"Dev ji, Dev ji, uthiye na", Vidhi rubbed a half-asleep Dev's chest.
"Kya huya, Vidhi? So jaao yaar. Office jaake bhi tum thakti kaise nahi ho? 12 bajne ko hai… So jaao", Dev said with his eyes still closed, turning his head to the other side.
"Yeh dekhiye na… Aankhein kholiye", Vidhi managed to pull his upper eyelids.
"Yeh kya hai?", Dev shrieked, sitting straight up as Vidhi held the poster of the movie, The Nun II infront of him on her mobile.
"Dimaag kharab hogaya hai, Vidhi? Raat ko yeh sab dekhta hai kya koi? Kya hai yeh picture? Iski aankhein aise kyun hai? Aur yeh has kyun rahi hai mujhe dekh kar?", Dev blurted. Taking deep breaths, he placed his hand on his chest, giving a side-eye to the creepy poster.
"Dev ji, kal yeh movie hall mein dekh kar aate hai na please, please", Vidhi held his arms.
"Kyaaaaa??", Dev felt like Vidhi was all set to give him a heart attack today.
"Yeh… yeh movie… hall mein jaa kar dekhni hai tumko? Pagal wagal hogayi ho kya?", Dev said, looking at her.
The enthusiasm in her eyes at that moment seemed surreal to him. Why would she, infact anybody, want to torture themselves like that? Spend money to watch an evil nun haunt and terrify people? That made no sense to him.
"Dev ji, aapko pata hai, maine na papa se chup ke iss ka first part bhi dekhne gayi thi hall mein apne saheliyon ke saath. Aur itna darr laga tha mujhe ki maine apna muh apne haathon mein chipa liya tha", Vidhi said, excited.
"Toh… toh kya fayda huya fir? Movie dekhne jao fir aankhein band karke baith jao… yeh toh… Yeh..", Dev fumbled, trying to prove his point.
"Psst… Areh nahi ungliyon ke beech mein se maine puri picture dekhi thi. Hall mein jaake horror movie dekhne ka maza hi alag hota hai. Please, please, chaliye na Dev ji, chalte hai na kal, shyam 8 baje ki show mein seats bhi hai. Abhi book kar lete hai…", Vidhi pleaded.
"Nahi, nahi, main nahi jaunga", Dev said, shaking his head and hands.
"Kyun? Mr. Dev Raichand darr gaye? Uss din toh keh rahe the ki aap Hulk ho? Aaj kya huya Hulk ko? Bhoot se darr lag raha hai?", Vidhi teased him.
"Oh please, Vidhi. Darta warta nahin hoon main. Ek fuddu sa insaan make up hi toh kiya huya hai. Ismein darne ka kya?", Dev said, irritated, trying to peep at the poster again.
"Toh fir chaliye na", Vidhi urged. Dev looked at her, trying to say something. Yes, he was scared. He had never been a fan of horror movies. He was mortified at the thought of watching one even on the small screen, let alone in a hall. But he couldn't let Vidhi know this. A young girl like her wasn't afraid, so why should he be? What would she think if she knew that he was afraid of ghosts? They don't even exist and yet he was terrified of them… No, No, Vidhi can't know about this, she just can't.
Gesturing with his hands, finding words to speak, he finally came up with something.
"Dekho Vidhi, yeh horror wala genre jo hai na bahut bekar sa hai. Yeh jo hai… yeh negative impact yeh ek hota hai iska logon pe. Aur cinema jo hoti hai woh society ka mirror hota hai, haina? Toh horror ka toh fir kuch baat hi nahi banta… kyunki reality mein bhoot toh hote hi nahi hai, haina? Bhoot nahi hote, bilkul bhi nahi hote", he assured himself and continued, "Chalna hi hai toh romantic movie dekhne chalo, main mana nahi karunga. Lekin horror movie kaun jaata hai dekhne apne partner ke saath? Main toh kehta hoon ki horror movies dekhna band kar deni chahiye sabko. Infact, banani hi nahi chahiye aise films. Samaj rahi ho tum Vidhi, main kya keh raha hoon?", Dev looked at her, hoping he managed to get her confused enough to drop the plan.
Vidhi looked here and there, helplessly. She was too perplexed to speak. Dev thought he won the battle until she said, "Itna sab mujhe nahi pata, Dev ji. Aapne bola aapko darr nahi lagta toh fir kal hum dono Nun II dekhne jaa rahe hai bas."
Next day around 7:50 pm
Seated in the Row L of the Imax Theatre, Vidhi's excitement knew no bounds. She was looking all around. The movie was yet to begin. Not many people were in the theatre. Even seats beside them were vacant. The last rows were somewhat full though but the front ones were nearly empty.
Dev came in with a large tub of popcorn and sat beside her. He smiled looking at her lit face. Vidhi grabbed his arm and resting her head on his shoulder said, "Dev ji aap ko darr lage toh mera haath pakad lena."
"Main darta nahin hoon bola na. Infact, tumko darr lage toh tum mera haath pakad lena", Dev whispered, putting popcorn in her mouth. Vidhi smiled, clutching his hand tight.
"Dekhenge", she thought in her mind. Whereas Dev in his mind was on his knees praying to all the deities, "Please bhagwan, Vidhi ke samne meri izzat rakhna. Usein pata nahi chalna chahiye ki main darr raha hoon. Please, please bhagwan, meri izzat aapke haathon mein hai aaj." The movie began.
From the opening scene itself, Dev arched his eyebrows squinting his eyes. The dread from a few of the scenes were exceptional. There was an overarching sense of mystery surrounding the narrative.
"Itna bhi daravna nahi lag raha hai, haina?", Vidhi whispered, smiling, her intrigued eyes fixed on the screen. Dev simply nodded looking at her face with wide eyes. "Yeh ladki aaj marwake manegi", he gulped.
An hour into the movie, Dev was already on the edge of his seat. He had already stopped himself from screaming thrice, held Vidhi's hands covering his eyes during some scenes, spilled popcorn all around at the unexpected appearance of a demonic goat. The goat and the intense chase scene through the dark, unsettling corridors had terrified Vidhi too but Dev's actions made her chuckle. She covered her mouth, hiding her laugh, seeing his expressions.
Then there came another scene, Sister Irene standing infront of the magazines, multiple pages flipping to match up and create faces, then expanding to ultimately form the demon nun. Dev held Vidhi's hands tightly, both their jaws dropping, eyes wide open as the camera panned from Sister Irene back to the darkness. That slow escalation with the frequent sense of impending doom kept them clenched at the edge of their seat. And then came the obvious jumpscare, Vidhi's heart was ready for it but completely unprepared for Dev's reaction.
Dev couldn't contain himself anymore. He shrieked at the top of his voice at the sight of the evil nun, he moved clumsily on his seat, hiding his face behind Vidhi. "Dev jii kya kar rahe hai aap?", Vidhi looked around, embarrassed. She put her hands on his mouth to prevent him from screaming. Dev couldn't look at the screen anymore. He hid his face in Vidhi's lap, utterly terrified. Vidhi looked here and there to see some people looking at them. "Dev ji", she rubbed his back but nope, Dev wouldn't lift his head up anymore. She sat, stroking his hair, trying hard to stop herself from giggling. Horror movie had successfully being turned to a comedy one, thanks to her man.
11:00 PM in their bedroom
Vidhi unlocked the bedroom and entered. Dev stood at the door. "Kya huya?", Vidhi asked.
"Light… light jalao pehle", Dev said sheepishly.
Vidhi switched on the lights and stood there laughing. Dev entered the room and stood looking at her. She was laughing, holding her stomach, pointing at him. "Mujhe darr nahi lagta… main kisi se nahi darta.. Main hulk hoon… aur fir… Aaahhhhh Vidhi… kya hai yeh…. Aaahhhhh… main nahi dekh sakta… Aaaahhh…", she kept teasing him.
He looked down, making a grumpy face. Vidhi, noticing this, came forward. "Pehle kyun nahi bataya?", she said, pulling him close. He said, still making a face, "Kaisa lagega? Itna bada aadmi horror movie dekhne jane se darta hai? Bhoot se darta hai?"
"Awwwlleeee mere cutu se Hulk, jo nun se darr gaye..", she kissed his cheek. Dev finally got his smile back.
"Suno", he said, "Washroom jaana hai mujhe. Darr lag raha hai. Saath chalo na."
"Dhetttt", she said, pushing him, "Jab dekho sirf badmashi."
"Chalo na please darr lag raha hai mujhe, Vidhi", Dev said trying to hold her hands.
Vidhi dodged his grasps, saying, "Akele jaaiye, light jala de rahi hoon." She moved back swiftly.
"Areh mujhe nun uthake le gaya toh", he moved towards her.
"Le jaye toh chale jana uske saath. Aap hi ki bichri huyi best friend lagti hai", Vidhi said running around.
"Achcha ji?", Dev too started retracing her steps behind her.
In no time, their laughters along with occasional "Vidhi ki bachchi, bhaag ke kahan jaogi?" and Vidhi's "Aaaahhh… mujhe darr lag raha hai… Aaahhhh…" filled their room.
When suddenly, Vidhi stopped Dev with a serious expression. "Shhhhh Dev ji… Koi hai aapke peeche", Vidhi whispered in an apprehensive tone.
Dev froze hearing her. He couldn't dare to turn back. "Dekho… Dekho Vidhi mazak mat karo please", his throat dried up.
"Mazak nahi kar rahi hoon Dev ji, sach mein koi hai, darwaza apne aap khul raha hai", Vidhi said in a trembling voice, pretending to be really sacred.
Dev held her hands, his pupils dilated, still not looking back. He closed his eyes. Vidhi covered her mouth with her hands once again, seeing him panic.
"Papa Mumma main aaj aap ke saath so jaun, please?", it was Adwait. Dev turned back in a jolt hearing him. He quickly went near him and picked him up, hugging him dearly.
Vidhi laughed out loud now, "Aapke peeche koi hai, Dev ji… ek kaala saaya… darwaza apne aap khul raha hai.. Kahin woh toh nahi", Vidhi said, giggling.
"Vidhi ki bachchi… has lo aaj jitni marzi… tumhe toh main baad mein dekh lunga", Dev whispered under his breath.
He sat Adwait on the bed. Vidhi too came to bed and started arranging the pillows. "Aap toh so gaye the na, Bubby? Hum lautke aapke room mein gaye the dekhne.. Fir kya huya? Uth kaise gaye aap?", Vidhi said, hugging Adwait.
"Neend khul gayi aur main aap log ko miss kar raha tha isiliye main chala aaya", Adwait said.
"Achcha kiya… bahut achcha kiya. Aaj raat waise bhi hum sab saath hi sote hai.. Yehi better hai", Dev said, kissing Adwait's cheeks. Vidhi smiled looking at them.
She said, "Woh Dev ji, aapke peeche…" "Nahi yaar Vidhi. Bas karo please", Dev intervened Vidhi half way, his voice almost breaking.
"Areh baba, Bubby ka pillow hai woh dijiye", Vidhi chuckled. Dev looked around and handing the pillow to her said, "Aaj main tum dono ke beech mein sounga. Side mein nahi so sakta." Vidhi looked at him, surprised at his demand. "Main kya bolun? Apne bete se baat kijiye", she said.
"Bubby, aaj papa aapke aur mumma ke beech mein so jaaye, please", Dev made a puppy face looking at Adwait.
"Lekin kyun, papa?", Adwait asked, holding Vidhi's hands.
"Woh na aaj mumma ne papa ko ek daravna movie dikha diya aur papa darr gaye", Vidhi said.
"Nahi mumma, mere papa kisise nahi darte. Woh mere Hulk hai", Adwait said feeling Dev's biceps.
"Kabhi kabhi Hulk ko bhi darr lag sakta hai, Bubby. Kabhi kabhi Hulk bhi sad ho sakte hai, upset ho sakte hai, roh sakte hai, aur yeh sab normal hai, Hulk ke liye bhi lekin aapko pata hai tabhi important kya hai?", Vidhi asked.
Adwait shook his head. Vidhi kissed him and continued, "Tabhi important yeh hai ki hum Hulk ke saath baithe, unka haath aise tightly pakad ke aur unhe yeh kahein ki koi baat nahi. Aapki family hai na aapke saath. Sab thik ho jayega. Aapke apne humesha aapke saath rahenge, aapko support karenge jis din Hulk strong hai uss din bhi, aur jis din Hulk utna strong nahi hai, uss din bhi." Vidhi looked at Dev. Dev at that moment, felt proud… proud of himself that he had chosen the world's best woman to be his son's mother.
"Okay papa, aap beech mein so sakte ho. Aaj main aapko protect karunga", Adwait shifted his pillow to the side and laid down.
Dev too, changed his positions and laid down beside him. "Good night, Bubby. I love you", he said, kissing his forehead.
"Aaj tum dono meri taraf muh karke sona", he added. Vidhi smiled hearing yet another demand of his. So much for making him watch a horror movie with her, and people thought she had married someone way older then him.
Adwait snuggled closer to Dev putting his leg and little hand on him. "Darna mat papa, main hoon", he said, tapping his chest with his little hand. "Okay", Dev chuckled, closing his eyes.
But Vidhi, she still remained seated on her side of the bed. She kept looking and adoring her two boys - her kid in his 40s sleeping soundly under the safe and secure vigilance of her 4 year old man.
This was cute 
... 
.... but got actual scared 
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