'Kisi ne mujhe yaad kiya ?'
All of us turned to find Jijaji leaning against the gate cross armed.
'Mukund ?!', Randheer exclaimed in disbelief. Jijaji nodded with a grin.
Randheer leaped to his feet and ran towards him, 'Mukund !'
Jijaji too ran towards Randheer and embraced him tight. All of us stared at them confused. They knew each other ?! How ? I saw Mummyji and Bauji exchange a smile.
'O yaara tu toh kitna lamba ho gaya hai !', Jijaji said stepping back and holding Randheer's shoulders.
'Dekh maine kaha tha na tujhse lamba hounga main !', Randheer said giving a victorious smile. 'Tujhe chashma lag gaya ?!', he asked jijaji.
'Meri baaton par koi dhyaan hi nahi deta. Socha chasma lagaane se thoda wajan padega meri baat mein. Log meri sunenge thodi !', he joked.
'Tu baatein hi aisi karta hai ! Logon ki kya galti ?!'
'Tujhse to achi hi baatein karta hu ! Rehne de'
They were quarelling like school children.

'Koi hume bataega kya ho raha hai ?', Vashma asked with annoyance. 'Aapdono to aise gale mil rahe hai jaise saaalon se bichhde hue yaar !'
'Bilkul sahi pehchaana tumne Vashma !', Randheer said beaming. Both of them came in and sat down together. 'Ye hai Mukund Mehra ! Mera sabse jigri dost !'
Okay so this person, whom we adored as our jijaji, is Randheer's best friend, my Randheer's best friend and he did not tell us, did not even give us a hint about it. Inse to main nipat-ti hoon baad mein.
Jijaji chimed in, 'Intermediate ke do saal hum saath mein padhte the Doon's mein. Dehradun !', he clarified. 'Fir ye janaab to London chale gaye aur main Bombay, vakaalat ki padhai karne. Fir te bas chitthiyon aur phone par hi baat ho paayi !'
Mummyji said, 'Humaari batwaare se pehle chhae-saat baar hi mulakaat hui thi jab hum Randheer se milne ya use lene Dehradun jaate the. Par bada pyaara sa naata jud gaya tha isse humaara'
Randheer continued, 'College ke baad naya naya kaam basa rahe the isi wajah se waqt hi nahi mila milne ka ! Socha tha jald milenge par fir ye batwaara ! Aaj poore aath saal baad mil raha hu isse !', he turned to jijaji, 'Chachiji- Chachaji kaise hai ? Aur Anand bhaiya ?'
'Sab bilkul thik hai ! Tu ye bata ! Mujhe to yahan pata chala ki tera vyaah hone wala tha ! Mujhe nyota tak nahi bheja tune ?!'
'Mukund tujhe pata hai us waqt haalat kaise the ! Kaise bulaata tujhe !'
'Arey tu ek baar bulaata to sahi, main kisi bhi tarah aa jaata'
'Issi liye maine nahi nahi bataaya tujhe. Mujhe pata hai ki tu aa jaata aur us waqt aane anjaam to tujhe pata hi hai

Par aap sab toh inhe pehle se hi jaante hai ! Mukund ! In sab ko kaise nahi pata ki hum dost hai ?'
Uday exclaimed, 'Mukund sahab, aapne kade hume kyun nahi batayi ae gal ? Apne pehchaana nahi tha ki humaare Randheer hi aapke dost hai ?'
Jijaji smiled mischievously, 'Nahi Uday, mainu to badi jaldi pata chal gaya tha. Chachiji-Chachaji se bhi mil liya tha. Par maine hi sabse ye baat chipaayi. Chachiji-Chachaji nu bhi maine hi mana kiya tha aap sab ko bataane se. Maine socha jab Randheer wapas aa jaayega tab hi sabko bata denge ! Warna aapsab ke chehre ki ye hairani kaise dekhne milti mujhe ?!'

Randheer said, 'Aur tujhe kaise pata ki main kab wapas aata ? Ho sakta hai kuch saal aur lag jaate mujhe aane mein ?'
Jijaji said proudly, 'Arey tera yaar laga tha tujhe waapas laane mein, aise kaise aur saal lag jaate !'
We stared open-mouthed at him.
'Matlab ?'
Jijaji looked at all of us in surprise. 'Aap sab ko sach much laga ki batwaare ke chaar saal baad, ek akele kaidi ko Pakistan ki jail se riha kiya gaya hai vo bhi khud unlogon ki marzi se ?!'
We were all so happy and relieved that Randheer was back that none of us paid attention to this.
Randheer said, 'Tu mujhe nikalwaane ki koshish kar raha tha !?'
Mukund, 'Koshish hi nahi kar raha tha, dekh tu aa gaya baahar ! Par bade papad bele yaar tainu riha karwaane layi !'
I asked, 'Par jijaji ye sab hua kab ? Aur hume kuch bhi kyun nahi baataaya aapne ?!'
Jijaji replied, 'Saali sahiba ! Maine tumhaare liye hi ye baat kisi ko batayi nahi ! Tumne to umeedin baandh hi rakhi thi Rab se. Maine socha jab tak Randheer baahar nahi aa jaata, kisiko is baare mein na baataana hi thik hoga.'
Vashma said, 'Ab toh aapko poori baat bataani padegi ! Ek to itni saari baatein aapne mujhse kaise chhupa li ! Meri toh samjh hi nahi aa raha !'

Radha Chachi said, 'O ji mainu vi is baare mein kuch nahi pata chala ! Tussi ne merese bhi chhupaayi ye baat !'
Jijaji sweetly said, 'Channa ! Oh tussi naraaz na ho mere naal ! Mainu maaf kardo', he held his ears.
Radha Chachi said, 'Kaan mat pakdo ji ! Koi nai. Je tab nahi bataaya to ab bata do par batao to !'

Jijaji said, 'Pehle to Randheer ka pata lagaane mein hi kayi mahine lag gaye. Kyun ki kisi chhote se kaidkhaane mein hi hona tha ise. Bade jailon se to saare kaidi adtalees mein hi chhoot kar aa gaye the. Khat likhna to bekaar tha. Lahore mein jin vyaapariyon aur vakeelon se meri jaan pehchaan thi, vo desh alag ho jaane ki wajah se khaar khaaye baithe the ! Kisi ne bhi madad nahi ki'
Bauji said, 'Haan puttar, maine bhi vyaapaariyon se madad leni chaahi Randheer ko dhundwaane mein par yahi hua'
Jijaji turned to Radha Chachi, 'Channa ! Main Calcutta jaane se kuch ek-do hafte pehle shehar se bahar gaya tha na. Tussi mere naal chalan layi zor paiya si !'
'O haan ji. Par tussi kiha si ki tuhaanu koi bohot zaroori kaam hai !', recalling, Radha Chachi said.
'Ji main Pakistan gaya tha Randheer ko chhudwaane ke liye. Mujhe ye to pata chal gaya tha ki Randheer kaunse jail mein hai. Par mere khaton ya sifarish ka koi jawaab nahi aa raha tha. Yahan baithe hue koi karwaahi bhi nahi ho paa rahi thi. Ab wahan jaakar hi kuch kiya jaa sakta tha. Par wahan bhi mujhe milne nahi diya gaya isse. Isse to ye bhi nahi bataya gaya hoga ki koi isse milne aaya hai'
Randheer nodded
'Randheer is duniya ka aakhri insaan tha jise kisi jurm ke liye jail bhijwaaya jaa sake. Maine rihayi ke liye wahin arzi daali par majaal hai jo ye log ek baar mein koi baat sun le. Fir badi mushkil se wahan ke inspector se meri meeting ki ijaazat mili. Vo aaye to the ekdum tam-tamaate hue bas mujhpar barasne ke liye par maine unki hi interrogation kar li', he laughed.
Maine saboot maange - unke paas to the nahi kuch. Maine poochha unse kya Randheer ko koi jurm karte hue dekha unhone ? nahi. Kya iske paas koi hathiyaar mile ? nahi. Kya isne kisiko kuch nuksaan pohonchaaya ? nahi. To kis buniyaad pe isse kaidi karaar kiya hua hai unhone ? Unke paas kisi bhi cheez ke na saboot the aur na jawaab ! Akhir main unhe haar maanni padi aur Randheer rihaayi tay ho gayi !', he beamed.
Vashma asked, 'Par aap fir inhe saath hi lekar kyun nahi aaye ?'
Jijaji replied, ' Iske taraf ki saari kagazi karwaahi to maine kar di par kyunki do deshon ka maamla tha, isse sarhad paar bhejna tha is liye unhone kaha ek-do hafte aur lagenge. Aur mujhe bhi ek case ke silsile mein Calcutta jaana tha. Main abhi bas station se hi to laut raha hoon.'
Randheer said emotionally, 'Mukund, main bata nahi sakta main kitna khush kismat hoon ki tu mera dost hai! Tera yeh ehsaan main kabhi utaar nahi paunga'

Jijaji said opening his arms wide, 'O yaara meri vakaalat kis kaam ki jo mere yaar ki madad hi na kar sake ! Aur ehsaan kehkar tu dosti ki tauheen kar raha hai ! Mujhe bhi pata hai ki kal ko main kisi musibat mein hua to sabse pehle tu aayega meri madad ko!'

I couldn't even say thank you to him then, I was too overwhelmed. He was the one who literally returned my life to me ! I would never be able to thank me enough.

Randheer embraced him. 'Koi haath to lagaake dikhaaye tujhe !'
'Koshish ki thi Shekhar ne !', Jijaji chuckled. 'Par uska khaamiyaaza bhi humne hi bhugta tha !'
'Ab ye Shekhar kaun hai ?!', Vashma complained noisily.
Jijaji said, 'Tha ek awara ladka humare school mein !'
Randheer said, 'Acha aur tu awaara nahi tha ?'
Jijaji defended himself, 'Main shararaati tha, awaara kabhi nahi tha ! I was the troublemaker, the smart trouble-maker', he said proudly.
Randheer continued, 'To is Shekhar se janaab ki humesha ladayi rehti thi'
Vashma asked curiously, 'Sirf jijaji ki ladayi ? Aapki nahi ?'
Jijaji answered, 'Aaplog ko ise dekhke lagta hai iski kisi se ladaayi reh sakti hai ?'
We all shook our heads with a smile. Jijaji continued, 'Ek din kisi baat par bohot badi jhadap ho gayi humaari, aur Shekhar ne mujhe maidan main bulaya ladne ke liye. Mujhe bhi bohot gussa chaddha hua tha, maine haan kardi ! Us waqt umar hi kya thi meri - solah saal ! Deen- duniya ki samajh hi nahi thi mujhe'
I straightened a bit. Inka solhwa saal aur humaare solhwe saal mein kitna fark tha. Main aur Vashma us waqt apni zindagiyon ke faisle kar rahe the. Perhaps we grew up too soon !
Jijaji carried on 'Randheer ko jab ye baat pata chali to isne mujhe bada samjhaaya ki fizul ki baaton par ladaayi karna theek nahi par mujhe kahan kuch samajh aana tha. Maine bina iski ek bhi baat maane bas chal diya.'
Randheer said, 'Par ise ye nahi pata tha ki main bhi iske peechhe gaya tha.'
Jijaji continued, 'Ab main to akela gaya tha par Shekhar apne saath do-chaar ladke aur laaya tha. Zaahir si baat hai vo sab mujh par bhaari pade. Ye dekh kar Randheer se bhi raha nahi gaya. Vo bhi ladaayi mein shaamil ho gaya ! Us din pehli baar lada hoga ye kisi se. Par dono milkar bhi unke mukaable kam hi the. Bohot maar khaayi humne. Dormitory mein pohonch kar apne apne gaddo par baithe aur hum zor zor se hasne lage ! Dono naak tudwa ke aaye the apni. Aur bhi pata nahi kitni chotein khaayi thi !', he started laughing. 'Warden se daant padi so alag, unhone to humaari marham-patti karne se bhi mana kar diya. Dard mein karaahte hue humne hi jaisi thodi bohot aati thi ek-doosre ki marham patti ki.'
'Haye Rabba !', I exclaimed, 'Par aapne kyun ki ladayi ! Dekho ki ho gaya !'

'Arey tehriye saali sahiba. Kissa khatam nahi hua abhi ! Hua yoon ki hume bina bataye ek express delivery letter bhej diya gaya humaaare ghar. Mere ghar waalo ne use nazarandaaz kiya kyunki meri to aise shikaayatein jaati rehti thi. Unhe aam si baat lagi lekin inke Mummy-Bauji yaani ki humaare Chachiji aur Chachaji pohonch gaye Dehradun !'
Bauji said, 'Arey hum to ghabra gaye the. Pehli baar iski shikaayat aayi thi aur vo bhi maar-peet !'
I could understand that Mummy-Bauji must have been shocked. Randheer was not smiling anymore.
Jijaji carried on, 'Pehle to Chachiji ne ache se humaari marham patti ki aur phir bichaare Randheer ko khoob daant padi. Isne mera naam tak nahi liya unke saamne. Saari daant khud khaa li. Chachiji-Chachaji kuch din rahe, dekhne ke kiye ki kahin iske bartaav mein koi bura badlav to nahi aaya hai. Fir tasalli paa kar chale gaye. Par ye jab dormitory mein aaya tab bada maayus tha - is liye nahi ki ise daant padi thi par is liye kyunki ise laga isne apne Maa-Bauji ka sar jhukaaya tha, zindagi mein pehli baar. Isne baat tak nahi ki mujhse ek hafte tak. Phir jab maine kasam khaayi ki dubaara kabhi aise ladaayi nahi karunga, tab jaakar isne dubaara baat ki'
Mummyji said, 'Poori baat to aaj pata chal rahi hai hume. Mere bacche ki itni bhi galti nahi thi jitna humne daant diya ise', she said caressing Randheer's face.
'Daantna to hume isse tha !', Bauji said pulling Jijaji's ear.
'Chachaji, main sudhar gaya hoon ! Maar kardijiye mujhe !', he said playfully.
'Rehne de puttar. Hume pata hai tu kitna sudhar gaya hai !', Bauji replied and they all started laughing.

Then Randheer and Mukund Jijaji started chatting amongst themselves. Hum bhi baithe hein yahan!? I nudged Vashma and assuring me with her hand she turned towards Jijaji, 'Aur bhi kisse bataiye na !'
Bauji said, 'Acha baccho tum log baatein karo, hum dono chalte hai ! Badi raat ho chali hai. Aur Randheer, aa jaana. Saamne hi hai ghar !', he said in mock warning. Thank Goodness they did not take Randheer away with them. 'Ji Bauji', he replied with a chuckle. Mummyji-Bauji left with a smile.
I was so excited to hear more stories but I just needed to have patience. Ab yaadon ka pitaara khula hai to kisse to aur bhi aayenge.
'Vo bhi kya din the na Mukund. Dehradun ki sard waadiyan, pahaadiyon ki god mein ek jannat jaisi.'
'Haan yaara, sheher ki chahal-pehel se door, ek sukoon ki zindagi, waadiyon mein cycling, Hukum uncle ki filter coffee, Headmaster sir ki subah ki speech jise sunte hi neend aa jaati thi', he joked. 'School ke vo saare sakht kaide jinpe mujhe gussa aata tha'
Randheer said, 'Tujhe kahan fark padta tha ! Kaunsa aisa kaida tha jo tune nahi toda ho !'
'School ke kaide na tode to fir kya hi school gaye', Jijaji said with a smirk. 'Waise tu to aur bhi zyada handsome ho gaya hai !'
'Chalo tune maana to sahi !', Randheer said with a smile.
'Haan par mujhse zyaada handsome mat samjhna khudko !', Jijaji boasted.
I wanted to scream no but obviously it would be too embarrassing so sat there quietly with a glum face. Randheer said, 'Haan bhai ! Tujhse zyaada handsome koi nahi hai !'

Vashma intervened, 'School ke waqt to baaki ladko ke beech aapdono ka bhi alag rutba hoga ! Nahi ?'
Jijaji exclaimed, 'Arey Vashma poochho mat. Humaari to baat hi alag thi ! Aise hum dono insaan bohot alag hai, main apni harkaton ki wajah se teachers ko kabhi pasand nahi tha aur isse sab pasand karte the. Kisi teacher se koi baat manwaani ho to Randheer ko kaho. Haan padhaai mein hum dono hi awwal the. Mujhe maths, science jaise subjects pasand the aur ye thehra art, literature, poetry wala banda. Par students ke beech to hum dono hi mashhoor the ! Haan aur ek aur baat par humaari kabhi nahi bani'
Veerji asked, 'Aur vo kya ?'
Randheer replied with a smile, 'Pyaar Mohabbat !'
I crossed my legs and sat eagerly listening, resting my chin on my hand.
Jijaji took over, 'Zaahir si baat hai, ye pyaar mohabbat mein maanta tha aur mujhe ye sab sirf kataabi baatein lagti thi. Main kudiyan pataane mein vishwaas rakhta tha.', he winked.
Vashma said, 'Par Doon's to sirf ladko ka school hai na ?'
Jijaji said playfully, 'To kya hua. Humaare school ke paas hi tha Welham's Girls' school !'
I looked at him and then at Randheer. I dreaded what was coming next !
Veerji asked innocently, 'Par aise ladkiyon ke school jaane ki ijaazat mil jaati tuhaanu ?'
Jijaji said, 'Tum bhi na Uday ! Kaunsa school ijaazat deta hai kisi aur school jaane ki ?! Wo to main bas kabhi kabhi pohonch jaata tha ! Aur mujhe ye bhi pata hai ki Welham's ki saari kudiyan hum dono ko pasand karti thi !'
I couldn't stop myself and asked meekly, 'To aap dono jaate the wahan ?'
Randheer promptly said, 'Nahi Amrit-'
Jijaji cut in, 'Ye chalta mere saath to baat hi kya thi ? Aur mainu ye by pata hai ki ye kisi bhi kudi nu do minute mein pata sakta tha, par banda koshish hi nahi karna chaahta tha !'
I beamed.
'Iska maan-na tha ki iski mohabbat ko zindagi khud iske saamne laake khada kar degi, isliye ise 'kudiyan pataane' ki zaroorat nahi hai. Apni mohabbat ke baare to aise baat karta tha jaise koi kavita ho.'
I could feel my cheeks getting warm.
Jijaji continued, 'Mujhe lagta tha ki kitabein kuch zyaada padh li hai isne is liye iska dimaag kharaab ho gaya hai aur mujhe hi iska kuch karna padega.'
Oh no ! Some mischief was coming up.
'Ab Welham's ki ek bohot khoobsurat ladki se milta tha main - Nisha, aur uski ek khoobsurat saheli thi - Nupur. Maine tay kiya ki Randheer aur Nupur ka taaka bhidwa ke rahunga'
I was fidgeting with the end of my dupatta and sat there with furrowed eyebrows ! Randheer nu nahi pataani koi kudi te inko kyun beech mein naak ghusaani hai !?
Jijaji carried on , 'Ab kiya kya jaaye ? Randheer to usse baat karne se raha aur vo khud aayegi nahi . To maine Nupur ke naam se Randheer ko ek khat likha, ye bataate hue vo ise pasand karti hai. Mujhe laga khat padhke shayad ye khud hi chala jaaye usse milne. Aur ladka pehel kare vo thik bhi rahega'
I looked at him wide-eyed. Inhone khat bhi likh diya ?! Kyun !!
Randheer exclaimed, 'Vo khat tune likha tha ?!'
'Haan janaab vo khat maine likha tha', Jijaji replied bowing a bit. 'Par maine jaisa socha tha bilkul uska ulta hua. Pehle to Randheer zara ghabra gaya kyun dusre school ki kisi ladki aise khat milna bohot badi baat hai bhai, fir isne jaane ka faisla liya Nupur ke paas par use saaf saaf mana karne ki uske mann mein aisa kuch nahi hai'
I heaved a sigh of relief.
'Ab maine kaha ye kya baat hui. Koi aise kisi ladki ko jaa kar kehta hai kya ? Maine ise kaha ki Nupur ne khat likha hai to tu bhi khat hi likh de. Pohonchaane ka kaam mera. Darasal mein darr gaya ki sab sach pata chal jaayega dono ko. Isne jo khat mujhe diya vo maine kabhi pohonchaaya hi nahi aur inki kahaani wahin khatam ho gayi !', he said slightly annoyed.
Randheer said, 'Koi kahaani thi hi nahi. Bas tere mann ka ek fitoor tha.'
'Aur teri baatein sirf khayaali lagti thi mujhe. Pehli nazar mein kisiko dil mein kaise basa sakta hai koi?!'
I and Randheer looked at each other and we really didn't feel like answering that question.

'Inhi sab baaton ki wajah se ye painting competiton bhi haara tha !', Jijaji said in a bit miffed tone.
I exclaimed, 'Painting !'
'Haan ! Tumne paintings nahi dekhi iski ?', he asked surprised.
I shook my head vigourously. Mainu to bachpan se painting seekhni thi par kade mauka hi nahi mila aur Randheer nu painting aati hai ?!
Jijaji said, 'Arey kya paintings banaata tha ye ! School mein sabse achi ! Hum na kayi baar itvaar ko nikal jaate the, kabhi kisi waadi, kabhi kisi jharne ke paas. Main baitha rehta aur ye un nazaaron ko apni canvas pe utaarta !'
Even the thoughts of Randheer painting in the middle of the valleys was so surreal ! Main kyun nahi thi us waqt !?
'Randheer us waqt portrait painting seekh raha tha - insaano ki tasweer banana. Tab asli insaano ko dekh kar tasweerien nahi banaate the ye log. Usse pehle paintings ko dekh kar, unhi se prerna le kar tasweerin banaate the. Painting competition to har hi saal hota tha. Aur mujhe pakka pata tha ki jeetega to Randheer hi. Ab competition mein hissa liya isne, par wahan bhi isne unhi waadiyon ki tasweer banaayi. Aisa nahi hai ki vo khoobsurat nahi thi - bohot khoobsurat thi par kisi aur student ne ek portrait painting banaayi thi aur vo Sir ko zyaada pasand aayi. Aur waise bhi aise competitions mein portrait paintings ko hi tarjeeh di jaati hai. Maine baad mein isse poochha ki isne portrait painting kyun nahi banaayi. Aap jaante hai isne kya jawaab diya ?'
'Kya ?', I asked curiously
'Isne kaha ki jis insaan ki tasweer vo sabse pehle banana chahta hai vo hogi woh ladki jisse ise pyaar hoga !'
I turned red in embarrassment. I could feel Randheer looking at me from the corner of his eye. I lowered my eyes. Vashma prodded me with her elbow.

Jijaji said, 'Fikr na karo. Pehla na mila mauka to na sahi. Ab to ye itni paintings banaayega tumhaari ki bas dekhti jao, Juliet'
'Juliet ?!', Randheer exclaimed with delight.
Confused, I said, 'Haan jijaji mainu kabhi kabhi Juliet bulaate hain. Isme bhi koi kahaani hai ?'
Randheer replied, 'Darasal, ise mohabbat par vishwaas to nahi tha. Isliye mujhse thoda zyaada ye intezaar kar raha tha meri mohabbat ka. Ye humesha kehta tha ki agar mujhe wakayi mohabbat ho gayi aur ise bhi vo ladki utni hi khaas lagi jitna ki main baatein karta tha to ye use Juliet kehke bulaayega !'
I turned scarlet. He had been calling me Juliet for so long and I obviously didn't know why !

Vashma nudged me, 'Oye hoye Juliet ! Tabhi main kahu sirf tujhe hi ek alag naam kyun mila jijaji se !'
She changed the topic, 'To school ke baad aaplog kabhi nahi mile ?'
Jijaji said, 'Mile to nahi par chitthiyon ka silsila chalta raha. Janaab ko London jaane ke baad ek naya shauk chadhha - shaayari karne ka ! Logon ko London jaake polo khelne ka shauk chadhhta hai, kisiko shooting ka shauk chaddhta hai - inko chadhha shaayari karne ka ! Banda mujhe khaton mein shayariyan likhke bhejta tha! Kabhi kabhi to meri samjh mein hi nahi aati thi iski shayariyaan ! Kisi din fursat se dikhaunga !'
I exclaimed, 'Aapke ke paas abhi bhi hai vo khat ?'
'Arey bhai khat bhi koi pheinkta hai kya ! Ye to samhaal ke rakhne ki cheez hai !'
I nodded in approval. Mainu to vo saare khat padhne the. Jijaji ka pichha nahi chhodne waali main !
'Hum dono apni apni padhai poori karke waapas aa gaye. Chitthiyon ka silsila chalta raha. Aakhri saal yaani ki unnees sau chhiyalees mein janaab ke mizaaj kuch badle badle se hi lag rahe the mujhe !'
Vashma asked, 'Aur vo kyun bhala ?'
Jijaji said, 'Harr khat mein ek hi naam - Raanjhan, Raanjhan, Raanjhan !'
I wish I could hide my face behind my dupatta right now !
' "Raanjhan ne is kahaani mein ye likha, Raanjhan ke khayaalat kitne anootthe hai, Raanjhan ki kahaaniyaan to desh bhar mein padhi jaani chahiye, Raanjhan zaroor koi ladki hai jo apne sapne jeena chahti hai, mujhe Raanjhan se milna hai, Raanjhan mere khaton ka jawaab kyun nahi de rahi" aur pata nahi kya kya ! It na asar to kabhi kisi lekhak ka nahi hua ispar !'
Ye to mainu pata hai par fir bhi har baar sunke utna hi khaas lagta hai ! Kya waqt tha vo bhi, ek dusre ko dekha nahi tha humne par fir bhi kaise besabr the hum ek doosre se milne vaaste. Unki bheji hui chitthiyan mere liye kisi khazaane se kam nahi thi. Kitni baar dil karta tha ki un chitthiyon ka jawaab doon, unse milun, unhe bata du ki main hi hoon Raanjhan, par Bauji ka khyaal mere kadam rok deta tha.
Aaj bhi kadardaan to kayi mile, meri kahaaniyon ke, meri likhaayi ke, par mere Randheer varga koi nahi.

Randheer said looking at me 'Ranjhaan ki baat hi kuch aur hai. Par acha hua inhone mere khaton ka jawaab nahi diya. Warna shayad ...'
I shied away.

'Iski baatein sunne ke baad maine bhi padhi tumhaari kahaaniyan aur main toh kehta hi hoon ki meri saali sahiba bohot kamaal ki lekhika hai !'.
'Ji shukriya !', I smiled gratefully.

'Iska aakhri khat mila mujhe ki ye Lahore jaa raha hai Raanjhan ko dhoondne! Maine bada lamba sa jawaab likha ki kya zaroorat hai wahan jaane ki, Itne bade shehar mein kaise dhoond paayega use ?'
'Mujhe to aisa koi khat nahi mila ?', Randheer asked.
'Vo is liye kyunki tu nikal chuka tha aur dubaara kabhi Karaachi lauta hi nahi ! Aur waise bhi isne ek baar jo thaan li, use to poora karke hi rehta hai ye'
Vashma replied with a grin, 'Wo to hum jaante hai !'' She further questioned, 'Par aapne bataya nahi, vo ladki Nisha ? Uski aur aapki baat nahi bani ?'
Jijaji grinned, ' Do-teen mulakaaton ke baad vo silsila wahin khatm ho gaya. Aur je us waqt baat bann jaati to inni pyaari votti kive milti mainu ?!'
Radha chachi smiled bashfully.
Randheer said, 'Hmm. Tujhe bhi pyaar ho hi gaya !'
Jijaji replied with a smile, 'Teri tarah ek nazar mein na sahi par haan dheere dheere mujhe bhi pyaar ho hi gaya'. All of us smiled.

Suddenly Radha Chachi exclaimed, 'Par ab Damadji to mere devarji bhi ho gaye ?! Haaye Ram ! Kinni uljhan hai ! Mainu to kuch samjh hi nahi aa raha'
Jijaji stood up and held her by shoulders, 'Channa ! Main tuhaadi saari uljhan mitaata hu par tuhaanu meri gal manni payegi ! Manzoor ?!'
Unsure, she said, 'O ji par pehle batao to ?!-'
He sweetly said, 'Ye dono mujhe to Jijaji kehti hi hain, abse aapko jiji kahengi. Thik hai ?! Randheer tuhaanu bhabhi bula laega aur Randheer nu tussi Devarji ya Randheer kuch vi keh sakde ho ! Ho gayi saari uljhan hal !'
She looked at all of us silently for a while as if weighing her answer. We all eagerly looked at her, waiting for a yes after years convincing. Then hesitantly she said, 'Par ek shart hai ji meri'
Jijaji asked, 'Aur vo kya ?'
She babbled cutely, ' Puttarji mainu Maa hi bulayenge ji, mainu kuch nahi pata !'
Veerji endearingly said, 'Ae log bolte te bhi na main tuhaanu hor kuch nahi kehda ! O tussi ho meri maa ! Sade vich kade vo kuch vi nahi badlega'
They exchanged an affectionate smile and we all savoured the moment.

Randheer spoke up, 'Chaliye ab hum sab ki saath ek khoobsurat zindagi ke naam !', and brought forward his hand. One by one, we all placed our hands over his and promised to be there for each other all our lives.