Chapter 37

Aakash’s Room, RK Mansion:

Aakash was checking his email and he saw that Payal had sent the pictures from their trip. His face lit up seeing their pictures together and he starts remembering their lovely moments when suddenly NK burges in his room.

Aakash (startled): NK bhai, what’s the matter?

NK (huffing and puffing): Aakash bhai, we gotta go to the Sangeet.

Aakash (makes face): I’m not going. I have said I will go for the wedding and that’s it. Besides Bhai isn’t going either.

NK (desperate): Please please please come to the sangeet… For me…

Aakash (surprised): Why are you so hell bent to go there?

NK (stammers): Errrmmm… The girl I like is going to be there and I need a wingman.

Aakash (twinkles): Oh, that’s why you were so desperate. Okay, fine. I will come to the Sangeet then. After all, if bros don’t help bros, then who will? (winks)

NK (smiles big): Thank you.

Aakash (wrinkles his brow): But what will I wear?

NK (twinkles): One sec.

He runs out of Aakash’s room to his room and then comes back running with a Black Sherwani.

He hands it to Aakash with a huge smile: Wear this.

Aakash’s Outfit:

Aakash (hides his smile): I see you came prepared. She must be really something.

NK (dreamy eyes, goofy smile): Yeahhh… She is. She is happiness.

Arnav was coming to Aakash’s room to talk about their upcoming project when he hears NK’s voice. He stops in his tracks: What the?

Unaware of another listener, NK and Aakash continue their conversation.

Aakash (probes further): But tell me naa, who is she? Do we know her?

NK (sighs dreamily): Yes Aakash bhai. She works in your office.

Aakash (beaming bigger): Really? Who is she?

NK (blushes): I will tell you at the wedding.

Aakash (beams): Okay. Give me 10 minutes and I will be ready.

NK (beams): I will go tell Naniji and Masi that we are going too.

Aakash nods happily.

Outside Aakash’s room, Arnav fumes in anger: What the hell? That means Khushi will be at the party and stupid NK is going after her. If she thought that she will flirt with NK under my nose, she has another thing coming. (smirks) Just wait and watch Khushi Kumari Gupta. You are going to have an unexpected surprise waiting for you at the party.

Then he turns back and goes to his room.

Meanwhile downstairs Naniji and Manorama were getting ready.

Naniji comes to Manorama’s room after getting ready: Are you ready Manorama?

Naniji’s Saree:

She sees her son sitting on the couch in his room but no Manorama in sight.

Mamaji’s Outfit:

Naniji asks: Manohar, where is Manorama?

Mamaji answers: Where do you think, mom? She is still in the washroom getting ready. I’m telling you, we will be late again because of her.

Suddenly, the bathroom door opens in a flourish and Manorama comes out: Hello hi bye bye. Be prepared to be dazzled because Manorama is here.

Mamiji’s Saree:

Mamaji (wincing at the extra gold glitter): Oh we are dazzled all right. In fact, I can hardly open my eyes.

Naniji (suppresses her smile): Manorama, kya humne aapko bataya nehin tha ki sangeet ka theme black and white hain? Aapko white ya black pehenna tha. Aapne Gold kyun pehna?

(Manorama, didn’t I tell you that the theme is white and black? You were supposed to wear either white or black. Why did you wear gold?)

Manorama pouts: Oo ka hain naa sasumaa. Humpe black and white bahut feeka lagat hain. To hum sochat rahee ki hum Gold pehen libe aur white jo hain oo ke liye hamri diamondwa ka set hain naa. (points at her diamond necklace beaming)

(The thing is mom-in-law, Black and white look very bland on me. So I thought I will wear Gold instead and for white, I am wearing my diamond set)

Naniji shrugs with a smile and says: Achcha chalo. Der ho rahee hain.

(Okay let’s go, we are getting late)

They come downstairs and were about to leave when they hear a shout behind them: Wait.

NK comes running followed by Aakash. NK answers: We are coming too Naniji.

NK’s Outfit:

Naniji beams bigger mentally thanking Khushi for arranging this. She remembered that Khushi said she will make sure Aakash comes with them at the Sangeet.

Naniji beams at them: Yeh to bahut achchi baat hain. Ab chaliye, warna der ho jayegi.

(That’s wonderful. Let’s go or we will be late)

They all turn to leave when they hear another booming voice: I’m coming too.

They turn to see ASR standing at the top of the stairs.

ASR’s Outfit:

NK gapes at ASR whereas Aakash smiles in surprise: Bhai, you are coming too?

ASR nods: We’ll take the Porsche. NK and Aakash will come with me. Mamaji, are you bringing Mamiji and Naniji?

Mamaji nods: Yes, we are taking the Mercedes SUV.

ASR nods: Okay.

Naniji can’t make up her mind whether she should thank Khushi for making this miracle happen or Devi Maiyya for putting Khushi in their life. She just wiped a tear of happiness and walks to the car with a still surprised Manorama and Mamaji to the car.

Mamaji’s SUV:

ASR was going to select his favourite white coloured Porsche, but decides to go with this instead.

ASR’s Ride:

And they drive to the sangeet.

Gupta House:

Garima, Buaji and Shashi were waiting downstairs waiting for Khushi and Payal.

Buaji exclaims: Arre Sanka Devi aur Sanka Devi ki bahen… Aur kitni der lagaogi. Ee tumri shaadi nehin hain.

(Oh Sanka Devi and Sanka Devi’s sister… How long will you take to get ready? This is not your wedding.)

Khushi peeks from upstairs: Of ho Buaji. Perfection takes time. Wait a few more minutes.

Khushi turns back and puts the finishing touches on Payal: There… Jiji, you are looking gorgeous.

Payal smiles at her and then gets up to go downstairs...

Khushi announces from upstairs: Attention everyone… The sexy, the beautiful, the gorgeous Payal Gupta is ready to grace you all with her presence.

Payal shakes her head at her antics with a smile and walk downstairs.

Payal’s Look:

Garima wipes a tear: Look at our little girl. She is looking beautiful.

Shashi hugs her close also teary eyed.

Buaji makes her hand gesture around Payal: Hai re Nandkishore Garima. Our little girl grew up when we weren’t looking.

Then she remembers the other little girl who still refuses to grow up: Arre oh Sanka Devi. Sangeet mein jaana hain ya nehin?

(Oh Sanka Devi, do you want to go to Sangeet or not?)

Khushi shouts from upstairs: Coming Buaji…

Then she comes stumbling while putting earrings in her one ear with her stilettos hanging in her hand.

Khushi’s Shoes:

She finally comes down and puts on her shoes and whirls: Ta Da…

Khushi's Look:

Shashi (Twinkles): Wow… Look at our butterfly. All grown up and so beautiful.

Garima puts her palm in her mouth and sobs.

Payal smiles in affection and Buaji wipes her tears and does the same gesture with her hands.

Khushi stops her: Off ho… Ab der nehin ho rahee hain kya? Chalo chalo.

(Oh ho… Aren’t we getting late now? Let’s move…)

They all come out.

Garima, Buaji and Shashi take Shashi’s car.

Shashi’s car:

Payal and Khushi hop into Khushi’s car.

Payal looks at Khushi worried: Khushi, tum drive to thik se kar logi naa…

(Khushi, will you be able to drive safely?)

Khushi was busy putting lip gloss on her lips in the rear view mirror pauses for a moment: Jiji, tum fikar mat karo. Aaj kuch gadbad nehin ho sakta. (beams big).

(Jiji, you don’t worry. Nothing can go wrong today)

Nandi (dismayed): Oh shit…

Devi Maiyya (even more worried): Ditto…

SPOILER: Sangeet & Fireworks.