Part 92 Scoop--Theories of Economics

Part 92
March 22nd 2011
Malviya Nagar
8 PM
Clean Water NGO Office

Radhika (on phone) Main kal nikal rahi hoon, we can actually get started on working with the clean up folks.
Listens....
Radhika: Haan budget to maloom hai na.... State Govt.... any project gets delayed atleast by 6 months to a year, Thank God, Aurin, my boss, cousin married some neta's daughter, we used her to get some clout in... Legislature mein, State Finance Minister ne Rs 2 laksh approve kiye hain abhi for the lake clean up, the outlay is over Rs.4.5 crores......(laughs) I know, its nothing, 4 truck waale aur 20 aadmi le jaayenge, but its more symbolic, this is a phenomenal achievement for us....
She rambles.
Poonam sticks some papers under her eyes, she looks away, not wanting to pay attention
Umesh walks in with a box.... "Fliers" he says
She places a hand on the receiver "Proof mein kaafi galti thi"
Her phone pings, she looks at her text and smiles shyly.... "2" she types....... and waits.... turning red...
Poonam: Baat bhi ho rahi hai aur flirt bhi kar rahi hai"
Umesh: Kaam ki chutthi (waves)
Radhika back on the phone, rambles about, getting more people involved, and staying there for a period of atleast 3 -6 months....
Eventually hangs up does high five with Poonam "Kanpur ka pehla feather in cap" jumps up in joy..... "Its going to take atleast a year and some" (complains) but the rich cant get richer at the cost of poor!! (bhashan tone)

GOLF lINKS
March 22nd 2011
8 PM
Krishan and Pawan in deep discussion. Dadi is chatting on the phone, Mridula flitting in and out of the rooms
Krishan: We are positively derailed....
Pawan: Lets not get too emotional Bhaya....
Krishan: We had been planning for over 3 years.... (angry)
Pawan: Abhi band thodi hua hai... aap itna pareshaan kyon ho rahe hain? Bus thode paise sanction karwa liye hain NGO ne, 14 lakes hain wahan polluted aur 4 rivers Rs 100 crore mein bhi nahi hoga..... 3 laksh mein kya hoga........... (sniggers)hota rehta hai, woh CM aa raha hai kal, Ateendra ko keh diya hai, storage se woh French champgne ke 4 cases nikaal laaye, plus uske bhaanji ko Goenka school mein admission chahiye, aaj Principal se baat ki maine.... Dont give up hope Bhaiyya
Krishan (thoughtful, expressionless) Our success lies in continuing to grow despite these tree huggers.. socialists $%^&#$!
Pawan: Agreed!

Part 91 Scoop of Life--Approved...

Saket
March 2011
8:17 PM

They all stood by the tiny prayer room annexe. Dadi was performing some rituals. Dadaji cracking jokes. They had bought a red chunni for Radhika. Dadi was scolding Dadaji for not paying attention.
Sudha and Sushil looked on with an emotion of sadness mixed with confusion. Never in her wildest dreams would Sudha have imagined her daughter wishing to marry her Dad's boss's son.

Rachit and Ananya seemed visibly hapy. Krishan was quiet but serious. Mridula whispered something in her son's ear.
Later smiled at Sudha and said aloud "His sisters want Bhabhi home tonite"
Radhika blushed....
"Theek hai chalo" she says bravely
Raghav responds with a chuckle....
Sudha: Radhu, pair chhuo beta
Radhika bends down enthusiastically... Mridula wishes her deeply
Krishan places his hand on her head and smiles politely.

Sudha and Sushil do not let her reach for their feet
Sushil hugs her and breaks down.
Krishan: Engagement kidhar aur kab decide kar len?
Sudha is very confused by Krishan's tone, she worries about his acquiesence
She had hoped he would come down harshly, she had wanted him to deny the aproval.
She wondered if they really thought a middle class UPite would have been a "routine choice"
Her stomach muscles tightened in tension and fear.
She prayed for her daughter, hoped for her happiness
Dadi serves some expensive mithai she has brought along, she serves some to Gopi as well, Sudha notices
Raghav offers his hand to Sushil to shake, Mridula saya "Tum bhi ashirwaad lo"
He bends down "Sushil doesnt let him
They hug instead
Raghav: Thanks (softly)
Sushil is startled...
Radhika and him approach each other.
The crowd laughs, Rachit takes pictures
Radhika: I cant believe its you.
Raghav: I can.... though... (smiles)

Part 90--Scoop-Rubies

Part 90
March 20th 2011
Saket
Dadi: Mere paas aaja puttar!
Radhika is visibly shy, she walks hesitantly
Mridula: She looks lovely!
Raghav just stares openly
Sudha clears her throat, as she makes way for her daughter.......
Krishan makes room by his Mom.
Radhika: Hi! Uncle!
Krishan: Hello beta...
Sushil: Beta pair chhuo! Pair chhuo!
Krishan: Oh! No! Thats not necessary! (polite, sort of aloof)
Dadi: Arey nahi Sushil....
Gopi serves on plates....
They eat in silence for a moment
Dadi: Arey yeh to chup hai?
Sudha: Rasmalai iski favorite hai na! (cynical)
Radhika: True, Aunty (grins)
Dadi: Dadi kaho
Radhika: Main last week jab gayi Kanpur DM sahab ke ghar hamara khaana tha, waha jo khaaya, super delish
Radhika rambles, Krishan watches carefully
Rachit: Radhu... stop! (gently)
Radhika: Kyon? (surprised)
They all burst out laughing
Raghav's lips twitch.....
Krishan: Shall we talk about the wedding?
Sudha is unable to say "Yes"
It continues to bother her, something about this whole alliance doesnt seem as flawless as it appears visually.......
Sushil: Jee zaroor
Krishan waits for Sudha's approval
Sudha: Hmmm
She wishes Radhika was just a friend to the Kapoors, she wishes they had invited her hubby's boss over for "nashta" and thats it......
"Ananya: Ma! (nudges)
Sudha: Hmmm
Krishan: We would like the wedding to be grand, the first Kapoor...... third generation..........
Sushil is overjoyed, heaps Krishan plate with food
Sudha: Our first and only daughter........ (combative)
Mridula: We can have a simple yet elegant wedding
Krishan: Mru, simple to ho nahi sakta
Dadaji: Ajee simple to karenge nahi
Radhika is talking non-stop "to" Raghav
Sudha: Saket mein koi 5 star hotel nahi hai
Sushil: Taj Man Singh hai na, Man Singh Rod par
Sudha is startled.... Ananya gently grips her FIL's arm "Daddyji"
Sudha: Taj Man Singh mein? (are you out of your mind?)
Dadi gets up and goes to get something, walks back with a red necklace case, opens and gets the ornament out...... its rubies...........
Places it on Radhika's neck from behind........
Dadi: Sundar!
Mridula: I agree Ma!
Krishan: Mru.... Sheraton?
Sudha: Yeh sab
Sushil doesnt want his wife to interrupt
Radhika: Simple wedding is what we want
Raghav: Hmm.. (nods)

Part 89 Scoop of Life-- Baat Pakki

Part 89
March 20th
6:30 PM onwards

Radhu: Aap log kab aaye? (confident)
Raghav: A while ago! (grinning)
Radhika: Really ma?
Sudha: Sshhh!
A smile escapes Krishan, Dadi notices the pleasant feeling...
Pawan: You guys are in central Delhi, is se zyaada spot on location nahi hogi
Sudha: We like it here.
Pawan: Metro station hai aas paas?
Sudha: Many... AIIMS is the most famous one....
Dadaji: Woh Satinder kidhar hai? Gulmohar?
Krishan: Would you like to sit with us? (signalling Radhika)
Sushil and Dadaji talk about Amitabh Bachhan's house!!
Radhika walks up to Krishan and greets him, thankfully with a namaste..........
Mridula: Did you have to go to work today?
Radhika, And tomorrow and for the next 15 days or so without a break, two UP trips in it..... UP is the fun part... I can feel real results happening.... yahan to bus paperwork...
Sudha squirms, as her daughter wont shut up
Krishan is paying full attention as he pretends to scan his phone.
Raghav is flipping through India Today
Gopi and Ananya place various trays on the dining table.
Rachit and Pawan are talking about Congress and BJP
AND
Radhika wont stop.........
Sudha: Radhu.... (nudging) Radhu!!!
Radha: Haan Ma?
Sudha: They need to be served........
Dadi: Arey nahi, we can go eat....
Mridula: No formalities please
Krishan: So Ms Radhika Tripathi are you really serious about marrying my son?
Radhika quits talking altogether and stares "Umm... Jee? I mean yes Sir"
Raghav lays his magazine down and looks at his future wife
Krishan: You are sure its not one o those...
Mridula is uncomfortable, she adjusts her saree
Pawan is quiet too, they are all watching Radhika........
Krishan: What do you like about him?
Sudha's eyes widen in shock....
Radhika: That he is so quiet, a perfect foil to me.... I cant find enough people to listen to me (giggles and is about to continue)
Krishan: What about you Raghav?
Dadi: Let me guess (sportively)
Dadaji: Arey tu ruk, main guess karanga
Raghav smiles.....
Krishan: Use bolne denge aap
Dadi: Hum to denge but Radhika shaayad nahi... (laughs)
Radhika turns crimson........
Sudha ushers them towards the table
Krishan: So you guys are not messing with us?
Sushil: I hope not Sir! Radhu....
Sushil is visibly gracious and hospitable, with a smile bordering on psycophancy........
Sushil: Hamare ghar mein sabse ziddi to yeh hai
Ananya: Uske baad main! (smiles)
Mridula smiles warmly
Krishan: Shaadi kab karni hai?
Raghav: Jaldi... (firm)
As he stood by Radhika Tripathi a tall stunningly beautiful now middle class (once affluent) ambitious driven NGO worker!
The room broke into a loud laughter, except for the girl's mother her face writ in worry....

Part 88 Scoop of Life-Namaste!

Part 88
March 20th 2011
Sunday
6:11 PM

They were AT Saket at 6, Krishan a man who was a stickler for maintaining appointments, finding the apartment took over 10 minutes, when they rang the door bell it was past 6:15 PM
Radhika was dressed in a pink skirt and an olive green top, Rachit and his wife Ananya were present, dressed formally.
There wasnt enough time to arrange for family to arrive...........
Dadaji, Dadiji, Mridula, Pawan, Krishan,and RAGHAV represented the groom tonite, Padmini was expected to arrive later from an emergency surgery at Fortis....
Sushil's was visibly shaky and nervous, he had changed three pairs of eye glasses already, he wore a silk kurta pyjama outfit, Sudha wore a saree in offwhite and marroon........

Sushil grabbed and yanked the door handle, it was latched at the bottom, he almost broke it in the process, Sudha looked at him exasperatedly "Rukiye to, neeche locked hai"
Sushil: Kitni der se khare hain bahar!!
Sudha: Bus ek minute se (sarcastic)
Sushil: Mere BOSS hain bhai
Sudha: Yahi to rona hai (frustrated
Sushil stared at his wife angrily.........
Rachit: Papa woh aapko sun nahi sakte but dekh sakte hain (smiling)
Sudha opened the steel/glass door smiling like a pacifist
Krishan joined his hands in namaste, as if in sync they all did.........
Sudha smiled "Andar to aayiye aap"
Dadi hugged her as she handed her atleast 4 bags of somethings
Raghav stood at the very back, dressed in tan 6 pocket trousers and a white shirt....... shirt in many places, his glasses were high on his nose, the soul patch a slightly different shape...... his eyes scanned the room for his girl...........
Dadi: Ghar to sundar hai
Mridula: Very elegant Mrs Tripathi
Sudha: I cant take any credit, hamare yahan Gopi hai.... main saara din college mein rehti hoon
Dadaji: The future of our country lays in your hands and mind
Guffaws, nobody joins him at first Sushil and Rachit try their best to later..........
Sushil is all smiles.......
Krishan seats himself quietly
Pawan chats with Rachit, Dadi looks at the massive curio shelf that contains the brassware from the Tripathis' glory days....... she is quite impressed
Sushil quickley observes that and jumps up and gives her a quick lesson........
Dadaji looks at the three almirahs of books, stuffed tight....... some on the verge of falling off
Gopi brings water.........
Ananya shuts the balcony door and draws the curtain in order to bring privacy from Peeping Toms across the block.......
Raghav is on his phone, looks up once in a while
The adults chat for 10 or so minutes......
Sushil: Kaise ho beta?
Raghav: Good...
Sushil: Radhika kahan hai bhai?
Raghav scans the room....
Gopi fetches her........
She is on the PHONE!
Hangs up smiling gloriously
Jumps up almost seeing Raghav " TUM kab aaye"
Composes herself after Sudha sucks her breath in in shock
Radhika: Namaste! (she smiles)
Dadi winks
Krishan nods expressionlessly.......
Raghav: Namaste (smiling)

Part 87--Mothers

Part 87
Scoop of Life

March 19th 2011
Saturday
Saket
The house was unusually quiet, Sudha had made two trips to college already prepping for exams
Sushil worked in the small nook in the living room, Gopi flitted in and out enjoying the balcony sunshine
Radhika was in her room

An explosion or an implosion had occured last nite, when Mridula Kapoor had called, she had spoken with Sudha at length. It began as a warm friendly phone call, and ended the same as well, but she approached the topic of the duo's wedding
Sudha was stunned, she wasnt prepared to adress anything like that two weeks before her college finals.

Mridula mentioned Radhika's birthday and how it would be a good idea to have the wedding on that day.
Sudha could feel an artery explode in fear anger and confusion.

"Hamari baat to yahi hui na, ki is baat ko dosti rehne denge?"
"Raghav talked to us last nite and expressed his desire again, agar dono ne tay kar liya hai to hum....." Mridula paused, painfully
"Par shaadi hai, koi mazaak nahi, she is not even 25 yet, hamey koi jaldi nahi hai, hamare rishtedaar Punjabi alliance ko......."Sudha's turn to pause
"They both seem to like each other a lot Mrs Tripathi"
Sudha did not have any defense for that.
"Mujhe Radhu se baat karni padegi"
"Aap karen baat, lekin Sushilji ko poochkar batayen ki hum kab aaye aapke ghar"
"Abhi to nahi" Sudha blurted....... composing herself quickly she had said "You are always welcome Mrs Kapoor, but this is a big news. I am not ready for it, neither is Sushil. Radhu hasnt uttered a word"
"Girls are typically shy" Mridula smiled
"Not MINE!" responded Sudha, exasperated....... "She jumps in and speaks when she is not supposed to, talks until we tape her mouth, yeh baat kyon nahi boli?" accusing
"Mr Tripathi aa chuke hain, may I speak with him?" Mridula sounded cool and confident, stumping Sudha
She wondered how it could be.......
"Nahi abhi nahi, unki Akola waalon se meeting hai suna" Sudha muttered worried
"Mrs Tripathi, please approach this calmly, this is not bad news" Mridula persuaded
"Its close Mrs Kapoor, I did not raise my daughter to be reckless, confident, articulate, outspoken, fight for the underdogs, YES, but NOT reckless and negligent when it comes to her own life" Sudha's voice mirrored her deep disappointment.
"They look great together, Dadi thinks they must be in love" Mridula offered an olive branch
"Aap logon ko is baat mein koi craziness nazar nahi aa rahi?" Sudha declared her utter shock.
There was a pause!
"I guess you are used to Raghav's errant ways, Mr Kapoor did share how.... how many...." Sudha countered..........
Mridula was quiet
"Iam sorry Mrs Kapoor that was uncalled for" Sudha quickly apoligized........... "It worries me immensely to  think of my daughter's marriage to a boy who does not have a serious mission or career in his life, we cannot all rest on the laurels of our parents..... he is so well educated, does he have plans to join the business?"
"He does go in to work......... occasionally" Mridula offered
"She works against large arrogant corporations, she works for common good, its all against her principles" Sudha ranted
"I understand..... they must find something in each other that is so tempting.... they can look and think beyond their jobs Mrs Tripathi"
"Radhu's job is her life, Mrs Kapoor"
Another pregnant pause.................
"She will have to be a different person when she returns from work, not to mention not be blown away by the affluence and splendor of your lifestyle Mrs Kapoor" Sudha presented her last argument........
"They" will be fine" Mridula was firm........
"I pray "she" will be" Sudha referred to the one SHE cared about

Part 86 Scoop of Life--Decisions

March 13th
8:04 PM
The Reef
Jorbagh

She paused mid conversation to sip her wine and catch her breath, he watched her lips cup the glass.......... her nose ring glittered... and reflected off the glass.... she wore a red string around her wrist....
Her white kurta marroon salwar ensemble looked very "artsy" she wore a long arrow like bindi from "kohl?' he wondered.........
"You know Aurin, there always has to be TWO ways to do things for him. We heard from the Kanpur Commissioner last week, they might actually be approving clean of the two streams around those plants....... I dont want to guess how long thats going to take"
If he was paying complete attention he was not showing it......
"I wont say this has been the toughest assignment but the longest one, one of the longest, our Dutch water partners are expected to be here in May for another project, waise main tumhe clean water ke photos dikhaaoon? she sifts through her bag, then checks her phone, and back to her back, pulls out her folder as she continues to talk........
"They look good enough to go on the Natl Geographic, if I may say so myself" giggles
He grabs her hand and the pictures........
"Dont you love my bangles?" she asks shaking her wrist under her grip.... he carresses gently
But doesnt respond
" I got these from Kanpur last time, the carvings are actualy serpents, ek famous si gali hai wahan khareedi, u can hear them hiss almost" he bends and places his ear on the bangles she feels his sideburn and coarse stubble... withdraws in complete shock
"I can only hear the drumming of your pulse" he says softly
That statement scorches her skin......
"Hamey chalna chahiye" she pleads
"Radhika..." he insists
They gaze at each other
"I left two voicemails for you and 4 texts (she signals with her gripped hand), Ma sahi kehti hai tum apni girlfriends ke saath busy ho shaayad" (hiding her hurt)
"Abhi to hoon" he smiles gloriously
"Not funny"
"I went to Dad's office"
The waiter arrives with their hors d'oeuvres.....
"How can we remain friends?" she is direct and to the point
Sorry? (busy serving her, so is startled to hear that)
"I am told we must remain friends" "I have 1500 on FB and 88 on Twitter I have enough" she rambled on about how she didnt need him as a friend "I talk with you 4 times a day, I guess that is a friend"
He chews and nibbles listening to her.......
"Is that fish?" she asks knowingly
"Hmm" he smiles
He points to her food with his eyes........."I ate a BIG lunch, we made Aurin blow 14k in House of Ming today, not a good Birthday I tell you. Only 7 from work could go for mine, so I got off easy. Poor Aurin, but it was a blast......."
When is yours?" he looked at her face like it were some art sculpture
"April 18th" she taps on the table happily like clapping............. "older and wiser and more drunk than before"
"Should we get married on that day?" he asked, and watched her clutch the table's edge, he could feel her other hand tremble under his grip.... as she breathed audibly..

Part 85 Scoop of Life-He does too!

March 13th 8:24 AM
Saket

"What if I did too?" he asked playfully.
Radhika did her best to conceal her reaction, her face had turned crimson, she was imagining the crinkle of his eyes, the straight white teeth... the soul patch and those glasses.
Her Mom stood by her staring at the sudden silence, Gopi, brought tea...
Sudha: Radhi?
R did not respond, just stared at her screen....
Not the one to give up easily she texted back "Then in that case YOU get to call the shots"
"Good!" he said...
Gopi: Didi ke liye lunch?
Sudha: Radhika?
R: Ma, aaj hum log bahar ja rahe hain, Aurin ka Bday hai, we are going to House of Ming! (slurps) Poonam aur Umesh to last bhi nahi ja paaye. Ab agle week UP jaana hai sabko to is hafte we hafta make Aurin a bakra. Looks like the East of Kailash office folks are going too (giggles)
Sudha shuts her mouth gently "Gopi iska lunch rehne do" "Radhu BOLNA band karo"
R struggles under her Mom's palm
R: Mmmm... ermm...ummm...pff
Sudha releases...
R: Ma! Do you know what a torture THAT is for me? (giggles)
Sudha: Its like yoga practice it
R: Speaking of Yoga, aapki Mrs Sood mili mujhe when I returned...
Sudha sits down and holds her head and listens to her daughter ramble.... smiles slowly wonders how the house will be when she leaves
Sudha: Beta main tumhare liye Dilli ka ladka dhoondoongi
R stops stunned... the familiar color crawls up her face "He is from Delhi"
Sudha: We agreed about Raghav
R: Ma, I think he is gorgeous (husky)
Sudha: TOO gorgeous!
S: I told you he has had girlfriends before
R had tried to "run that thing off her mind" she had sped this morning, as fast as she could hoping it could be wiped off his past, but her Mom reminded her of some truths....
S: Koi mel nahi hai, Papa wahan JOB karte hain (softly, pained)
R: Haan toh? (ziddi)
S: Marrying a boss's son? This is not the movies Radhu
R:He.... (pauses) he.... there is no one quite like him Ma
Sudha is irritated now "You havent met ALL the 26-30 year old Desi boys. Thats childish and immature Radhu"
R:I know what I want
S: Papa aur main unko promise karke aaye hain ki is baat ko friendship hi rehne denge
R: I cant agree Ma! I am not RUNNING AWAY, or sl (stops!) with him I want to marry the guy!
Sudha is shocked
R: He does too!

Part 84 Scoop of Life--"What if I did too"

March 13th
Saket
8 AM
A text pinged her...
She peeked at her phone as she chewed on her breakfast, she went running this morning from 6:00-7:00
Her face was still flushed and her legs a lil sore....
She won races in school and represented DU while in college.
Her job was not letting her be as active as she would like to be.

Her text asked "At work?"
"In a sense..." she typed back
"Working on finishing a monster parantha"
"Yum" was his response
"You?" she asked
"The same" he said
"Oh! Really?"
"Working on thinking more about you" he said...
She paused read and re-read his line...
Sudha: Radhu ek aur?
Sudha tried to grab her phone...
Radhika was mortified, she clutched it tight....
Sudha:Subah subah kis se Radhu?"
R: A friend Ma!
Sudha: Raat ko 2 baje tak rehti ho PC par rehti ho......
R: Woh Aadit aur Sanjana Singapore se aa rahe hain kal
Her high school friends....
Sudha (happy) milne ja rahi ho?
R: Pata nahi (evasive)
Sudha is trying to read her daughter, she had shared the Golf Link consensus from last nite... with her "Keep the friendship, but dont worry about the wedding"
If Radhika was devastated, she didnt show it
Sushil had hugged her.
Sushil and Sudha had lay awake almost all of last nite worrying if R would elope.
When she woke for running this morning, they had been terrified........
Sudha :"Raghav kaisa hai?" (utterly casual)
R: Theek Ma!
Sudha :Achhi baat hai, tum chali jao Anju se milne, aaj raat ko...
R: Ma aapko woh pasand kyon nahi hai? (direct, straight)
Sudha drops a lid it clatters to the floor
Sushil is at work so there is no defesne for her
S: Kaun Radhu?
R: Ma, please! Raghav!
S: He is fine. He is well educated
R: But you hate him! (annoyed)
S: Tumhe kaam ke liye der nahi ho rahi?
A text pings her again
Its as if he knows it reads "Your Mom hates me!"
She returns a "She loves ME" and a smiley face
"What if I did too?" and a wink followed......
Radhika stared at her blue glowing screen........

I am sorry for the hiatus readers!

Hey you guys,
I am truly sorry for disappearing like that.
My boss was in town plus I had sick kids

Will update every nite starting today

I am truly sorry
THANKS A LOT FOR READING, CHECKING, EMAILING, PINGING ME
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