Kyun Utthe Dil Chhod Aaye

11. Courtship

"Ek minute. Ye kya baat kar rahe hain aap log. Konsi shaadi aur konsa roka? Aur konsi ladki ke naal mera vyaah karwaana chahte hain Baauji aap?" Randheer asked being confused about what was happening around him. He looked at his father and Mogar suspiciously who were sharing glances with each other.

Bondita turned to look at Randheer for a brief second before returning her attention to the food on her plate. She felt a little pang in her heart at the mention of his marriage with her sister but she jerked her thoughts away and decided to focus on her own problems.

"Randheer puttar, tere aur Kiranbala ke vyaah ki baat chal rahi hai." Veer said smiling.

"Vo kon hai?" He asked irritated by now. This evening was definitely full of surprises for Randheer. Every now and then he was being introduced to a new person.

"Vo main hun ji!" Kiranbala said sheepishly, interrupting Randheer's conversation which made Randheer turn to look in her direction.

"Baauji, meri shaadi ki baat abhi kahan se aa gayi?" He took a quick glance of Bondita who sat there nonchalantly munching on her own food and returned his attention back to the conversation.

"Praaji aapne apne munde ko bataya nahi hai iss shaadi ke baare mein?" Mogar asked Veer.

"Nahi Mogar. Randheer ko kuch bhi batane ka waqt nahi mila!" He replied.

"Koi mujhe batayega ki yahaan ho kya raha hai?" Randheer asked.

"Vo darasal baat ye hai puttar ki Kiranbala ke pita aur meri bohot changi dosti thi toh hum dono ne bachpan mein hi tum dono ka rishta pakka kar diya tha. Par uske guzar jaane ke baad ye dono yahaan aa gaye aur humaare taalukaat khatam ho gaye. Par vo kehte hain na ki jinka mila muqaddar mein likha ho unhe duniya ki koi bhi takat juda nahi kar sakti aur vahin hua. Mujhe toh pata hi nahi tha ki Mogar Lala ki behen hai lekin aaj anjaane mein Mogar se meri mulaqat phirse hui aur isliye main ab iss rishte ko jod dena chahta hun. Aur ab toh tum bhi 24 saal ke hogaye ho. Tumhaari umar mein hum tumhe paal rahe the aur tumhaari toh shaadi ki baat tak nahi chal rahi par bas ab bohot hua. Ab tum apna ghar basaao aur mujhe aur tumhaari maa ko ek pota ya poti khelne ko dedo. Baat khatam." Veer said laughing which made everyone else smile too. Randheer turned to look at Kiranbala, who was blushing. Seeing her blush irked him but what irked him more was Bondita's ignorant attitude. It hurt him to see Bondita's ignorance towards him and the entire situation. But little did he know, that she was already hurt by the mere mention of his name with Kiranbala.

"Ye kya ho raha hai mujhe? Randheer koi bhi nahi hai mera. Toh ye ajeeb sa dard kyun?" Bondita thought to herself while munching on her food to divert her attention from the topic which definitely wasn't any of her business.

"Baauji, main ye shaadi nahi kar sakta!" Randheer announced standing up. His statement shocked everyone.

"Ye kya bol rahe ho tum Randheer? Hosh mein toh ho?" Veer scolded him.

"Veer praaji, ye aapka munda kya keh raha hai?" Mogar said angrily.

"Sahi keh raha hun baauji! Aapne meri shaadi mujhse puche bagair tay kaise kar di?" Randheer counter-questioned.

"Puche bagair? Randheer, shaadi ke maamlaat mein bade hi tay karte hain ki kis se shaadi karnwaani hai aur kab karnwaani hai!" Veer replied arrogantly.

"Bade? Shaadi baachon ko nibhana padta hai lekin faisla bade karen? Huhh!" Bondita thought to herself.

"Baauji, aapne meri zindagi ka itna bada faisla le liya aur mujhse pucha tak nahi. Aisa kyun baauji? Kya meri apni koi icchayen nahi hain?" Randheer asked.

"Kya iccha hai tumhaari? Nahi, aaj toh tum mujhe bata hi do kya iccha hai tumhaari?" Veer scolded him. His voice rose in frustration while everyone looked at him angrily.