FF:HOW YUVI UNITE prt 62 updated on pg44 30/11/09 - Page 35

Part 62

Time has passed.

Both families are still happily united. There are no longer two villages, both have been merged together as they were once before, into KALIGANJ.

Yug is now settled at home and most of his time is consumed by the daily pressures of his work. It isn't easy being in charge of a major organisation such as VA's company.

While Ragbir on the other hand is enjoying the comforts and pleasures of his new job as the manager in yug's company. He has managed to repay DB for the help and support, and has also placed a deposit on a new house which is being renovated, where him and Vrinda will move to shortly. They will finally have their own place.

Vrinda is engrossed with her daily housewife rituals, she has little time for anything else nowadays, and Bharti is busy enjoying the perks and luxuries of being the daughter in law of such a grand family.

One day as Vrinda is washing the dishes she sees the tiffin box she had packed in the morning on the kitchen worktop and realises that Ragbir has left his lunch at home. He may have become a sophisticated manager of a major company, but he would always remain the old Ragbir from heart. He had insisted he would only eat Vrinda's hand cooked food for dinner everyday. Vrinda looked at the clock, it was almost lunch time. She would have to go drop this off to him right now herself since no one else was home. As she got ready to leave she remembered a few weeks back when yug had come to pick up Ragbir on the way to work. He had teased Ragbir regarding this tiffin box :

"Ragbir you are the managing head of a major corporation now, you don't need to bring a lunch box to work like a school kid. just come to the restaurant with me and have lunch ok" Yug had said.

"no Yug bhai saab." replied Ragbir "you know my ammo use to say, that no matter what status a man has, whether he is rich or poor. He should always eat the food his wife makes for him, it strengthens their bond of love. As for restaurants, well its always a nice treat to go and take the wife out, or dine out for a special occasion. But for my daily lunch I will only eat Vrinda ji's hand made food, so the tiffin, will be staying !"

Yug grimaced and lowered his head in approval.

Vrinda had been watching the two have this conversation from the hallway. she could feel the knife in yug's chest as Ragbir spoke these words. There was a time when she thought she would spend the rest of her life serving Yug.

As yug lifted his head from the corner of his eye Yug saw Vrinda standing in the hallway watching them. As she stole her eyes away from his, he remembered the time when he had helped DB and kushal chacu on their farm. He remembered how the women would bring their husbands dinner and would feed them with such love and care. He remembered how he had seen Vrinda bringing food for her grandfather in the field, and had hoped, and wished, that one day, as his wife she would bring food for him and feed him too. But alas that was just another thing on the unfulfilled wish list. It was a different lifetime ago thought Yug to himself.

"where are you lost Yug bhai saab ?" questioned Ragbir patting him on the shoulder.

Yug quickly shook away these thoughts

"thinking of Bharti where you ? Ahhh I know you were, its ok Yug bhai saab, I know u must be missing her food now also. Hahaha"

Yug tried his best to laugh with Ragbir but only half a smile came out. He placed his hand on Ragbir's shoulder and said

"you really are one lucky guy Ragbir'don't you ever forget that !"

"off course I am Yug bhai saab'.I have such a great friend as you, how could I not be"

And the two walked off together as Vrinda remained stood in the hallway watching them leave.

Back to the present'

Vrinda gets out of the taxi and heads into the office building clutching onto the box. She had never been in this building before, therefore didn't have a clue whereabouts Ragbir's office was. After enquiring at the front desk she came to know it was on the 15^th floor. So she took the elevator up.

Meanwhile..

Ragbir had arrived back home. He had realised he had left his lunch at home and had come home to eat dinner. But no one was in. Where was everyone? Even if the others were out shopping or what not Vrinda would always remain home at this time of the day. But there was no sign of her, or anyone else for that matter. He checked the pots and pans, they had been washed and laid out to dry but there was nothing made to eat. Ragbir looked at his watch, there was no time to go to a restaurant now, he would have to get back to work on time. Frustrated Ragbir decided to go back to work on an empty stomach.

Back to Vrinda'

Vrinda got out of the elevator. Once up there she realised how vast this place was. It was filled with never-ending cubicles and the buzz of office workers. She had no idea which way to turn. Vrinda stood there all puzzled. She would have to ask someone for direction to ragbirs office. As she turned around she bumped into a tall figure and almost dropped the tiffin box when a pair of familiar hands clasped around hers preventing the box from falling.

Vrinda faced forward to see that Yug was standing there looking just as puzzled as she was.

Still holding on to the box Yug asked

"Vrinda'what are you doing here ?"

Vrinda, now lost for words, only managed to let out

"food"

Yug looked down at the box that both of them were still holding. And as he did he couldn't help but smile. The sight in front him was but so dreamy.

Had she really come to give him food, he pondered, oblivious to the approx 600 eyes that were peeping at them he continued to gaze at her.

Vrinda on the other hand, had noticed the particular way in wich the office people were all observing her and Yug. Upon realising this she snatched her hands out of his and asked

"do you know where Ragbir ji is ? he forgot his lunch at home so I brought it for him"

At the mention of Ragbir's name Yug snapped out of the trance. Another day dream smashed.

"umm I don't know Vrinda'-" but before he could continue he noticed the 300 eager eaves droppers. Yug turned to face the office workers with annoyance, but they immediately sat down in their seats and went back to doing there work. He shook his head with disbelief at how nosy some people could be, then turned to face Vrinda.

"come on I will take you to his office" and he led the way.

They walked down the long corridor into a room on the right. Yug went in there first Vrinda followed. It was a small room. As they walked in the man sitting at the desk rose to face Yug.

"hello gopal. Is Ragbir in ?" Yug asked the man

Gopal thought Vrinda'it rang a bell. oh yes. she had heard Ragbir mention his name a few times, so this was Ragbir's secretary.

"No sir" replied gopal "Mr Sherawat said he would go out for lunch"

"he never goes out for lunch. Are you sure?"

"yes sir. His exact words were- its dinner time, im going out"

"oh. ok then" And hen Yug opened a door leading to another room. Vrinda followed.

Now this room was much bigger and airy and had huge windows. Ragbir's office was beautiful.

"well Vrinda, I never thought I would see this day but it seems like Ragbir has gone out to have his lunch. This is his office, you can wait here for him until he gets back."

And Yug turned to leave.

Vrinda became angry, and slumped on Ragbir's desk. She had gone to all the trouble and he wasn't even here.

"well there is no point for me to wait here if he has gone out to have lunch is there ! He could have at least had the decency to ring home to let me know. I wouldn't have bothered going to all the trouble of coming here. Now who will eat all this food ? it will just go to waste" she bawled as she slouched.

Yug recognised the anger in her voice, he had been on the receiving end of it many a time. He turned back and saw how upset she was. He knew it was none of his business, and maybe the best thing for him to do was to just leave, but for some reason he felt like he had to stay and make sure she was alright. He closed the door, pulled out Ragbir's chair and sat down.

"well why don't you eat it yourself. Anyway you look like you need it, all I can see on your face is your cheekbones. You look qanorexic. You should eat this then go home and eat some more. Honestly Vrinda, don't they feed you at home ?" he chuckled.

"heyy, are you making fun of me" accused Vrinda

Yug chuckled some more. Its true she had lost weight, but not as much as he was making it out to be. He just had to say something to get her mind off Ragbir.

" there is nothing wrong with me. Im fine" she knew what he was trying to do and she wasn't falling for it "And besides you're a fine one to talk aren't you" as she rolled her eyes at him.

"erm, what does that mean ?" asked Yug.

"well just look at yourself. You look as if YOU haven't been fed for days. Your collar bone is sticking out and look how baggy your shirt is" two can play this game she thought. "and doesn't Bharti take care of you ? You look really ill, are you sure you're ok ?"

"erm excuse me. Bharti does take care of me. And I'm smart and slim. There's nothing wrong with me. I look HOT " he said trying to convince her, but worryingly looking at his reflection in the window at the same time. He couldn't help but bring his hand up to his collar bone just to check and make sure, (I should have worn a tie instead of having an open collar shirt he thought to himself) was it really sticking out ? did he really look ill ?

Vrinda saw him secretly trying observing himself and let out a little laugh.

Yug straightened up at once, realising that she was only messing him. He felt foolish, he was meant to be teasing her, not the other way around. But at least Vrinda wasn't angry anymore. In fact she was laughing now. He loved it when she laughed. Seemed like the whole world was laughing.

"ok you can stop laughing now" demanded Yug.

"ok ok, sorry. So. Have you had your dinner yet ?"

"no not yet, I was on my way out when I bumped into you"

"oh great. Well now you don't have to. You can eat this." and Vrinda started to open the box and unload the contents.

"oh no no I really cant" Yug began to protest, he pleaded that he didn't really feel that hungry, Vrinda suddenly shoved something into his mouth"

"good. That shut you up. You know you can be really annoying sometimes when you just go on and on" she complained

Yug stared at Vrinda with amazement. This coming from the woman who loves to give lectures he thought to himself. He would have said it out aloud to her, but he was too busy swallowing the delicious food that she had just crammed into his mouth. When Yug swallowed all he could say was

"that was delicious"

" really? " and vrindas face lit up. Yug knew instantly why.

"you know I have missed eating bebes food so much" he said to deliberately taunt Vrinda. As he watched her eyes expand, his insides were in hysterics.

"bebe?" questioned Vrinda "what makes you think bebe made this ?"

"well because no one else can cook as good as her, not even my mum" whispered yug as he winked "but don't tell her that ok. You know Vrinda, dhaal makhni is actually my favourite"

"I already know" she knew what his likes and dislikes were better than the back of her own hand.

"oh really ?"

"yeah, I use to watch you eating all the time at our hou-" and Vrinda stopped herself as she realised what she was saying.

Yug looked up at her ever so turning red face. Did he just hear her right ? She use to watch him eat all the time. This bought a faint smile on his face.

Back then he had thought he was the only 'eagle -eyed' one. He would watch Vrinda at every opportunity he got. Little did he know, that the watcher was also being watched.

A nervous Vrinda tried to justify herself.

"umm what I meant to say was, that I would clear the plates, and every time we had served dhaal fry your plate would be squeaky clean. Thats all" The truth was, that from the moment he had entered their house with sharrad. She couldn't stop observing him. Yes it had took her a while to confront her own feelings towards him and confess, but that connection with him had been there from the beginning. And at every chance she had got, she would secretly watch him. Yug never knew, well, maybe now he did. Gosh she was so embarrassed !

"hmm, ok. Yeah well off course my plate was clean, like I said, bebe makes finger licking good food" he loved teasing her. He knew full well that making dhal makhni was Vrinda's speciality. And she was the only one in their house to make it. In fact it was only because she use to make it, that Yug would leave his plate squeaky clean. At first maybe he was trying to impress her, but somewhere along the line, it really became his favourite dish. In fact anything Vrinda made, became his favourite, how could it not. If only she knew.

Vrinda's embarrassment faded and she became furious at Yug. How could he say that ? All those times se had lovingly ate her food, and she had thought it was because he loved HER and HER cooking. She would specifically go out of her way to make dinner for everyone else just so she could tell herself that she had fed him. She would persuade bebe and her mother and chachi to let her cook more just so she could get the satisfaction of watching him eat what she had made so lovingly for him. Heck she had even secretly made him food when no one else would. Had he forgotton the time when she made parathe for him late at night, how much effort she had made just for him.

And now, now he tells her he ate it all because apparently bebe made it. Vrinda felt heartbroken.

She snatched the tub out of yugs hand as he was about to eat some more.

"well like you said your not that hungry. So you don't have to eat it. I didn't mean to force you"

Yug saw Vrinda was hurt, maybe he had gone too far with the teasing.

He grabbed the tin out of her hand and began to eat.

" well im sorry, but I cant let all this delicious food go to waste. It would be a sin not to eat it." now that part he meant.

Vrinda sat their still annoyed watching him scoff the food down. For a person who wasn't really all that hungry he sure was gobbling it down fast.

Yug broke sum puri, dipped it into dhaal and put his hand in front of Vrinda's mouth offering her to eat it.

"oh come on. Threes more than enough for one person here" and he showed her puppy dog eyes. They were bound to work, his puppy dog face had never failed him yet.

Vrinda saw his eyes and felt pulled into them. No matter how much she tried to be cross with him, he would always make her smile'eventually. That much she could rely on. She saw his cute face and couldn't help but give in. the anger disappeared and without realising she opened her mouth and allowing him to feed her.

Before long, the two were chattering away and eating together.

Ragbir arrived back at work. as he walked into goplas room, gopal stood up and informed him of the guests that were awaiting in his room.

"what guests ? u didn't tell me I had an appointment with anyone !" shouted Ragbir. He had just made a wasted journey home, was hungry, worried and curious about vrindas whereabouts and now he had surprise guests to deal with. This day was getting worse and worse, and his frustration was getting the better of him.

But before gopal could give an answer Ragbir opened the door, and froze in his tracks.

If Ragbir was angry and frustrated before, nothing could explain what he was feeling now.

Yug and Vrinda had been laughing hysterically somehow their conversation had ended up being about teji and his love affair for his gun when all of a sudden the office door swung open and Ragbir stood there. Now, silence filled the room.

Vrinda got up all of a sudden, feeling all scared. For what she didn't know, she hadn't done anything wrong. Yug straightened up in the chair.

"Ragbir ji I-" Vrinda said but Ragbir cut in

"Vrinda ji, I went home for lunch but u weren't there. You could have at least phoned me on my mobile or my office to let me know you were coming, it would have saved me the hassle of making a wasted journey."

"oh sorry Ragbir ji. I didn't think. I was expecting you to call me and since you didn't I thought I would just bring it over myself. I thought it would be a surprise"

"yes'it certainly was a surprise" admitted Ragbir as he tried extremely hard to suppress his anger and not look in yug's direction. But then Yug spoke, forcing him to look that way.

"oh sorry Ragbir. I would have rang you on your mobile but gopal said that you had gone out, and we assumed that you had gone out to have lunch. So we decided to wait here for you until you came back. did you have your lunch then ?"

Ragbir looked at the empty tiffin box laid out on the desk.

"Yes. Yes Yug bhai saab I did. don't you worry about me "

"oh good that's ok then. Because me and Vrinda just finished your lunch. I guess me and you swapped over today eh Ragbir " and Yug got up out of Ragbir's chair to leave.

"did you enjoy your lunch Yug bhai saab ?" asked Ragbir while grinding his teeth.

"yes I did." answered Yug unaware of how Ragbir was feeling," It was my favourite actually, and Vrinda makes the best dhal makhni ever." as he turned to give Vrinda a knowing look.

Vrinda looked back. And her heart rejoiced. She should have known better, off course he had just been teasing her. He was just pulling her leg. Another thing she could always rely on from Yug.

Ragbir caught the little look they shared and it just added fuel to the fire that had started within him.

"well lunch break is over, and I have to get back to work. I will see you later ok Ragbir" and Yug turned left the office.

Vrinda started to pack up the tins in the box. And got ready to go home. Ragbir noticed how reserved she was with him and made very little conversation, yet only a little while ago she was happy and cheerful, that was until he had interrupted them. Vrinda gathered the stuff, said bye and left for home. As she closed the door behind her Ragbir sat in his chair and recapitulated the rendezvous he had just broken up.

He was sick to death of seeing yug in close proximities of his wife. Yes yug was his boss, and a friend but seeing him sit in His chair'eating His lunch'with His wife just made his blood boil. Maybe Ragbir would have ignored it, but past events (of seeing yug half naked with his wife in their bathroom together) had planted a seed of suspicion against Yug in Ragbir's mind. He knew he had to be wary of yug- A smooth handsome rich guy. His Vrinda ji was so sweet and innocent. For now though Ragbir would let it go, but if anything like this would happen again, he would surely not stay quiet.

Ragbir mulled his thoughts over and over. As he closed his eyes flash backs came.

Ragbir tried to relax and concentrate. And then he saw'

It was Vrinda. She was wearing bridal clothes. And she was crying. Soo much. She was saying something. What was she saying ? Ragbir tried hard to focus. He had to try, What was she saying ?

"Ragbir ji'I love somebody else. I LOVE SOMEBODY ELSE. And I already believe him to be my husband. I BELIVE HIM TO BE MY HUSBAND."

Ragbir immediately opened his eyes. Was it possible ? Was this real, or just a figment of his imagination ?

No. No, off course this wasn't possible. He had got too worked up. And had let his imagination run wild. Ragbir shook himself. What an absurd thing to think he thought. How silly. Vrinda dressed as a bride saying that to him. Ragbir laughed at himself for becoming so paranoid.

"Control yourself Ragbir, your letting your frustration get the better of you. Vrinda ji would never do anything like that. Your just being paranoid" he told himself. "this is what happens when the body doesn't get enough food. The brain starts to go crazy!"

He brushed his fingers through his hair, and got on with his work.