Prince Charming was asking about her! Hey Babaji! Main behosh na ho jaaun!
"Ji... Coo...coo...cooking...", she wanted to say badminton playing and cycling too but before she could say more Arnav' spoke up, "Oh! Interesting!" and Geet shut up in nervousness.
Maan frowned. Interesting my foot! Sirf cooking! Typical village girl! Daadima! Did you really want me married to this girl?
"Aur kya kya shauk hain aapke?", Arnav asked eagerly.
Khushi looked at him incredulously. Aur kya bolein! Jalebi ke upar ek lamba lecture de diya! Humaara Amma Bauji hi nahi humaare mohalle ke saari auntiyon ke baare mein baat kardi! Aur inse kya bolein hum!
"Ji kuch nahi!", Khushi mumbled.
"Nice gota! You designed this dress?", Maan' asked and Khushi wanted to strangle him. Even her own mother was not this curious about her, aur yeh hain ke... uff!
"Jee! Humne hi design ki hai!", she smiled in a fake manner.
"Wow! You are very talented!", Maan' told her and Khushi shut her eyes trying to control her anger. You are very talented' Bas aadhe ghante se yahi sun rahe hain! Jalebi banaati ho? You are very talented! Khaana banaati ho? You are very talented! Talent shabd se humein nafrat hone lagi hai! Hey Devi Maiyya! Kahaan fasaa diya!
"Shaadi ke baad job karogi?", Maan asked as he looked at the girl. Kya bad luck hai Maan! Itne bure din aagaye tere ki ladki ko yeh sawaal pooch raha hai! Par aur kya poochun? Yeh ladki itni haqlaati hai ki mujhe topic hi nahi sooj rahe hain isse baat karne ke!
"Job... uh... main... Woh...", Geet stuttered. Geet! Bewakoof! Jhalli! Kuch toh bol!
"Pata nahi!", Geet mumbled as she fiddled with her duppatta. Her brain blanked out and she said the first thing that came to her mind.
Pata nahi! Great! Yeh bhi nahi pata! Toh pata kya hai haqlaane ke siva! Maan groused. He was so fed up of this girl!
If she knows cooking, can she cook Italian food? Maan absentmindedly thought and without realizing blurted it out.
Geet looked at him with wide eyes, "Ji?... ji... Main..." Geet wanted to tell him that while she did not know italian food she did know how to make pasta but her nervousness stopped her from speaking.
Maan shook his head. Main bhi kisse pooch raha hun? Gaao ki ladki ko yeh sab kahaan maaloom? This trip was nothing but waste of my time! And now I am stuck here! Uff!
So how was the update?
Liked it?
And for those who think Geet and Arnav were out of character, here is the thing!
They have crush on Maan and Khushi and some people do act like idiot in front of their crushes!
You must have done it too once in your life!
I know I have done it!
Next up, lets bring some daakus on the scene!
Thank you, take care and have fun,
Kalpana
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
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