10 years later
India, marriage function in Daya's family
DayaM: Shreyaaaaaa…..kahan ho tum..jaldi neeche aaooo..
Shreya(from room): Aayi Mummyyyyy..
Shreya finishes getting ready and turns to face Daya. He is as usual working on his laptop. His eyes are more interested towards the mail he is typing.
Shreya (coughing fakely): Dayaaa….kya main theekh dikh rahi hoon?
Daya (typing): hmm
Shreya (showing off her lehenga): yeh fit ekdum perfect hai naa…acha hua naa yeh color select kiya maine..
Daya: hmmm..
Shreya (trying again): yeh orange bindi match kar rahi hai naa…mere lehenge se?
Daya (not seeing her): arre…ekdum perfect…tip top!...
Shreya (making face): sach me? Perfect hai? Daya ek baar dekhiye toh sahi..
Daya takes a peek over the laptop and nods his head as yes.
Daya: Shreyaaa..zara darwaaza bandh kar dena..mera call hai 5 min me…he is busy with his phone..
Shreya shuts the door with extra force to announce – she is angry with him. She takes a deep breath and hurries downstairs to help her mother-in-law.
Daya joins them all later. It's a party at his parents house to celebrate his cousin's wedding.
Daya (asking his chachi): Shreya ko dekha? Kabse dhoondh raha hoon..
Chachi (searching):who rahi..Arjun uncle se baat kar rahi hai..
Daya (thinking): yeh Arjun uncle kaun hai? Shayad Shreya ke rishte me hai..he straightens the collars of his kurta and walks to the uncle.
Daya (folding hands): Namaste Arjun uncle..aap kaise hai?
Arjun uncle: good good….who is he?..he asks Shreya..
Shreya (surprised): Uncleeeee…aapne nahi pehchaana? He is Dayaaa….my husband..
Arjun uncle: Ohhooooooo….so sorry betaaaa…I am 87 now…so little memory loss..
Shreya (hands on hips): kya kaha? phir toh aap mujhe bhi bhool jaayenge..
Arjun uncle (pinching her cheek): No ways…every morning I get a sweet good morning message from you…how will I forget you?..he laughs..
Daya (confused): every morning?
Arjun: Family watssup group me…tum nahi ho kya uss group me?
Daya looks at Shreya for help. Shreya has added him to various groups – family, cousins, friends but he hardly pays attention to any of them.
Shreya:hai naa..Daya bilkul hai…hai naa? She asks Daya and glares at him..
Daya:haan haan Uncle…main hoon naa…Shreya ne uske Maayke ke family group me bhi add kiya hai..aap bhi ho naa uss group me? He asks to regain his lost ground.
Arjun uncle: Maayke ke group? Main iske maayke ke group me kyun aaoonga…I am your 'cousin uncle'…
Daya (shocked): Kya?..ohh…mera matlab…he gets stuck now…he had not realized the man was his relative..
Shreya (saving him): kya Daya..aapko bhi memory loss ho gaya..itni jaldi..kyun Arjun uncle ki taang kheech rahe hai…she points at someone..Arjun uncle…wahan..Papa(Daya father) bulaa rahe hai aapko…
Arjun uncle leaves. Shreya looks at Daya and giggles.
Daya (hitting his head): Kaun the yeh uncle Shreya?
Shreya (open mouth): Kyaa….aapko sach me nahi pata? Arre…yeh banglore waale aapke daadu ke cousin ke teesre bête hai…Daya looks stumped…arre Arjun uncle aur aapke Papa college me saath me the…phir jab aapke Papa ne 1983 me Indian Oil join ki thi…yeh uncle bhi 4 saal saath the..
Daya (confused): huhhhh?
Shreya: inka second ladka Amsterdam me rehta hai..hum mile the naaa last year…aapki cousin Deepa ki shaadi me? London me…yaad aaya…
Daya (headache): ek min …ek min…tum koi short ka rishta samjhaa dooo…aise toh poori raat nikal jaayegi.
Shreya: yeh aapke chacha lagte hai..hamare watsupp family group me last month hi add huye hai..
Daya (sighs): yeh technology aaj kal ghar ke boodhe jyaada use kar rahe hai…
Shreya: acha..aap zara guests ko dekhna..main kitchen me jaati hoon..
Daya (holding her hand): Shreyaaa…please…mujhe akela chodd ke mat jaoo…aisa lagta hai..main yahan kisiko pehchaanta hi nahi…
Shreya (giggles): yeh aapka ghar hai..aapke rishtedaar hai..
Daya: ah aaahh..mere nahi hamaare rishtedaar..
Shreya spends some time and is busy. She is walking towards a room, Daya pulls her aside.
Shreya (gasp): Daya…yeh kya? Sabke saamne aise…choddoo mujhe…
Daya (tying her blouse dori): kuch nahi…tumhari dori khul gayi thi..baandh di maine..
Shreya (anticipating more):ohh…she smiles and looks at him, adjusting her hairs. Daya looks at her blankly.
Daya: aise kya dekh rahi ho? Kaam ho gaya..jaoo….party me…
Shreya sighs and shuts her eyes in disappointment. She starts to walk away.
Daya (smile): Shreyaaa…ek min..
Shreya (turning her face, irritated voice): Kya hai?
Daya (coming closer to her): yeh bindi…he takes a bindi packet from his kurta pocket…yeh orange waali se zyaada purple tumhare lehenge ko suit karega.. Shreya smiles and leaves blushing.
Later, night
Shreya is applying cold cream on her hands and face. Daya is watching TV. Shreya comes and lies next to him placing cotton in her ears and wearing a night eye mask.
Shreya: goodnight
Daya: tumhe neend aa rahi hai?..he switches the TV off.
Shreya (getting up): aapne TV kyun bandh kiya..maine eye mask pehenli hai..aap aaram se TV dekhiye…she switches on the sports channel back
Daya (switching it off): nahi…tum subah se ghar ke kaamo me lagi ho..you need rest..so good night and sleep well..
Shreya: aap bhi subah se office ke kaam me busy the…you need a break..so watch your sports..
Daya:Shreyaaaa..kyun zidd kar rahi ho?
Shreya (angry):Main zidd kar rahi hoon? You mean to say main ziddi hoon? Fine…she removes the eye mask…ab toh main TV dekhoongi…she switches on a music channel..
Small boy voice:Mummy..Papaaa…aap dono ko ladna hai..doosre room me ladiye naa..mujhe sone dijiye please…
Shreya (switching TV off): So soryyyy..bachaa…so jaoooo..so jaooo Rahul..
Daya gets off the bed and goes to the balcony. Shreya makes their kid sleep again and joins him. They both continue to stare outside at the dark night. They don't talk.
Shreya (mind):Iss baar toh main sorry nahi boloongi..meri koi galti bhi nahi hai..bahut neend aa rahi hai..but kya karoon…hum hi ne rule banaya hai..fight solve kiye bina hum nahi so sakte..she looks at Daya from the corner of her eyes. He is staring straight out at the night. She makes a small Hmmff sound.
Daya (turning to her): Tumhe kuch kehna hai? He takes a step closer to her.
Shreya (moving a step away): nahi….aapko kuch kehna hai? She throws the ball back in his court.
Daya (looking out again): agar main kahoon haan toh?
Shreya: tohhhh main boloongi…Its okay…maine aapko maaf kiya..she smiles..she is dancing in her heart…he is going to apologise.
Daya (taken aback): tumne mujhe maaf kiya? Lekin maine sorry kab kaha? he challenges..
Shreya (tired, irritated): haan..aap toh itni jaldi kabhi sorry bolenge nahi….aap toh kabhi jhukenge nahi..har baar mujhe hi maafi maangni padti hai…10 saal se yeh hi toh dekh rahi hoon..she crosses her hands..Daya grins at her..
Shreya (angry): aap kya hass rahe hai…koi seriousness nahi hai naa..main jaa rahi hoon sone..good night.. she prepares to go, Daya pulls her back hugging her and kissing her on the neck
Shreya (struggling):Chodiye Daya…main sach much jaa rahi hoon…I hate you..
Daya (kissing her cheek):But I toh Love you….very much…
Shreya (stunned):kya?
Daya (turning her): haan…I love you Shreya…he looks at her tilting his head..Shreya feels nice, she cannot help but smile at him. slowly she embraces him.
Shreya: I am sorry Daya..
Daya:kisliye?
Shreya: woh jo jhagda hua abhi bedroom me..
Daya (laughing): usse jhagda kehti ho tum..woh toh silly nokjhok hai..main toh tumhe bas irritate kar raha tha…
Shreya: Kya? Mujhe jaan boojhke irritate kiya aapne? Kyun?
Daya (holding her chin with finger): Kyunki…gusse me tum bahut pyaari lagti ho..
They both laugh at this statement.
Shreya:Dayaaaa..she takes his name with love..why do you love me?
Daya: koi ek wajah ho toh bataooo…
Shreya: mujhe sunna hai…please..she requests..
Daya (hugging her by side, both watching the moon): I love you because I gave you my family and you brought them closer to me..aaj jab who Arjun uncle ne tumse poocha ..Who is he? Tab mujhe ehsaas hua tum kiss had tak mere family me ghul mil gayi ho..tum iss ghar ki ho gayi ho…iss parivaar ki…I love you for that.. Shreya hugs him by his stomach..
Daya: I love you because you really take pains to understand me, live with me…yaad hai shaadi ki shuruaat me tum mere zyaada kaam karne se kitna chidhti thi….but then jab tumhe samajh me aaya ki yeh meri aadat hai..tumne adjust kar liya..you let me be me…haan thodi fine tuning ki hai magar….basic features ko change hone nahi diya..Thanks for believing in me.. Shreya smiles at him crinkling her nose
Daya (cupping her face): I love you for being you…simple, friendly and lovely.
Shreya feels all warm and mushy from inside. She has tears in her eyes.
Shreya (emotional): I love you too Dayaaa..and I mean it..you mean the world to me. She smiles..hamesha se ghar ki laadli thi – pampered, protected..Papa ki princess..magar aaj…I am your Queen..and you are my King..aapne mujhe encourage kiya..to follow my dreams, think big, get up on my feet..Shreya Daya Shetty me Shreya hone ka ehsaas dilaaya..
Shreya (putting her hands around his neck): aap nature me kaafi shy ho, reserved ho…magar inn kuch saalon me mere liye, mere khushiyon ke liye thode romantic bhi ho gaye ho…pehle meri gifts bhi aapke behen se yaa mummy ke suggestion se lete the…aaj dekho toh..meri pasand ke kapde mujhse zyaada aap samajhte hai..pata hai kitne compliments mile mujhe aaj uss lehenge ke liye…
Daya: magar woh bindi yaar…matching nahi lagaayi thi tumne pehle..
Shreya: maine dikhaaya toh thaa aapko pehle…aap toh tabhi laptop me busy the..
Daya: what? Maine dekha toh thaa…ek jhalak..isliye toh doosri bindi leke ghoom raha tha pocket me..
Shreya: yeh aap pehle bhi toh bataa sakte the..lekin nahi tabhi aapka call important tha naa..
Daya: Shreya tum nahi jaanti…kitna important presentation tha who…
Shreya: aapki biwi se bhi zyaada important? She crosses her arms again.. Daya is stumped for an answer.
Daya (stutter): ab aise..aise puchogi...sudde..suddenly toh..
Shreya (angry, uncrossing arms): I just don't believe it…5 min pehle mujhe important, lovely yeh sab keh rahe the..ab main important nahi hoon? This is too much…she snarls..
Daya steps closer, Shreya turns her face away. Daya puts a hand on her neck and turns her face to him.
Daya: Meri Priority Number 1 ho tum Shreya…isliye toh aaj ki meeting ache se karke…10 din I chutti maang li maine..
Shreya (shocked):Chutti?
Daya: hmmm 8 days…7 nights…beautiful Maldives..room for two..kaisa lag raha hai? Mrs Shreya Daya Shetty..
Shreya (happy, excited):Wowwww..sach me…8 din…2 din baad who bhi…oh my god…packing, shopping…parlour..kitna kuch karna hai..main kal hi apni packing shuru karti hoon..
Daya:tumhari packing? Main toh Rahul ke saath jaane wala hoon..uski school ki chuttiyan hai naa..tum toh mujhse gussa ho naa..
Shreya (shocked): Maine kab kaha main gusse me hoon..
Daya: abhi 5 min pehle lecture jo de rahi thi tum..
Shreya:lecture? Ab mera bolna bhi lecture lagta hai..Dayaaaa..this is the limit..
Daya laughs and pulls the reluctant Shreya into a kiss. As expected after all this 10 years of their sweet salty relation, Shreya forgets the fight and after some seconds hugs Daya with all eagerness.
Daya: tum thodi si cartoon ho..but I love you Shreya..happy anniversary my angel..
Shreya: ohhh…toh yeh anniversary special gift hai?
Daya (picking her): asli gift toh Maldives me hai…8 days and 7 nights! He whispers..
Shreya (placing her head on his shoulder): I love you Dayaa…and you know what…I really mean it..
Daya: I know that Shreya….I love you too…
He takes his wife inside the room…
Shreya (mind): ab toh yakeen ho gaya...jab bhi who quiz loongi mere shaadi ka result kya aayega...Compatible and successful marriage...kyunki koi bhi shaadi perfect nahi hoti...you have to work on it every single day..
THE END...….
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