The 'Un' Attached String

Chapter - 12

On grabbing a table, Maahir called the waiter to take down the orders and when he arrived, both Maahir and Bulbul said together, "Paneer ke paraathe with butter!" Maahir looked at Bulbul with a jerk with all surprise and happiness. He was so happy on hearing this that he had a wide grin on his face and he said to Madhu, "Saasumom!! Meri khaane ki choice bhi to mili hai usko." Madhu just smiled and then Bulbul asked, "Naani mamma ko phone kiya kya? Abhi to shaayad sach mooch ki lady Dracula ban gayi hogi." Madhu was scared and immediately took her phone and was about to dial Bela's number, when her phone started ringing and she found Bela calling her and so she said to Bulbul, "Dekh naam liya aur Bela ka call bhi aa gaya. Abhi na tere chakkar mein mujhe daat sunni paregi, main nehi sunne waali tu hi baat kar." On getting to know about Bela, Maahir was a bit uncomfortable and he said, "Main thora ek kaam khatam karke aata hu abhi, aap khaao beta." Bulbul grabbed Maahir's hand and said, "Mamma thori chillayegi par aapko phone ke andar se kha nehi jaayegi par ha ekdam chup rehna kyuki mamma ko agar pata chala na to vo kal hi aakar mujhe yaha se le jaayegi." Bulbul received the call and put the phone on speaker.

BELA : (shouting) "Mamma flight ko land kiye huye to kamsekam ek ghanta ho chuka hai, aapko nehi lagta ke aapko mujhe ek phone karna chahiye tha? Bulbul ka to main samajhti hu vo to hai hi jhalli, lekin aap to samajhdaar ho... Aapko pata hai na life mein pehli baar Bulbul mere bina kahi gayi hai, meri yaha par jaan atki pari hai aur aap log waha mauj kar rahe ho. Maine aapse itni irresponsibility ki ummeed nehi ki thi mamma."

Bela stopped to take a breath and on the other side, Maahir's heart skipped a bit on hearing Bela's voice after 8 long years. There was waves of feelings and memories that were rising inside him and he got nostalgic and went down the memory lane reminiscing about the days when they used to be together.

BULBUL : "Mamma aap chilla kyu rahi ho? Pata hai sabko sunaayi de rahi hai aapki awaaz."

BELA : "Bulbul?? Mera bachcha pata hai main 18 ghante se tumhaari awaaz nehi suni. Kaisa hai mera bachcha? Aur phone kaha hai tumhaara?"

BULBUL : "Vo phone par game khel rahi thi to battery khatam ho gayi aur charge karna mujhe yaad nehi tha phir mujhe na bohot bhukh lagi thi mamma, to main restaurant mein beth kar khaana kha rahi hu. Pata hai paraathe kha rahi hu extra butter ke saath."

BELA : (annoyed) "India pohochkar hi apne papa jaisi harkate shuru kar di? Paraathe?? Aur khaane laayak kuch nehi mila? Maine kaha tha ke healthy khaaya karo par nehi mauka milte hi apne papa ki tarah bas paraathe thoosne beth jaao."

Maahir came out of his memory lane or Bela's annoyed voice brought him back from the memory lane and he looked angrily towards he phone on listening what Bela was saying about him and his anger didn't go unnoticed by Bulbul.

BULBUL : "Mamma ye Canada nehi hai jo main apne daddy ke khilaaf aapki ye saari baate sunungi. Agar aapne dubaara kabhi bhi mere daddy ke baare mein aisa bola na to main aapka phone kabhi nehi uthaaungi aur daddy ko dhundh kar unke paas chali jaaungi aur khaane ko lekar bilkul bhi kuch mat bolna, cornflakes aur muselie bhi koi khaane ki cheez hoti hai? Main to yahapar yehi sab khaaungi. Abse na aap jab bhi mere daddy ke baare mein baat karengi to respect se karna varna main bhi Count Dracula ke baare mein vaisi baate karungi."

Maahir had a smile of content on seeing how Bulbul supported him in front of Bela.

BELA : "Thik hai meri ma!! Sorry! Tum khaana kha kar seedha naani ke saath ghar jaaogi aur yaad hai na din mein teen baar video call karogi mujhe. Ok?? Achcha chalo abhi naani ko phone do."

MADHU : "Ha Bela bol puttar!"

BELA : "Mamma maine Bulbul ko warn to kiya hai ke vo waha jaakar bilkul bhi Maahir ko dhundhne ki koshish na kare par main jaanti hu ke maine bhains ke aagey been bajaaya hai aur vo Delhi gayi hi hai usko dhundhne ke liye aur sirf yehi baat nehi hai main jaanti hu ke chahe aap dono mujhse laakh chupaalo Iam 99% sure Bulbul ye baat bohot achchi tarah se jaanti hai ke Maahir abhi kaha hai varna life mein pehli baar Bulbul ne is baar jo harkat ki hai na India jaane ke liye usne aisa pehle kabhi bhi apni koi bhi zidd manwaane ke liye nehi ki hai. Ye jis tarah ki larki hai na main to na sach mein bilkul bhi surprise nehi hone waali agar mujhe kal ko ye pata chala that she really had contact with her father."