I Need You! - A Shraman story

Part 7

Dining.

Pushkar: "Sumo, wo paani pass kar de na please."

Sumo: (whispering near Shravan's ear) Shravan meri haath chodo.

Shravan: Nah. (smirking)

Sumo: (pouting) Please Shravu!

Shravan: Don't pout Sumo! I won't fall for it now. Pahele bolo tum sab k saamne mujhe Shravu hi bulaogi. Promise me. Then I'll leave your hand.

Sumo: (loudly) Kya!!

Pushkar: (confused) What Kya? Sumo maine bola mujhe paani de. Tujhe ho kya gaya!

Preeti: Hawww Diiii?! (winking) Huwa kya! Shravan Bhaiya tumhe chod nahi raha?

Sumo: (eyes growing big) Preeti.! (whispering) Shravan please meri haath chodo.

Lalaji: Oye puttar! Haath chod unki. It desperate hone se to tum dono Pushkar aur Preeti ko bhi hara dega.!

Pushkar: Mummaaaa! Dekho na Kya bol raha hai.

Kamini: (to Lalaji) Chup ho jao. Kuch bhi keh lete ho!! (to Pushkar) Aur tu kya Vandy hai? Mumma mumma kar raha hai jo?

Varun: (giggling) Yess, right.

Vandy: Mummy ji...???!! Varunn!!(complaining)

Kamini: Na na puttar ji. Mai to bass Pushkar ko itti si bol rahi hu ki woh teri tarah na kare! Varun? What right? Chup kar tu..

Vandy: Awww. Ya ya Pushkar don't do like me.

Pushkar: Whatever... Arre abb mujhe koi paani dega?

Sumo: (forcefully pulling her hand) Ye le Pushkar. Paani pi le. (handing him the jug and settling again)

Shravan: (in high voice) This is not fair Sumo!

Sumo: What not fair? (eeing to everyone)

Nirmala: Shravan, Suman- tum dono baad mein fight kar lena. Pahele breakfast khatam karo. Suman, halwa bohot khub hai. I admit, teri haath mein jadoo hai.

Lalaji: Wo to hai. Suman puttar, mujhe aur thora sa halwa dena.

Ramnath, Puskar, Varun, Vandy: (together) Aur mujhe bhi..

Suman: (smiling broadly and getting up) Just a minute. Mai haath dhoke aati hu.

Suman comes and serves halwa. She goes first to Ramnath.

Sumo: Papa. (smiling and serving)

Ramnath: Suman. Ruko.

Ramnath pulls out a platinum chain with a diamond S designed pendant and gives it to Suman.

Ramnath: Ye maine Shravan ka biwi k liye banwaya tha. To make her feel that my boy will be with her always. Ab dekho bolne k liye bacha hi kuch nahi. Tum to mere pahele se hi jante ho ki Shravan tumhare saath hai. Everyday. Everyhour. Everytime.

Sumo: Papa. (eyes getting moist) Ye mere liye?! Thank you Papa.

Ramnath: No need to thank me beta. (patting her head lovingly)

Nirmala: Suman, yaha aa.

Nirmala gives Suman her pair of Gold Bangles.

Nirmala: Ye Meri saas ki Hai. Mujhe bola "Ab ye tum lo, baad mein Shravan k bahu ko ye de dena. Bolna ki ye maine di hai." Ab ye teri zimmedari. (makes her wear the Bangles)

Suman: (fresh tears flowing due to overwhelmed emotions) Thank you Maa.

Nirmala: (wiping her tears and kissing her forehead) Sshhh! Chup. No crying. (hugs her)