The 'Un' Attached String

Chapter - 21

When Maahir came to his bedroom, he found Bulbul sitting there angrily and seeing her in his bedroom, he asked, "Kya baat hai meri princess itne zyaada gusse mein kyu hai?" Bulbul came to Maahir and replied, "Main gussa kyu na karu? Dracula yaha achaanak se kyu aa gaye? Kisne kaha tha unko aane ke liye? Aur aaye to aaye Reyhaan uncle ko kyu lekar aaye? Mera to dil kar raha hai ke Dracula ko jute bag mein bhar kar waapas Canada parcel karke bhej du aur us chimpanjee ko Amazon ke forest mein. Achcha rahega apni family ke saath rahenge aur sara din banana khaayenge. Pata hai aapko kitne chipku hai, mamma ko bhi nehi pasand hai par phir bhi aa jaate hai." "Arey arey bas bas bas meri jaan, mera laddoo gopal!", Maahir made Bulbul sit on his lap and punched on her puffed cheeks with his fingers and kissed on her cheeks and continued, "Itna gussa karne se maine aapko manaa kiya hai na baba aur phir itna gussa karne se energy drain hota hai to waapas se aapko bhukh lag jaayegi." Bulbul made a sad face and said, "Dracula ko aap jaante nehi hona daddy isiliye aap aise bol rahe ho. Vo bohot ziddi hai, jo kehte hai vahi karte hai. Dracula aaye hai na to hume lekar hi jaayenge waapas aur hamaara to visa bhi ek mahine ka hai aur uske abad to hume waapas jaana hi parega par phir police bhi to..." Maahir understood more than being angry, Bulbul was extremely scared about going back to Canada and so in order to ease her tension, Maahir said, "Mere paas aapke is tension ka ilaaj hai." Saying Maahir took out a passport from his suit's inside pocket and showed that to Bulbul and said, "Par pehle aapko ye promise karna parega ke aap ye baat kisiko nehi bataayenge." He gave his hand and Bulbul put her hand on his hand and then he said, "Maine naani se aapka passport liya tha aur maine aapka visa 6 months tak extend karwa diya hai, so don't worry abhi aapki mamma to kya unke papa bhi aapko yaha se kahi aur nehi lekar ja sakte hai. Are you happy now?" Bulbul was so happy and excited to see her passport that she hugged Maahir tightly by his shoulder and said, "Thank you daddy! Mujhe pata tha ke aap koi na koi magic zarur kar lenge." Maahir too hugged her tightly and replied, "Thank you so much par aapne ye kaise soch liya ke daddy aapko kahi bhi jaane denge? Is janam mein aapki mamma to kya unke papa bhi Bulbul ko uske daddy se door nehi kar sakte hai aur aapke liye mere paas ek aur surprise hai aapke liye." Bulbul widened her eyes and asked, "Vo kya?" Maahir made a face and said, "Aap meri beti hokar aise dumbo ki tarah baat nehi kar sakti ho. Agar bol diya to surprise kaise hua? Thora wait karo pata chal jaayega. Itni jaldi bhi kya hai?" Bulbul replied, "Main zyaada der tak wait nehi kar sakti hu, mujhme itna patience nehi hai. Bataana hai to abhi bolo varna main chali jaaungi yaha se." Maahir also was too adamant to say anything and replied, "Ok jaao par main aapko kuch nehi bataunga abhi but I promise you one thing that jo kuch bhi hoga use aap aur bhi zyaada khush ho jaaogi." Bulbul was confused but she didn't argue with Maahir as she was not interested in that. In the dinner table, all were sitting except for Maahir, Bela and Bulbul but Bela stood there to help serve the food. Ranjit asked, "Bela tum kyu nehi beth rahi ho?" Bela replied, "Vo Bulbul abhi nehi khaayegi na to main bhi abhi nehi bethungi, main bhi usike saath kha lungi." Ranjit asked, "What do you mean vo abhi nehi khaayegi?" Bela replied, "Vo... har roz koi na koi scene ho jaata hai, I mean Bulbul create karti hai khaane ke table par kyuki maami Maahir ko pasand nehi karti hai isiliye Maahir sabke khaane ke baad khaata hai aur Bulbul bhi uske saath khaati hai to main pehle nehi kha sakti hu." Ranjit just made a disappointed face and replied, "Great! Puri tarah se apne kaboo mein karke rakkha hua hai." At this statement, Reyhaan, who was having dinner with them, said, "Bela I think you should take control over Bulbul's life before its too late. I don't want Bulbul to get hurt just like you." When Reyhaan said that, Mrs. Sarna who had already took a liking towards him, since Ranjit brought him and of course her dislike towards Maahir just added fuel to her liking for him, said, "Haaye dekho to kitni parvaah hai isey Bulbul ki! Koi dusre ke bachcho ke baare mein aise sochta hai kya. Mujhe to aap bare achche lage ho puttarji aur main kya bataau aapko ye jo Maahir hai na, itna bigaad raha hai bachchi ko, vo to thik se hamaari Bela ki baat bhi nehi sunti hai aur agar kisine Maahir ko kuch bhi bola, to bas utar jaati hai maidaan mein larne ke liye." "Bhabhi!" Just the moment, Mrs. Sarna was opening her pandora's box of complaints against Bulbul and Maahir, Madhu protested and replied, "Bigaarne ki baat to aap mat hi kijiye, kyuki Bela ke papa ne usko bigaarne mein koi kasar nehi chori thi bachpan mein kamsekam us hadh tak Maahir to Bulbul ko nehi bigaarta hai. Bulbul Maahir ki har baat maanti hai kyuki usko baat manwaani aati hai aur zarurat parne par vo Bulbul ko daat bhi lagaata hai aur vaise bhi bigri hui ko aur kya bigaarega vo aur Reyhaan puttar..." She looked at Reyhaan and continued, "Tum na Bulbul ki fikar bilkul mat karo, uski fikar karne ke liye, uske ma baap hai, uski naani hai aur mera jamai bara samajhdaar hai, jaan chirakta hai apni kudi par aur usko handle bhi kar sakta hai." Bela understood where the discussion was leading to and so in order to divert the topic, she asked Reyhaan, "By the way Reyhaan kitne dino ke liye aaye ho aur kaunse hotel mein thehre ho?" "Hotel mein?", Mrs. Sarna was surprised as she didn't want Reyhaan to go to any hotel and so she said, "Arey ye to hamaare mehmaan hai aur shaadi ka ghar hai hum aise thore hi jaane denge aapko? Nehi nehi, Reyhaan puttar to yehi rahenge hamaare saath aur shaadi khatam hone se pehle main to aapko yaha se jaane bhi nehi dungi." On hearing that, both Bela and Madhu gave a disgusted look to each other as they both didn't want him to stay in there but could not say anything, since the lady of the house herself was inviting him. After the dinner was almost finished, sweet dish was served to all of them and everyone praised the dish but Mrs. Sarna was surprised as she knew that her cooks could not make such a delicious sweet dish and so she thought that it might have been purchased from a shop and so she became very angry and called her cooks and asked, "Tum logo ko sharam nehi aati? Maine kaha tha na khaane ka koi bhi samaan bahaar se nehi aayega aur tum log ye rasmalai bahaar se kaise kharid kar lekar aaye ho?" One of the cooks lowered her head and replied, "Ye rasmalai bahaar se nehi laaye hai madam!" Mrs. Sarna, in the same tone asked, "Bahaar se nehi aaya hai to tum logo ne banaya hai? Tum log agar dusra janam bhi le loge tab bhi itni achchi rasmalai kabhi nehi bana sakte ho kamsekam main to nehi maanungi. Sach sach batao kya kiya hai?" The lady cook replied, "Hum sach bol rahe hai madam, ye bahaar se nehi aaya hai, vo baby ne kaha ke aaj vo rasmalai aur masaale waali bhindi khaayegi to bare jamai babu ne khud banaya hai uske liye aur kaha hai ke ye rasmalai sabko khilaane ke liye." On hearing that, both Ranjit and Mrs. Sarna pushed away the bowl and seeing that Bela somehow felt bad but more than feeling bad about it, she was surprised when she heard that Bulbul wanted to have those dishes and she almost exclaimed, "Masaale waali bhindi aur rasmalai?? Bulbul ke liye??" She looked at Madhu and asked, "Ye kab hua?" Madhu proudly replied, "Maahir ne khaana seekhaaya usko aur ab to vo bohot hadh tak nakhra kam karti hai khaane ko lekar. Sab mere jamai ka kamaal hai uske paas aate hi meri Bulbul kitni sudhar gayi hai bas uske tevar nehi badle vo khair uska manufacturing defect hai." Mrs. Sarna made a face and replied, "Mere ghar mein usko khaana banaane ki permission kisne di hai aur agar itna achcha khaana banaata hai to apne aur apni beti ka khaana khud hi bana liya kare, mere ghar ka raashan khatam karne ki kya zarurat hai? Jabse aaya hai tabse musibat pe musibat hi ban rahi hai." Bela could not take it more as it was not only about Maahir but also about Bulbul and replied, "Abhi to aap sab bare chaav se kha rahe the jab suna ke Maahir ne banaya hai, to aapne haath hata liya? Agar itna hi napasand hai to kisiko khaane ki koi zarurat nehi hai, jiske liye bana hai vo hi khaayegi." Saying Bela picked up the bowl and went to the kitchen to keep it in the fridge. Ranjit looked at Bela leaving the place and replied, "Isey kya hua?" Madhu replied, "Bhale hi dono alag rehte hai, ek dusre se gussa hai lekin abhi bhi pati hai uska aur koi bhi biwi apne pati ke baare mein aisa kabhi nehi sun sakti hai." After, they had their dinner, Mrs. Sarna showed Reyhaan the way to their guest room.

After everyone left, the servants cleaned the table and Bela started to serve the food and asked one of the servants to call Maahir and Bulbul. When both of them came, on seeing three plates, Maahir asked, "Ye teesra plate kiske liye?" Without looking at Maahir, Bela replied, "Mere liye." Maahir looked at her with wide eyes and asked, "Mrs. Sehgal mere saath beth kar khaana khaayengi? Itni izzat bakshne ki vajah jaan sakta hu main?" Bela took a deep breath and while putting one spoonful of rice on Bulbul's plate, she replied, "Bulbul ne khaana nehi khaaya hai aur main usse pehle nehi khaati hu isliye main uske saath kha rahi hu, tumhaare saath nehi so aisi koi galatfemi apne dil mein paalne ki koi zarurat nehi hai." Maahir shook his shoulder and when his eyes fall on Bulbul he found her sitting with a pout and he asked, "Ab kya ho gaya?" Bulbul replied, "Pata hai daddy jab se ye dono aaye hai na mujhe itna gussa aa raha hai ke mujhe baar baar bhukh lag rahi hai lekin main thik se kha bhi nehi pa rahi hu. Maine shaam ko 2 plates full brownies kha liye, maamu lekar aaye the lekin mujhe phir bhi bhukh lag rahi hai. Ye saara khaana ja kaha raha hai, mujhe samajhme nehi aa raha hai." When Bulbul said that, Maahir and Bela just could not stop laughing seeing the adorable Bulbul and Bela who was sitting just opposite of Bulbul and Maahir, came by Bulbul's other side and rained kisses on her face and said, "Aww mera bachcha! Bohot bhukh lagi hai mere baby ko lekin gussa bhi bara aa raha hai. Hai na? Koi baat nehi Bulbul ko jitna khaana hai vo utna khaayegi after all itne gusse se energy bhi to drain hoti hai aur agar kisine kuch kaha then he or she'll face mamma's wrath." Saying Bela started feeding Bulbul and seeing that Maahir had a smile on his face and he asked, "Tumne dusri shaadi kyu nehi ki?" Bela looked at Maahir for a moment and then went back feeding Bulbul and asked, "Kya maine tumse pucha ke tumne shaadi kyu nehi ki?" Maahir replied, "Ha nehi pucha par jis tarah se tumhaare papa aur maami Reyhaan ki khaatirdaari karte hai na, usse lagta hai ke if it would not have been Bulbul, tumhaare papa tumhaari dusri shaadi kara chuke hote. Yaha to jamai se zyaada ajnabiyo ki kadar hai." Bela made a face and asked, "To tumne shaadi kyu nehi ki Anu se?" Maahir reluctantly replied, "Shaadi??? Hamaari engagement announce ho chuki thi aur shaadi bhi kar leta agar usdin Bulbul ne call nehi kiya hota aur mujhe ye nehi pata chalta ke meri ek beti hai. Mujhe bohot bura lagta hai Anu ke liye, usne mere liye itna wait kiya, hamesha mera saath diya har bure waqt mein, kabhi kabhi lagta hai main uske saath injustice kar raha hu." Bela chuckled and replied, "Ha tumhaare liye vo churail hi sahi hai, mujhe aaj bhi yaad hai jis tarah se usne react kiya tha hamaari shaadi ka sunkar." Maahir taunted Bela, "Agar vo chudail hai to tum maha chudail ho, tum kisi bala se kam thi kya?" Bela stopped feeding Bulbul and said, "Bulbul ke saamne meri buraai mat kiya karo hamesha samjhe." Maahir replied, "Tum kya ho vo tumhaari beti bohot achche se jaanti hai, lekin usko bhi to pata chalna chahiye ke uski ma kya cheez thi shaadi se pehle." On hearing this, Bela threw the spoon on the dish and said, "Aur tum jo shaadi se pehle mere peeche lattoo ke tarah ghumte the uska kya? Apna waala to bohot achche se bhul jaate ho." Maahir protested and replied, "Nehi maine hamaari puri love story sunaayi hai Bulbul ko, hamaari shaadi tak." He then fed a spoonful of rasmalai to Bulbul and asked, "Kaisi bani puttar?" Bulbul after swallowing it replied, "First class bani hai!" When Bela was about to feed Bulbul, Bulbul looked at both of them and asked, "Main tabse aap logo ka discussion sun rahi hu and I don't mind you both fighting but kya aap dono sach mein chahte hai ke mamma ki shaadi Chimpanjee se aur daddy ki shaadi us chipkali se ho jaaye?" At this question, both Bela and Maahir looked at each other and both of them understood by their fearful expression what would be the possible outcome of their positive reply and so both of them together replied, "Bilkul bhi nehi!!" Bulbul nodded her head and replied, "Very good! I expected that from both of you! Aapko pata hai mamma aur daddy main kyu aap dono ke saath rehna chahti hu kyuki agar main sirf yaha daddy ke saath rahungi to Dracula na Canada le ja kar mamma ki shaadi us Chimpanjee se kar denge aur agar main mamma ke saath gayi to yaha vo Chipkali emotional blackmail karke daddy se shaadi kar legi. Aap dono bohot zyaada sweet ho na isliye aap logo ko samajhme nehi aata par mujhe aata hai. Isiliye main aap dono ke saath rehkar aap dono ko protect karungi." At these statement made by Bulbul, Maahir and Bela again looked at each other and both could not decide whether they should laugh at the way she seriously expressed her concern or should adore her for how much she loved them both but they both controlled their laugh and Bela kissed on Bulbul's cheek and said, "Ha bhai sachchi mein agar Bulbul nehi hoti to mera to pata nehi kya ho jaata." Maahir said, "Isi baat par ek bite rasmalai. Achcha ye to batao ke kal rajkumari ji ko kya khaana hai?" As Bulbul was giving her big list of items, Madhu was watching three of them from behind and was very happy that no matter even for Bulbul's sake at least both Bela and Maahir are tolerating each other and she prayed to God, "Matarani main hamesha yehi chahti thi ke ye teeno na ek saath is tarah se rahe. Bas mere bachcho par na isi tarah se apni meher banaaye rakhna aur inhe har buri nazar se bachaana." She smiled looking at them and then she left from there.