Nawal - Missing Moments

6. Mini-Honeymoon Part-1

6. Mini-Honeymoon - Part 1

Natasha, Dhawal and the Pandyas were in Gajner to visit the Kuldevi ka mandir after the incident with Dahi Handi. Both had been irritated with each other, adamant that the other should have supported their point of view in this whole incident. Natasha had insisted that it was not her fault her t-shirt ripped and she should be allowed to continue her hobbies but Maa had not budged. Dhawal on the other hand had accepted that it wasn't her fault but agreed with Amba that Natasha should take care and avoid taking part in such activities in the future.

Dhama being Dhama had noticed their animosity towards each other and planned a mini vacation for all them in siege of visiting their Kuldevi. Somehow or the other she had made the Makwanas agree to let Dhawal and Natasha go. She was intending this outing to be the bridge between their distant relation. Both of them were not behaving like newlyweds at all but instead bickering like school kids and she was worried that it would affect their closeness and understanding.

But the Pandyas could not go one day without some incident or other happening. Dhawal was arrested by the Police and Natasha and him had literally spent the night in jail trying to prove they were actually husband and wife. It was all Amrish and Chiku's fault. Eventually they were finally released, did the pooja after a very....ahem...public bath and were finally on the way back to the hotel to pick up their bags and leave for Somnath.

Both Natasha and Dhawal were dripping wet and needed to change. There was also the matter of both of them not having slept even a wink the night before in jail. Dhawal sat on the hard floor all night long and Natasha sat on the bench outside waiting for him to be released. So it was safe to say that both of them were thoroughly wringed out and tired and in no condition to travel few hours to reach home that too with Dhawal driving all of them. But how to convey this to Dhama without letting her know about the arrest was a problem. There was also the matter of reaching home today...Amba and Amrish were expecting Dhawal and Natasha to return back as soon as possible.

"Par ye tum dono abhi bhi kal ke kapdon me kyu ho? Itne geele kese hogye?" pondered Dhama, wheeling inside the hotel room.

"Wo...boht lambi kahani hai Dhama, chodo na. Acha...adha prasad mujhe de do main pack kar leti hu...ghr me sabko de dungi" Natasha tried to change the topic to divert Dhama's attention.

"Arey han han...tur rakh isse" she said, handing her packets of prasad. "Aur tum log jao phataphat se change kar lo ni to sardi lag jaegi"

"Dhawal, tum chalo main aa rahi hu...kuch baat karni hai Dhama se" she gestured with her head towards the door. He looked at her, confused.

Ab kya chal raha hai iss Chidiya ke dimag me. Kya baat karni hai isse? Kahi kal raat ka machand na bata de ye Dhama ko.

He tried to warn her with his eyes to not mention anything about last night but she had looked away.

"Ok, main room me hu phir" he said, going away, thinking he'll try to sneak in a mini nap before leaving.

Shesh and Mitthu started packing up their things. Natasha turned to Dhama.

"Wo Dhama...kal na Dhawal theek se soya nahi bilkul." She tried to think of an excuse. "Boht macchar the kamre me....neend hi nahi ai dhang se. To main kya soch rahi thi ke hum log na thoda market ghum ke aate hai tab tak wo so jaega thodi der. Gaadi bhi chalani hai na usse", she said with a straight face.

Dhama raised her eyebrows, a slight smile on her face. "Itne macchar the!? Phir to tu bhi kaha soyi hogi. Tujhe bhi machar ne kata hoga na?" She deduced that kuch to khichdi pak rahi hai. Something had happened last night that Chutki was saying they didn't sleep and turned up in the morning all wet.