Misaligned Stars

The unseen sides

Next day, Monami avoided Karan throughout the day. She was upset by how he had blackmailed her in the festival the night before. This time she obviously knew he was helping, and she didn't have any plans to accuse him. In fact she was thankful he saved her, but he had to be his obnoxious self and so rude to her. What did he even think of himself as if her life revolves around him?

She concentrated on her work. She was reaching out to vendors to get quotes for some new machines. She finished her work early so left for home.

Karan waited for Monami to be on the floor. During lunchtime, he even mocked Monami loudly that madam is no more interested in factory visit and will be sitting in her office now, hoping she will hear and react but she didn't come out of her office.

Monami was on her way back when she saw Yashoda aunty walking by the road. She asked driver to stop the car near her.

Monami: Aunty aap yahan?
Yashoda: Arrey beta tum. Main to mandir ja rahi thi. Yahin paas mein hai.
Monami: Main aapko drop kar deti hoon.
Yashoda: Nahi beta tum pareshaan hogi.
Monami: Aap aaiye na please.
Yashoda sits in the car.

Y: "Pata hai, Karan se tumhare baare mein suna to tum alag si lagi thi. Par tum to itni pyaari ho."
M: "Main to khud surprised hoon aunty, ki karan aap ka beta hai. Vaise wo bahot achcha hai apne kaam pe, and main use uske liye bohot appreciate karti hoon. But wo to itna kadwa baat karta hai aur aap itna meetha."
They both laughed.

When they reached temple, Monami dropped off Yashoda aunty and was about to leave.
Y: "Mandir ke baahar se nahi jaate beta, andar aa ke darshan ke phir chali jaana.
Monami agreed and went inside. "Sorry Mujhe ye sab zyada nahi aata. Bas ghar pe bhagwaan ji ki murti ke aage pray karte hain Diwali pe. Varna main zyadatar mumma ki photo ke aage hi pray karti hoon."
Y: "Tumhari mumma to bohot maanti thi ye sab. Mannatein maangti thi , pooja paath bhi karwati thi aur kisi bhi worker ke ghar mein pooja ho, agar wo yahan ho to jaati thi."
M: "Aunty mumma ke baare mein itna sab sun ke achcha lag raha hai. Maa ki ye side maine zyada nahi suni."
Y: "Waqt ki baat hai beta. Jab zaroorat ya gehri ichcha ho to sabko bhagwaan ka hi sahara hota hai."
M: "Maa ko bhi bete ke ichcha thi na (Monami was smiling as she said this but the smile seemed hiding a pain and Yashoda spotted it.)"
Y: "Tumhari maa ko sirf tumhare papa ki khushi chahiye thi. Aur tumhari bhi"
Monami followed Yashoda as she did the Parikrama.
M: "Maa itni achchi thi , par phir bhi unki mannat poori nahi hui, meri kaise hogi?
Y: "Jab koi mannat poori na ho to iska matlab bhagwaan ne aapke liye kuch aur behtar socha hai, aur aapko wohi milega. Jaise tumhari maa ko tum
mili. Bharosa rakho beta."
Monami was thoughtful as she prayed to complete her factory revival mission.

——————

Karan was in a bad mood when he reached home.
Yashoda: Aaj jaldi aa gaya beta
Karan: Shift khatm kar ke aa gaya ma. Please chai bana do , itna boring din tha
Yashoda: Haan, haath muh dho le !

Karan opens the bathroom door only to collide with Monami , who was leaving the bathroom.
Karan: "Tummmm ... yahan? Arrey shift khatam kar ke aaya hoon. Tum yahan kyun aa gayi"

Monami: "Aap"... "aap mujhse aap karke baat kijiye"
Karan (with hands on his waist) : "Aap yahan kya kar rahi hain... ye meri personal space hai"

Yashoda: "Karan.. wo mehmaan hain, mujhe mandir se yahan ghar tak chhodne aayi hain"

Monami: "Sun liya? .... Now step back and say thanks"
(She was so done with Karan's attitude)

Karan: "Haan bilkul, jab aap kal aapko girne se bachane ke liye thanks karengi... uske immediately baad I will also say it"

Monami: "Tumhari mom ko pata hai tumne kal kaise meri wrist twist kar ke mujhe blackmail kiya tha?"

Karan: "Listen... keep my mom out of this. Aap kya chahti hain? Meri mom ko hamare issues mein involve mat kijiye. !"

Monami: "oh please .. meri duniya tumhare around revolve nhi karti. Khud ko itni importance mat do.. main aise kuchh......"

Monami was interrupted by Yashoda aunty.

Yashoda: "Baaki ka factory mein lad lena... abhi aa jao, Chai pee lo" (she gave an angry look to Karan)

Karan: "Maa ... mehmaano pe zyada bharosa mat karna, inke chehre pe kuch aur dil mein kuch hota hai." He walked off, exchanging angry glanced a  Monami

By the time Karan changed and returned, Monami was looking at an old photo album, there were pictures of both their parents and Monami heard his mom's stories excitedly. Karan watched from a distance as both the women laughed. He wanted to join them but then realised Monami may get upset again if she sees him, so he decided to wait there, to see Monami laugh a bit more.

__________TO BE CONTINUED___________