October 2019

Udaipur

Shergill's

It was the morning of Dhanteras and the cheerfulness could be felt everywhere in the country, but what came along with it was the ruckus. And it was pretty obvious too, because no matter what the earlier preparations are, there is always some last minute work and it is to be done at that time only.

In the Shergill residence, the situation was no different. Barkha was busy with the kitchen; Atul and Param were busy putting the Mirchi lights for the decoration of front and the adjacent sides of the home to give out the joyous and a luminous vibe. But certain two people were out of the sight; the reason was that both the Chacha- Bhatiji were busy sleeping selling their horses off. And Barkha was not happy with this setting clearly. As soon as she got done with the work in her hand she headed off to Karan's room to do the most painstaking task of waking the sleeping duo up. She did the most conventional thing and that is switching the fan off.

"Karan wake up. You both have slept enough." Barkha said, tugging at the blanket.

"Bhabhiiiiii. Sone do na please." Karan whined in his sleepy tone.

(Please let me sleep.)

"Nahi, ho gaya hai abhi. Naya din hai aur tum dono ko sona hai. Karan utho jaldi aur baby ko bhi uthao, Faizi aur baaki sab bhi aa jaayenge thodi der mei. Utho aur meri help karo." Barkha spoke and again shook him from the shoulders.

(No, that's enough. It's a festive day and you both have to sleep. Karan, get up quickly and wake baby up too. Faizi and others too will arrive in some too. Get up and help me.)

Karan woke up finally hearing his bhabhi. He felt bad as he yester night that he will wake up early and give be a helping hand to her. But he got engaged with baby in their late night movie, hence the delay.

"I'm so sorry bhabhi, kaafi late ho gaya hume sote sote. Aap please, mujhe aadha ghanta do, I'll quickly have a bath and then will come. Aur baby ko bhi utha dunga, don't worry." Karan said, getting up from the bed.

(I'm so sorry bhabhi, it was quite by the time we slept. You just give me half an hour please; I'll quickly have a bath and then will come. And yes, I'll wake baby up, too. Don't worry.)

"Sorry ki koi baat nahi hai." Barkha said keeping a palm on his face and ruffled his hairs. "Chalo jaao aur fatafat neeche aao."

(No need to be sorry.)(Now go and come downstairs in a jiffy.)

After that Karan quickly took a shower, woke baby up and went downstairs. He helped around wherever it was needed and fastened up with all the scattered work. Then he had his breakfast along with baby. He took a glance at his wrist watch and speeded up with his chores and then went to the garden where his bhabhi was making rangoli, talking to Param.

"Bhaiya, bhabhi nashta ho gaya hai, mai bas Airport ke liye nikal raha hoon. Faizi aur sabhi ko pick bhi karna hai. Laut te waqt papa ko bhi mandir se le aaunga. Kuch kaam hai toh bata do woh bhi saath mei khatam kar dunga." Karan said everything in a breath and then panted.

(Bhaiya, bhabhi I'm done with my breakfast and leaving for Airport. I have to pick Faizi and others. While returning, I'll pick papa on the way too. Let me know if there is any work, so I'll finish that too.)

"Shaant mere bhai, shaant. Bas ek kaam kar mujhe office drop karke nikal le. Thoda sa kaam hai, 4-5 baje tak vaapis aajaunga." Param patted his sibling's shoulder.

(Calm down brother. Do one thing just drop me to office and then leave. Some work came up; I'll be back by 4-5.)

"Bhaiya aaj ke din bhi?" Karan sulked. "Aur agar mai aapko office drop karunga toh aap vaapis kaise aaoge?

(Bhaiya, even today?)(And if I'll drop you office, how will you come?)

"Tu bhool gaya na? Tu, mai aur Faizi The Rooftop pe mil rahe hain, taaki finally baat kar sake? Or more precisely, tu khul ke baat sake." Param reminded Karan.

(You forgot, didn't you? You, I and Faizi will be meeting at The Rooftop, so that we can finally talk. Or more precisely you can talk openly.)

Realisation seemed to dawn upon Karan as he registered Param's words. It's finally the time to address the elephant in the room. He nodded in agreement and said, "Oh yes. It totally slipped my mind."

"Haan bhoolega he." Param scoffed. "Tu tension mat le, tu aaraam se decide kar sake isiliye he maine hum teeno ka yeh bahar milne ka idea diya." He kept his hand on Karan's shoulder in an assuring manner.

(Of course you'll forget.)(You don't have to worry, I've proposed this idea of us meeting somewhere out so that you can easily decide.)

Barkha who was witnessing this scene, had a slight smile on her face. She knew that it was indeed one of a kind of situation that Karan had never faced before. Although she wanted to have a talk with Karan but she knew it would be better if first have a man to man talk with Param and Faizi, and then she'll approach him, if required.

"Chal mai 10 minute mei change karke aaya, phir nikalte hain. Nahi toh aur late ho jayenge, vaise he accha khaasa traffic milna hai." Param sighed.

(Okay, I'll just go and come after changing and then we'll leave. We'll get more late than we are, already. As it is, we'll get some good traffic on our way.)

Karan was talking to Barkha and meanwhile baby too came along with Param, requesting to go with Karan. And as usual Baby's Chachu couldn't deny her so the three of them left in their seven seater Land Rover, one of the three cars they possess. It would be easy with all the people and the luggage, Karan thought.

After receiving Faizi and his family and exchanging some pleasantries on the airport with some baseless teasing and random chatter the drove off, picking Atul on their way and having some light conversation.

Faizi, Koel his wife and Zeenat, his mother were warmly received by Barkha. As it is, it was not the first time that one's family was staying over another. It was the first time for Koel though, but not for a moment she felt like that, courtesy, the hospitality by the Shergill's. In fact, she was thrilled that her first Diwali post marriage will be spent with so many people who were simply amazing. From what she heard from Faizi and with the time she had spent with Karan, one thing she was absolutely sure that this family was filled with equal amount of principles and fun. She didn't shared a good equation with her family, the only she was grateful was getting her hitched to Faizi. Being with him made her happy and not forget she could now experience all the love she was deprived of from Faizi's family, which included Shergill's as well.

Post lunch and laughter dose from baby's shenanigans and some rest, which was extended for all the people except for Karan and Faizi who left for Param's office to pick him and then went to The Rooftop, having a small talk in between, mostly Param and Faizi because Karan was kind of dwelled in his thoughts.

Finally they settled in and it was the right time to have a talk, when Param said, "Chhotey, mai jaanta hoon papa ne tujhse shaadi ke baare mei baat ki hai. Kyuki tujhse baat karne se pehle unhone mujhse aur Barkha se baat ki thhi, humse pucha thha ki tujhse baat karni chahiye ya nahi. Tu ab woh bata jo tu itne dino se soch raha hai, taaki hum teri decision lene mein help kar sakein. Haalanki mai jaanta hoon tune aur papa ne bhi baat kari hogi aapas mein, but shayad hum better tarike se samajh aur samjhaa paaye tujhe."

(Chhotey, I'm aware that papa had a talk with you regarding your marriage. Because before papa approached you, he had asked for mine and Barkha's opinion, if he should proceed with this conversation with you or not. Now you say what you have been thinking since last few days, so that we could help you with your decision. Albeit I know that Papa and you must've had a talk, but I guess maybe we could understand you and make you understand in a better way.)

Haan Karan, bhaiya is right." Faizi agreed with Param.

Karan huffed out a breath, finally ready to speak his mind and clear the clutter of his thoughts that had kept him zoning in out in bright daylights.

|~|~|~|~|

Done and dusted with this chapter. Atleast a little wait of 4-5 chapters more for Monami and Karan to meet!
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Much love,
Nehal.