" Maine na yeh saari dawaiyon par achche se timings likhdi hai ki kab kaunsi deni hai." Pallavi started explaining with a pen on her that she then threw on Shiva to make him more sttentive, " tujhe kya hai itna phone main? Abhi Aaji zyada important hai. Ab agar kalko kisiko bhi Aaji ko medication deni hui toh usko pata hona chahiye na." she fixed her angry gaze on him.
"Are par hum phone karlenge na tujhko. Waise bhi yeh dawa-wawa mereko toh samjh hi nahin aata hai. Itna pata hota toh mawalli ki jagah doctor hota." Shiva tried joking to put down the seriousness in the air but instead got a smack behind his neck by Aai.
" Ho chatur mulga ( smart boy) ho han. Abhi woh samjha rahi hai toh bhael ke liye hi na. Apni yeh hushari ( smartness ) band kar aur sun." Aai gave her full support to Pallavi as she kept down more pages for Pallavi to fill in.
"Thank you Aai." Pallavi smiled at her mother and continued to fill in a very detailed sheet. " Toh maine na Dr Swarna se baat karli hai. Woh mujhe Aaji ke liye ek diet chart dengi. Aur khabardar kisine usme koi cheating kari toh. Ho Baba?" she pointed her finger at her father in a warning sign.
"Ho masterni ji." the man laughed it out and the others joined him as well when they heard a door creek open.
" Ajaiye aap bhi. Kab tak hume door se dekhti rahengi." Pallavi spoke with a smile as Aaji let her out of the shadows.
" Main toh bas yeh dekh rahi thi ki kaise mere bina kisi gunaah ke jail main daalne ki saza di jaa rahi hai." Aaji came to the verandah as Shiva provided her with a chair to sit on while the others sat on the mat on the ground.
" Ab aap apni manmani karke beemar padengi toh saza toh zarur milegi na." Pallavi shifted towards her grandmother's feet and kept her head on her lap, " Mī kitī ghābaralō hōtō māhīta āhē kā?" ( aapko pata hai main kitna dar gayi thi), she complained like a little kid.
" Are mujhe kya hoga. Bass woh subah achaar khaya tha na-" and that's how Aaji dug her own grave.
"Aaaji." Pallavi screetched like a chalk on the blackboard, " Main na abse ghar ke saare achaar bahar colony main baat dungi. Aur kisine zara bhi help kari na inki toh dekhlena." she got up and fixed her clothes.
"Are meri bachchi. Thora bahut toh chalte hai. Tu baith na." Aaji tried mending the situation.
" Ji nahin. Aai aap khana lagao, main abhi achaar baatkar aai aur tu Shiva jaa paani ki bottles bhar. Aur mere pyaare baba, aapka kaam hai apni pyaari mataji par nazar rakhna. Samazla?" and that's how the dictator Pallavi was back with the whole afternoon drama long forgotten. She was done playing a puppet and she was done letting people from her past affect her future.
After dinner, Shiva decided to take Pallavi out for an ice cream walk like good old days, he really thought they needed a good heart to heart conversation because no matter how fine she looked out in the open with others but he'd seen a dfferent Pallavi in the evening, the old who'd let herself cry on his shoulder and express her pain. and if Pallavi had let that happen then she was for sure in a much bottled up situation.
Under the starry night and cold breeze, amidst the bustle of a retiring colony, Shiva and Pallavi wandered along the charming streets, their laughter mingling with the cheerful hum of the city. They were best friends—connected by a bond that transcended time and defied expectations.
"Tu woh naake wali ice cream khayegi ya woh alishaan ice cream parlour wali? Akhir mujhe apni naukri ki treat jo deni hai tujhe" Shiva suggested, his eyes lighting up with excitement and yet concern.
Pallavi grinned, always up for an adventure with him. "Neki aur puch puch. Par haan Naake wali kulfi se better toh kuch nahin"
They stepped into the quaint kulfi point at the corner of the road, greeted by a symphony of delightful aromas and a kaleidoscope of flavors.
"Mujhe toh samajh nahin aa raha malai wali loon ya phir kesar pista" Shiva admitted, scratching his head in mock contemplation.
Lily chuckled. "Dono ek ek lete hai na. Jaise pehle karte the. Phir share karlenge simple."
YOU ARE READING
RAGHVI FF : A PHOENIX
FanficA story of a new beginning. The rise of a phoenix after being burnt into ashes by the same people she trusted and loved the most. peep in to know more. I was a princess made of ashes; there is nothing left of me to burn. Now it's time for a queen to...
