Jassi is in her room at night, folding a few clothes. Armaan walks in and frowns.
"Yeh kya laga rakha hai? Jaanti ho na doctors ne rest karne ko kaha hai?"
Jassi: Armaan, abhi toh delivery mein time hai….aur main kaunsa kuch zyada kaam kar rahi hun…kapde hi toh fold kar rahi thi!
He takes the clothes forcibly from her, grabs hold of her shoulders (but naturally!😉) and resolutely marches her towards the bed. "Sit down! Ab jab tak main nahin kahunga, tum yahaan se nahin hilogi….got it?"
Jassi: (giggling) Achcha? Toh aise baithe-baithe kya karungi?
Armu: (kneeling down before the bed) Tumhe kuch karne ki zaroorat nahin hai….(takes hold of her hands)…Jassi, tum bas ab mere saamne raho….main iss waqt ka har pal yaad rakhna chahta hun…..I want ki hamare baby ko (touches her tummy lightly) iss duniya mein aane se pehle hi ehsaas ho jaye ke uske mummy-daddy usse—aur ek doosre se—kitna pyaar karte hai….😳
Jassi: (gazing limpidly at him) Aisa hi hoga Armaan! (touches his cheek) Hamare dono bachcho ki zindagi sirf pyaar se bhari hogi!
Armu: (mischievously) Dono nahin Jassi…..teeno!😛
Jassi: (rolling her eyes) Teeno? Yeh tum kya keh rahe ho…..?
Armu: Kyun Jassi…..yeh jo painting maine tumhe di hai…isme hamari poori family hai na….(Jassi giggles and looks away, but her holds her face and turns her towards him) ….main itne se satisfy nahin hone wala, Mrs Jasmeet Suri!
She goes red and tries to push him away, most unsuccessfully—he just springs on the bed and kisses her heartily on the cheek.😳😳😳
The entire gang of youngsters, excluding JandA, and including Nandu, Beauty, Chaman, Angel, Meghna and Vedika gets into a tractor the next morning. Bua carries out a covered basket and hands it to Angel. She looks hopefully at it. "Yeh kya hai Aunty….sandwiches?"
Bua bursts out laughing. "Sandwich? Arre yeh tera shehr nahin hai….yahaan bread sirf ek dukaan mein milti hai aur wo pind ke doosre kone mein hai….aur kabhi-kabhi toh wo baniya 2 din ki purani bread lata hai….aur waise bhi, picnic pe iss sandwich-shandwich ka kya kaam? Isme toh Bebe ke haath ke bane aloo ke paranthe hai…..aur saath mein yeh lassi……" She hands over a huge flask, which Angel eyes with something approaching horror.
Finally everything is loaded and they set off. Meg looks comfortingly at Angel, who is trying defiantly to look cool and composed. Chaman is grinning from ear to ear. Nandu is trying his hand at driving the tractor, watched by an admiring Vedika and a giggling Beauty.😃
In Mumbai, at the hospital:
Neha and Raj arrive to meet Nikki. The child's eyes light up on seeing Neha, but when she sees Raj, she looks a bit shy and abashed, and does not look up when he approaches her bed.
Raj: (jovially) Hmmmmm……so how is my little princess? (Awwwww😳…..it so reminded me of the way Parmeet called Mona his 'princess' in JDJ!😛)
Nikki only fixes her eyes on her lap, without saying a word. Neha asks, gently, "Beta, uncle ko 'Hi' nahin kahogi kya?"
Nikki: (in a subdued voice) Sorry uncle….maine aapko hi nahin kaha….(looking pleadingly at Neha) Mummy, main bahut ugly ho gayi hu na…mere saare baal gir gaye…..😭
Neha's face contracts in pain, but Raj immediately interjects, "Oh…main toh bhool hi gaya…..main tumhari liye kuch laya hun…." He searches in his pocket and produces a package, which he holds out to Nikki. She looks at it for a moment before grabbing it and tearing it open. She utters a little cry of delight.
Inside is a colourful scarf for tying on her head (what might be called a 'bandana') with cartoon characters printed all over it, with an extremely smart flounce round its edges.
Raj smiles. "Ab tumhare baal kisi ko nahin dikhenge….aur hamari princess isse pehen kar, poore hospital ki beauty queen lagegi!"
The child giggles with astonishment and delight. Then, impulsively, she throws her arms around his neck. 😛He grins and closes his eyes. When he opens them, he sees Neha looking at him with a mixture of tears and gratitude and…..something else too!😉
Tomorrow: Angel and Chaman
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