Game Plan

Part 43: Griha Pravesh

~Sharma Niwas~

Prerna glanced out of the car's window. Her mother was standing at the door of their house staring at her with a look of concern. Prerna smiled at Veena and threw a flying kiss at her direction. Veena fondly smiled at her daughter's gesture. "Ma zara side dena",said Mahesh as he carried his sister's heavy suitcase to the trunk of the car where Anurag was already putting one of Prerna's suitcases. Mahesh put down the suitcase on the ground with a dramatic huff. "Seriously Onu Da",Mahesh said grudgingly stretching his back,"Koshish karna ke iss baar Priyu Di humesha ke liye wohi reh jaaye, main yeh baar baar iss ghar se uss ghar suitcase nahi utha sakta".Anurag laughed at this and said,"Don't worry Mahesh yeh aakhri baar tujhe apni Priyu Di ke bags uthane parenge. Yaha se main takeover karlunga.". Anurag lifted the heavy suitcase and placed it in the trunk. Shutting the trunk, he said,"Achcha then Mahesh main chalta hu. Tere agle classes ke baare mein main tujhe call karunga.". Anurag approached Veena and touched her feet,"Chalta hu Aunty",he said. "Main jaanta hu ke aap inn sab se khush nahi hai". Veena sighed,"Ab hum kya kahe beta",she said,"Tum dono ke rishte mein itni mushkile hai, itni pareshaaniya hai. Hum apni beti ko achche se jaante hai, woh tumhare saath aise jaakar khush nahi hai. Woh iss talakh se bhi khush nahi thi, lekin usse iske alaava aur koi raasta nahi dikha…..bura matt maan na beta Lekin tumhe nahi lagta ke...tumhare aur Priyu ke rishte mein itni mushkile hai shayad yeh kismat ka ishaara hai ke tum aur Priyu ek dusre ke liye nahi bane ho?". Anurag swallowed. If Veena's lack of faith hurt him he didn't want to express it. Quickly recovering he said,"Humare rishte mein bohot mushkile hai main maanta hu magar aunty...yeh bhi to sach hai ke humne kabhi apne rishte ko ek fair chance diya hi nahi. Prerna aur main bas apni apni ladaiyaan ladte rahe kabhi Komolika ke khilaaf toh kabhi Naveen babu ke khilaaf..aur inn sabke beech mein humne aur humare rishte ne suffer kiya. (folding his hands) I know maine Prerna ko past mein bohot hurt kiya hai. Uske liye theek se lad nahi paaya lekin Aunty main apni iss galti ko sudhaarna chahta hu. Prerna ke saath pehle jo bhi galat hua usko ab main sahi karna chahta hu. Mujhe bas ek mauke ki zaroorat hai bas.". Veena sighed and said,"Tum aur Priyu dono humare bachche ho hum bas tum dono ko aur takleef mein nahi dekh sakte.". Anurag answered,"Aap chinta matt kijiye ab aisa hi hoga.". Touching her feet, Anurag said,"Achcha aunty ab main chalta hu.Ma humara wait kar rahi hongi".

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~Basu Bari~

"Debu Da!!!",Mohini yelled at the top of her voice, "Jaldi se puja ki thaali ready karo Onu aur Prerna kabhi bhi aa sakte hai. Paro, thaali mein aalta aur kalash mein chawal ready hai?". "Jee boudi",Paro the Basu's domestic help quickly replied. "Ma",Nivedita asked confused,"Yeh sab kya ho raha hai? Onu aur Prerna ki shaadi ko bohot din ho chuke hai aap ab Prerna ka Griha pravesh kyu kara rahi hai?". Mohini answered,"Prerna ko humse shikayatein hai na Nivi ki humne usse kabhi dil se accept nahi kiya, hum usse apni bahu nahi maante hai etc etc. Toh main aaj Prerna na Griha pravesh kara ke usse yeh samjhaana chahti hu ke hum uski aur Onu ki shaadi ko acknowledge karte hai aur usse apne bahu ke roop mein accept karte hai. In fact main to soch rahi hu ke kyu na main Prerna ko Calcutta Club ka member bana du. Hum sab to already members hai Prerna ko bhi bana denge. Aur main usse apne saare friends se introduce-". Nivi cut her off,"Ma!Maa-maa! Please calm down! And please control yourself. Iss baar please jo bhi karna pehle Onu se puchhkar karna. Warna aisa na ho ke chhe mahine khatm hone se pehle hi Prerna ye ghar chhorkar chali jaye." Mohini waved her hand carelessly and said,"Aisa kuch nahi hoga Nivi trust me. Actually last time maine galti ki thi unneccesarily uss Suman ko apne plans mein shaamil kiya jab ki uski zaroorat bhi nahi thi. But iss baar aisa kuch nahi hoga, kyuki iss baar main koi scheming nahi karungi. Main bas Prerna ko woh sab dungi jo usse humesha se chahiye tha.".
"Kya?",Nivi asked. Mohini answered,"Jaate waqt Prerna ne Onu aur hum par ilzaam lagaya tha na ke humne usse aur uske family ko beizzat ki hai. Uski kabhi kadar nahi ki, usse kabhi uske haq ki izzat nahi di. Well...jo humne tab nahi kiya woh hum ab karenge. Usse Onu ki patni aur iss ghar ki bahu hone ka darja denge. Not just that inn chhe mahino mein main ensure karungi ke usse humare high society circle se woh consideration aur izzat mile jo Basu parivar ki bahu deserve karti hai.". Nivedita sighed and said,"Maa aapko jo theek lage aap kijiye just make sure ki aapke yeh efforts Prerna misunderstand na kare. Kyuki agar Prerna upset hogi to uska direct asar Onu pe parega.". Just then Nivedita's phone rang,"Haan, bolo Pratyush. Kya kaha Mr.Bajaj ne ?Kab hai meeting? ",she answered. Hearing the reply from the other end Nivi fumed,"Nahi uski koi zaroorat nahi hai",she replied shortly,"Ab main khud unse personally baat karungi". Saying this she disconnected the call. "Kya baat hai, Nivi?",Mohini asked,"Tum itni upset kyu ho? And what's this about Mr.Bajaj?". Upset Nivedita sat on the couch,"Kuch nahi ma",came her resigned reply,"Main bas koshish kar rahi thi Mr.Bajaj se milne ka taaki main unhe humare saath yeh deal phirse sign karne ke liye convince kar saku.". "What?!",came Mohini's shocked reply,"Tumne Moloy aur Onu se iss baare mein baat ki?". "Nahi.",Nivi replied,"Aur aap bhi unse iss baare kuch nahi kahengi.",she added sternly. "Have you lost your mind Nivi!",Mohini scolded her daughter,"Rishabh Bajaj?!Rishabh Bajaj?!Tum bhool gayi usne Moloy ko kitna humiliate kiya? Uske wajah se tumhare baba ki kya haalat hui thi?". With a flushed face, Mohini glared down at her daughter. Nivedita rolled her eyes at this,"Ma",she said getting up. Nivi put her hand on Mohini's shoulders and tried to pacify her,"Please calm down. Its true Mr.Bajaj ne baba ke saath galat kiya but unhone personally aake maafi bhi to maangi.". Mohini wasn't convinced she opened her mouth to argue but Nivi beat her to it. "Oh come on Ma! Be practical!",she shook Mohini's shoulders before adding,"Ma, uss Komolika ki hearing next week se start ho jayegi. Once she is found guilty uske saare assets freeze ho jayenge including Basu Publications and Basu Bari!We don't have much time and we have no other option.".
"Aisa nahi hai Nivi",Mohini said,"Moloy gaye hai na Dilli woh zaroor humari company ke liye ek achcha investor dhund lenge.". Nivi shook her head and said,"Nahi Maa nahi milega!Agar Dilli mein investor milna hota toh hume  Mr.Bajaj ko London se yaha nahi bulaana parta. Rishabh Bajaj is our best option aur yeh baat baba bhi achchi tarah se jaante hai.".
"Toh phir hum kya karenge?",Mohini asked stressed. Nivedita clasped her hands in Mohini's and said,"Maa, please don't panic. I know maine aapko upset kar diya lekin yahi sach hai. Aur hume usse deal karna parega-smartly and strategically. Iss liye main keh rahi hu Ma ke hume wapas Mr.Bajaj se deal karne ke baare sochna chahiye.". Mohini remained quiet for a while before saying,"Jo hua uske baad kya Mr.Bajaj ready honge humare saath deal karne ke liye?". Nivedita frowned and said,"Unhone mujse milne se inkaar kar diya I am sure woh bhi jaante hai ke mere mann mein kya hai. Lekin I can't give up Ma, main phirse koshish karungi unse baat karne ki. Aur unhe humse better company nahi milegi invest karne ko, yeh baat to woh bhi samajhte hai. Unhe bas hume ek aur mauka dene ki der hai". Just then the doorbell rang. "Zaroor Onu aur Prerna honge",Mohini said rushing to the door. She quickly opened the door and saw Anurag and Prerna waiting outside. "Onu-Prerna, main tum logo ka hi wait kar rahi thi. Ek second! Abhi andar matt aao.".
"Kyu ma?",Anurag asked. Just then Paro came and placed a kalash filled with rice on the floor. "Kakimoni",Prerna said,"Iski kya zaroorat thi…". Mohini replied,"Of course zaroorat thi waise bhi tumhara Griha pravesh nahi hua tha. Ruko, main tum dono ki aarti utarti hu uske baad Prerna tum iss kalash ko gira ke mere Onu ke saath andar aa jaana.".
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After all the rituals were completed Mohini and Nivi led Anurag and Prerna to the main hall. "Tum log chai peeyo", Mohini said serving tea to Anurag,"Main abhi Paro se kehke tum dono ka kamra theek karwa deti hu.". Mohini's words were met with no response. Prerna cast a glance at Anurag, who nodded at her. Resting his cup on the coffee table, Anurag got up and said,"Maa aap please Paro se kehkar west wing mein ek kamra taiyar karwa dijiye.". Mohini was surprised by this,"Kamra?Kis liye beta?". Prerna answered getting up,"Anurag ke rehne ke liye.". "What?",Nivi said stunned. "Haa Nivi Di",Anurag said trying his best  to diffuse the tension in the room,"Prerna mere kamre mein rahegi aur main west wing mein rahunga. Prerna pehle bhi mere kamre mein reh chuki hai iss liye woh waha zyada comfortable hogi..aur waise bhi main west wing se humare hone waale bachche ke kamre ka interior bhi supervise kar sakunga. Ma aap please Paro se kehkar mere liye kamra ready karwa dengi.". Mohini, who was stunned by the sudden turn of events quickly recovered herself and said,"Haan, beta of course. Tu baithke chai pee main aur Nivi sab dekh lenge. Nivi, follow me.". With Nivedita at her heels Mohini rushed to the kitchen. "Thanks",Prerna said quietly. "You're welcome",Anurag replied.
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Once Nivi and Mohini were in the kitchen out of her son and daughter in law's earshot Mohini Basu burst out,"Ek ghanta bhi nahi hua isse aaye huye aur issne abhi se apni manmaani karni start kardi!",Mohini fumed,"Prerna ki inhi harkato ki wajah se mujhe woh kabhi pasand nahi aayi.". "Ma, please calm down",Nivi said,"It's not such a big deal, abhi to bas woh iss ghar mein aayi hai usse time to lagega na Onu ke saath apna rishta sudhaarne ke liye.". "Iss liye unhe ek kamre mein rehna chahiye",Mohini replied heatedly,"Taaki woh dono ek saath time spent kar sake, ek dusre ko samajh sake lekin Prerna ke tevar dekh kar mujhe to aisa lag raha hai ke woh Onu ke saath apna rishta sudhaarne mein interested hi nahi hai.". Nivedita said,"Ma please aap patience rakhiye Onu sab sambhaal lega aur last time bhi toh usne Prerna ko manaa liya tha na. I am sure woh iss baar bhi usse handle kar lega. Aap bas Prerna ko uspe chhor dijiye.". Few moments later, Mohini took a deep breath and said,"Chalo Nivi bahaar hall mein woh log humara wait kar rahe honge."
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Mohini and Nivi entered the hall to find Anurag and Prerna sipping tea in silence. "Paro dinner bana rahi hai",Mohini said,"Tum dono dinner mein kuch special khaana chahte ho to bata do.". Prerna shook her head,"Nahi kakimoni",she said.
"No ma",Anurag replied. Nivi cleared her throat and said,"Waise Ma, baba Delhi se kab lautenge?". "Do din baad Nivi",Mohini said. She then addressed Prerna,"Prerna, tum kal dopahar ko kya kar rahi ho? Kal dopahar ko Calcutta Club mein main apne doston ke saath lunch pe jaa rahi hu, tum mere saath aaogi to tumhari bhi unse jaan pehchaan ho jayegi.". "Ummm, actually kakimoni",Prerna replied,"Kal se mera office start ho raha hai to main nahi aa paungi.". Anurag glanced at her surprised,"Office?",he asked confused. Mohini and Nivi exchanged surprised glances. Then Mohini spoke,"Oh haan, Nivi ne bataya tha Moloy ke job offer ke baare mein. Honestly(smiling) I think it's great ke tum wapas Moloy ke liye kaam karogi. Office tum unko assist bhi kar logi aur unka khayal bhi rakh logi.". "Nahi, kakimoni",Prerna said shaking her head,"Main Basu Publications nahi join kar rahi. Kal se main Mr.Bajaj ka office join karne waali hu".