Rab Rakha

Chapter 42

Madhu was worried for her daughter, uncertain of the society and its intentions towards her daughter scared her. She had met Sidharth a couple of times and he had seemed to be a guy sweet enough but she didn't assume that he was being this way because he was interested in her daughter. She decided to test the waters and ask him to either bring his family into it or back off at all.

It was safe to say that she was glad that she was wrong about him. The guy had shown up with his mother the next day on her doorstep. But the talk was yet to take place, Madhu nicely welcomed them, exchanged pleasantries and soon they were off to the dinner table.

Even Shehnaaz, Sheena and Gurjot were surprised by Madhu's behaviour this evening. Having her so angry the previous night they were rather expecting some heated arguments. All this while Sidharth and Shehnaaz had looked at her each other, passed assured smiles and wished luck that Madhu goes easy on them.

"Aapko yun achanak bulaya maine, humare bacchon ke bare me baat karne ke liye." Madhu began when they were in the middle of their dinner.

Shehnaaz held her spoon a little tighter and soon she felt her friend's hand on her lap. 'Relax.' Sheena mouthed.

"Ha, Montu ne bataya mujhe kal." Rita Ma nodded, glancing her son once.

"Hanji, ab kyuki yeh ek dusre ko itna pasand karte hain toh inki shaadi karwana chahti hu." Madhu was as straightforward as she could.

"Bacche bade aur samajhdar hai, lekin galtiyan sabse ho jati hai. Mai nahi chahungi aisa kuch dobara ho. Isliye." She added a moment later.

Sidharth kept his face simple although he couldn't help but feel unsettled and completely uncomfortable with her way of presenting it.

"Toh baccho se puch lete hain, Shehnaaz? Sidharth? Batao tum dono." Rita Ma replied.

"Mummy.. mai janti hu aap naraz ho. Lekin yeh sab bohot jaldi ho jayega na?!" Shehnaaz mentioned, asking her mother.

"Matlab, Aunty, humko time chahiye." She turned to his mother to complete her answer.

"Mujhe bhi yahi lagta hai." Sidharth agreed.

"Aisa nahi hai ke time nahi milega. Jagjit- Sana ke Papa ko gaye 1 saal bhi nahi hua hai. Agle 3-4 hafton mein toh 6 mahine honge. Lekin abhi baat kuch aur hai, situation ko dekhte huye mai deri nahi karna chahti." Madhu explained herself to him.

"Mummy.." Shehnaaz sighed, holding onto Sheena's hand tighter.

"Mujhe inse se baat karni hai." Madhu shushed her daughter, wanting to talk to the mother son duo.

Sidharth wasn't having it to explain it to Madhu how he felt about Shehnaaz, especially with an audience at the table. He was rather complied to do so, though he had decided to not give into Madhu's suggestion and rather respectfully place his feelings.

"Aunty.. I'm sorry lekin mai abhi ready nahi hu. Aur na hi Shehnaaz." He told her.

Madhu was not expecting this, after he had arrived with his mother she had assumed they were to plan a wedding soon. She was infuriated that the boy thought otherwise.

"Toh tum kya chahte ho? Shehnaaz toh ready ho bhi jayegi shaadi ke liye, your intentions are the ones I doubt." She asked him.

"Aunty, first of all, mai aur Shehnaaz isme alag alag nahi hain. Aur hum ek dusre ke sath aur waqt bitana chahenge shaadi se pehle." He answered her.

"Aap naraz hain, mai samajhti hu, meri bhi do betiyaan hain jinki shaadi ho chuki hai. Trust me, baccho ko decide karne dijiye yeh kya chahte hain apne future se.  Humare liye faisle humare time me chal gaye, yeh generation alag hai. Inki soch alag hai, galat nahi hai bas humse alag hai." Rita Ma spoke for her son.