Perfect Strangers ✔

|| 9 ||

Lathika, Chandra, Ratan leave for the restaurant. Get into the restaurant.

Lathika: let me call him and ask where he is?

Chandra: lets wait da. He might be driving.

Ratan: can we order?

Chandra glares at him.
Ratan: lets wait! He will reach.

Nandhini and Ashish reach by bike. They get in; spots Lathika.

Nandhini: (whispers to Ashish) hey who are they with Lathika?

Ashish: her cousins..., I think.

Nandhini: you didn't even tell me about this!

Ashish: i too don't know! Her mother told someone should accompany us, so i brought you.

Nandhini: yea I know! Then why you will call me? (Little irritated)

Ashish: its ok we will be here for sometime leave!

Lathika greets them; Chandra and Ratan smile.

Lathika: Hi Nandhini! Its a surprise for me! He didn't even tell you are coming with him. How are you?

Nandhini: (mind voice:he didn't inform these guys are also coming)
I am good. I wanted to meet you long time ago.

Lathika: same here! oh! I didn't introduce them! He is Chandra and Ratan, my relatives. We were very close in childhood.

Ratan gets delighted seeing Nandhini.

Ratan: hiiii! Gives his hand.

Nandhini: hi! Shakes hand.

Chandra: hi!

Nandhini: hi!
Shakes hands.

Chandra shakes hands with Ashish.

Chandra: nice meeting you two!

Ratan: very nice meeting!

Ashish: yea! Lathika has told about you. Thank you so much for helping in our love matter. Somehow we are getting married.

Chandra: hey its nothing! I'm happy for you two!

Ratan: (whispers to Chandra: we only know the real reason behind it; laughs)
Chandra hits him in his thigh; Ratan controls the pain;

Ratan: haha!

Nandhini: (mind voice: what did he do? Is he a big savior; huh)
Smiles outside.

Lathika: lets order something!

Ashish: yea! Waiter!

They place order.
Ratan continously smiles at Nandhini.

Ratan: so, which college?

Nandhini: Xavier's.

Ratan: oh! Nice! Which course?

Nandhini: MBA.

Ratan: wow! So nic..

Nandhini: are you working in counsultancy?

Ratan: what! No! Why are you asking?

Nandhini: you are asking questions as if recruiting me! So I asked

Chandra controls his laughter.

Ratan: hehe! (mind voice: what an insult; ok ok! Leave we have to cross everything in life; leave it, leave it).

Ashish and Lathika have eye contact; by the time waiter arrives with dishes.

These three smile seeing them.

Ratan: Ashish bro, food arrived. you can continue it while eating.

Lathika: hey! you Ratan!

All laugh. Start to have food.

Lathika: Nandhini, what do you want to do next? Plans for going abroad?

Nandhini: no ya! My long time dream is to open a event managing unit. After finishing MBA, I must think about what to do.

Lathika: that's awesome yaar! Even Chandra has his own startup and he is good businessman.

Nandhini: oh very nice!

Lathika: if you have any doubts, you can enquiry him. Chandra?

Chandra: yea, sure.

Nandhini: definitely! (Mind voice: who knows i will be here or in Sydney? Or will i meet him again; God knows all) did you start purchases for wedding?

Lathika: no dear! Actually, our sister in law Durga is a designer, she told me she will help me out.
And you must definitely help in shopping!

Nandhini: sure!

Ashish: (shocked) what will happen when two get together?!

Lathika & Nandhini: what!

Ashish: nothing! Absolutely nothing!

They finsh having food. Get ready to leave.

Lathika: We had a awesome time together! Hugs Nandhini. See you soon dear! Bye Ashish! Call you when we reach.

Ashish: ( mind voice: me no huggy) ok! Bye guys! Happy meeting you two!

Chandra: same here. Waiting for your wedding.

Ratan: and food! see you soon

Nandhini: bye!

Chandra: bye!

Ratan: bye sister! See you soon.

Meanwhile Shylok returns home.

Shylok: No one is at home now!
Durga and I should spend time together! (He didn't know Lalita is at home)

Durga is at kitchen, Shylok enters the kitchen; silently gets near and hugs and lifts her from back.

Durga: AHHHH!!! GET ME DOWN!

Shylok: i will nooooot!

Lalita hears Durga's screms enters the kitchen.

Shylok: i know no one is at home.

Lalita: dei... smiles

Shylok suddenly puts her down.
Durga falls.

Durga: Ahh! Idiot!

Lalita couldn't control her laughter

Shylok: Paati... i thought no one..

Lalita: i am leaving!

Shylok gives hand for her to get up; she pushes his hand.

Durga: get lost! Idiot!

Shylok: what did i do?

Scene ends

Nandhini at her room, Cleaning her wardrobe; Ayush messages her. She views the notification; avoids it.
He continously messages, when she about to see, phone's battery die.

Nandhini: this phone!
Puts in charger.
Goes to sleep.

6 am
Nandhini wakes up; takes phone from charge point, gets near window; opens curtains, gets shell shocked!
Ayush is standing out.

She walks downstairs; silently opens the front door, walks to him..........

TBC