Sapno Ka Shaher

59. Being a Man

"Thanks yaar Shubham," Arjun said from the other end of the call, "tu Papa ko pichhle saal bhi school lekar gaya tha... aur iss saal bhi... unhe bahot achchha laga..."

Shubham chuckled at his formality, "haan jab se mai Rakesh tauji ko kareeb se jaan'ne laga hun... toh laga woh itne bhi bure hai jitna maine apni shadi mein suna tha unke baare mein..." he tried to be playful with his best friend.

It was the lazy afternoon of the 1st May holiday. When everyone had their lunch and Shubham strolled to the bedroom feeling bored, it was Arjun's call that threw his boredom out of the window. They chatted on random topics before Arjun slipped into the zone of formalities.

Arjun took a long pause, he knew Shubham was just being playful, but couldn't resist. "Woh bure nahi the... bass haalaton ke maare the..."

Shubham's smile quivered. He was expecting the retort from Arjun, even some slangs thrown at him. But it looked like his brother-in-law was in a different mood. He got up from the bed and walked towards the window, looking outside.

"Ya phir..." Arjun sighed, " pata nahi... shayad mai kuchh baatein dekh nahi paaya kyunki mai unka beta hun..."

Shubham couldn't refrain smiling, knowing where that came from since now he knew all their history.

"Jaanta hai Arjun, ghar ka bada beta hone ke kya profits and losses hote hai? Hum apne maa-baap ke sabse jyada kareeb hote hai... kyunki woh apna dukh sirf hum hi se baant'te hai... ek baap ko rote hue sirf ghar ka bada beta hi dekhta hai aur koi nahi... aur isiliye tu aur mai jaise ghar ke bade bete, na kabhi unki galatiyan dekh paate hai aur na hi kabhi unke khilaf jane ki himmat rakhte hai..."

A subtle smile took place on Arjun's lips, feeling the accuracy in Shubham's statement. It was as if each word his best friend pronounced was hard-coded for him.

"Haan... Sahi kaha..." Arjun said, a whole flashback of the past years ran through his mind, "lekin tujhme woh himmat hai Shubham..."

"Matlab?"

"Matlab jis tarah tune ghar mein badlaav laaye hai... aur Preeti ko parlor course ki aur ab job ki permission di... yeh bahot mushkil kaam hota hai Shubham... ghar walon ke khilaaf jana... so thanks uske liye bhi... Preeti bahot khush hai..."

Shubham snorted, "yaar tujhe koi bhoot chadha hai kya aaj yeh thanks wanks bolne ka..." he said, "aur Preeti ko permission dene wala mai koi nahi hota Arjun... maine bass usse kuchh cheezein dilwayi hai kyunki woh mere haath mein thi... bass..."

"Auntyji naraaz toh nahi hai na Preeti se ya tujhse?"

"Aaa...." Shubham exhaled a deep breath, "pehle thi... lekin ab dheere dheere woh bhi samajh rahi hai..."

"Hmmm... lekin maan'na padega yaar tujhe," Arjun voiced, changing his tone, "jis tarah tune is paristhiti ko sambhala hai... warna isi baat par dusro ke gharon mein kalesh ho jate the kalesh..."

Shubham laughed at the dramatic way Arjun said it, picturing a typical looking kalesh scene from a television serial. He somehow remembered Ravi Verma from the show 'Tu Tu Main Main', the man sandwiched between his mother Devki and wife Radha, with them constantly bickering at each other.

Women.... He sighed.

"Pata hai Arjun, maine in shadi ke 2 salon me sabse badi baat kya sikhi?"

"Kya?"

"Ki ek shadishuda mard ko, apne patni aur maa ke beech santulan banate aana chahiye. Hum aksar piss jate hai dono mein, lekin hamara jhukaav sirf kisi ek se hokar nahi chalega... aur ek baat bataun? Hum log iss baat par kabhi dhyan nahi dete... lekin yeh har ladke ki koshish rehni chahiye... ki uski maa ko umrabhar jin kathinaiyon ka saamna karna pada, jo dukh unhone sahe, woh patni ko na sehne pade... aur yahi sahi badlaav hota hai..."