Vignettes - 13. Magnets

Hello all...

Here comes the next OS in the series...

To those who missed these OSs, and took the pains to let me know, thank you!

And thank you to those who loved and let me know of your appreciation for my first ever FF - the previous Vignette, From ... , with love.

Hope you enjoy this return to the OS-land after the venture into FF and please do leave your comments...

13. Magnets

The two brothers were seated at the dining table, realxing after a hectic day at work. Chin propped on his hand, Akash was watching his wife bustling around in the kitchen, while Arnav was busily fiddling with his phone.

Coming out of Naniji's room at a run, Khushi paused to smile at her husband and Jijaji before rushing off to join her sister. "Jiji, Naniji ne kaha ki aaj unke liye khichdi banaayein. Woh kuch halka khaana chaahti hain."

"Theek hain. Achcha hua hum roti banaana shuru nahin kiya. Khushi, woh bartan le aana zara...", Payal pointed to a vessel on the other counter as she turned to get the rice for the khichdi.

The sisters got busy in their work, their conversation flowing without a break, even when they turned to give intermittent instructions to the domestic staff.

Still watching his wife and Bhabi, who were executing what appeared to be a well-rehearsed dance as they went about their routine chores, Akash muttered to his brother, "Un donon ko dekhiye, Bhai. Kitna in-tune with eachother hain donon."

Looking up to glance at the women, who were stepping out of eachother's way and handing eachother things without even being asked to, Arnav smiled faintly, "Roz ki aadat hain."

Nodding, Akash replied, "Do you know what they remind me of? Magnets! When one moves, the other shifts to accommodate it..."

Taking one final look at their wives, the brothers went back to discussing their day, unwinding gradually.

*********************

Walking into the head-office of AR, Payal and Khushi were welcomed with wide smiles by the staff, who loved their unassuming, considerate Madams. Seeing the discussions still continuing in the mezzanine conference room, they declined the offer from the Office Manager to call their husbands and settled down in the lounge to wait for them.

It was a Friday evening, and both couples had made plans for one of their frequent joint outings. Not wanting to waste time shuttling to-and-fro, stuck in the heavy pre-weekend traffic, the women had offered to join their husbands in their office and go out from there. But now, apparently, the meeting was stretching a bit.

Sitting back quietly and watching the goings-on in the meeting room, even as her sister got busy in catching up with the office news from her ex-colleagues, Payal smiled thoughtfully. Finally bidding goodbye to her friend from the cafeteria, Khushi sat back and turned to her Jiji, only to see the soft smile on her face.

Putting her hand on her sister's arm, smiling inspite of not knowing why, Khushi asked, "Kya baat hain, Jiji? Aap muskura kyun rahi ho?"

Titlting her chin at the conference room, Payal smiled at Khushi, "Dekh na, Khushi. Dekho kaise Arnavji aur Akash ek doosre ke saath kaam kar rahe hain. Jo baat ek shuroo karte hain, woh doosra poora karte hain. Aur agar ek gusse mein hain toh doosra shaanti se pesh aa rahe hain. Kya kehte hain, haan, donon ek doosre ko ek dum compliment karke business chalaate hain..."

Looking over at the men, engrossed in finalising some deal or the other, Khushi chuckled, "Woh toh hain. Ram-Lakhan ki jodi hain donon bhai!"

Sitting back to wait for them, she continued, "Pata hain Jiji, kabhi kabhi, inn donon ko dekhke humein chumbak ki yaad aati hain. Jab ek uss taraf mudta hain, toh doosra bhi karta hain; aur iss taraf muda toh doosra bhi waise hi...Dekho..."

Smiling at the typical Khushi-style analysis, Payal nodded, as she too sat back, watching and waiting for her better-half to come join her.

*********************

The next day, walking into the study hall at Prateeksha, Akash and Payal looked around for their brother and sister, not able to spot them in the midst of the melee of children.

Finally catching sight of them sitting in a corner, busy in helping a group of pre-schoolers in making sketches of flowers and animals, Akash smiled and pointed them out to his wife, "Woh raha..."

Making their way across the room, they came to halt at the periphery of the cirlce of curious children surrounding the two and stood, looking on silently. After watching Arnav and Khushi working as a seemless team, sometimes handing eachother colours and pencils without being asked for it, sometimes reaching over to help the other in managing a wriggling child, sometimes shifting around to accommodate the other as they explained the figures they were drawing to their impressed audience, Payal smiled, recalling Khushi's earlier words.

"Magnets...", she muttered.

"Hmm?", Akash asked absently, still looking on at his brother's artwork. Smiling up at her tall husband, Payal clarified, "Kal aap donon ko saath kaam karte hue dekhkar Khushi bol rahi thi ki ussko chumbak ki yaad aa rahi hain, jis tarah se aap donon ek doosre ko compliment karte hain. Aur yahan, Khushi aur Arnavji ko dekhkar humein woh yaad aa gaya...Dekhiye kaise loha aur chumbak ki tarah ek doosre ke saath baithe hain!"

Chuckling, akash replied, "You know what? A couple of days ago, maine tumhein aur Khushi ko bhi yeh hi kaha, after seeing you both dancing around eachother in the kitchen!"

Laughing at the coincidence, they walked off to start their routine coaching work for the senior students, not hearing when Khushi looked up and seeing them walk off, arms around eachother, murmured, "Yeh donon bhi aise chipke hue hain jaise ki loha aur chumbak ho!"

Turning back to her husband, Khushi smiled as she recalled how she had called her husband and Jijaji by the same name. "Devi Maiyya humare parivaar ko hamesha aisa hi rakhein!", she thought as she took over the shading-the-duck-yellow duty from Arnav.

This is a short one...I'm taking a well-earned rest after the mega-updates I gave you in the Dhruv-saga!

Don't worry, guys...as I said, these stories, the Vignettes into life at Shantivan, will go on for a while yet...in the form of OSs or SSs or FFs...the stories will keep flowing...God willing...