It was a merry, sunshiny morning. And I lay snuggled in my blanket, staring at my sleeping husband.
Chirruping birds had woken me up a few minutes earlier.
I slithered in more towards him and turned on the pillow towards him.
I lifted an arm to touch his face but withdrew it when it was inches away. I was glad that he was sleeping but why was he sleeping?! I sighed.
After what felt like minutes his eyelids twitched a bit. Startled, I shut my eyes firmly.
There was no movement or sound for a long while. I opened an eye, a teeny-weeny bit and caught him gazing at me with a dreamy smile. I buried my face in the pillow impishly. I was so drunk on this smile he gave me.
He pulled me closer as I caught my breath, looking into his eyes. He kissed my cheek tenderly and lingered there for a while. I nestled against him when drifted off to sleep again.

*

I got dressed in a purple salwar-kameez paired with a white dyed duppatta and rushed downstairs with my bag. It was seven. I had to leave for college within half-an-hour. I had placed Randheer's essentials- watch, wallet, handkerchief at the dressing table, but I had no intention of waking him up this early every day. I was at the foot of the stairs when I saw Yash coming in, all sweaty, with a bunch of papers in his hand.
As soon as he saw me, he rushed forward and clasped my hands. 'Bhabhi!! Aap jaanti hai aap practice par itna maza aaya! Itna maza aaya! Main kya bataun! Itne kareeb se maine sabko khelte hue dekha!! Uday bhaiya! Uday bhaiya kya khelte hain!! Aur Balbirji! Main toh dang hi reh gaya! Aur ye dekhiye', he showed the autographs. 'Maine sabke autograph bhi le liye hain! Aur sab aap jaanti hai! Sabko main yaad tha! Sabko!! Ah Bhabhi aaj ki toh baat hi aur thi!!', he exclaimed with delight. I gave him a bright smile.
'Aapka bohot bohot shukriya bhabhi!'
'Isme shukriya ki kya baat hai. Aapko maza aaya na! Bas wahi bohot hai!', I replied chirpily. He gave me a pleased smile.
'Acha Bhabhi! Vashma bhabhi ne kehlwaaya hai ki aap pandrah minute mein unhe bahar miliye. Woh aapka intezaar karengi.'
'Thik hai. Tussi vi araam karlo! Bade savere uth gaye the!', I replied.
He nodded and proceeded to guest room in the right of the baithak.

I sat down for my pooja, daily prarthna and paath of Ram Charit Manas, covering my head with my dupatta.
After pooja, I brought out the Ram Charit Manas. Bauji used to say that even though we were tight on schedules, we should read it every day. Just eleven chaupaayis a day would suffice. It hardly took ten minutes and we got the strength to go through every ordeal. As Ramji would have it, we may even stumble upon a life lesson.

After completing it, reverently I closed the granth, covered it with a red silk cloth and getting on my knees, touched my head to the ground.

'Amrit', came Mamiji's voice from behind me.
'Ji Mamiji?', I replied softly, straightening up and turning.
'Tum zara mere saath aao. Kuch baat karni hai', she said, gesturing towards the guest room. I knew this was about Keerti. I had been meaning to talk to her but didn't get the opportunity yesterday. I nodded obediently and followed her into the room.
She sat on the bed while I stood before her, but she held my hand and made me sit before her.
'Mujhe ek baat batao. Kya Keerti se padhaai ke baare ke mein tumne baat ki thi?', she asked gravely.
I took in a deep breath and replied, 'Ji Mamiji. Maine hi ki thi usse baat.'
'Par kyun Amrit? Kya zaroorat thi? Hum toh uski padhaayi poori karwa hi rahe the! Usse pehle toh koi shikaayat bhi na thi BA padhne se! Ab toh jaise usne zid hi pakad li hai ki Doctori karne ki!', she said worriedly.
'Mamiji', I said respectfully. 'Use shikaayat toh pehle hi thi apne aage ki padhaayi ko lekar par aap dono ke saamne apni baat rakhne se voh ghabra rahi thi. Doctor banna uski khud ki marzi hai. Aur apne Mummy-Bauji se apne mann ki baat kehna koi buri baat hai?'

'Nahi Amrit. Main maanti hoon ki humse apne mann ki baat kehkar usne kuch galat nahi kiya. Par jo vo aage karna chaahti voh sahi nahi hai!'
I did not speak for while so she continued. 'Doctori koi do-teen saal ka khel toh nahi. Jeevan bhar ka samarpan maangta hai ye pesha. Aur ek kudi ki zindagi mein sabse ahmiyat uske parivaar ki honi chaahiye!'
'Mamiji... parivar toh har kisi ki zindagi mein ahm hona chaiye, phir chaahe vo munda ho ya kudi. Hai na?'
'Par sanjona toh kudiyon ki hi zimmedari hoti hai!'
'Kya aapne kabhi ye sawaal nahi kiya ki aisa kyun?', I counterquestioned her humbly.
She looked at me with a loss of words. After a moment of reflection she said, 'Kiya hai. Kayi baar kiya hai. Jabse hosh samhaala hai tabse aajtak baar baar kiya hai! Par kya fayda hua? Yeh soch kar kya ye sawaal karke kya fayda hua. Aajtak ye sawaal kisike saamne rakhne ki himmat toh nahi kar paayi main!'
Looking down, I tightened my grip on her hands.
'Mamiji, agar aaj Keerti ko apne mann ki zindagi jeene ki ijaazat mil gayi toh usse ye sawaal apne mann mein nahi rakhna hoga. Usme aage chalkar himmat hogi ki voh ye sawaal har us insaan ke saamne rakh sake jo use neecha dikhaane ki koshish kare, uska haq chheen-ne ki koshish kare sirf is wajah se ki woh ek ladki hai.
Kyun who ek poori zindagi apni khwahishon ko daba kar jiye, tyag karte hue aur fir use aur uske aaspaas walon ko shayad ehsaas ho usne toh apni zindagi hi gawa di?'
She thought for a while and then anxiously said 'Itna asaan nahi hai Amrit!'
'Asaan toh kuch bhi nahi hai Mamiji', I promptly replied. 'Faisla lena bhi asaan nahi hai. Us par amal karna bhi asaan nahi hai. Par is raaste par jo bhi mushkilein aayengi woh Keerti ki shakshiyat ko hi taraashengi. Aur mushikilein toh waise bhi zindagi ka ek hissa hai. Kal ye nahi toh kisi aur tarah ki imtehaan aayenge uski zindagi mein. Kyun na hum apni ek ladaayi khud hi chune – ladaayi ek aisi jo ladne ke kaabil ho!'
'Keerti toh bacchi hai abhi! Usse kahaan duniya ki samajh hai abhi! Kaise rahegi voh anjaan shehar mein anjaan logon ke beech?', Mamiji complained anxiously.
I knelt down before her and said, 'Mera vyaah bhi solah saal ki umr mein hone waala tha. Aur aapka, Mummyji ka vyaah ka vyaah toh aur bhi kam umr mein ho gaya tha na? Lagbhag 13-14 saal ki umra mein?'
She looked on, stunned.
'Tab bhi aap bacchi hi thi, na logon ki samajh, na duniya ki samajh. Anjaan logon ke beech ek duniya basaane. Par girte-samhalte.... aapne sab samhaal liya tha? Bas ussi tarah, who bhi samhaal legi!
Fark itna hoga ki kis ke ghar mein apni jagah banaane ki jagah usse duniya mein apni jagah banaani hai! Kisi aur ki ummeedon par khare utarne ki jagah, usse khudki ummeedon par khara utarna hoga!'

She appeared nonplussed.
'Mamiji...', I said gently. 'Main samajhti hoon ki aapko fikr hai uski. Par aap bharosa rakhiye. Vo samhaal legi!'
Kahaan milega aisa munda jo ye sab samjhe!', she suddenly spoke up. 'Mard auraton ko pairon ki jooti samajhte hain. Hum toh khushkismat hai ki hume itne vineet aur sajjan pati mile!'
'Agar yeh doctor banne ki baat na hui hoti toh bhi kya hum Keerti ke liye ache se ache munde nahi dhoondte ?'
'Nahi Amrit aisa nahi hai!'
'Tussi fikr na karo, jab bhi waqt aayega, Keerti ke liye hum laakhon mein ek hi munda dhoond ke laayenge'
Ya shayad woh... khud hi dhoond-le – I thought to myself. But I didn't voice it. That discussion is for some other day, when the time comes (if the time comes).
'Tab tak ke liye aap Keerti ka Dr. Keerti Shergill banaane ke liye taiyaar ho jaaiye!', I said with a bright smile.
She looked at me and finally let herself smile.

I heaved a sigh a relief.
Taking a leave from her, I stood up and turned to the door. Outside I noticed Randheer stealthily coming down the stairs with a frame in his hands. Noticing me, he gestured me to come, looking around cautiously.
I tiptoed to him.
He whispered urgently, 'Main ye frame jaake Maa-Bauji ke kamre mein lagaata hoon. Aur phir Bauji ke le aata hoon. Mummyji chhat par hain. Aap unhe le aaiye!'
'Oh! Acha', I whispered back. 'Par hum phusphusa kyun rahe hain? Yahan toh koi nahi hai??'
After a moment he said, 'Agar koi aa gaya toh?'
I nodded pretentiously. 'Ab aap jaldi jaiye jaldi!', he added in another whisper.
I gave him a thumbs-up and rushed up the stairs.
I found her on the terrace. 'Mummyji !', I said, rushing to her side.
'Haan Amrit! Kaho!'
'Aap mere naal neeche chaliye na!', I exclaimed eagerly.
'Haan thik hai par hua kya hai?', she asked curiously.
'Voh aapko neeche pata chal jaana hai. Abhi... abhi aap chaliye mere naal', I replied, breath uneven with excitement.
'Acha acha thik hai chalo!', she said with a chuckle.
We hastened downstairs. As we reached the groundfloor, I covered her eyes with my palms.
'Amrit! Amrit ye kya kar rahi ho?!'
'Bas do mint mummyji! Pakka! Aap chaliye toh!'
I slowly led her into her room.

Their's was a moderately large room. As one entered, the dressing table was just to the right. There were almirahs on the wall across. The bed was adjacent to the wall on the right. It had two bedside tables with table lamps on each.
Bauji was already standing there, in front of the left wall, with Randheer's palms covering his eyes.
'Ki kar raha hai puttar?!', Bauji questioned impatiently.
'Ji aap yahan hai?', Mummyji asked, turning her head aimlessly.
'Tum bhi aa gayi?', Bauji asked. 'Pata nahi tumhara puttar ki kar raha mainu itthe khada karke!'
I guided her in and made her stand beside him.
'Mummyji ka intezaar hi kar rahe the Bauji. Bas ho gaya!', Randheer responded.

I and Randheer looked at each other and removed our palms from over their eyes.
They flickered their eyes open and in front of eyes was a picture of their home – the home that was theirs for most of their life -for Bauji, almost all his life.
For a while, they didn't say anything. They just stared at it and then at each other. I moved to Mummyji's side. I could see tiny tears welled up in their eyes. I hadn't ever been to this house I still felt a sense of belonging to this house -as if I had accepted in my heart that this house somehow was supposed to mine.
Bauji brought an arm around Mummyji's shoulder and she rested a head over it. I saw Randheer wipe a tear with the back of his hand. And I could getting sentimental too. I don't know how would I react if some brought a picture of Om Niwas – in all it's glory, suddenly in front of me.

Standing behind them, Randheer placed on arm on each of their shoulders.
With a teary chuckle Bauji remarked, 'Kade kade sundar cheezein bhi bana leta hai tu!'
I chuckled. 'Mummyji dekhiye na!', Randheer promptly grumbled.
'Ji aap bhi na!', Mummyji brushed him off gently, stroking Randheer's face fondly.
'Utthe khadi ki kar rahi hai puttar?!', Bauji retorted, looking at me.
I shook my head vigourously and Mummyji tugged me in the embrace.
My family. My dear happy family. I'd protect them with whatever I had.

I hurried out of the room, searching for my bag I had placed somewhere in the baithak. In the rush I was preparing myself for a good scolding from Vashma, I was five minutes late.
'Babyji aapka tiffin!', Neero Bhaiya hurried to me with a tiffin.
'Tuhaanu yaad tha? Main toh kehna bhool gayi thi tuhaanu bolna!', I asked in surprise.
'Bibiji ne hume kal raat ko keh diya tha', he replied with a broad smile.
'Amrit tum abhi tak yahin ho?! Jaldi jao, warna tumhe pata hai Vashma naraaz ho jayegi!', Mummyji said, hurrying me up.
'Ji ji !' I said promptly, still looking around for my bag.
'Amrit ye raha aapka bag!', Randheer called from beside the mandir. I rushed to him for the bag.
Lokking around, I stealthily grasped Randheer's hand, gave it a tiny squeeze, blinked at him, exchanged a smile and hastened out.

*

I sat in our empty class, copying notes from Uma's. Vashma had left to pick up Kabir from school. I had stayed behind for this. I would lend her my notebook later.
Uma is one of the friends I was close to. She was born in an aristocratic but orthodox Rajput family. Removed from school at an early age, she had been mostly educated at home. Later, at the age of sixteen, she was married into another family in the same standing. Fortunately, the Rawals – her in-laws did not share the same views as her parents. Her mother-in-law, Mrs Karuna was a confident and out-going lady. She wanted her only daughter-in-law to be educated well. She made Uma complete her schooling properly and later got her enrolled at St. Stephens. Uma took a while to get accustomed to the changes but these gradually moulded her into a confident young woman who had a mind of her own. She was wise, she was intelligent and I really enjoyed her company.
Our other friends were Ira – the only daughter of a very wealthy high society family in Delhi; Alka and Tanuja - from moderately rich families. All three of them were unmarried. Ira was spoilt. She got swayed easily and somehow was not serious about life. Parties, horse-races, fancy dinners and gossip- This was the lifestyle, she was brought up in. However she wasn't overindulgent in any of this. She was relatively simpler, when compared to other high-society women. But she often took brash decisions which often led her into trouble. She learnt things the hard way. 
Alka and Tanuja were easy-going. 

If I could complete at least half of this now, I'd return her the notebook that day itself. She was hanging around with our other friends in the campus. They had agreed to stay back for some time but weren't interested to stay in the class while I wrote it all down.
Presently I was copying the questions on the Iliad.
'Analyse Book 9 as a rhetorical situation. What does each of the speakers say to Achilles, and how does he say it? Do you feel that their arguments persuasive?'
'Do you feel that Achilles' resistance is justified?', ' Is there any change in Achilles' position at the end of Book 9?' and dozens more.
I would have to write the answers to these by tomorrow as well. I'll have to do it after work, in office.

That's when Randheer appeared out of nowhere and took a seat on the bench before me.
He was dressed in a white shirt with a lavender turtleneck inside paired with white trousers.
I was pretty sure that any second he would vanish into thin air.
'Itne notes utaarne hai aur abhi hi khuli aankhon se sapne dekhna hai mainu!', I muttered and smacked my head slightly, with a sheepish smile.
He caught my hand mid-way with an amused smile.
'Afsos... Khuli aakhon se sapna dekhne ke mauka chheen liya maine aapka', he said softly.
I gulped. This wasn't another of my daydreams. When will I stop embarrassing myself before him?!
With an embarrassed smile, I tried to pull my hand away, but he didn't loosen his grip.
'Aaj toh sahi haath pakda hai maine! Aapko 'utle' haath se likhna bhi nahi padega!', he said bending a bit forward. 'Likhiye likhiye!'
For some time I tried to write, but him holding my hand gently. Vo mainu dekhenge, main ohnu dekhungi, toh mere notes kive khatam honge?! I wasn't going to fall in his trap today.
'Ab aap aa hi gayein hai toh chaliye meri madad kijiye!', I said haughtily.
I withdrew my hand and opened Uma's other notebook and placed it infront of him along with one mine. He looked at me with raised eyebrows.
'Yahan se aakhir tak likhna hai! Jaldi jaldi likhna tussi!'
'Mere paas toh kalam hi nahi hai!', he said with a shrug.
'Par mere paas hai!', I replied with a cheeky smile and rummaged my bag for one.
'Ye rahi!', I said handing it out with a smug smile.
'Acha thik hai laiye!', he said, taking it from me and started writing it.
With a triumphant grin, I went back to writing.
Occasionally I sneaked a look at him while he was busy reading, understanding and writing it down.
'Amrit! Ye sab toh wakayi mushkil hai!', he remarked after a while.
'Umm.. itna bhi nahi. Shayad aap kaafi waqt baad padh rahe hai issi liye aapko aisa laga ho?!', I replied.
'Nahi nahi Amrit. Humare subjects kaafi alag the!', he said.
I looked up, intrigued.
'Reporting and Editing, Cultural Studies, Print Journalism... uh Penny Press, Opinion Writing yahan tak ki Photography bhi!'
'Oh! Humare toh zyaadatar literature waale hi subjects hain. European Classical Literature, British Poetry and Drama, Literary Criticism, Language and Linguistics, Creative Writing yahi sab! Aur kisson kahaaniyon se toh yoon bhi mohabbat hai mainu!', I said dreamily.
'Aur har ek kahaani jaise kuch sikha jaati hai hume!', he added softly. 'Zindagi ka koi naya pehlu, jisse hum pehle hum rubaru na the!'
'Kahaaniyan sirf kaagaz ke panno par bhi kahan hoti hai. Dekhein to har insaan, har jagah, har cheez ek kahaani hi toh hai!', I said thoughtfully.
'Ji... Aur kahaaniyan ye bhi samjhaati ki har baar sab kuch poori tarah sahi ya galat nahi hota. Kayi baar ek bhini si lakeer hoti hai beech mein jo dikhaayi nahi deti. Zaroori nahi ki ek insaan ka sahi, dusre har insaan ke liye bhi sahi hi ho!', he said.
I nodded thoughtfully. 'Aur zaroori ye bhi nahi, ki har kisi ke har faisle, har karni hum samajh paayein', I added. 
'Ji bilkul! Badi anokhi hoti hai kahaaniyan'
'Kahaaniyan hi toh ek aisi jaadu ki pitaari hai jo kisike khaalipan ko kuch waqt ke liye bhar deti hain...', I said, trailing off.

'Kisson kahaaniyon ke bina ke toh aapki nabz hi nahi chalegi Amrit', he said after a pause.
Coming out of my reverie, I replied, 'Ji... inke bina bhi nahi'
'Inke bina 'bhi'? Aur kiske bina Amrit?', he asked with a sly smile.
'Uh...Aapko nahi pata?', I asked softly. 
'Nahi!', he said, feigning ignorance.
Holding his hand with both my hands, I dreamily said, 'Aapke bina!'
He tilted his face with a winsome smile. 

rab ki kawaali hai ishq koi
dil ki diwaali hai ishq koi
mehki si pyaali hai ishq koi
subaha ki laali hai ishq

girta sa jharna hai ishq koi
uthta sa kalma hai ishq koi
saaonson mein lipta hai ishq koi
aankhon mein dikhta hai ishq

mere dil ko tu jaan se juda karde
yoon bas tu mujhko fanah karde
mera haal tu meri chaal tu
bas karde aashiqana

tere waaste mera ishq sufiaana
mera ishq sufiaana
mera ishq sufiaana...

tere waaste mera ishq sufiaana
mera ishq sufiaana
mera ishq sufiaana...

*

'Ik gal dassaan?' I asked after a while.
'Kahiye na!', he said sweetly.
'Aap roz-roz nahi aana college!', I said whimsically.
'Aur... voh kyun?' he asked with raised eyebrows.
'Yoon bhi saari ladkiyaan jalti hai mujhse. Jab bhi aap college aate hai, poore college mein khabar ho jaati hai! Ab aap roz roz aayenge toh sabka dhyaan aaphi ki taraf rehna hai! Ae gal mainu nahi pasand.' I babbled. 'Aur...aur sab mainu bohot chidhaayengi bhi!', I added. 'Toh tussi roz roz nahi aana!'
He looked me with an amused smile.
'Acha thik hai Amrit roz roz nahi bas.. hafte mein paanch din', he said earnestly.
'Randheer!', I grumbled while he chuckled.
'Acha Amrit, teen din?'
I shook my head vigourously. 
'Do din??', he requested.
'Umm... nai', I shook my head thoughtfully.
'Ek din???' he asked cutely. 'Ab iske liye toh aap mana nahi kar sakti!' he said adamantly.
'Acha thik hai thik hai!' I gave in.
'Par ye galat kar rahi hai aap Amrit! Mujhe apne biwi se pyaar jataane se rok rahi hain aap!', he said glumly, his fingers fingers crawling into mine.
'Pyaar mein... thodi numaishein, thodi... parde-daari, isimein toh... maza hai', I said softly, looking down as a crimson blush came to my cheeks.
I lifted my eyes again bashfully and looked away again, flustered at his intense stare.

*

We were done writing most of the notes. I lifted his hand and looked the watch. 'Jaldi nikal chalte hain, warna deri ho jaani hai!' I stood up.
'Amrit!',
'Ji?'
'Ab toh aapke paas apni hi ghadi hai. Phir bhi aap meri hi ghadi mein waqt dekhengi?', he asked with a sly smile.
I turned to other side and bit my tongue.
After a moment thought, I said in a matter-of-factly tone, 'Nai vo abhi tak mainu apni ghadi dekhne ki aadat nahi hui hai! Aur aapko koi dikkat hai agar main aapki ghadi mein waqt dekhu toh?' I demanded with furrowed eyebrows.
'Nahi! Bilkul nahi!'
I simpered.
I heard him mutter, 'Main toh chahunga aapko apni ghadi ki kabhi aadat hi na pade'
I smiled to myself, turning towards the door.

*
I and Randheer were walking down the campus. Looking around, I spotted Uma and my other friends huddled under a tree, discussing something very excitedly.
Exchanging curious smiles, we proceeded to them.
I could see Uma was preoccupied and clearly not thrilled about whatever the discussion was about.

On seeing us approach they turned their attention towards us.
'Amrit! Aaj jijaji college aaye hain, hmm hmm!', Ira exclaimed teasingly. I smiled, looking down.
'Oho! Main toh shart hi haar gayi!', Alka fretted.
'Kaisi shart?', I asked curiously.
'Vashma shart lagaake ke gayi thi paanch rupay ki aaj toh Jijaji zaroor aaenge!', Ira answered. I stole a glance at Randheer.
Alka opened her purse and thrust a five-rupee note in my hand. 'Ye de dena use!', she said grumpily.
'Arey tum sab fir baat se hat rahi ho!', Tanuja said excitedly. Turning to me, she said 'Mahendra sahab Ira se shaadi karna chahte hain!'
'Mahendra sahab?', I asked in confusion.
'Arey tum nahi jaanti?!', Alka said. 'Bajwa Steel ke maalik ke bete! Ye kuch dino se chhup chhup ke mil rahi thi unse kuch dino se! Hume toh yahan kaan-o-kaan khabar hi nahi thi', she added, nudging Ira, who blushed.
'Aur tum yoon baawri hui jaa rahi ho is baat pe?!', Uma snapped at them.
All of us looked at her in confusion.
'Kya hua Uma? Tum itni khiji hui kyun ho!', I asked her.
'Mahendra sahab shaadi shuda hain! Ira se poochho use ye baat pata hai ya nahi!', she replied in disdain.
Stunned, all eyes turned to Ira, who looked uneasy. Apparently Tanuja and Alka had not known this fact.
'Ira? Tum jaanti thi ye baat?', I asked in bewilderment.
'Haan.. toh!', she said, trying to act casual. 'Ye itni kaunsi anhoni baat ho gayi. Log karte hai do shaadiyan. Aur ... aur isme harz hi kya hai'

'Harz kya hai??!', Uma exclaimed. 'Ira tum soch samajhkar toh keh rahi ho?!'. I and Randheer too looked at her in disbelief.
'Voh pyaar karte hain mujhse! Aur... aur agar na karte toh ye sawaal hi kyun karte mujhse?', she countered.
Randheer interjected, 'Sawaal pyaar ka nahi hai. Sawaal sahi galat ka hai. Ek patni hote hue vo dubaare kisi aur se?! Aur aapne haan kardi??'
With a defying look, she said, 'Unki pehli shaadi toh bohot pehle hui thi, unke Maa-Papa ki ichha se. Unse toh unki marzi nahi poochhi gayi. Vo khush nahi hai us rishte mein. Unki pasand main hoon'
Shocked, I interrupted her , 'Ek galat ka jawaab dusra galat kabse hone laga? Aur unki zindagi ? Unka rishta? Unki pasand ? Tumhara kya?? Kal ko tumhe unhe nahi bhaaogi toh vo fir kisi aur ko dhoondenge! Tab ? Mujhe nahi laga tha tum kisi mard ke haathon ki kathputli banna chaahti ho Ira!'
'Main apni marzi se haan keh rahi hoon Amrit... Mujhe koi shikaayat nahi', she faltered.
'Tumhe yaad hai, kuch hi din pehle tum bata rahi thi, tumhaare Daddy tumhe aur aage padhaana chaahte hain. Unki laadli beti ko vo ek aise aadmi se shaadi karne denge, jo pehle se shaadi shuda hai? Aur tumhare sapne ? Unka kya?', I asked.
'Mujhe kaunse naukri karni hai shaadi ke baad. Ye sab toh choot hi jaayega dheere dheere'
'Tumhe ye baat pata thi phir bhi tum unse milti rahi ?? Kaise Ira?!', Uma retorted strongly.
'Par shuruwaat mein mujhe nahi pata tha...', she promptly said.
I, Randheer and Uma exchanged disbelieveing looks.
'Unhone aapse itni badi baat chhupaayi aur phir bhi aap unse shaadi karna chaahti hain??', Randheer asked in shock.
'Kabhi kabhi kuch baatein chhupaalete hain aadmi.', she said meekly. 'Isme itni kya-'
I shook her hard by her shoulders, 'Ira!!! Hosh mein toh ho? Ye sab kya kahe jaa rahi ho? Tum toh apni tarah baat hi nahi kar rahi! Tum padhi likhi ho! Samajhdaar ho! Aur phir aisi baatein kar rahi ho! Ek aadmi ne tumhe lubhaane ke liye shuruwaat hi jhooth se ki aur tum uske saath apni zindagi bitaana chaahti ho, apna sabkuch bas yoon hi chhod dena chaahti ho?? Ye kahan ki akalmandi hai??'

Uma added, 'Mujhe tumse ye umeed nahi thi Ira. Maana ki tum zara manchali ho. Par mujhe laga tha tum samajhdaar ho. Ye samajh hai tumhaari??'
'Par main pyaar karti hoon unse...', she tried to say.
Randheer replied with distaste, 'Maaf kijiyega par ye pyaar nahi bewakoofi hai.'
She looked perturbed. After a while, she said quietly, 'Shayad ... aap sab sahi keh rahein hain.... Main hi behek gayi thi. Bina soche samjhe haan kehdi. Par... par isme meri kya galti!?', she exclaimed.
'Galti tumhari hai Ira!', I replied. 'Jis waqat tumhe ye baat pata chala ussi waqt tumhe wahan se chale aana chaaiye tha! Aur vo bhi unhe achi tarah jawaab dekar! Itni badi baat tum toh yoon nazarandaz kar rahi ho jaise duniya mein wahi ek aakhri insaan bache hain jo tumse shaadi karenge.'

She looked down guiltily. 'Par ab maine haan kardi hai. Vo aaj Daddy se baat karne jayenge', she said tensely.
'Iraji, mere khyaal se aapko apne Bauji se abhi hi sabkuch sach sach bataa dena chahiye aur unse maafi bhi maang leni chaiye. Fir vo khud-ba-khud us aadmi ko jawaab de denge', Randheer said, disgusted at that man's audacity.
'Agar voh tumhare ghar aaye toh tum bhi wahin apne Bauji ke saamne hi use saaf mana kar dena. Ho sakta hai, baad mein voh fir tumse baat karne ki koshish kare!', Uma added miffily.
'Thik hai. Main abhi chalti hoon!', she said, shame-faced and hurried towards the gate.

'Mujhe toh yakeen hi nahi ho raha hai ki usne haan karne ki sochi kaise?', Uma exclaimed.
'Main bhi nahi samajh paa rahi!', I added, still shocked.
We three just exchanged disapproving looks.