Part 26
2nd February 2011, 11:00 AM
The next few days passed by without anything eventful happening unless one counted Shaan's attempt to bond with Khanak's mother over Dhulwadi talk which predictably he was miserably unsuccessful at. Shaan and Khanak continued with their telephone conversations at night and with each talk Shaan became more and more confident of telling Khanak that they had indeed consummated their marriage. He realized the importance of telling her before they actually got married. The catch was, as Geeta had rightly mentioned, trying to explain to her why he could not have a proper 'suhaag raat' with her right after marriage. He planned to talk to Mitul about how he was to go about telling her. It wasn't as though he had not considered bribing the pandit to delay the date of the wedding. It was just that when he came to actually doing it, something had told him not to. It was only when the pandit had announced the date that Shaan had realized what that 'something 'was. Who that 'someone' was. It was his son.
Shaan decided to visit Mitul after his rehearsals for the remake of the song "Jub koi baat bigar jayay" which he had been working tirelessly for the past week. Khanak had begged him to a sing few lines for her over the phone but he had not responded and changed the topic. Khanak wondered why Shaan was being so secretive about his singing suddenly and had not prompted him like she would have normally done. After a tough rehearsal he went over to the hospital where Mitul was pouring over a file as usual.
"Hi buddy----" Shaan said startling Mitul into looking up. He saw Shaan and looked back at his file .
"Hi'" he said shortly.
" Ahhh people should take greeting lessons from you Mitul----" Shaan said sarcastically, sitting in the chair opposite Mitul and folding his hands.
Mitul looked up and smiled. "Haha very funny-----how's bhabhi?" he asked.
"I have no idea----" Shaan sighed and said making Mitul raise his eyebrows. "I mean I don't get to meet her do I?---- " Mitul's eyes widened sarcastically and he said nothing. Shaan grinned. He knew Mitul was biting back the sarcasm he wanted to throw at Shaan in words. "You know you can stop licking that file----I didn't take an appointment to meet you so you could have a date with files while I spoke!" Shaan said irritably when Mitul went back to his file.
Mitul looked up and raised his eyebrows again. "Oh yes---- well I am so used to have you visit me without appointments that I happened to forget that you had actually taken one this time---so what is it you want to talk to me about?"
Deciding to ignore Mitul's sarcastic comment again Shaan decided to get to the point. "Yea----so ermm I wanted to talk to you about Khanak-----"
"Yes I am aware that Geeta had a little chat with you about her condition----" Mitul said reasonably but it made Shaan frown and raise his eyebrows.
"Mitul get a grip! Why the hell are you being so formal with me?! We're not in a REAL appointment! God!" Shaan said forcefully raising his hands in the air.
Mitul laughed guiltily. "Fine fine! Got your point. Sorry got carried away---so shoot!" Mitul said. "That better?"
"Yea loads!" Shaan said heaving a sigh of relief. "Anyway so ermm----Mitul yaar main soch raha tha kay----kay Khanak ko----I mean now that we're getting married----you know---"
"Haan----I know-----so how have you decided to tell her?Made any plans?"Mitul asked.
"Yea ermm I dunno maybe----maybe after the sangeet tomorrow-----Mitul you think I'm doing the right thing? " Shaan suddenly asked uncertainly. "Pata nahi yaar-----mujhay humesha aisa lugta tha kay-----kay Khanak need not know----what difference does it make anyway? I mean kuch dino baad humari shaadi hain----toh waissay hee we'll be having a physical relationship----then why bother about what we had? I mean----okay I'm not making sense am I?" Shaan said apologetically.
Mitul looked at Shaan as though he was xraying him. He drummed his fingers on the table and took a deep breath. "Medically----" he finally started, " Bhabhi's brain is in a safe position right now for her to know that she shared a physical relationship with you----her brain will be willing to accept the fact---since she has developed feelings for you over this entire period of time and her brain knows it---" Mitul paused. " However, having said that, I cannot say the same for the knowledge that she shall receive when she finds out about the baby---because there Shaan, it's not only the brain that is involved----"
"That's fine----" Shaan interrupted Mitul. "I don't plan to tell her about the baby anyway-----"
Mitul gave Shaan a piercing stare. "If you do not intend to tell her about the baby Shaan, then I see no reason for you to tell her about this too----the purpose of confiding in bhabhi was for her to know WHY she cannot have a normal husband wife relationship after marriage----for atleast some time---"
"I know what the purpose was---" snapped Shaan. 'You guys don't need to keep telling me! But it's not as easy as you lot think it is! You yourself just said that right now---that you cannot say what would happen to Khanak if she finds out about the baby---then HOW do you expect ME to go and tell her!?" Shaan said in an angry rush.
"You are misunderstanding me Shaan----" Mitul said calmly. " You need to understand that it is not only the knowledge given that makes an impact but the WAY in which it is imparted that does the trick. The brain reacts in different ways depending on the manner that various information is fed into it because the brain is closely connected to the heart. Feeding the brain with information is one thing----but HOW you feed it is another----"
"So---what----you're trying to say I'm supposed to tell Khanak all the tradegies of her life in a 'particular' WAY and expect her not to react?! Is that what you're saying?" Shaan asked revoltingly.
Mitul shook his head. "Look Shaan----as much as we doctors keep ranting that the brain is the most important organ of the body blah blah----we cannot dismiss the notion that the HEART infact is as important----and HERE is my point! As silly as mushy as illogical as this may sound, YOUR heart connects to bahbhi's heart in the most powerful way possible----ONLY you can think of the perfect way to impart the knowledge and hence ENSURE that bhabhi remains safe emotionally and physically----ONLY you Shaan. You get it?"
"My head aches---" Shaan said rubbing it , not replying to Mitul's question.
"The decision is entirely yours Shaan----but remember YOU are the only one who can do this----you are the only one who SHOULD do this-----"
Shaan just stared at Mitul his eyes out of focus.
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3rd February 2011, 11:00 PM
The sangeet was a very quick affair that night. It had rained unexpectedly in Mumbai and the entire dcor had to be moved indoors. A dampener at first, the guests began to enjoy themselves heartily in the warmth of the house rather than the cold February breeze outside. Akshay had made arrangements for a heater and people were happily singing the latest numbers in its warmth. The entire program was a womens affair and men were seen bored standing by the bar sipping coke and vodka.
Khanak was wearing a maroon sari and decked up with heavy jewellery occasionally singing along. Her eyes searched for Shaan everywhere but he was nowhere to be seen. Khanak's mother was beaming looking at her happy daughter. "Natasha? Errr wohhh Shaantanu kahan hain?" Khanak asked Natasha who had come and sat next to her and had started singing the song "Piya kay ghar jaana hain hoohoo-----piya kay ghar jaana hain!"
"I don't know----come to think of it----I haven't seen him at all aj? " she replied. When Khanak looked worried Natasha smilde at her and said "Chill Khanak! This is a ladies function! He's not going to be HERE! He's probably around somewhere----- Aray Didi? Sasha aunty ko bhee toh aana tha na?!" Natasha turned to Khushboo, shaking her sister's shoulder to get attention.
Khushboo made a face. "She HAD to come that's for sure! Kill me but I really don't want her to! I hope her flights get cancelled or something----" Khsuhboo said irritably.
"Sasha aunty kon?" Khanak asked Natasha wondering who on earth she was.
"Oh Khanak she's Mom's BESTEST friend!" Natasha said giggling. "and Didi's too!" she added and laughed while Khushboo made a puking face. "OHHH and come to think of it! She's YOUR best friend too!!"
"Huhh?" Khanak asked confused. "Mutlub?"
Natasha patted Khanak on the shoulder. "Samajh jao gee samajh jao gee----wohhh yahan ayay gee na toh SUB samajh jao gee!" she grinned and began to sing again.
Khanak laughed, all thoughts of where Shaan was vanishing from her mind as she joined in the festivities. Madhvi was being dared to dance on Munni badnaam hui by her friend Sanjeeda and Dadi was randomly singing "Oh meri Zohra jabi ---" while Geeta sat with her giggling away. 'I have such a beautiful family----' Khanak thought. Kisee ki nazar na lagay meri----nahi humari---humari khushi ko----"
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4th February 2011, 01:00 AM
"Shaantanu aap YAHAN hain?! Mainay HUR jaga aap ko dhoonda!Shaantanu? " Khanak had secretly entered Shaan's guest room and saw him sitting on the sofa. She Walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. His head swayed a bit before turning around to face Khanak smiling lazily. There was an empty glass in his hand. "Shaantanu-----app Sangeet main----neechay nazar bhee nahi ayay----kya baat hain----"
"Kuch nahi---Khanak----bus yuheenn----" he said looking at her with love and an intensity that Khanak could not understand. She glanced at the glass in his hand and as she did. Shaan hastned to hide it behind his back.
"Aap sharaab pee rahay hain?" Khanak asked softly, understanding dawning on her slowly.
"Hmmm" Shaan said. "But---but I only just started----I'm not drunk-----I'm HAPPY! I'm marrying you! I'm happy!!" Shaan said stretching out his hands to either side as though he was flying. Khanak looked at him and took a deep intake of breath. She looked away from Shaan not knowing whether to be sad or angry; not knowing how to react at the fact that her husband had suddenly, out of the blue taken to drinking at one of his wedding functions. She felt her heart break looking at Shaan semi drunk like this. As she was about to make up her mind to leave the room her eyes fell on a piece of square shaped paper on the sofa, a few inches away from Shaan's hand. She picked it up. It was a Polaroid photograph. It was an ultrasound scan, just like the one she used to have numerous times during her check ups with Doctor Geeta. But this scan, this scan looked different, she thought. Looking at it more closely she came to the conclusion that it was a UCG, a smilar one that she had seen Geeta take for one of her patients. Shaan poured himself another drink, not noticing Khanak.
"Shaaantanu? Yay kya hain?" Khanak asked Shaan putting the picture under his nose.
Shaan looked and his face turned into one of horror. He looked at the sofa wildly, hoping against hope that what Khanak was holding was not what he thought it was, But it was too late. Shaan was not as quick as he had been the last time in snatching the picture away from Khanak. He had no choice but to answer Khanak's question now. No choice.
"Shaantanu! Yay KYA hain?" she asked again. "Yay toh----yay toh ultrasound hain-----I mean---yay toh UCG hain----yay toh bacha hain-----yay---yay kis ka bacha hain?----" Khanak asked in broken sentences, thouroughly confused. She did not know why but her heart had started beating really rapidly too. Shaan looked at Khanak in shock, hardly able to believe that she knew the scan was that of a baby.
"Khanak----yay-----yay----wohh Khanak---yay Khushboo bhabhi ka hain!" he said loudly. "Haan---yay errr--- Khushboo Bhabhi yahaan -----wohh yahan bhool gaee thee------yay unka hain-----" he said stuttering away madly in his half drunk state. He could not believe his half functional brain had reached such a logical conclusion.
"Khushboo bahbhi ka?" Khanak smiled looking at the picture again. "Un ka beta paida honay wala hain? Unho nay toh mujhay bataya bhee nahi----" she pouted.
Shaan sat up straight, his mind reeling. "Khanak TUMHAY kaisay pata kay yay larka hain?!" he asked shocked.
Khanak blushed. "Mujhay pata hain----Wohh Dr.Geeta kay paas---mainay buhat logo kay ultra sounds dekhay hain! Mujhay sub pata hain----" she smiled, her eyes fixed at the picture. There was something, some force that was not willing to let her remove her eyes from it. "Kitna khoobsoorat hain-----humari family ka pehla pota-----haina?" Khanak smiled brightly now shoving the picture under Shaan's nose again.
Shaan's heart fell to his lowest low as he took the picture from Khanak with trembling hands. "Haan! Humrai family ka PEHLA pota-----" he gulped.
"Shaantanu?" Khanak whispered. "Aap sharaab kyun pee rahay hain?"
Shaan kept his glass on the table with a thud and looked at Khanak with pursed lips, gulping again. "Aisay hee Khanak! Socha aj tumhara vrath nahi hain toh thoree try maar loon----"
Khanak looked at Shaan sternly. "Humaree shadi hojanay dain---phir dekhtee hoon main-----kaisay peetay hain aap!" and saying this she stalked away from the room picking up the bottle of beer from the table and taking it along with her as she did.
Shaan laughed. "She's such a burthal! God I love her so much! And you!" Shaan said looking at the picture in his hand.
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Edited by tofeeees - 13 years ago
Mangal Lakshmi
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
