Chapter 34: Jalebi Tales
"Geet beta, zara please dekhna ki sab log naashta kar rahein hain ya nahi," Arun's mother requested handing her a bowl of jalebis.
"Ji auntyji, aap fikar mat keejiye," she smiled taking the bowl from her before walking out of the kitchen.
The dining table was filled with lively chatter as Geet walked in with her bowl in hand dodging little tots running around with their mothers hot in pursuit. Loud chatter along with the clanking of lassi tumblers, relatives of each kind sat eating hot parathas and other southern delicacies. She went around serving each one of them the jalebis while making little conversation here and there. People done with their breakfast made their way for the people coming in as servants hurried to clear the table and serve fresh plates with hot and delicious breakfast.
"Uncleji aapko ek jalebi lagaoon?" Geet asked Shekar, Arun's father, extending a piece of the sticky sweet.
"Arre ruko beta, usko sugar hai. Mat daalo," Pradeep, Chaitu's father, intervened. "Tum voh mujhe dedo," he grinned extending his hand.
"Ek minute ek minute agar mujhe sugar hai toh tujhe cholesterol hai. So tumhare liye bhi no no," Shekar pointed causing Geet to stop giving the jalebi in between.
"Arre mujhe kya hoga. Dekho abhi bhi hatta katta hoon," Pradeep countered showing his muscles. "Tum hi buddhe ho gaye ho."
"Oi kisko bola buddha?" Shekar asked as though he was ready to fight.
Geet who was looking back and forth at the banter between the two decided to intervene before both of them create more trouble. "Oh ho, ek minute. Aap dono rukhiye main kisiko nahi denewali yeh jalebi. So ab please naasta keejiye," she said plastering a fake smile on her face.
Realizing both would be denied of their favorite sweet, Shekar and Pradeep quickly tried to fix the situation. "Arre nahi nahi beta. Maine aisi todi kaha. Tum pareshan mat ho. You can certainly give the jalebi to him," Shekar said as sweetly as possible.
"Haan aur usko bhi ek dedo, hume kuch nahi hua hai," Pradeep added nodding his head.
Anticipating this Geet turned around to stand with her hand on her hip. "Oh, acchaji?" she mocked. "Well its too late now," she said shrugging her shoulders, "nobody gets jalebi."
Her declaration alarmed both the men causing them to look at each other helplessly. Realizing there was only one way out Pradeep quickly spoke. "Dekho beta aisa mat karo. Iss old age mein meri aakhri khwaish puri nahi karogi?" he asked putting up one of his best sad faces.
Geet hid her smile while she looked at Pradeep begging her. "Papaji yeh toh cheating hai. Aapne abhi abhi kaha ki aap bilkul old nahi hain. Ab do second main old-age has caught up to you?" she asked bemused.
"Kya karein beta, buddhape main forgetting is common. Main bhool gaya ki I have grown old," he said shaking his head ruefully. "Toh chalo before anything happens let me have my jalebi," he said with a straight face and extending his hands.
"Papaji yeh blackmail hai. Main nahi maan-ne wali," she said shaking her head.
"Magar meri aakhri iccha puri kar sakti ho na beti?" Shekar asked solemnly, eyeing the sweet in her hand.
"Uncleji aap bhi?" she asked incredulously.
"Please beta," both men pleaded folding their hands with a yearning look on their faces.
"Teekhai but only one to each of you," she said handing them each a piece of jalebi and turned to leave only to freeze on the spot. She watched him breeze down the stairs adjusting his sleeves. Wearing a crisp white shirt along with dark blue jeans he glided down the stairs while concentrating on folding up his sleeves. She saw his hairs still seemed damp from the shower while her mind shamelessly wandered towards the racy thoughts of him in shower. Before she could help it her eyes landed on his perfectly bow shaped lips. Instantly, blood rushed to her cheeks as she recalled the events of last night. Her eyes traveled lower as she caught a glimpse of his perfectly chiseled chest as he had a few buttons open down. But the next second she frowned thinking about those good-for-nothing chits staring at her husband.
Maan had woken up all tired and drowsy due to last night's lack of sleep. Watching her hurry away after he had accidently brushed her lips with his, he was unsure where it placed him in relation to her. Tossing and turning on the bed until early in the morning, he finally fell asleep as exhaustion overtook him. A few hours later he awoke, his eyes still heavy with sleep while dark circles began to form under his eyes. Wanting to clear any unwanted confusions he had created last night, he dashed towards the bathroom to take a quick shower.
He walked out in simple dark blue jeans along with white shirt shaking off the excess water in his hair. Quickly brushing it into place he hurried out to find Geet while folding up his sleeves. He ran down the stairs concentrating on his sleeves and failing to notice her almost drooling as he came down. He came to at the end of the stairs and was about to turn around when something familiar caught his eyes. He slowly turned around to see his gorgeous wife holding a bowl of jalebis in her hand. A cute frown adorned her flawless face while her eyes had a distant look. She was adorned in one of the simplest garden vareli sarees that made her look even more beautiful than she already was. Black and red glass bangles jingled on both of her hands as she restlessly shifted the bowl in her hand. Her curly locks had been tamed into a neat long plait that she had brought to the front letting it carelessly hang down near her bare midriff. He gulped nervously trying to suppress those racy thoughts cropping up in his mind. Few loose strands settled around her face teased his senses as he itched to tuck them behind her ears. His eyes roamed to spot something red neatly placed right below her hair partition. A ghost of a smile crept on his lips as he realized she had put red vermillion (sindhoor) near her hair partition. And that smile widened into a full-blown grin while his eyes spotted her black-beaded necklace nicely hanging down her neck. His eyes twinkled in admiration, as she stood fully decked up as a married woman showing she belonged to him. He eagerly walked towards her but was confused to see her frown while muttering continuously under her breath. Thinking she probably was still mad at last night's events and decided to clear the air of misunderstanding.
Geet stood cursing away those women who had dared to drool over her husband and failed to notice him walk to her and stand beside her. He was confused and worried how he could broach the subject making his palms sweat slightly. He cleared his throat hoping to gain her attention and opened his mouth to say something when he heard Shekar speak.
"Arre beta aaja." Shekar beckoned to take a seat adjacent to him while Pradeep looked up to acknowledge him with a warm smile.
Maan turned to see Arun's father greet him and ask him to sit beside him. Not wanting to be rude, he reluctantly passed Geet to take their blessings and sit but his gaze still remained towards Geet. Shekar and Pradeep smiled knowingly at each other seeing Maan's restlessness and decided to pull his leg a little.
"Beta main tumhe call ki aur tum toh sirf vahan dekh rahe ho," Shekar said sounding a bit low.
Maan tore his gaze away from Geet instantly, "Huh? Voh aise koi baat nahi hai Papa. Voh…sirf…main…" he spluttered random words.
"It's alright beta. I wonder which cat got your tongue," Shekar teased giving a high-five to Pradeep. Maan groaned in response for being caught and looked away.
"Geet beta, aaja. Dekho bechara kab se tere parosne ke liye waiting," Pradeep called breaking Geet's mumbling.
She looked up surprised to see Maan sitting adjacent to Shekar while the servant came to serve him a fresh plate of steaming hot breakfast. Shaking her head off those useless women, she came to stand beside Pradeep while placing the bowl of jalebis on the table. "Kya hua Papaji? You called me?" she said not wanting to meet his gaze.
"See he is waiting for you to serve him jalebis," Pradeep pointed.
Unable to escape Shekar and Pradeep's sharp gazes she unwillingly walked around the table corner so she stood right beside Maan. She picked up two pieces of jalebi before placing it on his plate and was about to walk away when she heard Arun's father object.
"Arre ruko beta. Aise nahi," he said shaking his head to Geet and Maan's confusion. "Mere bete ko tumhare haath se khilao," he added with a smug. Seeing her shift uncomfortably he tried to assure, "dekho agar tumhe sharam aa rahi hai toh hum aankhen band kar lenge."
"Nahi Papa main, main khaalunga," Maan interceded picking the jalebi because he didn't want to add to her anger.
"Sharma gayein," Shekar piqued giggling along with Pradeep. "I thought aajkal ke bacche would have advanced magar I see nothing. Humare zamane ke log hi tum logon se behtar the. Kyun Pradeep?"
"Bilkul Shekar yeh log toh bahut shareef nikle," Pradeep regretted shaking his head.
"Vaise ye batao, did you sleep well last night?" Shekar turned to ask Maan mischief evident in his tone. Maan instantly looked at Geet whose face turned a dark shade of red realizing the hidden meaning behind the question much to Shekar and Pradeep's amusement. "Aur, neend aayegi bhi kaisi. Trailer jo yahaan shure hua, puri film toh," he began only to cut off with a loud no from both Maan and Geet simultaneously.
"Kya hua Veerji aap kyun chilla rahe ho?" Maan heard his kid brother walk towards the dining table.
Arjun along with Anushka walked casually towards the dining table chatting and discussing about tonight's wedding. Arjun was as usual irritating Anushka when he heard his brother and sister-in-law scream no for something. Wondering what his veerji was upto he pulled the gang hurriedly towards the dining table.
"Aayiye bacchon." Shekar turned to give them all a warm smile while each one of them came to take blessings from Pradeep and Shekar.
Anushka came to sit beside Maan while Arjun sat beside Pradeep. Servants served them fresh plates when Pradeep enquired if everything was alright with everyone. The gang assured Pradeep everything was fine and would definitely let him know if they needed anything.
"Veerji batayiye na aap kyun chilla rahe the?" Arjun asked biting a piece of paratha.
"Main?" Maan faked innocence. "Nahi toh," he added with a nervous laugh.
"Voh kuch nahi tha beta, hum sirf ek chota sa savaal pucha tha," Shekar said, "aur dono pareshan ho gaye."
"Shekar, there is no point in asking them. Yeh log sirf naam ke liye jawaan hain, magar asli toh hum hain," Pradeep winked twisting his moustache with a knowing look. Anushka and Arjun hooted in response while Maan and Geet looked away in embarrassment. "Anyway hum chalte hain, bahut saara kaam baaki hai," he said getting up along with Shekar.
With Shekar and Pradeep gone, Maan turned towards Geet hoping to gain her attention but his luck wasn't on his side. He saw her mumble under her breath and urgently grab the bowl of jalebis before turning to meet his gaze. He smiled hoping to appease her only for her to twist the corner of her mouth in anger before stomping away. 
Pati Patni Aur Panga
98