Meeta di: Preeto...what are you doing?? Today they will come to see you and the way biji-mamiji is excited, they will definitely finalize it today itself.
Preeto (in an extremely harangued state): but what should I do. Rajbeer is still mum.
Baani (dabbing some face powder on her already white face): so you only tell him.
Ishu (pouring juice for Dhruv): Never. A girl proposing is a sign of desperation.
Preeto (not even looking at the steaming paranthas kept in front of her): but I am desperate.
Dhruv (in his uniform scrambling down the breakfast): preeto & rajbeer ki Jodi, isn't for 7 births. It's for 14.
Dhruv (as all eyes turned towards him in curiosity, he forced the last bite into his mouth): because the first 7 will be spent in confessing only, if you wait for Rajbeer.
Preeto's eyes almost popped out at the revelation and her current state of affairs.
Pankaj (bringing in more paranthas from the kitchen): Always say what you feel - even and above all when you love someone.
A sudden blaring of the horn awakens them all. rajbeer had come to pick up dhruv for a meeting.
Dhruv (while grabbing his bag): & always prove what you feel - instantly and most directly, is most efficient.
Preeto simply stared back.
Dhruv (while rushing out adds): even a man loves to hear a confession of love, though girls are just too proud to show their true feelings (winks at a very amused ishu). Come and tell him now.
Preeto (shouts out to him): I can't (a desperate helplessness in her eyes & dhruv takes pity).
Dhruv (pausing at the door): You don't have to look him in the eye while telling him. Call, don't talk and sing a romantic song.
Ishu (thoughtfully adds after her husband leaves finally): This seems kind of stupid, but''yes it is romantic! (a smile lights up her face & Preeto looks earnestly at her).
Pankaj (not very happy but hated to disappoint his dearest saali): You may look like a coward, and he won't be 100% sure it's you''but it's enough to get his attention.
Baani (excitedly hands the phone to preeto): "mun ye sahib ji" gaa le. uske sur bi theek laga leti he tu.
Preeto (grabs the phone & dials'..within half a ring it's answered'& for a fraction of second her tongue gets glued to her mouth): a'..a''
Baani: arre raag kya alap rahi he 'gaa na'..
Rajbeer (on the other end of the line): Hello'.hello'
Preeto (inhaling huge volumes of air): Mun ye sahib ji'.jaane he'.
Rajbeer (on the other end of the line): Are nahi chahiye ring tone yaar. Ye customer care wale aajkal zyada hi care dikhate he ''. (the line disconnects')
The phone and preeto's mouth are left hanging'..
Meeta (unable to bear her sister's condition decides to sacrifice): idhar aa. tu uske liye gajar ka halwa bana ke le jaa. Main batati hu.
With all hopes lifted Preeto sprints into the kitchen and overturns a jug of water in her excitement. Meeta decides to eat the moment and proceeds to clean the mess while listing aloud the ingredients and procedure of the dish. After an hour more of fuss & mess, leading to Meeta almost tearing away strands of her hair, Preeto finally packs the tiffin.
Ishu (continuing her anti-girl proposing movement): Give him subtle hints - eyelock, make him laugh, smile at him...
Baani: & say that you find him attractive (a panic stricken look on both preeto and ishu's face made her retract the statement)...I mean handsome...ok?
At the base, Preeto neatly folds rajbeer's newly stitched uniform which now concealed a red rose. It was her original idea. Red rose on valentine day. She wanted to make sure that she doesn't miss a once in a lifetime chance to get someone whom she really loved.
Telepathy ... may be...& Rajbeer walked into the room. Preeto turns and looks right into his eyes...secretly wishing that he would read her heart & it worked...rajbeer caught in the gaze...couldn't look away...the eyelock continue for several heartbeats...till...till preeto's eyes began watering...& she blinked...
rajbeer (breaking into a mini jig cried out): YES!!!. I always used to win this game with simmi too. Is that my uniform? Thanks preeto.
As rajbeer took the uniform Preeto knew... it's NOW or NEVER ... for a full lifetime and beyond...and she used the last trick she had learned form bollywood movies. Sticking her leg at the edge of the table she let herself fall towards him...
WHAMMM!!!!...
The sound of both of them crashing on the floor resounded in the small room. As luck would have it, rajbeer had chosen that precise moment to turn around and hadn't seen Preeto falling. Now they both lay on top of each other, facing the hard floor. Her hair spread on his face and preeto felt that maybe her plan still hadn't completely failed.
Rajbeer (slowly removing the hair from his face): you know how I am feeling right now?
Preeto (too stubbed to say anything)
Rajbeer (gazing into the depths of her lovely face): my breath feels obstructed...my heartbeat is speeding in leaps and bounds...I don't think I can wait any more Preeto...
Preeto's heart frantically beating around in her chest...
Rajbeer (his eyes scanning her full body): I can't live...if you remain on me for one more second.
As rajbeer panted out of the room, Preeto saw the fallen rose and mentally cursed herself. She turned to her bag & brought out the picture she had retrieved from Dhruv. Preeto in rajbeer's arms...that first moment at Jogi's wedding and whispered, "It has been a short time of getting to know one another, but I sure never expected to neither meet nor find someone as amazing as you. You have touched my heart in so many ways, and words couldn't even begin to explain to you the love I feel for you." She brings out her pen and scribbles the three golden words beneath the photo. "Without further making it harder for the two of us to be together, I need to tell you...that I love you."
Rajbeer looked very preoccupied with the map pinned on the board in front of him. Preeto entered the conference room, as softly as her thumping heart and rapid breaths would allow and placed the photo on the table. She had just turned her feet when a loud buzz of rajbeer's phone made her almost loose her footing, but by the time rajbeer turned around she stood straight.
Rajbeer: Yes Sir. Just a minute sir. (He snatches the photo which had flipped back when preeto's dupatta had brushed past it) ok sir. Please tell me the coordinates (he penned down the details on the back side of the picture and in front of her eyes, Preeto's I love you got pinned on the notice board). Yes Preeto?
Preeto (still staring ruefully at the board murmured): you are looking very good today.
rajbeer (beaming neared her): It's all because of you Preeto (Preeto couldn't believe...Had it worked??...she mentally made a note of increasing baani's pocket money). Because of the magic you do...with your hands. You are a very talented tailor.
Preeto (that was the limit): WHAT???? (Can't blame the poor love struck soul for this outburst).
Rajbeer had finally deduced that rest was the cure of all her weird actions & reactions today and was taking his car out from the parking, while preeto stood nervously behind, holding tight to a small stone wrapped in a paper.
Preeto (self muttering): Ambrella...if this doesent work... I swear...I will teach your kids to call you Ambrella instead of bauji...
She was now standing some three feet behind Rajbeer's car at a 45 degree angle. She aimed the stone to land into the car from the passenger's side.
Preeto (her eyes furrowed close in concentration): Babaji...please just let this love letter reach him safely... (and with one last check...hurled the stone..)
CRASHHH...
As Rajbeer drove Preeto home, she peered out from the perfectly circular hole in the window, through which her stone had entered and happily exited from the open door of the other side. She sighed at her fate. Of course Rajbeer had put the pane up and was about to call out to Preeto with his door ajar, at that very instant when her love signal had blasted into his car. The saving grace was that he hadn't found the culprit and now was fuming at her side.
Preeto (after her gajar ka halwa got more praises for meeta di and just one thanks for her): Do you believe in soul mates?
Rajbeer (thoughtfully scratched his chin): I believe that God does make a special someone for every man.
Preeto (smiling very little and thinking): Whether that man finds that someone he was created for or not, I know I was created for you.
Rajbeer (blissfully unaware of her emotions): Don't worry. Love may take long. But it will surely take you to where you belong. Just enjoy the journey...your heart will know when it's finally home.
Preeto (thinking): Funny how love works in people's lives. So here he is ready to let me go, and here I have been waiting & dreaming for the right time. (aloud) By Rajbeer.
Rajbeer (opening the door for her): All the best Preeto.
Preeto turned for one last look at him. I wish there was a way I could go back in time...To hold you in my arms...As if you were mine...
The house was a blur, especially for Preeto who could barely see through the ghoonghat falling in front of her eyes. Curiously nobody had asked her about her failed confessions. After few more routine niceties, the dreaded moment came.
Biji: Beta aap Preeto se akele mein baat kar lo. Preeto puttar, ja chhat pe le ja inko.
Preeto (climbing up with utmost care in her saree thought): Kyu?? Chhat pe jalebi free mil rahi he? Es chappar ganju ko to me theek karti hu.
And he really did need a lesson, especially because he dared to anger an already agitated Sher Singh by catching hold of her saree pallu. Preeto fuming & beside herself jerked around & her mouth opened for some special rude words...was just left open. There stood with a mischievous grin...Rajbeer. Her orange and pink, silk, Saree flowed like liquid around her body and her eyes outlined in dark black captured Rajbeer's eyes instantly. Quite nonchalantly and gallantly, he tugged at her saree but when Preeto stood glued to the spot, he simply multiplied his force and Preeto came stumbling into his arms. Her eyes swimming in unshed tears reflected her fear of losing Rajbeer clearly.
Rajbeer (looking down at her and smiling): Love never needs to be confessed. (Her hair was falling on her face; blocking his view)... Love needs to be shown (He softly tucked them behind her ear)... Love needs to be lived (She slowly rose from his shoulder and lowered her eyes nervously)... Love needs to be enjoyed by the giver as much as by the recipient (He encircled his arms around her waist and lifted her in his arms & She put her arms around his neck and dug her face in his neck).... Hence never confess your love (Rajbeer grinned seeing her turning red)...Just love fully from the bottom of your heart (a smile crept on her lips and her eyes glittered with joy, realisation and love)...
Rajbeer was lost in her ' she was a perfect combination of sweet and sour - sometimes being the most idiotic person on the planet and on the other occasion being mature like the guiding star ... Sometimes she was like the waves of the ocean - slapdash and carefree, the other times as soft as the breeze - calming the core of his heart ... She was perfect...and he was lucky to have her for life...
Yes they were in love...when where how; they didn't know ... & they didn't care...
CID
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
