Jassi, Ruby mom and Nazneen are sitting in Gulmohur's cafeteria, reliving old memories. Jassi grows a bit sentimental as she remembers the times they used to tease her about her special someone, not knowing it was Armaan sir; the number of times they stood by her when Mallika or Pari ridiculed her; their pride in her achievements; their own little worries and vexations……her eyes are rapt with memories.😳
Nazneen breaks her spell. "Jassiiiiii….kya hua?? Kahan kho gayi?"
Jassi: (coming back with a sigh) Kuch nahin…soch rahi thi, waqt kitni jaldi guzar jaata hai…kal main iss office mein Armaan ki secretary thi…aur aaj, main hum dono ke pyaar ki nishaani ko iss office mein leke aayi hun…..(sighs again, dreamily, then rouses herself) …arre, aaj Neha Shastri kahin dikhayi nahin de rahi?
Ruby mom: Wo toh aaj leave par hai…uski beti ka hospital mein appointment hai…
Jassi: (eyes widening) Hospital??
Ruby Mom proceeds to explain. Jassi listens with sympathy as she comes to know that Neha's daughter Nikki is in follow-up therapy for leukamia, and that Raj has started visiting them. After hearing the whole account, she declares her intention of going soon with Armaan to meet Neha and Nikki. Ruby and Nazneen give her a "That's our Jassi!" look.😛
Jassi: (thoughtfully) Nikki 8 saal ki hai na….Vedika se togdi-si badi….dono mein dosti ho sakti hai……
They all part reluctantly. Before Armaan leaves, Raj reminds him that he has to tell Jassi about CJ. Armaan nods, and Jassi catches the look. She wonders, "Yeh log kya baat kar rahe tha….Gulmohur mein sab theek hai na?"
Armaan sees her, smiles reassuringly and slips his arm around her shoulders. 😳They walk out, with Ashish and Vedika clinging to them.
At night, in JandA's bedroom:
Jassi has just put Ashish to sleep and tiptoed to Ila's room to check on Vedika (the smart kid has chosen to sleep with her Granny tonight!). She comes back to find Armaan lying back on the bed, staring besottedly at her.😳
Jassi blushes. She is in a wine-red nightgown, with her hair loose around her shoulders. The moonlight from the window bathes her face in an angelic glow. Armaan is in a soft pink night-shirt and pyjamas (only he can carry off pink the way he does!😛) and looks…..erm…..edible. As Jassi approaches the bed, blushing lightly, he leans out, grabs her hand and pulls her so that she nearly falls on him. She gives a little shriek, "Armaannnn! Kya kar rahe ho….!" and struggles to get out of his grasp.
Armaan: (with an unmistakable glint in his eyes) Wahi….jiska itne din se intezaar tha……
Jassi's face is so red that one can almost feel the heat on her cheeks. 😉Armu puts out a gentle hand and caresses them, slowly and lingeringly. Softly he murmurs, "Jassi….."
Jassi: (eyes closed in rapture) Umm…?
Armu is about to say something about his conversation with Raj; then, seeing her face, he decides against it—"Kya main Jassi ko abhi CJ ke baare mein bataa dun? Hmmm……abhi nahin….shayad ye galat waqt hai😉…."
Jassi has opened her eyes and is now looking questioningly at him. She opens her mouth, presumably to ask what he was about to say; but Armaan lays his finger on her lips. As she continues gazing at him, he takes her chin and draws her face closer to his. The lights go out.😳
Next morning:
Jassi gets up and looks a bit dazedly around. Her hair is all tousled and last night's flush is still faintly lighting her cheeks. Then she catches sight of Armaan before the mirror, all dressed and ready to go, and utters a cry of dismay.
"Armaan…..kitni der ho gayi…tumne mujhe uthaya kyun nahin?"
Armu: (grinning) Tum itne aaraam se so rahi thi, ki tumhe disturb karne ka mann nahin kiya….
Jassi: Aur main soch rahi thi ki aaj tumhare saath Gulmohur chalu?
Armu: Never mind…kal chal lena…. (kisses her quickly on the cheek, then pulls back and looks thoughtfully at her)
Jassi: Kya hua?
Armu: Umm……nothing much…..lekin aaj jab main waapas aaunga, toh mujhe tumse bahut zaroori baat karni hai….
Jassi looks mystified but since he is apparently in a hurry, asks no questions. He drives off and she comes inside. Just then the phone rings.
The caller is Uma Oberoi, Raghav's mother, whom Jassi has apparently not visited in a long time. Looking a bit guilty, Jassi quickly promises to meet her that evening at the Oberoi mansion.
Monday: Jassi meets Uma and Meera
CID
