There was no bed time at Gujrals during festivals and
special occasions… people came and wnet, the lights were on through the nite.
Khanak’s parents couldn’t stay up past 11.
Bai didn’t make much of an attempt to speak with Madz
orKhushboo. Dadi, she liked and spoke warmly. She even called Bua and and made
her MIL exchange pleasantaries with the septuagenarian Gujral. Dadi placed her
demand of great grandchild to Mrs Mistry… Khanak’s Dadi jumped p and used the
opp to remind Janaki Gujral about her “generosity” in accepting a widow…
Janaki Gujral was dismissive and firm… not wanting to hear
any of it…
But Dadi made her point nevertheless.
Janaki called out to Sonali to speak with her parents, she
was openly indifferent, giggling on the couch with Ujju……
Neighbors and friends stopped by, some ate dinner some just
visited, booze and snacks flowed freely… Khanak wanted to go to bed… she made
eye contact with her husband across the room… he nodded and raised a toast… “I
am tired” she muttered… he gave her a somber look… “No” he said when she
squirmed in her seat…
Sunil came by and sat with her “Meri Hindi adhyapika
pareshaan?”
Khanak: Dad, he wants me to stay up.
Sunil:Aur yeh “HE” kaun hai?
Khanak:The guy across the room, sipping his 4th
drink…
Sunil:Tum uski biwi ho kya? Koi aur itni achhi hisaab kaise
rakhega batao?
They both laugh… Sunil hugs her… he wants to go to the site…
Khanak responded spontaneously “Oh Good!”
And blushed a deep red, as soon as she realized what she had
just said…
Sunil smiled, and tapped her head fondly… “Tumhare parents
aaye hain. Ignore him. He can sulk”
Khanak smiled… a half smile… “I”
“Bus tum yeh I par ruk jao hamesha”
Khanak spoke the rest of her sentence in her mind “I wanted
to spend the afternoon with my parents, your brat of a son was adamant about
not letting me go do that..”
Things will be OK if you don’t be adamant beta!
ME? She asked incredulously…
I know, about the Navi Mumbai project” evasive…
“Ram could lose his job… Dad… mujhe.. I haven’t been”
Sunil’s phone rang… It was Rahat…
She wondered if Rahat called every employee’s Dad like he
did her, FIL…
She looked at her fingers, and rotated her rings… there was
a love bite on the inside of her forearm……..she gently touched it with an index
finger, soothed it.. it was pink and sore… much like many others hidden under
her lovely outfit…
Bai: We should go to bed…
Khanak:Khaana?
Bai refused, she gave the huge dining table a disapproving
look, over 20 snack and food items sat on it , most being warmed right at the
table, unlike Amdavad… where Bai would pour the dal back into the cooker and
bring it to a boil, Khanak would microwave the rotis… and rice… or place them
in a bowl of hot water…
Bai complaied of “maas” and “”madyarka” (booze)
Khanak: This is how they live Bai…(she squeezed her Mom’s
arm)
Bai chose to complain when Aada was NOT within earshot…
“They are so different from us”
Khanak nodded… confused
“Only the Dadi is religious” Bai continued, sad…
“Bai”
“You have to live like this everyday?” (pity? Shock? Khanak
cudnt tell)
“Your var and you sleep during the day”
Khanak looked away… “Grrrrrrrrrrr” “I begged you to let go
of me”
She cursed him in her mind……
Sonali and Ujju were striking up a conversation where the
men were… her fluttering eyelashes annoyed Khanak.
“How is Kaka?” she asked Bai…
“Not good” said Bai worried…
“We have an appointment at the end of March right?
“But I don’t think Kaki wants to wait that long” Bai hissed…
Khanak closed her eyes briefly and wondered how she could
rearrange her finances to fund a “Specialist” visit. Dadi had instructed the
Trust not to charge the minimum 10% they were at this time… but Khanak had
protested and continued paying it…
“Our money runs the hospital”
“Who Dadaji ka trust hai” she muttered
“You are a Gujral now”Dadi reminded her…
Aada scolded his wife for bothering Khanak….
“Its my family I want to know Aada” she told him…
Her husband walked over “Hey”
“Hi! Is that Dadi’s best friend’s son? Sapra?” she asked…
“No They are Duas… Hari is in Masschussets, we talked about
my boat”
Khanak smiled…
“Hey I have to go to the site”
“Oh OK” she said pleasantly…
Ouch! He muttered…
“Oh I ve been listening to my Mom’s sermons for 20 minutes”
He looks confused…
“I wasn’t here to help out with dinner, slept during the day”
(her voice trembled)
A slow grin formed on his face…
“Your Bai's right!!!WHERE were you Khanak??” he winked..
love it
ReplyDeleteomg the project topic aa hi gaya but the phone interrupted
ouch the blue line hayeeee
plzzzzzzzzzzz update soon
Hayeee.... Her spoild of d bratt he is n hz admant gorgeous....
ReplyDeleteSunil is so sweet n naughty bt professional too...
D navi mumbai project back in talks...
Her bai dsnt know hw much khanak's var bothrs her !! ;)
n hz going to d site .... Shz relievd though...
Loved it..♥ Gujral house is filled with activity during festivals..:)
ReplyDeleteDadi is as always very sweet!!! :) Khanak's dadi speaking about generosity..Both are so different!!! Sonali is so annoying..
Khanak is tired but Shaan doesnt want her to sleep soon..The way their eyes talk is awesome..♥
The way Khanak talked about Shaan to Sunil..Lol..:D She is talking just like her hubby!!! ♥
She started to speak but Sunil stopped her with I..Awww!!! Shaan didnt let her go..*blush*
And they spoke about the project..She said how Ram could lose his job but Rahat called and their discussion has to be stopped then and there..
Love bites..*blush* ♥ Bai refused to ve dinner and worried about meat and alcohol!!! She really astonished of how Khanak living in this environment..All this are so alien to Khanak's bai..
Bai complaining on how she slept in the day..And she scolding him in her mind..lol..:D
Kaki is not well..The burden is never ending for her..She definitely cant take Gujrals money even though she is one now..She has lot of self esteem!!!♥
Shaan has to go to site and she is ok with it..Awww!!!
And the blue lines!!! ♥ Shaan teases her cutely!!!♥
Looking forward and thank you for writing an amazing update!!!♥
thank you aditee
ReplyDeletedadi is mahaaa adorable and very nice human being :D
wanted more of sunil-khanak convo I think sunil owns this new project and there is purpose behind it :)))
loveeee the shaaanak bits they romance is superrr unique want more of them likeee diss :P
baaaaii is effect ed by all this but I think khanak is okay with it like she doesn't care abt it...only cares something related to her hubby or her
uff now khanak will borrow again I hope she let's shaan knw abt dis problem it will be a start to something
love your story it is wonderful every time I read casa again n again! sach mein kuch kashish haiii :P
waitingg for nxt
Love Dadi, hard to find such humans who are humble and progressive!
ReplyDeleteI’m having doubts that Sunil owns part of the new project...wondering why he is being very quiet and cagey about it though
The guy is irresistible or what!! Loving their glances and carefree flirting! It rare they are always fighting!
I knew Bai will this reaction it’s a huge gap between them but then Khanak never cared or is affected by it...truly admire her for her courage and determination...usually girls marrying into a wealthy families become careless and irresponsible and I have seen this!
I don’t want Khanak in another boat of debts...there is too much!! I feel she would never get appreciated even a percent for whatever she does...One of the greatest example is Sonali! She doesn’t give a vibe of being appreciative or humble!
Hahaha! Loved the BLUE!! GOSH I want this Casa made shaantanu too!
Thanks and will be looking forward for the next update!
another reason to fight?? loved the update.. this Casa & Shanak are always dreamy!!
ReplyDeleteLovely update aditee........
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading it.....
super duper parts(159&160) Aditee.........the couple's first holi was truly dhamakedar.......loved every moment of Shanak!! Khanak's mother is bound to be in a shock watching the activities in the Gujral household......could very well relate to her complains about Khanak sleeping and not helping.........and Shaan's reaction to that was lovely!! Shaan's dadi is such a character from whom each one of us has lots to learn........she is a great woman!! always love your descriptions and the way you get us to know about each and every character in just a few lines !! looking forward for the next part!!
ReplyDeleteloved the update hope to read more soon!
ReplyDeleteyikes! He's best when he goes all flirty;)
ReplyDeleteThat was awesome aditee:)
hey..i was reading old updates..i meant the new year's..Prad had told he will return during holi? No, im not asking for him, anyways they have lots of issues to look in..:D
Bai is having trouble with Gujral's lifestyle..now??!! not good..
I love dadi..
Aditee..continue soon:)
i miss the daily updates very much!! But i know you must be busy..will wait:)
Take care:)