Mohabbatein

Meeting with Jija ji

Sameeksha's POV
I received a message from Abhishek when I woke up.

A: 8:30 tum aur Manjot coffee shop me mil rahe ho

S: What. No way! Me kyu milu usse?

A: Tumne kaha tha sab theek karna hai. Tum dono ke beech hai problem, to dono akele me milo aur sujhao

S: Can you please come with me?

A: No, sirf tum aur Manjot

S: I hate you

A: Natak nhi, bas milna hai dono ko. Aur agar yeh sab drama khatam na hua, to dekh lena

S: Tumhe to me vese hi dekh lungi

A: Haan haan dekh lena. Abhi jaldi ready ho jao aur usse milke aao

I got up and went to get ready.

*******

I was sitting in the coffee shop, waiting for Manjot. I hate waiting.

I was early actually.

"Ma'am, order?" The waiter came again. "Bhai kucch khana hoga to bula lungi, abhi jao please" I said irritated.

I finally saw Manjot coming. He smiled looking at me.

"Hi" I stood up, we shook hands and then sat opposite each other.

Awkward silence.

"Manjot, basically, yeh Abhishek ne arrange kia" I tried to start a conversation. He nodded.

"Woh chahta hai...aur me bhi chahti hu ke me tumhe Bandana ke lie accept karlu" I said, he looked at me. "Seedha point pe aati hu, tum ek reason batao, tum Bandana ke lie sahi kese ho?" I asked.

"Me Bandana ke lie sahi na hota to tum yeh sawaal karne yaha nhi aati" He said. I smiled.

"Sameeksha" He said, "I can understand. Tum insecure ho, me samajh sakta hu. Bandana aur tumhara rishta best friends se kahi zada hai, ese me usko ek ladka pasand aaega to tumhe insecurity hogi hi" He said. I lowered my lashes.

"I know pyaar baantna boht mushkil hai, par yeh kabhi na kabhi to hoga hi. Me nhi, to koi aur sahi, par Bandana kabhi na kabhi kisi aur ki hogi hi" He said. "I know...but..." I said and didn't know how to explain my feelings.

"Me usko tumse nhi cheen raha. Woh mere paas aa rhi hai, par kabhi tumse door nhi jaegi, trust me" He said.

"Look, ham chaaro ko pata hai ke kon kisko pasand karta hai. Tum aur Bandana lucky ho kyu ki Abhishek aur me same profession me hai, same team ke lie khelte hai" He said.

"Future me bhi tum dono boht baar saath rahogi kyu ki me aur Abhay saath khelte hai. Kabhi hame support karne aana to kabhi hamare saath tours pe jaana. Yeh saath rehna shayad possible na ho agar tum dono aur ladko se relationship rakho" He tried to explain, "tum samajh rhi ho na?" He asked. I nodded.

"Bandana jo pyaar tumhe deti hai usme se thoda mujhe degi. Jo tum usse deti ho usme se thoda Abhay ko dogi. Yehi changes mere aur Abhay ke rishte me bhi aaenge, trust me, ham chaaro pe effect hoga" He said.

"I hope it makes sense now" He said. I smiled and nodded.

"Coffee?" He asked. "Yeah, sure" I said. We had a cup of coffee and then started walking towards the exit.

"By the way, Abhay ko boht acche se jaanta hu, agar uske patane me help chahiye to zarur batana" He said before sitting in his car. I chuckled and nodded.

My opinion changed after the meeting. It will take time for it to change completely, but it did make a difference.

*******

Bandana's POV
When I came out of the washroom, I found so many newspapers on the bed. They weren't there when I woke up.

I looked at them confused.

"Aaja aaja, tere lie hi laai hu sab" Sameeksha said, out of nowhere. "Tu kaha thi? Kabse dhoondh rhi hu tujhe!" I asked.

"Coffee shop geyi thi, kisi se milne" She said. "Kisse? Jiju se?" I asked with a smirk. "Haan, Jiju se" She replied with a teasing smile, "par tere nhi, mere" She said.

"Matlab?" I asked, "Manjot se milne geyi thi" She replied. She told me how Abhay Banna arranged their meeting and how Manjot sorted out everything.

"Matlab..." I said looking at her, "haan, approved" She said with a smile, a genuine one.

"Sameeksha!!!!" I said covering my mouth with my right hand. I went to her and hugged her tightly. "Yaar tujhe nhi pata teri haan kitni zaruri thi mere lie" I said. She chuckled.

"Woh sab to theek hai, ab ek nazar yaha bhi dekhle" She said pointing at the newspapers.

"Times of India" She picked one, "Hindustan Times" She picked the second one, "The Indian Express" was the third one, "The Telegraph" was the fourth one, "and many more" She said.

"To me kya karu?" I asked confused.

She smiled. "Theek se dekh" She said and gave me a newspaper. I looked at the front page. I scratched my head. "How!?" I asked. I picked another one. "Yeh kese hua????" I asked.

All the newspapers showed pictures of me and Manjot dancing last night.

"Tu aur tera banda jo romantic poses bana bana ke naach rahe the na kal raat, woh sab subhah ke papers me chapa hai" Sameeksha said.

"I'm damn sure media nhi thi sangeet me" I said, "social media to hoti hai na har jagah" She said.

"Samajh nhi aa raha khushi manau ya dukh" I said sitting on the bed.

My phone rang, I hid my eyes behind my palm. "Kya hua?" Sameeksha asked. I showed her the screen, "UK ka code hai" I said rolling eyes.

"Hello?" I picked up the call. "Hello? Bandana? Kesi ho beta?" My mother asked. I was hearing her voice after months.

"Beta mat kahiye please" I said, Sameeksha held my hand and gave me a look. I ignored her.

"Haal poochne ke lie to phone kia nhi hoga. Bataiye, kese yaad aa geyi?" I asked. "Mahino se baat nhi hui, yaad kese nhi aati" She said. "Please, mere saamne to yeh sab mat hi kahiye. Bataiye, kya kaam tha" I asked.

"Beta, subhah se rishtedaaro ke phone aa rahe hai. Newspaper me tumhari aur kisi ladke ki photos aai hai, shayad kisi party me dance kar rahe ho...sab pooch rahe hai kya rishta hai tum dono ka" She said.

"Ohh!!! Now I get it! Yeh asli baat thi" I said chuckling. "Tabhi me sochu, kucch khaas hi hoga jo aapne phone kia" I said.

"Pehli baat, woh party nhi balki Sameeksha ki badi behen ka sangeet tha. Dusri baat, woh koi esa vesa ladka nhi hai, jaana maana cricketer hai, jisse me pyaar karti hu" I said.

"Bandana, jaanti ho kya bol rhi ho? Tumhare papa ko pata chalega to kya sochenge?" She asked raising her voice.

"Jo papa ne aaj takk socha hai vahi ab sochenge, par ab mujhe koi fark nhi padhta aap kya sochte ho. Ho sake to mere bhai ko bhej dena, woh Manjot se mil lega" I said and disconnected the call.

I looked at Sameeksha, before I could say anything, she hugged me and started caressing my hair.

"Sab theek hoga" She said. I hummed.