Hello friends...I'm back with an update to this story as well...I know it is moving slower than a snail! But...no justifications this time!
Friday, 16th September, 1994, 2.00 pm
Sameer parked his bike outside Law Garden, where the gang was supposed to meet for a get-together and for Sameer and Naina to officially break the news of their engagement to them.
"Naina! Swati rushed over to her best friend. "Aur Jeejaji! she added to Sameer with a sly smile. "Boliye na Saaliji...uhh bhabhi...! he glanced over at Munna. The names of their relationships were surely going to be confusing in future.
"Congratulations aap dono ko! Swati exclaimed happily as the couple thanked her. "Ring dikha! Swati asked Naina eagerly, as she raised her hand to show her her engagement ring. "Wow...! Ekdum teri choice hai Naina! Jeejaji ko sab pata hai! Swati teased.
"Meri choice to Sameer hai! Naina said with a wink, and added, "vaise bhi mujhe pata hai tum logon ne Sameer ki help ki thi...so thank you tum logon ko bhi!
"Aye Pandat...tere liye bhi aisi hi laa dunga...tu haan to kar de bas..., Munna quipped shyly from behind making Swati blush. Naina and Sameer laughed as they made their way towards the rest of the gang.
As soon as Sameer and Naina approached them, Munna and Pandit broke into a chorus, "waah waah Ramji...jodi kya banayi...bhaiya aur bhabhi ko badhai ho badhai...sab rasmon se badi hai jag mein dil se dil ki sagai! And then everyone erupted in laughter. Sameer pulled his friends into a tight hug while Naina grinned embarrassedly.
"Preeti nahi aayi ab tak? Aaj to uske parlour ki chutti thi na...mujhse to keh rahi thi 2 baje tak aa jayegi, Naina asked Pandit, looking for her sister. "Bhabhi...ab aapke gharwale to aapko pata hi hain...rok liya hoga Taiji ne use...O bai Preeti kahan chali karke! Pandit mimicked animatedly. And the next instant, his spirits soared as he saw Preeti running towards them. She panted as she came over, "sorry...wo Taiji ne rok liya tha...bahana bana ke aayi! Pandit flailed his hands in an "See! I-told-you-somanner, at which everyone laughed.
The gang started having their fill of chaats, Ahemdabadi pizzas and samosas to their heart's content, while discussing the progression of their love lives. Preeti told Pandit about the new proposal that had come for her, and Pandit's face drooped.
"Mar jaunga agar tune kisi aur se shaadi ki toh...bol raha hun...bhaag jayein kya? Pandit asked Preeti. Before she could reply, Sameer interrupted, "pagal hai kya Pandit...bekar me badnaami hogi tum dono ki...humein bhi to sabko manana hi hai na...jo teri problem hai wo meri bhi hai...par pehle hi bhaag jane ki baat kar raha hai tu!
"Bhai tu samajh nahi raha... Naina ke pass to kamse kam padhai ka to bahana tha...Preeti ke piche to haath dhoke hi pade hain sab! Aur upar se papa... ek ke baad ek Gujju ben line mein laga rakhi hain unhone...main pagal ho jaunga..., Pandit uttered in agitiation. Preeti pressed his palm in reassurance. In her eyes, Pandit saw the solemn woman he'd come to know behind the perky girl he'd fallen in love with.
"Uhhu uhhu! Sameer coughed and Preeti-Pandit's eyelock was broken. "Tension na le Preeti! Us rishte ko to hum nipta lenge...ek baar meri setting ho jane de...aur jab main Agarwal khandan ka jamai ban jaunga...to majaal hai koi ghar ke damad ki baat kaatega! Beti ki zindagi ka sawal hai na! he perked his collar and winked at his friends. "Jeeja ji...kathin hai dagar ye panghat ki...par naiyya paar lagaoge aap hi...yeh shart hai is Preeti ki! Preeti recited, back to her cheerful self again.
"Wo sab to theek hai bhai...lekin is ponga ke pitaji ka kya karein? Jaat paat ka itna tanta! Dekh Pandat...agar tere ghar mein bhi aisa kuch kaha na kisi ne to main bata raha hun...wahi pakad ke phere le lunga! Munna rounded on Swati. "Lekin tu bol to sahi pehle ghar pe!
Swati bit her lip. "Jab bhi bolne ki himmat banati hun...usi din papa gusse mein office se ghar aate hain...aur unka gussa dekh ke meri himmat wahi toot jaati hai...fir soch rahi thi...mummy se kahun...lekin kaise kahun..!
"Swati lekin tu bolegi nahi to kya unko sapna aayega kya ki Munna aur tu ek dusre se pyaar karte ho? Naina protested.
"Pata hai yaar! Lekin...bas pata pata nahi kyun keh nahi paa rahi...! she muttered as Munna looked on unhappily at his girlfriend.
"Tujh mein himmat nahi to kya hum bolein tere liye? Naina asked Swati.
Swati smiled at her. "Naina...pehle tu aur Preeti apni kahani to suljha lo...mujhe itni jaldi nahi hai...acting mein set hone mein time lagta hai...abhi to pehle serial me ek side role mila hai...abhi to bahot mehnat karni hai...isliye shayad papa-mummy bhi zyada rishte nahi dekh rahe!
"But ye time hamesha ke liye nahi rahega na...Munna ki halat dekh! Preeti snapped at her. Swati's eyes darted over to Munna's. "Munna! Bharosa rakho! Tumhare alawa kisi aur se shaadi nahi karungi! Promise! Swati reassured him.
The friends sat there for another hour as they contemplated various scenarios to take their respective love stories forward.
Pandit decided to walk Preeti home as they discussed about the various proposals he and Preeti were dealing with and how to escape each of them. Swati took Munna to have ice-cream to cheer him up and to convince him that she wouldn't let him go. Sameer and Naina stayed back for some more time debating on what Sameer should and should not say in front of her Chachaji tomorrow.
"Main jaun? Naina asked meekly. "Nahi! Sameer shook his head and gave her one of his sly grins. "Der ho rahi hai! Naina protested half-heartedly. "Hone do! he leaned on his bike, his eyes focused on her flushed face. "Koi dekh lega! she murmured. "Dekhne do! he replied huskily. And then he started leaning over to her. Naina giggled, "pagal...society ke pass hain hum! Phone karungi main! With this, she ran away before Sameer could protest.
And a few seconds later, she ran back to him, "Kal subah theek 11 baje bola hai chachaji ne...Shyamli Restaurant...! Naina reminded Sameer for the eighteenth time to be precise. "Yaad hai madam...main 10.30 baje hi pahunch jaunga! Sameer exclaimed for the eighteenth time as well as he grinned and waved her good bye in the alley next to her home.
***
Friday, 16th September, 1994, 6.00 pm:
When Naina entered her home that evening, humming, she saw everyone gathered inside. "Lo aa gayi maharani...kahan thi itni der tak...sab ke sab aise hi hain..., Taiji greeted her with bitter words.
"Wo...wo taiji main..., stammered Naina. "Bhabhiji...Naina ne humein phone pe bataya tha ki use late hoga...wo Swati ka kal kuch exam hai aur wo bahot ghabra rahi thi..., Bela covered up for her.
"Ne waah...Bela...tum itni choot deti ho ladkiyon ko...aajkal ki ladkiyaan ghar pe bahane bana ke ladkon ke saath motorcycle pe chipak ke ghumti hain...gulcharre udaati hai parkon mein baith ke! Kya pata iska bhi koi lafda vafda chal raha hoga...! Taiji uttered disparagingly, unaware that she'd identified the reason behind Naina's delay accurately. Naina glanced over in panic at her Chachaji and he gestured her to ignore it.
"Ab wahan khadi khadi mera muh kya dekh rahi hai...tumhari Arjun se kuch baat huyi? Taiji snapped. "B...bhaiya se? Nahi toh...kyun kya hua...wo theek to hain...? Naina was beginning to get alarmed now. Rakesh was as it is in bad temper as usual. "Arey ise kya pata hoga...sirf apni aur apni padhai ki padi rehti hai ise...ye nahi ki dekhe ki bhai time pe ghar aaya ya nahi! he shouted. "Bhai sahab...isme Naina ki kya galti...aap shaant rahiye...please! Chachaji tried to pacify his brother.
Preeti hurtled herself inside, "society ke bhaiya logon ko bhi nahi pata...bol rahe the subah Arjun bhaiya ko practice pe jaate dekha tha...uske baad nahi!
The family seemed to be tense. Naina looked over at Preeti as her father broke into another of his angry rants again, "pata nahi kahan chala gaya hai nikamma! Phone karne mein jaan jaati hai kya iski? Preeti then pulled Naina aside and explained that Arjun bhaiya hadn't come back home after practice since morning. "Kya? The colour on Naina's face drained. "Lekin ab to shaam ke 6 baj gaye hain! she added.
At that moment, Mrs. D'Souza entered. She too seemed to be in a panic mode. "Ji wo Shefali kahan hai...subah ghar se bol ke nikli thi ki cricket ki practice pe jaa rahi hai...hamesha to dopahar tak aa jati hai...please Arjun ko boliye na ki use bole ki wo ghar jaldi aaye...! she said.
"Ne waah...yahan Arjun khud subah se gayab hai...aur ab hum Sefali ka kya batayein...! Taiji started menacingly. "Kya...Arjun nahi aaya matlab...kahan gaya hai wo...aur Shefali kahan hai..., her mother started.
"Ek to ye Arjun subah se ghar nahi aaya...upar se ye Shefali bhi..., Tauji muttered in alarm, his thoughts interrupted by his wife. "O bai...ye dono...dono ke dono ghar nahi aaye...kahin ye dono toh...nai nai..., Bina mumbled.
"Arey kya kehna chahti hain aap bhabhiji...saaf saaf boliye na..., Rakesh yelled. "Devar ji...mere dimag me khayal aaya ki kahin ye Sefali hamare Arjun ko lekar furr to nahi ho gayi? Taiji blurted, without any consideration to Shefali's mother standing right there.
"Ye aap kya keh rahi hain...meri beti aisi nahi hai...aap apne Arjun ki chinta kijiye...kahin usne meri beti ko toh...main police me complaint karungi...meri bachhi gayab hai..., Mrs. D'Souza slammed her and then started sobbing. Bela chachi immediately walked over to Shefali's mother, trying to comfort her, who was white with worry now. She made her sit down and drink water as all of them waited for news of either of their children, thinking whether to approach the police or not.
Another two hours went by. It was almost 8 pm, when Pralay saw Arjun at the door, "Arjun bhaiya...! The entire family stood up and ran towards him, glad that he was safe and sound, but once they'd assured themselves that he was alright, Arjun faced a barrage of questions on his whereabouts since the morning.
Arjun explained that he had got injured after the match in the morning and since he was not in a position to walk, a friend of him had taken him over to his home. The slight limping in Arjun's gait was evident, Naina noticed. "Ek baar phone to kar sakte the ki nahi..., Rakesh started reprimanding him. "Wo papa maine try kiya tha 2-3 baar to phone busy tha...uske baad kuch to line me problem ho gayi aur phone nai lag raha tha...fir wo dost ne dawai de di aur uski wajah se main gehri nind me so gaya aur aadhe ghante pehle hi meri jaag khuli...usi dost ne mujhe abhi ghar choda hai...!Arjun stammered.
"Lekin Arjun yahan hai to Shefali..., Shefali's mother crept into tears again. Arjun's eyes darted over to Mrs. D'Souza and he was silent for a few seconds, before he responded, "Shefali...? Shefali to niche hai...maine abhi dekha...shayad wo aapko hi dhundh rahi hai...!
"Kya...niche? Shefali's mother ran downstairs on hearing this and heaved a sigh of relief seeing her daughter safe and free from any harm. Mrs. D'Souza immediately hugged Shefali and started fussing around her, tears in her eyes, "kahan chali gayi thi tu...tune bola tha tu cricket practice ke baad seedha ghar aayegi...itni der kaise huyi...main Arjun ke ghar pe... It was then that Shefali's mother noticed her drooping gaze, her morose face, and the travel bag in her hand.
"Shefali...kya hua...kuch baat hai...? Her mother quizzed. Shefali unlocked their house without a word and went inside. Her mother hurriedly followed her. Shefali went straight to the photo of Jesus Christ on the wall and broke into tears. "I'm sorry Lord..., and then she turned to her mother, weeping profusely, "I'm sorry mom...main bahot buri hun...
"Shefali...kya hua hai...sab batao mujhe, her mother commanded, unable to take in the suspense any longer. Sobbing, Shefali explained what all had happened since the morning. "Mom...I'm in love with Arjun...he loves me too...main uske bina jee nai sakti...aur ek wo hai ki..., she started, amidst the sobs. This came as a surprise to her mother. Mrs. D'Souza had been genuinely open with her daughter about everything. She had never imagined Shefali would hide the fact that she was in love with someone from her.
"Mom...lekin wo darta hai...uske gharwalon se...wo kabhi mujhe accept nahi karenge...kyunki hum Christians hain...2 saal tak maine intezaar kiya ki wo apne gharwalon ko hamare baare me kuch batayega...koshish karega...lekin fir ek mahine pehle usne mujhse kaha ki wo ab mere bina nahi reh sakta...usne ghar pe agar saaf saaf baat ki toh wo hum dono ko alag kar denge...hamari shaadi kabhi nai hone denge...aur aur...na hi mere pair unke ghar me kabhi padne denge...uski cricket academy me 6 mahine pehle job lag gayi thi...!
"Mom! Usne suggest kiya hum bhaag jaate hain...aur isiliye aaj subah hum dono ne cricket academy jaane ka bahaana banaya...maine aapse bhi jhoot bola mom...phir hum tayyar hokar mandir to gaye lekin wahan Arjun ke kadam dagmaga gaye...wo hamesha ki tarah darr gaya...usne mujhse itna tak kaha ki mujhe Hindu ban jana chahiye, jisse shayad aage chalkar Taiji hamein apna sakein...isse paani mere sar ke upar chala gaya maa...agar koi ladka mujhe shaadi ke pehle mera dharm badalne ko bol raha hai...meri identity mujhse cheen raha hai...to main uske sath kaise rahun...maine to use kabhi nai bola ki tum Christian ban jao taaki meri mom tumhe accept kar lein...kyun hamesha ladkiyaan hi compromise karein...aur main gusse mein use chod ke aa gayi mom, Shefali sobbed.
Shefali's mother pulled her into a warm embrace and comforted her sobbing daughter. Shefali decided that she would break all ties with Arjun from now on, while Arjun who was lying alone in his room, could not keep his tears at bay. He looked at his sprained ankle, which he'd got as he'd been hit by a two-wheeler in his rush to go after Shefali. But she had not spoken to him. He really did love her. And it didn't matter to him whether she was a Christian or a Hindu- he wanted her as it is. Why had he been afraid of his family and of starting a new life with her- their own independent life- full of love and laughter, a life where no one discriminated on the basis of religion! Because he had been a coward! And Shefali deserved a fighter.
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