Kiska Hai Tumko Intezaar

Uske jaisi ladki aur mere jaisa ladka

After meeting Natasha, Munna rushed back to his office to inform Sameer, 'Dekh bhai, maine apni taraf se poora zor laga diya hai. Lekin result aane mein thoda time toh lagega.'

Munna then explained how he had tried to convince Natasha and asked her to help.

Sameer was shocked, 'Naina ko leke jaunga Dadaji ke paas?'

Munna rolled his eyes, 'Jab naam Naina ka liya hai fir use nahi toh kya Deepika Padukone ko leke jayega?'

Sameer wasn't too pleased with this idea, 'Us Naina ke saath main? Uske jaisi ladki ko mere jaise ladke ke saath dekh ke Dadaji hi nahi saare gharwale ek second mein reject kar denge. Koi match hai hamara? Kahan main kahan woh.'

Pandit scoffed at him, 'Matlab kya hai tera? Aur waise bhi, tujhe kaunsa Naina se shaadi karni hai. Dhoond lena baad mein tere jaisi koi. Abhi sirf jaan bacha.'

Munna's lips curled into a scowl, 'Tujhe ab bhi akal nahi aa rahi? Sirf ek percent chance hai Naina ke manne ka. Agar kismat ne is ek percent se tujhe mauka de diya toh zara zameen pe utar ke baat karna. Tera yehi attitude raha toh Naina wapas bhaag jayegi.'

Sameer was more troubled by status quo, 'Lekin abhi ghar kaise jaun? Dadaji se kya bolunga?'

Pandit suggested, 'Keh de Naina kuch din ke liye apni family se milne gayi hai.'

'Kahan?' Sameer asked.

Pandit shrugged, 'Kuch bhi bata de... umm... haan, bol de gujarati hai na isliye Ahmedabad gayi hui hai, Navratri ke baad ayegi.'

'Naina gujarati hai? Tujhe kaise pata?' Sameer was confused.

Pandit looked at him impatiently, 'Gujarati ho ya German, tujhe kya fark padta hai? Bolna hi toh hai.'

Munna said he was also of the same opinion.

Sameer had no option but to agree, though he couldn't help grumbling, 'Ab sach mein Naina ko apni girlfriend banana padega.'

Pandit quickly corrected, 'Asli wali nahi, nakli wali. Munna ne bataya na yeh arrangement thode din ke liye hai. Tujhe zyada feel lene ki zarurat nahi hai.'

Both Munna and Pandit tutored Sameer to be at least cordial if not warm, when he met Naina again, and keep his imagination under control.

*****

After Munna had left the park, Natasha went to a cafe and sat there alone for a long time, thinking about what Munna had proposed. While it was flawed from all angles, there was something about the proposal that lingered in her thoughts.

The biggest worry for Naina at this time was the loan that loomed over her head every month as a huge EMI, eating up a major chunk of her salary. She had suggested once but Naina did not even want to ask her brother to share some of this burden.

'Pagal ladki. Uske papa ne kabhi usse dhang se baat tak nahi ki lekin unke liye apni zindagi ke itne saal EMI deti rahegi. Apni pasand ka kuch khareedti tak nahi hai ghar ka sapna jaane kab poora hoga.' Natasha felt sad for Naina, as she was not only aware of all her problems, but her dreams too.

After a lot of thought, she decided to put this offer to Naina.

Natasha was home when Naina came back after the dance class.

She enquired, 'Achanak kaunse dost se milne chali gayi thi? Koi naya pilot aaya hai kya? Poori shaam gayab rahi.'

Natasha smiled pleasantly, 'Kaisi hai tu? Sab badhiya?'

Naina eyed her suspiciously, 'Kya baat hai Nutty? Kuch gadbad ki hai tune?'

Shaking her head vigorously, Natasha stated, 'Kaisi gadbad? Maine toh kuch nahi kiya. Aisa kyon pucha tune?'