Some more lovey dovey moments to subdue the sadness of the samaina less weekend! Sorry for being this late but thank you for loving this story! Hope you don't lose the connect & please continue commenting! I vl reply individually very soon & also update the other FF Forever yours this weekend!
Part 24 - Daastan-E-Kedgeree
Naina was getting ready for the college. Chachiji came to the room and seeing Naina almost ready, widened her eyes and asked "Naina, tu kahan ja rahi hai?"
"Chachiji, college ja rahi hoon...Preeti ke saath".
"Nahi nahi...tu kahi nahi jaayegi...24 roz aur aaram kar le, fir chali jaana. Abhi kitni kamzori hai, kahi chakkar aa gaya, gir gayi, chot lag gayi toh..", Chachiji admonished her.
"Chachiji...aap chinta mat kijiye...main bilkul theek hoon, aur Preeti hai na mere saath..." Chachiji didn't seem to relent. She went to her and held her hand and "pareeksha paas aa rahi hai Chachiji...college miss nahi kar sakti...aur agar tabiyat kharab lagi, toh main fauran wapas aa jaoongi", Naina promised.
"Accha theek hai...chali ja...par naaashta karke jana, bardoli ki khichdi banayi hai...aur baaki ki dabbe mein daal deti hoon...Preeti...ise yaad se khila dena, bahar ka kuch khane mat dena aur samay par dawaii bhi de dena", Chachiji instructed her youngest, while Naina scrunched her face bracing herself for a khichdi day".
Since Preeti also didn't like it, she made an excuse and had only tea and biscuits.
In college:
The girls were sitting in class, Swati was chatting away happily about her impending trip to Indore after the exams, when the boys entered. Sameer was dismayed at the thought of sitting through the day without Naina, but since MP had dragged him so that he could have a change of place, he had given in to his friends' wishes. But as soon as he entered the class, his eyes fell on his happiness. He was elated and grinned ear to ear and without any modesty asked the girls to exchange seats and let him sit beside his Naina. She too beamed at him and shook her head at his lack of humility while expressing his love so openly.
He leaned towards her and said "Mujhe laga nahi tha ki tum aaj college aaogi...tumhe 1-2 din aur aaram karna chahiye tha" and he placed his hand on hers on the desk, to check her temperature and wound and assure himself that she was well and healthy and actually sitting right next to him, after what had happened just 2 days ago.
"Main theek hoon...Chachiji ne lagaya hai na Preeti jassos ko meri nigrani pe...", he smiled at the tag his saaliji received.
She continued, "Aur tum...tum reh lete bina mujhe dekhe...bina mile...bina baat kiye...aur 1-2 din tak...maine dekha class main aate waqt kitne mayoos the".
"Haan tha...yeh sochkar ki tum toh nahi hogi...par agar baat meri Nainu ki sehat ki hai toh yeh mayoosi bhi manzoor hai".
Just then JBR walked in and she whispered to him "Ab agar ghaav aur bukhar check kar liya ho toh haath chod dou...taaki mai notes likh loon...". He smiled and winked and let go off her hand.
JBR started divulging some information about the upcoming annual exams and some change in pattern and scoring system. Naina diligently noted down everything, paying attention in her studious mode and also knew that she would feel responsible for the gang, except Swati, who would pay equal attention, but might still need her help, while her sister and the boys depended on her inadvertently to score even the passing marks.
After the classes, the gang was in Red Rose, except Sameer who had to complete the last of his duties as a Mr. fresher and oversee some extracurricular activities before the academic year ended and the title would be relinquished to another pair in the next few months.
"Yeh kya baat hui Swati...ek mahina...aisa thodi na hota hai...saari chuttiyan khatm ho jaayegi...aisa kaise...hum kab milenge...kab ghumenge...yaar pyar ka izhaar hone ke baad yeh hamara pehla vacation hai...aur tu aise mujhe chodke chali jaayegi", Munna was expressing his annoyance at Swati's absence from the city for 1 month after the exams.
"Munna...pehla vacation toh aise bol rahe ho jaise pehle honeymoon pe ja rahe ho", Swati also answered irritated but immediately flushed at her own words, while Munna blushed and the others giggled.
She tried to divert the topic. "Waise bhi main kal nahi ja rahi hoon...abhi 2 hafte mein exam hai, jo dou hafte chalengi...uske baad jaoongi...toh lagbhag ek mahine baad..." Munna ddin't seem to be pacified.
So, she placed her hand on his and tried again "Munna...tumhe toh pata hai na...papa kitne kanjoos hai...2-3 saal mein kahi ek baar le jate hai ghumane...aur iss baar bhi buaji ki beti ki shaadi hai, islliye ja rahe hai...toh saara parivar, saare cousins honge...lambe time baad sab mil rahe hai...issliye jane ke liye raazi hue hai", he still seemed annoyed, making her lose patience. "Theek hai...tum aise hi muh banao...meri khushi se tumhe kya...kabhi ek baar kahi bahar ghumne ka mauka mila hai...lekin tum...banao banao...aur muh banao...saara mood kharab kar dou...aajke baad kabhi kahi jaane ka naam nahi loongi, ghar mein hi bandh rahoongi" and she stood up angrily and stormed out leaving a bewildered Munna.
Naian reprimanded him "Kya Munna...shaadi mein jane ki baat se Swati kitni khush thi...kab se planning kar rahi hai...aur tune use naaraz kar diya...ab jaakar mana use..." Munna headpalmed that she was supposed to manaofy him coz she was going to leave him for a month and here the tables had turned and he was the one who would need to chase and calm down his frockwali Pandit.
Leaving the duo to their silly belligerence, Preeti removed the tiffin and placed it in front of Naina. Chal kha le, fir dawaii khani hai. She was ready with the medicine strip and the bottle of boiled water from home.
Pandit scrunched and contorted his face in disgust "Kheeeccchhhddiii...yeh kaun khata hai...yeh tou beemaronwala khana hai".
"Hann toh Naina beemar hai na"...Preeti retored.
Naina scrunched her nose "Mai nahi khanewali...teen din se khichdi kha kha ke main pareshan ho chuki hoon...ek toh mujhe waise hi nahi pasand...upar se hospital mein, ghar mein...sab jagah subah shaam khichdi hi khichdi...naashte mein chai ke saath khichdi, dopahar mein chaas ke saath khichdi, shaam ko fir khichdi...Preeti...itni khichdi toh na maine poori zindagi mein nahi khayi...beemar na bhi hoon na toh yeh khichdi kha kha ke pakka beemar ho jaoongi".
"Dekh behen...college se chutti bachane ke liye, maine tera saath diya, aur Mummy se promise kiya tha ki tujhe bahar ka kuch khane nahi doongi, time se khichdi khilakar dawaii khila doongi...toh ab zyaada nakhre mat kar aur chup chap kha le", Preeti almost ordered her.
"Wah...yeh achcha hai, tu aur baaki sab log samosa thuse aur main yeh beswaad khichdi khaoon...wo bhi bina achar ke...NAHI KHAOONGI", Naina was in her childish mode.
"Dekh Naina, chup chap kha le, warna Jijaji ko bol doongi ki tu apni tabiyat ka khayal nahi rakh rahi hai", Preeti warned her.
This irritated Naina even more "Tu chup kar...Jijaji ki chamchi...nahi khaoongi matlab nahi khaoongi" and she got up and left.
Preeti kept hollering behind her and Pandit commented "Chamchi nahi kadchi lagti hai yeh toh" and chuckled very mutely...
"Suna maine..." Preti glared daggers at him and he immediately appeared contrite.
Sameer had seen a fuming Swati storming out in the corridor towards the playground and a haggard Munna following her calling out her Swati and Pandit alternately. He had stopped and asked "Kya hua Munna?"
"Arre bhai...baad mein bataunga...abhi mamla garam hai...pehle use toh shant kar loon..." and he left to follow her.
Sameer smiled and made his way to Red Rose when he saw an irritated Naina stomping away in the corridor. He called out but it fell on deaf ears and Naina didn't notice his presence.
He came to Red Rose and saw a sullen Preeti, "Kya hua sab lad kyon rahe hai?"
When Preeti looked in confusion... "Wo Swati bhi gusse mein lag rahi thi aur Naina bhi, kya hua?"
"Arre Swati ka kuch nahi. Wo exams ke baad ek mahine ke liye Indore ja rahi hai na toh Munna baukhla gaya tha...wo mana lega use".
"Aur Naina...Naina ko kya hua?"
"Use kuch nahi hua hai...Mummy ko khichderiya ho gaya hai..."
"Huh...kya?" Sameer was bemused.
"Haan...jaise loveria, waise khichderiya...khichdi se pyar...aur Naina ko hai khichdi se nafrat...Mummy ne isi shart par college aane diya tha ki use bahar ka kuch khane na doon...ab wo khichdi kha nahi rahi hai toh bhooke peth dawaii kaise khilaoon?"
Sameer understood the problem. He put the medicine strip in his pocket, gathered the tiffin box and water bottle from her "tum fikr mat karo...mai dekhta hoon Naina ko".
He went in search of her and found her in their empty classroom. She was gazing out the window as pangs of hunger were unsettling her stomach. Sameer took his place next to her. She immediately felt him and turned around. But seeing the tiffin box that he placed on the desk, she was infuriated "Toh Preeti ki bachchi ne yeh hathkanda apnaya hai".
He opened the box and filled a spoonful and tried to feed her. She looked away "Mujhe nahi khana na Sameer...bore ho gayi hoon...aur khichdi nahi kha sakti...please na..." she made a cute puppy face so that he wouldn't force her.
"Nainu...please kha lo...fir dawaii khani hai...jaldi se theek hona hai na...", Sameer coaxed her.
She still made an unhappy face and he threw a bait "Achcha dekho...ise khatam karo...fir tumhare liye ek surprise hai".
Her eyes gleamed "Kya?"
"Pehle khana, fir surprise". He wasn't going to be fooled.
"Nahi...baad mein tum mukar jaoge...pakka mujhe budhdhu banaoge".
"Tumhe bharosa nahi hai apne Sameer par?", he faked hurt in his voice.
"Tum par hai...khichdi par nahi..."
He mirthed... "Surprise hai...bahut achchawala...pakka tumhe bahut pasand aayega..." And he raised his eyebrows and tried to feed her.
She didn't like but unwillingly finished it for three reasons, he was feeding her so lovingly that she would willingly ingest poison, she was famished due to medicine effect that made her feel drowsy and hungry, and the child in her was curious like a cat about the surprise.
After she finished the last morsel, she excitedly put her hand out "Dou mera surprise".
He smiled and pulled out a box of assorted imported chocolates from his bag. It contained KitKat, Ferrero Rocher, Toblerone, Mars, and Snickers. Naina's eyes dilated at seeing so many of them and then crunched in confusion "Sameer, yeh sab toh yahan nahi milti...imported chocolates hai na...? Tum kab videsh gaye?"
"Mai nahi gaya...kisi aur ne di hai. Nanu ke ek associate ne di hai. Wo pehle Nanu ke saath kaafi deals kar chuke hai, Singapore aur aas paas de deshon mein hamari industry ka kapda supply karte hai. Ab America mein paav jamana chate hai, iss liye kaafi time se wahan the, wahan ki market aur business policies ko jaanne aur samajhne ke liye. Fir unhe pataa chala ki Nanu ab nahi rahe aur unka saara business unka naati dekhta hai jo ki koi 18-19 saal ka bachcha hai. Toh unhe laga ki bachche ko chocolates dekar saare documents pe sign karvake deal finalize kar lenge...Iss liye milne aaye the. Maine unka business proposal study kiya tha, saara kuch toh nahi samjha, iss liye kuch sawal puche jiska unhone gol gol jawab diya...toh mujhe itna toh samajh aa gaya ki wo Nanu ke na hone ka fayda uthana chahte hai".
When Naina held his hand "Mujhe unke munafe se koi problem nahi hai...business mein sab apna fayda dekhte hai...lekin koi Nanu ke naam ka galat istemaal karke Maheshwari ko dhoka deke apna fayda kare, yeh main bardasht nahi karoonga. Issliye sab kuch theek se jaanchna hoga, ek baar Tauji aur Chachaji bhi sab kuch dekh le aur agar unhe bhi sahi laga toh fir karenge charcha...", she firmly held his hand and felt proud.
"Aise kya dekh rahi ho Naina?"
"Nanu ka sapna poora hote hue dekh rahi hoon...Sameer ko dheere dheere Sameer Jaiprakash Maheshwari banta dekh rahi hoon". Her eyes pooled with happy tears and she felt prouder.
He held both her hands "Nanu ka aashirwaad aur tumhara pyar mere saath ho toh ek din main unka sapna zaroor poora karunga", Sameer was confident that sided by his most prized possessions, Nanu and Naina, his guardian angels, he could conquer the world.
"Waise ek baat aur hai..." When she looked at him in askance, he continued "Tumhe yaad hai, mein jab Delhi mein tha, tumse milne aaya tha".
"Haan...kaise bhool sakti hoon...kitne gusse mein tasveer todkar chale gaye the". She chided him.
"Uss din bhi tumhare liye imported chocolates ki gift laaya tha. Par tumhari photo dekhkar itna gussa aaya naa..."
"Itni kharab photo thi kya?", her eyebrows furrowed at her own stupidity.
"Nahi Nainu...photo kharab nahi thi...wo uss din main baal kaatne salon gaya tha tab wahan kuch lafange photo studio ke darwaze pe lagi models aur ladkiyon ki photo dekhkar gandi baatein kar rahe the aur chichori harkatein bhi kar rahe the...mujhe bahut gussa aaya, mann kar raha tha unka muh tod doon. Aur fir jab tumne wo photo dikhayi aur kahan ki studio mein khichi toh fir se gussa aa gaya ki na jaane meri Naina ko kaun kaise dekh raha hoga...kisi photo studiowale ya lafange ka gussa tumpe nikal diya...tumne itne pyar se mere liye itna achcha gift socha tha aur maine tod diya. Sorry". He touched his ear in his usual style.
He really appeared contrite at having hurt her, so she firmly grasped his hands. "Mai samajh sakti hoon...tumne kya feel kiya hoga...koi baat nahi...par ek baat yaad rakhna...hum ladkiyan na chati indri ke saath paida hoti hai..."
"Che ande...kya Naina?...Hindi mein bolo na"
Naina rolled her eyes. His Hindi had improved considerably but still he lacked in a plenty of offbeat words. "6th sense...hum ladkiyon ka 6th sense bahut strong hota hai aur bachpan se hi sikhaya jaata hai, anjan se baat nahi karna, anajaan ka diya kuch nahi khana, sunsan jagah nahi jana, andhera hone ke baad akele nahi jaana, nayi jagah jhund mein jaana...aur rahi baat lafangon ki...toh wo har gully nukkad pe hote hai...agar unse darte rahe, toh saari ladkiyon ko hamesha ghar mein hi bandh rehna hoga, koi bhi kabhi bhi bahar nahi ja sakti..."
Seeing him ponder over her statement, she continued further "Aur fir tum ho na...angry young man...yaad hai mujhe...school mein kaise Pankaj ko maarne peeche pad gaye the...toh agar mere saath koi bhi badtameezi karega...toh tum ho na...Sunny Deol type..." She wiggled her eyebrows and he flustered.
They were gazing lovingly at each other when Preeti and the gang hollered from the doorway "Ye lo...humne poora college chaan liya aur yeh tota maina ki jodi yahan guturgu kar rahi hai. Aap toh ise khana khilane wale the na".
"Khila diya...aurr..." he removed the strip from his pocket, gave her the tablet and handed the bottle of water. Naina gulped the medicine "yeh dawaii bhi khila di". Sameer asserted that he had completed the assigned task.
"Saaliji...waise toh aap bahut pyari hai...lekin kabhi kabhi iss pyar ke kabab mein haddi daal deti hai", Sameer teased Preeti, while Naina squinted.
"Hawww Jijaji...aap kebab bhi khate ho? Maheshwari ka toh pataa nahi par kebab khanewale se toh kisi Agrawal ki shaadi nahi ho sakti". Everyone chortled at her retort.
Naina looked at a smiling Swati... "Sulah ho gayi tumhari?"
"Aur kya...pyare se bandar se koi kab tak naaraz reh sakta hai!" SwaMun blushed while their friends teased them.
Later in evening:
"Preeti beta jaldi kar...Taiji aati hi hogi..." Chachiji was hurrying Preeti.
"Mummy...main bhi Naina ke saath ghar par hi rehti hoon na..." wahan itne bade budhon mein mera kya kaam hai?"
"Arre nahi nahi...unhone mata ki chwoki lagayi hai...kunwari kanyaon ko tika karke prasad batega...11 kanyaein chahiye thi...Mridulaben ne Naina ko bhi aane ke liye kaha tha...par maine mana kar diya yeh kehkar ki uski tabiyat kharab hai...waise bhi wahan pehle prasad ke thaal ka khana tum ladkiyon ko chadhaya jayega. Badi mannat ki Puja hai toh kam se kam 16 vyanjan honge...Naina yeh sab nahi kha sakti na...issliye maine pehle hi unhe mana kar diya...ab tujhe toh chalna hi padega..." Chachiji ignored her excuses and left to call Taiji.
Preeti made a face and Naina thought she was stupid "Arre muh kyon bana rahi hai...mazee kar...achcha achcha kha pee, aur kya chahiye tujhe", she was being sarcastic in expressing her envy. Preeti glared at her when the elder ladies came back to call her.
While leaving Chachiji instructed Naina "Beta...hum logon ko thodi der ho jayegi, tere liye khichdi bana di hai, kha lena aur dawaii lena mat bhoolna, aur darwaza bandh kar lena,". Naina nodded and they left.
Naina tried to focus on studies, but after completing a small section, she was bored and hungry and missed Sameer.
She decided to call him.
At Sameer's house
When the three were back after wandering in the market for a while, Ramdhari announced "Bhaiyya...achcha hua aap gaye...aaj aapke pasand ka khana banaya hai, bharwa bhindi, pulav, raita, aur dheemi aanch pe seke karare parathe".
MP's mouth watered and they decided to have dinner here only as usual, but Sameer didn't seem perturbed and placed a hand on his shoulder "Thank you Ramdhari...par yeh khana tu inhe khila de aur tu bhi kha le...aur mere liye khichdi banade...aur agle dou-teen din roz mere liye khichdi hi banana".
Ramdhari was surprised and worried "Khichdi? Par bhaiyya yeh toh beemaron wala khana hai na...aapki tabiyat kharab hai kya? Ya fir peth kharab hai?"
"Na tabiyat kharab hai na peth...bus pyar ka bukhar hai..." teased Munna...
When Ramdhari still looked confused, Pandit conituned "Tu rehne de...tu nahi samjhege...kabhi kisi se pyar kiya hai?"
"Haan bhaiyya...bilkul...main apne bapu se bahut pyar karta hoon".
"Arre...waisa wala nahi...waisa wala", Pandit raised his eyebrows trying to indicate something, which still didn't get across Ramdhari.
"Tu rehne de...tu buss khichdi bana"...Munna slapped on his shoulders and sent away a confused Ramdhari...
While Sameer sat on the sofa and stretched his legs on the table, the boys couldn't help sniggering behind his back. They didn't know whether to tease him, laugh at him or learn form him that his world revolved only around Naina...he could give up everything for her, even his favorite foods, although he was as foodie as them.
He picked up at the first ring though not expecting her.
"Mai bol rahi hoon..."
"Naina, tum? Itna jaldi?" He sat upright. "Sab theek hai na?", he asked in concern.
"Haan baba sab theek hai...buss tumhe miss kar rahi thi...", she started flirting lightly.
"Oho...kya baat hai...itna miss kiya ja raha ki Chachiji aur Taiji ka darr bhi nahi lag raha hai".
She smiled and hopped around the swing "Koi nahi hai ghar par...sab Puja mein gaye hai, kunwari kanyaon ko mahaprasad ka bhog lagega...mujhe aaram karne ke liye yahan akela chod diya", she announced teasing him and daring him to make a bold move.
"Ohhh! Toh isliye miss kiya ja raha hai? Seedhe seedhe bhi toh bol sakti ho na...ki Sameer mai ghar par akeli hoon...aa jao...Main thodi na bolunga".
"Chup karo...Puja neeche mohalle mein hi hai...sab aas paas hai...toh ulte seedhe khayal dil se nikal dou".
"Kya Naina...romantic mood ki toh aisi taisi kar di...waise naina...tum bhi toh kunwari ho...ab tak toh humne sirf kiss kiya hai", he teased her and tried hinting that they weren't married yet and a lot more, but his innocent Naina didn't understand the underlying crux, as expected.
"Romance chodo...abhi toh bhookh lagi hai", She made a hungry face that he felt and forgot all teasing.
"Bhookh lagi hai matlab? Khana nahi khaya? Kyon?"
"Chachiji fir khichdi bankar gayi hai...mera bilkul mann nahi kar raha khane ka".
"Nainu...fir wahi baat..." Just then Ramdhari came with a plate and water "Yeh lo bhaiyya, aapke liye khichdi". Naina heard it.
"Thank you Ramdhari!"
"Tum khichdi kyon kha rahe ho? Tabiyat kharab hai kya? Ya Ramdhari ne aaj khana nahi banaya?", Naina asked concerned.
"Khana banaya hai, Munna Pandit maze bhi le rahe hai...par maine socha main aaj saada khana khaoon."
"Sameer...? Tum aur khana chod dou...? Sameer...tummm...khichdi isliye kha rahe ho na...kyon ki mujhe khani pad rahi hai?", she asked cautiously.
He inhaled and exhaled loudly "Jab tak meri Nainu khichdi khayegi...main bhi khaoonga...Ek kaam karo, tum bhi apni plate lekar aao...hum saath mai khate hai...phone par baatein karte hue!", he himself felt elated at the idea of sharing a meal with her.
Naina's eyes misted and she did as asked and without any complaints she started eating in his company.
"Kya soch rahi ho Naina?"
"Ek baar Chachiji ne kaha tha ki kuch pati apni patni se bahut pyar karte hai, par duniya ka koi pati aisa nahi hota jo apni patni ke liye sab kuch chod de, bhagwan ne aisa aadmi banaya hi nahi hai...kassh main unse kabhi keh paoon...ki bhagwan ne ek aisa banaya hai, aur mai bahut lucky hoon ki use meri zindagi mein de diya hai..."
Sensing her get emotional, he teased her "Oho...toh madam apne aap ko already Mrs. Maheshwari declare kar chuki hai...waise abhi toh aap sirf meri girlfriend hai".
"Haan hoon...par Mrs. Sameer Maheshwari toh main hi banoongi".
He was delighted hearing her bold declaration of love. His fiery, spirited, and headstrong Naina was back with him completely, and he was ready to take on the world for their love.
P.S. M sure you have googled the title by now, but in case u haven't, it is an Anglo-Indian version of khichdi, made of rice, boiled egg, flaked fish & very rarely potato. Although it is deemed healthy like Indian khichdi, the aroma is obnoxious just like khichdi & only those with an appetite can stomach it...well, it might still be construed as delicious by some!
P.P.S This story will not take a business route. This is about love & friendship.
comment:
p_commentcount