Nigams were sitting at their breakfast table. Ram was reading the newspaper along with his meal. Zalak was busy sipping her coffee and in her world. Vibha brought sandwiches from the kitchen while Sid also came folding his shirt. Who knew it was the peace before the storm? Sid touched his parents' feet and they blessed him. He slapped Zalak's head as a wish. She screamed and punched.

Zalak: Kya hai kutte?

Sid: Tu kutti

Ram: Siddharth behn se aese baat nhi karte

He said still reading his newspaper.

Sid: Dad aap ise kabhi kuch kyu nhi kehte?

Ram: Tameez se baat kia karo apni been se

Sid: This is so unfair. Aap aese nhi kar sakte mere saath. Aap hamesha isiko support karte ho

Zalak: Obviously. Tereko kitni baar bola hai mein unka apna khoon hu. Aur tera to. Hum log mandir se aa rahe the. Wapis aate time kachde ke dibbe mein pade mile the. Log kachda ghar se nikal ke fenkte hum uthake ghar hi le aaye

Before Sid could react, Vibha spoke up.

Vibha: Zalak ye kya ho raha hai hnn? Aap kuch bolte kyu nhi isko? Kitni zubaan chal rahi hai. Kya bakwaas kare jaa rahi hai ladki? Matlab ab kuch bhi bolegi tu?

Zalak: Mummy yrr aesa bhi kya ho gya?

Vibha: Na abhi to kuch hua hi nhi hai. Bahar jaoo. Pathar lo aur ek doosre ka na sar phod do. Tab tassali mil jayegi tum dono ko

Everyone got quiet seeing her anger. Vibha snatched Ram's newspaper.

Vibha: Bass issi mein ghuse raho saara din. Kuch pariwaar ka bacho ka kuch to khyaal karlo

Sid and Zalak started gulping down the breakfast quickly and silently knowing anyone could be next to be burnt in Vibha's anger. Ram sighed.

Ram: Tumne bol to lia Vibha. Ab hum dono shuru ho jaaye kya? Aur ab bache nhi rahe wo. Bade ho gaye hai. Chhodo unhe. Hum kab tak ye bhai behn ke jhagde mein padte rahenge. Kab tak inke jhagde suljhate rahenge?

Vibha: Bade ho gaye hai islie bol rahi hu dhyaan do inpar thoda. Aur inke jhagde suljhane ka nhi bol rahi hu. Shaadi ki umar ho gayi hai dono ki. Kuch iss ghar ki taraf bhi zimmedari hai aapki ya nhi. Aur ye dono. Itne bade ho gaye. Khud bache paalne ki umar mein bacho ki tarah lad rahe hai. Kab sudhroge tum dono?

No one reacted as they knew it was better to shut their mouth and leave from there as soon as possible.

Vibha: Theek hai mujhe pata hai iss ghar mein koi kisi kaam ka nhi hai. Siddharth tumhare lie kuch ladkia dekhi hai maine

Sid was drinking water which he spit out on Zalak who was sitting in front of him.

Zalak: Siddharth

She shouted at him but before they could start their fight again Vibha intervened.

Vibha: Bass. Ab koi natak nhi. Siddharth tumhare lie ladkia chuni hai. Saturday ko wo cafe par milne bulaya hai. Jaakar mil aana

Sid: Maa aese kaise? Aap aese kaise mujhse bina poochhe kisi bhi ladki ko milne bula sakte ho?

Vibha: Aese kaise ka kya matlab? Ma hu teri. Tera achha hi sochungi mein. Tere lie jo theek hai wahi kar rahi hu bass. Aur jaha tak tujhse poochhne ki baat tujhse bohot baar pooch chuki mein. Tere bharose rahi to ho gayi shaadi teri. Jaakar milkar aa ladki se

Sid: Ma ye meri life hai. Aap mujhe aese kyu force kar rahi ho? Mein abhi ye shaadi and all ke lie ready nhi hu mom. Please try to understand once

Vibha: Theek hai. Shaadi ke lie nhi bass ek baar mille. Uske baad jaise tujhe theek lage. Agar achhi lagegi to baat aage badaenge nhi to theek hai na. Aur koi ladki dekh lenge. It's okk. I promise tujhe koi force nhi karega. Sirf milne ko bol rahi hu. That's it

Sid: Mom please. Mujhe nhi milna kisi ladki se. Mujhe abhi nhi padna ye shaadi wagera ke chakkaro mein

Vibha: Chakkar? Kya matlab chakkar? Shaadi to karni hi hai na

Sid: Hnn to maine kab bola mujhe shaadi nhi karni. I just said mein abhi ready nhi hu. Aur aap hamesha mujhe kyu bolte ho? Why not her?

Vibha: Uska bhi dekh lenge. Abhi ladki achhi lagi to tu mille. Jab koi achha ladka nazar mein hoga to usse milwa doongi

Zalak: What? Mom Sid. Don't. Just don't involve me in all this. Mein jaisi hu abhi bobot achhi hu. Abhi to meri salary bhi itni nhi hai. How can I? Okk mom aap Sid ko bhi kyu force kar rahe ho? Let him decide na. Uski life hai. Jab uska mann hoga. Jab wo ready hoga. He will let you know

Vibha: Force? Mein tum logo ko force karti hu? Theek hai. Inhe padao likhao. Apna career, shonk sab chhod do. Saari zindagi bacho ke naam kardo. Bass ab last days mein ye sab sunne ke lie. Theek hi ha hum to maa baap ha. Saari life sacrifice hi kie hai. Ab bhi wahi sahi. Bina pote potiyo ke muhh dekhe marr jaayenge. Theek hai kisiko kya farak padta hai

To be continued

Stay tuned for next chapter