Perfect Strangers ✔

|| 27 ||

All have breakfast and resting in their respective rooms.

Durga gets call from manager.
Durga: A urgent meeting is arranged. I will have to go now.

Shylok: Are they crazy to call you on Sunday!?

Durga: they won't call if its not important!

Shylok: (sighs) We work throughout the weekdays and spend some time on Sunday..

Durga: i know pa. What to do? I will try to come soon dear!

Shylok: (holds her hand) have to go?! (Worried look).

Durga kisses his hands.
Durga: have to chellam! Bye.

Shylok: hey let me drop you!

Durga: no! Its ok I will go.

Shylok: atleast I will be with you sometime la?

Durga: (Laughs) please sir! Take me in your chariot!

Shylok bows down.

Shylok: please come ma'am! Its a honor!
Laughs

They hold hands and leave.

***
Nandhini is clearing her things from cardboard boxes and starts to arrange. She was waiting for weekend to clear those.

She takes a bunch of books out
And goes to place in Chandra's desk.

She moves the files away and about to place.

No!
A voice from behind. Its Chandra.

Nandhini turns to him.

Nandhini: why?

Chandra: there is no place here.
He comes near the desk and arranges the files she kept away.

Nandhini: but there is enough place!

Chandra: if we keep this, it will become congested.

Nandhini: then where can I keep these?

Chandra: umm...
Looks at the desk.
wait! let me arrange.

He arranges it perfectly.
Chandra: now its good!

Chandra see all the cardboard boxes and things spread all over the room.

Chandra: ada! What's this all!?
He bends down and starts to clean.

Nandhini gets a call.
Its from Sara.

She gets excited, attends the call.
Nandhini: hey Sara!...

(Walks out of the room).

Chandra: Nandhini!
(She left the room)
She left everything as it is!
He sighs.

Chandra can't stand mess. He developed habit of keeping everything neat and clean.

~Half an hour later~
Nandhini comes inside the room.
The room is neat and tidy.

Nandhini eyes widened.
Nandhini:(mind voice: did he do any magic? Everything is neatly arranged! Anyhow I don't have to do anything!)

***
Ravi and Gopal are sitting on sofa and watching TV.

Gopal suddenly coughs.
Ravi: appa, I will get water.

Gopal: dei Wait! Nand....
He was about to call her. But gets reminded she is not here.

Ravi: (sighs) I will bring water.
He gives a glass of water.

Gopal: (Smiles) suddenly I forget she is not here....

Ravi: i know pa... after she left, our house has become dull...

Gopal: like stars disappeared from the sky...

Ravi: hmm... yes. She grew up too fast! Its like I took her in my arms just now..

Gopal: Now i can't believe she is married! Can we invite them here?

Ravi: we must invite them. I will talk to them.

Gopal: ok da.

***
Durga reaches home.
Lalita: dear, its been so late!

Durga: yes paati. It's very important meeting.. so..

Shylok: i would have come to office to pick you up! You could have called me.

Durga: it's ok! Actually i have to go to Lucknow to attend a client meeting. Its a important and huge project for us.

Shylok: hey its a good news ya!

Lalita: yes dear!

Durga: but work schedule will become very tight..... I am feeling very hungry! What's for lunch?

Nandhini: your favorite paneer pulao!

Durga: Aahaaa! Super!

Lalita: everyone was waiting to have lunch with you!

Durga: Ada! Why ya!?

Ratan: anything for Anni!😜

Chandra: dei!

Lalita: stop your silly talks and have lunch now!

All began to have lunch.

Shylok: so when are you leaving?

Durga: don't know! Maybe one or two days later.

Shylok: hmm..ok!

Ratan: Lucknow is a good spot! can we go for tour in this vacation?

Chandra: Before that you are having your semester exams sir!

Durga: for your kind information, Nandhini and Ratan are having exams! So how is the preparations going?

Ratan: lot of time is there! Even study holidays are given!

Nandhini: yea! Hehe!

Shylok: looking at these work, I don't think we will be able to go....
Lets see..

Chandra: yea...

***
Its night,
Nandhini brings a glass of milk for Chandra.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know what's running in your mind she is giving this to improve his sleep.

Nandhini: hmm.. have this.

Chandra: Milk!?

Nandhini: yes, it will induce sleep.

Chandra: but milk!?

Nandhini: you should have this!

Chandra gets the glass and drinks it in one gulp!

Nandhini:(mind voice: is he thinking of having a peg or what? )

Chandra gives weird expressions.
Chandra: i don't like that! I don't think i will get sleep...

Nandhini: are you worried about something or stressed? Why i am asking is sometimes these causes lack of sleep...

Chandra: no..
He turns and lies on bed.

Nandhini feels like he is hiding something. She goes to sleep.

***
Morning dawns with a cloudly atmosphere. It looks like clouds will pour out at anytime. All continue their daily routine and went to work.

Soon its evening, Nandhini and Sara are coming out of the college discussing about studies.

Sara suddenly gets shocked.
Nandhini look her and turns to see what made her shocked.

Its Chandra waiting at the college gate!

TBC