AFTER ONE MONTH

It's an exhausting month for Karan.

As soon as he reached Delhi after meeting his sister he dug into the roots of the prospective groom's family. No doubt they are honorable but orthodox is something inherent in them which Nandu isn't comfortable with.

She prefers to be a kite reaching heights, tied by a thread of love rather than being prisoned in a palace.

Though no ritual is performed and the alliance isn't made official yet but rumours has already started circulating.

It's like unofficially official.

More than any other thing what's nerve wrecking for him is Dadi ma's word to them. For the first time he has decided to go against her & he knew it's gonna be like a walk on egg shells or more appropriately,  glass shreds.

Karan planned everything and is waiting for the right occasion to execute.And that comes in the form of a festival.

DEHRADUN

The whole of DIT is in rush and tense but not tired as Dusserah holidays are going to start the next week.Professors,students,staff all are excited to wrap up their work and have a peaceful holiday ahead. 

Nandu is in her room video calling with Karan.While he has lunch to attend with the Central Minister,he delayed it for a few minutes to converse with his lovely sister.

After their heartful conversation,Karan made sure he is available to her whenever she needs him.He is taking care of her personally and this made Nandu so happy and relaxed.

At present,she is lying on the bed and waiting for the call to be answered.

"Hey!Bhaaaiii", she excitedly shouts seeing his handsome face on the screen.

Chuckling, he closes his ears,"Mera kaan phat gayi"

Nandu laughs making him sigh in happiness.

The last one month revived their bond again for which he's so thankful.

"Lectures hogaya tera?",he asks leisurely though he's in a hurry.

"Haa bhai. Aaj..."

She's about to continue when Teja barges in with bag on her shoulder, a big book in one hand & a phone between her ear & shoulder.

Karan frowns hearing the sudden sound.

"Bunny close the door", Nandu chastises her for pushing the door loudly & also for not shutting it.

But Teja seemed so busy laughing in the call that she paid no heed to her usual chides.

Nandu repeats again but nothing happened rather her laughs increased.

Sighing, Nandu turns to Karan who not at all liked his sister being ignored like that.

"Just a second Bhai", Nandu gets up from her bed & went to close the door herself.

As the screen is opposite to her, Karan now could see Teja clearly.

She is wearing a red color shoulderless tee on black jeans which he remembers that he's the one who selected it last month on Rakhi.

In the last few video calls, he has rarely seen glimpses of Teja as she would move away when she realises they were on a call.

This is the first time he's seeing her clearly and it seems she isn't in a mood to acknowledge him.

"Sorry Bhai. Bathao aap kya kar rahe ho?", Nandu gets back to her position but still he could see Teja in background.

"Do you wanna a dorm change Cadbury?", he asks her all of a sudden.

"Huh? No.Why would you ask that?", Nandu is surprised. From the last two years, this is their adda, their rest place, their little world.

"I ...",he sees Teja who's laughing little loudly in her phone "want you to to be peaceful without any unnecessary disturbance."he implies smoothly.

"Disturbance? Ham dusro ko karthe hein Bhai. Hame koi nai karthe" Nandu chortles thinking about how their friends from next doors complained to their floor incharge for the blaring movie sessions they would have at mid nights.

"Waise bhi Bunny ko yeh dorm bahut pasand hein. Wo nai manegi", yup she knew how much Teja likes this room. Mainly the balcony facing the Shivaliks.Wow!

But that's exactly what he wanted. He wants his sister to move out singley not with Teja.....again!

And Nandu isn't ready to even think about it & that's no different. From childhood, she's the same.

Nandu needs her best friend & he needs her sister's happiness so it's an unspoken compromise he makes every time.

"Waise thum kab aa rai ho? All are waiting for you." , Karan changes the topic because why to even think of the impossible.

Nandu instantly smiles at the thought of home,"This weekend. Ben ko bhi bola hein", ofcourse he knew. Ben told him already still he likes to confirm from her.

"Tho fir jet Saturday afternoon tak pahunch jayega",he says though he knew her upcoming answer.

"Nai.", Told'ya.

"Hamne already flight book kiya hein. Mein friends ke saath aa jaungi", she declares excitedly.

He sighs knowing whose idea this is.

"She's spoiling my sister", he gets annoyed to himself.

"Ok thum dono directly hamare ghar aa jao"

"And message me the flight details your car will be there.Ok?", he wouldn't compromise with her safety.

"Theekey bhai.Bye.", she laughs at his gesture.

"Bye aur ha ask ur friend to not laugh like an elephant.Log dar jayenge",  and he puts off making her ROFL.

"What would happen if Bunny gotta knew this? Oh my brother!", the question itself is so dangerous & hilarious that she couldn't stop imagining it.

AFTER A WEEK,DELHI

AWADH

AWADH, the sweet and stunning abode of The Dehwars.

The sky scraper mansion, is one of the world's largest private homes and tallest building in Delhi at 27 stories, 180ft tall over 4 lakh sq ft with amenities such as 9 high speed elevators, car garage, theatre, terrace gardens, swimming pool and spa etc.

AWADH is decorated magnificently with lights and flowers.It is ready to welcome the daughter of the house and the grand festival Dusserah.

Her Ashton Martin entered the premises of the sky scraper Navigating it through the maze of entrance, it stopped near the elevator.

"Ahaa finally aa gayi ham.Ohoo!", Teja shouts excitedly getting out of the car.

Nandu smiles widely seeing her friend's excitement.

"Dheere se pagal", she chastises her though she herself is in clouds.

They are received by the caretaker of the mansion, Krishna.

"Krish", Nandu greets him.

"Hey Krish! Kaise ho thum?",the 36 year old man laughs at his nick name given by the chirpy bird.

"Mein bilkul theek hu.Lekin thum dono hi bikaar jaise lag rahe ho.Make up ache se nai kiya hein kya?", he jokes feeling so happy seeing them.

"Nandu kitna baar kaha ki ache se karo make up thu sunta hi nai hein. Teri wajah se hamara glamour logon ko nai dikh raha hein" Teja rolls her eyes.

"Glamour? Hein kya?", Krishna retorts at the same time taking their luggage from the boot. He wouldn't forget his duty.

They widen their mouths at his fake remark while he puts their bags in the trolley & about to take them but Nandu stops.

She's offended.

"Chal Bunny hame inka help nai chahiye", huffing she walks to the elevator with the trolley.

"Bhabhi ke saamne dekhlenge", challenging him Teja follows her.

Krishna chuckles at their excuse. They would never let him take their luggage & that's what they did now also.

Respect & humility is imbibed in them & that's why they aren't his owners but his own sisters.

Meanwhile, the girls excitedly hop inside the elevator pressing no. "18".

Floors 18,19 & 20 constitute the main residence for Dehwars. They are internally connected with stairs and has their main bed rooms & living rooms.

As soon as the elevator door opened, both the girls enter the beautiful hallway and take left & sees a massive rose wood door which opens to the magnanimous hall.

They take a first step inside with bubbly smiles only to be stopped by an elegant lady, Nandu's mother, Lalitha.

"Maaa"

"Lallliiii"

Shrieking, the girls are about to fall on her but takes a back step when she shows the Aarthi thali.

Their loud voice attracts her father, Kabir and her brother Karan who are waiting for her in the lounge.

They trode to them while her mother performs the Aarthi of the two.

The moment she gives the thali to her aide, the girls repeat their shrieks and hug her tightly from both the sides.

Laughing, she too takes them in her arms squeezing them.

Ah! How much time it has been hearing their voices?

"Kaise ho mere bache?", she asks in the same tone.Excited just like them.

"1st class Lalli. 1st class", Teja answers first as usually.

"Ham jaha bhi reh 1st class rehthe hein beta. I know that", Lalitha boasts giving a hi fi to Teja.

"Ma mein bhi hu yaha", Nandu gets miffed looking at their fun. This happens all the time they both just forget her. Huh!

"Lalli usko bhi zara pyar dikhao na. Rone lag rahi hein", Teju teases her in the name of consoling.

"Awle ro math beta.Aaja!", comically Geetha hugs her annoyed daughter only to turn  it into a loving one.

By that time, her father Kabir and brother Karan are there.

"Paa", Nandu runs to her father and hugs him with affection & respect.

"Welcome home Nandu", Kabir gives her the safest embrace and kisses her forehead.

Teja gets erect as she saw the head men of the family.

"How are you Bunny?", Kabir asks Teja in a fatherly tone.

"I'm fine Uncle. Aap kaise ho?",she responds nicely.

"Very good. Very good.", he says with a smile.

He knew her since her birth and treats her just like Nandu.

"Bhai", Nandu hugs her brother warmly recieving a kiss on her hair.

"Go. Freshen up you two. I made all your favourite dishes." Lalitha urges them.

The girls have wide smiles listening about home made food but before they respond,

"And then you have to meet Dadi ma too. She will be back from temple in an hour",Kabir states.

And their smile lessens a bit for different reasons. But they doesn't show it before Kabir, who excuses himself for work.

After he went, Lalitha urges them to freshen up,

"No Lalli. I should go home now.Mom must be waiting for me", Teja's phone already rang twice.

Though Lalitha doesn't want her to go, but Teja also needs to go her home.

"Raju will take you then",Lalitha herself dials to her driver.

Nandu gets alarmed. She doesn't want to face Dadi alone. She needs Teja so nudging her she pleads through her eyes."Don't go.Please"

Teja immediately gets the point while Lalitha is about to say hello, she removes the phone from her ear & cuts the call subtly,

"Kya hein Lalli? Thum mujhe bhej rahe ho? Itni jaldi? Not fair", she starts her drama

"Hain? Thum hi tho kaha tha ki Teri ma wait kar rahi hein?", Lalitha gets confused.

"Ha ha meine kaha tha because I want to test you how much you love me. And you failed. Thum mujhse bilkul pyar nai karthe ho warna you would have told me to stay", Teja puts a baby face.

"It's ok mein chalthi hu", she wipes her pseudo tears and takes her bag. "Bye. Yaha Mera koi nai hein", turns and about to take a step when Lalitha stops her.

"Kya baath kar rahe ho? Thum Nandu se kam nai ho mere liye.Now you are gonna stay here until I let you leave", Lalitha declares with concern.

Teja instantly giggles, " I know you love me more Lalli" and hugs her.

Nandu chuckles at her drama while Teja winks at her as their motive got successful.

She's smiling hugging Lalitha when her sight catches Karan who is looking at her sternly.

She looks away immediately scolding why would God always make her do such things when he's around.

"Chal Nandu.I am starving", she comes out of the hug & urges her friend while taking her own bags. "Lalli mere liye na snacks upar bhejna", she instructs jogging towards the stairs when they hear his voice.

"Nandu jo bhi thum logon ko khana hein neeche aake khalo",he orders with ease & ambles out .

Teja irritatedly looks at front without turning back & Nandu drags her into her room after agreeing with her brother.

"Thank you so much Bunny.Tere bina Dadi ko face karna...I can't!",Nandu breathes out once they are inside her pleasing suite.

She's relieved.

"Excuse me. Mein free mein kuch nai kar rai hu.Mera pending records finish karlo", showing her the records which she just took out from her bag, Teja trudges to washroom whistling a tune.

Nandu narrows her eyes at her but would she care?

Freshening up, they both step downstairs for dinner and to meet the ruling persons of the family.

Picture tho baki hein mera dosth......