Kriti: Aree par meri baat to sun..

(Khushi walks away to her room, lays on her bed and bursts into tears. She cries her heart out)

Khushi: Mujhe Yash ki baat manani hi nahi chahiye thi.. pata nahi kya sochke mai Shiv ke paas sab sach batane jaa rahi thi... mai nahi bata sakti.. wo nahi accept karega.. shayad.. shayad wo mujhse pyaar bhi nahi karta.. shayad wo mujhe sirf ek dost ki tarah hi dekhta hai..

(She keeps crying for a long time and gradually dozes off. Main while Kriti is tensed in the room, while Karan enters the room.)

Kriti: (in mind: Project!! Damnn.. maine waise to sab complete kar liya tha lekin Haldi ke din ek project pura kharab ho gaya tha.. mai to bhool hi gayi use wapas se banana.. kal submit karna hai.. ab kya hogaa? Kya karu? Yaar ye Khushi kabhi meri puri baat sunti kyu nahi.. aur upar se ye Khushi ka bhai aur ye room.. yaar itni filmy decoration kaun karta hai? Roses se bhara bed aur ye itni saari candles.. waise hai to kaafi khoobsurat.. I am sure ye sab Jannu di ne hi kiya hoga.. isike liye jaldi aayi hongi.. par jo bhi ho.. aisi situation mein uske saamne project kaise complete karu? Aur.. aur.. w.. wo pata nahi k.. kya expect kar raha hoga aaj raat ke liye.. waise to I am very much confident kuch aisa waisa nahi karega par phir bhi.. project? Ab mein iske rooms ki lights raat bhar jalakar project complete karte kaise baith sakti hu? Isase help lu kya? Nahi.. aise kaise puch sakti hu.. damnn.. usme room share karna.. baki sab to theek hai par bed share karna padega.. god this is going to be so damn uncomfortable.. so awkward.. pata nahi kya kya hona baki hai..)

Karan: Kriti..

Kriti: ha..

Karan: tumne abhi tak change kyu nahi kiya? I mean I know har ladki ka sapna hota hai bridal lehenga pehenana par wo kitni der pehnogi? Mujhe dekhne mein itna heavy lag raha hai.. how do you carry that? Kuch comfortable pehen lo na.. tumhari bags to aa gayi hai na? Are you comfortable here?

Kriti: h.. haa.. mai.. mai aati hu ch.. change karke..
(She goes and changes into night dress)

(As she comes back, he had already changed into his night dress and was busy on his phone. She freezed lost in thoughts and he noticed it)

Karan: Kya hua Kriti? Waha kyu khadi ho? Relax.. baitho na.. make yourself comfortable..

Kriti: h.. haa.. wo mai.. (in mind: I hope iske dimaag mein koi idea na ho.. I am not ready.. I am really really not ready..)
(She slowly goes and sits on the edge of bed nervously. He looks at her and tries to ease her. He goes to her, sits on knees in front of her and holds her hands)

Karan: Kriti.. tumhe itna nervous ya awkward hone ki koi jaroorat nahi hai.. dekho.. now we can't change the fact ke we are married.. hame ye room to share karna hi hoga atleast jab tak dadi yaha hai.. but.. we can share this room like roommates.. kisne kaha sirf pati patni hi room share karte hai? Roommates bhi to karte hai naa.. you have a whole independent life here Kriti.. please be comfortable.. I know ye achanak se husband wife and all samajhna, accept karna bohot mushkil hai.. trust me mere liye bhi utna hi mushkil hai.. par tumhe koi bhi problem hoti hai to ek dost ke naate hi sahi mai hamesha yahi hu.. tumhare paas aur tumhare saath.. okay?

Kriti: (smiles with tears filled) Tha.. Thank you.. Thank you so muchh..

Karan: (he touches her cheeks assuringly) Take care.. (he gets up and goes to his study table)

Kriti: (in mind: ye jab aise saamne aakar baitha aur haat pakda to almost mini heart attack aa gaya tha mujhe.. but he is so sweet.. thank you god.. thank you so much mujhe mera pehla pyaar dene ke liye.. thank you so muchh!! Ohh shit.. par project.. yaar mere paas to samaan bhi nahi hai.. kaise karu, kya karu? Puchu kya isase? Par.. par wo kya sochega mere baare mein.. ohh godd.. kya karu kya karu..)

Karan: (in mind: ye itni restless kyu lag rahi hai?) Kriti.. tumhe kuch chahiye? Koi problem hai?

Kriti: Haa.. w.. wo ac.. actually naa..

Karan: Kriti.. maine abhi samjhaya naa ek dost ki tarah sahi par pure haq se tum mujhse kuch bhi keh sakti ho.. please bolo na..

Kriti: wo mera.. proj.. project..

Karan: Project? Uska kya?

Kriti: (she closes her eyes and says in one go) kal saare projects submit karne hai aur aur do din pehle meri cousin ne usme se ek project par Pani gira diya tha aur wo pura kharab ho gaya.. au.. aur ab mu.. mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha k.. kya karu..

Karan: itni si problem.. haa to koi baat nahi yaar.. abhi complete kar lete hai.. chalo just charge up.. I'll help you.. waise bhi mera 1st year ka project kis din kaam aayega?

Kriti: (happily) sachme???

Karan: of coursee.. (he takes out all the necessary stationary and his 1st year project from old stuff)
Kriti.. tumhe sachme confident hone ki bohot jaroorat hai.. aise chui mui lajwanti types rahogi to kaise survive karogi ye duniya?

Kriti: Whatt?? (Laughs) Chui mui lajwanti? Really? I swear mai aisi to bilkul nahi hu.. bass.. pata nahi kyu..

Karan: mai saamne hota hu to nervous ho jaati ho.. hai na?

Kriti: h.. ha..

Karan: Wow.. you know ye sabse interesting cheez hai ki meri wife mere alawa sab ke saath comfortable hoti hai.. amazinggg.. pata nahi maine kya bigada hai tumhara..

Kriti: Nahi.. na.. nahi.. aisi baat nahi hai.. I.. I am comfortable with you.. I fe.. feel safe around you..

Karan: Really? Agar comfortable ho to ye nervousness kyu? You don't trust me na?

Kriti: Ag.. agar bharosa na.. nahi hota to ka.. kabhi ye shaadi nahi karti.. ba.. baat kuch aur hai..

Karan: haa to wo baat kya hai?

Kriti: K.. kuch nahi.. aa.. aap nahi samjhoge..

Karan: ab mai samjhunga ya nahi ye bhi tum hi decide karogi matlab? Wo bhi samjhaye binaa.. Greatt! Thik hai chalo.. filhaal project pe focus kar lete hai..

Kriti: H.. haa.. do.. don't worry.. mai kar lungi.. aa.. aap so j.. jao..

Karan: Listen.. meri na aaj shaadi hui hai.. mujhe to neend aane se rahi so mai ye kar lunga.. tum chaho to so jaao..

Kriti: (smiles) n.. nahi.. I will write.. par.. itni jaldi saara research wapas kaise hoga?

Karan: Research karne kisne kaha? Mera project hai na 1st year ka.. filhaal to yahi copy paste kar do.. teachers meri handwriting acche se jaante hai so ye submit nahi kar sakte par tum apni handwriting mein yahi likh lo..

Kriti: that's cheating!

Karan: Oh come on.. that's not cheating.. that's Jugaad!! Mai tumhe dictate karta hu tum jaldi jaldi likh lo..

Kriti: le.. Lekin that's wrong naa..

Karan: It's okay Kriti.. accha take it this way.. tum meri wife ho na? Ardhangini? Meri har cheez par tumhara pura haq banta hai.. project par bhi.. (winks)

Kriti: (laughs) bohot bura logic thaa.. par shayad that's the only option.. ga.. gaane lagau?

Karan: Neki aur puch puch...
(They play soft songs in the background, Karan dictates and Kriti writes down the project. They finish it by 3:30 am)
Waise kya baat hai yaar Kriti.. Aaj humne duniya ke saare records tod diye hai apni suhaag raat pe project karke.. (laughs) Ye na ek forever memory hai.. First thing that we did together as a married couple is a project!!

Kriti: Yaa.. like seriously!! This is going to be forever kind of epic!!
(Both clear the bed and keep all the stuff on study table)

Karan: Wahi too.. baki log aaj ki raat kya kya karte hai.. aur humne kya kiya? Project..!!

(Both look at each other, couldn't control and burst into laughter)

Karan: (in mind: Kitnii pyaari lagti hai jab aise befikar hokar hasti muskurati hai.. I promise Kriti.. tumhari ye hasi permanent karwakar hi manunga)

(She realises him looking at her and stops laughing nervously)

Kriti: So.. Sorry.. wo.. wo mai..

Karan: Kya hua? Sorry kyu? Hasne ke liye? (Laughs) Ab to I am really sure tum mujhe koi jallad samajhti ho.. pyaari lagti ho yaar haste hue.. you should try that more.. seriously!!

Kriti: (chuckles) sure.. an.. and.. tha... thanks.. project.. ke liye..

Karan: no need to thank me.. aur tumhe jab bhi.. I repeat.. jab bhi, jis bhi vaqt jaroorat pade.. tum meri help le sakti ho.. I am right here.. tumhare saath.. okay? (She smiles) accha ab so jaaye? Bohooot neend aa rahi hai..

Kriti: h.. haa.. mujhe bhi..

Karan: Good night.. (he takes his pillow and takes out extra blanket from cupboard and was about to go to study room attached to his room)

Kriti: ka.. kaha jaa ra.. rahe ho?

Karan: Study room.. sone.. ye couch bohot uncomfortable ho jayega so..

Kriti: aa.. aap bed par.. so sak.. sakte ho.. mai couch pe..

Karan: no ways.. tumhe couch pe bhej ke mai bed pe to sone se raha.. don't worry.. mai yahi hu study room mein.. kuch bhi jaroorat pade to bula lena..

Kriti: Aap.. b.. bed pe mere sa.. saath so jao.. pillows.. pillows beechme.. hum pillows daal denge..

Karan: tumhe uncomfortable nahi karna chahta mai.. it's.. it's all okay.. I will manage..

Kriti: pa.. pakka?

Karan: Haa.. bilkul pakka.. tum chinta mat karo..

(Kriti smiles)
Kriti: good night

(He goes and sleeps in the study room while Kriti sleeps on the bed after writing her diary. Next morning...)

Kriti: Khushi ka bhai to ab tak uth gaya hoga.. shitt.. mai itni der tak kaise so sakti hu? Kritii.. ab tujhe jaldi uthna hi padega.. be responsible!! Is samay to wo workout mein busy hoga.. mai jaldi se jake tayar ho jaati hu.. lekin pehnu kya? Sirf uncle aunty hote to normal western hi pehen leti par dadi.. dadi bohot strict hai.. kuch Indian pehenana padega.. par kya? Saree ya dress? Saree pehenani to aati hai nahi.. Khushi ko bulati hu.. wo madat kar payegi.. par aise night dress mein bahar kaise jau.. nahi.. call.. (she calls Khushi but Khushi doesn't pick up) ughh lekin ye Khushi.. pata nahi ab tak uthi bhi hogi ya nahi.. aur waise bhi kal raat wapas bohot tension mein lag rahi thi.. pata nahi ho kya gaya hai iss ladki ko.. par pata to karna hi padega.. aakhir kaunsi baat use itna pareshan kar rahi hai.. I have to find out!! Lekin abhi pehnu kyaa..

Karan: itna mat socho.. jisme comfortable ho kuch bhi pehen lo.. western mein ho to wear it.. dadi ko mai handle kar lunga.. be comfortable okay?

Kriti: na.. nahi.. I know.. mu.. mujhe koi k.. kuch nahi bolega.. pa.. par.. aa.. aapko daant padegi.. mujhe sa.. saree pehenana na.. nahi aata.. mai Indian dr.. dress pehen leti hu..
(She takes a dress and goes to washroom and gets ready. As she comes out she sees Karan cleaning the bed)
Kar.. (he turns towards her hoping she would take his name) m.. mai kar.. lungi... Aa.. aap rehne do..

Karan: ughh.. nahi koi baat nahi.. ye ho gaya par tum.. tum kuch keh rahi thi na.. Kar.. kya Kar..?

Kriti: nahi.. nahi.. k.. kuch nahi.. kar.. karlungi..

Karan: Hmm.. accha chalo tayar ho jao tum.. phir saath mein hi neeche chalte hai..

Kriti: ha.. (she gets completely ready) Ch.. chale?
(in mind: Ohh God.. mai baat kyu nahi kar paati acche se? Iske saamne aate hi kya ho jata hai mujhe?)

Karan: haa.. bass ek min yaha aao.. (he holds her hand and takes her to dressing table and makes her look at the mirror. He stands behind her and makes her wear mangalsutra and then turns her around and puts sindoor)
Sorry.. actually.. agar dadi iske bina dekh leti na to hungama ho jaata.. but don't worry.. tumhe ye roz pehenane ki jaroorat nahi hai.. dadi ke saamne bass.. ek bar dadi chali jaaye to it's up to you.. really Sorry agar tum pehenana nahi chahti thi to..

Kriti: Nahii.. nahi.. I.. I am sorry.. ac.. actually aadat na.. nahi hai na.. y.. yaad nahi raha.. mai dh.. dhyaan rakhungi aage se..

Karan: You don't have to be sorry.. it's okay yaar.. pehli baar hi shaadi hui hai naa.. kaunsi tumhari dusri tisri shaadi hai ki tumhe sab pata ho (she laughs) accha chale? (He forwards his hand and she looks at his hand and he keeps looking at her eyes. She then looks into his eyes and back to his hand. He holds his hand reluctantly and he smiles wide as her hand touches his. He holds her hand and start walking to the door when there was a knock on the door. They open the door and see Khushi and her eyes seemed all red and puffy)

Karan: Khushi... (he leaves Kriti's hand and cups Khushi's face) baccha tu thik hai? Kya hua tujhe? Aur itni lal kyu hai teri aankhein?

Khushi: Aree.. mai bilkul thik hu yaar.. wo actually mai apna ek project karna bhool gayi thi to raat bhar jagke karna pada mujhe.. bass abhi abhi khatam hua hai.. so bhi nahi paayi.. puri raat kharab ho gayi.. (Karan looks at Kriti and back to Khushi. She removes his hand away from her cheeks) mera chhodo.. tum dono batao.. tumhari raat to kaafi happening hogi naa? Tum dono ki bhi neend puri nahi hui hai.. raat bhar soye nahi kya? Kya kar rahe the? Ohh waise sab log abhi tumhe neeche bula rahe hai par agar tum log ab bhi continue karna chaho apni raat ko.. to.. I can handle neeche sab ko.. you can have your fun hn..

Karan: Shut up Khushi!! Hum neeche hi aa rahe the..

Kriti: Aap.. ne.. neeche jaoge? Mu.. mujhe Khushi.. s.. se kuch baat ka.. karni hai.. hum bass.. aate hai a.. abhi..

Karan: Okay.. lekin mere complaints to nahi karogi na?

Kriti: Nahi.. (she giggles and he smiles)

Karan: mai neeche wait kar raha hu.. aa jao dono jaldi..

(He leaves and Kriti takes Khushi to her room)

Kriti: Jaan.. ye kya halat banake rakhi hai tune apni? Tujhe kya lagta hai tera bhai pagal hai? Use samajh nahi aaya ye shakal raat bhar jagne se hoti hai ya raat bhar rone se? Tune muh pe jhoot bola usase? Kitna bura laga hoga use ki wo jis behen se itnaaa pyaar karta hai wo bina vajah jhoot bol rahi hai usase.. What is all this about Khushi? Bata mujhe ho kya raha hai?

Khushi: Kritss.. wo.. hum baadme baat karte hai na ispe..

Kriti: Nahi Khushi.. Jaan dekh mai jaanti hu tu raat bhar ro rahi hai aur tu bohot dino se bohot pareshan hai.. please bata na yaar baat kya hai.. I want to know... Please jaan.. mujhe sachme janana hai... Bohot ho gaya abhi jhoot bolna aur baat talna.. ab bata de.. pleasee bata de..

To be continued...

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Best part of the chapter?

Also Plz check out my book The Young Hearts on at praan_11

It's my first novel, on school life of 4 high-school students. Siddharth Sameer Pranali and Ananya.

And Any questions about any if my book! Comment them down? I will be answering them all! Or anything you wish to read or see in any book! What do you think will happen further in them.

what if khushi gets into accident... (continue guys! Lets see what you all think will happen in this situation)
(Ps. This line is no where related to the book! But just a fun activity)

Lastly my exams are going on... so updates will be late for a while