Antiquated & Naïve’
“I CANNOT even believe you made me do that” Viveka went offon her mother
“Kya bigad gaya tumhara?” Anubha was quietly tidying the pooja spot, stacking silver trays and, and pushing flower petals out of the wayso people don’t step on it
“Are you SERIOUS Ma? Itne saare log hai yaha…. Now theyaall know I am not married and am begging the divine powers to send me someone ”Viveka was almost tearful
“Aisa NAHI hai, Papa ne kaha na tum PhD ke admission ki pooja kar rahi ho?”
“He said that to FA… NOT on a microphone (she did a hand gesture) he basically just whispered” she flung a duster” "I shudnt have been sitting down praying for 4 hours with Harsha" "sab log pagal nahi hain Ma... I am wearing a freaking garland"
“What are u doing?”
“I am cringing” she rubbed her arms and shuddered
“Duniya mein tum akeli nahi ho jiski abhi shaadi nahi hui”
“OMG! Ma… you are not even getting this! But not every single woman is gawked at by 50 strangers as she begs Mata Rani”
“Its no big deal, did you know 1990 there was a system jab ladkiyan studio mein jaakar photo lekar marriage bureau mein bhejti thi”
“BARF…”
“Watch your tongue”
“I am sorry” Viveka began helping her mother put stuff away“Ma I am just thinking what these people must be thinking about me”
“Tum Parashars ko sochkar…”
“WHO is Parashar?” she asked pausing
“Who jo lady first row mein baithi then… orange chiffon mein”
“who is she?” Viveka was always “out” mentally “I don’t know ”she bend down to collect grains of rice from the white, now crumpled sheets and caught her glasses before it slid down her nose
“Never mind… SEE…. SEE… Nobody knows u u know nobody… so?”
“I KNOW the 7 ladies from Bua’s weekly kitty, they give me clothes for my charity… now they all know I am despo for a husband” “I think you guys low key are trying to sell me in the marriage marketplace” she twistedthe knife
“Aisa nahi hai betaaa” Anubha stood up when Viveka did…unable to get anywhere with her
And went to hug her
“getting pity from you right now is even more pathetic ma ”viveka sniffled
“Bhaad mein jaayen log”
“I am so upset right now” she let her Ma hug her
“Uff” she moaned
“Aisi koi baat nahi hui hai”
“It makes me feel better OK?” she pulled away and took a bunch of brass trays and bowls inside
The lawn was artificially cooled by giant coolers blasting cold air
Akash walked up in the opposite direction, teri favorite strawberry thandai hai beta… non alcoholic”
“I am so mad at you both” she hissed
“Bua apne log hain beta” he tapped her cheek and was shocked when it was moist
“Kya hua?”
“You just paraded me in front of all of ultra rich Delhi”
Anu was also bringing stuff back in she eye signaled Akash to be quiet
“I am sorry” Akash said quietly
“SEE… U apologized Ma is so adamant”
“main baat karta hoon”
Bua asked the pandit to offer her a rich fat floral garland at the end of the pooja
Before Bua could drape it around her neck she stiffly pulled it out
Bua ordered her to hold it in her hand
Harsha was cool as a cucumber
Viveka rarely lost her temper
She usually was not even present in the NOW to fully register stuff going on around her
Making her a centerpiece was a bad idea
She avoided crowds back inside, and did not go to the buffet area to get food
Akash brought her food
Satyen watched that and joined Akash as he walked back to Viveka in the library
Kids and teens were not allowed to eat there, Viveka always had special concession
“Hamey laga aapse mulaqat nahi ho paayegi”
“Kyon?” Akash was walking on pins
“I only see you here, aap to aate nahi ghar”
“Mrs to aayin… Anu said she came”
“Arey main than a us din Mathur Sahab… Viveka power cord bhool gayi”
“Arey haan” Akash was embarrassed
His kids were driving him crazy, Diya wanting to work in Galleria, was just wearing him down like a termite, Naina was absolutely impudent, and now his favorite child was sulking
“Beti ki khaatir”
“Umm.. haan… uski tabiyat…”
“Arey kya hua… yahan… Mr Goyal aaye hain… Medanta mein”
“Arey rey kuch nahi… just tired… 3 ghante neeche bithao tobas… nakhre” Akash was terrified his daughter would incinerate him
He handed her the food
“How are you beta?”
Viveka looked up at him confused and smiled a little and let a “Uff” escape
“Chashma toota to nahi?”
“Oh no” “Its always loose… I cant seem to find a pair that just sits tight…I am going t o have to nail it down”
“Contacts try nahi kiye aapne?”
“I don’t like them… takes too much time” she mumbled eating quietly
“Hahahaha…” he laughed out loud
She looked up at him worried
“You have a sharp sense of humor”
“I was serious”
“Chaliye, hum khaate hain” Akash invited Satyen to leave his daughter alone
Raanav stopped by to tell his Dad something
He was quite pleased to find him standing opposite Viveka
She looked more than gorgeous he thought, with two teekas one in haldi and one red with a grain of rice stuck to the red one…a few marigold and rose petals lingered in her dense lustrous hair
“Pooja to ho gayi, hopefully God will beam someone down soon” Satyen teased
“THIS is what I meant” Viveka was livid, she whispered inaudibly as Satyen turned to pay attention to Raanav. “I am going to get these stupid jokes from strangers” Akash was as afraid as a mouse that just spotted an alley cat.
Raanav caught that
The men spoke and Akash escaped before his daughter could torch him, dragging Satyen with him as a human shield
She went back to her book
“That crazy about getting married huh?” he mocked
She looked up at him startled… how did he know she was pissed?
“Umm.. no.. I am just tired with all the sitting, chanting and smoke” she smiled regaining her equanimity
“And I thought I said you loved it?!” he pushed her buttons generously
“The marital status of Mathur girls must keep you up atnight?” she smiled, pushing her glasses up her bridge
“SMH!” she whispered as she dug into the karhi not even looking up
“If it has to do something with my family… then… yes” he said calmly rocking on the balls of his feet
“Umm… as far as I know the man I am dating is not related to you” she said coolly, waving a karhi pakora at the end of her fork staring far away, trying to channel Abhishek with a smile “He is overseas right now forhis commencement, but will be sure to check when he returns” she mumbled in all seriousness
He was startled by that admission a brief second
“You might need some memory supplement, you slammed into me when you were running away (from the pooja) not wanting to be an object of antiquated customs” he flashed a joyous smile finding yet another thing to provoke her…,at having caught her rebelling against her parents… unsuccessfully
“Glad you noticed but that had nothing to do with your family” she flashed a gorgeous smile, pushing her glasses up her bridge
“I stand corrected” he said unfazed, happy she was unsettled for a brief second
“Naina is somewhere around here… you might want to check on her as to where she is at with Inder” she smiled
She knew Naina would eviscerate him, the mood she was in
“Oh… that’s not necessary… Inder is not in town…”
“A naïve’ attorney is probably an oxymoron… but I might have met the first one” she chuckled
(He was a fool if he assumed Naina and Inder’s physical separation is going to end their canoodling)
Edited by Nisha0604 - 4 years ago
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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