Casa 50B on 146 Most links on Page 1) - Page 59

PART 27

Shivneri Nagar, Chembur. Mumbai

Friday April 1^st (two weeks or so from last part)

Khanak: Please Ritu, I don't want to go. I came home early today, because, I wanted to relax, next weeken I am working and the weekend after that we have an offsite at Matheran.

Ritu: You have been invited also, you know know that don't you?

Khanak: Only because I am your room mate. You know what you shouldn't even be here, your parents are at your Uncle's. Sab tumhe miss kar rahey hongey.

Ritu: Oh! Don't get all melodramatic with me, I got here a half hour ago. Ive been with my parents since Tuesday night. There are too many people in that house (graimce)

Khanak: Well Trishna is getting married is she not? (sarcastic)

Rity: EXACTLY! Ab yaad aaya tujhe? Mystery girl?

Khanak: Very funny! Ritu, I am serious''.. I don't know anybody except your parents and brother and you know I am socially akward and dull. I am no fun at any party.

Ritu: You know Shaan (?) (winks) He was there last nite. He even asked where you were.

Khanak (blushing): Umm' you've actually said that three times in the past hour.

Ritu: You guys are so cute, you want to be with each other, you check on each other but wont admit to each other.

Khanak: Oh! Please give me a break, alright? Do I seem dopey eyed, romantic and all gushy to you (irritated)

Ritu: Ek minute ruko (holds her chin and examines her face)

Khanak: Ritu

Ritu: I see a blush''.. dopey?......... ummm.. may be'

Khanak: Stop it! After THAT! I am definitely not going.

Ritu: What if he comes by again, and asks for you?

Khanak: IF he wanted to speak with me, he could have called me (disappointed?)

Ritu: Maine usko KAHA, Maloom?

Khanak: OMG! What did you say?

Ritu smiles mischievously "Kyon? Main kyon bataoon? Yeh mere aur uske aapas ki baat hai"

Khanak: Never mind (nonchalant)

Ritu: Please? (begging)

Khanak: You should take a friend from work I think

Ritu: You tricked me about work and did not go to the sangeet last nite, so you HAVE TO GO to the mehandi tonite. I am not taking no for an answer, leans back on the wall.

Khanak looks at her, she seems awfully tired, her eyes are red, must have stayed up all nite and must have not slept during the day, she thinks. From what she had been narrating it seemed like a very affluent yet private ceremony. Tonite's was at a club in Juhu.

Ritu starts to doze off, Khanak checks her watch, its close to 4 PM, she had taken off work early. The last two weeks had been crazy busy. She hadn't met Shaan at all actually. He hadn't called her either. She heard from Ram that he was travelling partially, and was at the construction site the remainder of time.

She quietly busies herself in cleaning the house and loading some laundry, turns on FM on the radio in the kitchen and checks the frig to see what she could cook for dinner.

A hour goes by, Khanak is watching TV on mute. Ritu wakes up refreshed, Khanak makes chai, they both talk about what Ritu will wear for the wedding.

Ritu: Tum aaj sham ko kya pehan rahi ho?

Khanak: hmmmmm (giving up) I can go, but I will return in an hour or two.

Ritu: You should just return in 30 minutes (mocks)

Khanak smiles mockingly.

Khanak: I don't have any fashionable clothes for a Juhu mehandi

Ritu: Lets try some of mine (arches her eyebrows and points to her suitcase in the corner). Mom brought tons of my clothes from Delhi. Isme to naya bhi hai (winks)

Khanak: Nope! Main har baat tumhaari nahi maan sakti

Ritu: Khanak'''

Khanak: I will just wear a saree.

Ritu: Please wear the pale pink one'''.. please please please''(begs, hands folded)

Khanak: Which one, the one that has silver sequins in the border?

Ritu: Bingo!

Khanak: The blouse is a lil too risqu.

Ritu: Sangeet was all about risqu you missed it, so its your punishment, you show up in those clothes tonite.

Khanak: You are funny and strict!

Ritu: Yep! (smug)

They both go off to get ready. Shower, change of clothes, kohl under the eyes, pink bangles in one arm, picture complete.

Ritu's driver is waiting downstairs, when they get to the club house in Juhu, its almost 7:30 PM

Khanak: Dekho abhi 7:30 ho gaya, just coz you made me go, I am going to borrow your car to return home.

Ritu: Gladly (grins)

Khanak: I haven't bought a THING for your cousin (dismayed)

Ritu: Shaadi ke baad de dena (casual)

Khanak: Like she is going to live in Mumbai, kahan ja rahi hai?

Ritu: Colorado! YOU should know''..

Khanak: Why? (surprised)

Ritu: Your guy and Dhruv are best friends (taunts)

She blushes again "He's is NOT my guy, and no I had no idea Dhruv was his best friend.

Ritu: Tum log aapas mein kya baat karte ho when you meet? (incredulous) Nahi, don't tell me, you guys prolly never talk (winks)

Khanak: Ritu'' bahut zyaada ho gaya yaar, please!

Ritu: Aaj baat kar lena, it's a club house, so you can't make out (really? We'll find out 😳😉)If he makes it, he said something abt being double booked for tonite.

Khanak: Yayyyyyyy! Yeh baat tum mujhe pehle keh deti to hum 4 baje yaha pahunch jaate (grins, one of those rare things)

The driver parks the car almost a mile away from the clubhouse, despite Ritu urging him to argue with the ushers and guards.

Get off and walk around the side and enter, its already teeming with activity, there are lights everywhere, inside and outside, melodious instrumental music is played, there are kids everywhere, with bangles in their hands, mehandi in one or both hands, there are stalls and stalls and stalls of things around the periphery of the central courtyard. Bangles, multiple mehand kiosks, dupattas, laakh jewelry, silver trinkets, purses, bindis, a Lancome beauty consultant had set up shop and was overseeing her team work on women and teens. Shahnaz's troops were there working on another group of women. Khanak had not seen such an elaborate "mehandi" ceremony ever before.

Ritu: where should we go first (laughs at Khanak's shocked expression)

Khanak: Give me an hour or two to take in all this (waves her hands)

Ritu: Tumhe to 30 min mein ghar jaana hai na, Mystery?

Khanak: Ha ha!

Ritu: Pehle kuch khaate hain (pointing to the 10s of white unformed guys walking around stiffly carrying trays of finger foods in gloved hands.)

Khanak: I am not hungry''. Tum kha lo, the mirror work skirts look gorgeous! No one told me, I could have supplied those! (complains)

Ritu: Go pick out any you like.

Khanak: How do we pay?

Ritu: Madam, yeh Mamiji ka idea hai, you are GUEST, THIS IS A SHAADI. Idiot, go pick out'. You don't have to pay.

Bigger shock for Khanak!

Ritu's Uncle spots her and walks up to them, they both greet him, he is obviously very very happy that Ritu's "sehmi si, chup chup rehne waali room mate" is finally here. Uncle pampers them for a few minutes' and someone takes him away.

Another family member wants to know something so Ritu is gone.

She walks around in daze''.. watching the most gorgeous looking men and women laugh and chatter away''.. leans on one of the flower string adorned pillars and looks down at her hands''.. they've never been adorned with mehandi since the day Sooraj had died.

Shaan: Cherry blossom festival in Mumbai? (from behind her, in her ear)

(FYI: The annual Cherry Blossom festival is held in Washington DC in April, visually one of the most spectacular nature events. The blossoms are the most gorgeous shade of pink)