“Beta aaj shaam ko aapnay Apnay maike jana hai, pag phere ki rasam ke liye” said Shivraj, KT’s father. His kind eyes looked sweetly at her with a smile but as soon as the words came out of his mouth, he realized that his words didn’t get the appropriate response that he expected.
“Jee Uncle” said Preeti looking down.
Where was her maternal home? Tarun had not met her since the wedding and Kusum was upset with her because of the Nandini fiasco.
She slowly looked up, her eyes searching for the only familiar face that could give her comfort but as she searched thoughts flashed through her eyes-- Kusum hanging the phone, KT storming out of the house, Krushala standing firm holding Arjun while Nandini gave a triumphant smile.
She remembered how Nandini had brought Arjun to KT mansion and dropped him there saying it is KT’s responsibility to take care of him. KT was adamant that Arjun was not his son but gave in when Krushala pleaded to take Arjun in. KT had looked to Preeti for support but her silence made him angry.
“Thumhay kya zaroorat thi ki thum KT sa ki ma ki party main apna jhanda ghaad do? Said Kusum angrily. Preeti had informed her about what went on in KT mansion.
“Agar KT sa ke pitaji, uskay chacha chachi ko nahi lagtha ki Arjun KT sa ka beta hai- aur khudh KT sa ko nahi lagtha ki ARjun unka beta hai tho thu kiyun apna ghyan jhaad rahi hai! Shouted Kusum.
“ Main kaise kuch keh sakthi hun Kusum? Ye unkay parivar ka mamla hai” said Preeti trying to reason her silence
“ aur thu kya paas ki padosan hai? Jo ek cup shakkar mangnay aayi hai?” yelled kusum back
Preeti became silent.
“ Preeti baiji.. Thumnay jo kerna hai karo, lekin KT sa jab thak man nahi jathay main tharay sey bolungi nahi” Kusum hung up the phone on her.
“ Ye kusum bhi na.. Har waqt mujhsey naraz rehnay ka koi na koi bahana chahiye. Main kaise kuch bol sakthi hun” Aur KT jee bhi ‘’aaj kal har choti cheez per gussa kerthay hain-main samaj sakthi hun unki pareshani ko lekin ...main kya karun” she breathed desperately to herself.
“Pata nahi KT jee kahan reh gaye” she thought to herself looking at the clock. Just then Neel walked in.
“Neel..” she called slowly “
“Jee bhabi?”
“ Voh KT jee kahin nazar nahi aa rahe” she said , her eyes still looking towards the door
“ oh.. BB nay aapko bataya nahi? Unko koi call aa gayi thi tho voh jaldi main nikal gaye. Main aapko drop ker detha hun bhabi. Aapko Kusum aunty kay ghar jana hai na? He said a bit eagerly.
Preeti looked at him and smiled hesitantly. “ Nahi main chali jaungi”
“Are its ok bhabi. Aisa mauka kabhi kabhi aatha hai” he said earnestly
“ kya matlab” said pretti with a crease appearing between her eyebrows
“ I mean .. bhabi aur devar, saat saat bike per. Maza aa jayega” NT said clapping his hand together with excitement.
OF course he wanted to to have an excuse to meet the girl he saw at the wedding. He did not even ask her name and this would be the perfect opportunity.
“Chaliye na..” he said a bit forcefully but with a hint of playfulness in his voice.
Preeti smiled and then complied. She hesitantly took the helmet and sat behind Neel and headed towards Kusum’s home..
It seemed just a matter of minutes or so it seemed to Preeti but they were right in front of Kusum’s house.
“Andar aao Neel “ said Preeti as she rang the bell.
Neel looked around with anticipation as to who would open the door and to his delight it was Priyanka.
‘Priyanka, kya ho gaya hai .. thum aise chokannay kiyun khadi ho? “ Said preeti as she noticed that Priyanka was glaring at Neel
“Oh ye Neel hai, KT jee kay bhai “
“Inka devar” cut in Neel he said extending his hand towards priyanka.
For a moment Priyanka glared at him and then addressed Preeti “ andar aayiye, aap bahar kiyun khadi hai” she said ignoring Neel
“ Kusum kahan hai” asked Preeti anxiously. She knew Kusum was upset with her and wanted to patch up as fast as she could. Her anger was something she could never digest.
“ Ma kahin gayi hun hai” said Priyanka now turning completely away from Neel
“:Are Neel aap andhar aayiye.. na , please yahan batiye” said Preeti showing Neel towards the sofa.
Preeti immediately went off to the kitchen to get something while Neel immediately took the opportunity to start speaking with Priyanka.
“Hi”
“Aapko yaad hai , hum us din ..” he said foolishly
Priyanka just continued to glare.
“ oh come on… main us din aapkay saath” he continued with a silly grin only to realize that priyanka probably did recognize him and is ignoring him on purpose. He could not understand why as he was nothing but a gentleman. He decided to put aside the thought and sit quietly.
“Priyanka’ called out Preeti
“Oh tho appka naam priyanka hai” acha naam hai he said with a smirk .
Priyanka ignored and went towards the kitchen to help her aunt. “
“Beta Juhi aur Sumedh bhi nazar nahi aa rahe hain”
“Aunty voh tho pehlay sey hi bahar gaye thay, abhi aathay hi hongay” said Priyanka.
Just then the bell rang and Juhi and Sumedh entered the door with their keys.
“Are ma, thu kab aayi” said Juhi excitedly as she hugged her mother. Sumedh greeted Neel as they started taking to each other.
‘“ Ma vo KT jee kahan hai” asked Juhi,
Preeti turned her face away and said “ kahin gaye hain” while not meeting Juhi’s eyes.
“Sab teek tho hai na ma” asked Juhi in a concerned tone.
“ Han teek hain” said Preeti with a forced smile
“Ma, thu sach bata, woh KT jee aur thu .. mera matlab hai” Juhi could not ask her such questions. After all she was her mother and rightly so. She saw her mother glaring at her with a twinge of annoyance.
“Acha ma kahan hai? Asked juhi immediately changing the topic.
Just then Kusum had entered into the house. She saw Neel and welcomed him and immediately went to the bedroom ignoring Preeti.
Preeti immediately ran after her and held her hand. “Abh gussa thuk bhi do kusum”
Kusum was in no mood to listen to her.
“ acha is dafa mafi de de, acha.. Main kuch bhi karungi,.. Bus gussa thuk de” said Preeti with a pleading tone.
Kusum turned around to look at her and pointed her finger towards her
“Wada kerti hai ki kuch bhi karegi?
“Han karungi” said Preeti immediately with a sense of gratitude that kusum would no longer be mad at her.
“ KT jee ko call ker aur bol ki idhar aaye aur humaray ghar per raat rahe”
As the words were coming out of her mouth, preeti could feel the back of her neck burning and her cheeks getting warmer
“Are thu ithna ghabra kiyun rahi hai. Ghar tho anay ke liye kaha hai, kuch aur kernay ke liye tho na’ she said with a smirk
“ nahi kusum, main ye kaise keh sakthi hun. Ye meri beti ka sasural hai aur..
“Dekh’ cut in kusum immediately
“ ya tho mujhe saheli math maan, agar mana hai tho wada khilafi nahi kersakthi hai .. abhi abhi thunay wada kiya tha ki main jo kuch bhi kahungi voh thum manegi:, tho abh seedhay tareekay se meri baat maan aur KT sa ko phone laga aur idhar bula” said Kusum with finality brooding in her voice whilst trusting her cell onto her palms.
Preeti desperately looked around and starting dialing KT’s phone number with desperation in her eyes.
“Ji Preeti ji kahiye” came KT’s voice
“ KT jee ..voh.. Aap ..
“ JI preeti ji”
“ kya aap ..
“ ye kya aap , kya aap laga rakha hai… puch na..” poked kusum
“ voh aap kusum kay yahan aa sakthay hain?
“ aur raat bitanay wali baat bhi’ .. nugged Kusum
“Aur ..r.ra ..raat yahan bita sakthay hain?”said Preeti shakily
There was a moment of silence. Preeti and Kusum glared at each other. Preeti knew that this would be a bit too far. KT was already going through so much ..how can he..?
“OH KUSUMDI KEY GHAR????Shouted KT
It had been weeks or perhaps ages since PReeti had heard that tone of KT.. the old KT the carefree and lovable KT, KT the superstar, Kusum’s Hero..KT.. the voice that she so missed dearly.
“ARe main tho apni kusum ke liye jaan bhi de dun. Main abhi aaya”
Kusum jumped up high while trying to high fi Preeti and despite herself, preeti too was happy at KT’s reaction.
Scene 2
‘Are sabh suno.. KT jee aaj yahan aa rahe hain aur ithna hi nahi voh raat bhi rahengay”! Shouted Kusum
Everyone smiled
“ are neel aap kahan ja rahe ho? Asked Kusum as she saw him leave , nahi aap bhi tehro ..
“Really aunty? Thank you .. said an excited Neel as he immediately glanced at Priyanka who had a gruffed look.
“Preeti aaj teri vajay sey meri dili khwaish puri ho rahi hai. KT sa meray ghar tehrengay” Hai main tho ithni kush hun..
Acha tharay ko jalan tho na ho rahi hai ? asked Kusum immediately changing her tone with a hint of annoyance in it
“ kusum ye kya keh rahi ho. Mujhsey zyada tho KT jee per thumhara haq hai” said PReeti smilingly
“ Are na na,,, KT jee ki main tho fan hun, lekin prem ka adhikar voh tho thara hi hai” said kusum teasingly.
Juhi who just passed by giggled at this remark
Preeti turned red
“ apni ma ki khilli na uda thu chori, aur ja yahan sey” said Kusum pushing her off.
Everyone started to help in the kitchen. Kusum wanted to make sure there was poori and matar even though it was dinner time. She made sure to have loads of samosas and Gajar ka halwa.
“Aaj hum night out karengay” she said
Just then the bell rang,
“Ja darwaza khol- said kusum as she nugged preeti to get the door. ‘Main kholtha hun said Neel and he opened the door.
“BB-”
“BB” cried both the brothers as they hugged each other. Are thum bhi yahin ho.
:Han BB , bhabi ko chornay aa gaya tha’
KT’s eyes looked for preeti in the crowd. Everything seem to vanish, the past few weeks seemed to vanish. It was as if they were back at Kusum’s house enjoying each other’s company. He felt light and happy as if a big burden had left his heart. His eyes looked for his preeti partner.
“Preeti partner” he shouted as he sprinted towards Preeti.
“Are preeti partner kahan chupi hui hain aap” said KT smiling. And they looked at each other, a meaningful look.
IT had been as if a veil had dropped and everything immaterialized. Nothing mattered to her, KT jee was back. They were back. Shadi mubarak was back.
“BB… come on ..khulam khula? Snorted Neel
As if waves of feelings came crashing through… the sindoor, the mandap, the marriage, the grih pravesh, Nandini...Arjun
KT’s smile dropped. Preeti could see the changing colors on his face as she too realized that the moment that they longed for was just that..a moment.
