"पुनि पुनि रामहि चितव सिय सकुचति मनु सकुचै न।" - Ma recited slowly, lovingly caressing her hair as she lay sprawled across the bed with her head on her lap. Reading the Ramayan had become a daily ritual since little after the day they came to know that she had conceived. Every night, before bedtime, either Shehnaaz would go to her mother-in-law's room or she would come to hers and would put her head on Ma's lap and listen to the verses. Her Hindi was poor, but when Mummy translated and explained the significance and meaning of the chaupais, she felt a different kind of serene. But more than anyone else, she felt grateful for having Ma around.
"Matlab?" She asked, once again, not understanding the chaupai.
"Matlab Sita ji baar baar Ram ko dekhke sankoch matllab sharam kar rahi hain, par unka man bilkul nahi sharma raha hai..." she explained. Shehnaaz smiled with a big yawn, holding her hand which was not holding the book. Ma fixed her spectacles and smiled at Sana yawn. She closed the book and caressed her head with utmost affection - "Neend aa rahi hai baccha, so ja ab...baaki ka kal kar lete hain".
She covered the Ramayan back with the cloth it was earlier covered in and gently placing Sana's head back on the pillow, got up.
"Ma, baitho na aap..." She whined, pulling her mother-in-law by her kurta.
"Sana, baccha, time par so jaya kar...zabardasti nahi uthte...ye Sid kahan hai? ..." She called for Sidharth, who was talking to Preeti Di who had come over to their place for dinner.
"Usko dekho, Ram jaisa nahi lagta? Uske chehre pe noor kitna hai..." She told his mother, while lovingly gazing at him as he laughed with his sister.
His mother burst out laughing at her innocent comment - "Sana! Tujhe Sid Ram jaisa lagta hai? ..." Sana grinned and affirmed again. Preeti Didi yelled a goodnight and left for her place. Sidharth came in and was curious seeing the two women laughter at something.
"Itne kya khush ho rahe ho aap log?" He asked, lying down next to where they were settled.
"Isko tu Ram lagta hai" his mother laughed.
"Ye flipper hai Mom... Aaj Ram lag raha hun, kal jhagda hoga toh Ravan bana degi...iska toh rehne do" he joked only to watch her howl and whine. Her mother rolled her eyes. The two of them together lit up her world.
"Medicines ki na tune?" He asked, putting his phone on charger her and she nodded.
"Chalo, so jao ab dono time pe...mujhe bhi neend aa rahi hai" his mother got up placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Mujhe bhi do" he grumbled, and his mother rolled her eyes and kissed his cheek. She switched off the lights and left them at it. Shehnaaz slid closer to him. He readily extended his arm for her to lay her head on and she sighed contently placing her leg on his.
"Aaj toh Rashmi ke sath shoot tha...tune bataya hi nahi kaisa gaya" she teased him and he grimaced.
"So ja chupchap...normal tha, kuch nahi hua" he replied, kissing her head.
"Arrey, kuch toh bata de na, ab toh dosti ho gayi hai tum dono ki" she poked him.
"Haan, haan! Hum dono date pe gaye, ghoom ke aaye foreign location, gaane wane gaye sath me...so ja ab" he joked, pulling her closer.
"Haye, kitna paapi hai tu" she exclaimed, faking hurt.
"So ja chup chap, bakwaas kyun kar rahi hai..." he replied, irritated.
"baat kar na mujhse" she mumbled.
"Chal ek game khelein?" he proposed, and she was excited.
