Chapter 3
Aditya Khanna or should we say Aditya Bhalla was feeling so frustrated right at the moment. His day actually started on a bad note. At first his mother and his so-called father decided to send him to his friend's place in which he was not at all interested. But, he wasn't able to do that also. That car had to stop then itself only. The driver was trying hell to get a mechanic, get in touch with anyone or repair the car. But seems like bad luck was Adi's best friend today. Adi said in his mind,
"Please God help"
Ishita after completing her surgery, went to Ruhi's school to pick her. But she was running before time. She was too early to go to school. But it's alright. She was continuing her drive when she saw a 9-10 year old boy standing frustrated outside a car with the driver. The car broke down, she concluded from the scenario. She stopped her car beside theirs and asked the kid after pulling down the windows,
"Any problem?"
But the kid just looked away other side. Ishita sensed that he doesn't talk with strangers. Ishita said in an assuring tone,
I: Beta aap ghabrao mat. Mai aapko harm nahi karugi. You are safe.
Sensing that he is really safe, he said
A: actually mujhe mere friend k ghar jaana hai lekin car kharab ho gayi hai.
I: haan toh it's OK. Mai tumhe drop kar deti hoon.
A: lekin aap kaise? Aapko bhi toh kahin jaana hoga.
I: (smiling a bit) actually yes. Mai meri beti ko pick karne ja rahi hoon. But for the first time in my life, I was running before time. Toh it's OK. Mai tumhe drop kar deti hoon. Aa jao.
A: aap sure ho Na.
Driver: haan baba aap jao. Mai car theek karwa k ghar chale jauga.
Adi picked his bag from the car and sat in Ishita's car. But then he said
A: aap do minute ruko. Mai abhi aaya.
I: OK.
Adi got out of the car and walked towards the driver said
A: kaka, mom ya dad ko mat batana ki mai ek stranger k saath chala gaya. Woh log gussa karenge. Unse kehna ki mujhe drop karne ke baad car kharab hui.
Driver: aap chinta mat karo, mai sambhaal lunga.
A: thank you.
With that Adi left and sat in Ishita's car and they proceeded towards their destination.
*************
Other side, something and something was going on in Mrs. Bhalla's mind. She was making weird faces lost in her thoughts oblivious of the surrounding while Mr. Bhalla was noticing her from the past 15 minutes. After a while he said
Mr. B: kya hua Toshiji?
Mrs. B: Kuch nahi
Mr. B: toh phir aisi ajeeb si shakle kyu bana rahi ho?
Mrs. B: woh kuch nahi hai. Ummm, Bhalla ji mujhe shopping k liye jana hai
Mr. B: huh? Achanak?
Mrs. B: haan kuch kaam hai.
Mr. B: lekin achanak kya hua?
Mrs. B: aap lekar chaloge ki nahi?
Mr. B: achha theek hai. Chalo.
************
In Ishita's car
I: waise aapka naam kya hai?
That made Adi to think. He is no more a Bhalla and he is unwilling to become a Khanna. He lied
A: Aditya Sharma
"Aditya". That name is special.
I: (smilingly) Aditya?
A: haan kyu?
I: nahi woh mai bhi kisi ko janti hoom jiska naam Aditya hai.
After a minute, she asked
I: waise aapko kahan jaana
A: haan ek minute abhi batata hoon
Adi took out his phone from his bag and started dialing his friend's number. This shocked Ishita as a phone with a 10 year old kid is totally incorrect. Ishita hesitatingly asked
I: aapke pass phone hai?
A: haan. Woh mom ne diya.
I: achha.
I: (in her mind) kaise parents hai. Bachhe ko phone de diya.
Adi called his friend (only Adi's side of dialogues)
"Hello karan"
"Kya sab pahuch gaye"
"Haan mai raaste mein hoon"
"are address toh bata"
He signed towards Ishita to listen
"Patel mansion,
Bungalow No. 4
Lane 6"
"Ok"
Ishita dropped him at the required place. As Adi got out, Ishita said
I: suno andar jaate he apni mummy ko call kar Dena...
A: (mumbling to himself) unhe kya?
I: kya?
A: ummm! Kuch nahi.
I: enjoy! (Smilingly)
A: (smilingly) thank you and also thank you for the lift..
I: it's OK.
And they headed towards their destination.
***********
After picking up Ruhi from school, the mother daughter duo went back home. Ruhi after changing went to Iyer house to play with Shravan. Ishita also accompanied her. After a while she returned and went to her room. She saw a box gift wrapped kept on her dressing table. She picked the box and thought
"Yeh kiski hai? Shayad galti se aa gayi hogi. Mummy ji ko jakar de aati hoon."
She went to Mrs. Bhalla's room and said
I: mummy ji yeh aapki hai kya. Shayad galti se mere room mein aa gayi thi.
Mrs. B: nahi woh yeh mai he lekar aayi thi.
I: kiske liye?
Mrs. B: tere liye..
I: huh?
All this while Mr. Bhalla was watching the two with a smile on his face.
Mrs. B: yeh meri taraf se tere liye gift..
I: (hesitatingly) lekin achanak kyu?
Mrs. B: ab tu apni saas se sawaal karegi. Itni himmat. Mujhe jisko bhi gift dena ho meri marzi. Chup chap rakhle. Samjhi?
I: (smilingly) ji!!
And Ishita left not before saying a "Thank you". After she left, Mr. Bhalla said
Mr. B: toshiji aap bhi Na sudharoge nahi..
**************
It was night. Raman was working on his laptop sitting at his side of bed. Ishita was on her side patting Ruhi's forehead to make her sleep who was in the middle. Ishita was smiling thinking about her Mummy ji's gift which was a beautiful jewellery set which had a necklace and a pair of earrings. Raman saw her smiling like a stupid. He also layed down on the bed and asked putting the blanket on himself. Now they were facing each other.
R: madrasan stupid ki tarah kya smile kar rahi hai?
I: are mera face mere lips meri marzi, mai kuch bhi karu? Aapko kya?
R: toh tu annoyed kyu ho rahi hai... Bata de please.
I: (smilingly) dobara bolo
R: kya? Please?
I: haan..
R: no...
I: theek hai toh mai bhi nahi bataugi...
R: fine! Please bata de madrasan.
I: aaj Mummy ji be mujhe gift diya. Pehli baar. Woh bhi pata nahi kyu?
R: mummy ne? Kyu?
I: bola toh pata nahi...
R: ek minute, I guess I got that. Woh Maine aaj Mummy ke bahut insistence k baad bata diya...
I: kya bata diya?
R: wahi jo pichhle dino mein hua. Or kaise tumne mere or Ruhi ke beech ke distance ko kam kiya. Shayad isliye mummy ne khush hokar tumhe gift diya hoga...
I: (got up and sat in shock) kya?
R: (he too got up and sat) haan. Kyu kya hua?
I: Raman Maine yeh sab koi gift ke liye thodi Na kiya? Mai kal he jakar mummy ji ko yeh wapas kar dungi. Mujhe nahi chahiye yeh gift.
R: (holding her hand) Ishita suno, tumne he kaha na ki aaj Mummy ne tumhe first time gift diya. Ab agar woh tum unhe wapas kar dogi toh unhe bura lagega na...
I: lekin Raman..
R: Ishita please..
I: alright!!
R: good girl...
And they talked for some more time and then slept after hugging their daughter tight.
****************
Next day was Mr. and Mrs. Iyer's wedding anniversary. And as every year, they bought the little gifts to surprise their partners. Obviously, gajra and pyasam. As shown in show, Raman, for fun filled Mr. Iyer's mind with lots of nuisance stuff against women, especially Mrs. Iyer. Due to this, the couple didn't wish each other checking whether the other one remembers or not. (Sorry guys, not going too much in this) And when Ishita got to know about this, she was totally furious with her so called loving husband and decided to teach him a good lesson, but not through phone. It will be a face off. Deadly face off. 😆
***********
Ishita picked up Ruhi from school and directly went to Raman's office. The best part was as they reached his office, instead of telling Ruhi to walk,she picked up Ruhi and started walking to Raman's cabinet Ruhi in her arms. Ishita was having an angry pout on her face and the little girl was watching her Mummy with a sweet yet playful smile. While they were on their way, Ruhi said cheerfully
Ru: Mummy, gusse mein ho kya?
I: nahi toh
Ru: toh phir mujhe godh mein kyu uthaya hai? Mujhe koi lekar bhaag thodi Na jaega.
I: neeche utar du? (She said mischievously)
Ru: nahi nahi mujhe toh kitna achha lag raha hai. (She said hugging Ishita) lekin sachhi batao, gusse mein ho kya?
I: aisa kuch nahi hai...
Ru: jhoothoo jhoothoo mat bolo. Mujhe maloom hai aap mujhe godh mein tabhi uthate ho jab aap gusse mein hote ho ya pareshaan hote ho..
I: (smilingly) aapko kaise pata?
Ru: aap mere liye woh hona
I: kya?
Ru: wahi (she then hit her forehead with her little hand and said) are mai toh bhul gayi woh...
I: kya?
Ru: woh word. Haan yaad aaya. Aap mere liye poss... Poss...
I: possessive?
Ru: haan wahi
I: aapko is word ka matlab pata hai?
Ru: nahi lekin itna pata hai ki aap mujhse bahut pyaar karte ho.. haina?
I: nahi!! Bahut se bhi bahut bahut bahut bahut bahut zyaada pyaar karti hoon aapse.
Ru: lekin aap gusse mein kyu ho?
I: aapke papa ki wajah se...
And they reached Raman's cabin. Ishita made Ruhi sit on the table and she stood in front of her and they both resumed their never ending talks as well as waited for Raman.
Ru: papa ne kya kya?
I: unko aane do phir pata chal jaega...
Ishita saw a set of 10 papers kept on the table. She picked that up and rolled it to a rod and thought "aaj toh the Ravan Kumar gaya".
Raman entered and saw IshRu there. He was pleasantly surprised. He was about to call them when Ishita turned in a jiffy with the paper rolled in her hand and a really angry expression. My god! She was looking like a real Jhansi Ki Rani. Raman was so sure that he is gone and that too confirm that Ruhi peeped from her mother's back and said
Ru: papa, aaj toh aap gaye.
R: woh toh mujhe dikh he raha hai beta.
And the fight started. He started running in his cabin around the table while Ishita was grabbing every opportunity to hit him and Ruhi was watching all that and laughing. All the while running, they were saying...
R: dekho maarna mat.. mai MD hoon yahan ka... Samjhi Na..
I: sab samajh rahi hoon.. you fool. Aapki himmat kaise hui haan?
R: are lekin maine kiya kya hai?
Ru: papa jaldi bhago..
I: kya kiya hai? Aaj mere amma appa Ki wedding anniversary hai or aapne sab kharab kar diya. Aapki himmat kaise hui mere amma appa k beech mein jhagda karane Ki... You idiot. Stupid. Fool.
Ru: 😆
R: Ishita sharam karo... Bachhi k saamne mujhe gaali de rahi ho...
I: gaali? Gaali toh shuru bhi nahi Ki hai ab tak... Donkey no. 1.
Ru: (and this little girl started laughing like there is no tomorrow)
(Note that all this while IshRa were running in the cabin with Ishita casing Raman)
As IshRa heard their daughter's cheerful laugh, the world stopped for them. They stood in front of her and started admiring their little angry. After a minute, when Ruhi got tired of continuos laughing, she noticed her parents were staring her. She asked
Ru: mummy papa aap log aise kyu dekh rahe ho?
I: Ru aap kitne pretty and cute lag rahe ho...
Ru: sachhi...
I: muchhi...
IshRu hugged each other tight. Raman asked
R: waise Ruhi aap hass kyu rahe the?
Ru: woh mummy ne aapko donkey bola na, isliye.
Ruhi laughed and Ishita silently giggled. Raman asked again
R: toh papa kya sach mein donkey hai.
He picked up Ruhi in his arms
Ru: nahi papa aap toh Superman ho...
R: sachhi
Ru: muchhi
R: aah! I love you my bachha..
Ru: I love you too papa. Lekin papa bachha nahi bachhi.
And she kissed his cheeks. Ishita was admiring the father daughter duo. She said
I: very bad Ru. Saara love papa ko. Mummy ko kuch nahi..
Ru: nahi mummy
Ishita picked Ruhi in her arms.
Ru: aap superwoman ho
I & R (unison) superwoman?
Ru: haan. Agar papa Superman hai toh aap toh superwoman he hogi na. Superman Ki superwoman.
IshRa blushed a little hearing her cute talks.
Ru: kya hua? Mai sahi bol rahi hoon na?
I: bilkul sahi..
Ru: I love you mummy
I: I love you too
R: and I love you three mera bachha..
Ru: uff papa, bachha nahi, bachhi. I am a girl toh mai bachhi hui na. Aap itna bhi nahi samajhte.
R: (he dramatically folded his hands in front of her) achha meri amma, sorry.
Ru: dekha mummy papa kuch nahi samajhte. Mai aapki amma nahi aapki beti hoon.
R: OK meri pyaari beti
IshRaRu were talking when Mihir entered saying, "Bhai yeh Mr. Chopra ka project...". But stopped in mid after seeing them. He went towards them and said
M: are yeh toh bahut achha surprise hai. Ruhi, aap yahan? Kaise?
Ru: papa se milne aayi thi. Woh papa ne mummy ko pareshaan kiya na isliye mummy unko maar rahi thi.
I & R (unison) Ruhi!!
Ru: kya? Mai jhooth thodi bol rahi hoon.
M: matlab Ruhi aapki papa maar kha rahe hai?
Ru: nahi, ab khatam ho gaya.
M: oh no I am late!
Ru: 😆
M: hi bhabhi!
I: hi Mihir!
M: bhai aapne bataya nahi aap pitathe bhi ho?
R: tujhe peetu?
M: nahi nahi rehne do. Aap bas mere liye is file ko padh lo or phir sign kar dena. (Turning towards Ruhi) tab tak Ruhi or chachu jaake ice cream khaenge. OK?
Ru: yeee...
I: Ru...
Ru: mummy sirf ek. Please!
I: OK. Lekin sirf ek.
Ru: thank you.
Mihir and Ruhi left while Raman we reading the file and Ishita was waiting for him to finish. When she thought that it will take longer, she thought to leave. She was about to leave when Raman held her hand and stopped her. She looked behind and said
I: kya?
R: ab bhi gussa ho?
I: gussa toh bahut small word hai
R: are koi crime nahi kiya hai maine
I: kisi crime se kam nahi hai
R: tum auraton ko samajhna mushkil he nahi namumkin hai.
While this conversation, they didn't realise that they have come really close to each other. Like just some mere inches apart. They were still holding each other's hands.
R: jaane do Na is baat ko.
I: Na. Itni asani se nahi
R: actually leave it. Tum mujhe maaf karo ya nahi. I just don't care. (he said with an attitude)
I: maaf ka toh nahi pata lekin aapko saaf zaroor kar dungi..
R: mai tumhara pati hoon
I: lekin aap Ravan Kumar bhi toh ho.
And their never ending bickering started again with all the fun filled laughters.
Book Talk
Anupamaa
Vasudha
1