Kabhi to nazar milao

Uff

Chachaji called up in the evening to let the girls know that they will stay back in Gandhi nagar for the night and return next day by afternoon. Naina assured him that they were fine and he need not worry about home. He asked them to request Swati to stay there for the night if she gets permission. Swati called up her mother who allowed her to stay with Naina and Preeti for the night.

Taiji came in the evening, hoping that Bela was back so that she could ask her to prepare khichdi, citing tiredness because of sitting on the floor in pooja. When she came to know that the girls would be staying alone at home for the night, her barrage of words started.

"O bai, aise jawan ladkiyon ko koi akela chodta hai raat bhar? Batao, Anand babu ko toh naye zamane ki hawa lag gayi hai par iss Bela ki akal kahan ghas charne chali gayi... behen ke chakkar mein betiyon ko aise chod degi kya... ladkiyon ka kya bharosa... kal ko kuch unch nich jo gayi toh hamara hi naam lagayenge ki bhabhi ji aap toh ghar par thi, aap dekh leti... ab kya karein... hum toh bade hain toh badon ka farz ada karna hi padega...  sun lo ladkiyon... aaj main yahi soungi."

The girls looked at each other in exasperation,  "Jee taiji",  they said in unison.

When they were back in their room, Preeti whined, "Behen, yeh taiji kyon yahan rahengi... saara din o bai, o bai karke pareshaan karti hain woh kam hai kya jo inko raat mein bhi idhar sona hai?"

Naina tried to pacify her, "Kya kar sakte hain, Preeti? Unko thodi koi mana kar sakta hai."

She herself was very disappointed as she won't be able to talk to Sameer on phone in the night.

The three girls sat sulking.

Suddenly Preeti shrieked in excitement, "Behen, mil gaya idea... taiji khud hi mana kar dengi dekhna... bas tu meri haan mein haan milati jaana... woh bhi shayad hi zaroorat pade par agar mauka laga toh."

Naina's eyes shone too, "Bata na, Preeti... kya idea hai?"

Preeti raised her brows, with a mischievous  smile, "Pata chalega... par tu promise kar... sach -jhooth ka lecture nahi degi mujhe... bas meri baat pe haan bolti jaana... samajh gayi naa."

Naina nodded, wondering what was cooking in her sister's brain and how much lie will she have to speak. Till just a couple of years back, she had never spoken a lie... and then Sameer Maheshwari happened... and Naina started making excuses to catch a glimpse of him, lying to save him... and in college too, lying to her friends when she spent time with him.

But it never felt wrong... nothing about Sameer felt wrong... his touch, his demands... nothing felt wrong... Naina shivered.

"Kahan kho gayi? Acting ka pehla scene... jaake let jaa... kuch bhi ho uthna mat", Preeti instructed Naina and turned to Swati, "Tu bas chup rehna... beech mein bolna mat."

Swati too nodded.

When taiji constantly rang the doorbell  a little while later, Preeti opened the door, groaning.

She gave a weak smile to taiji, "Achcha hua aap aa gayi, taiji. Hamein bohot zaroorat thi kisi bade ki... mummy toh hai nahi to ab aap hi ka sahara hai."

Taiji gave a look of suspicion to Preeti, under no circumstances would she take responsibility of any work, "Kya hua hai tujhe, aisi murde jaisi shakal kyon banayi hai?"

"Woh taiji mera aur Naina dono ka mahine ka time hai... uski haalat to subah se kharaab hai... main dopaher tak theek thi toh maine khana bana liya... lekin ab main bhi kitchen mein nahi jaa sakti... ab aap aa gayi ho toh kam se kam hamein khane ki chinta nahi hai", Preeti spinned a web of lies.

"O bai" , taiji's mouth remained open. Cooking... for everyone... 

"Aur haan... woh Naina ko bohot dard hota hai na toh mummy usse garam paani de deti hain... zara aap bana dena... aur woh khana bhi nahi kha paati toh sirf soup piyegi... main toh kha lungi jo bhi aap banayengi... Swati ke liye bhi bana dijiye... woh bhi yahin ruk rahi hai, " Preeti closed in.