Part2 continued...
11:00pm, Ahmed guest house.
"Abdul bhai.."
Making a fan with the currency he just won, the winning-hand called out. "Remind me of this..." he teasingly fanned. "...if I happen to say - 'sorry, I can't make it' - for another party."
"Next party..." Abdul grunted, hitting the Ping-Pong ball with vengeance. "I'll keep in mind to ditch you an invitation... you money-f*cker."
"Bang on bro!" Nine other men cheered, seconding Abdul for the title he devised. Food, drinks, DJ... cards, billiards, ping-pong... fun, frolic and folly - the sports lounge of Ahmed guesthouse appeared more like an elite mad club with thirteen sophisticated, swanky, controlled lunatics in it.
Having lost three hands in a row to a particular money-f**ker, Abdul leapt to ping-pong table. He first had to expel the frustration of three losses, before his hands lay on cards again. Going breakeven with two wins and two losses Chetan still hooked to cards - very determined to go head to head with lady luck. "When was the last time you joined us? "Another friend from another table mocked the usually missing-head. "1947... when India became independent or 1962 when we're fighting China?"
"Wow! Someone misses me so much here." The winning-hand flashed a grin at his instigator. "What was it? Two years... when we were drinking and dancing on beaches of Goa?" He verified with Chetan, sitting across him.
"Right. Two years." Chetan agreed referring to his bachelor party in Goa.
"I only missed Abdul's bachelor party." Folding hands at nape, he relaxed in seat watching Chetan shuffle. "I was so looking for boss's bash last year, but then..." he threw head back and winked at Jalal. "A lot of good stuff happened. Isn't it boss?"
Jalal winked back, straightening up with his cue stick after a strike.
"Oh... nothing like being a bachelor again!"
With a shot of vodka in hands, a man staggered to Jalal's side. "Nothing like you bossing your life. You're lucky bro. Divorce is a blessing. It doesn't happen to all. Look at me." The drunk head grumbled. "Imagine one's wife calling every fifteen minutes to tutor you on what to drink, what not to drink, how much to drink and how much not to drink....please..." He irately threw up hand and stumbled. "...someone tell that lady that I manage forty people under me. This is after all, what... whisky."
"Vodka."
Jalal dryly corrected, trying to help his friend stand straight.
"Whatever!"
The boozer stabilized on his own, refusing Jalal's help.
"The point is... you're lucky to have no such woman in life. You Prithvi..." he turned to Jalal's billiards partner. "I warn you... never ever get there. Altars aren't altars- they're slaughterhouses. It's strange that no altar carries this statutory warning - MARRIAGE IS INJURIOUS TO INDEPENDENCE. MARRIAGE KILLS." He made a gesture of throat-cut and the lounge filled with wolf whistles.
"What a line!"
"You slayed it bhai!
"Golimaar line... !"
"Thank you... thank you..." He waved to his audience. "On that note..." he tipped his glass towards Jalal. "Three cheers to your regained freedom." He toasted and frowned. "That sounds familiar. Did I toast you before this?
Pursing lips, Jalal coolly winked. "Yep. Twice!"
Considering this for a moment, the languid friend grinned. "If I were to pick one quality from you..." he glanced down at Jalal's emptied flute. "...it'd be your cool headedness. No matter how many shots go into you or how many digs people take at you, you stay always cool man." He winked and walked away tipsy, leaving an amused Jalal smugly smiling at a similar reference coming from a certain darling dearest.
"I have a question." She had asked, snuggled against his neck - her red fingertips doing lazy caresses on his chest - precisely at the spot she hit him with phone that morning. The minute Jodha realized the shoulder fondling is going the devastating way, she simply turned into Jalal, threw arms around his neck, and silently sought his help to cool her down.
Seeking help from the same man who wreaked havoc?! Cute!
Jalal's lips curved into a fond grin. He kissed her pleading eyes, gyred her into his warm body and began striking her arm in slow, drawled caresses.
Same body... same fingers! Two poles apart effects.
Jodha planted a soft thank you kiss to his jaw before ducking her head into his neck curvature.
"How do you manage to be so cool?" she asked, still with drawing patterns on the hit spot. "Always in full control, always in charge of situation, never losing wits..." she sighed... looking up and stepping back. Folding arms at stomach, she appeared determined to pry the secret out of him. "How do you do that Jalal?"
Curling up his right leg against the door, Jalal brought her hair front - to shoulder traps - so that the long locks covered evidences of his fondling. "That sounded nearly envious, sweetie."
"I've a reason to be," she pouted. "I feel so stupid doing this huffing puffing while you stand me watching... as cool as an ice bucket. It pricks my ego, you know?"
Chuckling, Jalal chucked her under chin. "Big fat ego, eh?" His forearms rested on either of her shoulders.
"You don't have to be always cool buddy." He leaned in imparting his trade secret. "But when your counterpart is hotheaded, you definitely need to play it cool. Because..." he winked. "...two hotheads never get the job done."
"Ahaan!" Jodha drawled, taking in his secret... and scent. "Thanks for the tip buddy. Going forward... between two of us," she gestured to them with index finger. "I'll play the cool head."
"Nah. Never!" Jalal's arm dropped from her right shoulder to hip, drawing her in. "Between two of us..." he imitated her gesture. "You'll always be the hothead."
Making a barrier between their bodies by fixing palms on his chest, she suspiciously demanded. "Why is it so?"
"Because..." his nose ran along her cheek. "...certain huffing puffing, grumpy girl makes very... very sizzling, tempting... jeez!" He swore, scrunching nose. "What is this?" he sniffed the spot where it smelled extremely drugging. He had inhaled this fragrance for first time when she stood half foot away from him. Since then he had been breaking heads, yet couldn't figure out what that familiar-but-not-so-familiar smell is.
"New perfume?"
"Yes. Butter & condensed milk flavor."
Jodha delivered the pun so candidly that Jalal instantly shot back, checking her seriousness in that answer.
"Home made perfume." She pursed lips. "Very easy to prepare. Put butter and condensed milk in a bowl. Leave hand mixer on and... BOOM" she boom-ed with fingers. "Butter perfume all over you."
"Oh, yeah... butter!"
He now recognized the fragrance, but just for additional confirmation, he lightly sucked the sweet spot on her cheek.
Yes! Butter only. He sucked some more. Sweet butter! He testified, after some more sucking. Sweet & soft too...
Sweet... soft... silky...Darn!
He sucked in a large portion of her cheek, unable to get out of the spell. This couldn't be any butter. For the effect it's having on him, it had to be some dangerous butter drug.
"Sweetie..." he whispered against her cheek, thick and rugged. "Where else did you spray this butter perfume?"
Like hell she'd say that?
Jodha's fists bunched his shirt, obviously to nudge him. But her mind was so busy dealing with the spasms his husky sweetie caused, that it totally forgot to send shove-the-man signals to her hands.
"This man should carry a sign board." She helplessly cursed. "Huskiness kills."
Jodha cleared throat, poorly trying not to encourage him with her drugged voice. "If I'm any wise... I wouldn't answer that."
"If you're any wise, Sweetheart," his nose grazed her chin. "You'd just say it... than letting ME find out."
OKAY! She considered this threatening while her unruly hands worked on their way to his nape. "Still..." she lurched head back, boldly daring him.
"Not saying!"
Jalal stared, first at the defiance in her eyes and then at the acceptance in her garlanded arms.
"Smart little minx!" Shaking head, he grinned... ran a hand down her bottom and lifted her up... till the base of her throat leveled with his mouth. Just before his lips lounged down, he whispered her a cheesy message.
"Churn-the-butter game thus begins darling."
One... two... three... four...
Five seconds...were all it took for Jodha to lose. The deft player marked his win when his heavily breathing girl moaned...
Oh...J... pleaseee!!!
"Are you sure you're gonna take that strike tonight?" Prithvi quipped bemused. "Just asking... so that I move on to cards or Ping-Pong. Unfortunately I'm not one of your fangirls to happily ogle that s*xy-bent-forever pose of yours for eternity."
Not falling for that goading, Jalal finished the strike, successfully pocketing one of his two leftover object balls. Knowing that he wouldn't get his chance to strike, as boss had returned to action, Prithvi eased against the table.
"Mushy thoughts, huh?"
Before Jalal responded, Abdul intervened. "Hitting bar for another round, joining me?" He asked Jalal, leaving the law-abiding officer to his no-more-than-government-permitted-alcohol-level policy since Prithvi planned to drive back home.
"No." Jalal refused, aiming for the eighth ball.
"I was given two options - either to stash a barrel of liquor down my throat and stay here. Or to limit it to two shots and drive back home." He positioned cue for final strike.
"I did four. So no more." His right arm lurched, black ball pocketed and he stood up winking at Prithvi.
Game over!
"What?!" Abdul held up hands, mock shocked. "Options...? Here! Here!"
Devilishly grinning, he banged on Jalal's back. "Bro... I'm so up for this. Watching the mighty boss roasted and burned with rules and regulations - Man, its going to be so f**king fun." Evilly rubbing hands, the rouge's incarnate lowered his voice to a wicked whisper. "Tell Jodha that I sooo... love her for this."
"Stick your love up your..."
The cool boss gladly mouthed the location for his friend, throttled him towards bar and moved on to arrange next set of pool, grinning.
"You actually surprised me with that." The amused officer shrugged. "You abiding to gharelu rules and all... somehow you don't make that picture man."
Jalal peeked up from table... a little flushed.
What is it today? A sly smile escaped his lips. Jalal's-throwback-Wednesday?
"Its not about rules," he finished stacking balls and walked to head side of table. "She fears and despises drunk & drive. There is no way I can take off her fears, the least I can do is to not add to it."
"Oh!" Having heard of Jodha's brother's tragic demise, Prithvi nodded in understanding.
At the end of second game, with Jalal winning again and Prithvi vowing to payback in two sets of Tennis, a game the latter mastered, the friends scooted towards bar for non alcoholic beverages.
"I think I have a birthday gift for you." The ACP mystically winked, twirling his white grape spritzer.
"Gift?"
Jalal asked evidently surprised, for, the four of them didn't do gifts... not even for special occasions like weddings. "As in?"
"As in a name!" Prithvi thoughtfully bit on lip, piquing Jalal's curiosity.
"Whose name?"
"Jodha's stalker!" The officer's voice dropped to whisper. "And perhaps her parents' murderer!"
The glass in Jalal's hand slowly rested on bar counter.
"Who's he?"
~~~
Shyamkumar... bank clerk... forgery... arrest... revenge... murder! Jalal's fingers mechanically handled cards but his mind was still processing the information Prithvi shared.
It was ten minutes past twelve. Cake was cut, bar was closed and cards game was at its soaring peak. With all hands on desk, the stakes were running high. There is tension in air on who's going to turn the cards down and call the pile of notes accumulated at center of table. Any other day, Jalal's complete focus would've been on that one last card he needed to claim the stakes but today there was other pressing matter deluging his head.
They've a name now, but a long way before stamping the name - 'convicted'. Also there is another one, the dangerous head, still lurking behind the bushes. No clue on how long before they have a name for that head too!
Finding the card the third hand just dropped totally useless, his fingers laid on the center spread deck and...
Peep... peep! His cell phone beeped and the faint worry line on his forehead inadvertently smoothened. He knew the sender of the text even before he pulled his phone out.
It had to be her!
That evening, before he left for party, she turned off onscreen notifications for 'safety & privacy' purposes and set a special tone for her messages.
Clever little nymph!
He checked the card he picked, injected it after a spade 9, and dropped another one - upside down.
SHOW!
He looked at his mates smirking and welcoming the tirade of outrage.
Abbe...saala... half billion turnover isn't enough? How much more will you loot?
F**k you man... Seriously... I was just one card away!
Lafoot... Did you plan this month employee paychecks on us?
Next time you invite me to this mugging... I'm gonna stick the invitation up your ass buddy!
Enjoying the blast, Jalal swiped his phone expecting a text message, but what was waiting him was a picture message. Specifically...
A collage of cake, candles and kohl filled eyes, her kohl filled eyes - with a subtle caption -
Awaiting you!
Wow!
A message warming him up is something Jalal hadn't experienced before. He stared at her eyes... temporarily ignoring the mayhem around him. He didn't know much about kohls and eyeliners but one thing he knew - Whatever it was, it successfully accomplished its job of highlighting the doe shape to perfection!
His gaze shifted to cake and a known smile crossed his lips.
"Certainly not before 1:00am..." he told her when she had asked when he'd return. "And certainly not before they empty my pockets. There are some serious players waiting for payback there. But if you tell me what's OUR plan for the night," he smirked sheepish, "I will think to make it early."
"Nothing much" she followed him to car. "Cake & candles, DJ & dance!"
"Dance?" he turned back suspicious. "Who's dancing here?"
Obviously not she, as she didn't have her super power anklets!
Jodha poked him in the chest "You..." - and then cheekily whirled her finger in air, rolling her eyes along. "To my tunes!"
Sassy idiot!
He checked the cake again.
Not bad!
For a first time baker that she is, it actually turned out surprisingly well.
He was about to lock his phone and throw a convincing departure excuse to his friends when another message popped up.
Heated argument going on here!
His brows cringed in confusion. A long pause later, he received another picture message.
A picture of a pink rose and a pair of pouting pink lips facing each other!
Need expert opinion. Who is pinker?
Whattt?
"Be right back!" he excused from the group and swiftly stormed out, with three pairs of intrigued eyes tailing him. Once outside, the dark night welcomed him with a thunder and a gush of moist air. Free from scrutiny and noise... he peacefully gauged the picture.
A pink rose lay down on a table; Jodha's chin was propped on her fingers and at level with the lying rose. The picture was taken from left, showing a side profile of pouting, lipstick filled lips nearly kissing the rose.
Ahem? His lips thinned in amusement. Teasing me minx?!
He zoomed in the pic, getting a close view of her lips. Funnily, they reminded him of strawberries he used to find in the US. Yes... fully ripen, delicious berries that brightly shined on outside and were excruciatingly juicy inside...
His finger unconsciously grazed her lower lip.
Only difference is the berries there were red and here... pink!
Verdict will be announced soon... in person.
He texted her back- his dexterous mind helping him with step-by-step process of devouring a strawberry.
Close your mouth on it...
Lick it for a moment...
Slowly bite into the fruit...
Suck all juice...
Munch... and live the experience!
Coming home Sweetie!
~~~
'12:50am'
Dropping the matchbox into kit, Jodha checked her silver strapped watch.
He should be almost home.
She tossed a satisfying glance at the candle lit lounge, dim purple ceiling lights, and flower decorated center table. Planning to take the cake out of fridge right before Jalal arrived, she dialed him, waited till the last ring and dialed him again.
Pursing lips at unanswered calls, the vivacious lady sprinted downstairs - the pleats of baby pink sari falling around her in smooth folds. She knew for sure Jalal was on the way home, for, he had called her after getting into car. When he joked about adding some butter-drug to Vasantha's milk and put her to unconscious sleep, she had told him she found a better alternative i.e sending Vasantha home.
"You sent her home? You're alone now?"
She didn't quite understand the reason but she could bet he sounded almost angry when he should actually be happy for her so 'thoughtful' act.
"Haan... there was some function in her neighbor's home. Her son had called..." she confusedly explained. "But she refused to go. Only after my insistence she left; she'll be back by breakfast time tomorrow. And when am I alone? The security guard is still there na? Why do you sound so miffed?"
Because there is a pervert in town stalking you!
"Not miffed..." Jalal corrected his tone. "Guilty- that I indulged into my fun leaving you alone."
She didn't completely buy in that reason, but there is nothing she could do about it either.
"Don't worry. There's a long night to make it up to me." She thoughtlessly said and bit on tongue.
12:20! Jodha checked the timing of his last call.
30 minutes since he started. Rain slows down driving. She explained herself. He'll be here any minute.
She strolled aimlessly from study to living and back n forth, doted on the cake in fridge for n+1th time, took few more selfies... and when she was out of pastimes, she dialed Jalal again.
She received no response and it got her thinking.
He's driving! That means any call to his phone will be directed to Jaguar's Bluetooth audio. Not an ideal phone-in-silent-mode-and-I-didn't-hear-rings situation too. Then... what's happening?
Resting head back, she closed eyes, focusing on the alternatives to reach out to Jalal.
Call Abdul or Chetan or Prithvi - But she had none of their numbers.
Call guesthouse - She didn't have that number either. Perhaps, the security had but what will she know from guesthouse - that Jalal left for home - which she already knew.
Go in search of Jalal - Stupid idea. He'll strangle her neck for stepping out alone, at night.
Basically there's nothing she could do than- sit and stew!
After what felt like an eternity, she took phone to hands, only to realize her last call was done - just two minutes ago.
Tension and time - born rivals! Always working on opposite sides!
She knew if Jalal had checked his phone, he'd have returned her calls and since he didn't, it meant her next call is also going to be in vain. Nevertheless, her fingers tapped his contact.
Pick up... pick up!
Her right leg bounced while she anxiously waited. Pick up Jalal. I don't need a midnight suspense drama as finishing touch to my exciting day!
Uh hmm! No response yet!
Time- 1:10!
His birthday started one hour ten minutes ago but the birthday cake was still sitting in fridge, the candles were halfway through extinguishing and the girl he was supposed to have exclusive celebration with, was there - seated on a porch step and staring at the distant iron gates - alone, weary and wary!
For the distraught girl, last twenty minutes had been the toughest twenty minutes in times immemorial. She had to invest every ounce of her willpower to not let her berserk mind take a nasty path to a specific night, last October. And it wasn't just the ugly parallels between nights she had to combat against- there were these ugly voices too that cracked her spirits.
She has a frail fate...
Why is it happening to her? Get her horoscope checked
You're ominous to wed... not to bed...
I lost all men who called me Meenu... don't call me that!
During every such ugly run, she firmly held on to strings of optimism, trying her best to kill negativity that nearly succeeded in reducing her to a cowardice.
I'll not stop loving you even if you're ominous...
Jo... my lady luck. You wished me 'good luck' and I survived this semester exams...
Raghu's fate changed after his daughter's birth. She brought him luck...
Raghu... see Jodha's face before going out on any significant work. She's a lucky charm.
Yes... yes! She repeatedly assured herself, wiping tears off her cheeks. I'm not any bad curse. Neither 'Meenu' is a bad omen. It's just an absurd belief. Suppose, I let everyone in this world call me Meenu, will everyone die? No, right?
There were times when people found me lucky, times when relatives found my horoscope great... Yes. She's not ill-fated, not unlucky... not a doom... not a curse...
She repeated the mantra, until her will and wits died a slow death... with every ticking second. A nagging fear viscously seeped into her nerves, poisoning all her vigor and valor - bit by bit. At the end of it, she was left so dazed, distraught and unsettled... that she began doubting herself.
You are no 'bad curse' but - the fact that Gautam died in an accident at night, the fact that your parents died in an accident, again at night... cannot be totally ignored, right?
'Meenu' is certainly not a bad omen but - the fact two men who called you so died and the third one went missing cannot be brushed off, right?
It's not entirely 'bad you' but it could be some bad combination, like - Meenu, a vehicle and midnight drive!
Right - twelve to two midnight should be a bad time for you. It should be the time when your doom stars are in full potency suppressing your lucky charms. Else how come both accidents happen in same time frame?
And now... third...?
NO! NO! NO!
Don't even get there!
Trust your friend, if not your fate. He isn't heartless. He had taken enough from you. He will not take more!
1:13pm
OKAY! I'm a curse!
The despondent girl still sat in that dim lit porch, feeling more doomed than before after the ten plus calls she did in past three minutes. Contrary to the cacophonous tears the sky shed, her mourning was silent... and cold.
But that is to MY men! To the men, directly related to me.
She looked up at the lightening sky, challenging and bargaining. You see there is a condition here. You can take away only people from my family... whom I share a relation with. Not Jalal...
Her eyes twitched at the sudden gust of a pool of tears.
Because... Jalal is not mine! We're no way linked up - he's not my brother or father or fiance or husband. Technically... you can't do any harm to him, right?!
She tried turning HIS game on HIM... but somewhere deeply within, she feared toying with HIM.
OKAY! I give up...
If this is some joke you're pulling on me... here I'm... laugh at me.
If this is some challenge you're playing against me... here I'm... defeated.
If this is some lesson you're teaching me...
To the numbed hands, it took a moment to perceive vibration on her phone.
To the passive ears, it took longer than a moment to hear the ring tone.
And to the clogged eyes, it took many more moments to identify the name of caller.
JALAL!
Her heart leapt, lips curved, eyes shed some more tears and fingers galloped to press answer button... but just in time she slowed down, peeking up again... at the dark, frightening sky.
A similar memory from past deluged her head - memory of an anonymous man calling from her father's phone.
************
Edited by hemakeerti - 8 years ago
Cricket
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Hindi TV Shows
584