Kiska Hai Tumko Intezaar

Dekha hai par jaana nahi

Sameer reached home to find his family sitting together for dinner. With Dadaji at the head of the table, his parents, Girish and Ambika were seated on one side while his sister Anaya sat on the other side, looking into her phone.

Ambika chided her, 'Kitni baar kaha meal time pe no phones. Saara din toh isme ghusi rehti hai. Aadhe ghante shaanti se baith ke khana nahi kha sakti kya?'

Girish chuckled, 'Nahi nahi beta, mummy ki baaton pe dhyan mat do. Kahin koi important reel skip ho gayi ya fir tumhare idols ki life ka ek minute bhi miss ho gaya toh? Khane ka kya hai, do chaar din nahi bhi khaya toh kya hi ho jayega. Most important is social media.'

Anaya rolled her eyes and put the phone away, 'Jo new designs launch kiye hain unka response dekh rahi thi bas. Pata nahi Indian parents itne dramatic kyon hote hain. '

Sameer settled on the chair beside her, letting out a sigh, 'Sirf parents hi nahi, grandparents bhi.'

Ambika frowned, 'Manners kahan hain tum dono ke?'

Sameer looked up wearily, 'Mummy, main 29 years ka ho gaya hun. Aur Anu 24 ki. Hum dono apna apna business chalate hain par aap humein ab bhi aise treat karti ho jaise hum school ke bachhe ho.'

Serving himself some palak paneer, Girish murmured, 'Calendar ki umr nahi tumhare dimaag ki umr ke hisaab se treat karti hain mummy tumhe.'

Dadaji let out a hearty laugh, 'Maa ke liye uske bachhe kitne bhi bade ho jaayein, bachhe hi rehte hain.'

Sameer looked up at him, 'Aur aap is bachhe ki shaadi karwane chahte ho.'

'Shaadi?' Ambika exclaimed and asked eagerly, 'Papaji, koi rishta aaya hai kya Sameer ke liye?'

Dadaji casually stated, 'Rishta bhi dhund lenge. Bas tum taiyari shuru karo. Agle dus mahino ke andar tumhara beta dulha banne wala hai.'

Anaya looked at Sameer, her eyes rounded, 'Aap shaadi karne wale ho? Woh bhi Dadaji ke dhunde hue rishte se? Bhai, yeh kya example set kar rahe ho? Mera toh chance hi khatam ho jayega. Jab meri baari ayegi sab kahenge bade bhai ne arranged marriage ki hai toh tu kaise apni pasand se shaadi karegi... aur mere liye bhi le ayenge koi boring sa businessman.'

Girish retorted, 'Arey! Boring se tera matlab main aur papa? Betaji, tumhare dada apne zamane ke Amitabh Bachchan the. Aur main, Shahrukh Khan se kam toh main bhi nahi hun. Puch le apni mummy se.'

'Papa please.' Anaya stalled his bragging, 'Shahrukh Khan ka naam kharab mat karo. Main aur bhai itna jhooth nahi jhel payenge.'

Ambika looked at all of them in dismay, 'Papaji ne itni important baat ki hai aur tum sab mudde ke alawa har cheez pe argue kar rahe ho.'

She then turned her attention to her father-in-law, 'Aap bataiye papaji. Yeh Sameer ki shaadi ka kya maamla hai.'

While Sameer toyed with bits of salad in his plate, since he had no appetite, Girish apprised Ambika and Anaya of the clause in family will.

Ambika was elated, 'Yeh toh bohot achhi baat hai. Warna main keh keh ke thak gayi lekin yeh ladka shaadi ki baat sunte hi aise gayab hota hai jaise Mr India.'

Anaya thought for a while then asked her grandfather, 'Dadaji, yeh rule ladkiyon ke liye bhi hai kya? Meri deadline bhi 30 saal tak hogi?'

Dadaji patted her head, 'Betiyon ke liye hamare yahan niyam nahi bante. Unhe apni zindagi apni marzi se jeene ki poori azaadi hai.' He glanced at Sameer before adding, 'Kyonki ladkiyan shuru se samajhdaar hoti hain. Sikhane padhane aur control mein rakhne ki zarurat ladkon ko hai.'

Anaya beamed with excitement, 'Fir theek hai. Bhai, aap kar lo shaadi. Meri permission hai.'

While others laughed, Sameer looked at them in frustration, 'Aap log sach batao, main isi ghar ka beta hun ya kahin se utha ke laaye the. Apne hi ghar mein itna atyachar. Sab ke sab mujhe bali ka bakra banane pe tule hain. Mujhe yahan rehna hi nahi hai. Main ghar chod ke chala jaunga.'