PART 46
Mangal Kunj April 23rd
11 PM Onwards
Sunil and Dadi notice the couple again being aloof to each other. They worry
Sunil: Dono pata nahi kyon itna ladte hain ma!
Dadi: Abhi chhotey hain, Sunil Give them time! Your son is very opinionated. Its very hard to live with him, she is very quiet by nature by possesses a will of steel. It would be interesting to see how long they take to find common ground, and how much each has to "give" to the relationship.
Sunil: us din bhi dono ek doosre se baat nahi kar rahe the, aur aaj bhi
Dadi Par tumne ek baat notice kee kya? Both were extremely aware of each other all through the Sunday lunch. He was RIGHT THERE, if she needed something.
Sunil smiles " I actually did, now that you mention it"
Dadi: All these fights are drawing them closer. They are intelligent, mature adults. They are more committed to the other than they would like to like to admit right now. They probably are not even acknowledging it to themselves at this point.
Sunil: How do you say that?
Dadi: Well''.. they are attracted to each other, they agreed for marriage, they seek each other out despite their fights, they just want to test the limits. They both will find a happy nesting spot soon.
Sunil: You are such an expert Ma
Dadi: Nope! I am just a wise old woman.
Sunil: I trust you fully Ma. Warna who has arranged marriages these days?
Dadi: I was not wrong when I arranged yours and Anil's (his bro's). Your wives are the best things that happened to you (generous, kind). They have their quirks, but who doesn't. Too much freedom and lack of responsibility has done that to her. She is a good woman.
Sunil: Only you can be this way.
Dadi: And Khanak. Just watch how she completely loses herself in his love. She has been through so much grief in the 24 years she has been in this world. I trust Shaan to wipe it all off and replace it with himself and joy.
Sunil: I was worried for a while there, about Shaan. I wondered if we were coercing him.
Dadi: Agar yeh baat hoti to who saaf mana kar deta. You've raised your kids well, Sunil. They have been taught to express their opinions fair and square. The fact that he acquiesced tells me there is more to this story than meets the eye (smiles mischievously)
Sunil: I am going to be so happy, I trust you Ma
Gujrals and Mistrys talk about the wedding arrangements over dinner.
Sunil mentions his membership at the The Club at Juhu, where Dhruv and Trishna were married. The Mistrys have no idea who they are. Even though Trishna's parents attended the engagement, they did not have a chance to meet or talk.
Khanak's Dad is extremely reluctant to take up the offer of the Club. He wants to consult Khanak first to understand their financial situation. He unfortunately is not in a position to spend over Rs. 6-10 lakhs maximum, including, food catering, decorations, clothes and gifts. And the rental for non-members at the Club for one nite alone was over Rs 10 lakhs. He was sure Khanak would not like it at all.
His wife wanted them to go slow on the whole thing. The Gujrals wanted the wedding before the end of May. When asked what the rush was, Sunil mentioned their trip to Belize and Dadi's two month "spiritual tour" of the country. Then it would be monsoons in Mumbai and things would get postponed until Fall.
Khanak is with Shaan ever since the ceremonial ring event happened. Dadi did a teeka for both, people hollered for a kiss and a hug. Shaan knew bothe were out of question. He was not big on pblic displays of affection or playing to the stands either.
He had smiled and just held her hand
Ritu: Arrey yaar haath ko to kiss kar do please?
Shaan had lifted her hand adorned with the ring and had grazed his lips on the ring, she had pulled hers back as quickly as she could.
Madhavi congratulated her son first and gave her would-be-DIL a perfunctory hug. She presented her with some diamond jewelry and an expensive Coach bag to score a point with her friends, as to how "modern and progressive a MIL she will be".
Sunil, hugged her warmly and promised to be there for her when ever his errant son crossed the limit. He also wanted her to pick out an apartment in Ajmera's next project that was being planned in Bandra.
There were tens of flowers bouqets and lots of trinkets in silver and gold. Khanak had thought "This is what Trishna must have felt like"
Ritu had corrected her by saying "Gujrals were way more wealthier than her Uncle's family"
Shamim, Ram, Nachiket, Raoul all stayed on after dinner, with the next day being Sunday. Ram was watching her closely, observing how she was not saying much to Shaan at all, his wife Renuka was noticing it also. Shaan was helping her with her lehanga or her dupatta, or bringing a beverage for her, or getting her an extra napkin or second serving, but he wasn't saying much either.
They both wondered what the deal was with this couple. He decided he would talk with her on Monday, not sure if she was planning to come in to Modi & Dastur or go to Ajemra's Corp office.
Dadi walked by and suggested Shaan should show her "around the house"
Khanak worried how her parents were doing. Dadi reassured her that Akshay was taking good care of them
Khanak: Dadi who log kya baat kar rahey hain?
Dadi: You should be thinking of Shaan not your parents (winks)
Khanak (blushing) He is here, I don't have to think about him, Aada kya baat kar rahe hain
Dadi: Shaadi ke arrangements beta
Khanak's face pales. "Kab hai shaadi?"
Dadi: Pehle tum mujhe yeh batao tumhe kab karni hai? (smiles)
Khanak: Dadi'.
Dadi: End of May beta.
Khanak: Yeh to bahut jaldi hai! (shocked)
Dadi: Arrey Shaan to keh raha tha, ek hafte mein rakh lenge
Khanak thinks "your grandson is insane, he needs to be treated" "Unko shaayad kaam se bhaagne ka mann hoga, mujhe apna kaam pyaara hai"
Dadi: Shaan se zyaada?
Khanak has no answer.
Khanak: Dadi, shaadi ke kharche ke bare mein mujhe Aada se baat karni hogi. Who meri shaadi ki khushi mein bina sochey samjhe kisi baat ke liye bhi raazi ho jaayenge (worries)
Dadi: You have to trust me! (gently) All will be well
Khanak: Shaadi Ahmedeabad mein hogi na?
Dadi is bemused, "Nahi, shaadi to Mumbai mein hogi"
Khanak: Lekin kahan?
Dadi: Sunil to Juhu ke The Club ki soch raha hai
Her hand flies to her mouth. "Oh! No! WAHAN?" "Wahan? Wahan to hum kisi ko nahi jaante"
Dadi: Tum dulhan ho, tumhe zyaada socha nahi hai, samjhi
Khanak is seriously upset, wants to walk over and pull her Aada out of the discussions and start from the beginning.
Dadi: Khanak, tum meri ek baat maanogi?
Khanak: Jee Dadi?
Dadi: Will you let me take care of everything?
Khanak: You mean financially? (that's the thought that's been chewing her up for days)
Dadi: Who bhi!
Khanak: Oh! No! No! Dadi
Dadi: Why not?
Khanak: I can never let you pay, or him, (referring to Shaan) or Uncle.
Dadi: Uncle nahi beta, you must call him Dad.
Khanak is too distraught to listen
Khanak: Dadi, I am arranging for a loan. I will know more in a week.
Dadi is stunned. She is proud and admires Khanak's self confidence, but is not sure if she can come up with the Rs 1-2 crores required.
Dadi: I wish I could ask you not to worry
Khanak: Dadi I really don't want to get married in Mumbai
Dadi: Par beta, hamare log sab yahan hai. Tumhare Kaka bhi Pune mein hain. Tumhari Bai bata rahi thi ki unki sisters Akola aur Ranchi mein hain, so they can all come here.
Khanak is quite disappointed with the domineering decision making. Is even more upset with Shaan.
Dadi: abhi tm ghar dekho jao
Dadi:Shaan, can you come here a minute?
Shaan: Jee Dadi
Dadi: I want you to show her around
Shaan: Sure!
Khanak is too mad to go, Dadi nudges her
Dadi: Atleast say something to each other when you are alone, will you? Main waapis aakar test loongi dono ka. I want atleast 10 sentences from each of you, and you Khanak I want a 30 minute spiel.
Khanak manages a half smile, Dadi whisks Ritu away from the work crowd to talk about somethings.
Shaan: You have to watch your skirt when you do the stairs
Khanak: Hmmm
Shaan: Do you want to start from my room first?
Khanak: It doesn't matter''.
Shaan: My room it is then'..
They get to the room, its all in blue and white. The room is bigger than Khanak and Ritu's Chembur apartment. There are pictures on the wall, sports memorabilia, team pennants, college graduation pictures, some nature pictures shot by him, a huge chest of drawer in one corner, two doors one on each side.
Shaan: Were you going to run away?
Khanak: Not tonite!
Shaan: Do you have a day picked out.
Khanak: I am close.
Shaan:Any chances it might be the wedding day?
Khanak: Oh! Youll know''..
He opens one of the two doors, "His and Hers closets". Yours is empty obviously!". Khanak's heart jumps.
The bed is HUGE.
There is a comfy couch, a bean bag a huge television in one corner with all sorts of gaming things attached.
Khanak: I think watching TV in bed is a bad idea!
Shaan: I didn't think so but I agree (since I will have better things to do in bed now).
Khanak: I like to work late.
Shaan: I am flexible (I can stay up till you do)
She sits on the couch and flips some magazines.
Shaan: No Khanak, I am not sleeping on the couch!
Khanak 's face heats up and her hands tremble, when she sets the mag back on the coffee table her ring sparkles, he is seated on the arm rest of the couch on the side, hands in his pockets.
Khanak: it doesn't matter'. As long as we take it slow.
Shaan: Ofcourse we will (talking about something else altogether)
Khanak: I want to by the side close to the wall.
Shaan: That's where I sleep
Khanak: But it will be mine. I cant sleep by the door.
Shaan: Why? (curious)
Khanak: Mujhe dar lagta hai!
He controls his laughter, biting his lower lip in the process. "We are inside a fortified building so to speak
Khanak: I don't care I wont sleep by the door. (husky)
Shaan: Alright! (there is something immensely endearing about her suddenly, child like)
Khanak: Who did you go off to meet?
Shaan: Kab?
Khanak: Jab main aayi to aap nahi the.
He just smiles.
She stands up and walks to the balcony. His phone rings, hers is with Ritu. He answers it with a apology to her first'''
She steps out into the verandah
It's the most beautiful feeling for her, there are pots and pots of flowering plants, roses, pansies, dahlias, the balcony rail is wound with jasmine vines, and the most breathtakingly beautiful scent engulfs her. She stands there with eyes shut, drinks in the scent, leans over, to let the sea breeze wash over her body, she can see fishing trawlers at a distance, the orange lanterns flickering and bobbing. The nite is still, she sees purple flowers under the window ledge, peeks over they are like a semi shrub its lavender''.. she pulls some flowers off the jasmine vine, smiling, the white flowers contrast with her crimson coated mehandied hands, she gets a handful and just stares at it. The sky is sparkling, all the stars are in full attendance tonite, the moon presides over in full glory.
Cups her hands and leans out the 9th floor balcony again.
Shaan: Not planning to jump are you?
Her heart races. Her voice is suddenly squeaky
Khanak: Nope!
She knows he has walked up to her.
His scent mixes with the jasmine in her hands.
He takes one and smells it
Shaan: Do you like these?
Khanak: I LOVE them. I am not brave enough, but I would string them and wear em like Maharshtrian women do.
Shaan: You should (his tone hads changed)
She moves to the side, the wall is by her left shoulder, she is backed up to the railing, his hand is holding the rail on the right.
Shaan: You should wear it to bed one nite (husky)
Khanak: What are you? a Mughal prince in disguise?
Shaan: I can be what ever you want me to be. (inches closer)
Khanak: A design engineer is fine.(detached)
Shaan (nuzzling her neck) A Director actually.
She is still cupping the flowers in her hands, in between them ''.blocking his approach, he tries to grab the flowers and empty her hands, she closes them.
Shaan: Do I get an apology for the stunt you pulled earlier?
Khanak: Agreeing to get engaged to you, you mean? (muffled '''on his arm, squirming)
He laughs into her neck, her wit is unfailing.
Shaan: Ha! (holds her chin and moves her face towards him)
Khanak: Shantanu!
Shaan: You look gorgeous today.
Khanak: Thanks (shy) (stepping forward involuntarily to feel him)
Shaan: You are a stunningly beautiful woman! (throaty)
Khanak: You are pretty OK urself! (avoiding his kiss, fighting his overtures)
He frees some of the flowers and the others stick to her waist, he finds her left hand, the one with the ring, and links his fingers.
Shaan: What is it about us Khanak? (husky)
She gets her first kiss under the stars, enveloped in the scent of jasmine, in the balcony, bathed in moonlight, from an immensely good looking guy who will soon be her husband!😳😳
Edited by aditee - 14 years ago
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
