Chapter 01
Complicated equations
“Sona, kaha hai tu (Sona, where are you)” Ishwari called out for her darling daughter as she entered the dining area.
“Yahi hu Bua, kitchen mein (I am here only Bua, in the kitchen)” Sonakshi’s voice reached Ishwari from behind the counter.
Hearing her voice Ishwari walked towards the kitchen and saw Sonakshi making the breakfast, “Tu jaanti hai naa yeh sab kaam tujhe roz karne ki jaroorat nahi hai, in sab ke liye Kichu hai (You know that you do not have to do this every day, we have Kichu for all this)” Ishwari stood beside Sonakshi who was making tea.
“Jaanti hu aur waise bhi dupahar aur raat ka khana to wahi banate hai, nashta toh main bana hi sakti hu naa (I know and anyways he makes the lunch and dinner, I can at least make the breakfast)” Sonakshi poured the tea into the cups, “Aur waise bhi aap sab ke liye yeh sab karna mere liye koi kaam nahi hai, mujhe acha lagta hai (And anyways doing all this for you all is not work, I like to do it)” she arranged the cups into the tray, “Chale (let us go)” she smiled at her Bua.
Ishwari smiled at her and cupped her face “Tu aur teri yeh muskaan hai isiliye is ghar ki raunak hai (You and your smile is the light of this house)”
“Hayee, kya moment hai hone wali saas aur bahu ke bich, acha hua maine sahi time par capture kar liya (What a moment between would-be mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, it is good that I came on the right time and captured it)” hearing Keerti’s voice, Ishwari, and Sonakshi turned to look at her, she had the phone in her hand and a bright smile on her face “Kabhi-kabhi toh lagta hai saas aur bahu nahi maa aur beti hai aap dono (Sometimes I wonder you are not mother-in-law and daughter-in-law but mother and daughter)” Keerti walked towards them and stood on the other side of the counter.
“Toh sahi toh hai hum maa aur beti hi toh hai (It is right we are mother and daughter)” Ishwari looked at Sonakshi who smiled back at her, “Aur tu ab aa rahi hai niche, yeh nahi ki jaldi aakar Sona ki madad kar de (And you are coming now, at least come early and help Sonakshi for once)” Ishwari slapped Keerti’s cheek lightly and turned to Sonakshi “Sona, apni is best friend ko bhi kuch sikha de, pura toh yeh banegi nahi, thoda toh apne jaise bana de ise (Sona, teach something to your best friend, not completely but at least she can be little like you)”
“Maa aap na hamesha yeh shaadi ki baatein mat kiya karo, itni jaldi toh main kahi nahi jaa rahi (Maa, why do you always have to talk about my marriage, I am not going anywhere anytime soon)” Keerti said as she picked up the fruits kept on the other side of the counter, “Aur best friend ji, aayiye jara sikha dijiye mujhe bhi saas ko impress kaise karte hai (And you best friend, come teach me how to impress a mother-in-law)” she looked at Sonakshi and the girls burst out laughing while Ishwari shook her head at their antics.
“Bua, Keerti ko mere jaise banane ki koi jaroorat nahi hai, I am sure jo bhi ise pasand karega wo jaisi hai waisi hai isiliye karega (Bua, Keerti does not have to become like me, I am sure whoever will like her will like her whatever she is)” Sonakshi said with a smile and winked at Keerti, Ishwari smiled hearing her while Keerti also winked back at her “Ab chale mujhe kafi bhuk lagi hai (Now let us go I am very hungry)” saying so she picked up the tray with the tea cups while Keerti and Ishwari helped with the other things.
“Maa, nashta kaha hai, main already late hu aur late nahi hona hai mujhe (Maa, where is the breakfast, I am already late and I don’t want to be more late)” Dev walked down the staircase, he saw his mother walk out of the kitchen along with Keerti and Sonakshi, he walked towards the dining table, and took his place at the table “Maa, jaldi se nashta de, mujhe aaj bohot kaam hai, aur late nahi ho sakta (Maa, give the breakfast, I have a lot of work today and I cannot afford to be more late)”
“Itni jaldi thi to jaldi uth jaata, ab jaldbaazi macha ke kya fayda hai (If you had to go early, why didn’t you get up early, now what is the use of this hurry)” Ishwari scolded him as she served him the poha Sonakshi had made, “Chal Sona tu bhi baith jaa, tujhe bhi toh hospital jaana hai (Come Sona, you also sit, you also have to go to the hospital)”
Sonakshi nodded at her and took a seat at the table beside Keerti.
“Waah yaar Sona tere haathon mein sach mein jadu hai, kya poha banaye hai yaar, hai naa Bhai sahi kaha naa maine (Wow Sona, your hands indeed have magic, the poha is amazing, right Bhai)” Keerti spoke as she ate the poha made by Sonakshi.
“Hmm” Dev only nodded and continued eating the poha, Sonakshi looked at him for a moment and turned her attention back to her plate, while Dev looked at her once as she turned to her plate, he looked back at his plate and continued eating.
After the breakfast was completed, Dev took blessings from Ishwari, and got ready to leave for office “Acha Maa, shaam ko milta hu (Okay Maa, see you in the evening)”
“Dev” Ishwari called him and he looked at his mother “Office jaate-jaate Sona ko hospital drop kar de, aaj uska driver chutti par hai (While going to the office, drop Sonakshi at her hospital, her driver is on leave today)”
“Nahi Bua iski kya jaroorat hai, main aaj ek din cab se chali jaungi (No Bua there is no need of this, I’ll take a cab for today)” Sonakshi spoke before Dev could reply.
“Kyu, cab se kyu jayegi tu, hospital office ke raaste mein hai Dev chod dega aur shaam ko le bhi aayega (Why, why will you take a cab, hospital is on the way of the office, Dev will drop you and also pick you up in the evening)” Ishwari gave her final word, Sonakshi was about to say something but Ishwari signed her to keep quiet, and Sonakshi became silent.
“Tum apna samaan le aao, main gadi mein wait kar raha hu (You bring your things, I’ll wait in the car)” saying so Dev walked out of the house without waiting any longer.
“Sona shaam ko Keshav Bhaisaab bhi aayenge, tum dono ki sagai ki anghutian select karni hai, to jara jaldi aa jaana dono (Sona, Keshav Bhaisaab will come in the evening, we have to select your engagement rings, so come a little early today)” Ishwari said and Sonakshi nodded and walked to her room to get her things.
“Maa, hume aur thoda ruk jaana chahiye kya, Bhai aur Sona ko aur time de dete hai (Maa, should we wait for some more time, we should give Bhai and Sona some more time)” Keerti expressed her concern for her best friend and brother.
“Isase pehle ki koi aur toofan aa jaye, yeh shaadi ho jaye toh hi sab ke liye acha hai aur Dev ko main jaanti hu wo Sona ko hamesha khush rakhega aur use sambhal bhi lega (Before another storm hits us, this wedding should happen and I know Dev, he will always keep Sona happy and take care of her)” Ishwari said hoping that everything happened the right way this time.
*****
Dev was driving while Sonakshi was looking outside the window, neither of them had spoken a word from the time they had left the house, a long silence prevailed between them, to break it Dev pressed the button and switched on the music player.
Ajeeb daastaan hai yeh,
Kahaan shuru kahaan khatam,
Yeh manzile hai kaun si,
Na woh samajh sake na hum…
“Rehne do, yeh gaana mujhe pasand hai, change mat karo (Let it be, I like this song, don’t change it)” Sonakshi spoke as she saw Dev was going to change the song, Dev smiled to himself as he heard her and made a mental note to remember the song’s name, if she liked it, he had to remember it forever.
“Tumhare dost aane wale the, kab tak aayenge (Your friends were going to come, when will they come)” Dev spoke trying to start a conversation now that Sonakshi had herself said something, he did not want to let go of the opportunity.
“Kal dupahar ki train hai unki, parso shaam tak aa jayenge (They have their train for this afternoon, they will reach by tomorrow evening)” Sonakshi spoke not wanting to make Dev feel ignored or that she was rude to him.
“Acha hai un sab se milogi toh tumhe acha lagega aur shayad tum sagai mein thoda khush rahogi (Good, you will feel better after meeting them and maybe you will a little happy during the engagement)” Dev spoke looking at the road.
“Main waise bhi khush hu (I am anyways happy)” Sonakshi looked at him.
“Aise khush tum sirf Maa ke liye ho, doston se milogi toh shayad apne liye khush ho jaogi (Like this you are happy for Maa, after meeting your friends maybe you will be happy for yourself)” Dev turned to look at her.
Ajeeb daastaan hai yeh,
Kahaan shuru kahaan khatam,
Yeh manzile hai kaun si,
Na woh samajh sake na hum…
Another silence prevailed between them as they looked at each other, while the song played in the background.
Dev stopped the car as he drove into the driveway of the hospital, “Sonakshi, main jaanta hu ki hamare bich (Sonakshi, I know things between us)” Dev spoke.
“Dev hamare bich sab thik hai, main tumse naraaz nahi hu, tumhari koi galti nahi hai (Dev, everything is fine between us, I am not upset with you, it was not your fault)” Sonakshi stopped him from saying anything.
“Agar tum kehti ho to maan leta hu (If you are saying I will accept it)” Dev said as Sonakshi removed her seat belt.
“Dev, main yeh sagai, yeh shaadi sirf Bua ke liye nahi kar rahi hu (Dev, I am not doing this engagement, this marriage for Bua)” She said as she removed the seat belt completely “Apne liye bhi kar rahi hu (I am doing it for myself also)” Sonakshi opened the door and got down from the car, Dev looked at her surprised hearing her, “Shaam ko time se lene aa jaana, aaj sagai ki anghutian select karni hai Keshav uncle ghar par aayenge (Come on time in the evening, Keshav uncle is coming home, we have to select the engagement rings)” She closed the door and waved him a bye before walking away.
Dev looked at her retreating figure “Kitna bhi khush hone ka dikhava karlo Sona main jaanta hu ki tum puri tarah se thik nahi ho (You may act to be happy Sona, but I know you are not completely fine)” he drove the car away lost in his thoughts.
Sonakshi turned around and saw his car leaving the main gate “Dev tum bohot ache ho aur shayad mujhse better deserve karte ho, pata nahi kyu kismat ne hamari dor saath mein bandh di (Dev, you are very good, and maybe you deserve better than me, I don’t know why destiny tied us together)” she walked into the hospital lost in her thoughts.
*****
Hello everyone, I hope you all are doing well.
Here is the first chapter of the story, do share your views on the same.
This is just the beginning, and the next chapter will definitely be a Mishti-Abir chapter, so don’t worry. I will give equal space to both the couples in the story.
Keep reading and smiling!!!
Take care and stay safe!!!