Kiska Hai Tumko Intezaar

Ladki pategi nahi bhaag jayegi

Sameer noticed a look of irritation appear on Naina's face. She mumbled something then turned her back towards them again, as if ignoring their presence.

Pandit shook him, 'Bol na kahan raid padi?'

Sameer let out a swoosh of air from his mouth and forced himself to remain calm as he answered, 'Maine kab kaha koi raid padi hai?'

'Abhi toh kaha.' Pandit stated with conviction.

"Pandit,' Sameer dragged a breath, 'Aisa kuch nahi hua. Aur jo hua hai woh tum dono ko ek saath bataunga. Pehle Munna ko aane dete hain, fir baat karenge. Tab tak.' He signalled zipping up the lips with his hand.

'Yeh lo.' Pandit shrugged, 'Chup hi rehna tha toh apne ghar pe reh leta. Aaj mummy ghar pe hain toh keh rahi thi poori chole khaate hain breakfast mein. Poori chole ki kurbaani dekar yahan aaya hun aur yahan tu muh mein dahi jamane ko bol raha hai.'

'Kyonki Naina saamne khadi hai.' Sameer burst out, albeit in a restrained voice.

'Naina! Kahan? Kidhar?' Pandit quickly looked around and up the stairs towards the temple but did not see her as Naina had shifted behind the car.

Sameer was on the verge of puling his hair. He dragged Pandit inside his car, closed the door and pulled up the dark window screen before looking at him, 'Jo baat hai woh Naina se related hai. Isliye humein jaldi se jaldi yahan se nikalna hai jisse main tumhe woh baat bata sakun.'

Pandit blinked, silently staring at Sameer, then frowned, 'Abey tu fir se shuru ho gaya. Naina pe film banani hai kya tujhe? Script pe script likhe jaa raha hai. Bhai tu use shanti se jeene de jisse tu bhi shaanti se jee sake aur hum bhi. Aisa hi chalta raha toh tera dost hone ki wajah se Naina mere paas bhi nahi fatkegi.'

Sameer glared at him, 'Tujhe kya karna hai Naina ko apne paas bula ke?'

Pandit gave him a matter of fact look, 'Shaadi ki umr sirf teri nahi hamari bhi hai. Apna bhi toh dekhna hai na.'

Gritting his teeth, Sameer turned to look at him, 'Teri shaadi ki umr se Naina ka kya relation hai? Kehna kya chahta hai tu?'

'Shaant bhai shaant. Tu rehne de. Yeh baatein tujhe samajh nahi ayengi. Tu laga reh apni underworld ki theory mein. Pata nahi Shahrukh khan ki filmen dekhte dekhte Amrish Puri ke mogambo ki aatma kaise ghus gayi tujhmein.' Pandit grumbled and turned on the music, closing his eyes and leaning back on the seat.

Sameer opened his mouth to retort then remembered that he had be on good side of Pandit. The only way he could keep himself from flaring up was to remain quiet. Sighing, he decided to wait for Munna.

In the temple, after Munna was done with his usual praying session, he took the prashad and walked out of the enclosed area where Shiv Parvati idols were placed. His eyes fell on a familiar face. He squinted, and realised it was Natasha, who was seated in the other enclosure, in front of Krishna idol.

He remembered Naina's phone call and wondered, 'Natasha ko zarur pata hoga agar Naina kisi mushkil mein thi toh. Lekin mandir mein disturb karna theek hoga kya? Koi nahi, wait kar leta hun. Jab puja karke bahar ayegi tab puch lunga.'

Munna waited for sometime. He noticed Natasha offer a box of sweets, along with a photograph to Panditji. While panditji performed the aarti, she kept on mumbling something, as if talking to herself... or maybe to God. Munna waved his head in amazement. The girl couldn't stay quiet even while praying. She had a constant need to keep speaking.

Natasha finished making report about Naina to her mom as the aarti came to an end, murmuring softly, 'Ab aap hi kuch akal bhej do auntyji, apni beti ke liye. Kam se kam kisi ek ladke ke liye toh uski aankhen sapne dekhen. Aise kaise chalega. Mere pilot ke milte hi main busy ho jaungi toh Naina akeli pad jayegi na. Mujhe uski itni chinta rehti hai ki kya bataun.' She drew a tired breath, 'Lekin woh bechari bhi kya kare. Use takarte hain Sameer jaise ladke. Shahrukh khan wali romantic image hi kharab kar dete hain. Please auntyji, aap toh bhagwan se direct contact mein ho, unse kaho zara idhar bhi thodi nazar daalein. Okay?'