“Mujhe pyaar ho gaya hai Monu bro…” Sid said, dreamily. “I’m in love.”
“What?”
“Sanjana se..”
“WHAT???” Monami was shocked.
“Wahi hai meri tattoo waali.” Sid recalled finally seeing her tattoo.
Monami feared that she would pass out. First of all, the mere notion of Sid and Sanjana together was hard to digest. Secondly, Khadoos Shergill was going to murder her. She didn’t want to be thrown of the academy and Sid staying in Parakram meant that Karan would never warm upto her. She wanted his approval and his respect. Sid being here was a problem. A big problem.
“Sid, tune promise kiya tha tu chala jayega!” Monami said.
“Par mujhe pyaar ho gaya hai.” Sid said. “Monu, this is not fair yaar! Apne bro ki love story ki villain ban rahi hai tu.”
“Tu meri story ka woh musibat ban raha hai ko heroine ko villain ke changul mein fasa deta hai!” Monami said. “Ab woh Khadoos Shergill mujhe nahi choregi. Sid you have no idea tere yaha hone se meri problems kitni badh jayegi! Mujhe bas shanti se apni training finish karni hai.”
“Yaar Monu tune nahi dekha how we were vibing! Sanjana ki smile, uski hasi… Monu yaar please! Tujhe Gappu ki kasam.”
Monami had no idea what he was talking about. She had never seen Sanjana smile, let alone laugh. She had only seen Sanjana almost breaking his bones. He had no chance with her, but now that he had brought Gappu into the equation, she had no choice but to say yes. “Fine. Tu yaha reh sakta hai.” Monami said sadly, fearing the volcano that was about to erupt.
“Arrey Monu meri jaan…” He hugged her.
***
Monami found the one person who could save her from this mess. Faizi was sitting in the cafeteria and eating samosas. Luckily khadoos Shergill was nowhere to be seen around him. Monami went and sat with him. Faizi offered her some of his samosas but she said no.
“Nariyal agar gussa ho jaye toh use manate kaise hai?” Monami asked.
Faizi smiled. “Kyu gussa hai woh?”
“Sid ki wajah se. Aur ab jo hone wala hai uski wajah se toh shayad mera murder hi kar dega.” Monami said. “Please batao na main use kaise manau? Use kuch pasand hai jo main use as a gift de saku?”
“Bhai sahab ko gifts pasand nahi.” Faizi said. “Use expensive, shiny objects se sakt nafrat hai.”
Monami bit her nail. It was a useless plan anyways. She wasn’t allowed to leave the academy to go shopping for him. Then what? “Flowers?”
“Flowers?” Faizi laughed. “I don’t think use life mein kisi ne flowers diye honge.”
“Hand drawn sorry card or maybe embroidered pillow case..?” Monami had no idea what she was saying. She was terrible at drawing and at embroidery.
Faizi burst out laughing. This girl was really cute. She would make an amazing pair with Karan if she weren’t already engaged. They had chemistry. She could get him all riled up.
“Karan ko khaane mein kya pasand hai?” Monami asked.
“Biryani.”
“Isse simple koi dish?” She had no idea how to make biryani. In fact, she could barely cook. “Meethe mein kya pasand hai? Ya phir meetha hi nahi pasand khadoos Shergill ko?”
“Sahi guess ki. Khadoos Shergill ko meethe mein kuch khaas dilchaspi nahi hai. Par cake kabhi kabhi khaa leta hai.”
Monami finally smiled. She could bake a cake. “Kaunse flavour ka cake?”
“I don’t know… chocolate?” Faizi shrugged.
So it was decided then. Monami was going to bake him a cake. She had baked a cake for her father on his last birthday. To be honest, it didn’t really taste good and it was a diabetic cake, and knowing khadoos Shergill, he would definitely criticise her cooking. She needed a backup plan in cake her cake plan went awry. Maybe she could bring him flowers. But what if he doesn’t like flowers?
“Kya soch rahi ho?” Faizi asked. “Cake banana nahi aata?”
Monami shook her head. “Ek baat banaya tha bas. Cake kam, biscuit zyada lag raha tha.”
Faizi smiled. “Dilbaghji se help le sakti ho.”
Monami’s smile returned hearing that. Dilbaghji was an amazing cook and he would definitely help her. “Thank you so, so much!”
Monami ran to the kitchen and asked Dilbaghji to teach her to bake a cake.
