Forever yours

The Stylist Lover

He stepped in while answering and came close to the chair in front of the dressing table where Naina was seated.

He picked up the comb and started combing her hair and dividing them in two parts for two plaits. Preeti was amused as he was tugging and pulling and annoying Naina in the process coz only Chachiji combed her hair without irritating her and she knew how much Naina hated when some hair got pulled.

After a few seconds, she jerked around and snatched the comb from his hand "Tum rehne do, tumse kuch nahi hoga. Pehle tumhari chewing gum ke chakkar mein mujhe baal kaatne pade the, ab kahi tumhari choti bananeke chakkar mein main takli na ho jaaon".

A giggle escaped Sameer but her death glare forced him to put on a straight face.

"Arre Naina, daant kyon rahi hai, wo roz yeh sab thode hi karte hai, par tere liye koshish toh kar rahe hai na". Preeti tried to calm her down.

"Haan toh kahi aur jake koshish kare, mere baalon pe kalakari dikhane ki zaroorat nahi hai". Sameer was saddened at her hurtful words while she turned around searching for her white ribbons in the dressing table drawers.

Preeti gestured him that its ok. "Aap dukhi mat ho, iske baal khinchte hai toh bahut gussa karti hai, Mummy pe bhi. Main batati hoon kaise karna hai".

She took the comb from Naina and started parting her hair in two equal divisions. "Ab main apni choti banati hoon, aap waise hi Naina ki banao".

Preeti started demonstrating on her hair and Sameer tried to emote exactly. He first made three strands and started intertwining them to form a braid. Unfortunately, at the end of it, something resembling a braid came out but was so funny that Naina thought it was rather apt to leave her hair open. However, Kumud teacher was quite particular about school dress code and she couldn't leave her hair open or just tie a ponytail. And since, it was getting late to school if they had to visit the mandir before, she would have to make do with whatever Sameer had done to her hair.

He wasn't satisfied but quite proud of his handiwork. After breakfast, when all three were ready to leave, Rakesh sauntered in.
"Itni subah subah kahan chal diye?" he enquired in his usual angry tone.

"Sir, wo pehle hum mandir jaayenge aur fir school", Sameer tried to explain. Before Rakesh could question further, he continued "Wo Naina cycle nahi chala payegi na toh main Nanaji ki car le aaya tha, waise bhi khali padi rahegi, aur Naina ki har zimmedari meri hai na. Waise maine raat ko Chachaji se puch liya tha, buss aapse hi puchne aa rahe the ki kya Naina Preeti ko car mein le ja sakta hoon?"

"Haan...thik hai thik hai....thodi der ruko, main bhi taiyyar ho jata hoon, mujhe bhi school jana hai, main bhi chaloonga". Sameer's overzealous attitude died in a moment thinking about Rakesh accompanying them in the front seat and hearing his rant all the way.

But as usual, his dear Saali came to his rescue, "Hey bhagwan....", Preeti cried out loudly.

"Kya hua..." Rakesh asked her and Chachiji also came running out of the kitchen with a kadchi in hand.

"Kya hua Preeti beta?", asked Bela.

"Arre Mummy, Tauji, wo main kal ka Mala miss ka homework karna hi bhool gayi aur aaj toh pehli class unhi ki hai"...She quickly glanced at her wristwatch, "abhi time hai...Main na fatafat kar leti hoon...Tauji aap bhi taiyyar ho jayiye, fir main aapke saath hi chaloongi, warna late ho jaungi...wo kya hai na ki cycle ke tyre mein hawa nahi hai, bharana bhool gayi...toh....inn donon ko aage jane dete hai, waise bhi Naina mandir mein bahut time lagati hai".

Bela tapped at her forehead "Tu bhi na Preeti...khamakha dara diya" And she went back to her kitchen chores.

"Yeh aajkal ke bachche, zimmedari ka koi ehsaas hi nahi hai....Homework kaise bhool jati ho? Aaj toh main khud Malaji se kahoonga ki tumahri copy theek se check kare, aur koi bhi galati ho toh barabar sazaa de".