Kabhi to nazar milao

Confidence

"Lekin Sonali maine kabhi pehle pehni nahi hai," Naina was still apprehensive.

"Dekh Naina, tu Ahmedabad mein rehti thi... wahan ka mahaul alag tha... yeh Mumbai hai... yahan sab chalta hai... aur fir hum ghar pe hi toh hain... bas aas paas ke kuch doston ko bulaya hai jisse iss society mein hamari jaan pehchaan ho jaaye... toh darr kis baat ka hai... meri dress toh isse bhi aage hai." Sonali giggled as she again tried to soothe Naina's fears.

Seeing the confused expression on her face, she held her shoulders, "Lete time pehen ke dekhi thi na... toh kuch soch ke hi li hogi... fir ab kyon peeche hat rahi hai... aur shaadi mein bhi woh blouse pehena tha... woh bhi toh pehli baar tha... ab agar tune ek aur baar socha toh main party mein aaungi hi nahi... yahin kamre mein baithi rahungi aise hi."

Sonali made a grumpy face.

That settled it for Naina.

"Theek hai... zyaada drama mat kar... ab khareedi hai toh pehen lungi." She gave in, laughing at her friend's tactics.

Sonali beamed and hugged Naina. She quickly opened the dresser and brought out a bottle.

"Ab iski baari." She held it with a broad smile.

"Yeh kya hai?" Naina furrowed her brows.

"Face pack... bohot mast hai... mujhe gift mila tha shaadi mein... London se Rahul ki maasi laayi thi... bada achha hai... aaj dono lagate hain." Sonali opened the bottle to reveal a thick paste of light colour.

"Main nahi lagaungi... maine aaj tak dahi besan ke alawa kuch nahi lagaya... woh bhi taiji kehti thi ki bekaar hi koshish karti hun, meri shakal ka kuch nahi ho sakta." Naina was reminded of taiji's bitter words.

"Tu ye laga ya na laga, besan laga chahe dahi se muh dho, yeh dress pehen ya tere college ke shuru wale dheele dhale kapde... woh jo bahar hai na... uske liye tu hamesha sabse sundar aur special rahegi... teri taiji ki faltu baaton se na usse koi fark padta hai na tujhpe koi asar hona chahiye." Sonali stood with her hands on waist, infuriated at the lady she had never met.

"Aur ab tere koi nakhre nahi chalenge... hum dono yeh lagayenge... main abhi Rahul ko bolke aati hun ki humein aaadhe ghante tak disturb na kerein." Sonali left before Naina could say anything.

Sameer and Rahul were placing the speakers to create maximum sound effect for the party.

"Rahul, main aur Naina kuch zaruri kaam kar rahe hain... aadhe ghante tak darwaza nahi kholenge... toh aake tang mat karna... kuch bhi ho, darwaza nahi khulega." She turned and left.

Sameer gaped with open mouth.

"Tujhe kya hua?" Rahul looked up.

"Aadhe ghante... aisa kya kaam hai inko... aur darwaza kyon band karna hai... humein bhi nahi aane denge kya... itni der kya karenge?" Sameer was still looking in the direction where Sonali went.

Rahul straightened, "Tu toh aise pareshan ho raha hai jaise Naina kisi ladke ke saath hai."

Sameer turned sharply at Rahul, eyes blazing.

Rahul raised his hands in air, "Shaant bhai, main toh bas tujhe samjhane ke liye keh raha tha... arre kuch kapde wagerah try kar rahe honge... kya ho gaya... aur aadha ghanta toh humein bhi lag hi jayega yeh sab karne mein... abhi gaane bhi select karne hain... saari cassettes dhoond ke saamne rakhenge tabhi shaam ko mahaul banega."

Sameer got back to work, looking repeatedly towards the passage that led to Sonali's room... but no one emerged from there.

Naina and Sonali applied the face pack and sat down under the fan to let it dry. Naina liked the convenience of just taking out the pack from the bottle and applying... unlike the one at home where they had to mix the ingredients to reach the right consistency.