Uljhe Hue

11. Baatein kuch ankahi si, kuch ansuni si!

Gargi POV

"Guri di you've been looking at that number for past 28 mins now, you can call him, you know that right. It's not like he'll eat you over phone, that's practically impossible." She made a weird face telling me that as if imagining him eating me...
OHH GAWWDD!!!
What am I thinking!?!

"It's 11.30 yr, don't you think it's a bit late to call someone" I said convincing myself to not touch call icon.

"Come on Guri di, it's JUST 11.30 and he's not JUST someone. Naye navele jode do late night calls, it's like a ritual. Your would be husband shouldn't be completing his beauty sleep when my di here is losing it unki yaad mein. And if he's sleeping then he's actually not missing you then I would recommend you to reconsider your decision. His nights should be sleepless remembering you and days shouldn't start without texting you 'Good Morning'...
I think more than your and Amish bhai's devar-bhabhi date we need my and jiju's jija-saali date. Don't think much and dial him."

Jalebi can be scary sometimes, but one can't deny the presence of logic behind her words every time. Without thinking much I dialed his number and he picked it in one ring.

"IMPRESSIVE!" Jalebi mouthed.

"H-hi.." I said awkwardly.

"Hi." Is he nervous? No, that's you darling. Now say something before he disconnects the call.

"Aap soye nhi abhi tak?"

"You called me to ask me if was asleep?"

"Haaa..." I bit my tongue and Jalebi glared at me hopelessly. He isn't supposed to know that Guri.
"No, I mean... umm... vo I was thinking... we never actually talked in that way right and then suddenly we are engaged. So..." I said playing with the end of my t-shirt.

"So...?" he said, and I could sense teasing in his voice. MAN this man!

"So, maybe we could talk, if I'm not hampering your beauty sleep."
I'm no less Mr. Police! <smirk>

He chuckled lightly and his next words melted my heart like ice under sun and made my cheeks blush like... something red.

"How can I sleep Mrs. Arora when you there are sleepless thinking about me?"

MRS. ARORAAA!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA... I'm screaming internally of course.
I'm glad we are over call or god knows I would be hiding behind whatever thing available there.
Compose yourself Guri, he doesn't need to know that.

"Who said I'm sleepless thinking about you?" I said confidently.

"Achha so it is just me I guess." He doesn't have to be so sweet or is that flirty.

Long pause, but it wasn't awkward at all. It was actually soothing as if Guddu himself suggested to play AR Rahman songs on loop. Usually I'm not that good with long pauses, I'm like cut the damn phone call if you've not got any content to talk. But this... this feels so surreal.

Jalebi shook me making me come out of my la la land. What is it with my siblings, can't they see me happy for once??

"Are you happy?" he asked getting back my focus on us.
Am I??
Yes Guri... look at yourself, you can't stop smiling since you are on call with him.

I hummed in response, the tenderness in his voice is not helping me at all.

"Are you?" I asked shyly.

"You'll know... Good night Mrs. Arora, I don't want you to miss your beauty sleep."

"Good night Mr. Arora." I said and disconnected the call. I sat still clutching the mobile tightly to my chest.

"Dream about my jiju di, after all he passed with flying colours."

***

Pulkit POV

"Wow dad, how do you make these jalebis so crispy and good... it's so heavenly" Amish said blowing chef's kiss towards dad. Yeah, dad cooks, and he cooks really well. Apparently, on Bhoomi ji's pehli rasoi Atharv ji was the one to cook for the family cause she hurt her finger while cutting veggies and he wouldn't let her do anything post that.

"Beta ji, your dad is born chef" he said smirking.

"Vese, how come jalebis so early morning?" I asked.

"Your dad wanted to send some for Ahujas especially Jalebi" mom said.

"Ohhhhh!! I can-" I knew this Amish is looking for ways to visit Gajra maa, after all she IS very sweet, but I'm not letting him steal my mom-in-law.

"I'll drop it there, anyway I've to go in that direction only for some case" I lied again.

"Which case Pulkit?" Why do dad have to be so interrogative all the time.

"Arre dad... ab to bhai k saare case Ahuja's ke ghar ki direction mein hi honge na."

Dad passed me a teasing look and packed jalebis, while I was staring at my brother.

I left on my bike and dropped a message to Ram Balak that I would be coming late today.

***

I rang the bell, door opened and watching me here at this hour left someone dumbstruck, I guess. She was standing ruffled hair looking absolutely cutie in kung-fu panda pajamas and eyes wide as saucers. I was shamelessly checking her out when-

"Kaun hai Guri" Gajra maa asked.

"Hi" I said trying hard not to smile.

"Mumma woh..." she shifted aside letting me in, and pushing her hair strands behind her ear, somewhat settling them. I touched Gajra maa's feet.

"We were waiting for you only Jiju" Garvit said and I suppose she is passing a questioning death glare to him. And he gave her a confusing look.

"Yeah, vo actually maa, dad prepared these jalebis this morning and he wanted to send some for Jalebi." Garvit chuckled at my statement.

"That's so sweet of Atharv ji, but you know beta Jalebi hates jalebi. If she wasn't at her college right now then you could have seen her face on seeing jalebis."

"Ohh! we assumed Jalebi would have been named jalebi because of her liking for jalebi."

"Nhi yrr Jiju, that name was given by Guri because SHE loves jalebi and Jalebi."

So, she loves jalebi...

Maa asked me to sit while and went to make tea for us. I chatted with Garvit and she went upstairs. We were talking but I was getting restless to see her again. He gave me that teasing look which is often given by Amish.
SIBLINGSS!

She came down wearing a simple kurti and jeans, hair neatly braided.

Maa came back with chai and jalebis, and Gargi's eyes sparkled looking at them. She took one and praised dad whole-heartedly. I was admiring her when my phone rang, such wrong timing yaar Ram Balak.

"Everything okay beta"

"Ji maa, I've to leave, got some urgent work at station." I left not before finishing my tea.

She came till the gate to see me off, biting the jalebi in her hand.

"Thanks for the jalebis, bohot achhi hain" she said looking at me affectionately.

"Really?!?" I took the remaining piece of it from her hand. "Hmmm... hai toh" I said filling it my mouth not breaking the eye contact. Blush crept on her face and she looked elsewhere. I wish I could just look at her all my life. News flash Mr. Arora, your wish is soon coming true.

"Take care" she said smiling and waved me goodbye.

"Bye... I'll call"

She nodded and I left glancing at her one last time.

*****