Part Twenty Six Part A
Delhi
Gurgaon Central Apartment Complex
3:15 PM
"Shaantanu chodiye na…phone baj raha hain…!"
"Haan toh chalo na…saath mein answer karte hain…" He said as his index finger roamed her neckline and the prominent clavicle that represented her slender and delicate figure. Sometime he wondered how his wife's fragile figure endured his intense, strong, and powerful hold.
"Hello…?" Khanak spoke into the receiver still wrapped in her husband's engulfing arms, he was resting his chin on her shoulder and she could feel his ticklish breath tease her golden skin.
"Aaani..!" a chirpy voice replied and Khanak could almost hear her smile widely.
"Siaaa! Kaisi he meri pyaari si Angel?" Khanak questioned while tilting her head away from his defiant lips that wanted to taste her skin even when she was busy talking on the phone.
"Aaani main toh app ko abb mill kar he bataogi kay main kaisi ho…main aur Maama app ki building ki parking mein hain…!" Sia announced excitedly while Khanak turned her head and looked at her husband with wide surprised eyes. He loosened his grip, seeing her expressions and raised his brow curiously as if asking "What happened?"
"Aaani…app phone per ho na…? hello…?"
"Haan jaani man ho phone per…App aao na uper…Maama bhi hain na saath?"
"Haan hain…voh park kar rahi hain..aur keh rahi hain ke Apartment number bata de…"
"Oh haan…Main app ke Bahiyya ko bhej rahi hoon neechay…Okay."
"OK! Maama aur main wait kar rahay hain…" Sia informed and then hung up before Suhaani could take the phone and talk to Khanak herself, she was feeling like a true intruder now that her daughter had literally invited herself to her dearest Bahiyaa and Aaani's house without any prior notice. She was busy parking in the crowded lot so she couldn't multitask like she usually does when driving.
"Khanak kya hua…?" Shaantanu asked as he watched her sprinting towards their bed after putting down the receiver.
"Shaantanu app..app abhi tak yahi hain…? jaaye na voh neechay kharay hain…!" Khanak said hurridly while trying to gather her saree that was carelessly laid out on the bed since morning.
"Kaun..tum Sia ki baat kar rahi ho?" Shaantanu questioned as Khanak threw his T-Shirt at him, suggesting him to put his clothes on before he goes down to receive Suhaani and Sia.
"Haan..aur Suhaani Di bhi…app jaaye na…!" she stressed her order as she folded the pleats on her saree, it was almost done. Shaantanu was now fully clothed but before leaving he came to her and straightened out her pallu for her as he saw her struggling with it. They exchanged cute smiles and then he rushed out the apartment to receive Suhaani and Sia.
Khanak had left the messy bedroom as it was, but quickly picked up stuff from the living room and kitchen which looked tidy and presentable just as like she usually keep it. Shaantanu's sneakers and guitar were the only two items that looked out of place as they were taking up space in the middle of the sitting area, but before she could get to them, she heard Suhaani and her husband entering the apartment. Sia was in Khanak's favorite place, Shaantanu's arms.
"Aaani! Hum agaye…" Sia announced smiling at her as Khanak walked over to her and kissed her lovingly on the cheek while she was still in Shaantanu's arms.
"I am so sorry you guya…Sia ki zidd ne majboor kar diya…weekend per bhi tum dono ki jaan nahi chuti mujhse…!" Suhaani said as she hugged Khanak sweetly, Shaantanu was letting Sia lock the door now that everyone was inside and she could reach the lock as Shaantanu had held her up high.
"Arey nahi Di…aisi koi baat nahi hain, infact Sia ne zidd kar ke humara weekend bhi acha kar diya…app please aaye na…behtay…" Khanak invited her in the cozy apartment and took her hand bag from her to place it on one of the side table, Suhaani held on to her sunglasses and car keys as she settled on the couch.
"Thank you Khanak…aur yeh jo hand bag kay saath doosra bag hain iss mein mein Mr.Rockstar kay liye aik special cheez hain…I hope voh humaray saath bhi share karay…It's Coffee Cake, thankfully Sia knew her Bahiyaa's favorites…!"
"Of course she does…Thank You Angel!" Shaantanu smiled at Sia who was all smiles for her Bahiyaa's gratitude. She gets down from his arms and helps Khanak in removing the cake from the bag and placing it on the round dinner table in the corner.
"So how are lyrics coming along…?" Suhaani asks Shaantanu even though Khanak is the one who is the official lyricist.
"Umm…I think yeh question app ko Khanak se poochna chaiyay…"
"I know, lakin main jaanti ho tum ussay kitna kaam kar nay detay ho…iss liye I am asking you Mr.Rockstar…kahaan tak huye lyrics…?" Suhaani smiles at Shaantanu's twinkling eyes that were proving Suhaani's assumptions correct.
"Haan bahi…app toh ussi ki side laygi…abb app uss ki Di jo hogaye hain…meri side per toh sirf Sia hain…my Angel! Right?!" Shantanu complained as Khanak and Sia made their way to sitting area and joined in. Sia rushed over to Shaantanu and nodded rigorously, giving him her entire support. Suhaani and Khanak laughed heartedly at the two year old's cuteness and bonding with Shaantanu. She was truly lightning up the room with her expressions, Khanak felt extremely happy seeing her handsome husband transform in to a child whenever Sia was around.
"Bahiyaa main app ko pura support dogi…but abhi app mujhay app waala sandwich bana kar khilao gay….pleassse…me VERY hungry…." Sia whispered in Shaantanu's ear and made him laugh out loud as she was trying to be discreet with her reasoning for supporting him. Khanak and Suhaani knew something was up.
"App aur Angel kya chup chup kar baatein kar rahay hain?" Khanak asked curiously looking over at Sia and then Shaantanu.
"Umm..kuch nahi…tum humari itni fikhar kyun kar rahi hoon…baatein karo na apni Di se…"
"Haan voh toh main karoongi…lakin app ko coffee khud arrange karni paray gi... I hope yahaan se kitchen tak ka raasta pata ho app ko…" Khanak said sarcastically pointing back towards the kitchn, Suhaani loved the nok-jhok that the couple shared.
"Ha Ha…you're Funny Wifey! Try your hand at standup comedy, we'll be rich…!" he retorted with a straight face, Sia was now tugging on his finger, wanting him to get up so that he could fix her a sandwich.
"Haan toh theek hain na..Khanak comedy karayge aur tum gaanay gana…dono full package offer karna kissi bhi classy restaurant ko, they'll hire you right away…" Suhaani added her thoughts, supporting Khanak and being subtle about it.
"Fine…! App dono carry on karay apnay future plans…main aur Sia kitchen mein ja kay meehti si coffee bana kar laatey hain, maybe that will help with the bitterness…"
"Bahiyaa sandwhich bhi…!"
"Yes mam'am! Hum sandwiches bhi bana kay laaye gay…lakin sirf apnay liye." Shaantanu gets up fixing his collar in style as Khanak rolls his eyes, knowing that her husband was showing off the only culinary skill he knew. Suhaani was suppressing her laughter, but smiling throughout the situation. The ladies watched Sia and Shaantanu walk over to the open kitchen and then got comfortable on the couch.
"Sia ko tum dono ki presence ne jo khushi di hain voh maine ajj se pehli kabhi nahi dekhi…she is so happy…!" Suhaani said solemnly getting Khanak's attention.
"Di voh khud itni sweet hain…Shaantanu aur mera waqt Sia ke saath bahut acha ghuzarta hain..kaam per bhi jub Sia hoti hain toh hum dono ka time bahut acha ghuzarta hain…"
"Hmm…pehle mujhay lagta tha kay uss kay liye main akeli ki kafi ho, lakin ajj yeh realize hua hain kay she has missed so much…uss ki life mein kitni kami hain…logoon ki…pyaar ki…aik baap ki…"
"Aisa kyun keh rahi hain app…Hum hain toh sahi uss kay saath..aur app abb akeli toh nahi hain…Shaantanu aur main hain app ke saath…"
"Yeah…I know…main bahut khush ho kay tum dono humare saath ho…Bus kabhi kabhi Sia kay Papa ka na hona thoda mushkil ho jata hain..abhi toh choti hain lakin jub bari hokay sawaal karaygi toh phir kya kahogi…?"
"Kahaan hain Sia kay Papa…?"
"America mein…Chicago…shayad zabardasti kay rishtey tootne kay liye he hotay hain…Humari arranged marriage thi…meri family kabhi meray music mein interest se khush nahi thi…Radio per RJ thi lakin ghar per yeh baat kissi ko nahi pata thi…Radio se he start lliya tha maine…vahi Shekhar se bhi milli thi…Ghar valoon ko Radio ka pata chala aur baat bahut bigad gayi…Baba ne Shaadi taye kardi aur mujhe unkay faislay ko maana para…"
"Sir Shekhar…app unn se…"
"Pata nahi…uss waqt iss baat ka ehsaas he nahi hua…itna time he nahi tha kay hum apni feelings ko samajh saktay…aik dusre ko samajh saktay…Shayad jaldbaazi mein humne bahut kuch unkaha he chor diya…"
"Shaadi ka Sir ko pata tha…?"
"Hmm…jis din Shaadi huyi uss din mera Baba se millne aaye thay…pata nahi kyun mujhse nahi millay… vaise tumhare Sir se kaafi shikaayatein hain mujhe…"
"Kabhi app unn se nahi milli…"
"Milna possible hota toh shayad himmat karleti…shaadi ke baad shaadi ko nibhanay ki kohshish mein itnay saal ghuzaar diyay kay khud ho bhool behti…Puray teen saal maine apni puri kohshish ki kay iss rishtey ho kissi tarah joray rakho…Kabhi physically toh kabhi emotionally torture hoti rahi lakin phir bhi nahi haar maani…jub Sia ke saath pregnant huyi, toh laga sub theek ho jaaye ga, lakin mujhay toh yeh khabar he nahi thi kay voh iss baat kay pata chalne per mujhse jura har rishta tor lega…raat ko good bye note kay saath divorce papers chor kar chala jaaye ga…jaise…jaise koi ajnabee ho…aur shayaad voh ajnabee he tha…Jis ki pehlay se aik bewi aur beta ho, voh meray liye toh ajnabee he hoga na…Chicago mein uss ne shaadi ki huyi thi lakin iss baat ka mujhe tub pata chala jub voh ja chuka tha…Bahut dair kardi maine…bahut dair maine zindagi ko khilonay ki tarah uss kay haathoon mein de rakha…bahut dair…" Suhaani was staring out in the space as she told Khanak her life story with a pale face. Her sorrow was obvious in her tone and the pain she had endured reflected in her dried out eyes; she had no tears she just held on to their repercussions.
Khanak reached out and held her hand gently which brought Suhaani back to the present. For a minute they sat there in silence, not saying a word and then Suhaani smiled a half smiled at Khanak and looked back at the kitchen where Sia and Shaantanu were having a blast with kitchen utensils and the bread bag. Khanak follows Suhaani's eyes and watches them as well.
"Thank You Khanak… Meri beyti ko tumne aur tumhare Shaantanu ne jo khushi de hain voh main shayad ussay akelay nahi de paati…"
"Choti behn se Thank You nahi kehtay Di…sirf apna haq jata detay hain..."she said simply with a full smile which made Suhaani light up well. There were no other words or declaration that needed to confirm this new familial bond.
"Khanak…Di…abb app dono ko Sia aur main invitation nahi denay waaley…Coffee aur sub kuch yahi table per aakay lena paray ga!" Shaantanu called out the ladies who he had seen in a deep conversation when he glanced over at them moments before. He knew he would get the details from Wifey later.
"Chalay…dekhthay hain app ke Mr.Rockstar ne merat kitchen ko kya naya rang diya hain…!" Khanak said getting up and leading Suhaani to the kitchen/dining area.
When Sia saw her mother coming over she rushed to her with the plate of sandwiches and decided to re-arrange the snacks on the table, Suhaani watched and helped her out. Khanak took this opportunity to go see her husband in the kitchen who was cleaning up after himself. The kitchen didn't look that bad as he had managed to do good which was surprising for her, but then again most things about him were.
He knew she was in close proximity and was thinking of making the moment memorable but then got a surprise himself when she came around and wrapped her arms around his chest from the back, stood on her tipy toes, and kissed his left cheek lovingly.
"You'll make the best Papa in the world! Mr.Rockstar!" she whispered softly, making him smile the sweetest smile she had seen him smile.
"Yeah…hum iss baarey mein ajj raat ko aur baat karnay waalay hain…Future-best-Mom-in-the-universe!" He replied imitating her style and looking deeply in her big brown beautiful eyes.
"Mr & Mrs. Rockstar! App loog humay join karay gay ya yeh sub hum dono he khatam kar le…" Suhaani's voice brought the lost couple back from cloud nine and the decided to join their new family in Delhi, Suhaani and Sia.
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