Taiji was aghast.
Naina being praised was itself difficult to fathom for her... now she was being praised by this extremely rich, good looking boy who had fallen for her so badly that he had married her... a good for nothing, average looking, almost an orphan, jinxed girl. And to top it, he was placing her above himself... saying she was more capable than him.
This was too much for her to accept.
She forced a sweet smile, "Beta, tum bohot bhole ho... yeh saara paisa, factory, business, bangla... sab tumhara hi toh hai... jab kaarobaar tumhara hai toh kamaii bhi tumhari hi hui na... aur aaj nahi toh kal factory jaana shuru kar hi doge... iske kaam ka kya hai... yeh TV, filmon ka kaam bhi koi kamaii ka zariya hai? Aaj likh diya, kal kahani khatam toh sab khatam... yeh kya tumhara muqabla karegi."
Sameer looked at Naina... her eyes had no plea this time... he was filled with more determination, smiling in relief.
"Aap samajh nahi payengi iss tarah ke kaam ko, taiji," He shook his head ruefully, "woh kya hai na, padne likhne waalon ko hi iski ahmiyat pata hoti hai... aur kahani khatam hone se kuch khatam nahi hota... sirf nayi kahani banane ka mauka aa jaata hai."
Anand smiled at both his children, "Aur Naina ko aise maukon ki kabhi kami nahi hogi... uski pratibha ko pehchanne wale hamesha aate rahenge."
"Rehne dijiye, Anand babu... yeh kisse kahani kitaabe sab samay barbaad karne ke tareeke hain... main bata rahi hun... zyada din nahi chalegi iski yeh nautanki ki dukaan... ladkiyon ke liye padhai likhai bas utni hi kaafi hai ki sabzi, raashan ka hisaab kar sakein... uske baad karna toh chulha chauka hi hai... uske bina aurat ki kya jagah hogi ghar mein?" Taiji was still submerged into age old conservative thinking.
"Khud kahan karti hain? Fir bhi itni saari jagah gher rakhi hai." Preeti muttered, her words heard only by Naina and Sameer.
He looked up at her, "Preeti, pata hai... Ooty mein humein ek film director mile the... unhone Naina ko offer diya hai, unke liye likhne ka."
Preeti's eyes rounded in amazement, "Film director? Kaunsi film ke? Shooting ho rahi thi? Actors bhi the kya?"
"Actors toh nahi the, par unhone Mumbai mein apne office mein bulaya hai... wahan location dekhne aaye the... apni agli film ke liye... Salman Khan ke saath bana rahe hain." Sameer gave a slanting look to taiji.
Her expression changed to jealousy. Though she didn't watch movies, but the name Salman Khan was so big that she was aware of him being a nationwide sensation.
"Naina, tumne bataya nahi itni badi khushkhabari ke baare mein." Anand got up to come near her, placing a hand on her head.
Preeti, still swooning at the information, said in a dazed voice, "Main bhi jaungi, papa... Naina ke saath Mumbai... film ke office mein... kya pata Shahrukh ya Aamir dikh jayein."
"Woh keh rahe the doosra hero shayad Shahrukh ko hi lenge." Sameer smirked, happy to know there was a rival for Pandit as well.
Preeti clasped her hands on her mouth, eyes going wider.
"Ab isse zyada badi aankhen karegi toh bahar aa jayengi... fir ladke wale kya kahenge?" Bela chuckled, coming out of the kitchen.
Both Sameer and Naina looked up with a jerk... Preeti was instantly frantic.
"Mummy, maine kaha na mujhe Mumbai mein shaadi nahi karni... jab sab log yahan hain toh main Mumbai mein kyon rahun... mujhe Ahmedabad mein hi rehna hai." She said in an irritated tone.
"Arre beta, Phulla bua ne kaha tha na bohot achhe rishte hain... ek baar mil toh lena... hum koi zabardasti shaadi thodi kara rahe hain teri... ho sakta hai tujhe bhi ladka pasand aa jaye." Bela stroked her head lovingly.
