December 30th 2011
Four Seasons Mumbai
1:49 AM
Ashwini Rane: Hi! Mr Gujral (grinning wide)
He slowly winds his way through the huge seating
area with white gloved waiters……. Hanging on to every unreasonable request made
by the Duggals/baraatis……..
Shaan smiles gloriously, they hug each other…
Ritu:WHO is she? OMG! She is gorgeous…
Pradyun:Ive seen her on TV… IBM?...
Ritu smacks him… “IBN” “CNN-IBN”
Ritu:OFCOURSE! I mean hum kahan hai? Mumbai ki so
and so shaadi mein…
Khanak’s eyes follow her husband…
Ashwini: I had no idea you were going to be here!
(joyous)
Khushboo hands him the baby, as she answers her
phone, looking for Maria, the nanny…
Shaan gathers the baby gently… he is asleep……..
Shaan rocks him….
Ashwini: Your wife? Wow!
Khushboo holds the call “Iski biwi? NO! I am not
THAT crazy!” shoots herself theatrically, Shaan chuckles “Thanks Bhabi”
Ashwini: Akshay’s wife?
Shaan:Hmmm….
Ashwini: Baby yours? Ya who bhi nahi..
Shaan gently rubs Amogh’s back…. The baby clings
like glue in sleep… angelic…
Khushboo: Hey I MADE HIM…
Ashwini: Bhabhi is feisty!
Shaan:Yep!
Khushboo orders someone on the phone “Retch for 9
months then youll know”
Ashwini: Shaan and I love for… not wanting babies”
Khushboo: Good for you! (smug)
Shaan:Bhabhi, Ashwini Rane… the smartest in my DU
Engg class…
Khushboo: Tum Dilli ki ho? (Not noticing Ashwini’s
extended hand) Oh! I am sorry, how are you, Ashwini?
Ashwini: Aaj mee khup khush aahe!
Khushboo: Marathi… ofcourse!
Ashwini: Bhabhi… can I call you Bhabhi? I am
older than Shaan by a year… almost two.. (standing on her toes)
Shaan grins… smug… as he still seems way taller
than his college bud…
Khushboo:I crossed 30, a year ago! (whispers)
Ashwini:HOW are you guys? I heard Shaan went to
Wisconsin?
Shaan:MASS…
Ashwini: Oh!, mujhe pata nahi tha…
Shaan:Where are YOU?
Ashwini: I am no longer in civil engineering… I
gave it up to manage Baba’s business…
Shaan and her talk shop, Boo quickly checks with
her Brother in law if he is OK holding the baby…
Shaan nods…
Ashwini and him grab a seat… the waiters serve
dinner…
They talk like old friends, Shaan sips his SOR…
and enjoys his meal…
Khanak’s eyes dart towards them frequently… “For
a guy that doesn’t care for babies or want any, he sure is very fatherly” she
thought to herself miffed…
Kovidh: You are a wonderful dancer Khanak…
K:Thanks…
Pradyun: She is wasting her time in architecture!
She should be starting her dance school.
Ritu: Students kaun laayega?
Pradyun:I can be the business development manager
Khanak spits her food out… almost… “My husband
will love that”
She thinks…
Kritik:Time to go wish the couple you guys..
Kovidh is wanted by family, he promises to return…
and leaves…
Dadi makes plans to leave…
Ritu and her convince her to stay for an hour
until the pheras…Pradyun is wanted by Sunil about something… he steps away
Ritu:Mystery, will you make plans to visit Delhi,
Lohri mein…
Khanak:Last year I was there remember? I mean is
saal ke shuru mein…
Ritu is somber “You are back together now, ab
zyaada mat soch”
Khanak: He hasn’t given me a drubbing yet on
missing my loan payment… we both are acting like it never happened… atleast I
am……
Ritu:Uski help le Mystery, when you are in a bind…
Khanak is quiet…
Ritu: How many years, how many things will you
accomplish on your own?
K: Jitna… Umm… I should try…
Ritu:Tere miya mein bilkul patience nahi hai…
K (pissed) ABHI to hai… hes happy with that green
eyed girl…
Ritu: You know, KOBRA, DEBRA hai… (Konkanahastha
and Deshahastha Brahmins in Maharashtrians tend to have light eyes)
K:What ever, she is pretty… and he is holding the
baby
Ritu laughs “Two things pissing you off”
K:At this time? Yes!.....
R: You do get jealous then? (happy)
K: Angry… (denial)
R:Yeh naya definition hai kya?
K is quiet, just mutilates her pie…
R: Ya tum ek doosre se ladte rehte ho ya you don’t
get out of your room…
K:He has a bad temper! (accusing)
R:You sulk!
K:He doesn’t
seem like hes in a bad mood right now (turns around, drawn by her friend’s
husband’s throaty laughter)
R:You’ve been busy with Kovidh…
K smiles… he is hot… in a mature sorta way…
R:You mean the faint balding…
K:Sexy… (sighs)
R: Mine will go bald in two decades, yours wont…
K:I know… I should find one… (giggles)
Kritik is back “Ritu, chalo”
Ritu jumps up and hugs him..
Khanak watches them go………. Turns to see where her
husband is….. he is gone, the woman… is gone too… Maria walks by holding the
baby……
~~
4:14 AM
Dadi is dozing in a low recliner like chair…
Khanak is seated by her watching the pheras… Ritu was nowhere to be seen, Prad
had migraine so he took off… with Ray…… Khanak was achy… and tired, Ritu and
her had slept in Khanak’s bed… three hour nap… but even that didn’t prepare her
for this all nighter…….
K:Dadi hum ghar chalen?
D: Beta, get closer and go watch the wedding…
K:Mujhe neend aa rahi hai..
D:Shaan ko phone kar
K:Ummm.. I (sheepish)
D:Nahi laayi phone… kitna naraaz hota hai tujh
par, tu phone nahi laati… shaitaan…
K smiles…. Somberly…
D:Kya hua putaar udaas hai?
K:Nahi…
D:Tum dono ne saath saath unko wish bhi nahi kiya
K:Aapne dekha?
D rolls her eyes… “REALLY?”
K:He was busy…
D:Tere aage peeche ek munda ghoom raha tha, who kitthe?
Who tey Kovidh… (pauses) Usne shaadi nahi ki brahmchari… (giggles)
K:He told me…
D:Tujhe dekhkar usey laga hoga kyon nahi ki
(winks)
K is embarrassed “eeven you are funny”
D:What is that supposed to mean? I am the mother
of funny! (bad joke)
K laughs heartily…
D:Khush raha kar puttar… tu udaas bilkul change nahi
lagdi…
K:Hmmm…
D:Ritu kidhar hai?
K:I don’t know… I see Kritik with Bhayya in the
corner over there
There is around 200 people still…. Compared to
the 2000 3 hours ago… it wasn’t much…
The lawns were massive…. The flowers still fresh…
the night chilly…
Dadi’s phone rings…
D:Kidhar hai raje tu?
She listens…
K has her eyes closed…
D:Mere saath hai, she is tired… do you see her
hubby anywhere?
Listens…
Dadi laughs “You never tire of it do you?”
Listens…
D:we need to have you come live with us
permanently…
Listens…
D:Tere pati ko main adopt kar loongi, ya Sunil…
Listens…
Talks in rapid fire Punjabi…
D: Theek beta
Listens..
D:Chal puttar…
Hangs up
Khanak has dozed off around the Punjabi convo…
D:Khanak (gently squeezing her right wrist, her
left was resting on the soft folds of her saree)
D could feel it… her grand daughter in law was
freezing..
K:Dadi please.,. 10 min? (begs)
D:Sun beta… Ritu needs your help
K: I am not bringing more rasmalai for her! (eyes
shut)
Dadi laughs “I told her that already”
K:How do you know that… aap sab kuch jaanti hain?
(shocked, eyes flying open)
D:I am omniscient…
K stares…
D:She has had a wardrobe malfunction…
K:She is wearing a ghaghra! (frustrated.)
D: A string at the back broke…
K is up in seconds….
She starts walking, turns around dazed… “Kahan
hai who”
Dadi: The groom’s family have a half a dozen
rooms , as you head inside… its room, 118 E Emporor Hall was where they had the
Jaimala and dinner remember?...
K looks confused…
D:Mera phone le ja…
Dadi tucks her phone into her daughter in law’s
hand…
~~
118 E
R: Does your wife know?
Shaan chuckles “I am sure you will tell her”
R:This is bad! Ya to tum site par hotey ho, ya,
site par kisi se baatein…
S looks preoccupied… “Will you walk to the
business center with me?”
R:I am married! And you are too… plus main
tumhari tarah pagal nahi hoon Gujral, mujhe phere dekhne hain.
S:Then go… (punches a key on his Apple ipad)
R:You brought your PC?
Ritu checks her watch…
Shaan:You either go with me or you can leave, why
are you checking your watch.
R:Because I have to go!
She smiles and walks out of the room……. Into the
passage leading to the lobby, restaurants etc…
He gives her a confused look and reboots his PC,
Khanak:Ritu kahan hai (cool,impersonal)
Shaan: THAT explains it! (murmurs softly hiding a
smile)
oh so it was Ritu and Dadi's plan? Love it!
ReplyDeleteOMG! LOVED the update Aditee! <3
ReplyDeleteAshwini! :D :D There was so much need of a soul Khanak should feel jealous of! :P This is SO awesome! :D I'm loving this Kovidh-Ashwini game! Its igniting the fire inside them and makes them realize they need to be with each other!!! Yet, they wont budge! Sigh
There is something unbelievable cute in watching Shantanu hold the baby! It express an immense care and protection! Just like Khanak said, 'Very fatherly'! :)
Oh god! So its really a 'No baby' plan! :O I'm sure he'll change all that! Ghosh, he HAS to!
GREAT! The guy's working at a wedding??????!!! Better he had not come for it! -_- Its only Khanak who can tolerate these acts, I would have dumped him and blackmailed him long back!! :P :P And its the same vice versa, only Shantanu can tolerate Khanak's acts! If this is called 'Perfect couple'! :P I love em! <3
Shantanu's simple smile, a smug expression, his chuckle or laugher..all of it makes my heart do a double take! I die imagining him do all that! ^_^ Sigh!
Ab aage kya? :D Continue sooooooon! :)
Yayyyyy next update pleasw post ir fast
ReplyDelete<3<3<3
Thank youuuu Aditee :)
ReplyDeleteIf everyone had a friend like Ritu, there will be no lack of having a sister. She is just amazing. As a friend and a guidance. I mean, I love how she literally brings Khanak to earth and points her faults and also helps to amend the bridge. Simply adoreee her!
A jealous Khanak was a sight...although she will deny it, when she starts accepting, yes I am jealous and possessive, that's the day she will start claiming her rights on him.
One thing that peeved me off...his work addiction! Someone needs to chuck his phone and laptop. If I was Khanak...help him. But then, there is also something so suave about it too..his focus and determination. Sighhh!
Update soooon, will be waiting :)
Wow!!! Outstanding!!! Absolutely loved everything!!!Yes..Ashwini Rane!!!Now Khanak must be so jealous..Was wondering how come Shaan left Khanak alone and went away for so long..He is busy with work..hmmph..Khanak gonna get pissed off so badly!!!
ReplyDeleteplease one more update tonight if possible..:)
Looking forward and thanks for writing a lengthy and an awesome update..:)
OH WOW!!!! i was surprised and happy to c the longggggg update :)
ReplyDeleteLOL!!! khushboo was funny
ashwini hmmm toh khanak ko bhi jalan hoti hain hehhehe
WHAT wardrobe malfunction did ritu lie to dadi?
OMG shadi me bhi work woh bhi kisi aur ki shadi me i hate him for this :(
bcoz u gave long update that doesnt mean ki we will stop pestering u to give another one pleaseeeee give next update tonight if possible :)))
Hahahaha...Cupid...
ReplyDeletelooks like the cupid played the part well.. lets c what happens now..
ReplyDeletelovely, long update!! Shaan holding the baby was cute!!thanks to Dadi and Ritu, we at least got both of them at one place......ab aage kya?
ReplyDeleteawesome :D
ReplyDeletewow!!!!!!!!! shanak in one room now
Ritu is great heheh what a plan
now lets see what is going to happen ;)
Awesome part n thanx 4 long update :D
ReplyDeleteWiting 4 next part..........
I so love the way you, in such few words and emotions convey the feelings of these two!
ReplyDeleteYes they are made for each other! :D Love the games and Ritu-Dadi combo!! Ahem, now waiting for some fireworks :P
Lovely updates and thank you for rekindling the magic.