Part 18
Mini entered in haveli in Patiala. “Mini, you again here, unannounced. Have you fought again?” asked Babita as soon as she saw her. “Oh mom, please atleast offer me a glass of water.” Replied Mini irritated by the suspicious look Babita gave her. “Mini, tell me. Is everything ok?” Babita asked again as she brought water for Mini. “Everything is ok this time. I had holidays in my college and Neil is also gone to New York for some work so I came here to spend time with you and dad. Now happy? If you still don’t trust me then you can call your son in law and confirm it.” replied Mini sarcastically. “No need to be sarcastic…you wont understand as a parent I have to make sure that you are not committing any mistake.” Said Babita as she asked housemaid to take Mini’s bag into her room.Mini went outside to inform driver to go back as she wont need the car here but he refused saying that Neil had asked him to stay back here only. Mini rolled her eyes thinking about Neil, “That man truly knows how to irritate me. What would I do with this humongous car and chauffeur at my service here where everything is just 4-5 kms away. Such a show off he is.” Mini thought. “Fine, I know no use of arguing with you as your ‘SIR’ must have already threatened to fire you if you didn’t follow his orders…right?” asked Mini in extra sweet voice and with fake smile. “Yes madam.” Replied the driver as he looked at her embarrassed. Mini called house maid to make arrangement for his stay and went inside again.
Mini was fuming with anger and kept talking to herself when Babita brought cold lassi for her, “What do you keep blabbering to yourself. I don’t know how Neil tolerates you.” Said Babita as she gave her a glass of lassi. Mini gasped at her mom. “Its me who tolerate him mom not the other way round. And why suddenly you have changed party? You always support him over me.” Replied Mini as she took the glass from her and started drinking. “Because I know my daughter can be a little jhalli sometimes and he seems more mature to me.” Said Babita. “Mom, just because this lassi is too good I am not going to argue further but you don’t know how cunning he is.” Replied Mini as she emptied the full glass. “Have some shame Mini. This is not the way to talk about your husband.” Babita chided her. “Ya, I know ‘cunning’ doesn’t do justice I would have love to refer him as ‘kamina’ but then you would have thrown me out of your house.” Replied Mini as she started laughing uncontrollably looking how scandalized Babita was. “Mini, besharam, badtameez aise koi baat karta hai?ru tu abhi batati hoon tujhe ” said Babita as she came towards he daughter to hit her. Mini ran in the whole house laughing at her. Finally both were tired and sat down on the sofa. “Oh mom, I missed you so much. I missed this little fights and arguments with you.” Said Mini as she hugged her mom. “We also miss you Mini. Not a day passes when me and you papaji doesn’t talk about you and remember your mischief.” Replied Babita as she hugged her back.
Hanuman Singh return back from his duty early when Babita informed him about Mini’s arrival. Mini ran to him and hugged him and he hugged her back, “Oh my little doll. I missed you so much.” He said. He handed over her a packet which he brought for her and Mini squeaked in delight to see her favourite jalebis and samosas. All three of them enjoyed their evening tea with jalebis and samosas.“Oh God! This is pure bliss.” Said Mini as she bite in the hot samosas. Then she quickly took two more. “Slow it down. Don’t behave like as if you don’t get to eat all this in Delhi.” Babita admonished her for her unladylike manners.“Arre Mom, ye sab khane ka mazaa tabhi hai jab sab sath mein baith kar enjoy Karen but waha kaha ho pata hai ye….ye sab cook se bolkar banwa bhi lo toh akele hi khana hai…koi mazaa hi nahi Naaem bi ko toh diabetes hai so she avoids all this.” replied Mini as she took two jalebis at once. “Why Neil doesn’t like all this?” asked Hanuman. “Dad, koi normal Punjabi banda uska eating habits jaan le na toh suicide karle…he is so sadu I am telling you….sab angrezo wali aadatein…sadde pind jaise koi baat hi nahi.” Replied Mini as she rolled her eyes. “Oye, har banda tere papa jaisa nahi hota….always smiling….ekdum shudh desi banda.” Replied Hanuman Singh with pride as after a long time he was enjoying undivided attention from his daughter. “Correct, There is no one like my papa. You are the best.” Said Mini as she kissed him on the cheeks.
Mini enjoyed a lot with her family and her mom and dad kept pampering her with her favourites dishes and fun family time. Two days passed like this then slowly Mini started missing Neil. She kept checking her phone to see if he sent any message to her. She also called Naeem bi and tried to ask her if Neil told her when he will return but Naeem bi said she doesn’t know anything. Mini called Preet and decided to hang around with her to divert her mind. They went for shopping, movie and food court to eat junk food and ice cream. The both of them came to haveli tired from all day. Mini asked Preet to sleepover with her just like old times. Preet agreed and both the friends spent whole night in gossiping. Preet filled in Mini on the latest gossip about their colony people. “Mini leave all this. Tell me about your life. How does it feel to live in a mansion like a millionaire?” asked Preet dramatically. “As boring as living in a hotel…you know everything always is so perfect….clean….proper….you need anything, call the servants and ….tada!!! your wish is granted.” Replied Mini. “Wow, many people dream to live like that….I mean did you notice the jealous looks on some of our friends faces when we stepped out of your car today…. and you are calling it boring? Come on don’t be so ungrateful for what God has given you” said Preet. “I am not being ungrateful…I am just saying that you know sometimes I feel like everything there is so perfect that the only imperfect thing there is me….and all this does comes with a price.” Replied Mini. “What price?” asked Preet. “The ever so mercurial, unpredictable, outrageously wicked and mean and obnoxiously rude and arrogant NEIL OBEROI.” Replied Mini stressing every syllable. Preet laughed at her, “Oh you mean to say, the ever so handsome, dashing, outrageously sexy and obnoxiously drool worthy Neil Oberoi.” Preet mocked her friend. Both of them laughed. “yaar bas yahi to problem hai…kitna marzi aaye gussa kar lo par usko dekh ke na….aisi taisi hojati hai meri.” Replied Mini as she blushed thinking how she still ogles at him sometimes.
“Achha chhod ye sab bakwaas baatein…kaam ki baat bata. How is your sex life?” asked Preet getting all excited. Mini blushed then laughed, “Very active I must say.” Preet whistled to tease her, “Whoo hoo…give me some details baby.” “Shut up” replied Mini as she blushed profusely remembering their latest bathtub romance. “Come on, at least tell me your experience…how does it feels afterwards?” asked Preet as she nudged her with the elbow. “It feels nice..I mean great…in fact there are times when I feel like it should never end and we remain like that forever….” Mini trailed off as she was lost in her thoughts again. Normally Preet would have teased her a lot on her answer but something in Mini’s voice told her that she didn’t mean it only romantically. “What do you mean Mini?” asked Preet as she put her hand on Mini’s shoulder bringing her out of her thoughts. Mini looked at her and kept thinking for sometime should she share this with Preet but if not with Preet then with whom she can talk about this. Making up her mind she spoke, “Living with Neil is like….I am living with two different persons. First one is Neil in general….so closed…keeps everything bottled up…so tricky to handle…not good in conversations….so f**ked up and second one is Neil during…. physical relations…so expressive….so outgoing…so compassionate…so full of life…so articulate…its almost like I can feel his every emotions while we are close and I think he knows it too that’s why he always chooses sex over communication.But its not a healthy choice. Its like you are having an headache and you keep taking pain killers for it for momentary relief but you are not trying to find out its root cause.” Replied Mini and looked back at Preet to see she even understood anything.
Preet seemed to be in deep thoughts. She broke her silence after sometime, “Mini, I have heard most men are like that. I mean its easy for us women to share everything but its not easy for them and as far as sex is concerned…I don’t think there is anything wrong in it….may be its his way to cope up with things but then we all have our own ways.” Replied Preet. “You are right Preet and I am not judging him or anything but as I said earlier to cure an ailment you have to go to its root cause you cant continue taking medicines to numb your senses towards its pain…and that’s what bothers me….if he doesn’t share his pain with me then there will never be an emotional bonding between us. ”Explained Mini. “Mini, why do you think so much? I mean its been what….not even 6 months to your marriage…whats the hurry?...give him some time to open up. Don’t rush out things and ruin it. I remember you said that you are marrying him not because you love him but he is understanding and you get to fulfill your dream…then what has changed now? Why you are so bothered about having deep emotional connection with him?” asked Preet. “I…wo…I feel…that..I..” Mini struggled to find right words. “OMG! You have fallen in love with him…..right?” Preet guessed the answer. “NO!..no it cant happen…I mean…I cant love him…he doesn’t believe in love Preet….if he ever comes to know then….he will panic….and everything ends....so no I cant love him..no” Replied Mini as she felt restless. Preet looked at her condition and tried to brush off the topic, “Ok, ok Mini relax….let it be…I was just teasing you….lets talk about anything else…yes…you didn’t even tell me anything about your college?” Preet was successful in diverting Mini’s mind but looking at her state she was sure now that her best friend has fallen in love with Neil.
Mini woke up late next day. After the conversation she had with Preet Mini couldn’t sleep till very late. It was fourth day in Patiala. First two days passed in chatting with parents. Third day passed with Preet but now what…what will she do today. How she will pass her time to keep her mind occupied. She already started missing Neil. Mini kept checking her phone every now and then to se if there is any message from him. But ever since he left he had neither call her nor messaged her. “I am so stupid. May be he was right. I should have taken up that Goa offer.” Mini wondered as she pouted like a upset child. On the other hand Neil was busy in his work in New York. By now he also started missing Mini but was in denial. “Come on Neil, focus on work…may be it just sex you are missing and not her…and don’t even think of calling or messaging her...remember how much attitude she showed you.” Thought Neil as he controlled his urge to call her. Instead he called Naeem bi, “Hello, How are you? And when you are coming back?” asked Naeem bi. “I am fine. It will take few more days I guess to finalize the deal.” Replied Neil. “Ok, take care. Bye.” Naeem bi wanted to cut the call but Neil asked her to stop, “Stop…Naeem bi..are you fine?” he asked hesitantly. “Really Neil? In all these years you never asked me this question…am I stupid not to understand whom you meant…why don’t you ask directly.” Said Naeem bi as she laughed at him. “Fine! How is she? Any news from her? when she will come back? Does she need anything? I had asked driver to be there and let you know if she needs anything but I know how stubborn she is. She wont tell even if she needs help. Did she call you?” Neil asked in single breath. “Calm down …calm down..itne sare question puchhoge toh main jawab kaise dungi? She is fine. She doesn’t need anything and she will be back on Monday and yes she called me. She was asking about you in the same way you are asking about her to me.” Replied Naeem bi as she smiled on both of them.
“She could have called me instead.” Said Neil. “Yeah, Like you could have also called her.” replied Naeem bi. “I was busy….ok…anyways I have to go now..bye.” Neil hang up the phone. He finally accepted that he was missing her but didn’t know how to tell her. He was never good in articulating his feelings. If he would have been close to her then he would have made sure she knows how he feels in his own way but he never knew how to say it in words. He was afraid he will say something which will hurt her or she would say something with which he will not be comfortable with. So he believed in avoiding such topics. But last time his mechanism failed and also he didn’t like the way she pushed him away from herself. He didn’t know how to behave suddenly and he became defensive. Instead of hearing her out he also shut her out from himself.
Mini was talking to her mom or rather lost in her thoughts while her mom was telling her about all the stories of colony aunties and their daughters. Suddenly Mini felt uncomfortable. She tried to control it but couldn’t and ran to the bathroom to puke. Babita went after her, “What happened? Everything alright? Babita asked as she saw Mini coming out of bathroom. “Don’t know...not feeling well since morning…pehle chakkar aaye and now this vomit…” replied Mini. “Oye ye toh khus khabri hai…mujhe toh yakeen hi nahi ho raha…main abhi tere papa ko phone karti hoon.” Said Babita excitedly. “Mom! Calm down. its nothing like that.” Mini stopped her over excited mom. “How do you know? Ulti, chakkar….sab usi ke symtoms hain… mujhe toh pakka yakeen hai main nani banne wali hoon.”Said Babita as she hugged Mini tightly. “Mom, please aisa kuch nahi hai…ho hi nahi sakta.” Replied Mini. “Tu chup kar aur na pehle pehle ladkiyon ko kuch pata nahi chalta” Babita chided her. “Arre aise kaise nahi pata chalta…aur mujhe yakeen hai aisa kuch nahi hai because…yaha aane se kuch din pehle hi I went to see my gynaec to get my regular shot for birth control. I guess usi se related kuch side effects ho sakte hain.” Revealed Mini. “Haww! Girls of your generations these days. What not they do to avoid getting pregnant.” Said Babita scandalized by Mini’s revelation. “Its called family planning.” Replied Mini a she rolled her eyes at her mom. “To hell with family planning. Waise bhi main tujhe bolne hi wali thi….ki bahut ho gaya ye tumhara college n all ye sab chhod ke tum apni shadi par dhyan do and hume jaldi nana nani banao.” Babita expressed her views. “Spare me the lecture mom. I am too young I am not ready for it…and right now more than your lecture…I need a doctor. So I am going.” Said Mini as she left from there before her mom could give her anymore gyan.
Mini called Naeem bi, “Naeem bi please can you do one thing. Send me the number of my gynaec. I don’t have it saved on my phone. It will be on her card....ya it must be in the bed side drawer.” Said Mini. “What happened Mini, everything alright?” asked Naeem bi as she fetched the card. “Yes, nothing to worry…I was not feeling well so I came to a doctor here and she said she needed some details from my gynaec so that’s why…” replied Mini. She dialed her number and gave it to the doctor in Patiala. Both the docs talked while Mini sat there nervously. Babita’s reaction about pregnancy made her edgy. Mini saw doctor finished their discussion, “Mrs. Oberoi, don’t worry everything is fine. I just took the details of shots she put you on. Seems like you had the minor side effects nothing else.” Said doctor. Mini sighed in relief because right now pregnancy was the last thing she wanted in her already messed up situation. On the other hand Naeem bi informed Neil that Mini is unwell which made Neil, who was already fidgety, more anxious and he couldn’t control anymore as he booked the next flight back to India.
Today was fifth day of Mini in Patiala. She was visibly depressed now as she kept holding her phone in her hands to check if there is any message from Neil every few seconds. She was missing him terribly now. Mini decided to go out with Preet and her friends or else she will go mad sitting here and thinking all day about him. She planned her whole day to keep herself busy. Mini roamed around whole city with her friends but still his memories kept coming back to her. By the end of the day she had already decided that she is going to call him tonight. Mini returned home in the evening with Preet. She stopped in her tracks as she saw Neil’s car parked outside haveli. “Could it be true?..is he really here?” Mini wondered as she felt her heartbeats rising. Preet looked at her and then at car, “What happened Mini? why you stopped? And whose car is that?” asked Preet confusd. “Neil’s…I think…he is..here.” replied Mini as she tried to control her fluttering heart. Mini dropped the shopping bags on the floor and ran inside the haveli while Preet followed her delirious friend. Mini came running and stopped at the door as she saw him…her Neil. He was seated there with her parents and some other relatives, talking to them about random things. She started moving slowly towards him. Neil noticed her and stood up from is chair as his legs unconsciously started moving towards her. Their eyes met. She felt like her heart stopped beating and time came to standstill as nothing else mattered to her anymore at that moment and everything faded around her. And that was the exact moment she realized that she had indeed fallen in love with him. She closed her eyes as to sink in that feeling.
Mini opened her eyes and looked at him. He looked as edgy and needy as her right now. She wanted nothing more than to ran to him and hug him. She moved quickly towards him but then saw her surroundings. Lots of people were there, her friend, her parents, housemaid and some of the relatives also. She stopped in between but before she could react or say Neil covered the remaining distance and hugged her, “Missed you” he whispered in her ears. Once in his arms, she let go of her reservations and hugged him back, “Missed you too” she whispered back. Preet smiled at them while all the oldies looked away embarrassed. After few seconds Hanuman Singh cleared his throat to gain their attention. Mini immediately left him and stood at atleast two feet away from him but he seemed unperturbed by that as he still has his eyes for her only. “Come, lets go back to our home.” Said Neil as he extended his hand for her. Mini looked at him and nodded her head in yes, “I’ll just get my bags.” Replied Mini as she started to move towards her room. “Excuse me, you are not going anywhere.” Said Babita as she stopped Mini. “But mom…”Mini tried to argue but couldn’t as now Hanuman Singh interrupted them, “Your mom is right. You came here for a week how can you go back today. Still two days left.” “Yes but dad since Neil has comeback…” Mini again tried to argue but Hanuman again interrupted her, “Neil se hum baat kar lenge tum uski fikar mat karo…aur waise toh..Neil ko bhi wapas jaane ki kya jarurat hai…weekend hi toh hai…wo bhi yaha ruk sakta hai..infact mazaa ayega..pura parivaar saath mein rahenge.” Hanuman suggested. Neil tried to say no but Hanuman- Babita didn’t listen to him as they requested him again to stay for two days. He looked at Mini who nodded her head in yes so Neil also said yes to them.
to be continued....
precap- phir se nahi pata...aajkal kuch definite soch hi nahi paati ki agle update mein yahi hoga🤣
Edited by Anj_01 - 1 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
706