TALAASH - Reliving the Past

6. Shadowy Intruder

First of all, I would like to Hats-off to those handful of avid readers who are still hanging onto to this fricking Puzzle. Trust me. You guys are just amazing!!! Cause, I know this story has not remained a story anymore but unfortunately, I like my story this way, exactly like my life.. Twisted but Intriguing. Frankly, I don't mind getting 1 or 2 views for my updates as I clearly know, I'm messing with neurons of people with brains and honesty, I love doing it. So BEWARE! More mysteries and puzzles ahead;)

March 2023,

Pushpa Nivas, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

"Karishma.. Karishmaa"

An old lady in her mid 50's was yelling at top of her voice holding a neatly packed tiffin carrier in her hands. On hearing her beloved mother-in-law's full throated ear-splitting bawls, a lady in her late 20's came running to the kitchen following the source of sound,

KS: Ka ka huva amma.. kahe aap aise chilla rahi hai?

PS: Kya kaa.. you woke me up so early at 4AM in the morning telling me you have got to go somewhere and blackmailed me with line-hazir to prepare this shahi paneer within 6AM.. As per it, see, (holding the tiffin so close to her daughter in-law's face causing the latter to jerk backwards to avoid being hit by her angry Saas) I have prepared your tiffin on time for you.. but looks like you yourself have forgotten about it..

KS: (exhaling a huge sum of air) Kaa amma aap bhi.. bas itni si baat keliye aap aise chillarahi thi kya..

PS: (shockingly) itni si!?? Ye tumko itni si baat hai!?.. Chodo.. tumse baat karana hi bekar hai.. ab kya.. tum ye leke jaungi ya mai hi khalu..

Grabbing the tiffin from Pushpaji's hand,
KS: Uski koi zaroorat nahi hai amma.. your cholesterol level is already competing with Elon musk's total wealth.. agar apne ye sab khaaliya toh, bam ki tarah phat jayeenge aap..

PS: (in a irritated tone) Ama Bhakkk!! Don't even dare to take that thing's name in front me.. No matter how hard I try to forget that disastrous day, it keeps on haunting me like a wild nightmare even to this day.. (with worry lines on her forehead)

Sensing her mother-in-laws raising heart beat, Karishma Singh keeps her right hand on Pushpa Singh's left shoulder consoling the latter despite the fact that she herself had not recovered from that catastrophic event. Pushpaji, who was very well aware of the aforesaid fact, kept her left hand on Karishma's right hand, which was warmly sitting on her shoulder, assuring her,

PS: (Noding assuringly) Hum theek hai.. ye sab chodo.. aur bolo kaisa hai tumara ghav?.. aur subha subha kaha jaa rahiho shaahi paneer lekar..!?

KS: Ghav bilkul theek hai amma.. Ghav kya.. ek chota nishaan tak nahi hai shareer mae.. such an expert plastic surgeon Dr. Vikas Chaitanya is!! Humko abhi bhi yakeen nahi horaha hai ki vibhaag ne hamara treatment ka saara karcha sponsor karke hum logonko treatment dilvaya hai.. woh bhi kahaan.. 'Chaitanya Care' jaisa ek super speciality hospital me..!! Kitne laakh huva hoga ham charonka bill amount.. (said thoughtfully)

PS: Ab samajh me aaya tumko humara Rajma chaawal ka taakat?? (Said with a teasing smile)

KS: (Joining both her hands in front of her saas with a clap sound) Haa amma samajh me aaya.. dejiye hame woh tiffin.. late horaha hai.. (grabbing the tiffin from Pushpaji's hands)