Chapter 1:
"Di! Di, where are you?" Gunjan yelled on top of her voice. Nupur looked up from the file she was reading and shook her head. Everyone in this house was just hell bent on making her life miserable. The moment she tried to work, someone always came to distract her. Nupur knew she wouldn't be able to work, so she closed the file and threw it on the bed. She then got up, and went into the living room.
"What is it Gunjan?" she asked indignantly.
"Di, where were you? Anyway, mom has called you for breakfast." Gunjan said.
Nupur raised an eyebrow at Gunjan. "Breakfast? Gunjan, I think mom and you already know that I'm an early riser, and I've had my breakfast long back."
Gunjan bit her lip. She didn't know how she would complete the impossible task of tricking her sister into coming. "Oh, I forgot about that di. But anyway, mom wanted to talk to you."
"About what?" Nupur asked suspiciously. She knew very well what their 'talking' included.
"Uh," Gunjan hesitated for a moment. "Di, just come on now. Mom said it's urgent." Gunjan caught hold of Nupur's arm and pulled her into the dining room.
Nupur widened her eyes in shock. The dining room was filled with relatives and more relatives. Nupur didn't even recognize half of them. She looked at her mom, who was grinning back at her. "Ma, what's going on?"
"Nupur beta, how are you?" the lady sitting beside Nupur's mom spoke up. "Keerti here was telling me that you do not know how to cook? No worries, after mar'," the fat lady received a solid glare shot back at her and she immediately bit her tongue. "I mean, your mom will definitely teach you."
Nupur gave a faint smile back at the lady, and glared at her mom. "Mom, I asked, what's going on here?"
"Actually beta, they are your relatives from Chandigarh. They just came to meet you." Keerti clarified, smiling back at Nupur.
"Oh, that is so sweet of them. Mom, can I have a word with you in private?" Nupur hissed. Keerti got the signal and instantly got up and followed Nupur into the room.
"What's wrong beta?" Keerti asked.
Nupur had her back faced to her mom. She turned around and looked at her mom. "Mom, now tell me honestly, why are they all here?"
"Fine." Keerti said. "They're here to see you. Namita wanted to get you married to her son."
"Ma, didn't we talk about this earlier?" Nupur asked. "Ma, I do not want to get married. I'll get married whenever I'm ready for it."
"When?" Keerti asked. "You're already twenty-seven Nupur! Who the hell is going to marry you once you turn thirty?"
"Mom, if no one will, then I'm willing to stay single for the rest of my life." Nupur said bluntly. "And besides, I want to make a career first, and then get married."
"Nupur, what's the harm in getting married first?" Keerti tried to reason. "Look, I am only saying this because I care for you."
"Mom, I understand that you care for me, but try and understand my view too. I am not ready to get married to some stranger." Nupur said.
"And if he isn't a stranger?" Keerti asked hopefully.
"I still wouldn't get married." Nupur said.
"Fine, do as you please then." Keerti said.
"Yeah, and I'm going to start with leaving for work. Bye ma." Nupur said, kissing her mom lightly on her cheek. She then left from there.
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"What's troubling you Nupur?" Dia asked Nupur, while Nupur simply stirred her coffee and stared at it. "Did your parents say something?"
Nupur looked up at Dia and nodded. "I don't know what's wrong with them. I don't know why they're acting in such a way. I mean, is marriage the only future for a girl?"
"Nupur, you're just over reacting. Your mom just wants you to settle down and have a family." Dia tried to explain.
"I know that Dia," Nupur started. "But I am not ready to get married to some stranger. She needs to understand my point of view too."
"So, you want to marry the guy of your choice, is that it?" Dia asked her.
Nupur nodded in affirmation.
Dia simply laughed. "Nupur, for that, you need to start noticing guys."
"What do you mean?" Nupur asked.
"When have you ever dated any guy?" Dia asked Nupur.
"Uhm, I don't remember." Nupur replied, looking thoughtful.
"Nupur, see, that's exactly why your mom is concerned. She knows if she waits for you to decide who that guy is; she's going to have to wait for generations together." Dia joked.
"Dia, this isn't funny." Nupur snapped.
"Fine" Dia said. "But seriously Nupur, just think over it." And saying so, Dia simply left from there.
Nupur just stared into her coffee. Maybe Dia was right. She hadn't dated anyone, except for one guy in school. And she knew very well what a disaster it had turned out to be. She definitely wasn't ready to be committed. Not now, not ever.
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"Gunjan, at any cost, I don't want the marriage part to be leaked out to Nupur." Keerti instructed Gunjan. Gunjan nodded like an obedient girl. She was really bad at keeping secrets.
"So what do I tell di then?" Gunjan asked.
"You just tell her that she has a surprise. And ask her to come home soon." Keerti explained.
Gunjan nodded and left from there.
Keerti stood there, a pleased expression on her face. "I know for sure that Nupur would not reject this proposal."
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"What are you talking about Gunjan?" Nupur spoke into the phone.
"Di, it's a surprise. Come home soon." Gunjan said and then hung up.
Nupur just stared at her phone in amazement. For the first time, she was unable to get something out of Gunjan. She tried hard to figure out what the surprise could be, but each time she did, the only topic that entered her head was that of marriage. She was sick and tired of this marriage topic, and was definitely going to blow her top if this surprise included something related to marriage.
Nupur slowly got back to reading her file, and tried hard to concentrate, but each time she did, she kept thinking over whatever Dia said. Was she really incapable of finding someone for herself? Why was it that she never fell in love all these years? What was that one thing that kept stopping her from being in a relationship? All these were the questions that had been going on inside her head, unanswered. She was hoping to find an answer to them sooner or later.
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Nupur impatiently rang the bell, mentally cursing herself for not carrying a set of extra keys along with her. "What's taking them so long?" she muttered under her breath.
The door finally opened, with Gunjan standing at the doorstep grinning at Nupur. Nupur looked at Gunjan with a questioning look, but Gunjan refused to say a word. She simply hugged her sister tightly. "I'm sure you'll love the surprise."
Nupur slowly pulled away from the hug and stared back at Gunjan. "What is the surprise, Gunjan?"
"Di, if I tell you, then it won't remain a surprise." Gunjan said, and walked back into the house. Nupur just sighed and walked inside the house too.
The house was unusually quiet, compared to what it was when she left the house in the morning. Nupur was thankful for one that those annoying relatives had left. She felt excitement take over her as she slowly walked into the living room.
She saw Gunjan sitting on the sofa, reading a book, and her mom was busy in the kitchen. She however, noticed one more lady standing there, her back facing Nupur. She slowly turned around, and Nupur widened her eyes in disbelief.
"Shilpa aunty!" she exclaimed happily and ran to hug her. Shilpa smiled and hugged Nupur back. Nupur excitedly pulled away from the hug and looked at Shilpa. "Aunty, how are you? It's been ten whole years! When did you come back to India? How is uncle? And, where is Mayank?"
"Nupur, first of all, please breathe. Okay, I'll answer your questions one by one." Shilpa said, smiling at Nupur's excited expression. "I am absolutely fine, and so is uncle. Yes, it's been ten whole years. We came back just today, and Mayank is outside, talking on the phone."
"Talking on the phone?" Nupur repeated in disbelief. "Aunty, he's come after ten whole years, and he isn't even interested in meeting his best friend?"
"I know beta, why don't you go and get him?" Shilpa suggested.
"That's exactly what I'm going to do." Nupur giggled and then walked away from there.
Shilpa turned to look at Keerti. "She seems so happy."
Keerti nodded in agreement. "Of course she will be. After all, it's the love of her life we're talking about."
"But Keerti, are you absolutely sure she'll agree?" Shilpa asked, looking doubtful. "I never heard Mayank mention about Nupur in these ten years. What if they don't love each other anymore?"
"Shilpa, you're being crazy. You either love someone forever, or you never did." Keerti said. "And if Nupur didn't love Mayank, why would she be so happy to see you all here?"
Shilpa nodded thoughtfully. "You have a point."
"Shilpa, just relax. Perhaps they need a little time to get back to their usual selves." Keerti said. "We'll tell them about the marriage in the night."
Shilpa nodded in agreement. "I guess you are right."
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Nupur looked around the garden, but was unable to find anyone. She looked annoyed now, and was about to leave, when she felt someone cover her eyes.
"Guess?" the voice challenged.
"Mayank!" Nupur exclaimed happily. She turned around and hugged Mayank tightly. "I missed you so much!"
Mayank smiled and hugged Nupur back. "I missed you too." He slowly pulled away from the hug and looked at Nupur. "Wow, you haven't changed at all."
Nupur laughed and punched him lightly on his shoulder. "Of course I have. I'm more responsible now."
Mayank looked thoughtful. "Maybe".
"But you haven't changed at all." Nupur remarked. "You're still the same Mayank."
"And how would you know that?" Mayank asked in amusement.
"I just know it." Nupur replied. "Don't challenge my intelligence and smartness."
"Yeah, right." Mayank snorted.
"Let's go in?" Nupur suggested. Mayank nodded at that. Nupur caught hold of Mayank by his hand and pulled him into the house.
Shilpa and Keerti saw Mayank and Nupur laughing and enjoying with each other, and exchanged silent smiles to each other.
"So, you both finally met." Keerti said, trying to hide the excitement in her voice.
In response, Mayank and Nupur just looked at each other and smiled.
"Mayank, why don't you freshen up and join us for lunch?" Keerti suggested. "We have a surprise for the two of you."
"Another surprise?" Nupur asked excitedly. "Wow, looks like it's my lucky day today."
Shilpa and Keerti just looked at each other and smiled.
"Mayank, go freshen up." Nupur said. "And come down soon for lunch."
"Your wish is my command, your majesty." Mayank joked, bowing down to Nupur. Nupur as about to punch him on his shoulder, when Mayank ran away from there.
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Nupur, Shilpa, Keerti, Mayank and Gunjan were sitting at the dining table having lunch. Nupur was sitting beside Mayank and occasionally joking around with him. Shilpa and Keerti noticed the comfort they shared with each other and couldn't help but just smile.
Nupur and Mayank were, however, unaware of what was going on in their mothers' minds. They were too busy enjoying with each other that they failed to notice the widening grins on their faces.
"Nupur" Shilpa finally spoke up. Nupur looked back at Shilpa, the smile still intact on her face. "It's time we give you two the surprise."
Keerti looked at Shilpa with a shocked expression. Shilpa just looked at Keerti and nodded her head reassuringly.
"So, like I was saying" Shilpa started. "Keerti and I have decided that'"
"Decided what?" Nupur asked, sounding suspicious.
"We have decided to get the two of you married." Shilpa said it all in one breath.
Nupur widened her eyes in shock, while Mayank choked on the piece of roti he was eating. Nupur handed over a glass of water to him, which Mayank gulped down in a second. They both stared at each other once, and then back at their mothers'.
"What!" they exclaimed in unison. The shock was quite evident in their voices. Nupur looked at Keerti and shook her head. She should have predicted what the surprise was earlier. How on earth could she get married to Mayank? And apparently, the same thoughts were going on in Mayank's head.
Hope you liked it. Please let me know what you think. Criticisms are also appreciated. Thanks a lot.
INDEX
Chapter 1- pg1
Chapter 2- pg5
Chapter 3- pg9
Chapter 4- pg13
Jhanak
Tum Se Tum Tak
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