Poonam: Bacche drame nahi karenge to kya hum jaise bade karenge kya?.... Tu bhi kam shaitaan thodi na thi... kitna tease karti thi apne Hanuman Uncle ko...
Mini: Ha... are aapko yaad hai Poonam Maasi jab aap pehli baar aaye the... Oh My God... Kya blunder tha vo.... ki Hanuman Uncle ko bheja tha maine aapke paas....
Poonam: Mujhse flirt karne ke liye... I remember... (pinching her nose) Itni shaitaan hai na tu...
Neil: (confused) Flirt karne ke liye?... Matlab?
Mini: Are tab na... Patiala Babes ka restaurant nahi tha... catering ka shop tha aur reporter aane waali thi... Maasi ko patiala babes ke baare me puchte suna to laga ki vohi reporter hai... Aur dishes wagera bhi bane nahi the... to Hanuman Uncle ko sirf timepass ho jaaye isiliye Maasi ke paas bheja tha... Healthy flirting ke liye bhi itna mushkil se manaya tha na... Bahot bhole the na...
Poonam: Iski wajah se mujhe aisa laga jaise vo naturally thode flirty type ke hai...
Neil: (shocked) Oh My God... Flirting karne ke liye bheja... I can't believe this.... Koi aur idea nahi mila tha tumhe?... Bechare Uncle ki to kya haalat ho gayi hogi...
Mini: Ha... vaise you can definitely relate with him.... Tumhari hi tarah aisi baaton me shy the vo bhi...
Neil: Main koi shy why nahi hu....
Mini: Tum jo conscious ho jaate ho na.... usi ko shyness kehte hai Mr Neil Oberoi...
Poonam: Conscious ho jaate ho matlab?... Tune Neil ko bhi kabhi aise?
Neil: Nahi.... Never....
Mini: Iske aane ke baad aise tricks ki zarurat hi nahi thi... Restaurant to sambhaal hi liya tha na... Kabhi aisa koi situation aati to sochti na....
Neil: Main nahi maanta... (widening his eyes seriously) Mujhse to expect hi nahi karna kabhi... Let me clear it out Madam.... I won't ever agree on anything like this.
Mini: (rolling her eyes) Ha yeh bhi point hai... Hanuman Uncle ko manaana phir bhi possible tha... (chuckled at his expressions)
Poonam: To?.... Tujhe kaisi pata yeh conscious ho jaata hai?
Mini: Are Australia me na... Hum ek party me...
Neil: (whining expressions) Mini... Yaar.... Chodo na tum uss baat ko....
Poonam: Mujhe to jaanna hai ab...
Mini: Hum ek party me gaye the... Tab na Neil ko ek call aa gaya tha to vo thodi der baad aaya aur main meri friend ke saath andar chali gayi.... Jab Neil enter hua to pura paseena paseena aur discomfort uske face pe dikh raha tha...
Poonam: Kyu?
Mini: Kyunki bahot handsome dikh raha tha na yeh to door tak aate aate hi bahot si ladkiyon ne propose kar diya tha mr ko.... "Hi Handsome, Would you like to pair with me for tonight?"... Iski to haalat hi kharab ho gayi thi...
Poonam laughed while Neil had lowered his gaze in embarrassment.
Poonam: To tere saamne bhi aise conscious ho gaya tha first meet me?
Mini: Are mere saamne to professional Chef Neil Oberoi ke getup me aaya tha na... Aise sarcastic looks deta tha.... itna taunt karta tha na... har baat pe sulk karta rehta tha.... jhagda karne ka bahaana chahiye ho jaise.... man karta tha iska murder hi kar du main....
Poonam: Phir?... Tujhe kab dikha... yeh innocent Neil Oberoi then?
Mini: Last year ke second last day pe na... Maine thoda sa tease kar diya tha... to ekdum se blank ho gaya tha...
Neil: Madam... usko teasing nahi kehte... (explaining his point to Poonam) Har time aise to jhagadti rehti thi... aur ekdum se flirt kar rahi thi.. to mujhe actually samajh hi nahi aaya ki kya ho gaya isko achanak.. To koi bhi shareef banda blank hi ho jayega na...
Poonam: Mini flirt kar rahi thi?
Mini: (Looking at Neil) Flirt nahi kar rahi thi main...
Neil: (narrowing his eyes at her) Dekho ab to maan jao... Flirt hi kar rahi thi tum... Ab palatne ka kya fayda hai?
Mini: Main palat nahi rahi hu Idiot!.... (Neil raised his eyebrows with a aren't-you face) Fine!... (pointing out her finger to him and moving it while speaking while Neil was looking at her while glancing at her finger, smiling) Vo to tum bole hi jaa rahe the uss din Simpy didi ko jaise Simpy didi ka nahi khud ka life partner describe kar rahe ho.... to na tumhe embarrass dekhne me bada maza aaya tha mujhe... Aise 'intentionally' flirt nahi kar rahi thi main...
Neil: (curled his finger on hers and moved it down smirkingly) To tum accept kar rahi ho ha... Tum flirt kar rahi thi... baad me palatna mat apni baat se... Mini... Madam....
Mini gave a sharp look to her with a tilted smile while Neil looked at her teasingly with a small pout.
Mini: (nudging him on his arm) I hate you yaar..
Neil: (chuckled) I hate you too...
Poonam adored their bond.
Poonam: Hmm..... Ek photo to banti hai... Idhar dekho dono.
Both looked at Poonam and she clicked a photo.
Poonam: Are aise nahi... pose karo na... bahot pyaare dikhte ho saath me...
Mini sat closer to Neil and Neil wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
Poonam clicked one more photo.
Poonam: Thoda aur paas aao.... Dono young ho yaar... Kya aise old generation pose de rahe ho... Thoda sa to cozy pose do... lage to sahi that you both are in a relationship.... bilkul boyfriend girlfriend lagne chahiye na.....
Both were a little awkward like they used to get everytime in front of anyone, and it was especially infront of an elder, someone almost two decades elder.
Poonam: Aise kya dekh rahe ho mujhe.... badi hu buddhi nahi.... I want some cool pictures... Aise nahi chalega... Dono ki sagaai hone waali hai to bhi itni awkwardness hai....
Both with lowered heads looked at each other and raising their gazes.
Mini wrapped her arm around Neil's neck and Neil's arms were around Mini's waist, both with blushing smiles looked at Poonam with their faces not even inches apart. She smiled and clicked their photo.
Poonam: Yeh hui na baat.... Next....
Mini: Bas na Maasi ho gaya!
They parted.
Poonam: Yahi wajah hai ki tum dono ko aisa lagta hai ki shaadi ke liye ready nahi ho dono.... Itne comfortable ho ek dusre ke saath par kareeb nahi aana chahte.... Itni sharam aati hai mere jaise ke saamne to Dadu Biji ke saamne to kya hi hota hoga?.... Akele me bhi aise sharmaate ho kya?
Both getting red lowered their gazes as they does get a little shy but they are able to clear that shyness off getting lost in each other.
They had their hands met and fingers intervened under the table in nervousness and both could feel each other getting shiver recalling their moments again.
Poonam smiled while biting her lips understanding their condition.
Poonam: Hmm.... To chalo.... Main batati hu vaise pose karo....
Both looked at her.
Poonam: Khade ho dono.... Chalo jaldi se...
Both stood up.
Poonam kept her hand beside both either side's arms and tugged them both closer.
Poonam: Paas me khade raho na... Mujhe nahi pata tha Mini ki tu bhi apni maa ki tarah itna sharmaati hai.... I didn't expect you like that.
She, holding Neil's wrist, wrapped Neil's arm around Mini's waist and keeping Mini hands on his shoulders, made them stand close enough.
Poonam: Huh... Ab theek hai.... (looking at her phone infront of them taking them inside the frame) Chal meri gudiya... apne Neil ko kiss kar.
Mini's eyes widened and she stared at Poonam Maasi with shock while Neil blinked his eyes to recontemplate that he heard right.
Mineil: What?
Poonam: Aise kya ghoor rahe ho dono?.... Come on... Drop this shyness....
Mini: Aisehi theek hai na...
Poonam: (to Mini) Apni maa ke liye to bade romantic ideas sujhte the tujhe.... ab khud ke time pe to banda bhi itna shy dhunda hai... Not fair.... Chal chal jaldi... Maine hi gaadi aage badhaani hai tum dono ki.... Aise nahi chalega....
Mini glanced at Neil's face which was in utter shock and then tightening her grip on his shoulders, raised herself on her toes. Neil looked at her face, which raised slowly, with the deepening blush they both got after listening to the fast clicks of Poonam's phone.
Neil was looking at Mini, getting blankly lost in her with the deep blush forget to even turn his face. Mini holding her chin, needed to turn his face and she resting her hand on his shoulder, pecked him on his cheek.
This simple thing was also getting them so awkward despite them getting so much close to each other already was just because they knew that they were not alone and someone else is watching them too.
Poonam smiled at their condition.
Poonam: Chalo ab theek hai.... Dekho mast photo aayi hai tum dono ki...
She showed them the photo and they nodded.
.
.
.
Neil yawned a little as he was tired.
Mini: Thak gaye ho... Jao aaram kar lo...
Neil: Hmm.... Kal restaurant lunch time pe jaana hai.... transport wagera ki baad ho gayi hai Mr Pranav se... Unhone bus arrange kar di hai...
Mini: Ok.... To kal to tum sote rahoge.... right?
Neil: Ha agar koi hitler madam jogging ke liye bechare se insaan pe zulm na kare to...
Mini: Kal Arya ki bhi chutti hai..... Nahi karungi (curling her fingers) 'zulm'.... bas?
Neil: (sighing) Thank you..... Good Night....
Mini: Good Night.
Neil: (turned to Poonam) Good Night.
Poonam: Good night.
Neil went downstairs.
Mini: Chalein.... Mere room me?
Poonam: Neil ja raha hai to chod kar to aa usko... darwaza band kaun karega?
Mini: Are bahar nahi niche gaya hai.... mera tenant hai... niche hai uska room....
Poonam: Tenant hai?.... Boyfriend ke saath ek hi ghar me rehti hai phir bhi tum dono itne awkward ho jaate ho?.... Ajeeb ho bilkul.... Lagta hi nahi ki isi generation ke ho...
Mini chuckled at Poonam's expressions.
.
.
.
.
Next Morning,
Poonam came out to the balcony after getting ready with two cups of tea and saw Mini drying her hair while talking on speaker with a girl.
Mini: (chuckling) Accha phir?
Keya: Meri first position aayi hai.... Annual function me prize milega.
Mini: Wow amazing.... Congratulations.
Keya: Aap Daddy ko bata doge na?
Mini: Tumne khud call kyu nahi kiya?
Keya: Kal hi to pata chala tha.... Maine socha aap dono saath me hi hoge isiliye aapko call kiya jab unka phone nahi utha to...
Mini: Are rakh diya hoga usne phone yahi kahin.... Pata to hai tumhe kitna aalsi hai vo... So raha hai abhi tak....
She turned while speaking and saw Poonam Maasi with a tray with two cups and shock on her face.
Mini: A.... Cutu main tumhe thodi der baad call karti hu...
Keya: Ok... Bye Mi!
Mini: Bye.
She cut the call.
Mini: (taking the tray from her and placing it on the parapet) Aap kab aaye Poonam Maasi?.... (taking a cup and forwarding to her) Itne shock me kyu ho?
Poonam: Neil.... Bachelor nahi hai?.... He is a father?
Mini: Hmm.... Vo Divorcee hai...
Poonam: Divorcee?....Tu ek divorcee se...
Mini: Maasi... Babes bhi to divorcee thi na?.... Tab to aap support kar rahe the uska relation.... ab aise kyu react kar rahe ho?
Poonam: Mini... Uss time teri Babes divorcee thi to tere Hanuman Uncle bhi ek widower the.... Tu sprinster hai Mini.... Teri baat alag hai...
Mini: Do you think mujhe isse farak padta hai?
Poonam: Dekh Mini shayad tu samajh nahi rahi.... Accha yeh bata.... Kitna time ho gaya Neil ke divorce ko...
Mini: A..... yahi kuch... 4-5 mahine.
Poonam: (shocked) Tu kab se jaanti hai Neil ko?
Mini: 8-9 mahine....
Poonam: (held her shoulders in shock) Mini... What are you doing meri gudiya?....
Mini: Maasi Relax.... I know what you are thinking after knowing this.... Aap baitho....
Poonam sat on the couch in front of her.
Mini: Neil was betrayed 5 years back..... He left his home in Delhi and came to Patiala.... Uska aur uski ex wife ka relation 5 saal pehle hi khatam ho gaya tha.... Jis bacchi se main abhi baat kar rahi thi na.... Beti hai vo Neil ki.... Uski custody me Neil sirf meeting rights chahta tha par vo nahi mil paane ki wajah se case pending tha kyunki ladne ki himmat nahi ho rahi thi uski bina support ke... Mere sirf support karne pe, he was able to fight the case... And do you know what he got to know after fighting through all that?
Poonam raised her eyebrows.
Mini: That the daughter for whom he was fighting to meet for wasn't even his own..... Neil biological father nahi hai Keya ka.... Phir bhi he cares for her as his own daughter.
Poonam: Aur tu?
Mini: Main?.... Mera to vo sabse bada support system hai... (smiling emotionally) Usne mera saath uss time pe diya tha Maasi.... jab sabne muh mod liya tha mujhse.... Dadu Biji Naeem Bi tak nahi the... par vo tha mere paas.... mere saath... mujhe sunne ke liye... mujhe comfort karne ke liye.... Mere liye vo ek aisa support hai na Maasi jo main jaanti hu ki kitna bhi tough ho jaaye uske liye mere saath chalna par vo mera haath nahi chodega....
Poonam had a tearful smile.
Poonam: (caressing her cheek) Meri choti si gudiya rani itni badi ho gayi.... mujhe to pata hi nahi tha... (pecked on her forehead) Hamesha aisehi khush rehna.... apne Neil ke saath.
Mini smiled.