Chapter Five
The Theory
Naku carried on with the food preparations for tonight's dinner, she wasn't sure about the menu, so just decided to keep the basic dishes for she would ask Ayi Sahib for advice for future reference.
It was getting late and Ayi Sahib had not returned from the Mandir, what was taking her so long thought Naku, as she boiled milk in a pan, I must seek permission from Ayi Sahib for tommorow's fasting, I will have to keep the fast at any cost as she'd never missed a Shivaratri vrat, and she wasn't planning on changing that, regardless of the situation at hand. She added sugar to the hot milk which was now split in two glasses, and further added turmeric in one of them, and made her way to Roop's room. Kaun hai...? Ji....main Roop Tai, Naku, she answered back, while using her shoulder to open the door, as she was given the go ahead to enter. Yeh kya hai....she squealed, as she eyed the white liquid in clear glass between Naku's fingers and thumb. Yeh garama garam dhood hai Tai aap ke liye, aap itni padhai kar rahi thi isiliye maine socha ke aap ko dhood pi kar achi neend ajaygi, as she placed the milk near Roop on her bedside table......yuck dhood aur main, NO way! Before Naku could say anything Baji walked in seeing the door open, and asked Roop what time she needed to go College tomorrow....woh kya hain na...ke kal ko hai Shivaratri.....aur ghar main hum bhaang ghotenge woh bhi bare matke me...isiliye kal ko tu khud chali jaana theek hai, main driver ko boldega....as Baji continued talking like there's no tomorrow, Roop felt the need to but in and correct him...Baji tumne khud hi to kaha ke kal ko Shivaratri hai, to obviously mujhe chuti hogi na, she told him like she was talking to a four year old. Chalo acha hai ek to balaa tali he mumbled under his breath, while he scratched the back of his head and than being caught off guard when Roop questioned him as to what he'd just said, thinking she heard him mock her, and to divert her attention he'd quickly glanced at the milk and asked 'yeh dhood tu pi rahi hai', mocking her further, and 'cause she got offended she replied 'kyun main dhood nahin pi sakti kya..'? 'kya re kise ullu bana rahi hai tu, aye Naku tu iskeliye dhood laye hai ise to dhood ke naam se hi saap soong jaata hai, la ise mere ko de, main ise pi leta hu', he said as he grabbed the glass ready to gulp down. And poor Naku just stood there helplessly between the two not knowing what to say, and silently amused too. Ruk...! said Roop, Naku ne yeh dhood mere liye banaya hai....'haan to....tu peene wali to hai nahin, kahe ko waqt barbaad kar rahi, chal hath', as he moved her hand attempting to drink the milk again, when a furious Roop grabbed the milk and wholed it down in a single gulp, wiping her mouth in victory, and staring back at Baji.
Baji simply flared his nostrils and left in defeat, while mumbling under his breath 'ise kya hogiya hai aaj kal, main jo bhi bolta hai, uska ulta karne ki thaan li hai is ladki ne'. Arre yeh to naraaz hogaya, said Roop, aisa kya ke diya maine, yeh ladka bhi na...Baji ko laga ke tum Dhood nahn piyo gi isiliye, aur tum ne usse galat saabit kar diya, ladko ko haar maan ne ki aadat nahin hain na, khaas kar ke ladkio se, Naku preached to Roop....and Roop just looked on at Naku....and without thinking replied 'aisa hai kya, to phir main dhood Baji ko khud hi dede ti, lekin usne maanga bhi to nahin na as she crossed her arms accross her chest, phat se aake mere dhood ko peene ki koshish kar raha tha, aur mujhe gussa aagaya, to maine pi liya, acha kiya na maine she questioned and looked for encouragement from Naku, hmm, was all Naku could say understanding the situation slightly better than before, she was well aware that only two can play this game, so didn't bother no more, when she turned to leave with the remaining glass of milk in one hand, Naku's eyes laid on a electronic keyboard on a stand by the wall, and was immediately drawn to it, without asking she starting tapping a few keys while she asked Roop joyfully if she played, when Roop replied flatly, yeah, but not on her own accord, she was forced to take lessons but isn't really interested, and she can't even figure out the music notes as they just don't seem to her register in her brain, she told Naku, noticing the dark complexioned girl lost in playing a broken melody with one hand, sounding familiar to her ears, of course it was familiar she thought, it was kal ho na ho. Roop spoke with such excitement that Naku came out of her trance and hit the wrong key when she abruptly stopped, 'tume khel na aata hai...wow..so cute na...tumne kaha se seekha', as she threw question after question towards Naku, Naku had panicked not knowing if she should tell these newfound people anything from her past, and she tried to think of something to leave, when Roop carried on, 'kuch aur khel kar dikhoa na', and Naku replied with a not now kind of look, and told her that she needs to make preparations for the fast tomorrow, and than to Naku's surprise Roop was also interested in this subject to, and asked her about this fast, and was amazed by the intensity and dedication of it, and asked Naku to tell her the story she was referring to of Lord Shiva and the vrat, when Naku stopped her and said that she will tell her tomorrow, as she has to get on with her work at hand. As Naku sighed in relief and quickly left, she heard Roop call her again, 'Naku'...she called...'kya main bhi tumhare saath yeh vrat rakhlu'....not knowing what to say Naku simply said you may, but than this vrat is very hard, as I do not keep the simple version, you won't be able to take the hunger and tiredness, she warned Roop, but Roop seemed ardent, 'lekin tumne to kaha ke yeh vrat rakhne se jo chaho wohi milta hai, to woh cheez itni aasani se to nahin milsakti na, tora bohut to jhel na parega na, to main bhi dekh kar koshish karungi', she finished thinking something privately to herself. Theek hai Roop Tai, main phir aapko kal subha jaga de gi, Suraj charne se pehle tayaar rehna, aur haan Bhagwaan Shiv ko safed cheeze achi lagti hai, to koshish karna ke koi safed rang ke kapre pehene ki, theek hai, aur phir paheli pooja ke baad hum Shiv Ji ke mandir jayenge, aur kal.....aur kal tum mujhe sari kahaniya bataogi, aur....pausing and looking at her keyboard Roop said aur kuch apne baare mein bhi, theek hai, aur sunno Naku, aaj se tum mujhe Roop Tai nahin, sirf Roop bhulaogi, bohut old feel hota hai mujhe jab tum mujhe Tai ke kar bulati ho, she finished in excitement as she watched Naku nod her head in confirmation, and finally leave.
And now into the Lion's den thought Naku, as she made her way into Dutta's room, Saab she called out to him and saw him close his eyes in irritation in reaction to her voice, I don't like coming here either she thought to herself, but you are afterall my master, and I your slave, literally, as she weren't getting paid, she bent down to put his haldi wala dhood down, when she saw him about to single down a neat shot of what seemed like alcohol to her, and as she got closer the thing reeked of alcohol, definately alcohol she confirmed to herself. When she got close enough to him, acting upon her reflexes without thinking she grabbed his glass and slammed it down on the table, dropping some of it, KYA KAR RAHI HAI TU....he shouted, aapko zeher peene se rokh rahi hai she fought back with confidence, she'd understood from the previous encounter that this man wasn't half bad as he made out, it was a front which made people fear him, but that didn't mean he understood emotions, he was definately still a kharoos that couldn't give in when he knows he's wrong, even if he sees that he is wrong, he will try to turn the situation around in whichever angle it made him look right, but Naku knows that right can only be right, if you learnt to accept wrong, otherwise right doesn't get it's rightful place, and that's what she set out to do, while staying here.
Jab tera baap zeher peeta hai, to usse kyun nahin rokhti tum....kyunki mera baap peeke kush rehta hai, aur aap peeke apne gham ko yaad kar rahe hai.....dekh apna baashan kisi aur ko jaa kar parah, teri wajah se pehle se hi mera dimaakh kharaab hai, aur jab mere muh se kuch ulta nikhal gaya to phir se tum yahan se bhaag jao gi, aur is baar main tume dobara bachane nahin aougna, as he stared at her. Aage se main nahin bhaage gi jab tak aap mujhe ijaazat nahin denge yahan se jaane ki kosish nahin karegi, main yehi rahegi, aur apne Baba ke hisse ki har sazaa bhugte gi, with saying this she offered him his haldi wala dhood, as he looked down at it, he looked straight back at her, thinking is she serious. 'Yeh kya hai'...he said knowing what it was.....haldi wala dhood, she replied calmly. Nahin, main nahin piyega, he sulked, and grabbed his remaining Whiskey glass. Saab, agar aap isse pi lenge to aapke ke zakham jaldi bhar jayenge, aur dard bhi hath jayega, she said as she held the glass out to him mid-air. Mere zakham isse bhi bar jayenge, aur dard BHi chalaa jayega, he answered back in a more calmer tone and hinting towards his drink at the same time. And Naku walked closer to him seeing him more calm than before, she smiled slightly and took the drink out of his hand and replaced it with the turmeric milk, and Dutta curiously looked on, thinking does this girl get anything I say to her, she hasn't even been in my house for two full days and she's telling me what to do and he could clearly see it was a hard job refusing anything she said, and so he figured it was no use arguing with the girl....just accept the milk and she'll leave, and than he gave in and said 'theek hain', and waited for Naku to leave impatiently. But Naku didn't budge, 'main pi lunga' he said in reassurance, 'ab tu ja sakti hai', he tried to hint to her without giving away his plan. Nahin Saab, aap mere saamne peelenge to mujhe tasali hogi ke aap ne dhood peeliya, warna mujhe acha nahin lage ga ke aapko meri wajah se chot lagi hai aur aap takleef mein rahenge, she said in the most innocent voice.
As Dutta figured there was no winning he sat down in defeat staring at the glass of milk in his hand, as though it was not milk but poison, and than his attention went back to the Whiskey glass on the table catching his eye behind the milk, looking much more tempting than this yellow stuff, so to lure his attention else where, he questioned Naku as to where she learnt this trait, as he knew it was old women's tales, but he never really believed in the old school remedies, and believed that Doctors' were the only people to could give such prescriptions, while taking his first sip, he looked at Naku, thinking of course she don't know, her mother probably told her it's good for cuts and bruises et cetera, et cetera and she beilieved it, and now she's trying to play the good samaritan by feeding me the same old crap he thought, and than to he surprise Naku started talking.
It's anti-bacterial she started, preventing infection, and also helping the wounds heal at the same time. He was surprised, but than everyone knows turmeric is a natural antiseptic, so she's not dumb he thought to himself taking another sip of the milk unknowingly. Kyun, aisa kya hain isme ke mere saare ghau yeh dhood barde ga, he challenged, thinking to himself I got you now. Curcumin she carried on.....making Dutta cough slightly, leaving Naku concerned, but when she saw him put up his hand as sign that he is okay, she continued.....she knows, she actually knows he thought to himself and listened with interest, much to his surprise. Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric that is responsible for its medical activity and pigmentation, and now finally this is being discovered in multi million dollar labs, when our grandmothers had discovered this with a pestle and mortar since over a millenia she explained while looking on at Dutta with still almost half a glass of milk...half more to go Naku, keep talking she challenged herself, ah so he does have listening skills she noticed as she carried on talking, and now scientists have in actual fact confirmed that Curcumin is indeed anti-immflammitory and that it can reduce soreness and fever, and is even safe for people with dietry concerns as it is well tolerated by bodies with all kinds of conditions, and recent studies have also shown that that Curcumin has the ability to fight cancer, as Curcumin has anti-angiogenic properties, which basically means it slows new blood vessels in tumors and hence preventing their groW*H further. So you see it's quiet miraculous what our elders have left behind for us, as is the fact that you managed to drink it without saying a word she chuckled. As a slightly stunned Dutta looked down at his empty glass he actually smiled to himself, 'waise kaafi samjhdaar hai tu, itni choti si hai, lekin itna bara baashan de diya mere ko aur dhood peene mein bhi majboor kar diya, himmat hai tujh main, isilye main teri kadar karta hu, acha lagta hai ke tu itni hoshiar hai pehli baar dekhne ko mil raha hai, tora alag hai, lekin acha hai...he said impressed with her knowledge. Saab....she said again.....hmm....ab bhi aap isko piyo ge looking at the abandoned Whiskey glass,.......nahin, he said smiling to himself, leja isse...and as he looked at her feeling elated that she'd won, he added...ab to tum khush ho na, and all Naku could do was smile and bend her head to the right slightly in agreement, while she gathered the glasses, but before leaving she asked Saab, khaana laga du? Ayi Sahib aagaye kya, he asked, and when she replied no, he instructed her to only serve the food on her return and than she left.
Ayi Sahib had given Naku permission for the go ahead with the vrat for tomorrow, and Baji mocked Roop for fasting, and didn't believe she could do it. Everybody had gathered at the dining table and an intimidated Naku was bringing out the dishes when she finally plucked up the courage to talk.....Ayi Sahib....woh..er..woh....khayi zaala, beta kya hua, bolo...I knew it thought Dutta she has got a flaw, she can't cook, and she's gonna tell Ayi Sahib that she got the food from outside, as it definately smelt like it, he looked on to watch her confess....woh main....mera matlab hai ke mereko pata nahi tha ke main kya banau isiliye maine...apne marzi ka khaana bana diya..Ayi Sahib she finished as she kept her eyes down playing with her dupatta. Arre itni si baat koi baat nahin kal se hum tume bata denge ke kya kya banana hai, theek hai, abh jadli se khaana paros de she told Naku giving her a reassuring look.
Kya banaya tune Naku, a hungry and impatient Baji questioned while rubbing his hands together getting ready for a feast as he tried to count the pots on the table.....er woh...as she saw everyone's curious faces looking at her she continued....woh maine....Poli...aur....Methi...aur.....er..Chawal...aur....aur interupted Baji, just when Dutta screwed him with his eyes thinking to himself why....why did he have to speak...it's so much better seeing her like this, rather than her always trying to attack me either physically or mentally, and this Baji had to go and ruin it, he was really enjoying seeing Naku quiet, shy and feeble......Baji not noticing Dutta's irritation towards him carried on....aur Aamti...aur Kishombir....aur...aur, aur bhi hai said a much elated Baji not able to control his eagerness....aur Sheera, aur Sheera shouted Baji with his overjoyed voice making everyone jump slightly, and giving them reason to laugh at his foolishness. Saala nautanki kahin ka was all Dutta could think looking at Baji making a clown of himself. Aur Baji continued thinking there was more to come....bus itna hi she replied with a low voice while looking down, Bus, and everyone automatically looked to where the voice was coming from, do chaar sabzia aur bana leti, kya yeh kuch kam nahin parega, said Dutta as he teased Naku sarcastically, but yet made his voice come accross seriously. Naku feeling embarassed said main kal se chaar sabzia aur banaygi Saab, without looking up, and everyone started giggling, except Dutta, who looked at Naku who began serving up the food in everyone's plates, and smirked at himself thinking that her simplicity didn't allow her to understand the joke, but was still amused that she didn't get it. She was embarassed and she was blushing he could tell, but no one noticed this excpet Dutta.
Was he laughing at me thought Naku, she couldn't understand what was so funny but it didn't look like he was laughing with the rest of the crowd, it's like he was having a private joke of his own thought Naku, but no one noticed this except her, she continued to serve the food and she could hear the ooh's and aah's and comments flying accross the table as to how good the food was, but than him, nothing, she thought, as she looked at Dutta, he just ate his food without talking to anyone but observed everyone, including her, occasionally.
Arre Naku re, jab itna khana banay to plate bari laani chahiya na, he told Naku as though he were doing her a favour, kyun jab tum apna muh band kar koage na toh dekhna kaise teri plate ek minute main saaf hojaygi, aur tab tuje doosri plate ki zaroorat nahin paregi, Dutta teased Baji, indirectly telling him to keep his mouth shut, but of course Baji being Baji replied in his signiture tuned voice Bhau...agar main apna muh band karlega, to main khaana kaise khayga, aur phir bechari Naku ka bhi to soch, usne itni mehnat se khaana banaya to agar bekaar gaya....to usse bura lage ga na Bhau, he cleverly replied putting his hand forward like he were demonstrating something in a lecture hall. Saaf saaf yeh kyun nahin kehta ke kisi aur ke khaane se pehle tu sab harap na chahata hai Dutta argued back while putting a spoon full of food in his mouth. Bilkul correct Bhau.....Roop cheered her Bhau on....eeeh...replied Baji getting offended by Roop's comment, tu apne kaam se matlab rakh, aur chupa chap apna khaana ka, he ordered pointing his finger at her...acha, aur jab yehi baat sab tujhe ke rahe hai, aur tum nahin maan rahe, to main kyun maanu....eeh Roop...
Bas karo tum sab, poor Ayi Sahib finally had to intervene, Baji tum chup chap apna khaana khao, she ordered, when Baji had to fit in...haan wohi to main kar raha tha Ayi Sahib aur in logo ne sab mil ke mujhe pointing his finger randomly around the table members..... Baaji Ayi Sahib repeated, and Baji finally got embarassed while everyone sniggered at him, just as was about to carry on with his food he saw Sudarshan flashing his teeth at him, aye kya hai, tu apne poore ke poore daand kyun dikha raha hai, dooh kya ek he said flashing his fist back at him, while everyone was just enjoying the show. BaajI, Ayi Sahib ordered again, theek hai Ayi Sahib main kuch nahin bolega, hass lo, tum sab hass lo, haan Bhau tum bhi, sulked Baji, lo he said flinging his spoon back in his plate, main kuch khayegach nahin, lo moving his plate back agitatingly as got up off the table main kuch nahin khayega......saala sab kuch khakar keh raha hai ke kuch nahin khayega, thought Dutta to himself when he said 'arreh Baji, kam se kam Sheera to khajao', Nahin Bhau usne khaliya Roop butted in understanding the nature of Dutta's remark. Just than Baji came storming back to the table and grabbed the whole serving bowl of Sheera with the serving spoon and said 'nahin maine nahin khaya, aur main tum jaise logo ke liye kyun bhooka maroo, main khaunga poora ka poora khaunga, bhaar mein jao tum sab ke sab...er Ayi Sahib ko chod ke..he quickly fitted in, and than glanced back at Sudarshan, and said khaas kar ke TU', he attacked Suds with his remark before leaving with the oversized bowl and spoon.
Bhooka, Roop said in low voice so that Baji couldn't hear, when everyone continued to laugh at Baji's Childish behaviour, haan haan hass lo, shouted Baji from a distant, abh mein hasoonga jab yeh saara Sheera main akele khayega, and eventually his voice drowned out.
Lo ab rooth gaya na Baji, kya tum log ulta seeda bole bina khaana nahin khaa sakte kya, Dutta tum bhi Baaji ko aaj......Ayi Sahib's voice trailed off, when Dutta like a kid in a classroom got caught, Ayi Sahib main...maine kya kiya, bus Dutta tumne kya kum kaan keeche Baji ke... lekin Ayi Sahib... Dutta argued, when he saw Naku giggling to herself trying to hide her laughter behind Ayi Sahib, tu kyun hass rahi hai... Dutta said looking foolish questioning her in front of everybody, who thought he was making excuses to get out of the current situation, as no one saw her, main, maine kya kiya said Naku, knowing Dutta saw her muffled laughes, but she still played innocent......'Duttaaa' Ayi Sahib was shocked 'tum apni daat se bachne keliye ab Naku ko doshi tehrao ge...', what was happening.......now he was being told off like a kid in front of everyone, that Baji he thought, he landed me in it and left, that too with the Sheera, God does anyone even consider me Thee Dutta Bhau or not, and than he looked at Naku and said 'nahin Ayi Sahib woh...' chalo koi baat nahin chodo yeh sab, subhe jaldi utna hai, Naku, tum bhi jao aur araam karlo.
Naku turned to leave when she heard Dutta call, ek minute he said, ji Saab, mujhe bhi Sheera milega ke nahin, ya phir saara ka saara Baji keliye hi banaya ta, he taunted trying not sound to eager of her cooking, Naku excitedly said nahin, hain na, aur hain, main leke aati hain.....hmm, mere kamre mein pohoncha dena and left with his hands folded behind his back. While a happy Ayi Sahib nodded to Naku for the go ahead to leave for the Kitchen, Naku put out an extra serving of the sweet dish and went to serve it to her Saab.
Thank you for eveyone's comments, I really like the way you guys all individually pick your own scenes and favourite parts in the story to comment on, it gives me more insight on what to ellaborate on for the future parts to come.
Erm I don't know if I will be updating daily but I will definately try, it seems my ff is going to be a bit long, hence the long updates (hope you guys don't mind), as I can fit more in this way.
The font size is on number 2, and 3 just seems way too big, but if the size is problem, you can go to the top of your internet page and click on 'View', and scroll down to 'Zoom', than slide accross and select a higher percentage to make the view larger, hope that solves the problem.
Oh and last but not least, call me stupid lol, but I really can't figure out the pm situation, so some help,😳 and I will add the chapters to the first page eventually, any other advice is more than welcome.
Thank you again for reading, and hope you are enjoying it.
Regards.😉
Cricket
Indian Mythology
