Khushi: Kriti w.. wo..

Kriti: wo kya Khushi?
(Khushi hugs Kriti and sobs)
Jaaan... Shhhh.. Calm down, relax and tell me baat kya hai.. pehle le thoda pani pi.. (Kriti caresses her hair)
Ab bata kya baat hai..

Khushi: Kritss.. maine.. maine bohot din pehle dadi ko baat karte suna tha mom dad se.. hua ye ki.. (She tells everything to Kriti including what she heard Shiv talking to Arpita)

Kriti: What?? Khushi.. itna sab ho gaya aur tujhe ek baar bhi mujhse ya tere bhai se baat karna important nahi laga?

Khushi: mai batana chahti thi yaar.. lekin tum dono ki shaadi ho rahi thi.. mai kaise ye sab bolke tumhara mood kharab kar sakti thi? Aur tujhe pata hai na Karan ko pata chalega to wo shant nahi rahega.. pakka koi na koi scene create karta aur tum dono ki shaadi mein koi problem khadi ho jaati.. of course mai aisa nahi hone de sakti thi.. aur Yash to tha na mere saath..

Kriti: Yash ko 2 3 din pehle pata chala tha.. tab tak tu akeli ye sab.. godd Jaaan.. (she hugs Khushi as she cries) Shh.. mujhse ek baar baat to ki hoti yaar.. accha sun.. calm down and listen to me..

Khushi: Hmm (she wipes her tears off and someone knocks the door)

Kriti: Kaun hai?

Karan: Kriti.. mai hu.. sab log ruke hai tum dono ke liye.. neeche aao jaldi please..

Kriti: H.. Haa.. aa rahe hai.. (He leaves) Khushi hum baadme baat karte hai ok? Jaake tu pehle fresh hoja aur neeche chal.. Yash mujhe pagfero ke liye pick karne aane wala hai to tu bhi chal mere saath.. waha hum baat kar payenge.. ok?

Khushi: hmm..
(Khushi freshens up and they climb down the stairs. Dadi takes Karan and Kriti to perform Puja and then comes the time to perform post marriage rituals)

Purvi: Kriti.. beta ek kaam karo.. ye prashad sab mein baat do

Kriti: Ok Aunty!

Purvi: Kriti.. Aunty nahi.. Mom!!

Kriti: Oops.. Yess mom!

Khushi: Chal sabse pehle meri baari..
(Kriti gives her Prashad, then to Mom and then goes to Kavin)
Uncle.. (he doesn't respond) Unclee..

Kavin: Kuch kaha tumne?

Kriti: Uncle Prashad..

Kavin: Kaun uncle? Kisase baat kar rahi ho Kriti?

Kriti: Aapse Un.. Ohh.. samjhi.. Dad..

Kavin: Ye hui na baat.. chalo do prashad mujhe..
(Kriti gives him and then goes to Karan)

Karan: Hi.. (hands tied behind)

Kriti: Pr.. prashad..

Karan: Hi Kriti..

Kriti: H.. Hi.. wo..

Karan: wo kya? (She looks at Prashad to give him signal) aise kyu dekh rahi ho? Ohh laddu pasand hai? Kha lo naa.. mai khila du? Ye lo.. (he takes one laddu and stuffs it in her mouth)

Kriti: Mmmm... (She couldn't speak due to stuffed laddu)

Karan: Are kya hua khao naa... (Giggles and she breaks the laddu into half and stuffs the other half in his mouth and all burst into laughter and he is shocked. She quickly finishes her laddu and turns away to not face him blushing)

Kriti: Sorry dadi iske liye.. (chuckles)

Dadi: Aree.. sorry kyu? Ab isase shararat tum nahi karogi to aur kaun karega? Pata hai jab meri tumhare dadaji se shaadi hui thi tab hum bacche the aur din bhar ghar mein uchalte kudte masti karte the.. hum ek dusre ke sabse acche dost hua karte the.. (a tear rolls down her eyes but she wipes it) Accha Kriti Bahu.. sabse pehle aaj tumhe apni pehli rasoi ki rasam nibhani hai.. aur isliye aaj ka breakfast tum banaogi.. aur yaad rahe iss rasam mein koi galti nahi ho sakti.. ok?

Kriti: ok dadi.. don't worry!!

Dadi: mera accha baccha.. aur Khushi ko bhi saath le jao.. ab yaha kaunsi cheez kaha hai wo Khushi bata degi tumhe..

Purvi: maa.. Khushi? Mai jaati hu na.. Kriti se thodi..

Dadi: Khushi jayegi Purvi.. keh diya na? Aur tum Kavin ke saath jaake gifts dekho.. pagfero ke liye lene Kriti ka bhai bhi aane wala hoga..

Purvi: Jee maa..

(Kriti and Khushi goes to the kitchen)

Kriti: Khushii.. tujhe kuch banana aata nahi ye mai jaanti hu par kaunsi cheez kaha hai ye to pata hoga na? Pleasee haa bol de..

Khushi: thoda.. thoda bohot pata hai matlab.. par..

Kriti: Accha to bata sujhi kaha hai?

Khushi: mujhe nahi pata.. sujhi kya hoti hai?

Kriti: what? Abhi to boli na thoda bohot pata hai..

Khushi: Are haa.. par thoda bohot matlab namak, chammach, maggi, aata vagare pata hai.. ye sujhi kya hai?

Kriti: Ohh godd.. mar gaye..

Khushi: Yaar tujhe to pata hai na kitchen is not my cup of tea.. mom bhi to isiliye bol rahi thi mujhe na le jaaye.. kuch nahi pata mujhe..

Kriti: Koi nahi chal.. lekin ab kya kare? Saare dabbe check karne padenge yaar.. bohot time jaayega..

Khushi: Yaa phir.. ek rasta hai..

Kriti: kyaa?

Khushi: Karan! Mere har problem ka solution..

Kriti: wo kaise help karega?

Khushi: Kritss.. kitchen uska favourite time pass hai ghar mein.. use exactly pata hai kaunsi cheez kaha hai.. tu ek kaam kar.. is paper pe mujhe list likh ke de mai use call karke puch leti hu..

Kriti: Nahi yaar.. ye sahi nahi hoga.. koi to aur option hoga naa..

Khushi: hai na.. of course.. jo kaam ek ghante mein ho skata hai uske liye 3 4 ghante lagake sab kuch ek ek karke dhundhte baitho..

Kriti: nahi nahi.. ruk mai banati list.. (she quickly makes a list and Khushi calls Karan and puts him on speaker)

Karan: Haa Khushi bol kya hua?

Khushi: Jaise ki tujhe pata hi nahi hai.. dekh mai tujhe list se padhke batati hu tu please bata kya kaha hai..

Karan: mai kyu batau? Dhoondh lo na khud.. jyada time nahi lagega..

Khushi: ha ha.. bass 3 4 ghante hi to lagenge... Breakfast ki jagah lunch kar lete hai.. hai na? Aur pehle hi din Dadi ke saamne Kriti ki image mitti mein.. right?

Kriti: P.. Please.. please h.. help us..

Karan: Ohh shit.. Khushi phone speaker pe tha?

Khushi: of course.. kyu? Koi problem hai?

Karan: Yaar mai mazak kar raha tha.. of course help karunga mai aur Kriti bohoot accha khaana banati hai so dadi ke samane image to kharab hone se rahi.. accha bata kya kya chahiye..

(Khushi reads the list, Karan tells location and Kriti brings all the ingredients)

Khushi: thanks a lott.. chal bye..
(Call disconnects)

(Khushi sits on the kitchen slab and keeps munching some or the other thing while Kriti cooks. After preparing, Khushi and Kriti take the breakfast to dining table and find Shiv and Janvi sitting with Karan on the sofa. Khushi's heartbeat raises and was about to spill sambhar, Kriti holds it and calms her down)

Shiv: Hii Kritss Hii Khushi..

Kriti: Hii Shiv.. Jannu di.. Arpita kaha hai?

Jannu: Are wo to subah subah jaldi chali gayi.. kuch kaam tha use..

Kriti: Ohh.. Okk!

Khushi: Krits ab ye Shiv yaha kya kar raha hai? Meri baat sun.. mai room mein jaati hu baadme kha lungi ok? Please yaha sabko handle kar le mere liye.. pleasee..

Kriti: Jaaan.. Jaan calm down.. it's okk.. relax ok? Abhi kuch react mat kar.. please Jaaan.. uski taraf dekh mat par please abhi jaa mat..

Khushi: Kritss par..

Kriti: Pleasee Khushii.. meri pehli rasoi hai aaj.. Dadi ke saamne kuch weird behave karegi to mai kya kar paungi? Please meri baat maan le..

Khushi: Ohh god.. accha thik hai.. don't worry..

Kriti: tu thik hai??

Khushi: h.. haa.. haa I am fine Krits.. (she wipes off her tears) don't worry.. mai kuch stupid behave nahi karungi..

Shiv: (in mind: ye Khushi ko kya ho gaya?)

Purvi: Baccho.. chalo sab log.. nashta karne aao.. aaj Kriti ki pehli rasoi thi.. baitho sab log.. (Kriti starts serving) Kritii.. bohot ho gaya.. chalo ab baitho tum.. ye sab mai kar lungi..

(She makes Kriti sit, Karan sits in front of her and Khushi sits besides Kriti while Janvi pushes Shiv to sit in front of Khushi and she sits on other side of Karan. Dadi and Kavin too join them. Kavin feeds first bite to Purvi and then joins everyone to have breakfast. Everyone praises the food but Karan doesn't say anything. Throughout the breakfast time, Shiv keeps smiling at Khushi but she doesn't respond or even look at him knowing she might break down all of a sudden. Soon they finish having breakfast)

Dadi: Kriti.. ye tumhari pehli rasoi ka shagun.. (she gives her an envelope and Kriti touches her feet. Kavin and Purvi too give gifts and she seek their blessings)

Khushi: Kritsss.. meri taraf se tere liye dheeeer saara pyaaar..

Kriti: How mean jaaan.. kuch nahi laayi na tuu..?

Khushi: kuch bhi nahi..

Kriti: I hate youu..

Khushi: usase pehle ek baar piche to dekh lee..
(She turns and sees Yash standing there with a photo frame as huge as his height)

Kriti: Ohh my godd... This is soo beautiful Jaaan..

Karan: wow Khushii.. tu kabse itni thoughtful hone lagi?

Khushi: tu mera chhod apna bata.. kya gift laaya hai Kriti ke liye?

Karan: mai? mai kuch nahi laaya.. mai thodi gift dunga...

Dadi: kyu nahi doge? Maine kal kaha tha na rasoi ke baad gift dena hai sabne..

Karan: haa lekin mai to dulha hu na.. gifts mujhe bhi milne chahiye.. mai kyu dunga?

Kavin: kya? Karan tu sachme kuch nahi laya?

Karan: nahi dad.. sachme..
(Kriti looks down and smiles though disappointed)
Anyways.. Kriti.. Yash tumhe pagfero ke liye lene aaya hai na? Tumne bag li apni?

Kriti: (in mind: ye to mujhe yaha rehne bhi nahi dena chahtaa.. gift na laya na sahi par pagfero ke liye bag lekar kyu jaungi? Wapas laane ka iraada nahi hai kya iska?) B.. bag?

Karan: Haa.. tumne upar bag nahi dekhi thi? Maine pack karke rakhi hai..

Khushi: bag pack kar di? Tera dimaag kharab hai kya? Wo shaam ko wapas aane wali hai..

Karan: mai jaanta hu Khushi.. bag mein uska saman nahi hai.. kuch aur hai..

Kriti: ku.. kuch aur? Ma.. matlab?

Dadi: Karan use jaane mein abhi der hai.. angoothi dhoondhne ki rasam baki hai abhi..

Karan: haa dadi pata hai.. aap log tayari kijiye hum abhi aate hai.. Kriti.. upar chalo na (he starts walking upstairs and she follows him unsurely)

Khushi: ab ye ladka kya karne jaa raha hai?

Shiv: don't worry.. accha guys.. tab tak hum log teams bana le angoothi ki rasam ke liye?

Samu and Kittu: Hamare bina?

Khushi: aa gaye finally.. chalo chalo team banate hai..

Yash: mai Apni behen ki taraf se..

(Meanwhile elders prepare for the rasam and Karan and Kriti reaches their room)

Kriti: k.. kya hua? Kaunsi bag?

Karan: bag deta hu.. pehle turn around..

Kriti: kyu?

Karan: Bohot sawal karti ho yaar.. ghumo naa.. (she turns around) ab aakhein band karo..

Kriti: (turns back) ab aakhein kyu..

Karan: Shhh.. mudna nahi.. aur aakhein band karo..

Kriti: finee.. (she turns back and closes her eyes. He walks her to the dressing table and makes her sit. Then he moves her hair and wears a beautiful traditional and expensive diamond necklace) y.. ye kya hai?

Karan: aakhein kholo..

(She opens her eyes)
Kriti: Holy Lord!! This is so beautiful!! I have no words.. seriously.. itna khoobsurat.. wait.. diamonds? What the hell? (She gets up and turns around) ye diamond ka hai.. ye kaha se laya? This must be costing like a fortune.. How did you manage to buy this? Mai ye nahi le sakti.. bilkul nahi..

Karan: Kriti Kriti Kritii.. relax.. maine nahi khareeda hai..

Kriti: hashh.. wait to.. chori? Nahi nahi.. chori nahi kar sakte.. rented hai? Par kyu? Iska rent bhi hazaro mein hoga..

Karan: (laughs) rented nahi hai.. aaj se tumhara hai..

Kriti: mera? Ye kaise ho sakta hai?

Karan: Kritii.. ye hamara khaandani haar hai.. pushto se hamari family ke paas hai par dadi ne pehli rasoi pe dadaji ke haato dadi ko diya, dadi ne papa ke haato maa ko aur aaj mai tumhe de raha hu.. iss haar ko apni jaan se jyada sambhal kar rakha hai maa aur dadi ne.. aaj subah tak to mujhe bhi ise haat lagane ki permission nahi thi.. lekin aajse ye tumhara hai.. and I am really sorry maine neeche kaha koi gift nahi hai.. actually dadi ne kaha tha sabke saamne nahi dena nazar lag jaati hai and all.. bass isliye..

Kriti: (smiles with tearful eyes) Thank you.. ye meri life ka sabse khoobsurat gift hai.. and I promise.. mai bhi maa ki tarah ise apni jaan se jyada sambhal kar rakhungi..

Karan: (smiles) jaanta hu.. (he sees she was about to cry and he immediately changes the topic) waise tumhe pata hai tumne aaj bina atke mujhe bhashan diya hai.. good progress hn..

Kriti: So.. sorry.. wo pa.. panic ho gayi thi to.. pa.. pata nahi muh se k.. kya kya nikal gaya..

Karan: ohh godd.. you should be sorry jab tum aise atak atak ke baat karti ho... Oops.. nahi nahi.. aise to hamari puri life sorry sorry mein hi nikal jaayegi..

Kriti: hmm.. is.. iska matlab koi bag nahi hai na?

Karan: hai naa.. (he gets a big suitcase and gives her)

Kriti: kya h.. hai isme?

Karan: Mom Dad Nani Yash aur Chachu Chachi ke liye gifts.. meri taraf se..

Kriti: mere?

Karan: hamare.. rishta jaise tumhara mere mom dad aur family se juda hai waisa mera bhi to tumhare mom dad aur family se juda hai na?

Kriti: ai.. aisi baat hai to kh.. khud de dijiye unhe.. apne ha.. haato se..

Karan: mai to chahta thaa.. par ye stupid rasam.. mai tumhe chhodne nahi aa sakta.. Tumhara bhai tumhe lene aayega aur mai tumhe wapas laane.. iss sabme mein kab mil paunga un sabse?

Kriti: hmm.. aap.. aap mujhe chhodne nahi aa sakte.. par le.. lene aakar waha ruk to sa.. sakte hai na?

Karan: matlab?

Kriti: mat.. matlab hamare pee.. peeche se aa.. jayiye.. aur sh.. shaam tak waha ruk jayiye.. aisa to k.. koi rule nahi na ki laane ke liye 15 min mein nahi jaa sakte.. (blushes and leaves the room)

Karan: damn.. ye hai to badi smart.. lekin isase baat karwane ke liye har baar naya khaandani necklace to nahi de sakta naa.. kuch to karna padega isase normal baat karwane ke liye..

(She comes downstairs and Karan comes after her)

Khushi: Kritsss.. teams ban gayi.. Yash, Kittu sur Samu teri team mein, mai waise to chahti hu tu jaate par team one sided na jo isliye mai Jannu di aur.. Shiv.. hum.. hum Karan ki team mein..

Kavin: mai aur Purvi Kriti ki team mein

Dadi: Mai Karan ki team mein..

Karan: wow guys.. bade efficient ho tum log.. sab plan bhi kar liya?

Khushi: of course.. chalo baitho ab tum dono..

Shiv: (in mind: Kuch to gadbad hai.. Khushi mujhe itna ignore kyu kar rahi hai aur ise kya lagta hai iski asli aur fake smile ke beech ka difference logo ko samajh nahi aata?)

To be continued