Shot#2
The engagement was a grand affair.
It was time for some Nach after the ritual ceremony.
Love blossomed in the air when the couple of the day, Simmi and Parmeet, danced to the slow yet mesmerising Punjabi track Bolna from Kapoor & Sons.
Ishita admired the much in love couple and wished a Prince Charming for herself.
Many other performances by relatives and friends followed.
Thereafter the dance floor was declared open for all as the latest party songs roared in background.
Ishita stood beside Simmi and enjoyed watching people dance madly to the tunes. Simmi nudged Ishita and insisted her to join, yet she chose to sit back and enjoy.
But when the Punjabi Wedding Song from Hasee Toh Phasee played, she could not stop herself from joining the crowd. Just like the song goes she threw her hands up, twisted them around and did the bhangra with everybody.
Suddenly the song stopped and the lights dimmed. The crowd started to panic and gossip as to what went wrong.
A spotlight on the centre of the dance floor grabbed everyone's attention to a male figure dressed like MJ covering his face with a hat.
"Ye koun hai?" Everybody went on a guessing mode.
"Ghar Aangan Ve Kone Kone
Goonj Uthi Shehnayi
Ke Naubat Dol Baje
Jab Nache Kudi Da Bhai" played on the speakers making everyone go silent.
The man slowly moved the hat that was hiding his face and slipped it on his head.
"Raman?"
"Bhai?"
"Ramanjee?" All gasped together.
'Mai Aisa Kyun Hoon
Main Aisa Kyun Hoon...
Main Jaisa Hoon
Main Vaisa Kyon Hoon
Karna Hai Kya Mujhko
Ye Maine Kab Hai Jana
Lagta Hai Gaoonga
Zindagi Bhar Bas Ye Gaana
Hoga Jaane Mera Ab Kya
Koi To Bataye Mujhe
Gadbad Hai Ye Sab Kya
Koi Samjhaye Mujhe' played in the background and Raman began dancing like a pro amazing everybody with his moves.
'Oh we ee aa owe ee oh
Oh we ee aa owe owe owe owe' he moonwalked like MJ and as the lines ended the music stopped and he aimed and threw his hat towards Ishita with a smirk.
Ishita held the hat in time and gasped "Oh My God"
As if on cue the next song began to play.
'Koi naa jaane kittho aaye hai tu
Sab de dilon vich ho gayi kukaduku
Inna sona, inna cool
Munda inna wonderful
Ennu vekhe je kudiya toh kehndi
"Oh My God! Oh My God!..."
Haan munda sab me sab ton best
Munda better than the rest
Ennu vekhe ke munde toh kehnde
"Oh My God!"
Oh seena 6 biscut da
Oh munda 6 foot da
Oh dheere dheere karda dhamaal sa
Oh munda kukkad kamaal da
Oh munda kukkad kamaal da
Oh kudiya te ho jaaye effect ohdi chaal da
Oh munda kukkad kamaal da
Oh munda kukkad kamaal da
Oh munda kukkad kamaal da
O bando mein banda perfect bemisal sa
Kukkad kamaal da'
Ishita's jaw dropped at Raman's performance yet again.
The prophecy he had made earlier came true as the crowd joined him on the dance floor shaking their legs and moving their heads with him.
She mentally bowed for him as he finished his dance and quirked his eyebrows at her.
Simmi was elated. She was overjoyed that her brother had danced finally.
Ishita was glad to see her friend happy.
"Simmi what is munda kukkad kamal da?" She asked as Raman disappeared between the crowd.
"It means this guy is fantastic" Simmi translated for her.
"Hmmm...I agree" she smiled admitting that Raman was actually fantastic.
--------
Being the elder brother, Raman took charge of seeing off all the guests and he asked his parents to go home with Simmi.
Once he was assured that everybody had left, he left the hall. As he neared the gate, he spotted Ishita pacing back and forth continuously trying to contact someone on her phone.
"Hi" he said going close to her.
"Hi" she said a bit startled and a bit relieved.
"All ok?" He asked.
"Hmmm...yeah" she said not wanting to share her problem.
"Oh come on! Tumhare chehre pe saaf likha hai ke there IS a problem. You can tell me. May be I can help" he suggested.
"Ermm...actually maine wapas jaane keliye cab book kiya tha. I was unsure ke function kab tak chalega. Toh maine kaha tha ke function khatam hote hi mai driver ko call karke inform kardoongi taake woh mujhe pick karne aa sake. But pata nahi kyun driver ka number hi nahi lag raha" she spilled out.
"Oh achha. Koi baat nahi. Mai tumhe drop kardoonga. Come" he offered.
"No no no no. I will manage. Mai phir se call try karti hoon, I am sure lag jayega" she refused immediately.
"Kitni baar toh call kar chuki ho. Aur ab raat bhi kaafi hogayi hai. Saare mehmaan bhi nikal gaye hain. Aise me mai tumhe yahan akele chod kar nahi jaa sakta. Isliye keh raha hoon mai tumhe drop kardoonga" he said.
"No. It's ok. I will manage" she still was on a denial mode.
"I know maine kaha tha ke mai khatarnak hoon. Par is mamle me you can trust me. Agar chaho to Simmi se cross-check karlo. Should I call her?" He suggested.
"Call karne ki zarurat nahi hai. Itna toh jaanti hoon mai apko ke mai aap pe trust kar sakun" she said.
"Toh phir chalein?" He asked.
She nodded and he led her to his car.
An awkward silence prevailed between them as they drove off on the noisy streets of Delhi.
She wanted to say many things to him but hesitated to initiate a conversation.
She opened and closed her mouth several times not knowing how and where to begin with.
Raman had been noticing her for quite a while now.
"Ye library nahi hai" he said keeping his eyes on the road.
"Huhhh...Kya?" She asked.
"Maine kaha ye library nahi hai. Tum baat karna chaho toh kar sakti ho" he glanced at her saying that.
"Actually mujhe aap se 3 baatein karni hain" she blurted.
"3? 3 hi kyun? 2 ya 4 kyun nahi?" He chuckled teasing her.
"I mean filhaal meri zehen me 3 baatein hain jo mujhe aapse karni hai" she explained.
"Oh...Theek hai. Go ahead with your 3 baatein" he stifled a laugh.
"1 compliment, 2 apology and 3 gratitude" she listed the topics on her mind.
"Ye kya hai?" He laughed.
"Aap haso mat please. Mai pehle hi ye list aapko isliye bata rahi hoon ke kahin baaton baaton me mai bhool na jaaun ke mujhe aapse kya kya baatein karni thi. So in case mai bhool bhi jaaun aap mujhe yaad dila sakte ho na" she defended her point.
"Point" he nodded his head and smiled at her innocence.
"Ok ab aap suno" she said.
"All ears" he replied.
"Sabse pehle mujhe aapke dance pe apko compliment karna hai. It was a mind blowing kukkad kamal da performance. I am totally impressed and declare that you have clearly won the challenge. Aur aap Fearful factor nahi Fear Lesss Factor ho" she said in a go.
"Thank you very much. Ab topic no.2 batao" he said.
"Hein...itne dhamakedaar compliment pe itna pheeka reaction? Apko zara si bhi achievement wali feeling nahi aayi?" She was shocked.
"Arey nahi. Mujhe bahut khushi hui. Par kya hai na achievement wali feeling se zyada is waqt curiosity hai ye jaanne ki ke tumhare list me next kya hai" he narrated.
"Oh that!" She giggled.
"Yeah that! So can we go to the next one?" He asked eagerly.
"Haan toh 2nd one tha apology. Mujhe aapse subah ki harkat keliye maafi maangni hai. Maine unnecessarily scene create kar diya tha aur aapko tang kiya, ye jaante hue bhi ke aap aaj kitne busy the. Toh isliye agar aapko meri kisi bhi baat ka bura laga ho toh I am very sorry" she apologised sincerely.
"Hey that's completely fine. Aur tumhe sorry feel karne ki zarurat nahi hai, mujhe kisi bhi baat ka bura nahi laga. Actually mai saari tayyariyon me itna ulajh gaya tha ke mai bina baat ke aaj subah chid gaya tha. Aur kahin na kahin sabko hurt bhi kiya. Tumhari wajah se mujhe ye realise hua and that dance, more than the challenge, it was my way of apologising to everyone" he spoke his heart out which was very unusual.
"And thank you" he added after a pause.
"Arey haan. Thank you toh mujhe bhi kehni hai" she remembered.
"Topic no.3 u mean?" He asked.
"Haan right" she said.
"Par tum mujhe thank you kyun bolna chahti ho?" He was confused.
"Woh actually subah aap jab chidke chale gaye the, aapke peeche thoda sa drama hogaya tha. Aur uncle aunty ko sabse maafi maangni padi, toh Simmi upset hogayi. Jaise taise uska mood sahi hogaya tha par phir se aapne dance karne se mana kiya toh Simmi ka mood bhi phir se kharab hogaya. Toh isiliye maine aap ko challenge kiya. Aapke dance ke baad Simmi was so so delighted ke I cannot explain. Mai Simmi ke chehre pe wahi smile wapas laana chahti thi aur aapne isme unknowingly meri madad kar di. Isliye thank you" she replied.
"Tumne ye sab Simmi keliye kiya? Mujhe bhai hoke Simmi ki khushi ka itna khayal nahi aaya, aur tum dost hoke uski khushi me itni zyada khush ho rahi ho?" He was amazed.
"Apni khushi toh har koi chahta hai, par ye koi nahi samajhta ke jo khushi doosron ko khush karke milti hai, us khushi ki baat hi kuch aur hai" she spoke dreamily.
"Tumhare is ada pe, mai fida hogaya" he said in a trance.
"Excuse me?"
"Lagta hai mujhe tum pasand aane lagi ho" he admitted sheepishly.
"Simmi ne mujhe ye kabhi nahi bataya tha ke aap flirt achha karlete ho" she teased.
"Flirt? Simmi aisa kyun kahegi mere bare me?" He was confused.
"Kyunki is waqt aap mere saath flirt kar rahe ho" she stated.
"Maine kab flirt kiya?" He asked.
"Abhi thodi der pehle jab aapne teri ada pe fida wala cheesy sa dialogue kaha aur phir poochne pe you said shayad mujhe tum pasand aane lagi ho. Ye flirting hi toh tha" she mimicked him while replying.
"Maine toh genuinely kaha tha. Maine kabhi kisi se flirt nahi kiya hai" he admitted honestly.
"Simmi ne bataya tha mujhe ke aapka sense of humour bahut achha hai"
she giggled.
"Ab ye sense of humour kahan se tapak pada?" She was confusing him with her remarks.
"Aapki joke sunke yaad aaya aapke sense of humour ke baare me" she explained.
"Kounsa joke?" He was going insane now.
"Yahi ke aapne kabhi kisi se flirt nahi kiya" she laughed louder.
"Lo...gayi bhains paani me" he commented on realising that she has taken his earnest feelings as a joke.
"Ab bhains kahan se agaya?" She asked still laughing.
"Tumhi ne toh kaha ke mera sense of humour achha hai. Bas usi ka namoona dikha raha tha tumhe JOKE karke" he replied making a face.
"Simmi was right. You are very funny" she could not stop laughing.
She seemed to know a lot about him through Simmi. He was curious to know what else she knew about him.
"Simmi ne aur kya bataya hai mere baare me?" He asked eagerly.
"Simmi ne? Usne ye bataya mujhe ke uske bhai bahut rude hain, arrogant hain, reserved hain, short-tempered hain..." Ishita began recalling while counting on her fingers.
"Saaf saaf kaho na Simmi ne meri burayi ki hai" All his enthusiasm turned into annoyance on hearing her.
"Exactly! Maine bhi yahi kaha tha Simmi se ke woh sirf apki burayi kar rahi hai. Phir pata hai usne kya kaha?" Ishita asked making an innocent face.
"Kya?" Raman disinterestedly asked.
"Usne kaha ke bhai me koi achhayi hogi toh karungi na. Jo bura hi hai uski toh burayi hi ki jayegi" Ishita was having fun pulling his legs.
"Simmi ne aisa kaha? Chodunga nahi mai use" he hit the steering wheel and fumed.
Ishita began laughing hysterically.
"Pagalpan ka daura pad gaya kya tumhe? Has kyun rahi ho bina baat ke?" Raman was visibly annoyed by her earlier statement and her laughing at his plight irritated him.
"Look at you! Aap kitna chid gaye ho" she said between her laughs.
"FYI mera sense of humour bhi thoda bahut theek thaak hi hai" she said stifling her laugh.
"Matlab?" He did not get what she said.
"Matlab ye ke mai mazak kar rahi thi. Simmi ne aisa kuch nahi kaha tha. I was just pulling your leg" she confessed.
"Achha hua tumne mujhe bata diya. Warna toh Simmi uski shaadi tak zinda na bachti" he exaggerated.
"Na na na...I am very sure ke agar mai naa bhi batati toh bhi aap Simmi ko kuch na karte" she remarked confidently.
"Tum itne yaqeen ke sath kaise keh sakti ho?" He was amazed at her confidence.
"Kyunki Simmi ne mujhe bataya hai ke aap uski kitni parwaah karte ho. Par ye bhi kaha tha ke aap zahir nahi karte ho is baat ko. Aap rude ho par aapka dil bahut saaf hai aur aap apni achhayi is rough exterior ke peeche chupate ho, aap arrogant ho kyunki aap apni kamzoriyon ko dikhana nahi chahte, aap reserved isliye ho ke aap apnon ki parwaah chup chupke kisi ko zaahir kiye bina karte ho, aap short-tempered ho jab koi aapke apnon ko hurt karta hai" Ishita was being honest now.
"Jhoot keh rahi thi Simmi. Mai aisa nahi hoon" he denied eventhough he knew every word spoken was 100% true.
"Aapki yahi baat ye prove karti hai ke Simmi ne jo kaha hai woh bilkul sach hai. Kyunki is waqt aap apni achhaiyon ko chupane ki koshish kar rahe ho" she caught his lie.
"Mai aisa kyun karunga?" He asked more to himself than her.
"Yahi toh mai jaanna chahti hoon ke aap aisa kyun karte ho" she said.
"Aisa hi hoon mai. Aur mujhe nahi pata ke mai aisa kyun hoon" he admitted.
"Oh ab mai samjhi aapne woh gaana kyun choose kiya tha" she discovered.
"Kounsa gaana?"
"Mai aisa kyun hoon
Mai aisa kyun hoon" she hummed doing weird steps.
He chuckled.
"Yahan se left" Ishita instructed him.
"Ok" said Raman steering to the left.
Raman realised that her destination was somewhere nearby, he wished that this journey would never end.
He was enjoying her company. He was amazed by her thoughts, he was touched by her innocence. Undoubtedly she was beautiful, very very beautiful to be honest. But he was enchanted by her inner-beauty more than her exterior.
That was probably the reason he spoke so much which was completely against his nature.
He did have a great sense of humour, some childish traits but only in the presence of his immediate family and a few countable close friends.
He was surprised at his own behaviour. He did not even want to think of the reason because whatever it was, he just knew that it felt good to be with her and he looked forward to spend more time with her.
"Bas yahin pe rok dijiye" It felt as if she was asking him to put an end to his wandering thoughts then and there.
He gently applied the brake and parked the car.
"Thank you Mr.Bhalla" she said with a smile.
"Mr.Bhalla mat bulaya karo please. I feel like a 60 year old man" he said.
"Your dad you mean!" She raised her eyebrow.
"Matlab?" He asked unsure.
"60 year old man...That's your dad na?" She giggled.
"Oh waise. Par I was nowhere near to that thought" he said and chuckled at her remark.
"I know right. Par jab aapne 60 year old man kaha toh mujhe woh dholakwaliyon ka gaana yaad agaya. 60 baras ki umar hai phir bhi, lagta woh shehzaada" she stated.
"Shehzaada...ewww...That's an exaggeration. Dholakwaliyon ne toh isliye kaha hoga taake papa khush hoke unhe zyada paise de dein" he commented.
"Haan ho sakta hai. Par on a serious note, aapke dad 60 saalwale nahi lagte. He is quite handsome, tall and well-built" she said.
"Tum mere papa pe line maar rahi ho? Agar tumhara aisa koi irada hai toh let me tell you, he is a happily married man. And Maa ko iski bhanak bhi lag gayi toh tumhe zinda gaad dengi" He teased.
"Kuchh bhi" she slapped his arm like it was her habit.
He admired her as she kept laughing imagining the scenario he just scripted for her.
"Papa ke baare me tumhara ye khayal hai, toh papa ke bete ke bare me tumhara kya khayal hai?" He asked dreamily.
She was taken aback by his question.
Her mind was going into deep thoughts but her tiredness overpowered her, a yawn interrupted her thoughts and she decided she was too tired for an intense talk right now.
"Mera khayal ye hai ke raat bahut hogayi hai. Aur mujhe ab aapki gaadi se utar jaana chahye" she tiredly spoke.
"On one condition I will let you go" he said.
"Kya?" She asked.
"Tum ab se mujhe Raman bulaogi. Not Mr.Bhalla please" he requested and commanded at the same time.
"Bas itni si baat? Theek hai ab se mai apko Raman bulaungi, MISTER BHALLA" she added purposely.
"You are very mischievous" he said.
"Aisi hi hoon mai" she winked imitating his earlier response.
He chuckled.
"To phir mai chalun? RAMAN!" she began to get off the car.
"Nahi" he said.
"Kyun koi problem hai?" She asked concerned.
"Problem toh ye hai ke tum jaa rahi ho. Aur pata nahi phir kab milogi" he cheesily replied.
"Phir se flirting" she rolled her eyes.
"Isse pehle ke aap phir se koi cheesy sa dialogue bolo, mai jaa rahi hoon. Itna zyada cheese intake karungi ek hi raat me, toh Simmi ki shadi keliye jo dress khareeda hai, woh fit nahi aayega. So Good night" she said and hopped off the car.
"Arey suno toh" he called opening his door to hop off the car.
Sun Albeli
"Good Night Raman" she said clearly telling him that she wasn't going to wait.
"Good night moo se keh diya, par khud apne sath mere night ki goodness ko le gayi. Pata nahi ab ye raat kaise kategi" he rested his chin above his hands on the car's door and spoke to himself.
Ab Tanha Akeli
Meri Kat-thi Nahi Rathiyaan
"Ab woh ye baat sunti toh kehti 'You are such a flirt Mr.Bhalla'..." he mimicked imagining her.
Jaa Re Harjaayi
"Nahi ab toh Raman kahegi" he smiled at the thought.
"Par kya seriously mai uske sath flirt kar raha hoon?" He asked himself as he began to drive away.
"Agar flirt kar raha hota toh plan karke jhoot bolta. Par mai toh bas wahi keh raha hoon jo dil me araha hai aur jo bhi kaha sab sach hi kaha. Phir ye flirting kaise hua" he defended himself the very next moment.
"Agar flirt nahi kar raha hoon, toh kya mai usse pyar kar raha hoon?
Kya pyar itni jaldi ho sakta hai?
Movies me toh kehte suna hai ke pyar hone keliye ek lamha kaafi hai.
Kya sach me aisa hota hai?
Is it too early to conclude ke I have fallen in love with her. I guess it is!
Hmmm...Toh ab pata kaise chale ke mujhe usse pyar hua hai ya nahi?
Ek kaam karta hoon. Agar kal subah tak uska khayal mere dimag se nahi gaya toh it is decided ke I am in love with her.
Kal subah toh bahut jaldi ho jayega.
Kam se kam 24 ghante ki validity toh honi chahye na.
Agar 24 ghante bhi woh mere zehen me na tik paayi toh lifetime keliye thodi tik payegi.
Haan toh final...24 ghante!
Ab se 24 ghante tak agar mai uski baatein, uski yaadein aur uska chehra apne dil, dimag aur nazar se nahi nikaal paaya toh mai ye maan loonga ke mujhe usse pyar hogaya hai.
So your time starts now!
Pehle dekh toh loon ke time hua kya hai?
1 bajne wale hain. Chalo theek hai toh kal rath 1 baje mai apna final verdict doonga." He himself was the plaintiff, defendant and the judge in the court of his self-analysis.
As he reached home and hit the bed, he assumed he would immediately fall asleep for he had worn out himself since morning in looking after the function.
But his tiredness seemed to give up in front of the fresh memories her thoughts brought to him.
---------To be continued--------
What do you think will be Raman's verdict?
He has clearly won the dance challenge. Will he be able to win her heart?
Who will be the next one to say "Tu Meri Gal Maan Jaa"?
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