Rab Rakha

Chapter 13

"Plan me thoda change hai didi, ghar aiye aap log. Yahi rukiye." Anju told Rita Ma. Rajiv had picked up the mother and son duo and brought them home before taking them to the guest house they were supposed to stay in.

"Ghar me? Teri nanad ghar rukne wali thi na?" Rita Ma asked her.

"Wo toh apne bahu-bete aur beti-damad ke sath aayi hain. 3 separate rooms mang rahi hai with separate bathrooms, kaha se ghar me ruk payenge wo log? Inhone hotel book kar diya unke liye." Anju replied.

"Acha. Lekin bhaisaab ne sare guests ke liye guest house book kiya tha na?" Rita Ma asked.

"Kya batau ab? Inki behen aur unke damad ko guest house pasand nahi aaya. Kehte hain space nahi hai." Anju made a pretty fed up face as she told them about the situation.

"Ek lauti beti ki shaadi hai, kisi ko shikayat ka mauka na mile soch kar humne hotel hi book kar diya unlogo ke liye." She added.

"Hmm. Bas abhi kuch din yahi socho ke beti ki shaadi ache se ho jaye aur apna mann kharab mat hone do, jhel lo thoda." Rita Ma replied, keeping her hand over Anju's.

"Han didi." Anju sighed, looked to her side to find Sidharth looking around.

"Mickey bahar gayi hai beta. Uski college ki friends aayi hain, unko guest house drop karne gayi hai." She told him and he simply nodded.

"Chai banwati hu. Ek toh cook kal se ayegi, lagbhag 10-12 logo ka khana him hi bana rahe hain kuch din se." Anju said, getting up and looking around.

"Sana, beta kidhar hai tu?" She called out, looking for Shehnaaz.

"Aunty aap hi ne naye bedsheets chadhane bola tha! Aur blankets nikal rahi thi mai purane almirah se." Shehnaaz emerged from the corner most room across the hallway.

"Aap log aa gaye?! Namaste aunty, mai Shehnaaz." She noticed Sidharth and his mother and was surprised how time went by. She got busy arranging the guest rooms for them.

"Abhi toh mile the tujhse! Bhooli nahi mai." Rita Ma chuckled, replying.

Shehnaaz smiled looking back and forth between Sidharth and his mother. Dressed up in a jacket today, he looked different and for a moment she felt underdressed in her casual salwar kameez. Now that there were so many people around for the wedding and the bad winter, Anju had suggested the girls not to wear shorts and go traditional for the time being. The mother didn't want anybody commenting upon them unnecessarily.

"Chai banati hu mai." She told them, excusing herself towards the kitchen.

"Rehne de beta. Khane ka time ho gaya hai, seedha kha lenge." Rita Ma replied, gesturing to her to join them.

"Aap logo ka saman? Montu beta, ja room me rakh de aur fresh ho le. Jao didi aap bhi." Anju suggested.

"Didi aap ka room yahi hai, mere room ke side me. Sabse aage wale me Montu ruk jayega." She informed them.

"Montu, meri behen ka beta hai uss room me. Tumlog room share kar loge? Nahi toh Chintu yaha-" Anju kept on saying.

"Aunty relax, bas aap batao sona kidhar hai. Mai kahi bhi adjust ho jaunga." Sidharth interjected.

Anju laughed and caressed his face lovingly. They weren't just good old neighbours, they were indeed a family. Back when Preeti was getting married almost two decades ago, lots of relatives arrived and stayed at Anju's place since there were not a lot of arrangements available for guests that a middle class family could afford while getting their daughter married. The same was the scenario when Neetu got married, Anju's place was occupied by Shukla's relatives again.