Part Twenty Four: Meray Humrahi
Delhi
Purple Aquarium Studios
9:15
"So Wifey how are you liking it so far…Our new Studio…?" Shaantanu questioned Khanak as her gleeful eyes roamed around the lavish room for the umpteenth time; it would take her days to get used of calling it her own. This personalized studio had no comparison with Manali's rusty theater room's backside where her musical talents took birth under Sir.Shehkar's encouragement when he had listened in on one of her secret singing sessions.
"Kitna bara hain Shaantanu… yahaan per toh instruments bhi sub set kiyay huye hain…aur voh choota sa stage kitna cute hain…!" She was pointing to each and every corner of the room like a child trying to pick out her favorite ride in an amusement park. Shaantanu has never seen her smile in continuity like she was at the moment; it was suiting her plump rosy lips that were naturally inviting for him as he watched her intently.
"Hmm…main jaanta tha tumhay pasand aaye ga… you know issi stage per hum practice kiya karay ge…" He moved towards the stage and positioned the two high wooden stools so that the microphones hanging from the ceiling would fall directly adjacent to the person sitting on them. "Yahaan… meray right per tum behta karo gi...Maine mike bhi tumhari height se mila diya hain… aur tumharay exactly barabar mein main honga aur mera guitar…"
She comes forward and settles herself on the stool which was on the right and sure enough the mike was hanging at an angle from a perfect height. "Aap ne toh issay bilqual meray hisaab se set kiya hua hain…aggar koi aur singer finalize huyi hoti…"
"Nahi Kahank…yeh jagah sirf tumhari hain aur kabhi kissi aur ki nahi ho sakti…" he said possessively as he moved towards her. She smiled warmly at him and held out her hand for him to hold. He obliges and holds it.
"Thank you Shaantanu…" She speaks up slowly as he circles his thumb gently on her knuckles. He looks up at her as she vocalizes her gratitude, but instead of replying back, he brings her delicate hand near his lips and kisses it in admiration without taking interrupting the conversation that their eyes were having on their own. Her smile creeps back on her rosy lips and the crimson is obvious on her pretty face once again.
Knock…Knock…
"Yeah, it's open…come on in…!" he says loudly looking back the closed wooden door while she takes her hand back and stands up next to him, straightening herself a little for the expected visitor.
The door opens and surprises Khanak and Shaantanu with an adorable appearance of two year old in pony tails. Her curious eyes peep in as she leans in her head and notices a pretty girl dressed in her favorite shade of pink and lemon yellow standing next to a tall and dark haired guy who is looking at her confusingly.
"Main ander ajao…?" she asked stepping inside and revealing her Cheer Bear that was in her right hand as her left hand gripped the corner of her daisy pattern dress that matched her bright orange shoes.
Khanak walks up to her with a friendly smile and invites her in. Shaantanu follows his wife a bit confused at the situation and the appearance of the little one in his Studio.
"Hi…Main Khanak ho…aur app?" Khanak introduces herself as she bends down to her height and puts her hand forward towards the little girl with extremely beautiful and curious big brown eyes that reminded Khanak of her own.
"Siya…Maama mujhay apna little Angel kehti hain..!" she declared in a chirpy one while placing her palm against Khanak's extended one, it was kind of a low five for her.
"Oh wow! Maama toh phir bilqual theek kehti hain…app toh ho he itni pyaari, bilqual angel jaisi…!" Khanak's compliment light up Siya's face as she suddenly leaps on to her and gives her a quick peck on the cheek.
Before Khanak could return the favor to the adorable Angel, Suhaani walks in from behind holding several things in her hands, including an art kit and a glittery Barbie hand bag. Sia runs to her and hugs her left leg. By now Shaantanu had already figured exactly who the cute little intruder belongs to, he smiles watching Suhaani's flustered expression as she tries to balance the things in her hand while getting her leg crushed by her daughter's tight hug.
"Siya…let go of Maama's leg jaaan…" Suhaani instructs as Shaantanu comes forward to help her with the things she is holding in her hands. Khanak is still in awe of Siya who is not willing to let go of her mother's leg until she picks her up in her arms.
"Angel app ko toh mujh se bhi zayaada jaldi thi yahaan aanay ki…? Maama kay haath mein saari cheezein chor kar khud bhaag aayi…" Suhaani smiles as she holds her daughter firmly, balancing her on her waist. Sia simply nods her head and agrees to the accusation of leaving behind her mother and her belongings behind.
"Maama! Aaani achi lag rahai hain na?"
"Aaani…? Voh yahaan kahaan hain…" Suhaani questioned wondering where her daughter saw her younger sister who Sia referred to as Aaani ever since she started talking.
"Yeh rahi Maama…app ke saamnay…" Siya points to Khanak who is standing next to Shaantanu and listening in on Sia and Suhaani's conversation.
"Arey yeh Khanak Di hain Angel…Aaani toh Mumbai mein hain jaan…lakin haan bahut pyaari lag rahi hain Khanak Di.." Suhaani reasoned with Syia as she came forward towards Khanak and agreed with the compliment that Siya had given Khanak.
"Maama yeh bhi Aaani hain…! unka dress bhi vahi color hain jo Aaani ko hum ne gift kiya tha!" Siya insisted on calling Khanak Aaani and Suhaani's reasoning faltered at the connection that she had made with the dress. No one could stand an argument with the most adorable one year old that Suhaani held in her arms and so it was finalized that Khanak was now Siya's Aaani.
"Okay baba! Aaani he bula na app inhay! Lakin main toh mill lo…" Suhaani places Siya down and came over to Khanak and hugged her warmly as if she was really meeting Siya's original Aaani who resided in Mumbai with her family. Khanak had that genuine face that reminded Suhaani of her younger sister and maybe Siya had felt the same thing when she encountered Khanak minutes ago.
"Hi Khanak!...Main Suhaani…I am sure Shaantanu ne sub details bata di hongi…" she said backing out from the warm hug while looking over at Shaantanu who was all smiles for Suhaani's warmth towards Khanak.
"Jee…aur I am sure inhonay meri saari details app ko bata de hongi…" Khanak looked over at Shaantanu knowingly as she replied to Suhaani.
"Wait a minute! Tum dono…Shaan!...I don't believe this…tum nay yeh detail mujh se jaan kay chupai hain na Rockstar?!" Suhaani questioned Shaantanu as she was just figuring out that they were a couple. It took her a while to connect the dots but Khanak's "inhonay" proved that the black beaded string around her neck and the claret parting represented Shaantanu's rights over his pretty wife who was Khanak.
"Jee voh actually…I wanted to lakin tub yeh saath nahi thi…lakin ajj hain toh abb proper introduction ho gaya…" Shaantan blushed a little at Suhaani's question but Khanak was completely red and nervous.
"Hmm…yeh bhi sahi hain…itni pyaari wife hain, issay toh mil kar hi yakeen hota!"
"Thanks…!" Shaantanu looks at Khanak with a smile but she is busy observing Siya who is now standing next to her, tugging on the shiny beaded lace on the border of her dupatta.
"It's so nice to meet you Khanak…or shall I say Mrs.Rockstar! vaise yahaan kya sub ko yeh baat pata thi…?" Suhaani asked the couple.
"Nahi…actually voh subah se Sharma aur team busy thay kissi meeting mein toh Khanak ki sub say pehli mulaqaat Studio mein app he say hui hain…I just showed her around after we got here…"
"Oh haan…voh ajj promotions vaaley aaye hain na iss liye…long aur boring meeting hain, main pehlay he briefed hogaye thi iss liye meeting mein nahi gayi…"
"That'a good…! Khanak ko bhi app se milli ki jaldi thi…aur abb app ki cute si beti bhi meri wife ki best friend ban gayi hain…" Shaantanu pointed towards Siya and Khanak who were experimenting keys on the piano as Siya had pulled her towards the stage which was also her favorite part of the Studio. Suhaani agreed with Shaantanu and smiled looking at the sight of her daughter bonding with Khanak effortlessly, she was glad to see Siya happy with someone other than her considering she was not easy to open up to anyone, even to the kids who were her own age.
After sometime, Suhaani gave Siya her art kit and got her busy with coloring as she needed to explain the Album criteria to the talented couple. The album required variety in song choice and composition. Suhaani had given Shaantanu and Khanak full authority to approach the Album with their own creativity as long as it included a minimum of 7 songs with diverse moods to make it a complete package. Once the songs are finalized in lyrics and composition, recording would be next and then music videos for the selected number. The plan for the tour and the grand launch was still in the works as Suhaani had drafted only the current agenda so everything is done one step at a tome, without any distractions or delays. Khanak was reminded of Shekhar's intricate style of working as she listened to Suhaani talk out the possibilities, while Shaantan couldn't agree more with the terms that Suhaani had penned down for his very first Album.
"Sounds good?" Suhani looked up at Shaantanu and Khanak after concluding her agenda book verbally.
"Sounds great! Such mein I think hum dono bahut lucky hain kay humay app jaisi handler milli…iss Album ko hum dono ki pehchaan banay kay liye you have done so much…I.."
"Oye Rockstar abb bus bhi karo…you are making me too proud…! vaise bhi jub se tum dono ko milli ho main khud iss Album se inspire hogayi ho…it has got something exceptionally beautiful in it!"
Suhaani declares her thoughts with a soft smile as Khanak and Shaantanu steal glances in between, their dreams were finally taking shape in their reality and they were both right there to see and feel every single thing about this transformation. It felt good be there, to let the feeling sink in…little by little.
P.S: Just wanted to say that I Love You for taking the time out to read my work! Thank You
-Imane
Anupamaa
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
