Whiskey with Ice
“Nikki kaha rehe gaye tum log ab tak pohoche kyun nahi…” Babli demanded urgently.
“Bas raste me hi hai, Di…” Anokhi explained patiently.
“Nikki, jaldi aao, Chachiji ke 2 baar phone aa gaye hai kaha pohoche?”
“Haan Di, bas 15 minute door hai.”
Babli narrated the same to her parents when they wildly gestured to her to know their youngest daughter’s location.
“Puttar, tu ek kaam kar, hum nikalte hai aur tum dono direct Chacha ji ke ghar par aao. Babli tumko address message kar degi.” Ramesh Bhalla was heard over a distance.
“Ji papaji. Thik hai Di, vahi pe milte hai.”
_______________________________________
The venue was lively with the swarm of relatives bustling from one corner to another as it is the Naamkaran Ceremony of Dolly and Shoki's daughter. Bhallas enter the venue and are welcomed by Dolly's parents.
Dolly's mother greeted the group, “Aa gaye aap log hum sab kabse aapki raha dekh rahe the!”
“Aa jate time pe, par woh bas Nikki aur Shaurya ki raha dekh rahe the…”
“Kaha hai woh log? Ab tak aaye kyun nahi?” Dolly's father asked excitedly, “Shaadi ke baad pehli baar Nikki aur damadji hume seva ka mauka de rahe hai..”
“Woh raaste me hi hai pohoch hi rahe hoge.” Ramesh smiled.
"Pohoch rahe honge nahi puch gaye" Anokhi pounced on her sister from behind.
“Humare jawai kaha hai!?” Rama asked.
Anokhi frowned, “Beti ka toh haal chal puch lo? Shaurya toh car park karke aa rahe hai.”
Dolly's mother pulled her in for a hug , “Kaisa hai mera baacha?”
Anokhi parted and lovingly cupped Chachi's round face, “Thik hun Chachi ji! Nani banne par ek bar phir aap ko badhaye!”
Ramesh spotted Shaurya walking in, “Lo damadji bhi aa gaye…”
“Papaji aapko kitni baar kaha hai damadji nahi Shaurya bulaya kijiye” He greeted Ramesh by touching his feet, “Damad ji toh ekdum paraya sa lagta hai!”
Rama greeted him with her hands folded, “Kaise ho, puttar ji?”
Shaurya smiled and touched her feet, “Thik hu, Mummy ji…”
“Yeh hai Nikki ke Chacha-Chachi hai, Dolly ke Mummy-Papa”
Chachaji gave him a manly hug, “Kaise hai aap damad ji? Aapki bohot tarif suni hai Parjai ji se!”
“Ji Chachaji mai bilkul changa hu, aur bhi changa ho jaunga agar aap mujhe Shaurya keh kar bulayenge toh”
“Aaiye na aap sab andar aaiye. Sab baatei darwaje par hi karoge kya?”
Everyone moves towards the hall where the ceremony is set to begin. Meanwhile Shoki and Dolly also greet Shaurya and Anokhi but after greeting them Anokhi notices the couple talking in a hushed tone, looking all tense.
Shoki appears to make a call, but Anokhi quickly realizes that the call went unanswered.
Before she could offer her help to the new parents, Pandit ji calls everyone for puja.
Shortly after the function began, the loud sound of dhol grabbed everyone's attention and the infant in her mother’s lap started to cry.
When the crowd parts, surprised would be an understatement for Anokhi, she was shocked.
Yes you all guessed right Monty was that person.
He moved towards Shoki and wasn't aware of the Bhalla family's presence.
Anokhi whispered in an annoyed tone, “Diii! Yeh yaha kya kar raha hai? Chachiji aapko pata tha yeh bhi aane wala hai?”
Chachiji shook her head, “Nahi Nikki, mujhe nahi pata tha ki yeh bhi aane wala hai.. Hum kyu bhala is sharabi ko bulayenge humare ghar? Damad ji ke taraf se aya hoga…”
“Koi problem toh nahi hogi na?” Babli asked cautiously.
“Kya problem honi hai? Papa ji abhi bhi chidhe hue hai kya ispe?” Anokhi frowned.
“Arrey, Papa ji nahi! Shaurya ji ki baat kar rahi hu… Agar Shaurya ji ko pata chala toh?”
“Kya pata chala toh?” The sisters jumped apart at Shaurua’s sudden interruption, both kept their hands on their racing hearts.
“Tum dono aise dar kyun gayi? Or mujhe kya pata chal gaya toh?”
Before Anokhi could say anything, some relatives approached them. Meanwhile Monty was talking to Shoki and his family.
Monty embraced his friend, “Mubaraka Shoki!”
Shoki thumped his back, “Thank you yaar.. Monty humne abhi tujhe phone kiya tha par tab tera phone not reachable bata raha tha toh hume laga ki tu nahi aayega…”
Monty punched Shoki’s shoulder playfully, “Oye! Tera yaar Kannedda se teri shaadi me bhi aaya tha ab teri beti ke namkaran me bhi aaya hai… Haan woh network nahi tha toh baat nahi ho payi.”
Shoki gave him a nervous smile, “Haan yaar… Sun Monty Mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai..”
“Haan bolna.”
But before he could inform him about Anokhi's presence, Monty looked around and spotted Anokhi with her cousins.
Monty’s jaw dropped open, “Yeh yaha kya kar rahi hai?”
But before Shoki could stop him, Monty made his way to greet his runaway bride.
“Dekho toh kon bhagodi humare samne chali ayi hai...”
Anokhi stilled at the voice but smiled when she saw her cousins roll their eyes.
“Aur dekho kon besharmo ki tarah namkaran pe nashe mei dhut aya hai...” She retorted.
“Kamse kam mere nashe ki wajah se mere Mummy-Daddy ki naak toh nahi kati na ji.” Monty smirked.
“Arrey! What a coincidence! Mere Mummy ji-Papa ji ki naak bhi sahi salamat hai, in fact tumhe jaan ke khushi hogi ki woh dono kitne khush hai ki shaadi se bhag gayi!” Anokhi flicked her hair, making Monty frown.
“Kannedda wala rishta tut gaya, kudi ghar se bhag gayi, aur tere Papa ji khush hai?”
“Monty, konsa pure Kannedda se shaadi karne wali thi? Woh toh tumse, yani ek 10th fail, sharabi se hone wali thi naa?”
Monty could tell that his face had turned red in embarrassment as the girls behind her started giggling uncontrollably. To his relief he saw a tall guy walk up to Anokhi and watched her go all smiles.
“Aapki tarif?” The man asked when his gaze landed on him.
“Monty Khurana, from Kanneda.” He fixed his collar, trying to meet the tall guy’s standard of sophistication.
“Oh, toh tum ho Monty Khurana.” His arm went around Anokhi’s shoulder, which Monty sensed as a possessive move. But here? In the presence of so many people?
He could feel the stranger’s stare digging into his skin. So, he gave him a stiff smile and excused himself to crawl back to his friend.
“Bhai Shoki, yeh banda kon hai?” Monty questioned in all seriousness.
Shoki suppressed his smile, “Anokhi ka husband hai..8 mahine pehele hi shaadi hui hai.”
“What!! Iss ne shaadi karli?”
Shoki grimaced, “Haan par mere bhai tu please iss ladki or Shaurya se toh khas karke door rehena… Yeh banda bada gussel hai…”
“Bhai, yeh toh sahi kaha tune. Kaise ghur ghur ke dekh raha tha woh meri taraf!”
Although Anokhi had dragged Shaurya away from there, his eyes were constantly searching for one chance so that he could find him alone. And after 10 to 15 minutes he got a chance and without wasting any time he moved towards him.
“Oye kakke! Ice bhi dalna saath me!” Monty ordered the bartender.
Shaurya calmly approached the counter and asked for an orange juice without ice.
Monty literally jumped five feet high from his place after hearing his voice.
He saw Shaurya gazing at him from a distance or rather looking for a chance to kill him.
“Shaurya Sabherwal.” He extended his hand in greeting.
“Monty Khurrana” He squeaked while accepting it, but instantly regretted it.
“Nnngn!”
He squirmed to free his hand from the crushing grip of Shaurya Sabherwal. And when Shaurya finally took pity on him and released his hand, Monty cradled his hand to his chest to soothe it.
Silence prevailed and Monty was looking forward to escaping the space once his drink was ready, and soon enough the bartender arrived and placed their beverages on the counter. Just as he grabbed the glass and turned to leave, he heard Shaurya’s voice.
“Tum wohi ho na jiski shaadi hone wali thi Anokhi se?”
“Bhaiya ji, uss baat ko ab 1.5 saal se zayada hone aaya hai toh usko wahi rehne dete hai na.. Ab mere tange tod ke koi fayda bhi nahi hoga tumhe…”
“Mai tumhare pair kyun toduga? Shaurya eased against the counter and smirked.
“Kyun tumhe mujhpe g- gussa n-nahi aa raha?” Monty stammered comically.
“Mai tum par kyu gussa karuga?”
Monty sighed in relief, “Nahi meri Shaadi hone wali thi na Anokhi ke saath toh mujhe laga ki…” but stopped immediately once he realised that he should have used better words.
“Tumhe laga ki iss liye mai mai tumhari tange tod dunga” The smirk returned, but Monty wondered if it had ever left it’s place.
“Toh matlab tumhe meri tange nahi todni?” He tilted his head in curiosity.
“Nahi.”
Monty sagged happily but froze when Shaurya spoke again.\
“Nahi, mai sirf tumhari tange nahi todna chahta. Mai tumhe hi tod dena chahta hu. Lekin tumhari kismat acchi thi ki tum bach gaye.”
“KYU!?”
“Kyuki tumne Anokhi ki zindagi barbad karne ki koshish ki, aur aisa hota toh Aokhi bhi tumhe kahi ka nahi chodti!”
Lekin humari shaadi toh hui hi nahi na..”
“Lekin agar tumhari shaadi Anokhi se ho jati toh tumhari khair nahi thi.”
“Mai kuch samjha nahi.”
“Mai samajhta hun…”
*Flashback from Diwali*
Anokhi was making a rangoli at the entrance of the house and she had strictly warned her husband not to spoil it by stepping on it.
But Mr. Shaurya Sabherwal got an important call and he was so engrossed in it that he stepped on that rangoli.
“Mr. Sinha mai aapko baad mai call karta hun!” Shaurya stuttered in panic, “Oh no yeh maine kya kar diya.. Oh god ab mai kya karu Anokhi toh mujhe kacha chaba jayegi.. Usne mujhe pehle hi warn kiya tha ki rangoli se door rehne par mai hi bewakoof hun jo call attend karne yaha chala aaya…
Ek kaam karta hun mai yaha se chala jata hun kisi ne dekha nahi ki meri waje se yeh rangoli kharab hui hai toh mujh par koi shak nahi karega...
Chal Shaurya beta bhag yaha se nahi toh aaj teri khair nahi!”
He turned to leave but saw his Wifey standing there with her arms crossed and she was fuming in anger.
Shaurya with a sheepish smile said, “Anokhi woh… mai…”
“Yeh kya kiya?” the anger in her voice is obvious.
“Wifey yeh ma..maine nahi kiya yeh pata nahi kaise.. or kisne kharab kar diya… mai..mai jab yaha aaya tha toh yeh already kharab tha.. Haan.”
“Aacha!?” Anokhi crocked her eyebrows, warning him to say one more lie.
“Sorry…” Shaurya mused in a very low voice.
“Maine tumhe pehle hi warn kiya tha Shaurya ki isse kharab mat karna par nahi tumhe toh meri baat hi nahi sunni hai… Ek tumhari biwi hai jo bas bole hi ja rahi hai par tumhe toh sunnna hi nahi hai.. hai na?”
“Toh bola hi mat karo na..” Shaurya murmured under his breath.
“Kya kaha tumne abhi?” His wife fumed.
“Maine? Ku..kuch bhi toh nahi kaha!”
“Nahi! Tumne abhi kaha na ki mai na bolu… Fine ab nahi bol rahi mai.. Mujhe na tumse baat hi nahi karni hai!” And saying so, she stormed inside the house.
“Oh no… Anokhi sorry na yaar!” he ran behind her.
*Flashback ended*
“Itni choti si baat par yeh naraz ho gai?” Monty asked in all seriousness.
“Aur nahi toh kya and you know what? Uss din se mujhe Karele se nafrat ho gai hai.” He made a face.
“Karele se nafrat! Yaha Karela kaha se aaya?”
“Uss raat Anokhi ne saza ke taur par mujhe karele ki sabzi di thi… Sab log maze se aacha aacha khana ka rahe the or mai? KARELA!
Us din se maine aaj tak karele nahi khaye…Pure 3 dino tak mujhse baat nahi ki thi...
Aur ek baar pata hai kya hua…”
*Flashback started*
“Anokhi ! Anokhiiiiii!” Shaurya yelled.
“Haan kya hai bathroom me bethae bethae kyun chilla rahe ho?”
“Are shower nahi chal raha hai shayad tanki ka pani katam ho gaya hai!”
“Toh mai kya karu?”
“Are jake tanki ki motor chalu karne ko kaho watchman se..Mujhe meeting ke liye late ho raha hai… Paani kyu nahi chadhya usne aaj? Aisa toh Sabherwal mansion mei kabhi nahi hua!”
“Woh toh mein kehe dungi par pani aane me 15 minute tak ka time lagega.”
“Are yaar par mujhe late ho raha hai!”
“Tum yaha hi ruko mai abhi pani lati hu!”
“Haan please jadi lana!”
He didn’t know how many minutes passed but he grew restless soon after.
“Anokhi kaha ho pani lane gai ho ya banane itna time thodi lagata hai...Ouch! Anokhi jaldi lao mere eyes me soap chala gaya hai!”
“Aa gai baba darwaza kholo.. Yeh lo…”
Shaurya could hear her smirking through the words but he has no time to wonder about it.
“Aahhhhhh!!! Anokhi yeh kya hai yaar!?” He removed the soap, wrapped a towel around his waist and came towards the door only to find it locked from outside. He tried again but the door was not opening.
Outside in the room Anokhi was having a hard time controlling her laughter.
“Anokhiii darwaaza kholo please!”
As soon as she heard his voice she started laughing.
“Anokhi tum has rahi ho, this is not funny.. Ek toh tumne pani me Ice daldi and now you have locked me here! pani kitna thanda hai pata bhi hai? Now please open the door.”
Anokhi composed herself and said, “Ek hi condition par kholugi darwaza…tumhe mujhe sorry kehena hoga.”
“Anokhi this is cheating tum galat fayda utha rahi ho situation ka!”
“Sorry keh rahe ho ya mai jau?”
“Anokhi kal meri galti nahi thi, mai sorry nahi kahuga!” Shaurya yelled from behind the door, trying to pull it open.
Anokhi giggled, “Soch lo sorry kehena hai ya bathroom me hi lock rehena hai!?”
When the only response she got was silence, she shook her head, “Thik hai mai jati hun.”
“Are wait wait wait wait!” Shaurya said, “Kehta hun!”
“Haan, I am waiting.”
“Lekin aise kaise? Mujhe tumhe face karke kehna hai. Toh mai ek kaam karta hu-”
“Oh please! Yeh smartness mere samne nahi. Sorry bolo warna mai chali jaungi college!”
She heard him growl in irritation, “Okay fine!” Then his voice dropped low, “Sorry!”
“Kya? Tumne kuch kaha mujhe kuch sunai nahi diya!”
“SORRY!!” This time his voice boomed.
“Hmm. That's better!” She opened the door and when he came out she snapped her fingers, “Agli baar dhyan rakhna!” and she left the room.
*Flashback ended*
“Us din mujhe majburan ice water se nahana pada tha.” Shaurya shook his head.
“Aacha? Toh Anokhi tumhe itna sataya ki tumne abhi waiter ko orange juice without ice lane ke liye kaha?”
“Are nahi woh toh kuch bhi cold khaane ki waja se mujhe sardi ho jati hai.”
“Aacha okk.”
“And you know ek baar kya hua…”
*Flashback started*
Anokhi was watching TV , her exams for last semester had been completed so she was enjoying her vacation. All family members except for ShaKhi had gone for a wedding and Shaurya had gone for a meeting. Suddenly she heard a voice from the hallway.
Anokhi stiffened, “Yeh kaisi awaz thi? Abhi toh koi bhi nahi aaya hoga.. Shaurya ki bhi meeting hai toh unhe bhi abhi 1 ganta toh lagega..toh phir kon ho sakta hai? KAHI CHOR TOH NAHI!!”
She took slow steps towards the hallways with a stick in her hand. It was very dark as all the lights were off. She saw a shadow slowly moving up the stairs.
“Yeh toh koi chor lagta hai ab mai kya karu? Shaurya ko call karu? Nahi par itna time nahi hai na… Mujhe hi kuch karna hoga!” She literally ran towards that person and
Whack!
She hit that stick on his back and raised it again to aim at his head.
“Aaahhhhh!! Kon hai yeh bewakoof!?!?”
“SHAURYA!!! Tum!?” Anokhi yelped.
“What the-” Shaurya hissed, “Anokhi yeh konsa tarika hai apne ek laute pati ke sawgat karne ka? Aaahhh mera sar…”
“Tumhe chot aayi hai?” She dropped the stick and stepped closer.
“Nahi mera sar toh steel ka hai isse kaise chot aa sakti hai… Of course, aayi hai yeh jo tum WWF ka stunt kar rahi thi usse chot nahi aayegi toh kya hoga? Itna hi shoq hai na toh next season me part lelena, waha tumhe apni takat ka pradarshan karne ka mauka mil jayega!”
“Shaurya tumhe lagi hai, pehle tum chalo mere saath.”
She took him to their room, he sat on the bed and she started to look for injuries.
“Anokhi abhi janmashtami me kafi time hai…” Shaurya teased.
“Hain? Yeh janmashtami kaha se aa gai?”
“Nahi mujhe laga ki tumhe pata nahi hai isliye tum dahi handi ki practice kar rahi thi or mere sar ko matka samaj ke phod diya!”
“Sorry Shaurya, woh actually mujhe laga ki koi chor ghar me ghus aaya hai isliye maine…” She trailed away.
“Isliye tumne mujhe chor samaj kar mera sar phod diya?” Shaurya looked at her in disbelief, “Anokhi, you know baki husband jab ghar aate hai toh unki wife unka swagat bade pyaar se karti hai, aur meri wife mera sawgat dande se kar rahi hai!”
“Arrey, itni bhi zor ki nahi lagi hai tumhe! Aur mai kya karti? Ghar me koi nahi tha aur mujhe kuch aawaze sunai de rahi thi, tum bhi toh late aane wale the na? Ek minute par tum toh late aane wale the toh…”
“Woh mai tumhe surprise dena chahta tha isliye jaldi aa gaya...Par yaha aake mujhe hi shock mil gaya!”
*Flashback ended*
Monty laughed after listening to this.
“Oh hello! Mai tumhe koi joke nahi suna raha hu, yeh sab isliye bata raha hun taki tum shaadi karne ki galti na karo.”
“Tumne sahi kaha tha mai sach me bach gaya! Waise tumhari biwi kafi danger kisam ki hai…”
“I know…
But aaj sirf ussi ki wajah se meri life sudhar gayi hai. Anokhi har chiz me hamesha mera support karti hai, chahe woh career ho ya family. Woh hamesha mere saath hoti hai… Mujhe pareshani ho toh woh bhi pareshan ho jati hai.
Agar woh nahi hoti toh shayad meri life pehle ki tarah boring hoti. Uske liye toh mujhe tumhe thanks bolna chahiye. Tum aise nahi hote toh shayad Anokhi mandap chod kar kabhi Chandigarh nahi aati, aur na hum kabhi milte.”
“Aaj tak mujhe lagata tha ki Anokhi ne galat kiya us din shaadi se bhag kar kyunki usne mujse shaadi nahi ki.”
“Tumhari soch galat hai, Monty. Iss mei tumhari galati nahi hai. Mai bhi kuch kuch aisa hi tha pehla, Anokhi se milkar samajh aya ki kitna galat hu mai aur mere jaise kai sare ladke.”
Anokhi came there and saw them chatting nicely but still gave Monty a mean look.
“Shaurya tum yaha kya kar rahe ho,chalo hame nikalna hai Chandigarh pohochne mei time lagega.”
“Anokhi, Monty tumse kuch kehena chahta hai…”
To which Monty gave him a confused look. Shaurya reached over for Monty’s whiskey glass with ice and handed it to him.
“Haan Anokhi!” He quickly fumbled, “Mai kehna chahta hu ki, I am sorry.”
Anokhi frowned, “Sorry kis liye?”
Monty smiled, “Mere behavior or meri soch ki wajhe se tumhe aur tumhare Papa Ji ko bohot kuch sehena pada… Now I understand ki mai kitna galat tha isliye I am sorry, dil se. Aur thank you.”
“Thank you?”
“Meri zindagi baksh-” Shaurya glared in warning, “Mera matlab, meri galti ka ehsaas karane ke liye aur mujhe sudharne ke liye ji!”
“Hmm.” Anokhi looked at him suspiciously.
Shaurya jumped to his rescue, “Tumhe apni galti realise ho gayi, isse aachi baat aur kya ho sakti hai, haina Wifey?”
“Patidev ab chale hame late ho raha hai?”
“Haan chalo…”
_______________________________________
They bid farewell from there and leave for Chandigarh. In the car, Anokhi voiced her questions.
“Waise Shaurya, tumne aisa toh kya keh diya Monty se ki na sirf usse apni galti realise ki, balki mafi bhi magli?”
“Kuch nahi bas tumhari tarif kari or kuch nahi…”
“Aise toh kya hi phool bandhe hai meri tarif mei?” Her eyes narrowed.
“Arrey Wifey, chodo na in sab bato ko, tum bas aam khao guthaliya mat gino!” He rushed, “By the way Anokhi, thank you…”
“Woh kis liye?”
Shaurya smiled heartily, “Meri life me aane ke liye.”
Anokhi smiled: I love you ♡
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A random idea popped in my head to see Monty and Shaurya meet in person. So, Dhawani and I decided to pen down something light for you guys. Honestly, the concept is all Dhwani's work and I only did a little bit of polishing.
Do leave your precious likes and comments to let us know what you think about it.
-Dhwani (ShaKhi1820) & Akshu ❤️
Also available on wattpad:
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
