Rishi and Milli sat before Milli's parents and Milli's friend. They were both nervous as the trio stared at the couple, glaring upon them without even taking a sip from the tea Milli made. "So...," Rishi tried to start the conversation. "Mom, Dad-"
"You can address me as Sanjay Mehta!" Milli's dad replied harshly.
"And myself Bindu Mehta!" Milli's mom added. "But only Mrs. Mehta for you!"
"Yes, sirs." Rishi said, scared.
"And I'm Shivani!" Milli's friend said. "I'm Milli's best friend! She never hides anything from me! But the fact that she hid her marriage from me is something!"
"How'd you guys find out?" Milli asked.
"That Ankur boy called us to congratulate!" Bindu exclaimed. "And we saw your photos in newspaper! Now you wearing short dress in public!"
Milli turned to Rishi with a displeased look on his face. "Now tell me...how did you two even meet?!" Bindu questioned. "There better be a good reason why you two married just like that without informing us!"
"Well...," Milli struggled to talk. "Actually-"
"I'll tell you everything!" Rishi exclaimed.
Oh God. Now what story is he going to cook up?! Milli shook her head.
"You see," Rishi began. "I was walking around in the evening after work. As I was walking, I heard a scream for help. Of course I went running after hearing the young maiden's call. As I ran, I came into an alley. And there...poor Milli was being harrassed by a group of goons!"
Where is this going? Milli asked.
"The goons then told her that if she wants to save herself, she would have to dance for them! And then I shouted, no! I told her to not dance in front of those dogs!" Rishi explained. "All women must be respected!"
Great! Now he's narrating Sholay to my parents! Milli rolled her eyes. Again with the originality!
"The goons threatened to kill me! But I took them on like a man! I hit them all black and blue without a problem!" Rishi continued. "And once it was all over, I took Milli back to her hostel safely. And what could I do?! We just fell in love! Yes, I agree we married really fast! But Milli knew if a man she didn't know could save her life and die for her, then he is like God!"
Yeah right! Milli shook her head.
Do you have to go so soon?" Milli asked.
"Actually we have to attend a wedding tomorrow in Ahmedbad. So we'll be going back now. We just came to see you two," Bindu said. "May you both be happy."
"I'll see you, Milli." Shivani said.
"Bye." Rishi and Milli said as Bindu, Sanjay, and Shivani left the flat.
"Thank God!" Rishi exclaimed. "If I didn't floor those guys, I'd be dead meat!"
"You certainly know how to narrate a story."
"That I do! I've watched so many films! Its in my blood!"
"Right."
Suddenly, Milli's phone rang from the kitchen counter top. She headed over and got her phone, answering the call. "Hello? Yes. Oh really! That's great. When do I start? Today?! No, that's okay! I'll be coming then! Okay, bye."
"Who was that?"
"The bank called. I got the job. I have to go to work now."
"You got a job? As what?"
"Bank receptionist."
"HA! Bank receptionist! What's so great about that?!"
"It may be a small job. But at least its better than not having one."
"Are you mocking me again?!"
"No. I'm simply saying there's nothing wrong with starting off small. But of course you wouldn't get that. I mean...you should feel lucky. You could do anything with all the fortune your dad gives you. Instead you blow off all his money like its nothing while people like me have to work hard to get enough to feed us a good meal. You may be content with your dad's money...but I want to make a living for myself. Even if it is a small one."
With that, Milli grabbed her bag and keys and left the flat while Rishi stood still, mind boggled and speechless after what Milli said.
It was long day of working at the bank. In the evening, Milli was stepping out of the bank, calling up Rishi on her cellphone. "Why isn't he answering the phone?" Milli asked. "How else am I going to get home?" As Milli stood on the street, she was surprised to see a car pull up right before her. The man inside rolled down the window, revealing to be Ankur. "Hi, Milli." Ankur greeted.
"Hi, Ankur. What are you doing here?"
"I'm just heading off. What about you?"
"I'm also going...but I can't seem to get a hold of Rishi."
"That's okay. I'll drop you home."
"No, Ankur. That's okay."
"Come on, Milli! I'm actually going for dinner at Prem's Diner. You can come eat with me and then I'll drop you home."
"I don't know."
"Please. For a friend?"
"Okay. But only for half an hour. I have to make dinner as soon as I get home."
And so, Milli got in Ankur's car and Ankur started driving. Once the two reached the restaurant, they entered inside and were then seated at a table where a waiter handed them both a menu. As they were looking at their menus, they were unaware that Rishi was at another table. Not as a customer...but as a waiter. Yes, Rishi Singhania was working as a waiter at Prem's Diner. The manager of the diner then went up to Rishi and said, "Can you go serve some coffee at table twelve?"
"Yes, sir." Rishi said. Rishi headed over towards table twelve with his cart. As he got closer to the table, he was shocked to see Milli with Ankur at the table. As he stopped by, both Milli and Ankur looked at him with surprise. "Rishi?!" Milli exclaimed.
"Oh...its you two!" Rishi said in an upsetting tone. "What brings you both here?!"
"Oh...well Milli was just leaving work and she needed a ride. So I thought I'd treat her to dinner before I take her home," Ankur replied. "I didn't know you work here."
"You have a problem with it?!" Rishi asked.
"Uh Rishi." Milli said.
"Nevermind!" Rishi exclaimed. "Have some coffee!"
Rishi then poured a cup of coffee for Milli, handing it to her. He then poured another one for Ankur in a more angrier tone as he had slammed the cup onto his side of the table. "Now...can I get your order?!" Rishi asked.
"Um I'll just have some butter chicken." Milli said.
"I'll have a salad." Ankur said.
"Oh yes! Of course Ankur will have a salad!" Rishi exclaimed. "After all, he has everything he could need right in front of him so a salad is the only other thing he needs then!"
With that, Rishi pushed the cart off in frustration as he headed into the kitchen. "What's with him?" Ankur asked Milli.
"I wouldn't know where to begin." Milli shook her head as she took a sip from her coffee.
After some time, Rishi looked on at both Ankur and Milli as they were sitting and talking. He then came out, take out two trays with food for Milli and Ankur. As he came to the table, he cleared his throat three times to get their attention from all their laughter. "We seem to be having a nice time!" Rishi exclaimed.
"Um yeah." Ankur said.
"Anyways, here's your butter chicken, Milli dearest!" Rishi exclaimed as he put down the plate of butter chicken before Milli. He then put the plate of salad before Ankur. "And here's your salad.
"Thanks, Rishi." Milli said.
"Oh do you happen have any dressing?" Ankur asked.
"Oh! Ankur needs his precious dressing!" Rishi exclaimed as he held up a bowl of salad dressing. "Why don't I give it to you?!"
And then, Rishi dumped the entire bowl of dressing on Ankur's dress shirt, shocking both Ankur and Milli. The two of them stood up, looking at Rishi, appalled. "Oops!" Rishi pouted.
"Hey you!" the manager shouted at Rishi as he came to him, scaring Rishi. "You work here for six hours and you already mess with a customer?!"
"Sir, you can't yell at me! Do you even know who I am?!" Rishi exclaimed.
"I don't care!" the manager yelled. "You're fired! Now get out of that uniform and leave before I call security! Chandu, help this young man clean up! I'm so sorry, sir."
"Its okay. I'll manage." Ankur said as the manager then left.
"Ankur, I am so sorry!" Milli exclaimed.
"Its okay, Milli," Ankur said. "I'll see you later then. I guess Rishi will drop you home."
With that, Ankur headed towards the washroom while Milli turned to Rishi with an angry look on her face. "I should go get the car!" Rishi said as he then left.
Back at home, Milli was furious with Rishi. So furious that she refused to even speak to him. In the bedroom, Milli was sitting on the bed when Rishi entered the room. Milli kept quiet until Rishi sat down next to her. "You know I don't want to talk to you." Milli said.
"You already are."
"What do you want?"
"Listen...I'm sorry what I did to Ankur."
"That's the thing. I don't understand why you did that! I get we're married, but the whole overprotective act is going too far! He's just my friend! I shouldn't even have to explain that to you! I've known him longer than you!"
"I know...and I'm sorry. I don't know why I acted like that."
"And why did you get that job?!"
"Because...after you lectured me this morning, that was the best thing I could find for myself."
"You mean... you took me seriously?"
"Yeah."
"Why? Since when do my words matter?"
"Because...there's a reason why I can only rely on my dad's money."
"A reason besides being jobless?"
"See...when I was young boy, I always loved films. Even you know how much I love films. And...I guess it became a passion of mine. So when I was in college, I was always interested in directing."
"Really?"
"Yeah. But dad never supported it. He said that becoming a director is risky. You don't know if you'll become successful. And its not easy to make it. When I tried to go against him, he said he'd cut all ties with me if I pursue directing. Then I knew...without my dad's money...I'd be some poor guy on the streets. So I went ahead and tried for economics, but I dropped out of doing MBA. So when I tried looking for a job, it was hard. After years of hanging around my dad, he kicked me out of the house. Then I married you and I got back what I wanted."
"Except for your dream."
"Yeah...I guess so."
"Well...that's quite a story. And I understand what your dad is saying. But sometimes in life you have to take risks. I mean...he's a businessman. He must have taken some risks. And now he's so successful."
"So what are you saying?"
"I'm saying there's no harm in going for your dream. Nothing in life comes easy. If that was the case, then life would be boring. Many successful people today...struggled without a single penny. Yet, with faith and perserverance, they pulled through. Just give your dream a try. Who knows? Maybe you can make it a reality."
Rishi looked at Milli, speechless after she finished speaking. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Rishi and Milli both went to the door and answered it, surprised to see Randeer there. "Dad?" Rishi said. "What are you doing here?"
"Its important, son!" Randeer exclaimed.
"What is it?" Milli asked.
"Well...everyone was pestering me to do this! So I finally did it!" Randeer exclaimed. "I signed you both up to participate in the Dancing Jodi dance contest!"
"Dance contest?!" Rishi and Milli said in unison with shocked looks on their faces.
Cricket
