Kabhi to nazar milao

Aware

Naina was up early to help chachiji in the kitchen. Together, they prepared mathri, chakli, bhujia sev and few more dry snacks for chachaji to carry with him to his Delhi trip. The idea of him eating so many meals outside was making his wife very uncomfortable. She wished she could somehow make all meals and pack them for him... but that could not be done. So, she had to contend herself with snacks that would easily last for a week.

By afternoon, everything was packed neatly. After an early lunch, chachaji left for the station. Preeti had to go to the parlour after a while. Naina thought it to be a good opportunity to meet Sameer.

"Sun Preeti, main bhi aaj tere saath chalti hun... ghar pe keh denge main bhi parlour jaa rahi hun... aur main Sameer se mil lungi",  Naina put forth her plan to Preeti.

"Hayee behen, tu bhi kya bahane banane seekh gayi hai... lagta hi nahi pehle wali Naina hai jisse main agar apne test ka ek number bhi ghar pe badha ke bolne ko kehti thi toh uske paseene chut jaate the... aur ab dekho... din pe din naye jhooth bolti hai jijaji se milne ke liye." Preeti could not let such a golden chance to tease her sister slip by.

"Ab pyaar kiya hai toh bahane banake milne jaane ka mazaa toh lena hi hoga... bas yeh do mahine hote hain aise jhooth bolne ke... wahan Mumbai mein thodi zaroorat padti hai bahano ki",  Naina enjoyed the teasing.

Preeti looked at her dreamily, " Ek baat bata... Mumbai mein toh tum roz milte ho... bahar bhi jaate ho... jijaji kaisi baatein karte hain tere saath? "

Naina tried to keep her expression neutral, "Har tarah ki... college ki, ghar ki, Munna Pandit ki, padhai ki... "

Preeti pursed her lips, flaring her nostrils, "Tum dono koi mohalle ki padosane nahi ho jo aisi baatein karoge... nahi batana toh mat bata... bewakoof banane ki koshish mat kar... jijaji ki ankhein jab tujh pe hoti hai na toh koi andha bhi bata sakta hai ki unhe tere alawa kuch nahi sujh raha... college, padhai, Munna Pandit... huh".

Naina tried to hide her blush from her, "Tujhe bada pata hai... yeh ankhein kya kehti hai tujhe kaise samajh aata hai zara batana?"

Preeti let out a long breath, sitting heavily on the bed, "Kya bataun... meri zindagi ki kahani... TV pe sabki ankhein padh li maine... Amir, Shahrukh, Akshay... bas asli zindagi mein hi koi nahi mila jo yeh tuition de paata."

Naina burst out laughing at her drama... Preeti gave her an annoying look, then broke into laughter herself.

When the phone rang, Naina was still laughing, "Hello"

"Uff... meri jaan, tumhari ye hansi maar dalegi mujhe",  Sameer contributed to the drama session.

"Sameer... " Naina showed fake anger.

"Kya hua, college aur padhai ki baat kar di jijaji ne?" Preeti called out from behind and Naina and Preeti again doubled with laughter.

"Naina, Naina... mujhe bhi toh batao kya hua",  Sameer tried to gain her attention.

When she could control herself, Naina wiped her eyes and spoke, "Kuch nahi... main aur Preeti aise hi mazaak kar rahe the... waise main tumhe hi phone karne wali thi".

"Achha, kuch dena hai kya?" He was excited.

"Haan... kya tum ek ghante mein mujhe mil sakte ho?"

"Yeh tum puch rahi ho? Tum jab, jahan bologi udd ke aa jaunga... batao kahan aaun?" He could not contain his happiness.

"Mandir ke bahar milna, teen baje... phir wahan se kahi aur chal padenge... uss samay mandir toh band hoga",  she chalked out the plan.

When she had put down the phone, Preeti was curious, " Tune ek ghante baad kyon bulaya... hum toh abhi nikal rahe hain... main puch aayi mummy se... ab se ek ghante tak kya karegi?"