Neil chuckled and stepped back again, nodding in a no, keeping the plate aside on a rock.
Dadu Biji adored their childish antics too.
But then they saw Neil stepping back further and it was the end of the elevated ground around the temple.
Mini: Neil ruko...
Neil was stepping back.
Neil: (not realising) Kyu?... Taaki tum ek ahinsavaadi insaan pe zulm kar sako...
Mini: Neil peeche...
Neil's back foot was the end of the elevation.
Mini was tensed enough and she took a huge step further. Immediately holding Neil's hand, she pulled him strongly on her.
Mini: (with tears in her eyes) Gir jaoge tum....
His hands got wrapped against her and she turned around with him to the other side. He now facing the other side, saw behind Mini that it was the end of the elevation and if he would have fallen off then it would have been a major accident.
His eyes widened and he immediately stepped back with Mini to safer spot.
Mini hit him multiple times on his torso.
Mini: (heavy voice) I told you not to step back... But you are an Idiot.... Sunte hi nahi ho na tum...
Neil: (holding her) Accha Sorry..... (she didn't stop and hit him again) Sorry Mini...
Mini: (tears flooding in her eyes) Kya Sorry?.... Abhi gir jaate to?...
Neil: (keeping her head close to his torso and caressed her back, his voice also got heavy seeing her tears) Tum ho na... Kaise gir jaane deti mujhe?... Pakad liya na tumne?...
Mini: (tears flowed from her eyes) Idiot ho tum!.... I hate you!
Neil: (heavy voice) I hate you too.... (parted a little, still wrapping his arm around her back, rubbing off her tears) Tum chinta mat karo.... Itna jaldi peecha nahi chodunga tumhara.... Aakhir apni ziddi Mini Madam ka dheet Neil Oberoi hu.... Abhi to tumhe bahot se drame jhelne hai mere...
Mini chuckled emotionally while remembering her words similar to these.
Mini: (repeating his words) Khushi khushi jhel lungi tumhare saare drame... bas tum mere paas hi rehna... (sternly) aur aisi bevakoofiyan dobara nahi honi chahiye...
Neil nodded obediently and they parted.
Neil: (holding his both ears cutely) Ok fine.... Sorry Mini Madam... Aage se dhyaan rakhunga.
Dadu Biji came to them.
Biji: Neil tumhe dhyaan rakhna chahiye na..... Abhi tum gir jaate to?... Gehrayi dekh rahe ho?....
Dadu: Mujhe to tum dono baccho ka samajh hi nahi aata hai... Aage peeche dekh to liya karo ladne se pehle...
Mineil: Sorry.
Neil saw the time.
Neil: Mini... its quarter past 7 already... aaj to late ho jayenge Arya ko bhejne me....
Mini: Chalo... chalte hai phir... aur late nahi kar sakte...
They sat in the car. Mini jerked back her hair and she was feeling hot. Sweat appeared on her neck. Neil took the aarti plate from her and taking out her bunstick from his pocket, forwarded to her.
She smiled and took it making a bun. She sighed in relief and took back the plate.
.
.
.
They reached the haveli. Arya was sitting on the sofa with Naeem Bi trying to make her pony but she was whining.
Seeing Mineil entering,
Arya: Wow.... Veerbalika Neil.... Tum dono to bilkul TV ke hero heroine jaise lag rahe ho...
Mini: Ready ho gayi tum.... Dekho time hone wala hai bus ka...
Neil: Breakfast kar liya?
Arya: Nahi... Naeem Bi ne dalia banaya tha par bilkul accha nahi laga...
Mini: (turned to Neil) Dekha... tumne hi bigaad rakha hai isko.... aisehi dete rahoge na har roz subah subah Aloo ke paranthe to drame karegi tumhari Choti Madam.
Arya frowned at Mini.
Arya: This is not fair Veerbalika.... Tum mere genie ko mat daato...
Neil: Main paranthe bana deta hu...
Arya made him bend to her and pecked him on his cheek.
Arya: I love you Neil.
Neil: (holding her hand and smiling) I love you too (pinching her nose) Choti Madam.
Mini: (smiling at both of them) Ha... Mil jao... dono genie aur choti madam mil jao....
Neil: (to Arya) Jalne ki smell aa rahi hai aapko Choti Madam?
Arya: Bahot zyada!
Mini: (furiously) Main koi jal val nahi rahi hu....
Neil: Humne to aisa nahi bola ki tum jal rahi ho.... agar tumko lag raha hai to kuch to baat hogi hi na...
Mini clenched her teeth with a tilted smile and moved to him.
He pointed his fingers to her, swaying them in a oscillatory manner to signal in no.
Neil: Ahahahaha.... Time dekho..... (she turned to see the time but turned back as it was 7.25 and there was enough time but he had escaped)..... Main ja raha hu upar.....
He went upstairs chuckling at her getting speechless.
Mini: Yeh smartness bhari padegi tumhe...
Neil: (chuckling) Dekhenge...
Naeem Bi came to her.
Naeem Bi: (handling over the comb to her) Tu hi sambhaal apni chutanki ko.... Main to thak gayi.... Teri choti si gudiya kisi ke bhi naak me dum kar de...
Mini chuckled and made pony for Arya. They went up and had breakfast too.
Mini: Chalo ab time ho gaya hai... bus bhi aati hi hogi...
They dropped Arya to the school bus.
.
.
.
.
.
.
At night, In her room, Mini lied on the bed to sleep but her phone rang.
It was Jazz's call.
Mini: Hi Jazz! Aakhir yaad aa hi gayi tujhe meri?
Jazz: Tujhe to phir bhi nahi aayi na... Call to maine hi kiya... Tujhse to vo bhi nahi hua...
Mini: Sorry yaar..
Jazz: Chal koi na... Vaise maine call kuch important baat karne ke liye kiya hai..
Mini: Ha bol..
Jazz: Tune apna mail check kiya hai recently?
Mini: Nahi.... Vo actually restaurant ke hi mails hi pure nahi dekh paati hu main... Vaise bhi abhi kuch kar nahi rahi to...
Jazz: Camelia tujhe wapas bulaana chahti hai...
Mini: WHAT?
Jazz: Ha.... Bahot miss karti hai teri photography skills ko...
Mini: Camelia meri skills ko miss kar rahi hai?... Jab main waha thi tab to kabhi zara si bhi tareef nahi ki....
Jazz: Par ab mujhse kitni baar tere baare me puchti hai... Teri photos ko ek inspiration ki taraf portray karke juniors ko batati bhi hai...
Mini: I can't believe....
Jazz: Usne tujhe ek offer bheja hai...
Mini: But you know na I can't come....
Jazz: Sun to le... Teri marzi ho to hi aana...
Mini: Hmm... Bol.....
Jazz: Sirf 12 days ke liye aana hai.... Lead karna hai tujhe kuch juniors ko aur train karna hai for their career in photography....
Mini: Isme meri photography skills kaise kaam aayengi..?
Jazz: Pura sunegi?
Mini: Sorry... bol aage...
Jazz: Tujhe hi pura project karna hai but vo juniors tere saath honge and tu just unko guide karna ki how and why you have done what you did.... Camelia yeh bol rahi thi ki at least she will get some juniors jiske paas kuch to improved skills hongi.... Aur ho sakta hai tera project vo shayad company ka representation banane ke liye bhi try kar rahi ho....
Mini: Let me see her mail... And think about it..
Jazz: Aaram se sochna.... Then decide...
Mini: Hmm... Thanks....Bye
Jazz: Bye
Mini checked her mails.
.
.
.
.
.
Next Morning,
Mini woke up and got ready.
She went to the balcony, looked at the sky and thought about Camelia's offer.
Neil drying his hair came to the balcony and saw her.
She was lost in the thoughts and had tears in her eyes.
Neil kept his hand on her shoulder.
Neil: (worriedly) Kya hua Mini?
Mini: (came out of her thoughts) H?
Neil: Kya hua?... Tumhare aankhon me aansu?.... Kya soch rahi ho?
Mini held his hand.
Mini: Tum baitho abhi mere saath.... mujhe kuch baat karni hai...
They sat on the couch.
Neil: (seriously) Bolo...
Mini: When I was in Australia, main ek company me kaam karti thi under Camelia, my boss.
Neil: Ok
Mini: Camelia ka mail aaya hai... She had offered me a 12 days project. Jisme mujhe project karte hue kuch juniors ko guide karna hai....
Neil: (with a hopeful smile) Ok...
Mini: (with tension) Par Australia jaana padega... New Zealand ka project hai.... pehle 2 din intro and project briefing hogi... phir 2 days New Zealand me nature shoots....then wapas Australia me photo description and submission..... Agar maine "Ha" bol diya to 10 din baad jaana hai.....
Neil: So?
Mini was silent.
Neil understood her dilemma.
Neil side hugged Mini.
Neil: Do you trust me?
Mini: Yes totally!
Neil: Then what is stopping you?
Mini: You can sense me right?
Neil: I can sense you and I know what you are thinking but mujhe tumse sunna hai...
Mini: Yaha sab manage kaise hoga....
Neil: Me karunga na...
Mini: Tumpe already itni responsibilities hai... Pura restaurant staff ko tum hi handle kar rahe ho... Upar se ab order management aur Arya ki responsibilities bhi....
Neil: So what? Itna to main kar hi sakta hu na tumhare aur Arya ke liye? Itna to haq hai na mera?
Mini: Ha... Haq hai tumhe.... But phir bhi...
Neil: Tum yaha ki kisi cheez ki chinta mat karo... Sab manage ho jayega.... It's your dream Mini... It's your passion.... You just go and live your dream.
Mini: But Arya?... Usse itna dur.. Usko chodke yahan.... Manaungi kaise usko?
Neil: Usse saath milke baat karte hai....
Mini: Hmm..
Neil: Kuch aur bhi baat hai ?
Mini nodded.
Neil: To bolo na...
Mini: Main ab aise jaana nahi chahti...
Neil: Matlab?
Mini: (lowering down her gaze to the ground) Baat sirf Arya ki to nahi hai na... Its also about us... Humara kya? Kaise rahungi waha itni door tumhare bina?... Aadat ho gayi hai tumhari....
Neil: (huskily) Sirf aadat?
Mini looked at him and with a little smile: Zarurat bhi...
Neil kept his hand on her cheek: Hum to saath me hi hai na...
Mini was confused.
Neil: (cupping her face) My soul resides in you... You can feel my presence anytime na?
Mini took a deep breath and nodded lightly.
She hugged him tightly and Neil caressed her hair.
Neil: Meri ek tension ka solution kar dogi?
Mini: Kaunsi tension?
Neil: Promise me that you will take care of yourself there at priority.
Mini: I Promise.
Neil: Don't stress yourself.
Mini nodded.
Both smiled.
Neil made the breakfast and Arya came up after getting ready.
Arya: Veerbalika! Dekho aaj main kitni jaldi ready ho gayi hu.... Tumhe pata hai aaj drawing activity hai mere class ki... dekhna sabse best banaungi main.
Mini: Ha Ha Kyu nahi....
Arya smiled.
They ate the breakfast together.
Mini: Chutanki! Mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai.
Mini and Neil sat on the sofa with Arya in Mini's lap.
Mini: Arya tumko pata hai na....Tumhari Veerbalika iss duniya me sabse zyada pyaar tumse karti hai aur kabhi kabhi bhi tumhe bura lage aisa kuch nahi karegi?
Arya: Ha par tum aise kyu puch rahi ho?
Mini: Tumhe pata hai Mein Australia me ek travel photographer ka job karti thi....
Arya: Ha...
Mini: Meri boss ne mujhe bulaya hai...Sirf 12 days ke liye... Mujhe vaha ek project karte hue kuch juniors ko guide karna hai....to.....
Arya: To tum mujhe chodd kar chali jaogi? (hugging her tightly)
Mini: Me yahi tumse puch rahi hu....ki me sirf 12 days ke liye main Australia chali jaun.... plz...Neil yahi hai tumhare paas...
Arya: Tumhe kya milega agar tum waha gayi to?....tum job karne jaogi?
Mini: Ha sirf 12 days ke liye....
Arya: Par restaurant bhi to ab bahot fayda kar raha hai na....to hume aur paiso ki kya zarurat hai?....tum kyu jana chahti ho Veerbalika.
Neil: Choti madam....mujhe ek baat batao...tumhe drawing activity me part lena kyu achha lagta hai...usme to koi prize bhi nahi milta hai?
Arya: Kyunki mujhe Drawing bahot acchi lagti hai....
Neil: Aapki Veerbalika ko bhi puri duniya ko apne camera se dekhna bahot accha lagta hai....yeh uska passion hai... sapna hai.... aap chahti ho ki aapki Veerbalika ka sapna pura nahi ho?
Arya: Nahi.... Me chahti hu ki Meri Veerbalika ke saare sapne pure ho.....
Neil: To aapko nahi lagta ki Veerbalika ko sirf thodu se time ke liye agar jana pade to jana chahiye.?
Arya: (after thinking) Tum sahi keh rahe ho Neil.
Mini: To...me jau?
Arya: Par 12 days se ek bhi din zyada nahi....nahi to phir 1 kilo namak khana padega...(in hanuman uncle style)....you baat final hai chori....
Mini: (in hanuman uncle style, with tears of happiness in her eyes) Bilkul final hai....Ek dum dhai ki baat ki hai tune chori....
Both smiled at each other.
Arya: All the best... Veerbalika!
Mini smiled : Thank you meri chutanki... (hugging her) Thank you so much.
Neil smiled seeing both the sisters.
Arya: Kab nikalna hai?
Mini: 10 din baad.... par abhi maine ha nahi boli hai... 2 din hai sochne ke liye.
Neil: Ab kya problem hai... bol do ha.
Mini: I still need time to think..... Aur pls.. tab tak iss baare me hum baat nahi karenge.
Arya and Neil agreed.
They went to the restaurant.
.
.
.
.
2 days later,
Mini had replied in agreement to the mail and then decided to tell Dadu Biji and Naeem Bi about it.
In the evening,
Mini, Neil and Arya came to Naeem Bi's house.
Naeem Bi: Are Mini... Tu itni pareshaan kyu lag rahi hai? Arya aur Neil to khush lag rahe hai... Kuch hua hai?
Mini: Vo... Main 12 din ke liye Australia ja rahi hu... 8 din baad...
Dadu: Kyu?
Mini: Camelia ne offer bheja tha.. ek project hai New Zealand ka jisme mujhe juniors ko guide karna hai... Neil yaha sab sambhal lega... Aur Arya bhi maan gayi hai...
Biji: To tu pareshaan kyu hai?
Mini: Kuch nahi Biji... Bas confused hu.. Aaj Camelia ko bhej to diya ki aa rahi hu phir bhi...
Naeem Bi: Apne khwaabo ki udaan bharne ja rahi hai tu Mini... Pareshaan nahi ... khush hoke ja...
Mini nodded.
Mini: Main try kar rahi hu.... but... dekhte hai... main haveli jaati hu... mood theek nahi hai abhi mera...
She went to the haveli.
Naeem Bi: (To Neil) Kya problem hai?... Kyu pareshaan hai itni yeh?
Neil: Abhi 2 dino se bahot kuch soch rahi hai.... aise ekdum se jaana pad raha hai na sab chodke to thoda ajeeb lag raha hai usko... Mujhe lagta hai thoda time chahiye sab achanak ho gaya na...
Naeem Bi: Dhyaan rakhna uska.
Neil: Hmm....
Arya: Neil.... Mere paas ek idea hai...
Neil: Kya?
All smiled listening to Arya's idea.
Neil raised his eyebrows at Dadu Biji and Naeem Bi and they nodded allowing it.
Arya: Kaisa hai?
Neil: Mast hai. Par Choti Madam aap galti se bhi surprise bata mat dena.... Theek hai na?
Arya: Pakka!
Dadu Biji and Naeem Bi smiled.
.
.
.
.
.
At night,
Mini was lying on the couch with her head in Neil's lap. Neil didn't tried to cheer her up as he knew she needs that introspection too. But he was comforting her by gently pressing her head and intervening their little fingers. He knew, Mini just needed their peaceful silence, his comforting small acts and his calming presence beside her.
In some time she slept.
Neil saw her toes shrunken together. He without disturbing her sleep, got up and made her lie comfortably placing a pillow under her head.
He lifted her feet and sat with her feet in his lap, gently massaging it to relax her. She stretched herself feeling relaxed and sighed. Neil curled his fingers on her feet and gently pressed to soothe her.
.
.
.
.
.
Next morning, Mini woke up feeling relaxed when felt Neil's fingers on her feet. She confusedly opened her eyes and saw him asleep, leaned on the back of the couch with her feet wrapped in his hands.
Mini smiled, taking back her feet and adored him lovingly, by keeping her palm on his cheek.
He moved his face, with his smile widening and now his face was leaning completely on her hand.
Her smile widened and she made him lie on the couch, getting up herself and patted lightly to let him sleep soundly. He stretched himself comfortably and sighed.