Part 167 B
Mangal Kunj
Malabar Hill
10:20 PM
The living and dining room look very busy, there are two couples, another two random men, Yogesh the accountant, Aada, Fa and her in-laws spread out in various nooks. Dadi is trying to get everybody to eat, get their drinks refilled. She has borrowed the neighbor's "bartender" for the nite so the men don't have to make their own drinks.
Aada and Fa are the only men not drinking. The are just too awestruck by the kind of "routine" dinner events at Gujrals. There is free flowing booze and various types of food. They are surprised as to why Dadi is not offended by the drinking.
Khanak and Ritu have changed. Both reluctantly, Khanak into a lovely suit and Ritu into a skirt and blouse. Sonali wants to wear something that belongs to Khanak, but cant fit in, as Khanak is a lil more rounded than the skin and bones Sonali.
She finally sulks and settles for her own clothes after Khanak promises, "she would get new clothes for college"
Khanak really has no mood to amuse or entertain Sonali tonite.
Aada and Fa had stepped into the balcony and had found Ritu crying. Oh! The joys of living in a house full of people. At Chembur they would stand by the window and talk for HOURS.
Khanak missed Chembur, she missed the simple life they shared. Her stomach started to churn at the thought of how the issue will be resolved between the two.
She wanted to take sides, she wanted her friend to be happy. But''. She did not have a clue, what will make her happy. Kritik made her happy. Her job made her happy, Mumbai made her happy. Khanak wanted to tell her to refuse Kritik's offer, but she was certain one of the above mentioned joy givers would be gone.
She wondered how far along Kritik's offer and acceptance were at. Did Ritu have any clue? Did he just pop it to her one day? Was Ritu more devastated at the fact that she might lose Kritik or she might lose her fave city and her fave job?
Dadi: Beta tum to khaana khao apni dawai lekar so jao.
Khanak: Dadi I am not tired!
Dadi: You took a nap didn't you?
Khanak: Jee!
Dadi: But Shaan called and asked me to make sure you get to bed by 11 or midnite max.
Khanak: Hmmpphhh!
Dadi smiles "Is he behaving like your school principal or something"
Khanak shakes her head in disgust "Isnt he himself at work still?" (angry)
DadI: Your eyes just sparkle when you are about to fight with him
Khanak is embarrassed.
Dadi hugs her shoulders.
Ritu: Ddai who made this?
Dadi looks at what Ritu is eating "HL beta!"
Ritu: really? Its awesome!
Dadi: Its actually Shaan's fave
Sonu: Kya hai Dadi?
Dadi:Beta yeh'.. chicken hai, aap to kha nahi sakti. Its called spicy chicken and cilantro wontons!
Ritu: Mmm!
Grabs another one
Sonu: Di! Main try karoon?
Khanak rolls her eyes "Fa baither hain waha, dekh liya to abhi college cancel karke ghar le jaayenge"
Sonali: Aapne ek baar bhi try nahi kiya?
Khanak: Nahi (looks at her like "Are you crazy? Why would I?")
Sonali: Di, ab aap banana to seekhengi?
Khanak: Kyon?
Sonali: haan, aapke ghar mein to naukar hain (faraway look)
Ritu: Sonu, tum khaane ke bajai yeh socho ke tum colege mein kitna masti karogi.
Sonali: Aapka kya aapki to shaadi honey waali hai
Ritu's face falls
Khanak: Sonu, dekho Aada kya keh rahe hain
Fa waves
Dadi is gone
Khanak: Do you want to go up? I am done socializing!
Ritu: You havent said a word to anybody here. Haan if you count how you bitched abt ur hubby to dadi then you have
Khanak pinches her arm
Ritu: They just let you get away with it in this house
Madz walks by with her two female friends
She makes the intros
One woman wants to know if Ritu is single
Khanak vehemently denies
Madz: Unfortunately no! Mrs Bagga!
Ritu feels flattered, she smiles in a long time
Khanak: Oopar chalen
Ritu: Abhi ruk, abhi to sab ne mere baare mein achhi achhi baaten karni shuru ki hain.
They both laugh together. Dinner is erved buffet style. There is atleast 25 bowls of food. Khanak eats roti, refuses soup tells herself that she will tell her hubby. She looks at the ornamental clock behind the dining table. It shows 11:22 PM
She looks at the front door
Dadi sees it and smiles
Aada and Fa cant make it after dinner. Sonali wants to stay up until the other two do. She asks when Shaan will return, khanak tells not for an hour.
11:45 PM
Khanak and Ritu are in the room given to the girls. Ritu leans on the headboard, and complains of a headache. Khanak finds a pain killer for her. Sonali tries to stay awake and watch TV, she has no clue what they are talking about. Asks Khanak for her wedding album she has no idea where it is. She asks if she can play a game in the rec room or in shaan's room.
Khanak suggests she better sleep.
Ritu: I knew he was getting tempted. I could tell
Khanak: Hmmm
Ritu: It's a great offer Mystery
Khanak: Can he get a similar one here?
Ritu: NOT for the same money yaar
Khanak: what about level and authority and such?
Ritu: Not one but two offers.
Khanak: Really?
Ritu: Corp Planning at Singapore Airlines and Finance at Singtel!
Khanak: Oooh!
Ritu: exactly!
Khanak leans forward and hugs her.
Khanak: Sab kuch theek ho jaayega
Ritu: I don't think so''. (starts sobbing)
Khanak: You love him don't you?
Ritu: That's why I cry! I don't want to lose him.
Khanak: Do you love him more than your career her or life here/
Ritu: I don't KNOW (shrieks)
Sonali turns in sleep''
Ritu: I don't know''.. abhi Mom ko pata bhi nahi hai
Khanak: Rajat ko?
Ritu: Usko bhi nahi
Khanak: Usko to bata de!
Ritu: Who already dukhi hai ki tujhse shaadi nahi hui (snorts)
Wipes nose in tissue
Khanak: RITU! (shakes her head)
Ritu: Haan aur kya, tum dono ek doosre ki shakal dekhkar bitaate zindagi
Khanak: Wrong turn! Wrong turn 😉
Ritu giggles thru tears... "Shaan would kill me nahi, if he found out I am still match making for you?"😆
Khanak knows he would, that makes her blush intensely.
She surreptiously looks at the clock by the bedside table, its 12:41 AM. She wonders where he must be...
Ritu:Shaadi is approaching, main kya karon?
Khanak: Pehle rona band
She hugs her again, wipes Ritu's tears
Khanak: Tu wahan ja, hop into bed and he wont be willing to let go. Banda MBA chhodkar tere peeche Mumbai (winks)
Ritu being the impulsive nut she is looks at khanak" Sach mein? Is weekend jaaon?"
Khanak: Madam...
Ritu: Tu bhi chalegi?
Khanak: Mera pati mujhe maar daalega😳
Ritu: Please chal na
Khanak: Ummm BTW Ritu, did you.. have you ... I mean did you guys'.😳
Ritu: No khanak, we havent done the obvious (makes a sad face).
Khanak: Hmmm
Ritu: Hmmm kya?
Khanak: Even more reason to entice him😉
Ritu: You are so adorable!😆
Khanak: Nahi?
They both laugh...
Ritu holds her head
Khanak goes downstaors and makes hot chocolate for both, for the first time in that kitchen.
Brings it up they both stand in the balcony and drink it watching the drizzle.
Ritu: main kya karoon?
Khanak: Ask him to meet you Ritz
Ritu: Milkar?
Khanak: us se baat karo
Ritu: Oye excuse me, I am not like you I spend 6 hours a day talking with the guy unlike you
Khanak is apalled
Ritu: EXACTLY!
Khanak: Kya baat karte ho?
Ritu: Tera ulta hai you make out for 6 hours a day! (mocking)
Khanak giggles'' "No! 5 hrs and 49 minutes"
Ritu: Really?
Khanak: Fool!
Ritu: I don't want to move to Spore
Khanak: You should not have to then!ðŸ˜
