Love You, Truly Madly Deeply...

Baaz chup hoja

The following day, after Sid had wrapped up his meetings, he decided to call Shehbaaz, affectionately known as Baaz. Baaz, engrossed in watching TV in his room, saw Sid's name flashing on his phone screen and a warm smile adorned his face as he eagerly picked up the call.

Baaz: Hello bhai, kaise ho? (He answered excitedly)

Sid: Main teek hoon, tu kaisa hai?  (He replied casually)

Baaz: Main bhi teek hoon... Sana kaisi hai?(He replied contently)

Sid: Woh bhi teek hai... (He answered happily thinking about her)

Baaz:  Hmmm, kahan ho? Sana ke sath ho? (He enquired curiously)

Sid: No, main abhi Delhi mein hoon... kaam ke silsile mein aaya tha.

Baaz:  Are waah toh yahan aajao... Delhi se uthna door nahi hai Punjab... (He responded enthusiastically)

Sid: Hmm... Jald hi aaunga lagta hai... Mujhe tere bauji se bohot jald baat karni hogi...(He replied with a sigh)

Baaz: Kyun? Kya hua? (He asked with with a hint of concern)

Sid:  Kya kya hua?? mujhe teri behen se shadi karni hai... toh tum logonke bauji se nahi toh kya padoseiyon se baat karun? (He replied in a sarcastic way)

Baaz: Magar aap logon ne toh ek saal baad socha tha na?? (He responded in a surprised way)

Sid: Socha toh yeh hi tha, magar aajkal kaam hi itna zyada ho gaya hai ki milne ka time hi nahi mil raha hai. Main nahi reh paraha teri behen ko dekhe bina. Shadi ho jayegi toh ghar pe toh daily mil sakta hoon na...

Baaz: Ohooo mere majnu jijja... (he said teasingly)

Sid: Kya karun teri behen ne mujhe majnu hi bana diya hai... (replied in playful manner)

Sid sighs, and they both burst into laughter.

Baaz: Pata nahi bhai, jis hisab se woh sab Sana ka naam sun kar chid jaate hain, mujhe nahi lagta... Main na ek kaam karta hoon... Main dheere se uski baat ghar pe chedke dekhata hoon... Unka reaction jaan ke main aapko bata tha hoon. Uss reaction se decide kar lenge ki Bauji se baat karni hai ya seedha shadi karni hai. (He spoke in a serious tone contemplating what would happen)

Sid: Hmmm, I hope ki woh thoda mellow down ho gaye honge... I want to make her wish come true ki bauji ke ashirwad se humari shadi ho...  (He was still hopeful that things would workout.)

Baaz: Hmmm... Try karke dekhte hain bhai. Aap tension na lo... (He tried to comfort him)

Sid: Hmmm. Chal tu dekhle. Main baad mein call kartha hoon. 

Sid hangs up the call, leaving Baaz in a thoughtful state. As dinner time approaches, Bauji sits at the dining table, setting the stage for the unfolding drama.

(Mumma Gill – MG)

Baaz: Mummy, aaj kya hai khane mein? (He asked in a cheerful tone)

Mumma Gill (MG): Parathe, Daal, chawal hai aur aloo gobi ki sabzi hai... (she replied with a smile)

Baaz: Waah... bohot bhook lagi hai... (He replied in an excited tone.)

Mumma Gill serves them both food, and they begin to savor the delicious meal. 

Bauji:  Khana hi khata reh, padai vadai bhi kabhi kar liya kar... (He scolded)

Baaz: Woh bhi karta hoon magar aapko kabhi dikhata hi nahi hai. (He replied in a complaining tone.)

Mumma Gill gently smacks Baaz on the head, expressing her disapproval.

MG: Bauji se aise baat karte hain??? 

Bauji: Aaj college kyun nahi gaya tha?? (He enquired)

Baaz: Woh college mein Arts fest chal raha hai... class nahi hoti toh nahi gaya... 

Bauji: Paise barbaad karne ke liye college bhej raha hoon ise... Socha tha padh likh ke naam roshan karega mera... (He says with a serious expression.)

Baaz: Woh kaam aapki beti kar rahi hai... (He mumbles...)

Bauji: Kya??  

Baaz: Shehnaaz kar rahi hai aapka naam roshan... Woh second year ke exam mein bhi First aayi hai. (He snapped)

Bauji remains silent.

Baaz continues in a cracked voice "Mujhe motto ki bohot yaad aati hai... Aap usko ghar kyun nahi le aate bauji..." 

Mumma Gill places her hand on Baaz's shoulders, signaling him to stop. However, he persists.

Baaz: Aapka mann nahi karta usse milne ka... usse baat karne ka? Pata hai woh kitna pyaar karti hai aap se? (He questioned in a sad tone.)

Bauji shifts in his chair, and Mumma Gill grows concerned. 

MG: Baaz chup ho ja. (Mumma Gill pleaded)

But Baaz was in no mood to backout. 

Baaz: Uski padai is saal khatam ho jayegi... Itne saal ho gaye, woh akeli apni zindagi jee rahi hai... Aapko usse dekhne ki ichha nahi hoti? Aap nahi chahte ki woh future mein apne kaam mein naam kamaye? Kisi acche ladke se uski shadi ho? Uske pyaare pyaare bachche hon jo aapko nana nani bulayen... aur aap unke saath khelne?

Baaz notices a slight twinkle in his dad's eyes, especially when he mentions the prospect of becoming a nana. He senses that his dad wishes for Shehnaaz to have a family. Just then, their uncle, Pappa Gill's elder brother, enters the scene, having overheard the entire conversation.

Chachaji: Kya bakwas kare ja raha hai? Us manhoos ka naam kyun le raha hai bar-bar haan? (he was quick to interject with disapproval)

Baaz: Usne kya galati ki hai chachaji? Balki sabne uske saath galat kiya hai. (Baaz getting up from his chair, calmly reasoned)

Chachaji: Khandan ka naam mitti mein miladiya usne, aur tu use ghar lane ki baat kar raha hai??? (Chachaji's disapproval deepened)

Baaz: Aap sabne aise waqt pe use chhod diya, jab use sabse zyada ham sab ki zarurat thi. (baaz defended his stance)

Chachaji: Haan bhai, hum log hi bure hain... logon ke samne muh dikhane layak nahi chhoda usne, aur hum galat... Aur kya bol raha tha tu??? Shaadi aur bachche??? Koi shareef ghar ka ladka usse shaadi karega kya? Rabb kare woh manhoos mar hi jaye... Hamare khandan se yeh dhabba mit jata... (Chachaji asserted, unwilling to be swayed)

As tension escalated, Mummy Gill, unable to bear the emotional turmoil, retreated inside with tears streaming down her face. Meanwhile, Pappa Gill remained seated, his head hung low in a mixture of sorrow and shame.

Baaz: Chachaji, Sana ko manhoos kehna aur uske bare mein aisi baatein karna band karo, warna main bhool jaunga ki aap mere se umr mein bade ho. (Baaz, now visibly agitated by the harsh judgment, lashes out)

Bauji: Baaz, tu andar jaa... yeh bhi koi tareeka hota hai badon se baat karne ka??? (He yells at Baaz) 

Tension filled the air, and Baaz quietly retreated to his room. Bauji remained seated, his head hanging low.

Chachaji: Tera usko ghar se bahar kar dene ka faisla galat tha, Sanhte. Us manhoos ko agar tabhi maar dalthe tho aaj yeh din dekhna nahi padtha. (He spoke in a  frustrated tone.)

Bauji, lost in his thoughts, didn't respond, and Chachaji left the room, leaving a lingering atmosphere of disquiet.

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Wahat do you think will happen next? Will bauji agree in future? Will chachaji change?

Do let me know your thoughts.