Dec 28th
Saturday
Ahmedabad-Mumbai
Aada gave her little advice. “You don’t need any”
he would say in Gujarati. In front of Bai many times, annoying her…
Aada did not treat her differently or specially
because she supported the family, but he understood and saw how she did it.
He worried if Shantanu would be O.K. He worried
if Shantanu would demand, she start saving her income etc, but never displayed
any greed.
His glasses were a decade old, his clothes… he
never bought any by himself. Khanak had been buying for 4 years now. He had
enough fleece and jackets to fill a room, she shopped so much at her honeymoon…
Half of what she bought for him ended up in
Kaka’s house or Bua’s…
“I am happy to see you live with your husband” he
would say.
What he truly felt about Shantanu or Sooraj, no
one knew.
Khanak realized it must bother him that his son
in law is not sanskari, does not do pooja like him every morning, did not ever
fast….
The language, the culture and the social status
would never match….
“Hey Ram is happy”
“Ritu is happy”
Khanak smiled to herself as she walked towards
the gate… she hadn’t told anyone in Mumbai, she planned to tell Dadi before she
boarded. No one else was up so early at the Hill… well, her husband was… but he
wasn’t home.. he was gone by 8…..
Ritu had promised to visit for New Year’s. “I am
choosing YOU over my parents, Mystery ab pata laga main tujhe kitna chahti
hoon, jaaneman?” she declared beating her chest…
“Haan mere se ek ounce kam” Khanak argued…
“True!” said her friend
“Are you going to hop into bed, as soon as you go
home?” she asked…
“I guess… aaj subah 4 baje uthi” Khanak bit her
lower lip, trying to respond back to the tease……
“Tera miya kahan hai?”
“No clue” Khanak said seriously
“You are headed back, you can suck up to him now”
Ritu giggled…
“You mean, he can?” Khanak asked somber…
“You know you screwed up Mystery”
“Nahi” Khanak said firmly…
“Achha I am looking at tix, I can get there on 30th,
chalega?”
“Aaj nahi aa sakti?”
“Kyon nahi?” mocking…
“I cant wait to see you Ritu” sad
“I love you too you fool” Ritu hung up…
The flight was barely 30 minutes….
Khanak sat by the gate… she was wearing a skinny
pink Gap tee, with blue jeans… Gucci sandals in silvery pink completed the
ensemble…
Her tied was tied in a pony tail, trimmed.. to
2/3rds of the length she went home with… kohl lined her eyes….
Sonali wanted to return with her, Bua wouldn’t
let her, Khanak had booked a Shatabdi for her on January 9th (?) she
couldn’t remember…..
Fa was planning to bring her back….
Bua had actualy started the topic of Sonali’s “rishta”.
Bai had called Dadi last nite… she was at Bua’s…
Bai had told her about Khanak’s plan to return, the whole family had come over….
Bua thanked her perfunctorily…. Fa was a lil more
genuine…
Khanak did not mind… she knew this is what Aada
would do, if he could… she was just his rep….
Bai on the other hand wanted her daughter to be
celebrated, glorified and expected a coronation for Khanak…. Khanak was amused…
but did not say anything…
“Bai I am not a saint… but I don’t expect such
things from family”
“I don’t want to be selfish and demanding Bai”
she had reassured her verbally….
“you are ONLY like that with your husband
ofcourse” her heart mocked…. She had quickly gotten up and walked away not
letting such thoughts rankle her………..
Khanak had told Bua, she would start looking in
Mumbai when she got to her third year…
Khanak realized Bua entrusted her with the task
NOW only because she was a no longer a widow….
Bai realized it too… it hurt her immensely… to
see people’s attitude and behavior take a 180 degree turn after her remarriage………..
Her flight was called………..
Uneventful it landed.. at around 10ish… she had
called Dadi before turning off her phone…. Her knuckles were drained and
offwhite, clutching the arm rest… in fear…
“I hate flying” she would say repeatedly
“I think you told me” he would mutter mockingly…
“You are making fun of me” she would complain…
He would nod solemnly… and burst into deep
throaty laughter…….
She picked up her bag from the carousel… just as
a local “agent” hauled it for her…
She gave him a startled look…..
“Madam help kar doon?”
“Nahi” she said softly… ignoring the admiring
looks of young men around her…
She pushed her cart towards the exit…
Dadi had said “Main Pradeep ko bhejti hoon”
“Its OK Dadi I will be fine” she promised
“Ofcourse don’t I know that?” Dadi mocked gently
Khanak smiled…
Pradyun: Hi! Stranger…
Hands on his hips, her husband’s 25 year old
cousin stood in front of her… grinning… with a buzz cut……..
She smiled… gloriously…
Khanak:Tum? (shocked)Pradeep kahan hai?
Pradyun: I am your Pradeep… vahan…(fumbling for
the next word)
Khanak: Chalak?”(giggling)
“Sure”!... he nodded, not daring to repeat it…
steering her towards the parking… pushing her cart for her
yayyy khanak is back
ReplyDeletepradyun came over to receive her so sweet of him
loved the update aditee :)))
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ReplyDeleteSuperb!!! Wow!!! Ritu is gonna come for New Year..cool!!! Bua back to her house with Dadi..k..:)
ReplyDeleteEvery mother wants her child to be praised and in Khanak's case she deserved more than being glorified!!!Do she help her Bai's bro/sis and her cousins from that side too??? gosh, but love that!!! she never expects anything in return and help them endlessly as though its her duty/responsibility..commendable!!!
And the small FB of her and Shaan was cute..:) miss them being together..especially her topnotch wits!!!
When Dadi said she will sent Pradeep..I was thinking please let it be Pradyun and here he is indeed..LOL:D..awesome!!! The fun begins now with Shaan,Khanak and Pradyun!!!
Looking forward and thanks for writing.. :)
Shantanu will be steaming mad, but I am sure Khanak was relieved to see Pradyun lol
ReplyDeletethe last portion of this update was super fun!! both the updates(36& 37) were superb!! Khanak returning on her own is a totally different situation in CASA, and it will be very interesting to know how things proceed with Shanak!!Shaan must have been happy but there's Pradyun and there's Ritu coming there on new year.........looking forward!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome update
ReplyDeleteYay she's back but most of all shocked that prad is the one to pick her up!!
Will be interesting to find out what the husband thinks ;) lol
Looking forward to the next update :)
Yayyyyy!! :D :D
ReplyDeleteUGH. I don't want to talk about Bua or Sonu, they completely ruin it for me, I CAN curse them left and right, right now. Thank god, you didn't accommodate Sonu by bringing her back. Warna that would have been the last of me :P
Can't wait to have Ritu make in action or frame :D She is very witty...I love how she brings the excitement in the story with her liners. lol!
Ritu, Prad and Khanak in the same frame! Reminds of the sangeet day...all the fun. Can't wait!
Prad is such a cute dork. Sigh!
Abhi bhi hi is smitten by Khanak and she surely enjoys it to the fullest...she is off-guard then! Doesn't really care, infact loves the fact that her hubby gets agitated :)
Thank youuuu Aditeee....update jaldi jaldi.
Exact sentiments about Bua and Sonali! I cant stand them anymore! -_-
DeleteShe might eye for a Gujral guy itself! Ghoosshh..! Not in this janam atleast! :P
Heyyyy Shama :)
DeleteYou know what! If khanak ends up helping Bua around with alliances...god kill her! She takes too much on her stride and selflessly.
I wonder if Shantanu ever finds out how she is treated in her family, i mean verbally his heard about what her dadi thinks about her, but to actually see it is a whole different thing. He'll will dig her and never let her back in the house for sure.
Hi Sonali! How are you? :)
DeleteI so agree! And thats what I WANT! I want him to question her, though he might not ever get a reply to it..other than she cares for them! There is a limit to everything! She is not disappointed because she doesnt expect anything from anybody! But thats not the way She should be treated! I mean,Its not that she should be buttered and pampered all the time, but Man! They BLAME her, and even her husband's family for endless reasons! And they expect everybody just to be like them! Never did they care to look at their imperfections and faults!
I'm fine, you? :)
DeleteI don't think he'll ever will question her, he knows he won't get the answer. So, he probably will do something with his actions which either will cause a tiff or resolve them. But the fact, he hasn't observed the fact how she is always taunted and remarked about either being married to him or her being a widow...if he actually seen all this than I'm sure it's the end of Khanak. lol!
But someone needs to bring sense into her, later or sooner! It's is a two-hand situation, as higher the expectations more the greed...her Bua will never be content however or how much Khanak will do.
^^ and for once, I want Shantanu to see her Bua actually being snide. That'll be awesome.
DeleteAND hopefully in Casa style...it obviously won't be melodramatic or anything...but I want to see how he will handle it.
Gosh. I have so much in the list... Khanak jealous of Mahi and now this!
I'm good! :D
DeleteHaha! Casa always leave us craving for more and more! :D Aditee, kripya dhyaan deejiye! :P
'End of Khanak'! I so want to witness that! :D :P She should not be doing these for people who dont even care to acknowledge it!
I so wish Shantanu gets to know about it all! :(
Woowww! Lovely update Aditee! :D
ReplyDeleteTHANK GOD Sonali didn run back along with her! -_- She, and her Mother..THE MOST thankless souls EVER! I'm waiting for the day when they'll actually know the meaning of 'sufferings' and 'pain'! And I really hope the time would come very soon!
Ritu! :D She's a sweetheart! Always been with her friend, through thick and thin..! A true soul Khanak could always depend upon! Admire their friendship much..and remind me of my best friend! :)
PRAADDDDD! Wohoooo! Thanks soo much for bringing him back Aditee! :D I love this guy, and it was always great to have him in the tale!
Thrilled to find out Shantanu's reaction when he gets to know about the 'visitor' and the person who brought her home! ;)
Continue sooooooon!
He doesnt know :s
DeleteOh he does not. He left the house early right :) this is going to be thrilling...his heart going dhak dhak maybe just from the sight he enters home with her back towards him! Sighhh! What a dreammyyy couple!
Yup! He has no clue..and thats the best fact! :D Surprise..surprise~! :D
DeleteAyee...so true! <3 They affect the pace of my heart too! Sighhh!
eekksss!! Prad's there to pick her:D
ReplyDeleteShaan will be very much furious, when he'll come to know;)
waiting for next one eagerly:D
Lolz predeep was there to pick her nw shaan must 'll be angry 4 this hehehe...
ReplyDeleteWaiting 4 next part egarly.......... :)
ho..ho.. Khanak is going to enter with Prad and Shaan wuld hit it off.. looks like it..
ReplyDeletewoow cant believe shaan didnt come to pick her, when he finds out about pradyun then boy, he needs to watch out loooool
ReplyDeletecant wait for them to finallly meet amd apologise to each other loool
xxx