CHAPTER 24. YOUR TEARS BRING ME PAIN
Place - Dining Table at Khurana Mansion
It was early morning and the members of Khurana family were having their breakfast. Soni served Maan with omelet and toasts. She also poured him his regular juice. After the scare Maan had yesterday, she had decided to cut him some slack and made him his regular breakfast while making parathas and lassi for others. Also, she wanted to celebrate his success by making him his favorite breakfast.
Maan was lost in his thoughts. The way he had behaved yesterday had shocked him. He had never thought that he would get so attached with Soni. But its was true; Maan Singh Khurana was attached to Soni and this fact worried him. But Maan was not so lost in his thoughts that he did not notice what Soni was serving him. He glanced at her face and she, noticing his glance, smiled at him brightly. Maan looked back at his food and sighed. Where was the parathas and lassi? Why so partial, Soni? Why can't I get what others are getting? Maan questioned her in his mind. He looked at Dev who was happily munching the parathas and sighed. How he wished it was him eating those parathas!
NT stared at her food morosely. What was the use of buying popcorn when there is no show going on here? Granted, the popcorn was delivered for free so she had no right to complain about loosing money. But the point was not money but the fact that there was no entertainment available. What is the use of popcorn when there was no entertainment?
Dadima was disconcerted with the silence and decided to break it with a news. "Aaj shaam humaare ek saheli Priya Sanyal ki poti, Maheshwari, ki shaadi ki reception party hai.", Dadima informed the family. The reaction from her family was immediate. Maan rolled his eyes, NT happily smiled at the thought of dressing up and Dev became sad as he realized that it will be he who would have to accompany NT for the reception party. He hated going to parties where all people spoke of was Jewellery or how dashing a couple looked. Only Soni did not react. She was eating her parathas calmly. Dadima smiled at Soni and spoke up, "Humaare ghar pe kaee party ke nyotein aate hain. Par humaari tabiyat ki wajah se hum nahi jaa paate. Maan toh aisi parties pe jaana pasand nahi karte. Toh har waqt NT aur Dev jaate hain. Par iss baar….", Dadima sighed in sadness as if she had deliver a bad news. She spoke up again, "Par iss baar NT nahi jaa paayegi. Use ek charity function mein jaana hai." "Kya?", NT asked in shock. What charity? She did not remember any charity work she had to go to. What was Dadima talking about? Dadima glared at her and underneath the table pressed her hand. NT got the hint and spoke up, "Haan! Haan! Humaara ek program hai. Barabar. Hum nahin jaa paayenge." Dev smiled happily. He did not have to go. He mentally did a bhangra!
Dadima sweetly smiled at Maan and told him, "Ab Priya humaari bachpan ki saheli hai toh kisi na kisi ko toh jaana padega na." Maan realized her idea and was about to refuse when he saw his Dadima look at him pleadingly. Maan huffed. Arnav was right. Emotional blackmail should be banned, Maan thought as he nodded his head in acceptance and defeat. Dadima smiled at him but her smile turned into frown. She spoke, "Par beta aap akele wahaan jaake kya karoge?" Maan raised his eyebrow. Now what is Dadima planning next?, Maan thought. Dadima spoke again, "Ek kaam kijiye aap Soni ko bhi saath le jaayiye." Maan looked at her in shock while Soni smiled and hugged Dadima. She spoke up, "Yeh achchi baat kahi Dadima. Yeh toh kahin Mujhe ghumaane le jaate nahi hai. Chalo, iss bahaane Mujhe baahar jaane toh milega." She smiled at his Dadima sweetly and Dadima spoke up, "Toh yeh tay hua. Maan bete, aap aaj shaam ko Office se jaldi aa jaayiye. Aur Soni ko apne saath Priya ki party mein le jaayiye." Maan was about ot protest but looking at Soni's beaming face nodded in a resigned manner and walked off for his Office with Dev following him. Soni went to the kitchen to plan the lunch. NT looked at Dadi and raised her eyebrow and asked her in one word, "Charity?" Dadima smiled at her and told her, "Iss bahaane dono akele kuch waqt bitaayenge." NT looked at Dadima surprised while Dadima gave her a wink.
Place - Arnav's cabin at AR
Arnav was worried. He admitted, atleast to himself, that he was worried. From yesterday night, whenever he closed his eyes, all he thought of was Khushi's kiss. He realized that she kissed his cheek on impulse and would have done the same to anybody who would have come in front of her at that moment. After all she was happy that she topped her exams. But that did not stop his heart from beating fast every time he was reminded of her kiss. As he was lost into her thoughts, he remembered how she had made sugar free jalebis for him. Jalebis! He stood up from his chair in shock. She had gifted him sugar free jalebis but he had yet to give her a gift. She had given him a chance to eat sweets without worrying about his health and he had never given her any gift. He had to give her something not only as gift but also as an offering of apology for annoying her when they met the first few times. But what to give her? Arnav was puzzled. He was a tycoon. He had money. He could buy and gift her anything. But he wanted to give her something special. He paced the room to and fro. Suddenly he got an idea.
Akash entered his brother's cabin only to come across a frantically searching Arnav. He looked at him worriedly. "Bhai, kya dhoond rahe hain aap? Is everything alright?" "Saree", Arnav mumbled. Akash's eyes widened behind his glasses as he stared at his brother wondering whether Arnav had gone mad. "Bhai, Saree?", Akash asked him. Arnav suddenly noticed that his brother was here. He straightened himself up and seated himself. He asked Akash, "Yes, Akash. Kuch kaam tha?" Akash took in his brother's appearance - the disheveled clothes, the unkempt hair and his tie out of place and shook his head. "Kuch nahi bhai. I will come later.", Akash spoke and walked away immediately. He decided to come back when his brother seemed sane; atleast saner than now.
Arnav started searching once again the moment his brother left. Where is that damn saree?, he thought. Suddenly, he remembered the place he had kept the saree. He opened the last cabinet and removed the saree and smiled at it. This will be perfect, he thought happily.
Place - Khurana Mansion
Maan glanced at his watch once again. Where was she? He wondered. He had come home early so that he could go to the party and here Soni seemed to take time just to get ready. Maan was annoyed and was about to shout when he glanced towards the stairs and his voice got stuck in his throat. Soni glided down the stairs taking his breath away. She was wearing the same saree he had seen her wear in his dream; pink translucent saree. The only things missing from the dream was the mangalsutra and sindoor. How could she chose the same saree he had seen her wearing in his dream? Maan wondered. Dadima spoke up, "Aapne shaayad yeh saree pehchaani nahi Maan? Yeh wahi saree hai jo aapki Maa ne aapki patni ke liye chun rakhi thi." That's when it struck Maan. That's why he had dreamed her in this saree. Because this was the saree which signified to his mother that the lady wearing it was his wife. He had seen this saree years back when he was about to get married. Dadima had shown him claiming that she will be giving it to Sameera on her mooh-dikhai. And now Soni was wearing it and was looking gorgeous.
Maan was still lost in Soni when she came down and smiled at him. Dev had to nudge him to bring him out of his thoughts. He smiled at her tenderly and offered his arm to her. She put her left hand around his right arm and both walked off to the car.
Place - Reception Party Hall
As soon as Maan and Soni reached the party, a hush fell around the hall. Maan Singh Khurana accompanied by a lady! People were shocked. Soon, people got over the shock and started talking about the mysterious and beautiful lady accompanying MSK. Priya Sanyal, a 60 year old, dressed in an elegant saree and decked up in pearls and diamonds, walked over to the couple and smiled at them, "Welcome Beta! How are you? And who is this pretty lady?". Maan knowing Priya Aunty from his childhood smiled at her and hugged her while Soni touched her feet. Priya blessed her and told her, "Aaj kal ke zamaane mein itne achche sanskaar! Kaun ho aap beta? Pehle kabhi dekha nahi?" Soni smiled at her and before Maan could speak or stop her, she told the lady, "Main inki mangetar hoon." Maan glared at her while Priya went speechless. She turned towards Maan and smiled at him with teary eyes. She knew Maan's grandmother from her childhood and was happy to know that Maan was finally getting married and Savitri's dream was finally getting fulfilled. She turn towards the crowd and was about to announce Soni's identity when Maan, knowing her intentions, stopped her. He whispered to her, "Agar yeh MSK ki honewali patni hai yeh logon ko maaloom pada toh uski jaan ko khatra hai." Priya nodded, kissed Soni's forehead and walked off into the hall. Maan heaved a sigh of relief. He knew that if people came to know that Soni was his future wife then her photo would come on the newspaper. And that brought the risk of her photo being seen by those goons who had tried to kill her.
Maan turned around and glared at Soni. "Tumne yeh kyon kahaa ki main tumhara mangetar hoon?". Soni looked at him in shock. Then what should she tell them? Her shock turned into anger. "Toh aur kya kehti? Ki main aapki Paying Guest hoon. Waah! Khurana Khandaan ne apne ghar pe paying guest rakha hain. Kya idea hai!", Soni spoke sarcastically and glared at Maan. "Keh deti ki tum door ki rishtedaar ho. Kuch dino ke liye rehne aayi ho.", Maan roared back. "Kyon kahoon main aisa? Aap mere mangetar ho. Kuch dino mein humaari shaadi hai. Toh main aisa kyon kahoon?", Soni spoke as her anger turned into curiosity. Why Maan wanted her to hide this truth? Maan remembered that Soni thought he was her future husband. Now how he should reply her without telling her the truth? Maan smirked as he got an idea. "Ek baar tumhari meri shaadi honewaali hai yeh khabar media tak pahunch gayi toh media tumhein chodegi nahi. Is liye main tumhein chupaane ko keh raha hoon.", Maan explained to her patiently but Soni was still confused. She spoke up, "Par ek na ek din toh pata lagna hi hai. Toh ab kyon nahi. Waise bhi shaadi ke baad Mujhe media ki aadat lagaani hi hai toh ab kyon nahi?" Maan lost his patience. He grabbed her shoulders, pulled her close and hissed into her ear, "Ek baar keh diya na, nahi toh nahi. Aur koi bhi pooche toh main tumhaara door ka rishtedaar hoon. Samjhi! Kuch aur kahaa toh tumhaari khair nahi." He pushed her away with a jerk and walked off. Soni glared at his back. "Ek baar keh diya na, nahi toh nahi.", she mimicked him. Ab dekho Maan Khurana yeh Geet Handa tumhein kaisa mazaa chakhaati hai, Babaji madad karna, Soni thought and walked away without realizing that she called herself Geet Handa.
Place - Outside KC
Arnav was nervous from the moment Khushi sat in his car. When he did not start the car, she looked at him curiously. He realized that this was the right moment. He slowly turned around and took out a packet from the back seat. He placed it in her lap and she looked at it curiously. "Tumhare liye Gift.", he mumbled. She looked at him in surprise and looked back at the parcel. Soon her curiousity got to her and she opened the parcel in a jiffy and took out the box. She opened it only to stare at a gorgeous red transparent designer saree. She pulled it out and looked at it. It was beautiful! He wanted her to have it as a gift. She smiled at him like a fool. He smiled back tenderly. She stared at it once more when he pulled it from her hands and draped it around her. He pulled the front mirror and angled it in such a way that she could see herself. He never thought it would look so good on her.
Before Khushi could thank him, he spoke up looking at his hands, "Jabse Mujhe pata chala ki Mujhe diabetics hai tabse sab logon ne Mujhe sympathy dikhaayi par kisine mere liye woh nahi kiya jo tumne kiya. Mere liye woh sugar free jalebi banaakar tumne Mujhe duniya ki sabse keemti Gift di. Isliye maine socha ki main bhi tumhein kuch doon. Par Mujhe samajh mein nahi aaya ki main tumhe kya doon. Phir yaad aaya ki tumne kahaa tha ki tum sabse best jalebi banaati ho. Phir mein best toh sirf kapde banaata hoon apne Fashion House mein. Tab Mujhe yeh saree yaad aayi. Yeh humaare AR ka pehla product hain. Pehli baar jab AR shuru hua tha toh pehla piece joh Design aur ready hua woh yeh Saree thi. Isse maine sambhaalke rakhi thi. Yeh mere liye bahut maayne rakhti hai. Socha isse Better Gift kya ho sakta hai. Mere liye sabse keemti cheez; iski itni hi keemat hain mere dil mein jitni tumhare dil mein tumhari jalebiyon ki." As soon as he ended his monologue he turned towards Khushi only to see her smile at him brightly. But her smile soon turned into a frown. "Aapne jo tohfa diya woh humaare liye sabse keemti hai par hum isse nahi le sakte, Arnavji." She packed the saree and and kept the box in the back seat.
Arnav gripped the steering wheel tighter as he realized that she rejected his gift. That's why he never let anybody come close to him. They always wanted to give him pain. The world wanted to give him nothing but pain. He started driving the car with full speed. Khushi grabbed the dashboard as she felt the familiar fear engulf her. She tried to forget her fear, overcome her fear but her mind started supplying her with the visions of her parents accident. She slowly succumbed to the fear without Arnav's notice.
Place - Reception Hall
Maan took a sip from his apple juice when a lady came and stood beside him. "Kinni soni jodi hai dono ki. Twaddi rishtedaar hegi?", she spoke up. Maan raised an eyebrow at her and she pointed at the dance floor. He looked in the direction she pointed and his eyes widened in shock. Soni, HIS SONI, was dancing on the dance floor with another guy. Not only dancing, she was also joking and laughing with the guy. How dare she? The lady spoke up adding more fuel to the fire, "Who ladka jiske saath Soni naach rahi hain woh mera beta hai. Dadi se kehna hum call karenge Soni aur mere bete ki rishte ki baat karne." She patted his shoulder and walked away leaving an incensed Maan.
Soni was enjoying the party and dancing with a very handsome guy hoping to make Maan jealous when she felt someone pulling her away from her current dance partner. Soni came face to face with an angry Maan. Soni would have done a whole round of bhangra at seeing Maan angry and jealous. But she just gave him an impassive glance. His hand tightened around her hand and he pulled her close. "Maan, sab dekh rahe hai. Log kya sochenge ki Maan Khurana apni rishtedaar ko itne paas kyon kheench raha hai.", Soni whispered to him and looked at him innocently. Maan narrowed his eyes, "Sochne do. Maan Singh Khurana ko kisiki baaton se koi farak nahi padta. Hum yahaan se jaa rahe hai and its final.", Maan told her and dragged her to the door. "Par Priya Aunty ko bye to bolne dijiye.", Soni told him. Maan shook his head. "Maine unse baat karli. Tum bas chalo.", he told her. He dragged her towards door and Soni followed him. This is what you get Mr. Khurana, she thought. Jab aap Mrs. Khurana se takkar lete ho. Soni smirked happily. If she had a collar right now, she would have pulled it up with pride.
Place - In Arnav's Car
Arnav was shocked by the scream emanating from his left side. He stopped the car and turned towards Khushi only to notice her hiding her face in her hands and sobbing uncontrollably. He looked at her horrified. He removed her seat belt and shook her shoulder only for her to hug him and sob on his shirt. What was wrong? He wondered. Her cries slowly quietened down and she came out of his embrace. He was about to offer his kerchief when she wiped her eyes with her Duppatta and spoke up, "Humein tez gaadiyon mein ghoomne se darr lagta hai. Humaare amma buaji ki maut ek car accident mein hui thi. Tabse humein yeh darr hai. Humaare amma buaji ke marne ke baad Jiji ke amma buaji ne humein godh liya hai." Arnav was pained to know that she was an orphan like him with only difference being that he got Nani and Maama-Maami as a support and she got Payal's family as a support. He started the car but drove slow this time.
Place - In Maan's car
Maan was quiet for few minutes as he started driving but soon he could not control his anger. He started blasting Soni, "Woh sab kya tha? Kabhi kehti ho tum meri mangetar ho. Toh kabhi kisi aur ki baahon mein jhoolti ho. Samajhti kya ho apne aapko? Jawaab do Soni, woh sab kya tha? Ek taraf mangetar ka daava aur doosri taraf ek paraaye mard ke saath dance. Sharam nahi aati tumhein? Itni giri hui aurat maine life mein nahi dekhi. Chi."
Soni tried to control herself. She really tried but she could not. His hot and cold attitude was getting to her and she was tired of trying to cope up with him, tired of trying to fit in and adjust with him. Soon, her control slipped and she started crying. As soon as Maan heard her sobs he stopped the car. He looked at her. He did not know why her tears affected him so much. His heart was in pain seeing her cry. She slowly spoke in between her tears, "Main aapko kabhi nahi samajh paaungi, Maan. Kabhi ghussa toh kabhi pyar. Kabhi apnapan toh kabhi jali kati baatein. Mujhe kuch nahi samajh aa raha hai, Maan." Maan realized his folly. While trying to control his attraction to her, he was leaving her with nothing but hurt. She was right; all he did was confuse her. He slowly pulled her close and hugged her and she sobbed on his shirt. After few minutes she calmed down and he realized that she had gone to sleep. He slowly eased her onto the seat and started driving towards home. Once he reached the home, he picked her up and took her to her room. He placed her there, removed her sandals and covered her with a blanket. He hesitated but slowly placed a kiss on her forehead and walked away. She smiled in her sleep.
Place - Near Laxminagar
Arnav waited for Khushi to get down. She got down from her seat but turned back and sat back in. Arnav looked at her in confusion. She slowly took the box from behind and placed it in her lap. She bit her lip. She slowly spoke, "Humare liye yeh tohfa sabse keemti hain kyunki is mein aapki mehnat ka rang chipa hai. Hum yeh lena chaahte hain par…". Arnav looked at her in curiousity. If she wanted to accept his gift, what was stopping her? Arnav wondered. She looked at his face and spoke again, "Par buaji ne yeh dekha toh dheron sawaal poochegi. Aur hum kya jawaab dein humein pata nahi." Arnav heaved a sigh of relief. So, she was not rejecting his gift. She was just scared of her buaji. But he understood. Even he was scared of her buaji. She placed the gift in his lap and got down from the car. She was about to slam the door of the car when she got an idea. She turned towards him giddily and spoke, "Humare paas ek idea hai. Humaare Jiji ki sagaai ke tayyaari mein bahut saari khareeddaari hogi. Us waqt hum kaise na kaise is saree ko ghar le jaayenge. Sabko lagega yeh khareedi hui kapdon mein se ek hai. Kisiko shaq nahi hoga." He got down from his car and walked closer her to her. He cupped her face in his hands and asked her, "Tumhein sach mein yeh gift pasand aaya? Tum mera dil rakhne ke liye nahi keh rahi ho, right?" She shook her head. "Nahi baba! Aapki mehnat ki pehli kamaai hai, Arnavji. Aur aapne yeh humein dedi. Isse badhiya Gift kya hosakta hai. Jaise hi yeh saree humaare paas aa jaayegi hum isse ek dum sambhaalke rakhenge. Praamis." Arnav pulled her closer and slowly kissed her forehead. He left her and walked off to his car. He drove off leaving a stunned Khushi behind. She touched her forehead and wondered, Yeh kya tha? She walked off to her house in confusion.
Place - Dining table at Khurana Mansion
It was an early morning. Maan looked at Soni who was serving everybody parathas and lassis including him. She seemed quiet today. Even Dadima, Dev and NT seemed to notice it. While NT and Dadima were whispering with each other and glancing at both Maan and Soni in between, Dev was staring at his Bhabhi after every few minutes as if confirming to himself that this was the same Bhabhi who preferred to chatter for a mile in a minute. Maan understood that her silence was yesterday's effect. But he could not take her silence. He wanted to see her chattering; not the way she was now. Suddenly he got an idea. "Soni, yeh kya hai?", he questioned her in a stern tone. She glanced at him and then at his plate. "Parathe hain aur lassi hai.", she answered in a quiet voice. Maan frowned, Where was the spark in her voice? He went on with his plan. "Kitne teekhe hain yeh. Yeh main nahi khaaunga." He pushed the plate away. While Dev looked at him as if he was an alien for pushing the parathas away, NT and Dadima looked at him and glanced at each other. Soni turned around and went to make another paratha. Maan looked at her in shock. Why was she not arguing back or reacting? He wondered. Soni came back and placed a newly made paratha on his plate but Maan was Maan. He took a bite, found out another fault and kept the plate aside. Soni huffed, made another paratha and placed it again in front of him. Maan again took a bite, found a fault and kept the plate aside. Soni huffed and walked back. Maan smiled; she reacted at least.
NT nudged Dadima. Dadima looked at her only for NT to glance at her hand under the table. Dadima glanced at NT's hand and found popcorns. She looked at NT questioningly. NT muttered, "Deepa ne bheja hai." Dadima smiled and popped a corn into her mouth.
Soni came back from the kitchen and slammed a plate of paratha in front of him and blew the strand of hair coming on her face. Maan was amused but he did the same routine again. He tasted a piece, pointed out a fault and pushed the plate away. This continued for few more parathas before Maan got up from his place and told her, "You know what? Isse toh main bhooka achcha." Maan walked off and Soni looked at him worried. He had not eaten anything, Soni thought worriedly. She grabbed a paratha and ran behind him. As soon as he was out of the door, he turned around, grabbed her paratha holding hand and pulled her close. Her eyes widened in shock. He slowly took the paratha from her hand with his other hand. He took a bite and told her, "Parathe achche the. Main toh bas tumhein pareshaan karne ke liye yeh sab kar raha tha." Her mouth opened in a perfect 'O'. He winked at her and walked away leaving behind a shocked Soni. She turned towards the house in confusion and Maan, who stopped few paces ahead, turned back. He went towards the door, hid behind it and looked inside.
Dev noticing his Bhabhi coming in spoke up, "Bhabhi, ek aur paratha milega?" Soni's confusion turned into anger as she realized that Maan had fooled her. She glared at Dev and took all the parathas and dumped into his plate. "Khaao, aur khaao. Jitna khaana hai khaao. Aur chaahiye bolo, aur chaahiye. Nahi main toh machine hoon na, jab bhi dil kiya dus-pandrah parathe bana doongi. Haddh hai, Dono bhai ek jaise.", she shouted at him angrily and walked off. NT and Dadima took one look at Dev and burst out laughing. What did I do? Dev whined in his mind. Few days back, his wife scolded him without any reason and now his Bhabhi scolded again without any reason. Poor Dev!
Maan smirked as he walked off to his car and took a bite of the paratha. Gone was the quiet mouse of early morning. His Sherni was back with a bang!
Place - Outside Khurana Constructions
"Humein bhook lagi hai.", Khushi whined. Arnav raised an eyebrow. If anyone would have told him that a girl who had just taken a seat in his car would demand for food first, he would have laughed or atleast cracked a smile or fired the man who told him this news. But, it seemed such things also come true! Khushi glanced at him and pouted. Arnav rolled his eyes and drove to an open air restaurant. He had come to pick up Khushi today and it seemed that he was lucky enough to get a chance to eat and spend time with her. "Humne top kiya hai. Isliye humaari treat.", Khushi told him solemnly and Arnav nodded his head. After doing some pet pooja they walked off to his car when Khushi squealed, "Humaare amma buaji!" Arnav was shocked. What? Here? What if they recognized me? He looked here and there when Khushi tapped his shoulder. He looked at her and she pointed at the sky. He looked up and noticed that she was pointing her hand towards two bright stars. What the? He looked at her as if she had lost her mind. She smiled at him and spoke up, "Hum bachpan se maante hai ki jab insaan marte hain tab woh taare bante hain. Woh jo tim-tima rahe hain woh humaare amma buaji hai. Aur aaj woh isliye itna chamak rahe hai kyunki woh Khush hai ki hum khush hai. Roz raat hum unse gappe ladaate hain." She gave him a teary smile and he asked her, "Bahut yaad aa rahi hai?" She nodded her head and tears dropped down from her eyes silently. "Kaash woh hote toh aaj kitna khush hote humein top hota hua dekh, kaam karta hua dekh, humein itne achche dost banaate hue dekh.", she spoke and looked at him as she said the last line. Arnav smiled at her but his heart pinched with her tears. He did not know why but her tears pained him. He removed his kerchief and wiped her face. She smiled at him. After spending some more time standing there, they entered the car. Soon, he parked the car near Laxminagar and she got down. She gave him a tender smile and walked off.
P.S. The red saree that Arnav gifted Khushi is the saree from the photoshoot. It will play its part later on.
P.P.S See you on Thursday with "A moment in rain"! Enjoy!
CID
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
52