Chapter 36

           

Gupta House:

Payal slowly walks in the dark house. Everyone was already in their room as she had informed Garima that she will be home soon. She tiptoes into her room, drops her backpack and walks in Khushi’s room.

She sees Khushi sleeping half on, half off the bed.

She smiles at her sleeping pattern, walks to Khushi, pulls her dangling legs back in the bed, covers her with a blanket, turns off the light and leaves the room.

Next morning, Gupta House:

Payal comes downstairs to see Garima is making breakfast and Buaji is helping her.

She smiles and greets them.

Garima elbows Buaji seeing Payal. Buaji walks over to Payal and sits down by her side.

She gently asks Payal: Payaliya, kal raat ko ghar aane mein kitni der ho gayee bitiya?

(Payaliya, How late were you coming home last night?)

Payal blushes and answers: I’m sorry Buaji. I know I was late.

Buaji smiles and asks: Koi baat nehin bitiya. Achcha, tumra din kaisan tha?

(No problem, my dear. How was your day?)

Payal smiles dreamily: It was wonderful Buaji.

Buaji asks again: Aur who ladka kaisa tha jiske saath tum kal ghoomne gayee thi?

(How was the boy with whom you were out yesterday?)

Payal blushes: Who bahut acchhe hain Buaji.

(He is very nice, Buaji)

Buaji smiles back at her: Tum usko pasand to karti ho naa?

(Do you like him?)

Payal nods shyly.

Buaji smiles big thinking: To sanka devi thik keh rahee thi. Humko phir rishta aage badana chahiye.

(So Sanka Devi was right. We should go ahead with the proposal)

She turns and nods to Garima.

Garima smiles back and looks up to thank God silently.

Buaji sees Khushi coming down stairs yawning tripping over her sleepers.

Khushi’s slippers:

Buaji grabs her arm and drags her in the corner startling Khushi in mid-yawn.

Khushi (rubs her arm in irritation): Kya hua Buaji? Aap mujhe khinch kyun rahe ho subah subah?

(What is the matter Buaji? Why are you dragging me so early?)

Buaji replies: Sanka Devi, zindegi mein pehli baar tune kuch sahi kaam kiya hain.

(Sanka Devi, you have done something right for the first time in your life)

Khushi’s eyes widen: Achcha? Kya?

(Really? What?)

Buaji: Payaliya ko oo ladka pasand hain. Hum ab uski rishte ki baat chalayenge. Tum hamri baat karwao ladkewalo se.

(Payaliya likes the boy. Now we will talk about her marriage. You arrange for us to talk to the groom’s family.)

Khushi’s eyes sparkle with joy. She shouts: Woo hoo…

She grabs Buaji and starts dancing.

Buaji stops and shushes her: Abhi chillao nehin. Abhi kuch tair nehin hua hain. Ek baar rishta pakka ho jaye to jitna marzi naach lena.

(Don’t scream right now. Nothing is confirmed yet. Let everything get confirmed, then you can dance as much as you want)

Khushi stops and nods seriously: Aap bilkul fikar mat karo Buaji. Jab tak rishta pakka nehin ho jaata, main apna muh bilkul bandh rakhungi. Aap dekh lena.

(Don’t worry Buaji. Until the marriage is fixed, I will keep my mouth shut. You just watch me)

Buaji shakes her head and leaves.

Khushi does a happy jig in the living room then runs to kitchen like a whirlwind.

She chirps startling everybody: Good morning, Guptas.

Payal picks up the paper that a startled Shashi dropped and hands it to him: Good morning. What is the matter Khushi? You look very happy today?

Khushi sprints to Payal and smacks a kiss on her cheek, followed by one on Shashi’s bald patch making him chuckle, then she runs to Garima and Buaji to deliver a smack to each and replies: Today is a very good day. Because today we will first go shopping, then we will eat out and then we will go to Sinha uncle’s house to attend Sangeet.

Payal smiles at her : Okay.

Khushi beams.

Suddenly Khushi’s eyes widen. She runs upstairs and calls Naniji: Hello? Haan Naniji. We are going to Sinha uncle’s son’s Sangeet. You are all coming right?

Naniji: Yes, we are. But Aakash, Arnav and NK are not coming.

Khushi: What? Aakashji is not coming? No no. That’s not good. My family has agreed to the marriage proposal. They want to see him.

Naniji (very happy): Really? That’s wonderful. (worried) But how do we get him to the Sangeet?

Khushi (assures): Leave it to me.

Naniji smiles big: Okay. Let me tell Manorama the good news.

Khushi smiles big: Okay. Bye.

Naniji: Bye bitiya.

Khushi chews her nails for a bit. Then she dials NK’s no.: Hello NKji? Hi. How are you doing? Listen, I need you to do me a favour.

NK chirps: Sure Khushiji. Anything for you.

Khushi beams: How sweet of you. I need you to bring Aakashji to the Sangeet function with Naniji and Mamiji today.

NK smiles: Okay. (Then frowns) But how?

Khushi: Of ho. Make some excuses. But bring him there.

NK scratches his head: Okay.

Khushi: And NKji?

NK: Yes?

Khushi: Make Aakashji wear black today. Sangeet theme is black and white.

NK (confused): Okay. (Brightens up) But what colour will you be wearing Khushiji?

Khushi smiles big: White.

NK smiles back: I will them wear white too.

Khushi giggles: Okay.

Then Khushi hops down to the breakfast table to eat.

After breakfast, Khushi and Payal goes out for the day and when they come back, they had shopped for everyone.

Khushi hands Buaji her saree: Buaji, this is for you.

Buaji’s Saree:

Payal hands Garima hers: Mom, this is for you.

Garima’s saree:

Khushi hands Shashi his outfit: Dad, this is for you.

Shashi’s Outfit:

Buaji asks: Arre Payaliya, tumne apne liye kuch nehin kharida?

Payal smiles and was about to take out her outfit to show, when Khushi stops her: Hold on Jiji. 

Khushi turns to Buaji: Buaji, woh to shaam ko pata chalega ki humne apne liye kya kharida hain. (winks)

(Buaji, you will know in the evening what we have bought for ourselves.)

Nandi excited: OMDM OMDM OMDM… It’s finally happening. I wonder what Payal bought for herself. I bet she will look gorgeous. I bet Aakash won’t be able to stop himself when he sees Payal. I bet they will declare their love and get married and live happily ever after.

Devi Maiyya smirks: I bet there will be even more trouble there.

Nandi scowls: Now why would you go and say that?

Devi Maiyya sneers: I created humans. I know how their brain works and it never works the way it’s supposed to.

Nandi scratches his head in worry.