if Wishes were horses Part 30,Page 79,3rd November - Page 5

Part 2

Orchard road has always fascinated Shaan. Not because it's one of the most bustling streets,housed the best brands but because it infused happiness into the other parts of the city.This was Shaan's fifth year in this country and he simply loved it here. A true blue Kolkattan at heart,initially the country didn't provide him with the comfort he was used to in own city but gradually the city started growing on to him.

It was a hectic day at work and all Shaan wanted to do was enjoy a hot shower and skype with Gunjan,the girl who he thought and believed will make him the happiest man on Earth….

Hi!!!How are you?

I'm fine but you look tired. Was it stressful at work today?

Nerve wrecking to say the least…Btw you look beautiful in this dress..

Hearing this, Gunjan as usual blushes profusely which doesn't go unnoticed by the man who managed to shake her entire being everytime he spoke…

What makes you blush Gunjan? We've known each other for quite sometime now and soon we won't be skyping like this…what will you do then?

I'll think about it then…the statement bringing the trademark smirk on his face.

You know what,the entire day I've been thinking about how we met last year…

Flashback(Last year December)

It was a common Marwari wedding where Shaan and Gunjan's family were invited. Sunil spotted a girl as beautiful as snow,clad in a mauve coloured lehenga,embroidered with silver thread sitting quietly in a corner. She had lovely brown hair,lotus shaped eyes,a peach n cream complexion and a poise rarely found in a girl of her age. Sunil took an immediate liking to her and found out who she was…

Without wasting further time he approached Gunjan's father and asked if he could come and meet him at his residence during the weekend. Mr.Kejriwal,a little baffled invited him on Saturday evening…

Tune poocha nahi ki who kyun milna chaahate hain?Yeh bhi koi baat hai….aise hi koi kisike ghar mein thodi aata hai?

Us waqt poochna accha nahi lagta Maa…aur kya hua,sirf milna hi to chaahate hain…aap pareshaan naa ho.

The same Saturday evening saw Sunil and Madhavi at the Kejriwal residence ringing the doorbell at the entrance. The house help opened the door and ushered them to the drawing room. In a few minutes Dadi Maa and Mr.& mrs.Kejriwal joined them..

Namaste Mrs. Goenka,Mr.Goenka.Yeh meri Maa hai Sulochana aur yeh meri patni ,Supriya.

Namaste….I hope we didn't embarrass you by wanting to come so suddenly without us knowing each other at all!!

Not at all…was all Mr.Kejriwal could manage. Noticing his mother's discomfort at not understanding English,Mr.Kejriwal decided to switch to the common language understood by everyone in the room.

Supriya excused herself and after a while reappeared with the help pushing a trolley full of the tastiest snacks and savories the city had to offer. For Supriya doing everything was ritualistic and that boiled down to even serving her guests in an impeccable style. Observing the panache with which she conducted herself,both Sunil and Madhavi didn't find it difficult to believe form where the daughter inherited all the grace.

What…Aap kya lenge tea ya coffee?

We'll have tea…Madhavi answered for both of them…

After the gastronomical delight experienced by the guests,Sunil thought it appropriate to disclose the purpose of his visit…

Actually Mr.Kejriwal,hum aapki beti se bhi milne aye the…Maine use Harlalka ke bete ke reception mein dekha tha aur tabse usse milna chaahata tha…

Dekhiye mera beta Shantanu 25 saal ka hai aur Singapore ka ek sovereign holding company mein hai. Toh agar aap log chaahein toh main apne bete ke liye aapki beti ko maangna chaahata hoon.

What followed was a shattering silence in the room….. It took sometime for the members of the family to register what Sunil had just suggested.

It took Dadi a huge effort to break the eerie silence…Aapka bahut dhanyavaad par apne poti ke shaadi ke bare mien maine abhi kuch socha nahin….par hum Gunjan se baat karke aapko zaroor bata denge…

It took Sunil and Madhavi no time to understand the discomfort their proposal managed to bring. They immediately took leave of the Kejriwals and promised to wait for Mr.Kejriwal's call...

Maa,aap kya kehti hain? Mere khayaal se aisa rishta milna mushkil hai.

Supriya,bete,tum kya chaahati ho? It was not a norm with Mr.Kejriwal to consult his wife for anything because ultimately being a matriarchal family,the ultimate decision rested with Sulochana. Supriya didn't know how to react….a dungeon in her heart somewhere guarded a secret that this wasn't a dream to be dreamt about her daughter.She shivered……

Kal subah meri baat Mr.Goenka se karaana. Sab jaa ke so jaao abhi.

Just then Gunjan,Sankalp and Khanak came back from the movie. Looking at everyone Gunjan could sense something.

Khanak bid good night to everyone and dashed out of the door…

Rani,abhi jaa ke so jaao,kal subah tumse baat karni hai…….

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