Manmarziya

Chapter 8

Roop's Pov 

It must have been around 10 am when we heard the new tenants shifting their furniture and stuff on the house's first floor as Yuvraj Veer ji lives on the ground floor.

The time flew faster than expected; now it was almost 12:30 when Someone knocked on the front door.

" I'll open it," I said to Mummy Ji. 

The door clicked when I unlocked it, revealing a beautiful yet unknown face staring at me.

Her hands clutched into the bottle she was holding.

She looked at me and tried to pass me a smile, which I returned to.

She looked like she was in her early twenties.

" uhh I ...I am the new renter who shifted into your brother's house "  she informed 

" Who is it, Roop?" Mummy Ji said walking up to the door and standing beside me.

I told her about the girl.

" Ohh You are Meher. Yuvraj told me. Come inside beta," she asked the girl whose name I just figured out was Meher but she refused politely saying.

"It's alright Aunty, I just want some salt and Cooking oil. Yuvraj ji told me to come here if I need something "  and forwarded her bottle hesitantly.

" I spilled the oil by accident " she added with an embarrassing smile

My mother offered her to have lunch at our house because it was pretty late to prepare lunch 

" Why don't you have lunch with us? when will you go home prepare lunch and then eat it, it's better you and your father join us "

" Thank you so much, Aunty, but I'll manage it, also Papa ji has to leave for a work trip. It  will be beneficial if you give me Oil and salt"

My mother smiled and nodded, she looked at me and I took the bottle and walked towards the kitchen.

After filling the bottle with cooking oil, I took a small bowl and filled it with sufficient salt.

I came back and found them both talking Meher shifted her weight from one leg to the other.

She seemed a little uncomfortable.

" Ji aunty, Just me and my father" she replied to my mother, perhaps answering the question which my mother asked her.

" There you go," I said while handing her bottle and our bowl 

she thanked me and took her leave.

" She looked like a nice girl" my mother commented and made her way back to the kitchen. 

I nodded to myself agreeing with her.

It was Sunday today, which meant we had to go to Gulabganj. But how? Now our schools are over too.

What excuse would we give? 

I guess we'll have to figure it out.

.

.

.

.

It was about to be 4 and here we both were sitting on the sofa, peeling these dam peas.

Vishakha eyed me to do something so that we could leave but I guess Luck was not on our side because just when I shrugged Bauji entered the living area.

"Kya hua bhai, aaj dono bada shant baithi ho?" he asked looking at us 

( What happened kids? why are you so quiet today?")

he looked towards the kitchen, where Mummy Ji was.

" Did your mother give you a lot of peas to peal? " he asked chuckling a little and we too chuckled nervously.

I gulped looking at Vishakha.

It was now, Impossible for us to go out because Bauji came home early from the shop.

Usually, he comes home by 6:30 or 7 and by that time we always come back before he gets home from work.

She sighed and shook her head a little showing our defeat and we continued doing what we were supposed to

peeling the dam peas.

Just then Yuvraj  Veer Ji emerged from the front door touched Bauji's feet and greeted Mummy Ji.

Bauji patted his back and asked " Aaj jaldi aa gye  press se?" 
( You came early from the work ?)

" Ji fufa ji, Roop asked me to take them shopping once Banarsi saree and suit come in the market as her birthday present," he said while glancing at us. 

I frowned my eyebrows and Vishakha raised her eyebrows looking at me 

I never said that.

Did I?

" Right Roop?" He asked me 

I looked at him, Not clearly understanding what was i supposed to say, so I just went with his play. 

I nodded 

"Then why are you both sitting? Go and change fast, I especially came early today for you guys."

I glanced at Bauji for his permission and he nodded.

After getting ready we left the house.

We all sat on a horse cart and Vishakha questioned Veer ji,

" Veer ji? Why did you lie to Mama Ji?"

He sighed and hit the back of her head playfully

"So you both could to your classes idiots"

Our eyes winded with smiles spreading on our lips

I take back whatever I said about luck a few minutes ago.

"You are the best veer ji," I said while hugging him while Vishakha laughed.

He patted my head lovingly.

"Now listen to me carefully, while you both are there, I will shop for you both. And then, after that we will meet at Agrasen Chowk, and from there we will come  together"

We both nodded and as always got out of the carts a few streets away from Gulab Ganj.

We bid our byes to Veer ji and made our way towards our destination.

I am truly grateful to have a brother like him.

He has always been a passionate man, always loyal to his dreams.

Indeed a lot of difficulties came his way and took a lot from him.
He always wanted to own a press and be an editor just like his father.

The only difference between him and his father is that Veer ji supports modern thinking.

Bauji and he are of two different mindsets, poles apart. Bauji is a little conservative whereas Veer Ji is just the opposite.

That's the reason Bauji doesn't like reading his newspapers, which always encourage liberal thoughts.