Bombay Romance ♡ COMPLETED

[ 27 ] Yeh Shaam Mastani ■

Rukmini is sitting in the courtyard of the chawl, just outside the door to her house, scrubbing the vessels with Sabina powder when the usual gang of kids materialize beside her and starts tugging at her arm. She shakes her head at them questioningly. 

'Come and listen to Pyar Vyar, Tai!'

Pyar Vyar is a weekly program on All India Radio where people can mail letters to the radio station, requesting them to relay a particular song as a symbol of love to their partners along with a short message.

Rukmini shakes her head, pointing to the heap of vessels in front of her, yet to be washed. It is already seven in the evening. She still needs to cook dinner.

'Please Tai!! Please, pleaseee Tai!'

'Please Tai, only some time! Please, please!!'

'Please Tai!! Please!!"

They successfully manage to drag her to the eldest kid's house. All the women of the chawl have gathered there to listen to the radio program. They are cramped up on the red oxide floor of the tiny room. Some have brought boiled groundnuts to munch on and distribute them among everyone. The radio sits on the small wooden table in the corner.

The kids are elated to have almost finished the job assigned to them. It is Murali's clear instruction that they make sure Rukmini listens to the program tonight. They don't know why, but they don't care either. He has promised two mango Ravalgon candies to each, only if they are successful in this assignment. 

Savitri Kaki looks at Rukmini standing hesitantly near the doorstep and scowls. 'What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to finish washing all the vessels and then cook?!'

Rukmini nods, looking at her Kaki with fearful eyes. She tries to break free of the kids's grasp around her wrist.

'I want Rukku Tai to listen with me,' one of the kids says. 'Otherwise, even I'm not listening.'

'Even I'm not listening!' the other boy shouts.

'I also!' 

'We also!' all the kids join in. 'No listening to Pyar Vyar!'

'It's okay Savitri, let her listen,' the lady of the house waves her hand. 'It's just a little while.'

Savitri grunts. The kids pull Rukmini inside. She reluctantly settles down on the floor in the corner, beside the kids.

The program starts. The first two requests are from two boys to their respective girlfriends with the songs Keh Du Tumhe and Pal pal dil ke paas. The third letter is from a heartbroken lover to his ex-girlfriend who refuses his 'true love' with the song Kya hua tere waada.

'Moving on, the next request is from Muralidhar to Vidhya Sinha' The radio anchor reads out.

Rukmini sits up straight, looking at the radio with alarmed wide eyes. She looks around the room. That's for her ... she realizes. He had said she looked like Vidhya Sinha the other day.

'People send requests to film heroines and all? What is the use?' the ladies scorn. The voice on the radio continues its announcement. 

'The message says"Dearest Vidhya Sinha, I know life is not a movie and I am Rajesh Khanna and I sing a song for you. So I can at least dedicate the song to you, right? I love you and I mean every word of this song"

Heat rises up Rukmini's pretty face. She is almost scared that someone might turn and look at her. But nobody does. Everyone is curiously waiting for the song to start. And when it does, they beam.

It is a melodious whistling tune after a violin note. Rukmini's cheeks turn even more red even before the song actually begins. Everyone else is busy visualising the ever-handsome Rajesh Khanna wearing his checkered mustard colour coat and gazing romantically at Asha Parekh against the backdrop of Nainital's misty mountains. And then, it is Kishore Kumar's irresistible voice.