Galleria Of Short Stories ✅

Kudiyon ka hai zamana - E.1.

A grey haired lady, Lalita stared at her half bald headed husband, Manohar who was busy stuffing a biscuit in his mouth after dunking it inside his tea cup. She shook her head in disbelief and tugged him by his shirt near his tummy. Manohar glared at her through his glasses for interrupting his snack devouring session. She glared back at him and the poor chap gulped down the biscuit in fear. The remaining soaked biscuit broke and fell into his tea which he observed through the corner of his eyes and made a sad pout.

A middle aged lady, Saraswati who sat infront of the couple observed them in nervousness while the young man sitting next to the old couple, clears his throat to drag his parent's attention.

Manohar, Lalita and their son, displayed their shinning teeth to the lady by way of forced grin.

"Woh.. woh kya haina Saraswati ji inko diabetes ki problem hai.. toh jyada meetha khaana allowed nahi hai isiliye...", Said Lalita.

"Arey bhaisahab, aapke baaste bina chinni ke chai banwaa deti hoon..", says Saraswati while adjusting her slipping veil properly over her head.

"Nahi nahi.. itni chinni toh chalti hai bhabhiji.. Lalita ko toh bas mere pe hukum chalana hai bas.", smiled the old man.

Lalita frowned and pinched his tummy on the side without getting noticed by others. Manohar shrieked and jumped in his seat.

"Kya hua Manohar bhaisaab?", Asked Saraswati.

"Kuch.. kuch nahi.. ma-ma-machchar tha..", stammered Manohar rubbing his tummy to reduce the pain caused due to his wife's pinch. Once again all the three display a fake grin to Saraswati.

"Kya hai?", Whispers Manohar to his wife while Saraswati offered sweet to the young man.

"Yaha kya chai, samose aur biscuit thoosne aaye ho? Aate samay itna jo samjhaya tha.. sab bhool gaye?", Whispered Lalita.

"Oops.. sorry..(turns to Saraswati) Woh main keh raha tha ladka ladki ko akele mein baat karne de dete hai thodi der taaki unko faisla lene mein asaani ho..", Suggests Manohar to Saraswati..

"Ji... Zarur..", Saraswati says reluctantly looking at her daughter who stood in a corner wearing a Salwar suit and covering her head with veil just like her mother which showed only her face.

"Sidharth.. jao beta mil aao akele mein..", said Lalita to her son. Who nodded his head to his mother and glanced at the young girl.

"Ek minute..", excuses Saraswati and goes near her daughter and yanks her by her elbow a little far.

"Sunn Sana.. achche se baat kariyo samjhi? Itna achcha var haat mein diya leke doondhne se bhi nahi milega.", Saraswati whispered to her daughter.

Sana nods her head in agreement.

"Usse chhatt par le jana daayine taraf, baaye taraf woh bagal waali chaddha mausi kaan lagakar baiti hogi.. baat pakki hone se pehle pure gaon mein dindora pitke aayegi.. phir jo humse jalte hai unlogon ko banta kaam bigaadne mein waqt nahi lagega.. samjhi?", Instructs Saraswati.

Sana nods yet again to her mother. Saraswati turns to the guests with a big grin on her face and the trio grin back at her.

"Haanji beta ji.. aap jao.. Sana ke saath..", Saraswati says to Sidharth.

Sidharth nods his head and gets up. He walks towards Sana while pulling the creases of his pink shirt down. Sana silently escorts him towards the narrow yet steep stairs of their old house which lead to the terrace. He turns towards the right side of the terrace.

"Uddar nahi.. iss taraf..", Speaks Sana in her sweet and low voice walking towards the left side. He shrugs with a smile and follows her.

There was an old rope woven cot kept in the corner. Sana points her hand gesturing him to occupy it and he obliges. There was a few seconds of awkward silence between the two.