Kyun Utthe Dil Chhod Aaye

10. Happy Birthday

"Arey Randheer, kahan chale gaye the tum? Sab tumhe kabse dhund rahe hain!" Veer said, seeing his son and Sharfu coming towards them.

"Ji, vo main paani peene gaya tha lekin jab vahaan pahuncha toh pata chala ki mujhse zyaada kisi aur ko paani ki zarurat thi toh bas madad karne laga." Randheer said in his usual poetic manner.

"Bhai Randheer tum hoge lekhak lekin hum aam aadmi hain. Hume toh bas seedhi seedhi baat samajh aati hai." Veer said laughing which made everyone laugh along with him.

"Accha Randheer beta, inse milo. Ye hain humaare bete Uday Kishore Singh aur vo Bhanu Kishore Singh." Lala introduced the boys to Randheer and Sharfu who then took turns to hug each other.

"Arey bhai Lale, teri beti se toh milwa. Teri kudi ki kalaaon aur khoobsurati ki charcha pura Calcutta kar raha hai aur ek main hun, ki ek baar dekh bhi nahi paa raha kudi ko. Kahan chhupa rakha hai tune apni son chiraiya ko?" Veer said which made the family members smile proudly.

"Arey nahi nahi Veer. Yahin kahin hogi. Bohot chanchal hai. Apni maa ki tarah vo bhi ek jagah aaraam se baith nahi sakti. Humesha kisi na kisi kaam mein lagi rehti hai ya phir mehmaano ke saath hogi. Ab kya bataaun? Ghar mein koi bhi tyohaar ho ya jashn, sab toh bas ussi se milne ko aate hain. Sabko toh sirf Bondita se hi baat karna hai." Lala said laughing. He felt immensely happy and proud at the same time because of all the love that his daughter received.

"Iss baat pe toh mujhe pura yakeen hai Lale. Arey jab Randheer ki maa ko pata laga uske baare mein, vo toh mujhse naraaz hi hogayi. Kehne lagi ki sab meri galti hai jo main usse apne saath nahi leke aaya." Veer said.

"Arey, Bondita puttar, idhar aa." Lala called Bondita as he saw her passing by the hall in a hurry.

"Ji baauji!" She exclaimed coming into the scene. She saw all the men of both the families were sitting along with the Roy Choudhury men and between them sat a man, nearly of her Baauji's age. She stole a quick glance of Anirudh who sat there looking at her with an unidentified emotion in his eyes. She looked beside her to see Randheer standing there smiling at her. Their eyes met for a moment and almost instantly she felt a smile forming on her own lips but before could pass it, she turned towards her Baauji. She didn't want anyone to know that she had already met Randheer in order to avoid getting caught.

"Inse mil puttar. Ye hain Veer Raizada saab! Kal inki hi baat kar raha tha main. Kuch saal pehle hi humaari dosti hui hai aur pata hai sabse acchi baat kya hai? Ye sirf humaare hi nahi, balki Binoy ji ke bhi dost hain!" Lala said to Bondita who slowly nodded her head in understanding.

"Hello beta." Veer said sweetly and Bondita went towards him and touched his feet.

"Sada khush raho!" He said patting her head lovingly. "Mujhe pata chala ki aapne pure Hindustan mein top kiya hai, bohot khushi hui jaan kar." He said again smiling.

"Shukriya Chacha ji!" She said.

"Sirf shukriya se kaam nahi chalega. Aapko ye taufa bhi qubool karna hoga! Also, Happy 18th birthday." He said taking out a box which contained a gold chain and showed it to her. Bondita looked at her father reluctantly, seeking his permission.

"Rakh le beta! Badon ka aashirwad hai. Mana nahi karte!" Her baauji. She slowly and hesitantly accepted the present and touched his feet again.

"Thank you so much, Uncle. Aap yahaan aaye mere success pe mujhe congratulate karne, mere khushi mein shaamil hone yahin bohot badi baat hai. Aur iss gift ke liye bhi thank you so much. I will keep it safe with me." She said with utmost sincerity.

"Maan na padega Lala. Sanskaar, gun aur sundarta, teeno teri beti mein kut kut ke bhara hai. Bada bhagyashaali hai tu, nahi toh aisi kudiyan toh mannat maangne par bhi nahi milti." He said to Lala who looked at her daughter with utmost pride in his eyes.