Late night flight
A young girl is seated nervously in her seat. She clutches both the armrests in fear. Her throat is dry. The plane is ready for take off, she shuts her eyes tight.
Airhostess: Are you okay? You need something?
The girl nods her head as No, tears flow from her eyes.
Man (scared): No…I..I am fine…
She opens her eyes and sees a spectacled young man seated next to her, appearing equally nervous. Their eyes meet and they smile weakly at each other.
Man: aapko bhi darr lagta hai plane me? Mujhe bhi….breathe deep, close your eyes..bas 5 min…
She closes her eyes and breathes deep as the man suggests. The plane gathers speed, she squeezes her eyes and feels a hand on hers. She looks at him startled, his eyes are still closed and he appears to be praying loudly. She oddly finds it very funny and starts giggling. The spectacled man opens his eyes and looks at her laughing uncontrollably holding her hand on her mouth. He joins in the laughter, few minutes later the flight is airborne and they settle down. She wipes her tears and hands a tissue to the co-passenger.
Man: Thanks….life me pehli baar itna hassa hoon ki aasoo aa gaye…aur darr chala gaya..
Girl: I should thank you….usually main toh plane me rone lagti hoon, vomit karti hoon…magar aaj aisa kuch nahi hua…
Man: waise London se meri ek aur flight hai…aap aayengi?
Girl: meri bhi flight London se hai..aap jaa kahan rahe hai?
Man: Houston, Texas…
Girl: Me too…..
They both realize they will be on the same flight again.
Man: Thank god….lets try hamare seats saath me ho…..the girl looks at him with raised eyebrows.
Man: uhh..I..didn't mean it that way….just being friendly…btw, I am Kavin ..
Girl: I am Purvi Malhotra…sorry…Purvi Rai…my name is Purvi Rai..
Kavin: Malhotra…Rai….do do surnames? Ek pasand nahi toh doosra rakh liya..he laughs at his own joke
Purvi (snapping): I..I just got divorced..so aadat nahi huyi hai…isliye..
Kavin: Ohh..my bad..am sorry…thank you once again…good night. He pulls an eye mask over his eyes and sleeps.
She too puts the eye mask and turns to sleeps and the same images pop up….
Flashback
1 and a half years back….
Purvi is studying in final year, college. She has chalked out a plan in front to complete her Masters and PhD abroad. Right now she is bent over the microscope in her microbiology lab. Her phone rings, she doesn't pick it up. She ignores several times, later irritated at the disturbance, checks the caller. She is apologetic.
Purvi: Sorry Babuuuu…lab me thi…
PurviF: I am sorry betuuuu…who kya hai hai naa maine manaa kiya tha meri Mrs Rai ko..but tum jaanti ho….mujhe phone karna pada.
Purvi: Lagta hai emergency hai…warna mera Babuuu mujhe kabhi disturb nahi karta…
PurviF: tu ghar aaja..kuch zaroori kaam hai…
Purvi: abhi? Please naa….maine autoclave pe 300 test tubes rakhe hai..usse dhonaa baaki hai….yeh virus ka culture bhi oven me aur 30 min rakhna hai…toh yeh sab khatam karke, 2 ghante ke baad aati hoon…theekh hai Byeeee..
PurviM (angry): Purviii….abhi ke abhi ghar aaoo..
Purvi: Maa…but…her mother cuts the phone. Purvi is angry at the interruption. She receives a text from her dad.
PurviF: Betuuuuuu….aaajaaaa..warna Mrs Rai mera toast banaa degi…pleasseeeee..
Purvi sighs and a small smile breaks out in her face. She loves her Babuuu (father) the most in this world. He is more like a friend to her. Her mother has been a school principal her whole life and hence is naturally very dominating and strict. She is very formal and calls her husband as Mr Rai. She is the supreme commander of the house and no one dares to upset her or go against her wishes. Purvi is already in her bad books as she has decided to pursue her Phd in microbiology. Her mother wanted her to take Biochemistry.
With all these thoughts she reaches home. Her house is quiet like a classroom. She peeps in the drawing room, the place is spic and span. She quietly steps in and is about to get up the stairs, when she hears a whiplash like 'kadak' voice..
PurviM: gande joote pahen ke kahan jaa rahi hai?
Purvi (quickly removing shoes): Sor..sorry Maa…bhool gayi…
Her mother approaches her. Purvi gets scared and steps back
PurviM: pata nahi aaj kis virus ya bacteria ko leke aayi hai..haath dhoye ache se?
Purvi: Ji maa….sanitize kar liya hai..
PurviM: Pata nahi kya sochke microbiology liya…the future is Biochemistry…
PurviF: arre Mrs Rai…aap tayaar nahi huyi? Who log 1 ghante me aa jayenge..
Purvi: Kaun Babuuuu?
PurviM (angry, glaring): Kitni baar kaha hai..yeh Babu, betu bandh karo….be formal..ghar pe mehmaan aa rahe hai…Mr and Mrs Rajesh Malhotra….yeh tshirt jeans badlo aur maine Taru se kaha hai tumhe tayaar karne…yeh Abhijit aaya nahi ab tak..Mr Rai..zaraa phone kijiye..
Purvi stands there confused. Following another barking order by her mother, she rushes with her bag upstairs to her room.
Purvi: Taru Bhabhi….yes sab kya naya drama hai…kaun hai Mr Malhotra aur mujhe kyun tayyar hone ko kaha hai?
Tarika (closing door): Baith…bataati hoon..pehle promise kar gussa nahi karegi…Purvi promises her sister-in-law.
Tarika: Mr Malhotra tere naanu ke best friend ke bête hai. Tere Naanu aur Mr Malhotra ke papa apni dosti ko rishtedaari me badalna chahte the….magar ho na saka…aur ab tere Naanu nahi rahe…toh unke best friend ki ichaa hai….kisi tarah rishtedaari ho jaaye…
Purvi (confused): Toh?
Tarika (drawing a deep breath): Toh…Mummyji ne tumhara rishta karne ka socha hai..Mr Malhotra ke bête – Suyash ke saath..
Purvi (angry): WHATTTTT? Rishtaaa? Mera…main abhi jaake dekhti hoon Maa ko…
Tarika (pulling her): Shhhhhhhh…..tumne promise kiya hai…
Purvi (angry): Bhabhi….this is not fair..Maa jaanti hai…mujhe aur kitna padhna hai…phir bhi..No…Main bilkul ready nahi hooon…
Purvi's father gets in her room slowly. He looks at Tarika. She indicates Purvi is upset. Her father clears his throat. Purvi looks up at her father and turns her face around.
PurviF: Betuuuu….tayyar nahi huyi..
Purvi: Mujhe aapse bhi baat nahi karni hai..aap bhi Maa ke saath mil gaye..mujhe bhagana chahte hai iss ghar se…
PurviF: Arre betuuuuu…..main tumhare bina jee sakta hoon kya? Magar ek na ek din toh yeh hona hi hai naa..waise bhi abhi sirf rishta pakka karne waale hai..itni jaldi thodi bhejoonga tujhe..
Purvi: But Babuuuu..
PurviF (stroking her hairs): Betuuu…tere Nanu ki aakhiri icha thi yeh…unke liye please…
Purvi (accepting): Okay…sirf aapke liye babuuuu…
Purvi gets ready and awaits the guests downstairs.
Mr Malhotra: kahan hai hamari hone waali bahu?
Tarika gets Purvi downstairs. She sits on a sofa between her parents.
Mr Malhotra: aap toh bahut beautiful ho…she will be perfect for Suyash..kyun gayatri…
Gayatri (Mrs Malhotra): hmmm..she looks a bit upset.
Mr Malhotra: hame Purvi pasand hai….hamari haan hai…bass ek baat kehni hai…Suyash USA se 2 din me aa jayega...Papaaji ki tabiyat thodi nazuk hai…Suyash unka favorite pota hai….unki bahut ichaa hai ki Suyash ki shaadi ho jaaye unke aankhon ke saamne..toh..
PurviF: toh?
Mr Malhotra: Mr Rai…hum next week hi shaadi karvaana chahte hai…
PurviM: hame manzoor hai..
Purvi (shock): Maa…meri studies..college…
PurviM: Maine haan keh diya hai….yeh mere babuji ki aakhiri icha thi…Mr Rai…shaadi ki tayyari kijiye..
PurviF: lekin hamne abhi tak Suyash ko nahi dekha..
Mr Malhotra: maine kaha na 2 din me aa raha hai..tab dekh lijiye..aur Meera (Purvi's mother) ne toh photo dekh hi li hai…
PurviM: Haan….he will be perfect for Purvi…USA me software engineer hai…5 saal me green card mil jayega…
The families talk about other details and leave.
Purvi (angry): Maa….aap yeh kaise kar sakti hai..its my life…meri shaadi meri marzi se hogi….I am sorry..main yeh shaadi nahi karoongi…
PurviM: Kyun? Kya kami hai ladke me?
Abhijit: Maa…Purvi ki baat sahi hai…aap bahut jaldbaazi kar rahi hai…abhi iski padhaai bhi poori nahi huyi hai…
PurviM: ab tum decide karoge iss ghar ki baaten….jab maine tumhare liye Taru ko chunaa..tumne yehi sab drama kiya thaa..aaj khush ho naa? Bolo ?
Abhijit: Maa…yeh sach hai main bahut khush hoon Tarika ke saath..but Purvi…
PurviM: tumhe kya lagta hai..mujhe fikar nahi hai meri beti ki…..I know whats best for her…yeh mere Papa ki aakhiri icha thi….aur main isse har haal me poora karna chahti hoon..aur main Rajesh (Suyash dad) ko bachpan se jaanti hoon…unki family bahut achi hai..Purvi khush rahegi
Purvi: But meri padhaai..aap jaanti hai main PhD karna chahti hoon….
PurviM: Haan apna time waste kar rahi ho….but uska bhi khayal rakh liya hai maine…Suyash ke saath shaadi ke baad tum bhi USA jaa sakti ho…apni padhaai poori kar sakti ho..
Purvi: But Maaa…
PurviF: Betuuu….Maa ki baat maan lo…who tumhara acha hi sochengi….
Flashback over
Air hostess: Ma'm..would you like to have some coffee or tea?
Purvi (wiping her tears): No..I am fine..
Kavin: good morning…I hope you slept well…whats the time?
Purvi (small smile): Yes…thank you..abhi 2 ghante aur hai…London pahunchne ke liye..
Hello all...My new Kavi story...hope you like it...