Veer woke up and rubbed his eyes. Last nights conversations began replaying in his head. He heard a ping and opened his phone. The message planted a huge grin on his face. He rolled over, now fully awake.

................................

Jai reached his house and started screaming.

J: Masi! MASI!!!

Mandakini rushed out of her room. She was already a little tired due to the rituals and meeting last night.

M: kya hua beta?...itni subah subah kahan se aa raha hai...and ye (sniffs) smell kiss chezz ki hai?

J: vo sb chodo...pehle aap apna ye naqab utar do..

M: konsa naqab?

Jai holds her shoulders and shakes her violently.

J: NAAGIN!...Naagin ho na app? Maine kl dekha apko mandir jaate...

M: (is scared) tujhe kaise pata chala?

J: Mujhe kaise pata chala?...kyunki mai khud ADI NAG hoon...Adi nag!

M: Adi nag?

J: aur ek naagin hote hue apne mujhe meri sachai kyu chupai...apke irade kya they...

He attacks her and traps her using his powers.

M: (cries) maine tujhe paala hai...km se km ek baar meri baat toh sun?

J: bol!

M: Jatin ji aur Ashika ki maut ke baad tera koi nahi tha, aur na hi mera...mai tujhe apne ghar le aayi...meri behen aur uska pati, dono nag-naagin they....tu bhi nag hi tha...lekin mai ye baat tujhe nahi bata skti thi..

J: Kyu?

M: Kyunki mai naglok ke mantralay ka ek hissa hoon...I am a part of the elder council and aur koi nag naagin bhale hi niyam thode...lekin hum sbhi niyamo ka palan krte hai...

J: kya bol rahi ho? Saaf saaf kaho..

M: jb tu paida hua tha na...mai vo samay aur grah dasha dekhr hi samjh hayi thi ki tu Hriday ka hi jeev hai...don't be surprised, the elders know the satyug story. But as per rules, hum tumhe tb tk kuch bhi nahi bata skte jb tk tumhe khud apna past yaad na aa jaye..

J: kisne banaya ye bekar niyam..

M: Bholenath ne..

J: unki to-

M: JAI!...humare aradhya hai vo..Nageshwari se tumhari nafrat ek taraf lekin unke baare me kuch nahi..

Jai rolls his eyes but releases Mandakini, she rubs her hands and shoulders in pain.

J: ab to mujhe sb yaad aa gaya...ab mujhe batao kahan hai Nageshwari ..

M: Adi naagin ka bhi janm ho chukka hai...pr kahan, ye nahi pata pr ye sure hai ki usse abhi tk kuch yaad toh nahi aaya hai..

J: hmm...interesting..

Jai starts to leave, his mind moving in circles.

...................................

Bani reached the Singhania Mansion and was greeted by Daksh.

D: kaise ho bha-(cough)..Bani..

B: Mai thik hoon..Chandrakala aunty kahan hai?

D: unse kya kaam? Aap to bhai se milne aayi ho na..

B: tumhe kaise?...accha vo choro...Veer ne hi kaha hoga...vo actually mujhe aunty se kaam tha and maine socha Veer ko uski jacket bhi de dungi...pr tum yahi ho to kya tum de doge?

D: nahi nahi...I am busy...aap khud de dena..(thinks: bhai ke pet pr laat thodi maarunga)

Daksh left in a hurry.

Bani went to Chandrakala and gave her Meera's jewellery and clothes measurements. Chandrakala wanted to surprise her so she did not ask directly. Bani was also supposed to give her the kundli papers as sent by Ritu.

V: mujhe laga tum mujhse milne aayi ho, turns out I wasn't a reason but a coincidence, I am hurt, deeply hurt...

C: bs kr Veer, kitna drama karega...Bani beta aayi ho toh lunch krke hi jaana...

V: nahi...mere saath bahar jayegi..

Chandrakala frowned but she had also noticed slight changes in Veer so she understood by the way he looked at her that he likes her. She shook her head but said nothing.

B: Veeranshu! Tum apni mom ke samne kaise?

V: chill Bani, itna sochogi to jldi budhi ho jaogi..

Bani rolled her eyes and gave him his jacket.

B: ye lo..thanks again!

V: I should thank you...ab isse to mai kabhi nahi dhone wala..

B: kyu?

Veer just winks and she blushes. Mayuri was watching this from behind a pillar. She was actually coming to meet Veer when she saw Vani together and had hidden herself. They were heading out and laughing when Balwant called Veer.

V: Dad..I am going out..

Ba: do minute ka kaam hai Veer..urgent hai..phir chala jaana..

V: okay...aata hoon Sweetheart...I will make it quick.

Bani nodded. As soon as Veer left, Mayuri made an appearance.

M: You cheap golddigger! How dare you steal my man!

B: Mayuri?!..(gets shocked to see her but quickly recovers) tum yahan kya kr rahi ho?

M: tumse mtlb...you thief!

B: Veer isn't an object to be stolen and stop calling him your man!...you guys broke up!

M: so? He still loves me!

B: are you blind?

Mayuri loses her temper and tries to push her. Bani holds her hands and feels weird vibes. She catches it tighter and sees visions of her eating snakes. Bani understands that she is a morni. Here, Mayuri was getting uncomfortable due to Bani's grip. She wonders how can a human's hold be so tight. She tries to get away.

B: Aise desperate aurat ki tarah ek ladke ke peeche pad jaana acchi baat nahi hai..no!...bad manners..

She smirks. It angers Mayuri. Ponky, who was coming from outside saw this and cheered Bani. Mayuri gets embarrassed and pushes Bani into the mud pit in the garden that was freshly prepared for gardening but Bani grip tightened and Mayuri fell with her.

Veeranshu and family heard the screams and rushed out to see Mayuri and Bani engaged in a wrestling match inside the mud. Mayuri tried to overpower but Bani gained control and climbed on top of her. She smacked her face. Veer smiled proudly. Ponky was laughing at all this when Mayuri's leg hit him and he fell inside too. All were laughing.

Ch: in baccho ko koi roko..they will get hurt!

Ba: shh...chalne do

Suddenly, Mayuri flipped over Bani and she fell on the corner. A small yelp escaped her mouth.

V: OYE!...BS

He shouted, his eyes mad. He slowly helped Bani up and lifted her in his arms, unbothered about his clothes and left. His face filled only with concern for Bani.

M: Veer!...I am also hurt...and isne shuru kiya tha..

Veer was far too lost in Bani to listen to her.

P: Shut up! Jhooti...maine dekha..she pushed Bani and Bani only defended herself.

Balwant scolded her. Mayuri left, embarrassed.

Ch: aapne vo notice kiya jo maine kiya?

Ba: kya?

Ch: uff! Ye baap log hote hi buddhu  hai...mujhe Bhawna ji se hi baat krni chahiye..

Ba: (dumbfounded) Daksh ? Ponky? Ye kya bol rahi thi?

Daksh: aap sach me slow ho badepapa..

The boys went in.

Ba: ye sb kya bol rahe hai...khair chodo..

He also leaves.

....................................

Poor Balwant is a confused soul! What do you think Chandrakala is up to?

xoxo