Started on 12.5.2023

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CHANCE ENCOUNTER

Suhasini Sinha is amazed by the thoughts of Swadheenta Ramakrishnan. Swadheenta was having her lunch when Suhasini entered the room where they all assemble during their free time to go through their files or have lunch. She finds Swadheenta deep in thoughts.

"Am I disturbing you?",

smiles Suhasini, reaching next to Swadheenta's seat.

Her voice drags Swadheenta's attention.
She immediately looks towards her and smiles at her, self consciously,

"Ah...! No Ma'am not at all. Please... please have a seat Ma'am.",

she offers Suhasini to sit next to her, fumbling.

Suhasini whilst smiling at her pulls the chair and occupies it. While placing her coat on the table, her eyes staring the coat, Suhasini says,

"Bhai kafi zoron se bhookh lag rahi thi mujhe, socha kuch kha liya jaye."

Swadheenta smiles.

Suhasini peeps into her lunchbox and asks,

"Tum kya layi ho?"

"Ma'am aaloo-poori.",

smiles Swadheenta.

"Aaloo-poori! Agar Adarsh yahan hota to tum shayad kha nahi paati aaloo-poori.",

Suhasini raises both of her brows.

Smiling still, knitting her brows lightly, Swadheenta asks,

"Kyun Ma'am?"

"Arey bhai janab ko aaloo-poori itni pasand jo hai.",

laughs Suhasini whilst unzipping her bag.

Swadheenta laughs a little.

"Jab school mein tha Adarsh to har dusre din usse lunch mein aaloo-poori chahiye hoti thi. Aur ab bada ho gaya hai to uske office ke paas ek dhaaba hai, wahan ki aaloo-puri usse bha gayi.",

laughs Suhasini, whilst bringing out the lunchbox and placing it on the table.

"Har dusre din breakfast skip karta hai kyunki wahan uss dhaabe se usse aaloo-puri jo khani hoti hai.",

laughs Suhasini.

"Ma'am dhaabe ke khaane mein jo maza hai wo maza kisi mehnge restaurant mein bhi nahi milta.",

smiles Swadheenta, shaking her head in negative, straightening up.

Suhasini looks towards her, smiling, reading her, understanding her.

Still smiling she opens her lunchbox. And her smile vanishes.

"Aaloo-poori!",

she exclaims.

Swadheenta chokes hearing that. She rests her right index finger's knuckle on her lips, her eyes rolled up to stare Suhasini, gauging her reaction and she manages to swallow the food stuck in her throat.

Resting her elbows on the table, entwining her fingers, Suhasini looks towards her lunch raising both of her brows and then looks towards Swadheenta's lunch box. Swadheenta and Suhasini slowly look towards each other, all serious and soon burst into a fit of laughter each.

Shaking her head, arranging the different compartments of the lunchbox on the table, her eyes briefly resting on each compartment of her lunchbox, Suhasini says,

"Aaj janab ko lunch khud ready karne ka mann kiya."

Swadheenta knits her brows lightly, smiling still, confused.

"Mere bete Adarsh ko.",

clarifies Suhasini.

Swadheenta nods her head in understanding.

"Maine kaha bhi ke rehne do cook kar lega. Magar nahi. Apron liya aur bann gaye chef Sir.",

Suhasini shakes her head, laughing a little, adoring her son Adarsh.

Swadheenta smiles wide, enjoying witnessing Suhasini's love for her son.

"Aap apne bete se bohot pyar karti hain na?",

asks Swadheenta, her heart melting witnessing Suhasini's bond with her son.

Suhasini laughs a little out of love for Adarsh.

Thinking, Suhasini says,

"Bachpan se na Adarsh mere bohot close raha hai. Aur wo meri har baat maanta hai."

Looking towards Swadheenta, raising both of her brows, she adds further,

"We are like best friends you know."

Swadheenta enjoys her food whilst listening to Suhasini.

"Ab... shaadi ki baat ko hi lelo.",

says Suhasini, extending her hand briefly as a gesture of pulling Swadheenta's attention towards Adarsh's marriage.

Swadheenta arches her right brow, eager to listen to what she has to tell about Adarsh's marriage.

Gesturing with her right hand, putting it vertically in front of Swadheenta, showing her palm, her elbow resting on the table, knitting her brows lightly, Suhasini says,

"Badey aur chhote dono bhaiyon ki shadi ho gayi hai. Maine kaha ab tum bhi karlo to meri tum bhaiyon ki taraf ye aakhri zimmedari bhi puri ho."

Taking away her hand, folding her fingers, almost like turning her hand into fist, resting it vertically on the table, Suhasini says,

"Par nahi! Mana kar diya! Kaha ke abhi mood nahi hai.",

she utters the words 'abhi mood nahi hai' like a light hearted taunt, laughing a little she shakes her head.

Both of them continue with their lunch.

"Phir shart lag gayi ke agar maine pehle ladki dhundhli to usse mere pasand ki ladki se shadi karni hogi aur agar khud pasand karli to phir theek hai wohin hogi shadi. Hum Ma-Baap ko to bus itna chahiye hota hai ke bachey khush rahein.",

says Suhasini with a mouth filled with a bite, chewing it away.

"Ammm... tum khakar dekho na Adarsh ke haath ka khana.",

Suhasini offers Swadheenta her lunch.

"Ahmm... nahi Ma'am it's... it's... it's okay!",

says Swadheenta, out of courtesy, smiling.

"Ohoo don't be formal. Come have it.",

replies Suhasini, knitting her brows lightly.

Hesitantly, smiling, Swadheenta tastes the food.

The moment she gets the taste of it, her all senses freshen up. Her eyes open wide and her heart throbs inside her chest.

By her expression Suhasini realises how she approves of Adarsh's cooking. How much she liked it. A smile of pride stretches on Suhasini's lips.

"It's...",

she pauses to swallow the food, then resumes,

"It's too good Ma'am.",

smiling hesitantly.

Suhasini smiles wide.

"Hai na mera beta acha cook?",

laughs Suhasini.

Swadheenta nods her head in affirmative, smiling throughout.

"Waise... tumhari bhi age lag bhag Adarsh ke aas-paas hi hogi. Aur tumhe dekhkar aisa lagta bhi nahi ke tumhara koi boy friend hoga.",

says Suhasini, slowly, gauging Swadheenta's reaction to her words, having another bite.

Swadheenta widens her eyes and blushes profusely hearing that. She cascades her eyes in shyness, smiling.

"Nahi hai na?",

asks Suhasini, maintaining her tone, not wanting to act like a desperate - desperate to know about her relationship status.

Swadheenta slowly looks towards her, smiling still.

"Ma'am parhayi puri karte hi yahan Mamu-Mami ke paas aa gayi, law practice karne. Boyfriend and all ke liye waqt hi nahi mila.",

Swadheenta tells her, shyly, smiling, lifting her shoulders briefly, looking towards Suhasini.

Suhasini's heart swells with love for Swadheenta. Smile of excitement comes on her face which she quickly hides and knits her brows, faking her seriousness.

"To... kis... kis tarah ka ladka chahiye tumhe?",

asks Suhasini, all serious.

Swadheenta widens her eyes in surprise. Her heart skips a beat.

"Ma'am!",

she exclaims shyly.

"Well, batao! Ab jab hum jaante hain ek dusre ko to main madad kar sakti hoon tumhare liye ladka dhundhne mein.",

says Suhasini.

Swadheenta doesn't reply to that out of shyness.

"Nahi?",

asks Suhasini, tilting her head to the right, gauging Swadheenta's reaction.

"Tumhe meri pasand par bharosa nahi?",

asks Suhasini, knitting her brows lightly, as if offended by Swadheenta.

Swadheenta widens her eyes and looks towards her immediately. Nodding her head in negative she immediately assures her,

"Nahi Ma'am aisi koi baat nahi hai. Kaisi baat kar raheen hain aap."

Smiling, Suhasini takes Swadheenta's hand into her hands, bending towards her, she lovingly addresses her,

"Swadheenta!"

Swadheenta looks towards her.

"Main chahti hoon ke tum mere Adarsh se milo.",

Suhasini tells her politely.

Swadheenta gets surprised hearing that. Her rate of heartbeat picks up pace. Her cheeks turn warm.

Gesturing with her hand, she assures her,

"Dekho koi zabardasti nahi hai."

Looking somewhere towards the floor, she continues,

"Usko dekho! Usse milo! Samjho usse."

Looking back towards Swadheenta, she continues,

"Phir jo tumhara decision ho mujhe manzoor hoga.",

she assures her, smiling.

Swadheenta slowly looks towards Suhasini, nervously.

"Ma'am, maine shadi ke baare mein ab tak socha nahi hai.",

she shares her concern with Suhasini.

Smiling, Suhasini rests her hand under Swadheenta's chin and says,

"Mere hisab se tumse behtar ladki mujhe mere Adarsh ke liye nahi mil sakti. Rahi baat tumhare sochne ki, to Swadheenta mujhe shadi ki koi jaldi nahi hai. Magar haan tumhe apni bahu ke roop mein zaroor dekhna chahungi main.",

smiles Suhasini, patting Swadheenta's hand lovingly.

Swadheenta blushes and smiles, cascading her eyes.

"And I can assure you tumhe Adarsh se acha ladka kahin nahi milega."

Swadheenta smiles further, blushing hard.

"Aur ye baat main uski Ma hone ke naate hi nahi keh rahi; balki Adarsh ki dost, jo usse ache se samjhti hai, uss haisiyat se bhi keh rahi hoon.",

smiles Suhasini.

Removing her hand from under her chin, Suhasini says,

"Dekho main bhi ek aurat hoon. Samjhti hoon ke ek ladki ko apne hone waale husband se kya-kya expectations hote hain."

Swadheenta blinks her eyes, hearing her calmly, but inside her heart throbs as she realises all over again that it is about her marriage they are talking.

"Aur Adarsh mera beta hai.",

she emphasizes on 'mera' and smiles looking at her. Although she utters these words calmly, but her words reflect her pride, which Swadheenta appreciates silently.

It connects Swadheenta to Adarsh despite having not met him yet.

"Maine apne teeno beton ko ussi tarah badha kiya hai. My boys are perfect gentlemen.",

smiles Suhasini.

Swadheenta smiles too, blushing.

"Aur Adarsh, wo to kuch zyada hi emotional hai.",

says Suhasini, widening her eyes, raising her brows.

"Kisiko hurt karne se pehle wo khud hi ro dega.",

laughs Suhasini.

Swadheenta laughs along.

"Just kidding!",

Suhasini gestures with her right hand to let her words go.

"He is a perfect gentleman! Tumhe usse kabhi koi shikayat nahi hogi.",

smiles Suhasini out of love and pride.

Swadheenta smiles wide, silently admiring Adarsh.

"Tumhe Adarsh ke bachpan ka ek kissa sunati hoon.",

laughs Suhasini.

●●●●●

"Mom, aap ye apni file ghar par....",

Adarsh stops abruptly upon discovering Swadheenta sitting there and laughing at a joke cracked by his mother, best known to them.

(More jiya main kya tere bin!)
( flute tune begins from the line 'likhun main teri naam saari umer')

She turns a little whilst laughing at the incident shared by Suhasini, unaware of Adarsh's presence in the cabin. The moment Adarsh gets view of her face, all he could focus on are Swadheenta's beautiful, almond shaped eyes. Her melodious laughter rings in his ears even after its end. Little smile of admiration automatically stretches on his lips.

Slowly walking to them, completely mesmerized by Swadheenta's beauty, Adarsh extends the file towards Suhasini, whilst staring Swadheenta throughout, getting a proper view of her.

Swadheenta, who is sitting, rolls up her eye balls to look towards Adarsh. And in a single look her gut feeling tells her that in front of her stands Adarsh. Adarsh slowly looks towards Swadheenta. Both of them stare each other. Both of them all serious. Their auras mingle in the silence, while they stay at a distance from each other. Their respective cheeks begin to turn warm under the constant gaze of the other.

(Flute tune begins of the line 'likhun main tere naam saari umer')

Suhasini's heart skips a beat out of excitement, witnessing them in this situation. Sitting still; holding her breath; with her heart throbbing inside her chest she looks towards them - her eye balls rotating left, right, left in quick succession staring both of them, not wanting to miss any reaction from either of them. But it seems time has come to a stand still for Swadheenta and Adarsh.

One of the advocates chooses to reach Suhasini right at that moment.

Suhasini immediately clears her throat looking away from Adarsh and Swadheenta. That drags their attention and they slowly cascade their respective eyes turning self conscious.

"Hello Mr. Shastri.",

smiles Suhasini.

"Hello Suhasini ji. Aapse zara ek case mein raye chahiye thi. If you don't mind.",

he laughs as he gestures her to spare some time for him.

"Haan-haan kyun nahi. Chaliye. Waise bhi I am almost done with my lunch.",

says Suhasini, smiling.

Suddenly Suhasini remembers.

"Mr. Shastri aa..p... chaliye... main... main milti hoon abhi aapse. Just five minutes please.",

requests Suhasini, smiling.

"Ji!",

smiles Mr. Shastri and leaves.

Initially looking towards Adarsh and Swadheenta, then resting her eyes on Swadheenta, Suhasini introduces her to Adarsh, smiling,

"Adarsh ye Swadheenta hai mujhe assist kar rahi hai."

Then turning towards Adarsh she says,

"Aur Swadheenta ye hai Adarsh, mera beta.",

smiling wide.

Swadheenta smiles politely looking towards Adarsh. Adarsh reciprocates the gesture.

"L...lunch...",

Suhasini again looks towards Swadheenta briefly before turning back towards Adarsh and says,

"...khatam nahi hua mera. Swadheenta aur main baat karne mein busy ho gayein.",

she again looks towards Swadheenta briefly.

"Tum...",

she looks towards Adarsh, pointing her index finger towards him and asks him, knitting her brows lightly,

"Tumne kuch khaya?"

"Ji Mom lunch karne hi ja raha tha socha pehle aapko ye files de doon.",

says Adarsh, smiling.

"Very good!",

exclaims Suhasini, excited.

Swadheenta smiles in confusion witnessing her excitement. Adarsh too finds it weird.

Suhasini realises that she is looking desperate hence she calms herself down, clearing her throat she says,

"I mean tum Swadheenta ke saath lunch karlo. Swadheenta ko bhi company mil jayegi."

Adarsh and Swadheenta turn speechless.

"Mera to important kaam aa gaya hai. Kya karein!",

Suhasini pretends to be sad, and takes a deep breath.

Adarsh stares Suhasini and Swadheenta perplexed.

"A...Mera lunch lelo!",

Suhasini knits her brows lightly.

"Mujhe aur bhookh nahi hai. I am sure Swadheenta won't mind agar tum aaj uske saath lunch kar loge.",

She smiles looking towards Swadheenta.

"Hain na Swadheenta?",

she asks politely, smiling.

Swadheenta, hesitantly nods her head, smiling throughout shyly and says,

"Ye..s... Ma'am!"

Adarsh's heart flutters hearing her and witnessing her smile.

"See! She is so understanding.",

Suhasini smiles bright looking towards Adarsh.

Adarsh widens his eyes staring at his mother and tilts his head towards right - briefly and a little, before resting it straight again - a gesture of asking his mother - 'Kya hai ye Mom?' Suhasini lifts her shoulders lightly and shakes her head a little - a gesture of asking him - 'Kya?' Adarsh shakes his head in slow motion staring his mother throughout, smiling a little at his mothers tactics.

He realises what the whole fiasco is about!

Sitting at her place Swadheenta blushes profusely. Cascading her eyes she controls her emotions of laughter and those butterflies that she gets in her stomach as she understands the exchange that takes place between the mother and the son and the whole plan of Suhasini.

Adarsh and Swadheenta smile in awkwardness looking towards each other.

"Alright I'll take your leave now.",

Suhasini hugs Adarsh lovingly and says,

"Bye sweety."

"Bye Mom.",

smiles Adarsh.

"Bye Swadheenta.",

Suhasini cups Swadheenta's cheek lovingly with her right hand.

"Bye Ma'am!",

smiles Swadheenta, taken by surprise by Suhasini's gesture of love towards her.

"That's unlike of her to do that to her office staff!",

says Swadheenta, shaking her head, smiling, staring the retreating figure of Suhasini, respect and love for her increasing with each passing moment.

"Ask me about that!",

says Adarsh, who too is staring at the retreating figure of his mother and shakes his head, again realising her plan.