Chapter 29: Moonlight Dinner
"Amma!" Geet screamed suddenly, startling everyone in the room.
"What happened?" she heard everyone panic in unison.
"Pasikkuthu (I'm hungry)," she whined.
"Che (ugh!) was that all? Ennamo ethonnu bayanthe poiten (I feared something else)," Anu said in mock anger.
"Ma, stop acting like this is not ennamo etho (something else) mujhe bhook lagi hai and that is very important right now," she said pouting like a little child.
Everyone chuckled at her cute posture. "Okay, chalo khaana lagvati hoon," Anu said heading towards the kitchen.
"Ma, can we have nila choru**?" she asked eagerly.
"Yes Radha it's been a long time," Arvind chimed in.
"Ya!" everyone pitched in excitedly except Maan who was confused about what they were talking.
"Chalo teekhai, you guys go up, I'll get everything there."
Everyone headed upstairs but Maan stood rooted to his spot, not knowing what to do. Geet hopped to the stairs and looked back to find Maan still standing. "Maan chaliye na," she said gesturing him to come.
"Magar kahan?"
"Oh aapko nahi malum na, ayiye toh sahi you'll like it," she said. Maan simply followed her as she led the way to upstairs terrace.
Since it was full moon day, the silvery moon rays had beautifully illuminated the terrace, giving it a divine atmosphere. Geet ran across the empty terrace, squealing in glee. She opened her arms wide and spun around, absorbing the serene ambience. Gowtam brought what seemed like an old cot made of close-knit strings, commonly found in dhabas, which was placed near the water tank. He laid it right in the center of the terrace while Arvind spread a big bed sheet below it. Right then, Anu walked in with a huge container in her hand.
"Come on Geet and Arjun," she said to them, as they were busy exploring something on the other side of the terrace. "Maan aaja beta," she said smiling lovingly.
Everyone sat in a close-knit circle with Anuradha in the middle. Geet patted the ground beside her, gesturing Maan to sit beside her on the floor. Anuradha picked up a scoop of the rice from the bowl and gave it to Gowtam. He took it willingly in his hand before eating it. Next she brought a scoop towards Arvind who followed a similar procedure.
"Vah tumhara haat ka jadoo kuch aur hi hai," Gowtam said gulping down the remanants. "Kyun Arvi?" he nudged Arvind beside him. but Arvind was busy eating his bit that he failed to respond. Gowtam nudged him once again, except this time a little harder causing him to wince in pain.
"Ouch!" Arvind said running his chest.
"Arvi, I understand you get lost in your wife's food but atleast compliment toh dedo us bechari ko," Gowtam teased.
"Kya compliment doon yaar? Eating that food has made me speechless," he said seriously. Gowtam and Anuradha eyed him curiously for he would never easily compliment her. "I mean the food has literally tied my tongue that I can't even open my mouth. Radha tumne namak ke jagah fevicol nahi dali nah?" he said looking aghast.
"Krishna," he heard her wife say in a tone that meant any further argument could result in fatal consequences.
"Alright, alright, I was just kidding my dear patniji," he smiled cheekily before pulling her arm and kissing her left palm softly.
"Haye, haye," Geet, Arjun, and Gowtam said in unison causing Anu to turn scarlet while Arvind grinned sheepishly.
"Krishna, kuch toh sharam karo!" Anu said smacking his arms lightly.
"Oh ho ma, voh kitna romantic tha," Geet said dreamily.
"Eh, podi (go)" Anu said before scooping some more rice and feeding Arjun and Geet. When it was Maan's turn he seemed to hesitate and extended his hands. "Kyun Maan mere haathon se khana accha nahi lagta?" she asked.
"Nahi ma, main kaise," he paused for his words failed him.
"Uff ho Maan, stop being such a drama king," Geet said slapping her hand on her forehead.
"Oi chupkar!" Anu said. "Nobody will say anything against mera baccha."
"Aama, aama, appadiye paal vadiyum mugam (yes, yes, he is such an innocent guy)," she said rolling her eyes.
"Nee chumma irudi (you keep quiet), Anu said feeding Maan.
Maan was deeply touched by her gesture and a lone tear escaped from the corner of his eye. "Thanks ma," he said, his voice becoming shaky. Anuradha brought her saree pallu and wiped the tear off his face and nodded her head, gesturing him not to cry. Everybody missed the little moment, as they were busy chatting, eating, and having fun.
After the dinner Anuradha went to clear up everything while the others lazily lay on the floor. Arjun, Arvind, and Gowtam lay on one side while Maan and Geet on the other.
"Aapko pata hai its been such a long time since I star-gazed," she said airily.
"Hmm," he said looking up.
"Back in Bombay, atleast once in a month we used to do this. Have a nice dinner, chat for a while, and then share stories. But main fun was star gazing," she said, her eyes suddenly sparkling, "Voh dekho Orion belt!"
"Maan looked sideways wondering what she was talking about.
"Kahan?" Arvind asked. Geet pointed in a direction and all other strained their eyes to see it.
"Oh I see it," Arjun pitched in and few minutes later the atmosphere was filled with Aahs as everyone found what she was pointing to.
"Geet what are you talking about?" Maan asked.
"It's a star pattern Maan; a set of three stars that looks like a belt of the constellation, Orion," she said once again pointing in a direction.
"But I don't see it," Maan whined.
She sat up and pulled Maan closer to her, his cheeks almost touching hers. "Voh dekhiye, one two three," she said pointing to three particular stars. "Do you see it now?" she asked turning her head slightly. That's when she felt his nearness, his cheeks almost rubbing into hers, and his hot breath causing her to sharply inhale. He tilted his face around, teasing her and causing tingling sensation all throughout her body. In the process of bringing his arm up to point in the direction she was pointing to, he unknowingly brushed his arm near her waist, sending electric jolts through her spine. She immediately closed her eyes tightly while her stomach did a few flips as a result of his touch. It was a new kind of feeling yet she couldn't get enough of it. She was lost in that moment when she felt him shaking her.
"Jaanu, why have you closed your eyes? Is your shoulder hurting?" he asked peering over her.
"Huh?" she said still dazed. "Nahi, I am fine," she said moving away from him a little.
"Geet, don't lie to me. If its hurting let me know," he said seriously.
Geet was about to deny when Arjun brought his guitar from downstairs. "Kyun doston, kuch gaana shaana ho jaye?" he smiled.
"Vah kya baat hai, aaja mera entertainment package," Gowtam joked.
Everyone gathered around in a circle and sat hugging their knees while Arjun started a familiar humming.
Hmm...
Mere saamne waali khidki mein
Ek chaand ka tukda rehta hai
He sang and started to point at Geet. She proudly pulled her imaginary collar up but even before she could bask in his praise he gestured a no towards her, saying she was not the 'chaand ka tukda'. Geet pouted at his denial and looked away in a huff.
Afsos ye hai ke vo hamse
Kuchh ukhda ukhda rehta hai
Arjun felt bad for teasing her and gave his guitar to Arvind to continue and walked towards Geet.
Mere saamne waali khidki mein
Ek chaand ka tukda rehta hai
He sat down before her and cupped her hands while singing.
Just as he was finishing with the first bit of the song, Anuradha walked in. Arvind gestured him to stop, gave the guitar back to Arjun and ran towards Anuradha and began singing.
Bahaaron phool barsao
mera mehaboob aaya hai
Mera Mehboob Aaya Hai
Hawaaon Raagini Gaao
Mera Mehboob Aaya Hai
Mera Mehboob Aaya Hai
He bent down and as she walked and acted as if he was putting flowers in the path she walks. Anuradha shook her head and smacked his shoulder lightly, asking him to behave. Everyone laughed, enjoying the little act put up by Arvind for his beloved wife.
Geet's eyes twinkled in joy seeing her father's love for her mother and wondered would she ever be blessed with such a wonderful partner who would love her, care for her, and share her joys and sorrows equally. After a long time, today, everyone was enjoying the same old days of the past in Bombay. Suddenly an idea popped in her brain and she rushed to Gowtam and whispered something in his ears.
"Ek minute, ek minute," Gowtam said, asking Arjun to pause for a bit. "Humari pyaari Geetu rani ki agya hai ki aaj humari lovebirds, Anu aur Arvi ki prem kahani aaj hum sabko kahen," he said winking at Geet.
Everybody except Arvind and Anu clapped and Arjun blew a loud whistle, encouraging them to tell.
"Gowtam Anna, yeh kya baat hai," Anu asked embarrassed.
"Hai, hai Anu ma, kyun sharam avein hain?" Arjun teased. "Hume bhi jaan-na hai ki what's the secret behind your neverending love story, so that we could get good tips. Kyun Uncle?" he said winking at Arvind.
"Haan bhai, kyun nahi. Magar ek baat hai, humari prem kahani bahut alag hai ki, trying to follow it na mishkil hi nahi, na mumkin hai," Arvind said proudly.
"Vaah vaah!" Maan said clapping his hands.
"Ahem," Arvind said clearing his throat. Arjun extended his hands as though holding a microphone for Arvind to begin his story. "Yeh hai meri sapno ki rani, magar iska dil jeetna nahi hai aasani. Aap logon ko pata hai yeh Krishna kya nahi kiya is Radha ko apnane ke liye, uff!" he said wiping away an imaginary sweat.
"Haan, haan, jo bhi tumne kiya voh sab kitna filmy tha!" Anu said rolling her eyes.
"Acchaji? Filmy nahi hote toh aap aaj mere saat nahi hote," Arvind teased.
"Oh please, tum hi batao Maan, wouldn't it irritate you if random people come and announce Krishna loves you when you have no clue who that Krishna is," Anu asked.
"Hello ma, it shows that Pappa wasn't afraid to announce to the whole world that he loves you," Geet defended even before Maan could answer.
"Thank you beta," Arvind smiled.
"Oi loosu ponne (mad girl), if he wasn't afraid he should have told me first not to every single other person other than me," Anu said shaking her head.
"Kya?" everyone asked surprised.
"Haan, this dear patiji told every single person in the college that he loves me except me. First time I walked into college, some random person would come and ask me, 'Aap Radha hai?' and when I said yes, they would announce, 'Krishna loves you.' First I was surprised but brushed it off thinking it was some senior prank on me. But soon every single time someone randomly would come up to me and announce 'Krishna loves you.' I had no clue who Krishna was but I definitely wanted to strangle him for irritating me so much!" she said with annoyance. "I finally started ignoring it, but I really wanted to know who Krishna was and why he was announcing it to the whole world instead of coming to me first."
"Hold it. Meri point of view se bhi story honi chahiye," Arvind declared. All heads turned towards Arvind. "So where were we? Haan, the Krishna loves Radha part. But you guys have to know where and how it all started. And of course like all love stories it was love at first sight," Arvind said dreamily. "It was Fresher's day and my dear Radha was to give a veena performance. She wore a cute red and gold half-saree, her long hair adorned with jasmine. She gracefully walked to the stage with her veena. At that second I decided she would be my wife. Socho, I am so handsome abhi bhi aur back then I was the college sweetheart. Sab ladkiyan mujhpe marte the," Arvind said haughtily.
"Ahem," Gowtam and Anu coughed before laughing.
Arvind knotted his eyebrows, "Oye, tum log kyun has rahe ho? Gowtam, you cannot deny that fact."
"Of course Arvi, the lover boy of Loyola Law School," Gowtam said. "Kitni ladkiyan, uff! I had a hard time managing those girls. Each week one girl and those stupid girls would leave something or the other in his room and I had to do clean up behind them," he said, his eyes glinting mischief.
Anu who was enjoying everything until now, suddenly was shocked to hear 'the many ladies part.' "Kya?" she asked, almost shouting. "A girl every week?" she sounded hurt. "Krishna, yeh kya mazak hai?" she said, angrily turning away.
Arvind hit his forehead, thinking, "main kahaan phas gaya!" He looked angrily at Gowtam for letting unnecessary details slip. "Arre Radha, he is just trying to joke. Haina Gowti?" Arvind said clenching his teeth.
"Nahi toh," Gowtam said stifling a laugh.
"Krishna answer me," Anu said sternly.
"Radha, trust me, I mean I was known as lover boy magar you were the only one. I shapat," he said pinching his throat.
Anu hurriedly got up but Arvind caught her just in time. "Gopiyan taare hain, chaand hai Radha, phir kyun hai usko biswaas aadha?" he sang, cupping her face. But Anu still didn't look convinced. Seeing the change in atmosphere, Gowtam realized what had started as fun, was turning into something serious. Arvind held his ears, asking for a sorry while Gowtam followed him.
"Arre Anu, I was just kidding. That man standing it front of you loved only you," Gowtam said solemnly. "Use maaf kardena," Gowtam pleaded.
"Ukkum (Whatever), Anna, just for you I am leaving him," she said looking grim.
"Thank you!" Arvind said excitedly before kissing Anu's cheeks, making her go red.
"Awww," everyone said looking at the pair.
"Chalo romance shomance phir keejiyega, hume story sun-na hai," Geet interrupted.
"Phir kya hua Ma?" Maan asked with interest.
"Okay wait, wait, the story doesn't seem to be flowing. Ab main aap logon ko flashback mein leke jaa raha hoon.
okay aap logon meri dhamki yaad haina😆 (long comments 😃)
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
