This is a very tiny story based just after a Hanita confession. But I've wanted to write about it for a long time. So here it is!
THE TINKLING BANGLES
"Babes, tune chudiyaan nahi pehni aaj?"
"Are nahi woh subah kuch kaam karte karte bohot chudiyaan tut gayi, toh jo bachi thi woh nikal ke rakh di. Soch rahi thi kal market jaungi tabhi nayi chudiyaan lekar aau."
"Achha, main bhi aati hu phir tere saath kal. Mujhe bhi kuch cheezein kharidni thi market se. Anyways, mujhe college ke liye bohot late ho raha hai, main nikalti hu. Bye! Bye, Hanuman uncle!"
"Bye! Chhori, aaram se jara, teri mother ki chudiyon ke saath apni haddiyan mat tudwa."
Hanuman and Babita both laughed as they waved their daughter goodbye. Their daughter. Even thinking that made him feel warm inside.
Then Babita turned to face him with a shy and teasing smile.
"Waise... Ghar me kuch chudiyaan hai jo itne din toh meri nahi thi, lekin ab mere naam ki hai. Ab bas woh jinke paas hai unhone mujhe dene ki der hai."
"Matlab ke?"
He had understood what she meant, of course he had. There had been so many occasions when he had noticed those bangles in his cupboard and wondered if he would ever get to see them on their rightful owner's wrists. Still, he asked her what she meant, to indulge her, to distract her as he went to fetch them.
"Matlab, aap ko woh chudiyon wale Sartaj ji yaad hai? Unhone kuch chudiya di thi aapko."
Babita moved closer to straighten the collar of his uniform, and continued.
"Ab tak toh woh aapki thi, lekin abhi toh unpe mera haq banta hai na?"
Hanuman caught her hand as it started to move away from him.
"Jee, uss Sartaj ne jis minute woh chudiyaan mhare haath me thama di thi, ussi minute se aapki thi."
He placed the bangles in Babita's hand, and watched with a smile as she put them on.
...
"Babes, new bangles? Yaar, hum dono kal market jaane wale the na. Tu akeli aaj kyu chali gayi?"
"Nahi, ye toh meri hi purani chudiyaan hai. Bas aaj mil gayi."
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