Ishita room
Ishita gets up from her bed and walks slowly to the door of her room. She keeps her ears glued and tries to listen to anything she can hear. She cannot hear anybody talking outside. She opens the door slowly and peeks out. The corridor is empty. Dejected, she slams her door shut. She picks up her stuffed toys and throws them around.
Ishita (sitting on the closed window ledge, angry, mind): Chala gaya Dushh…mujhe manaya bhi nahi…I hate you…
She hears a short knock on her window followed by a yelping sound.
Ishita (angry, stern voice): copycat Dushhh…go away…mujhe daata tha naa khidki se andar aane ke liye…ab khud kya kar rahe ho?
Dushyant (voice): Main Dushhh nahi hoon…bowww..woooowww…she hears a pup's bark
Ishita (jumping in her place): Bozooooooooo…
She opens the window and is happy to see a brown pup. She picks it up and brings her to her bed. Ishita rubs her nose with his. The pup whines and licks her nose. Ishita laughs and lies on the bed hugging the pup.
Ishita: I missed you soo much Bozoooo…tum yahan kaise aaye?
Dushyant (coming inside her room): main le aaya usse…tum miss kar rahi thi naa?
Ishita (getting up): tum? Tum andar kaise aaye? Aur kyun aaye ho?
Dushyant (taking the pup): dekhaa bozo…ek toh maine itni minnat maangi uss Sharma aunty se…phir jaake unhone tumhe le jaane ki permission di…who kya hai naa..meri ek bahut cute si, pyaari se friend hai…uska mood thodaaa saa kharab hai…..sochaa tumse baat karke shayad usse acha lage…
Ishita smiles a bit. Dushyant looks at her and she resumes her 'khadoos' look.
Dushyant (talking to Bozo): hmmm…..chalo…ab meri kya zaroorat yahan pe…tum dono best friends ko akela chodd deta hoon…kaash mera bhi koi best friend hota…haahhh..
He gets up and walks slowly till Ishita's door. Ishita gets up and holds his hand.
Ishita: Dushuuuu…she says sweetly. Dushyant turns to look at her. Ishita cradles the pup 'Bozo' in her hand and talks to him
Ishita: Bozo..tum ne mujhe kitni zor se daata…chalo ab sorry bolo…kaan pakdo…10 push ups…come on come on..she sets the pup on the ground..
Dushyant: chaloo..tumhara mood toh theekh ho gaya…gusse me tum aur bhi moti lagti ho..he comes back and lies on her bed.
Ishita: oh heloooo…tumne abhi tak sorry nahi bola…aur 10 push ups baaki hai..
Dushyant: who toh bozo ki punishment hai naa..
Ishita: tum dono ki hai….chalo…fast…..she glares at him.
Gehna and rest of family members are looking at this scene from Ishita's door.
Dushyant is doing push up's, Ishita is counting and bozo is on Dushyant's back.
Ishita (counting): 1…2….3…..4….2….3…
Dushyant: hey hey…..kya counting kar rahi ho….4 ke baaad 2?
Ishita (innocently): ooopsss….sorry…phir se shuru karte hai…1…2….3…she giggles…
Gehna (coming inside): bas kar Ishita….kitna satayegi unhe…ek toh tumhare liye Sharma aunty ke saare kaam kiye…aur tum unhe hi punishment de rahi ho…
Ishita: tumhe kya problem hai..Dush toh bina complaint ke kar raha hai naa.
Gehna: Tum bachi ho kya Ishita….thodi bahut bado jaisi harkaten kar lo…
IshitaM: gehna theekh keh rahi hai…tum umar me isse badi ho…magar samajhdaari me yeh tumse kayi badi hai..bass karo ab yeh…Dushyant beta…tum aa jaoo baahar…
Dushyant gets up and he has no choice. He comes out of Ishita's room.
Ishita (angry): mil gayi thandak tumhe Gehna…tumhe mazaa aata hai naa…mujhe har waqt sab ke saamne neecha dikhaake…haan main bachi hoon..nahi hoon main tumhari tarah..aur mujhe banna bhi nahi hai..hmfff..
Ishita walks out of the room. Gehna is upset and tears form in her eyes. Dushyant sees this and goes behind Ishita. Ishita is in the garden of her house, seated on a swing cuddling Bozo.
Dushyant (sits on swing next to hers): kya Ishuuuu….tum aisi choti choti baat pe gussa kyun hoti ho? Gehna ko kitna daata tumne..
Ishita (angry): ab tum bhi mujhe lecture doge? Ishitaa badi hojaa…tu ab bachi nahi hai…responsible ban jaa..dekh Gehna khaana banaati hai, Gehna kitna acha bhajan karti hai...Gehna class me first aayi..Gehnaa, Gehnaaa …sabko yeh ek hi naam pata hai…Ishu ko sab bhool jaate hai..she says with hurt in her voice..
Dushyant: aisa nahi hai Ishuuu….aaj bhi meri best friend kaun hai?...sirf Ishu hai, he strokes her cheek….Daadu ki girlfriend kaun hai? Sirf Ishuuu hai…Bozo ki mummy kaun hai?…Bozo yelps….sirf Ishuuu hai…hai naa….hum sab toh Ishu Ishuuuu karte hai naa…
Ishita (happy): sach? Sirf main tumhari best friend hoon?
Dushyant (looking into her eyes): Tum sirf meri best friend nahi..mera sab kuch ho…she looks into his eyes…they stop swinging and are sharing an eyelock…Bowww..woooow..Bozo complains…
Ishita (nuzzlingBozo): Oh hooooo…yeh sab baaton me main bhool gayi…Bozo ko khaana chahiye..chalo..she gets up and starts to go inside her house again.
Dushyant: Ishuuuu….ek min…she stops and turns..
Ishita: hmmm
Dushyant: toh tumhara gussa thanda ho gaya?
Ishita: yesssss… 100%...
Dushyant (relief): Thank god….he pretends wiping sweat off his forehead.
Ishita (coming near him): Thank you Dushhh…..main soch hi rahi thi…tum mujhe kaise manaooge…tumne Bozo ko laake mujhe ekdum khush kar diya..I just love you….she gives a happy kiss on his cheek…
Dushyant (touching his cheek):Thank you…actually mere paas toh koi ideas hi nahi the..Gehna ne yeh idea diya..usne bataya mujhe tum kitni udaas thi jab Mrs Sharma ne iss puppy ko tumhare animal center se adopt kar liya…
Ishita (surprise): Gehnaa ne? usne bataya? She is touched Gehna thought of this.
Dushyant: yesss…Gehna achi hai Ishuuu…who tumse bahut pyaar karti hai..tumne uska dil dukhaaya …jaoo sorry bolo..
Ishita (pulling Dushyant): Tum bhi chalo…mujhe himmat milegi…
Gehna room
Gehna is arranging her clothes. She hears a knock followed by Ishita's high pitched voice…
Gehna (sad face): Haan Ishitaa..kuch kaam tha?
Ishita: kaam…nahi toh..she says with attitude. Dushyant pushes Ishita inside..
Ishita (stumbling): haan haan..bolti hoon naa…she says to Dushyant, he smiles..
Ishita (seated on her knees): Gehnaaaa…she holds her ears like a kid….I am shooooryy….maine tumhe gussa kiya…bad girl Ishitaaaaa…she says to herself….will you say…Its okay? She says in a kiddie voice..
Gehna looks at Ishita..she is not able to balance herself..she looks funny. Gehna laughs…
Gehna: uthooo abhi….itne bade ho gaye…magar aaj bhi bilkul chote bache ki tarah..
Ishita hugs Gehna tightly…the sisters smile and hold hands.
Dushyant (coughing): ahem..ahem..main bhi hoon…Hi Gehna…
Gehna: ohhh..aap…please come in…
Dushyant walks inside her room. Its very neat and pleasing. He looks around admiringly.
Dushyant (amazed): Wow….tumhara kamra toh bahut sundar hai…yeh paintings bahut beautiful hai..
Gehna (blush): Thank you…maine banaayi hai..
Dushyant (impressed): wow! really…bahut sundar hai…you have good taste…
Ishita (grabbing pillow): tumhari naukri ka kya hua?
Gehna (dismiss): kuch khaas nahi…kisi bhi application ka jawaab nahi aaya..
Dushyant: tumne kaunse companies me apply kiya..
Gehna: Real estate, construction, finance….socha kisi ek me toh mil jaaye..
Dushyant: Tumhara resume zaraa dikhaana…Gehna hands it over to him
Dushyant (amazed, impressed): oh wow!...what a resume…college topper….good grades gehna…tum toh kaafi studious ho…Ishitaa…yaar tut oh iska 5% bhi nahi hai…he chuckles…she throws a pillow on his face..
Dushyant: ek baat kahoon….tum hamari company me interested hogi? Main Papa se baat karta hoon..
Gehna: really? Aisa ho sakta hai? Chachaji (Ishita dad) ne bhi yeh suggest kiya tha..but mujhe sifarish se naukri nahi chahiye..
Dushyant: wow! I am really impressed…what values…main sifarish toh nahi karonga…but Papa ko yeh resume zaroor doonga…maine bataya tha naa..ek naya project hai….papa needs young, new, energetic assistants..i think yeh acha exposure hoga tumhare liye…
Gehna: really? You think so?...Dushyant nods his head…Okay…I am ready…she smiles..
Dushyant (forwarding hand): allright….hope to work with you soon Ms Gehna….she smiles and shakes his hand…
Ishita looks at this….Dushyant and Gehna are smiling and they have not left their hands. She steps down from the bed and holds their hands…she stands in between and holds their hands separately..
Ishita: acha hua…ab hum teeno ache dost ban sakte hai…
Gehna (excited): Haan..best friends…
Ishita (snapping): Nahiiii….main aur Dushyant hamesha best friends honge..Hai naa Dush? She glares at him
Dushyant (smiling): Of course…you are my bestest friend Ishu…he pinches her nose….and Gehna…he looks at her….you are my newest friend…she smiles back at him..
Dushyant feels Ishita gripping his arm possessively. He likes it…he continues to smile at Gehna..
So now Dush has new friend in Gehna...while Ishita is getting possessive about Dushyant….what will happen next?
Thank you all for liking Ishu..she may look childish and slightly irritating but such people are good at heart and when the need arises they rise upto the occasion...They certainly light up anyone's life...
Many guests have asked to extend this story to 25 chapters or more...I shall try ...need all your love and support to do so...
Keep reading and reviewing...