Part Eighteen: Apna Bana Lo
Manali Bus Station: Late Afternoon
"Shaantanu hum yahaan se kahaan ja rahay hain…?" Khanak spoke up for the first time since they had arrived at the bus station thirty minutes ago. The only time he had left her by herself was when he went to get their tickets from the crowded booth around the corner.
"Delhi…hum yahaan se Delhi ja rahay hai Khanak…" He handed her the water bottle he had in his duffel bag that he had been carrying with him all along. She took a sip on his insistence and then looked up at him with questioning eyes.
"Lakin app ke parents toh Mumbai mein hain…Delhi kyun…?"
"Adi Bahiyaa ki baat bhool gayi kya?... Dad nahi maanay…vahaan jaanay ka koi faida nahi hain abb…Mom, Bhabhi, aur Daadi ki support bhi bahut kum hain humaray liye…Maine Delhi waali music company kay saath contract finalize kar diya hain…abb se humay sub kuch khud sambhaal na hoga…"
"Kya…? App ne meri vajah se…"
"Nahi Khanak…maine yeh sub kuch apni khatir kiya hain…Infact, main bahut selfish ho aur shaayad iss selfishness ki vajah se tumhay Adi Bahiyaa se bhi durr kar diya maine…I just…main abb tumhare bagair nahi reh sakta…aisa abb main sooch bhi nahi sakta..."
He kept his eyes locked with hers throughout their conversation as she could easily see the same helplessness that she felt reflect in his light brown orbs. They shared a moment of silence before she scooted herself closer towards him; placing her head on his shoulder with his left arm as her solitary support as they waited for their bus to arrive.
Mumbai
Meanwhile, the Khandelwal's were back in Mumbai safe and sound. Sunil didn't say a word about Shaantanu or his whereabouts but he had to endure Madhavi and his mother's concerns about him all throughout their journey back home. He was not setting any parameters for them like he did last time by prohibiting any contact with Shaantanu which was surprising for Madahvi and Khushboo at first but Daadi assured them that Sunil is doing all this to keep his own regret from taking over his huge ego. He was willing to make deals with Shaantanu, but he wanted nothing to do with Khanak. Khandelwal women had been firm in their decision of siding with Shaantanu and this time they could trust him whole-heartedly as he was supporting and standing up for his love which they approved of in just one meeting. They had already accepted Khanak as Shaantanu's wife and their youngest daughter-in-law despite Sunil's differences and opposition.
"Mom toh abb kya hoga…?" Khusboo asked as she joined Madahvi in the living area after unpacking her luggage and resting up.
"Abb Shaantanu meri sweet junior daughter-in-law ko ghar lakay aaye ga…"
"Really Mom…but kaise…?"
"When the time is right…thodi dair Sunil ko akray rehnay do...phir dekhna voh khud apno betay aur bahu ko ghar laai gay…"
"Itna confidence Mom..? iss baar app Shaantanu kay ghar na anay per bhi sad nahi hain?"
"Sad?...are you kidding Khushboo..mera beta apni subse bari khushi, apnay pyaar kay saath hain phir main iss baat se udhaas kyun hongi…? voh aik talented singer hain aur I am sure he'll make his mark soon enough, kissi bhi cheez ki kami nahi hain uss mein..main uskay liye bahut khush ho chahay uss kay khud kay Dad uss say naraaz kyun na ho…"
"That's true Mom..Shaan jahaan bhi jaaye ga…jis kay saath kaam karay ga voh bahut lucky hoga…uss ka career ussay aik nayi pehchaan de ga aur Khanak uss ki support ban kar voh karay gi jo shayaad hum itnay saaloon mein nahi kar sakay…my sweet devar and the sweetest devrani will soon be in this house if all goes well…"
"Yes my dear! Bus abb humay ghar per sub normally carry on karna ho ga…even Maa ne bhi yahi soocha hain kay koi sadness nahi koi rona dhona nahi…Sunil ko hum apnay emotional aur kamzoor honay ka leverage bilqual nahi de sakte…"
"I think Daadi is right! Unn kay plans are always fool proof…" Khusboo said with a wide smile and Madhavi nodded her head in agreement.
They were willing to put up with distance from Shaantanu and Khanak because they believed that ultimately everything will fall in to its right place and that the two beloved members of Khandelwal clan will find their way back home in time.
Day Later In Delhi
The first thing Shaantanu and Khanak decided to do after arriving in Delhi was to be tied together forever in a marital bond. There were no grand traditions that went down, no new clothes or relatives were invited. Witnesses were present for them to declare themselves as man and wife in-front of the judge and that was it. An official marriage on paper was evident of how serious they were about each other. However, after being registered as a couple, Shaantanu took her to the temple and got their blessings from the priest who wished them generously for their future after they took the seven sacred rounds around the holy fire and symbolized their relationship with vermilion and the emblematic black beaded ribbon that Shaantanu tied around Khanak's neck. It was as simple as it sounded and looked.
Their first night together was not traditional like other newly weds either. They were both exhausted from their trip to Delhi in an over crowded bus and as soon as they found themselves with a luxury of a room in a small hotel they surrendered themselves to much needed sleep in each others arms. Although everything that had happened with them in the past eight days had brought them miles away from the lives that they had been accustomed to, they remained unaffected by the hardships or the consequences as long as they were together and complete just as they looked when they slept away peacefully on their "wedding" night.
"Shaantanu hum yahaan se abb kahaan jaaye gay?"
"Purple Aquarium Studios…yahi naam likha hain iss contract mein jis ko maine Manali se fax kiya tha… Advance ka check pick up kar ke koi rehnay ki jagah dhontay hain…" Shaantanu informed Khanak as he checked the contract file once again for address confirmation. They were standing in the hotel lobby with their minimal luggage after checking out from the front desk.
"Check ajj he mill jaaye ga…?"
"Hmm… aur kaam bhi shuru hojaaye ga aik haftey mein…Sorry wifey but romance aur kaam dono saath saath karnay paray ge…" He smiled as he held her by her shoulders and pulled her closer, emphasizing on the word wifey.
"Mujhe sub manzoor hain Husband…!" she replied smiling back at as his eyes lit up at her acknowledgment of their relationship whole heartedly like he had anticipated. They were both happy being husband and wife and it felt great to hear it out loud.
The cabbie in Delhi was helpful in getting them to their desired location to the studios. The glass building looked exquisite from the outside; it had about 12 floors in total judging by the height. Khanak remained on the ground floor as Shaantanu checked in with the receptionist and went to the 3rd floor to pick up his check that he was promised. She took in the surroundings of the place where Shaantanu would be spending a lot of his from now on. It was a crisp lobby with huge widow panes and art work on the walls. People were walking in and out of the elevators, in the lobby as well the main door; she could tell a place like this will surely take Shaantanu and his talents to new heights.
"Ready Khanak?..." Shaantanu came up fro behind and startled Khanak who was still observing the place.
"Arey itni jaldi app aa bhi gaye?"
"Hmm…bus HR se check he toh pick karna tha…vaise bhi main yahaan zayaada dair rukh kar time waste nahi karna chahta tha kyunki thodi dino mein yahi sub loog mera time aur attention dono ko apna haq samjhay gay…anyways humay ghar dhoond na hain toh abhi chalna chahiyay…"
"Per check ko deposite toh karva le pehle…"
"Haan raastey mein karva le ge…no tension wifey…!"
Shaantanu had visited Delhi once with his friends before so he had some idea where he would find a reasonable and safe place for the two of them to call home. He had already spotted a small apartment building where he had seen vacancy signs on their way over to the Studio. The nice cabbie was still around for them when they stepped out from the Studio, so they had no trouble depositing the newly received check and then heading over to the apartment complex.
They met with the owner of the building and settled for a one bedroom half furnished on the 6th floor that was in their range. The rent was 900 without the utilities and above all Khanak had loved the small balcony that looked over the busy roads in the day and the clear Delhi skies at night.
"Khanaaakkk tum balcony ko choro gi ya pura din vahi per rehnay ka iraada hain?!" Shaantanu called from the inside as he looked about the minimal furniture that their new home had. He wondered what the point of the bed was if it had no mattress.
"Nahi per app ander kya kar rahay hain…yahaan bahir aii na…please…!" She answered from the balcony and Shaantanu was left with no option but to follow her sweet request with a smile.
He came up from behind and held her in his arms, looking out to the sun set that she was enjoying for moments before his embrace engulfed her which she enjoyed more than the view. Her hair smelled like flowers as he took in the scent and closed his eyes, loving the close proximity in which they were standing.
"Apartment theek hain na Khanak…?" he asked suddenly after a pause.
"Yeh toh humara Ghar hain app isse "apartment" bilqual nahi keh sakte…" she smiled turning her head so that she could look him in eye as she answered.
"Such…?!" he questioned trying to contain his excitement but his eyes conveyed the feeling equally as they sparkled brightly looking in to hers.
"Mmmhmm…bilqual such…"
The rest of the evening was spent settling in, dusting and making hammock beds out of the bed sheets that Shaantanu bought from the store across the complex building. They decided to manage on for fast food for tonight and planned on going out for mattress and home shopping the following day. Overall the place was cosy and comfortable for the couple and soon they would transform it into their own little piece of heaven.
P.S: Spinning yet? That was intended...this story will move on fast. and you can bet on it...Hope you liked it...i tried not to wander on with randomness in this update...LOL...
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-Imane
Anupamaa
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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