Ranjish | 𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒓𝒂𝒋

XV. war of words

vanraj :

"Arrey yaar.. yeh tumlog fest ke naam pe kitni majdoori karwate ho!", I complained as I climbed down the aluminium ladder.
I had just put up a banner in the main auditorium.

Ideally, as a business man, I should have been in my office cabin.
But, as Dr. Isha Bhonsale's friend - I had been instructed to complete the final touches for the fest.

"Come on Vanraj! It's called giving efforts for an event.", I heard ma'am as she flipped her hair standing below, looking tired but pretty.

Three days had passed, and Isha had completely recovered from her sickness.
Savi, although still living with Isha, had started to recover from her tragedy.
Apparently Rajat had regained some of his lost braincells, and had come around apologizing and deciding to find evidence to prove Savi's innocence.

I would have indulged myself and beaten the pulp out of Jigar, but then, I was holding onto some patience.
Since Savi was the daughter in law to that family, it wouldn't be a great idea to beat up a member.

I remembered cornering Jigar last day though.
He had paled three tones as I confronted him in the parking lot.

"Jo tune kia hai.. uske liye police ko nehi, tere liye seedhe yamraj ko bulwata mai.", I had said in an enraged whisper holding the collar of his shirt.
"Aap mujhse iss tarah badtameezi—"
"Tune badtameezi dekhi kahan hai meri? Agar Savi ka tere parivaar se rishta nehi hota na toh tu kisi hospital ke bed par aakhri saansein ginta hua milta.", I had said before virtually shoving him onto someone's car's bonnet.

And then I dusted my hands and walked off.

Isha did not know about it, because I did not need her "Raaste ka Gunda" allegations to be proved correct yet.

"Aur kuch, Ma'am?", I asked as I finally got off the ladder.
Isha beamed.
"Nehi. Kal fest hai, uske baad finally life will be back to normalcy.", She said, drawing in a satisfied breath.

"It's late.. should I drop you home?", I asked.
A question asked just for the sake of it, because both of us knew I was her unpaid driver.

"Papa.. mai Pakhi ko ghar leke jaa raha hu.", We heard.

It was Paritosh.
My eldest son and who had been particularly useless, until now.

"Yes, Paritosh. Take her home carefully.", Isha said, her tone of authority in place.
She had called on Toshu after checking his resume, as a temporary junior professor.
Although he needed to clear NET, for now, under her personal guidance she had given him a job.

I was more than grateful.

Toshu too was a little taken aback by the graceful authority Isha had, so he had become abruptly obedient.
He nodded and strode off.

"You keep him under control.", I said looking at Isha.
There was something different about her.
She looked like usual, but then her eyes sparkled differently. Her grumpiness, although very distinct for the "jahil" Thakkars, was off when she was not around them.

"Tumhari family ke logon ko koi dhang ka control karne wala hi chahiye.", She said as she turned to look at me.
She wore one of her usual blue sarees, straight hair left open, and yet she looked so pleasantly different.