IPKKND FF: JALEBI by Jalebi Jane Thread 1: EPISODE 001-042 - Page 34

JALEBI by Jalebi Jane (EPISODE 016 )

EVERYBODY ACQUAINTED WITH JANAKPURI MARKET will nod in sympathetic agreement when I say that Aman had difficulty finding parking there. It was always a crush---but at this hour, when afternoon closed and evening unfolded---it was nigh impossible to find a spot for a bike, let alone room for a car.

Though one immediate point of ease for Aman was that he did not see Khushi Kumari Gupta sitting on the steps of the red-roofed house, like an unwanted orphan. It meant that she was safely within or had gone elsewhere to wait in comfort.

He was preparing to turn the vehicle around and drive back to the temple gate, park there, and return on foot, when by some Devi Maiyya miracle, a space opened up directly in front of Happyji's Garage.

He parked, crossed the lane, climbed up to the house door and knocked.

Nobody answered, so he made his way to the back to see if the family was in the garden, when he noticed that one of the bedroom windows was open. But just then he heard the main door open and heard someone call out. He ran back to the front, and saw an older woman in the doorway, with her head popped out.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her large forehead drawn together into a suspicious frown.

Aman asked, "Is this Khushi Gupta's house?"

"No!" came the reply, as though it was an affront to all things sacred to suggest such a thing.

"My mistake," Aman apologized, and was returning to street level, when she spoke again.

"Nandekishore-Knows, it's not Khushi's house! It's my house. She's my niece. And lives here at my invitation. But who are you to enquire?"

Aman went for the longer explanation. "I'm from Arnav---"

But she interrupted him, "---Arnav? And what do you want with Khushi? Who is she to you? How do you know her? Have you been trifling with her? How dare you come here! She's already spoken for."

It was impossible to know which question, which accusation, which statement to respond to first. And Aman wisely decided that to return the items speedily and remove himself from the scene was best. He showed his hands, in which he held Khushi's phone and keys and stated, "These belong to Miss Gupta. Her friend, Parisa Khan, was on her way to drop them off, but as I had some business here at the Market, I offered to do so." When he saw that she seemed to doubt his story, Aman added, "I'm happy to call up Miss Khan and you can speak with her. She will tell you that she entrusted me with the task. Or if you prefer, I can return the items to Miss Khan and Miss Gupta can take up the matter with her. It makes little difference to me."

Ha! Fear not, Sisters, Aman knew precisely how to deal with such a termagant.

Her forehead smoothed, and as she reached for the items she gave a mocking laugh, and said, "so you are not here to propose to Khushi?"

No statement could have surprised Aman more. And he quashed the idea immediately. "Not at all, Auntyji." And then it seemed the most prudent thing to do was to leave before more questions of this nature were presented. He bobbed his head in a hasty, "Namaste-ji." And was gone before she could delay him.

He had gone several steps before realizing that he had not established whether Khushi was in the house. He knew Arnav well-enough to know that he would ask this very question. But not even his duty to his employer could make Aman desire another meeting with that battle-axe. He decided to wait at the tea-stall for ten minutes and then try Khushi's phone.

Hopefully the aunt would not answer.

YOU MAY SMILE WHEN I REFER TO Humptyji's Chai Palace, Sisters, but let me assure that it is not so great a hyberbole as it appears. Yes, it began as a humble tea-stall, but time and providence had added to it, and beyond the original structure, there was now a grand open-air room which served everything from market snacks to full lunches.

And since now is not an appropriate time to interrupt this narrative and rhapsodize about their chole bhature, I promise to return to that subject on another day. For now, visualize this: a stall with the standard benches at the front, and an expansive pillared area beyond, which had not an empty table or available seat to offer Aman.

But he was happy to stand at the stall and have his tea. In fact, he preferred it. As he lifted the glass to his lips, his gaze naturally wandered to the activity within the "palace" and his eyes fell on a table at the far corner. I cannot tell you why this particular table caught his eye. Was it the second Devi Maiyya miracle of the day?

Perhaps.

It was a table occupied by Khushi Kumari Gupta.

And a man.

She was speaking, and he was listening, but even from his distance, Aman could see that he was leaning towards her with male interest. It was the demeanour of a man in love. Perhaps because Aman himself was in love, he could spot another such.

She's already spoken for.

The words which Khushi's aunt had spoken echoed. That information had come as a surprise to him. But in his haste to escape the woman, he had not given it much thought.

Presumably, this must be the man who had spoken for Miss Gupta. It was necessary to learn more. Arnav would ask. As did his own curiosity.

Adopting that casual manner and oblique method with which one approaches these things, Aman asked the man who had served him tea, "you do quite a brisk trade at this hour, don't you?"

The man gave one of those boastful snorts and said, "guess how cups of tea I serve in a day? Go on, give it a guess!"

Aman gave an unreasonably low number, which satisfied the man, for he could then enjoy the privilege of correcting him. And a few more such questions by Aman established further intimacy. Then Aman, pretending to just notice that table, said, "oh, there's Khushi Gupta. With her brother, what's-his-name...er, Rohit, I believe. He must be visiting from Lucknow---"

The man dropped his sieve and craned his neck to see where Aman was indicating. And when he saw, he gave a laugh, and said, "that's not her brother. That's their lodger. Shyam Jha, the Vakilsaheb." And then leaning over the counter in a conspiratorial manner, he added, "Let's hope he's not her brother. For he intends to marry her. He intends to go from the garden room straight into the girl's room. Not bad work if you can get it, kya?" This was all augmented with enough winking eyes and wriggling eyebrows to disgust Aman, but to encourage more communication, he joined in with a wink of his own, and said, "I wish my landlady had such a pretty niece."

"Oh yes! Quite a morsel, she is."

"Lucky man. Lucky man to have won her heart," Aman said.

The man nodded, "I wouldn't mind a peek at her heart, kya?" [insert wink and nudge] "Alas, I am a man who makes tea. And he is a man who---"

"---drinks tea?" Aman finished.

Mr Chaiwalla gave a lewd chuckle. He was such an idiot that he saw innuendo where there was none. He engaged Aman further, "Tell me, why would a man of means and education lodge in someone's garden room? Why? Go on, have a guess!"

Aman knew what he was expected to say and he obeyed. "Because he wanted to be close by to woo her?"

"There you have it. They say he has a thriving practice in Lucknow and is establishing a new one in this city. He could afford to buy that house he lodges in just like that." He snapped his fingers to stress his pronouncement.

"So when is the wedding then? Has Humptyji's received the catering contract?" Aman asked, draining his glass, and appearing as though it mattered not whether the man replied or not.

"Kya?" the man snorted again. "They'll probably have it at one of those fancy hotels. But the wedding will be soon. Do not doubt it. Look at him breathing all over her. Do you think he will allow much delay? He would have the punditji around tomorrow if he could. And let me tell you, her aunt---that Buaji of hers!---is more impatient than he."

Aman had heard enough. Quite enough.

He paid the man generously [for such an observant and loquacious chaiwalla may be needed again in the future] and turned to give one parting glance at Khushi and the Vakilsaheb.

His timing was so fortunate-unfortunate that at that very moment, Shyam Jha reached across the table and placed his large hand on top of hers. She withdrew her own hand instantly, but gave a small smile, which Aman read as something like gratitude.

He saw that she was preparing to leave the table, so he turned up his collar and ran back to the vehicle before he was seen.

Jalebi Jane

Originally posted by: mansi0606

one sly assistant Arnav has got here. Mr. Raizada is going to blow his fuse after this bit of an information.

Originally posted by: Anu567

So what happens now? Yes, I do not like Buaji at all. Even on the show she was very aggravating indeed with her terrible prejudices and treatment of Khushi. I mean how dare she...later perhaps she redeemed herself to an extent and asked Arnav pertinent questions if he forgot Khushi's birthday or got annoyed with her for any reason. The fact is though that in the early days, she caused her so much angst. What is Arnav's plan? I suppose you will tell us in your own time. He rejects Aman's offer of going to deliver Khushi's belongings in person. What will Khushi tell Shyam. Typically, I imagine Shyam will be even more keen to marry her post the conversation. Because no one can avoid falling for our feisty Khushi Kumari Gupta!