The Most Unromantic Romance: A FF (Continued)
Part 8:
The door bell of a palatial bungalow rang incessantly. "Kaun hai? OP dekna kaun hain darwaze par!" (Who's it? OP see who's at the door?) came a gruff voice from the other end of the door. The owner of this voice was dressed in a black colored coat and suit. He was portly and comparatively healthy and his width matched his height.
But the door was opened by a person with the very opposite attributes. A very lean, lanky, and weak man who could almost be blown off by a whiff of air opened the door to confront a sight which took his breath away. He found waiting at the doorstep the dirtiest and wettest couple in the whole of Mumbai.
OP had decided in his heart of hearts that he would shoo them off for if he let them in, he would have to prolong his cleaning and dusting schedule by another hour. "Yahan koi anath aalay ko donation nahin milega! Nikalo bahar!" (We don't give donations to orphanages! Get out!)
Khushi and Arnav barged in pushing OP aside telling that they had come to see Mr. Mehta and that they were his students. They immediately went to the man in coat and suit and began, "Sorry, Sir! Our bike met with an accident and we were caught in the rain. That's why we are in this state. We were sent by Prof. Mahajan to give you the invitation to the workshop conducted by our department. We would be very glad if you could give us your valuable time."
The man replied, "JP khush hua. Par aap yeh sab mujko kyon batha rahen hain? Main Mehta Saab nahin hoon aur naahin woh yahan ghar par hain. Toh aapka kya karne ka irada hain?" (JP is very happy to hear all this. But why are you telling me? I'm not Mehta Sir and moreover, he's not at home. So what's you plan?)
Two voices came as one, "Kya? Toh woh sab humne faltu main boldiya?" (What? Did we just speak all this in vain?)
Just then OP intervened telling, "Yaad aaya! Saab ne phone kiya yeh kehkar ki woh kahin fas gaye hain aur woh aaj raath ghar nahin aasakthe. Unhone yeh bhi kaha ki kuch students aayenge aur unke rehna ka intezam karne ke liye. Woh kal subah aakar milenge unseh. Toh woh aap hain?" (Remembered just now! Sir called to tell that he is caught up with some urgent work and will not come home today night. He also told that some students will come and to make preparation for their stay for today night. He will meet you tomorrow morning. So it's you he was talking about?)
Khushi and Arnav replied together, "Haan woh hum hain!" (Yes, it's us!)
JP gave the introductions, "Yeh Omprakash aur main Jaiprakash. Yeh yahan ke cook, mali, aur waiter hai aur kya kya mujhe patha nahin aur main yahan ka butler hoon! Aap donon?" (He's Omprakash and I'm Jaiprakash. OP is the cook, gardener, waiter and what not in this house, and I'm the butler of this place. And you two?)
Arnav began, "Yeh Khushi aur main Arnav. Donon MBA First year students hain!" (She's Khushi and I'm Arnav. Both of us are First year MBA students!)
OP had a serious doubt at this point, "Ek accident aur baarish mein aapke kapde inthne gandhe hogaye hain? (Your clothes became so dirty in a single accident and rain?)
Thankfully, they were saved from replying by JP who asked OP to give them some of Saab and Memsaab's old clothes. JP told them that the situation would be explained at both their houses and they need not worry. Both Arnav and Khushi were shown into their respective bathrooms and given those clothes.
When they came out and saw what they saw, they broke into peals of laughter.
The same night at the mandir, "Payalji aap yahan?" (Payalji, you here?)
"Aakaashji, Aap?" (Aakaash, you?) Payal sounding greatly surprised!
"Main yahan Anjali Di ke saath aaya hoon! Aaj Mata ki Chowki hain na! Isiliye----" (I came here with Anjali Di! Today is Mata ki Chowki---so----) Aakaash replied.
Payal noticing Krithika Aunty looking at her talking to a boy with suspicion in her eyes, introduced Aakaash saying, "Aunty, yeh Aakaash hain, meri classmate. Woh apni behen, Anjaliji ke saath Chowki me aaye hain!" (Aunty, he's my classmate Aakaash. He has come to the Chowki along with his sister, Anjali!)
Krithika's anxiety put to rest, she was once again all smiles. She spoke to Aakaash with extra politeness as children who believed in these traditional things were becoming extremely rare. Her own daughter Khushi never came to the mandir with her. She said, "Apni behen seh nahin milwaoge, beta?" (Will you not introduce us to your sister?)
Aakaash replied, "Di kuch karedhne ke liye gayi hain, Aunty!" (Di has gone to purchase something, Aunty!) when a very sweet and melodious voice spoke, "Aakassh Mandir chalen hum?" (Aakaash, shall we go to the temple?)
Turning towards Anjali, Aakaash introduced, "Di, yeh Payal meri classmate aur unke Aunty, aur Aunty yeh meri Anjali Di hain!" (Di, this is Payal, my classmate and her Aunty, and Aunty, this is my sister, Anjali!)
It was a day or rather night of good impressions! Aakaash was stealthily staring at Payal from time to time which of course did not go unnoticed by Anjali Di. Krithika found herself warming up towards Anjali and her sweet ways and manners!
She prayed to Devi Maiyya, "Bees saal pehle tumne mujhe ek beti diya thah Haridwar ke Ghat par. Woh hawa ki tarah chanchal aur paavan hain. Par mujhe hamesha seh yeh darr laga rehtha hain ke use theek seh samajnewala aur pyar karnewala nahin mila toh------! Hey Maiyya, bhejdo koi jo usse aur uske pagalpan aur josh ko samaj aur samaal saken! Mera beta Shyam, bahut hi agnyakaari aur seedha sadha hain. Kaash mujhe uskeliye Anjali jaisi ladki bahu ki roop mein mile! Anjali jaisi kyun, Anjali hi milen!"
(Twenty years ago you gave me a daughter on the Haridwar Ghat. She is playful and pure like the wind. But I always have a fear that if she does not find someone who could understand and love her for what she is, then-------Hey, Maiyya send somebody who can understand, put up with her, and manage her madness and zest for life. My son, Shyam is very responsible and straightforward. Please send me a daughter-in-law like Anjali for him. Why like Anjali, I want Anjali as his bride!)
Edited by shailusri1983 - 13 years ago
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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