sorry for keeping you guys waiting! juggling with a lot many things right now... but trust me i miss writing so a long update to compensate for the long wait 😳
PART 16
Arjun could not believe his eyes! He could not stop his lips from smiling or stop his feet from running towards his beloved dadi. Dadi stood up just in time as Arjun grabbed her in to a tight bear hug and lifted her off her feet.
"Oye… khotiya… niche utaar mainu!" Although her words spoke of anger, her gentle face had broken into a sweet smile when she saw Arjuns face lit up seeing her. Dadi was glad that she decided to visit Arjun… looks like he really was missing her!
"Daaadi! Aap kab aaye? Mujhe bataya kyu nahi? Parso hi toh baat ki thi humne…"
Sudhir Ahluwalia cut in as Dadi was busy caressing Arjuns face with her tender loving hands. "Agar bata deti, toh surprise kaise hota?"
Arjun was smiling from ear to ear, like a child high on sugar. He hugged Dadi again.
"Thank you thank you so much dadi. This is the best surprise ever."
Arohi walked slowly towards the dadi-pota pair, who had apparently forgotten the world for sometime now. She could remember Teji Singhania very faintly… a bit from her memories and a bit from the innumerable photographs that were adorning the wall upstairs. When Arjun and Dadi came out of their private world, she approached them to introduce herself. Sudhir caught her eye and indicated at Dadis feet. Arohi bend down and touched Dadis toes.
"Jindi reh puttar… tu Arohi haina??? Haaye kitni badi hogayi hai… aur kitni soni…" Dadi moved her hands above Arohis head, closing her fists and bringing them to her own head, symbolically taking away all the evil spirits that were awaiting to befall on her.
"Issko bolte hain hindustani sanskaar! Sabse pehle ussne mera aashirwaad liya. Aur ek tu hai… nalayak… jo angeezon ki tarah apni dadi ko gale lagaata hai!" Dadi fake frowned and Arjun chuckled.
"Voh issliye kyuki aap usski dadi ho… lekin meri toh girlfriend ho na!" Arjun winked.
"Chup kar… besharam!" Dadi turned towards her adopted son. "Sudhir… Teri kudi kitni badi hogayi hai. Tuney isski shaadi ka socha hai ki nahi???" Arohis eyes widened in shock as she looked at Arjun, who was equally shocked, and then helplessly at her dad.
"Nai biji. Aap aaj kal ke bachhon ko toh jaanti haina. Pehle career banaate hain aur fir shaadi. Maa baap ka kaha bhi nahi maante."
"Hmmm so toh hai. Koi gal nahi. Isske liye bhi ladka dhoond lenge…"
Arjuns eyes could not widen more as his dadi continued to give him more shocks. "Isske… liye… bhi… matlab? Dadi… aap aur kisike liye ladka dhoond rahe ho?"
Dadi smiled. Arjun squirmed. "Ladka nai. Ladki. Tere liye. Abb aayi hoon toh teri shaadi karke hi jaaungi."
"KYAAA!!!" Arjun almost screamed. From the corner of his eye, he could make out Arohi pressing her lips, trying to control her laughter. "Lekinnn kyu dadi… itni bhi kya jaldi hai? Aur aappp abhi toh aaye ho… aapko jet lag ho raha hoga… aap thoda aaram karlo…" Arjun started pushing dadi to sit on the sofa by holding her shoulders.
But dadi hit him on his hands. "Hatt parey…" Arjun pulled his hands back before dadi hit him again.
"Dekh puttar… Ab tujhe ek saal tak yaha rehna hai. Toh mein nahi chahti ki tu akela rahe. Akhir tujhe bhi toh kabhi na kabhi shadi karni hi hai na? Toh abb karle…"
"Lekin… dadi… achanak… ye sab… kyu??"
Arohi was shamelessly smiling seeing Arjun stammer. She never knew that she had it in her to be sadist enough to watch Arjun in trouble and be happy about it. She remembered all those times when Arjun was the one taking advantage of the situation with her father and making her act civil even though she was mad enough to kill him. Well… now was the time to return the favour!
"Aapne bilkul sahi kaha dadi! Waise Arjun ki umar bhi shaadi ki hogayi hai." Arohi placed her hands lovingly on dadis shoulders and smiled.
"Dekha! Ye kudi samajhti hai lekin tu nahi samajhta!" Dadi shouted at Arjun and sat with Arohi on the sofa. "Waise puttar… teri nazar mein hain koi changi ladki?"
Arjun could not believe his ears! Not only was Dadi planning his wedding, but her partner in crime was none other than Arohi Ahluwalia. He looked at his favourite uncle for help, but he was too busy smiling adoringly. Amrit aunty covered her mouth with her hand to stop from laughing out loud and ran in the kitchen. And Sanchit dipped his head lower inside the book he was pretending to read. Coming to a full circle, Arjuns brain leaped at Arohis voice.
"Haina dadi! Hamare office mein hi hai. Badi soni ladki hai. Ekdam gharelu types."
Arjun frowned. What was this she-devil upto now??!! A few hours ago she was a nervous wreck, trying to collect herself from falling apart in front of him. And all of a sudden she was all confident and having fun at his expense. But then why wont she! The source of her confidence had flown down from the US. He always thought dadi was his best friend… well looks like he needed to remind her of where her loyalties lie.
"Achha? Hor bata… naam ki hai uss kudi da???" Dadis eyes were wide in anticipation. She looked at Arohi like she was expecting to win a million dollars lottery any moment. Arohi stole a glance at Arjuns thunderous face before she spilled the beans.
"Usska naam… Shanti hai!"
Arjun was totally livid! He felt like noone even knew that he was standing right there!!! They were talking about him, planning his so-called wedding, and it didn't occur to them to talk to HIM about it. And Shanti???
"Bada changa naam hega. Naam mein hi shaanti hai. Mere iss toofan ko shaant rakhegi."
Arjun could see Arohis body shaking with laughter. He felt like grabbing her and shaking her more… hard. What the hell was she doing??? Hadnt he been nice to her for the past few days! The least she could do was keep her mouth shut.
"Ladki bhi achhi hai dadi. Dad ki secretary hai. Hum sab usse acchi tarah se jaante hain. Ekdam sushil aur sanskari hai…"
Dadi smiled at Shantis description and a dreamy look spread on her face as she imagined a likeable dulhan by the name of Shanti for her khotte da puttar! And the next words from Arohi elated her heart to no bounds.
"… aur Arjun ko bhi voh pasand hai!"
Dadi grinned widely and looked at Arjun, who looked like a deer trapped in a hunters net. He gritted his teeth at Arohi and gave a scared look in dadis direction.
"Nnn… nahi dadi. Mujhe voh bilkul pasand nahi hai. Matlab voh achhi ladki hai… lekin thodi aunty types hai. Mujhe suit nahi karegi."
Dadis face fell. But Arohi was not disheartened. She was not the one to leave such a golden chance.
"Koi baat nahi dadi… Meri nazar mein aur bohat si ladkiyaan hai. Chaliye hum dining table pe sorting karte hain." Arohi took Dadi by the hand and lead her to the dining room.
Arjun watched helplessly as his best friend and his enemy walked away, plotted his early demise. Giving glares at Arohi did not help as she was concentrating totally on dadi. Sudhir uncle followed them and he looked too happy to even acknowledge Arjuns misery.
Well… today Arjun learned one more thing that was common between him and his partner. Miss Arohi Ahluwalia too, was an opportunist.
Los Angeles, America… same time…
"Biji ka phone aaya tha. Voh thik se India pohach gayi. Sudhir bhaisaab aur Sanchit unhe airport pe lene gaye they."
Rudra just smiled in the mirror looking at his wifes reflection, in between adjusting his tie. He had not wanted his mother to travel in a rush like this, especially when the journey was so long. But there was yet the human to be born, who could argue and win against Teji Singhania, especially, when she made up her mind. Sometimes he felt that Arjun had taken up his mothers wrong quality, but that was what made Arjun so hard working and successful too.
It was not like Rudra had not felt the silence in Arjuns voice. His son was the most animated human being known to him. So when HE spoke in a soft voice and paused enough, for the opposite person to drink a glass of water and resume the conversation, something was definitely wrong. But then he was not a child. This was not the first time he was staying away from family. And it had been just a few months so there was no reason to panic. But it was impossible to explain that to his mother.
"Aaj meri lunch meeting hai, toh khana mein office mein hi khaunga." Rudra picked up his briefcase and informed his wife.
"Kya! Rudra, ye tum pehle nahi bata sakte they? Maine khaas tumhare liye aaj aaloo ke paraathe banaye they…"
Rudras eyebrows shot up in surprise. Since when did his wife had time off from his family to attend to his likes and cravings. "Kya baat hai? Khaas mere liye??? Ek din bhi nahi hua biji ko gaye huey, aur tumne pyaar jatana shuru kar diya… wow Kumud, you're fast…"
Kumud Singhania looked up in shock as her shameless husband kept his briefcase back on the bed and walked towards her.
"Kuch toh sharam karo Rudra! Do bacchon ke baap ho… Ek ki shaadi ki umar hogayi hai aur doosra ghar pe hai."
"Toh usse bhi India bhej dete hai… phir ghar mein sirf tum aur mein." Kumuds mouth opened in shock when Rudra came closer and winked at her. Blushing furiously, she turned her head away. Rudra was tempted to drop a quick peck on her cheeks and so he moved closer. A knock on the door made them both jump apart. Kumud rushed towards the door as Rudra looked on angrily towards the intruder, who had ruined his once-in-a-lifetime romantic moment with his wife.
The door opened and Romit walked in, with his hands up in the air and his t-shirt above his head, showing only his bushy hair through its neckline.
"MOM!!! Ye button khol dijiye pleaseee… Mera earring kapde mein atak gaya hai!!!"
Rudras anger flew away and he shook his head in disappointment at his younger son. Romit was one of those who acted first and thought later. He saw Kumud rush to him to free him from his t-shirt and scold him lightly for still acting like a child. As soon as the button was opened, Romit shoved his head through it and wore the t-shirt. Saying a quick thank you to him mom, he grinned at being free and ran back to his room to get ready for college.
Kumud turned around and saw her husband looking away wistfully at the retreating back of her younger son. "Kya karrahe they tum!!! Thank god ussne kuch dekha nahi…"
"Ye mujhe kuch karne dega toh mein karunga na! Bachpan ki aadat hai isski… galat timing pe entry lene ki… isiliye humey isske baad koi bachha nahi hua."
"Rudra Pratap Singhania! Tumhari issi fitrat ki vajah se mera bada beta bighad chuka hai. Abb kya chote ko bhi bigaadoge…" Rudra tried to open his mouth to give an ideal retort to this accusation. But Kumud being a smart wife, realised the possibility of a potentially shameless remark that might come out of her husbands mouth, and hence cut him off immediately.
"I don't want to hear it! Go to office, right now…" Kumud planted her one fist on her waist and with her other hand index finger pointing towards the door, gave her husband the most angry look that she can manage.
"Jaa raha hu." Rudra smiled as Kumuds pose reminded him of his mother. He picked up his bag and moved towards the door. "Iss ghar mein Romit ke saath saath, tum bhi pyaar ki dushman ho. Fir jab biji wapas aayengi tab unnke paas complaint mat karna ki abb mein tumse pyaar nahi karta."
Rudra ducked immediately and shut the door to the room, as the pillow thrown by Kumud hit the door and fell on the floor.
Ahluwalias Dining table…
Arjun twirled the rice with his spoon. Amrit aunty had made excellent dinner, everything of his choice and he had not enjoyed even one bit of it. He had never had felt the need to keep his mouth shut for so long. Because if he did open his mouth, then he would just scream at the two women, who were talking about him as he did not exist in the room!
Arohi had exhausted the list of girls that worked into their office and had now started talking about her single friends, trying to sell them to dadi for Arjun. And even his dadi was inquiring about them, not as if she was hunting for his bride, but like she was buying bhaji-tarkari.
'Achha… naati hai? Lekin apna Arjun toh bada lamba hai… Amitabh-Jaya ki jodi lagegi…'
"Saanwli chalegi… lekin usske naak-nakshi tez hone chahiye…'
'Hum dharm jaati mein naahi maante… aur amrika mein toh sab amriki hi bann jate hain!'
'Ye kaisa naam hai… Sheeba! Koi gal nahi, shaadi ke baad naam badal denge…'
'Teri saheli hai isliye puttar… warna mere Arjun ke liye mujhe duniya ki sabse khoobsurat ladki chahiye.'
'Hmm… thik hai… isska bhi naam final list mein daal de!'
Who the hell hunts for brides like this! And Arohi was suggesting names as if she secretly worked for some marriage bureau!!! Were they looking for a bride for him or buying him a car??!!
Dadi smiled at Arohis enthusiasm in helping her with her mission and turned towards Arjun. But he was looking at her as if he had swallowed a large spoon of castor oil!
"Oye sade mooh waala… tujhe kya hua hai? Amrit ne itne pyaar se, itna achha khana banaya hai… aur tu hai ki muskuraake khaa bhi nahi sakda. Ussko lagega ki tu khana nahi kharaha, balki kisi jail ki saza bhugat raha hai."
"Sazaa hi bhugat raha hu…" Arjun murmured under his breath and saw Arohi giggle from the corner of his eye. He gritted his teeth at her and turned his attention back to his food. She thought she was so smart… using his dadi against him! Well… she was HIS DADI, and he knew how to turn the tables using her.
"Dadi… mujhe itni jaldi shaadi nahi karni! Abhi toh aap aaye ho, humne abhi dher saari baatein bhi nahi ki hai. Aur aap ho ki shaadi ki ratt lagaye huey ho. Ab aap aaye ho toh mujhe koi aur nahi chahiye." Arjun finished his maska session with a sweet smile, like a cherry on top. But dadi was not convinced.
"Chup kar bevkoof! Shaadi toh ek din sabko karni hai… Kyu Arohi puttar?" Dadi towards Arohi, who was shaking her head like and obedient child. "Dekh… ye bacchhi bhi samajhti hai…"
"Ye kuch nahi samajhti hai! Isski khudki shaadi kahan hui hai?? Mere jitne bhi doston ki shaadi hui hai voh kehte hain ki shaadi nahi karni chahiye. Aap pehle Arohi ki shaadi karao, phir dekhte hain voh kya kehti hai."
Arohis wide grin immediately dropped from her face on Arjuns words. Her head snapped towards her nemesis and she could make out the glint of a challenge in his intense gaze.
"Waise bhi dadi… Arohi ko shaadi karne ki jyaada jarurat hai. Ek toh vo ladki hai, uparse kitna kaam karti hai. Ab waqt aagaya hai ki isse ek jeevansaathi chunn lena chahiye, jo issko samjhe aur isski kadar karey. Aur mere paas ek bohat achha ladka hai… mera dost Vikram! Chandigarh ka sabse eligible bachelor hai. Aap toh usska khandan bhi jaanti haina… kitne achhe log hai…"
Arohi saw with narrow eyes as Arjun went on and on about his friend and dadi had turned her complete attention towards her pota. She squared her shoulders and prepared herself for a war of words. Arjun Singhania was about to find out what happens when someone challenges Arohi Ahluwalia!
"Dadi mujhe Vikram naam pasand nahi hai. Bachpan mein mere paas Vikram naam ka ek kutta tha… jo marr gaya! Tabse mein Vikram naam ke logon se durr rehti hoon." Dadi had just turned her head towards Arohi and her eyes were on the way to becoming soft and sympathetic, when Arjun cut in.
"Koi gal nahi! Mere aur bohat se dost hai dadi… Mihir! Mihir sahi hai… ekdam sharif munda hai… voh thik rahega..."
"Nnn… nahi dadi! Darasal… jisse kaatkar Vikram marr gaya, uss insaan ka naam Mihir tha!!! Issliye Mihir naam mujhe kuch khaas pasand nahi hai."
Arjuns eyes widened at Arohis creative ability to cook up stories at the spur of the moment. But he was not the one to back down now.
"Koi baat nahi Arohi. Hum shaadi ke baad Mihir ka naam change kar denge… ok?"
Dadi looked on as Arjun and Arohi locked frowning gazes, silently fighting through their eyes. Before she could interrupt, Arohi broke the eyelock and spoke up.
"Dadi… shaadi ke baare mein opinion dene ke liye, shaadi karne ki jaraurat nahi hoti… haina? Ab jaise maut kitni bhayanak hoti hai, ye jaanne ke liye marna thodi jaruri hota hai!"
"Ok enough!" Sudhir Ahluwalia finally spoke up from the corner of the room from where he had been sitting and watching this immature tu-tu main-main.
"Sudhir thik keh raha hai. Chup karo tum dono…"
Arjun and Arohi looked away like two stubborn brats, who were scolded for misbehaving.
"Waise Sudhir, mujhe nahi pata tha ki inn dono ko ek dusre ke shaadi ki itni fikar hai. Lekin kyu na ho? Itne din ek saath kaam karke ek doosre ke baare mein sab kuch jaan gaye honge. Toh ek kaam karo! Arjun aur Arohi… tum dono ek doosre ke liye, ek doosre ki pasand ke ladka aur ladki dhundo… lekin ek mahine ke andar andar! Warna mein jisse pasand karungi ussise shaadi karni padegi. Kyu Sudhir?"
"Biji aap toh badi hain. Mein aapse behas kaise kar sakta hu. Jo aap kahe."
Arjun and Arohi looked back at each other with the most comical expression on their faces. What had started as a harmless fight had now ended up into a serious deadline for which, both of them had no intention of fulfilling. But due to their over eagerness to put down the other, they were completely entangled in their own web. And now, rebelling against Dadi would be like calling for an early death! Teji Singhania, after proclaiming her final word on the topic, had got up and left to join Amrit in the kitchen.
Only Sudhir Ahluwalia was left behind to watch the two people, whom he adored the most in the world, look on at each other with mixed emotions. He had not missed out on the recent developments between his two children in the past few days. Nor had he missed out on Arohis discomfort when Arjun had mentioned her gettting married, or Arjuns shuttered look in his otherwise clear eyes, when Arohi had spoken about the need to die to know about death. And that's when he had felt the need to cut in. Raw nerves were getting touched.
When Rudra had called him a week back, and expressed dadis concern for Arjun and her anxiety to come to him, Sudhir had not wasted one second in agreeing with her and assuring Rudra that he will take care of her. For what he was thinking and planning, he definitely needed a stronger accomplice to carry out this wonderful, but tricky, masterplan… and who better than the second most strong woman, known to him in this world!
more than 3000 words! am expecting long comments people 😉 arjun aur arohi ka kya hoga??? will they be able to hunt a boy/girl for each other 😲 😆
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
