Maheshwari Mansion

Vibha - Sid, sab kuch thik se gadi me rakhwaliya hai na tune?

Sid - Haan Maa sab kuch rakhwaliya hai. Aap itna tension kyun karti ho?

Vibha - Tension toh mujhe hi lena padega, ab tum dono ka kya bharosa. Aur yeh Tara kaha reh gayi?

Tara - Idhar.

Tara walks in carrying a huge bag.

Tara - Bhai isko bhi rakhwa dijiye.

Sid leaves with the bag.

Vibha - Tara, itna time kaha laga diya tune? Tum dono akele ja rahe ho, der hogaya toh kaisa lagega un logo ko?

Tara - Maa, aap faltu ka tension le rahi ho. Bohot time hai abhi bhi. Aur main toh bas yeh backup outfit lane gayi thi. Ab itna toh zaruri hota hai. Agar koi last minute wardrobe malfunction ho gaya toh?

Vibha - Woh sab toh thik hai par tune mandir se prasad liya?

Tara - Oh shit. Sorry. Main abhi leke aati hoon.

Vibha - Isiliye mujhe tension lena padhta hai. Jaldi se leke aa.

Tara rushes towards their little in-house mandir to get the prasad Vibha had specially set aside for Avneet.

Tara - Yeh wala hoga. (checks) Haan, yehi wala hai.

She turns around to leave but then looks back once again.

Tara - Bhagwan Ji, main toh apna kaam sahi se kar lungi bas Bhai pe thoda nazar banaye rakhna please, ki woh koi gadbad na karde. Pehli baar bhabhi ke saath kahi bahar jaa rahe hai. Sab kuch thik se ho jaye. Aur haan, subah subah uss chachundar ka chehra na dekhna padhe bas.

Abhi - Kiska chehra na dekhne ki duayein maangi jaa rahi hai?

Abhi asks walking in.

Tara - Dada!

Abhi - Tu toh Sid ke sasural jaa rahi hai na? Aur yeh chachundar kaun hai?

Tara - Dada woh...

Abhi - Who pissed you off enough to earn that nickname?

Tara - Woh... (mumbling) Bhabhi ka Bhai.

Abhi bursts out laughing.

Abhi - Pehle mulakat mein hi chachundar? Bechara, I can't even imagine.

Tara - Bechara? Oh come on Dada, aap toh usse mile bhi nahi ho. Milte toh pata chalta.

Abhi's smile dropped and so did Tara's.

Abhi - Oh well, there's that.

Tara - Dada, are you really not coming to the engagement?

Abhi - Tara let's not talk about these things now.

Tara - But...

Before she could continue Abhi and Tara heard Sid calling out to her from a distance.

Abhi - Dekh, Sid bhi bula raha hai tujhe. Jaldi se jaa nahi toh bulate bulate yehi aa jaayega. Aur iss bare mein mujhe jo kehna tha maine already keh diya hai, tere baar baar puchne se mera decision nahi badalne wala.

Abhi says before walking away.

Tara - Dekha na Bhagwan Ji. Shadi mein nahi aayenge. Main bhi dekhti hoon kaise nahi aate shadi mein.

*****

Sharma House

Akash tip-toed down the stairs, a bag slung around his shoulders and his pair of boots in one hand but the moment he was about to get out the front door he was stopped by his mother.

Mrs Sharma - Akash, kaha Jaa rahe ho?

Akash - Mom, maine kaha tha apko - aaj mera practice hai, mujhe jana padega.

Mrs Sharma - Aur humne bhi tumhe kaha tha ki tum aaj kahi nahi jaa sakte.

Akash - Yeh kya zabardasti hai?

Mrs Sharma - Akash aaj Mr Maheshwari aur unki behen aa rahi hai.

Akash - Haan toh woh Di ko le jane aa rahe hai unka Engagement Ring pasand karwane. Isme mera kya kaam? Aap ne mujhe kyun rok rakha hai?

Mrs Sharma - Accha, tumhe jana hai na?

Akash - Haan...?

Mrs Sharma - Thik hai, tum jaa sakte ho par...

Akash - Mom, ab isme 'par' kaha se aa gaya?

Mrs Sharma - Tumhe jana hai ki nahi?

Akash - Accha bataiye.

Mrs Sharma - Jane se pehle tumhe Mr Maheshwari ki behen ko ghar drop karna padega.

Akash - KYUN????

Mrs Sharma - Kyun matlab kya? Taki tumhari behen ko Mr Maheshwari se saath zyada se zyada time akela mil sake.

Akash - Then why is she coming between her Bhaiya-Bhabhi in the first place?

Mrs Sharma - Akash, woh kisi aur kaam se aa rahi hai. Koi rasam hai unke family mein jo usko pura karna hai. Toh uska kaam khatam ho then you will offer to drop her home.

Akash - Absolutely not. Main uske saath ek minute bhi akele mein spend karne ke liye ready nahi hoon.

Mrs Sharma - Akash enough. I do not know what your problem is with her but you will not ruin this for your sister and for us. If you don't want me to take this to your dad then you'll do well to behave. Now go back to your room.

Akash leaves with an angry grunt.

*****
Tara -  Bhai, kya baat hai? Aapne gadi kyun rok di? We are almost there. Yehi, samne se right jake unka ghar hai.

Sid - Pata hai mujhe.

Tara - Then?

Sid - I just...

Tara - Bhai, don't tell me you're nervous.

Sid - Tu bhi chal na humare saath. Pehle toh mujhse inn sab chizon ke bare mein zyada idea nahi hai. And what if she doesn't feel comfortable shopping with me.

Tara - Bhai, Aap dono ko bas apne engagement ke liye do rings pasand karni hai, it's not that difficult. You're overthinking it. And why wouldn't she feel comfortable? Aap dono ne last din khulke baatein ki na?

Sid (sheepishly) - Yeah, about that...

Tara - Oh no, apne kuch toh gadbad kiya hai. You fucked it up, didn't you?

Sid - Not really, but...

Then Sid proceeds to tell her about their whole conversation from the day of their Roka.

Tara - Oh my god Bhai, what's wrong with you? Why would you let her think that this wedding is a business deal?

Sid - But then unhone bhi kaha ki she was okay with that.

Tara - Bhabhi ka chodo aap apni baat karo. (suspiciously) You seriously don't think of this wedding as just a business deal, do you?

Sid - Of course not, what do you think of me? Yes, this is a marriage of convenience but a marriage nonetheless. And I would never think of it in any other way.

Tara - Then why the fuck did you not correct her?

Sid - Tara, language.

Tara (giving him a glare) - Mujhe bhi koi shauk nahi hai, apki harkaton ke wajah se nikal raha hai.

Sid - Okay, so tell me what should I do? Should I bring it up again this time?

Tara - No, of course not. Please, don't make it more awkward than it already is.

Sid - Toh fir?

Tara - It's a good day. Take her to the shop. Behave well. Show her through your actions that you are serious about this marriage. Aur agar baaton baaton mein kabhi yeh baat aa jata hai toh unka confusion clear kar dena. Okay?

Sid - Okay.

Tara - Aur yaad hai na, dukan mein jake kanjoosi nahi karni hai. Unhe Jo ring pasand aaye wahi dilwana.

Sid (a little offended) - Of course. Yeh bhi koi bolne ki baat hai? What do you think of your brother?

Tara - Apke iss kand ke baad you lost the right to ask me that question. Ab chalo jaldi, Bhabhi wait kar rahi hogi humari.

*****
Mr Sharma - Aiye aiye Mr and Miss Maheshwari. Baithiye, Avneet bas abhi aa jayegi, uski Mom usko ready kar rahi hai.

Mr Sharma and Akash welcomed them in.

Mr Sharma (to Tara) - Beta, apko un bags ke saath madad chahiye?

Tara - Are nahi nahi Uncle, aap bas mujhe Bhabhi ka kamra bata dijiye. Main unhe de kar chali aaungi.

Akash - Kyun, tumhe Di ka kamra yaad nahi hai? Pichle din toh bohot aaram se pahuch gayi thi.

Mr Sharma - Akash, thik se baat karo. Sorry beta woh...

Tara - Koi nahi Uncle, kuch log hote hain aise.

Mr Sharma - Akash, Tarika beti ko apne Didi ke kamre tak le jao and help her with the bags. Mr Maheshwari aap please baithiye.

Sid - Hmm.

Akash (walking up the stairs) - Darwaze ke bahar chup chup ke baatein sunne ke time toh tumhe kisi help ki zarurat nahi padhi thi ab kya hua?

Tara - Tum kisi se kabhi acche se baat kar bhi sakte ho ya nahi?

Akash - My kindness is only reserved for the people who deserve them.

Tara - Haan toh mujhe tumhare kindness ki deserving baana bhi nahi hai. Chachundar kahi ke.

Akash - Kya kaha tumne mujhe?

Tara - Jo tumne suna.

Akash - You...

Tara - Bhabhi!

Avneet and Mrs Sharma get up seeing them enter.

Avu - Are Tara tum aa gayi, main bas niche aane hi wali thi, bas ye baal banane reh gaye hai.

Tara - Don't worry Bhabhi, aap aaram se baithiye. Main toh bas apke liye kuch chizein laayi thi. Wahi dene aayi hoon.

Taking the rest of the bags from Akash's hands.

Tara - Bhabhi, humare yaha riwaz hai ki Dulhan ki shadi ka joda aur gehne, dulhe ke yaha se aate hain. Ab hume pata hai ki aapne bhi apni shadi ko lekar bohot kuch socha hoga - aap kya pehenengi, kaisi dikhengi, especially considering you yourself are a designer and we would never dream to take that away from you. But yeh kuch kapde aur gehne hai jo Maa ne khud apke liye bhijwaye hai, aap agar inhe engagement mein pehenengi then unhe bohot accha lagega.

Avu - Tara yeh tum kya keh rahi ho? Aunty ji ne itne pyar se bheja hai, of course main pehnungi. Woh agar shadi ka joda bhi bhejti main toh woh bhi khushi khushi pehen leti.

Tara - That's so sweet of you.

Mrs Sharma - Ab isme sweet ka kya baat hai beta. Avu toh ab tumhare ghar ki member banne wali hai. Itna haq toh banta hai samdhan ji ka. Accha beta tum kuch khaogi?

Tara - Nahi aunty, aap logo ko pareshan hone ki koi zarurat nahi hai. Main aur Bhai, hum dono ghar se khake aaye hain. Bas thoda pani mil jata toh...

Avu - Haan haan kyun nahi.

Avneet looks around.

Avu - Yaha toh nahi hai...

Mrs Sharma - Akash, Tarika ko kitchen mein leke jao.

Akash - Main hi kyun?

Mrs Sharma - Tumhe dikh nahi raha I'm helping your sister get ready.

Akash - Fine. Chaliye Your Highness.

*****

Akash - Yeh raha kichen. Ab pani khud pina aata hai ya phir main help kar doon?

Tara (pouring a glass of water for herself) - Tumhari problem kya hai?

Akash - Mera problem yeh hai ki tum aur tumhare Bhai yaha aa rahe ho isiliye main ghar par phas gaya.

Tara - And that's my fault, how? Maine tumse kaha tha ki "Please Akash, ruk jao. Tumhare bagair mera yaha dil nahi lagta."

Akash (turning red) - Maine yeh kab kaha?

Tara - Kisi ka gussa kisi aur par nikalo, accha hai.

Akash (to himself) - Sahi toh keh rahi hai, kuch zyada hi badtameezi kar di kya maine? Ab Mom ne mujhe rok liya isme inki kya galti?

Tara - Oh right, main toh bhul hi gayi thi.

Akash - Kya?

Tara takes out a tiffin box from her bag.

Tara - Yeh Puja ka prasad, Bhabhi koh dena reh gaya.

Akash - Haan toh yehi counter pe rakh do main unhe de dunga.

Tara - Nahi nahi, Maa ne khas Bhabhi ke liye puja karwayi thi. Agar tum bhul gaye aur Maa ne next time Bhabhi se pucha toh mujhe dant khane ka koi shauk nahi hai. Chalo wapas.

Tara says already walking towards Avneet's room.

Akash - Are, ruko mere liye...

*****

Mrs Sharma (inspecting the jewelry) - Gehne kaafi mehenge lag rahe hai, kya kehti ho Avneet?

Avu - Mom aap woh sab chodiye. Gift mein price thodi na dekha jata hai? Yeh sab toh Vibha Aunty ka ashirwad hai.

Mrs Sharma - Haan haan samajh gayi, tum bohot mahan ho, tumhe inn sab chizon se fark nahi padta. Par hume tumhe jo samjhaya tha woh sab yaad hai na?

Avu - Mom please.

Mrs Sharma - Kya please? Aaj tum aur Mr Maheshwari bohot time akele spend karoge. Mauka milte hi unse unke Bhai ke bare mein puch lena.

Avu (frustrated) - Maa hum log shopping karne jaa rahe hain.

Mrs Sharma - Toh kya hua? I explained it to you how important it is to us. Jab tak hume Mr Maheshwari ke Bhai ke influence ke bare mein clarity nahi mil jaati tab tak humara unhe kisi bhi tarah se influence karna difficult hoga.

Avu - Maa please, I don't want to hear this right now. Woh mera intezar kar rahe honge, main chalti hoon.

Avneet says rushing out of her room and down the stairs with her Mom rushing after her.

Mrs Sharma - Avneet, suno toh.

But in their hurry they didn't see the two people standing just a few steps from the door.

(After a brief pause)

Akash - Tarika...

Tara - Ab samajh mein aa raha hai ki tum mujhe pichle din tumhare conversation overhear karne pe itna tana kyun de rahe the. Clearly, iss ghar mein baatein overhear kar lo toh kuch logo ke motives samne aa jane ka risk rehta hai.

Akash - Tum galat samajh rahi ho. It's not like that.

Tara - It's not like what? Main kise galat samajh rahi hoon Mr Akash? My own ears? Or was your mother not just talking about wanting to manipulate my brother?

Akash - Tarika please...

Tara - Last din toh maine yeh kehke apne aap ko samajha liya tha ki yeh rishta thoda ajeeb tarike se ho raha hai toh everyone is a little apprehensive. Ab toh lag raha hai ki yaha kuch aur hi chal raha hai.

Tara says with a huff, turning around to follow Avneet and her mother down the stairs, Akash too follows her downstairs.

Sid - Tara, kahan thi tum? Chalo ab tumhe ghar bhi toh chodna hai pehle.

But before Tarika could reply Akash cuts in.

Akash - Jiju, aap aur Di aaram se jaiye, waise bhi apka ghar dusri taraf padhta hai, main Tarika Ji ko ghar drop kar dunga.

Siddharth gives them an amused look. Even Avneet looks at the both of them in surprise.

Sid - Tarika Ji? Tum dono abhi kuch der pehle ladh nahi rahe the?

Avu - Haan matlab aaj subah suraj kis direction se nikla tha?

Akash (whispering to Tara) - Kisi se kuch bhi kehne se pehle just let me explain. Once. Please.

Sid (looking at Tara) - Tara, you okay with going home with him?

Tara gives a glare at Akash before turning back to her brother and giving him a reluctant nod.

Sid - Okay toh hum log nikalte hai tum dono humare piche piche niklo.

Tara - Haan bhaiya.

Tara and Akash walked outside with Siddharth and Avneet. It was after they finally saw them leave that Tara got into Akash's car.

Akash - Seatbelt.

Tara pulls angrily at the seatbelt but it refuses to budge.

Akash - Let me.

As Akash comes forward to pull the seatbelt over Tara's shoulders his hair falls over her face making Tara lean back a little. Tara feels a pang of annoyance and something else.

Tara (in her mind) - How is his hair better than mine? So luscious....It even smells good. No, Tara focus. Ghar jake dusra shampoo mil jayega par abhi yeh situation handle karna zyada zaruri hai.

As soon as Akash pulls the seatbelt it comes out and attaches with the buckle in a click.

Tara - Tarika Ji haan? Tumhe toh bada girgit ki tarah rang badalna aata hai.

Akash - Pehle tum decide kar lo ki girgit ya chachundar?

Tara - Don't change the topic.

Akash - Okay fine. Tarika, I know whatever you heard inside sounds bad.

Tara - Yeah, no shit.

Akash - But all of that is just my parents. Meri Di waisi bilkul bhi nahi hai.

Tara (sighs) - Dekho Akash, main yaha Bhabhi par koi aarop nahi laga rahi. She seems like a sweet enough girl. But what I heard inside was still pretty shit.

Akash - I know but...

Tara - You probably don't understand how fucked up this whole situation is. Your mother was literally talking about wanting to manipulate my brother, telling your sister to poke him about things he clearly isn't comfortable sharing. After all this how do you still expect me to keep this from my family?

Akash - I don't. Main nahi chahta ki tum apni family se kuch bhi chupao. Aaj jo bhi hua woh sahi nahi tha. You have full rights to express your concern but just hear me out once. I know my parents aren't the best people in the world. They can be pushy, controlling, and even manipulative at times. Aur yeh baat main unke muh pe keh bhi doon par Di kabhi aisa nahi kar pati. She's always the one trying to make me understand and keep peace in the family. She's a really kind soul and I want nothing but the best for her. Isiliye when Jiju acted out when asked about his brother, it made me worried. Main bas nahi chahta tha ki Di ki zindagi shadi ke baad bhi aisi kate. Aur tumhe pata hai na tumhare Bhai ne unse kya kaha? He said that he thinks of this wedding as a...

Tara - That's not what he meant.

Akash - Kya?

Tara - He was just trying to tell her that since this marriage was also a business deal so it was fair for her to have her doubts.

Akash - What the hell? Then unhone Di ka confusion clear kyun nahi kiya?

Tara - Because he's an idiot. Aur tum bhi gadhe ki tarah mera raasta rok ke khade the.

Akash - Pehle toh mujhe yeh alag alag janwaron ke nicknames dena band karo.

Tara - Nahi toh kya? Mujhe tumhe jo bulana hai main bulaungi.

Akash - Accha baba bula lena jo bhi tumhara man chahe. Par pehle meri baat toh suno.

Tara - Hmm.

Akash - Dekho, mujhe samajh mein aa raha hai ki like every family tumhare family mein bhi kuch issues hain jinko leke Jiju comfortable nahi hai and no matter how much my parents pesture her, Di unhe kabhi bhi aisa kuch nahi puchegi jo unhe uncomfortable feel karwaye.

Tara - But that isn't going to change your parents' intentions for my brother.

Akash - Haan, malum hai. And no offense Tara, but humare parents kaise insaan hai I think uska inkling Jiju ko bhi hai.

Tara - Tum kehna kya chahte ho?

Akash - Yehi ki tumhara Bhai ek bohot kabil businessman hai. And jahan tak mujhe lagta hai unhe logo ki bhi acchi pehchan hai. Main tumhe unhe apne concerns batane se mana nahi karne wala but yes, I would hope ki jab tum unhe yeh incident bataogi tab tum mere Mom Dad ki galti ka saza Di ko nahi dogi.

Tara - Hmm, alright. But tum mujhe ek baat batao, tumhari baaton se toh lag raha tha ki tum iss shadi ke khilaaf ho? Phir tum Bhai ke bare mein aise acchi acchi baatein kyun bol rahe ho?

Akash - Tarika, I am not against this marriage, I am against my sister marrying a man who would see her as nothing but a pawn for business. Mujhe pata hai tumhara Bhai ek bohot accha businessman hai, the whole country knows that, but mujhe nahi pata ki woh meri Di ke liye husband kaise honge. But if what you are saying is true and he is serious about this marriage then I want nothing but happiness for Di and him.

Tara and Akash sit there in silence for the next couple of minutes thinking about everything that had happened. It was Tara who finally broke the silence.

Tara - Toh?

Akash - Kya?

Tara - Toh ab kya karna hai?

Akash - Ab toh pehle tumhe ghar chodna hai, nahi toh tumhara Bhai aur meri Behen aake meri kutai kar denge.

Akash says earning a slap on his hands by Tara.

Tara - Be serious.

Akash - Ouch. (rubbing the place where he just hit her) Okay fine, maro mat.

(After a brief pause of thinking)

Akash - Ab tum apne Bhai se baat karna aur main Di se baat karunga and hopefully it all works out...?

Tara - Yeah.

Akash - Yeah.

The rest of their drive to the Maheshwari Mansion was pretty quiet. Neither Akash nor Tara talked on the way. It was when Akash was pulling out of Tara's driveway after dropping her home that she spoke up.

Tara - Dhyan se jana.

Akash - Haan aur Tarika...

Tara - Tarika nahi, Tara. Just Tara.

Akash - Tara, thanks for hearing me out.

Hey guys, hopefully you enjoyed the chapter, if you did then please make sure to leave a vote and some comments!

Also, what do you think of Akash and Tara's chemistry? Are you enjoying their bickering?

Thanks for reading! ❤