65 Inches
HOME-THEATRE NEEDS Superstore - Furniture orders desk
Firsts are special...
A girl's first birthday... her first day at school... her first crush... her first saree... her first salary... her first wedding anniversary...
Wedding anniversary, did you say? That one was extra special for this still-very-much-in-love 26 year old, who was really looking forward to celebrate her first year of wedded bliss.
'I'm incredibly lucky... I've hit the jackpot'
She never said that line aloud, lest other girls got jealous - but the proud smile hovering on her lips thereafter, gave away her sentiments. And why shouldn't she feel lucky? There couldn't be many women out there, getting to celebrate togetherness with a guy like hers, could there?
Jalal Muhammed had been everything-and-more that she could have asked for in a boyfriend. Jalal Muhammed was everything-and-more that she could have asked for in a husband!
So, what better milestone than THIS to show him how she felt? And she would show it in her own hatke style.
Vacations. Rings. Cards. Messages. Clothes. Dinners - they'd done it all. Innumerable times. Besides, those were all HER kind of romance. This time, she would do HIS kind of romance.
Which is why, for the past 20 minutes, Jodha had been sitting behind the 'Furniture orders' desk of this specialist super-store 'Home-Theatre Needs' - restlessly waiting for a salesmen to appear.
It was the end of a long day. Her two shopping companions - mamma and bhabhi - were evidently exhausted. Why, she was famished too, and the watered-down soft drink being offered was a poor substitute for food. Above all, shopping for such 'hatke' stuff with her traditionalist mamma around, was far from ideal.
But, the young lady knew that her busy schedules over the next few weeks, wouldn't allow her time to squeeze in another shopping trip to THIS side of the city. Thus, tired or not, late or not - the purchase had to be finished now to ensure her gift - the furniture - arrived in good time!
Nah! Jodha's surprise to her husband wasn't going to be any random piece of desk or dresser. This was going to be special - meant to complement the gift he was already getting her.
It was a couple of years ago, that a horrible incident had left her in a coma for weeks. The months thereafter were the lowest phase in her life, from which she could have never recuperated had it not been for the remarkable efforts of her man. Thankfully, the lady was fit and fine now, except for the debilitating headaches that occurred ever so often - making it impossible for her to sit through harsh sounds and lights, like those in a movie theatre.
As a certified movie buff, Jalal didn't want his wife missing out on all the fun. And if he couldn't take his Jo to the cinema theatre, he'd bring the theatre home - that way, they could still watch movies, but at a pace more suited to her.
The construction for this private home cinema was well underway. An integrated speaker system had already been built into the walls of the 2nd floor lobby. The folding doors were being installed. He had placed an order for a newly-launched 65" screen. The doting husband had it all meticulously planned, such that the new room would be ready in time, for their first anniversary.
All good.
But there was one part that Mr. Busybee hadn't had the time to organise - the seating!
'Aha!' Jodha had realised soon thereafter, and decided she would take it upon herself to arrange for some hatke seating - giving her man a surprise that he would least expect.
'Smart 65inch Curved Home theatre two-seater recliner' was what the brochures read. But the more common name for it would be a 'couple's loveseat' or a 'romantic cuddle-couch'
It was cosy and soft, with an attached table on the side - perfect for a viewer like her, who liked to cuddle up against a warm body and snack on some popcorn during a movie.
It accommodated two people snugly and with a remote control, the recliner converted into a bed - perfect for a viewer like him who liked to get up to all varieties of mischief during a movie!
This gift was brazen and gutsy - definitely HIS kinda romance!
'Husband...' she blushed, as she reflected on how boldly adventurous she'd become 'the things you make me do...'
'Chee ee..' came mama's disapproving remark, just as she'd stumbled upon its advertisement in the store's booklet - an enlarged photo of the 'loveseat', featuring a couple cosying up under the sheets 'Is this what you're giving jamaisa?'
Embarrassed, Jodha leaned forth to gently take the booklet away ''Mamma... actually...'
'Chup! In my time... we used to celebrate anniversaries by visiting temples... making kheer... seeking blessings of our elders... and maybe buying new clothes... but, today's weird generation...' she slapped her forehead lightly 'When friends and family ask me what gift you got jamaisa, what am I supposed to say?' her eyes widened in dread 'And what will your mother-in-law say... when she sees what you've purchased?'
Jodha closed the booklet with a defiant look 'Ammi will be very happy that I'm so thoughtful towards her son...' she winked 'she doesn't impose restrictions on me like you do on Bhabhi...'
The two young ladies instantly erupted into a fit of giggles, while the flustered mother had nothing but a set of angry stares and a further volley of 'besharams' to counter their comments!
'Hello Madam...' a bespectacled middle aged man, brought the laughter to a lull, taking his place on the opposite side of the desk 'I'm the sales manager... Yoga Murthy... sorry to keep you waiting...'
'Hello... I...' Jodha was about to greet him back, when she thought she'd seen his roving eye observing her in ways they mustn't. 'Yes...' she clipped her answer short 'I placed a telephonic order last week... I've come to make payment for it...'
'Alright...' dragging forth the mouse with a slow grunt, the man navigated the screen on his computer to the 'orders' page 'What is the name, Madam?'
'Jodha Muhammed...'
'Mohammed... Muhammad... Muhammed... too many Muhammeds in Hyderabad...' stating the obvious, he laughed at his own joke as he typed in the details 'address please...'
'43, Jubilee Hills... 500033'
'Oh here it is... order placed last week...' the man skimmed through the details 'Muhammed... Jubilee Hills... Designer 65inch Curved Home theatre Television...' He looked up, having evidently mistaken the order placed by 'Mr.' Muhammed as that placed by 'Mrs.' Muhammed
'Designer 65inch Curved Home theatre...'
'Yes... yes...' Jodha hurried him on, delayed as they already were
The manager removed his glasses with a grin, wrongly presuming that this rather captivating young customer was rather lucky too - seeing how she was going to buy a very large, very expensive TV.
'Madam... very nice...'
'Very nice?' Jodha frowned, beginning to get a 'not-nice' feeling as she wondered why the sales manager sounded so excited by the fact that SHE was buying a couple's loveseat 'Yeah... ok...'
'If only...' his voice lowered into a faint chuckle 'If only I could have one at my home too... me and my mrs... we both would enjoy... very much... watching nice movies on it...'
'What!' their eyes widened in astonishment as it took the ladies a moment to come to terms with the personal information he'd just revealed 'Errr... the...'
'A 65 inch?' he continued 'A Curved one? I can only imagine how nice the experience will be...'
'Huh?' Jodha and bhabhi darted each other what-the-hell glances, their insides beginning to hurt from suddenly having to bottle-up bursts of horrified giggles - did this manager share such facts with everyone, or was this special treatment reserved for beautiful customers with 'interesting' orders to place? 'Manager... the payment... we have to leave!'
'I apologise madam...' his eyes scrunched into a sorry grimace 'there is an important survey you have to fill... unless you do that... I cannot process the payment...'
'Survey? You've already kept us waiting...'
'It is company policy madam... not... my fault...' Of course, what he didn't want to say was that -
One) It wasn't compulsory and Two) He got paid every time a customer took a survey for newly-launched electronics.
Then again, Jodha didn't need to be told that. But arguing with this man now would probably take longer than just filling the darned survey.
'Only few questions, madam...' he pressurised 'customer preferences survey that's all...'
'Alright...' she exhaled
'Good good...' the manager quickly pulled open a drawer nearby, picking up a survey leaflet meant for customers of the 65inch Curved Home theatre Television set -
'Hmmm...' his glasses went back on 'what is the occasion... madam... for what you're buying this?'
'It's a gift' Jodha nodded 'An anniversary gift... for my husband...'
'Very nice...' he then read aloud from the leaflet, like they were questions from an exam paper 'So, how many members in your family, might use this?'
'God! It's an anniversary gift... do the maths uncle ji!' she mumbled, carefully avoiding a glimpse in mamma's direction - because all she was going to get in return was besharam-generation looks 'Obviously, ONLY the two of us will use it!'
'ONLY the two? Strange! Does it mean, she will not let anyone else watch her TV?' baffled by the very notion, he removed his glasses 'Madam... what I mean is... yes it's anniversary gift... but if husband is not around... will others never join you... sometimes... to watch...'
WHAT! What sort of an absurd comment was this - so ridiculous, she couldn't even laugh it off. God! Of ALL the days that mamma had tagged along, she'd chosen THIS day! Could the escapade get any more embarrassing?
'It is meant for the TWO of us!' Jodha retorted. Of course, the rebel in her also felt like asking this uncle to put his glasses back on, and observe that he was the only one amused by his appalling sense of humour. But as Mrs. Muhammed she had to rein-in her temper and use sarcasm instead 'OTHERS will not join me...'
'Ok ok... I was only joking madam!' Not wanting to annoy the strange-captivating-lady further, he jotted her answer down with a muffled snicker, before moving on to the next one 'You and your husband... how many hours on average... in a week... do you think you both... will use it...'
'Hours?' Jodha couldn't speak for others, but she didn't keep a stopwatch when romancing the mister! 'Few hours maybe...' she tried dismissing yet another awkward query as swiftly as she could 'I don't know...'
'See Madam...' he went on to clarify with an example, presuming the lady was confused 'some people only use it for little time... like when enjoying a quick twenty-twenty match... some people can use all night... like when test innings is on...'
'Oh my God!' her jaw literally dropped. Was he saying what she thought he was saying?
She took a brief peek at Bhabhi, hoping for some form of support here - but of course, Bhabhi-turned-traitor was having the time of her life, slumped forward on her seat convulsing in laughter. And Jodha dare not even glance at mamma now! Damn! This superstore was the most sought-after store in home-theatre needs, and she wanted Jalal to have the best - if not, she'd have walked out ages ago! '10 hours...' she blurted the first darn answer that came to her mind, resolving not to entertain any more of this.
'10 hours a week? Including weekends too? In our household we...'
'Oh God... no!' Jodha exclaimed. For the sake of her own sanity, she couldn't listen to this man's sleazy examples and explanations any longer 'I'm done...'
'But there's only one last health and safety question, madam...' he stuttered hastily, wondering what could be ticking the lady off so much 'It's on positions. Nowadays people often complain of neckache... backache... when overusing... can you explain what positions you and your husband...'
Before long, the three ladies had left the superstore - but they made sure they stopped at the complaints desk first.
'All I was doing was asking questions about a TV!' poor Mr. Yoga Murthy had to explain himself to his superiors later on 'Ladies these days... have become so touchy'
Same day... same store... few hours later...
The young girl fidgeted on her seat, feeling warm under her collar despite the AC in the store blasting at freezing temperatures. As a newly appointed salesgirl, she was still in probation - being observed by her superiors to ensure she was performing well. This was the first customer she was supposed to be handling 'independently' - and what a tricky case she'd landed with!
'Smart 65inch Curved Home theatre two-seater recliner'
She quickly closed the brochure in front that displayed the picture of a couple snuggling under the sheets, and looked up at the customer sitting on the other side. He was handsome - distractingly so. He appeared rich and influential - his crisp suit and tie was a dead giveaway. He was busy - hadn't gotten off his mobile one second since he'd entered the store. Moreover, he'd already lost his patience over something or someone at work!
And this tricky customer 'Mr. Muhammed' had some apparent issues with a trickier order 'A couple's loveseat', which SHE was supposed to tackle!
'Sai Ram...help me' she gulped nervously, before addressing the man who'd barely finished his call 'Sir... don't worry about your order... our company models are the best... have you seen one before?'
'Seriously?' Jalal placed his phone down. Did she just ask him if he'd SEEN a home cinema before? Granted, their product was a new-launch. But, large screen TVs were not a rarity by any means! 'I've seen most of the types...'
'Oh... so... have you used one before?'
'Used?' he stared at the sales girl who was interrogating him like a kid - was she for real? Leaning back, Jalal crossed his leg across with the kind of authority that came naturally to him 'Yes... I'm very familiar with all the popular models...'
'Familiar with all the popular models of loveseats?' the salesgirl blinked, wondering how it could be so. Then again, who could understand rich boys and their Casanova ways? 'Sir...' she continued more nervous now than she was a second ago 'You might have used it before... but since you had a few doubts, it is company policy that we must reassure our customers...'
'Doubts?' he frowned 'But I only have one doubt...'
'Company policy' she repeated the telltale mantra, her shaky fingers running through the manual she'd kept in front for reference 'It comes with a remote control sir...'
'WOW!' Jalal raised his brow - a TV with a remote? How unexpected! Since this company-policy was only getting funnier with the minute - he decided he might as well play along 'A remote control? Really? I'd never guessed it came with a remote...'
'Sir...' she edgily skipped a few pointers, unnerved by the cynicism in his attitude 'it's lightweight... very easy to handle, to operate and switch on...'
'Easy to switch on? Thank God for that...' he smirked 'or I would've been fumbling in the dark, with my friends... trying to figure out the stuff...'
'Fumbling in the dark with friends? Trying to figure out...' Striving hard NOT to picture this Mr. Casanova Muhammed's risque adventures with the cuddle-couch, the salesgirl omitted the rest of the points and rushed to the very end 'Sir... it lasts very long with little care... never use water, any liquid or harsh chemicals to clean it... just cloth-dusters would do...'
Water? Who the hell came up with such nonsensical instructions? 'Thank you for the tip...' he peered into her eyes, his tone dripping with sarcasm 'I take it you ARE still referring to the 65 inch home theatre...'
'Yes sir...' she nodded in a hurry before he could complete the query, wanting to run away from there ASAP.
'Thank you for all those reassurances... now if you would please clear the ONE doubt I actually had...'
'Yes sir?'
'When can I expect it to be delivered home?'
'Phew! A simple question' she breathed a sigh of relief 'In 4 weeks time... like you've requested, sir...'
'Yes... but when I called no one assured me of this, which is why I had to come in personally!' he paused 'So... please make SURE of it... it's an anniversary surprise for my wife...'
'Sure sir...'
'I need it delivered early... by 10:30 am... my wife will be away then... and I want to try it a few times... when my wife's not at home...'
'Huh?' the salesgirl muttered under her breath, startled by his admissions 'Try it... when wife's not at home? Wh...'
'Damn!' Jalal kneaded his forehead, running short of patience - this salesgirl was perennially confused! 'Well... my friend has planned to drop in at 11ish... so, I want do a few trial runs with her first... to see how efficiently everything performs' he informed, referring to how his pal Renu, had volunteered to drop by early to help set up for the special occasion 'That way, I can be sure it all works perfectly fine, on the big day with the wife... is there a problem now?' he asked, bewildered by the sight of her blanched face.
'No sir...'
'Men these days...' the salesgirl grumbled to her friend, later that night 'they've become such immoral perverts... and cheats!'
4 weeks later... on the big day...
'So...' his dark eyes indicated towards the large 65 inch screen that hung on the wall behind him 'How do you like my surprise?'
Having closed shut the folding doors, she strutted towards him, her high heels echoing a rhythmic 'tic' 'tic' in the silence and the darkness of midnight.
'I like it' she finally shrugged 'but do you know how to operate it, sir? It comes with a remote control...'
'Oh yes... hadn't guessed...' stylishly flipping up the remote in his hand, Jalal switched it on 'Voila...' he acted surprised, as soon as a music channel began playing - booming surround sound and all 'it does work...'
'Lovely...' Removing the straps of her heels, she flicked aside the stilettos with the edges of her toes. Her manicured fingers then trailed towards the hair clip that'd been stylishly holding her hair up for so long. She snapped the clip open, letting her hair roll down in waves - just the way he loved it - before taking her seat 'And how's THIS surprise?' her hazel eyes indicated towards the 'special' couch she was posing so seductively on
'Hmmm...' he studied both her, and her gift '65 inches... curved...' he paused 'I can only imagine how nice the experience will be...'
That was it! The final undoing - the pair burst out into the loudest set of laughs they'd ever laughed.
Ever since her 'awkward' encounter with the sales manager 4 weeks ago, Jodha had been dying to share the tit-bits with him. But the fact that the couch was a 'surprise' meant she couldn't. Till the gifts finally arrived this morning - the TV mistakenly in HER name, and the Couch in HIS. And it was thereafter, when the husband and wife exchanged all the details, that the mystery behind the sales manager's unusual 'sleaziness' and the salesgirl's puzzling 'nervousness' was gradually understood.
Of course, by then, it was Anniversary-party time and the house was teeming with guests. Which meant, the pair couldn't really 'jest in peace'. Till now, that is!
'Husband...' she held her stomach that was still paining from all that laughter 'so uncle ji... wasn't being all that indecent then...'
'Nope... and no wonder that salesgirl wanted to run away... she must have the poorest impression of me...'
'God...' They both said nothing for a while, letting the chuckles run their full course
'Having said that...' Jalal eventually mulled, leaving the sentence hanging
'Said what?' prompted Jo, grabbing a cushion for her head as she slid back to lie on the soft recliner, the folds of her translucent yellow saree sculpting around her impeccable curves.
'That salesgirl was right about one point...' his eyes glistened 'I've never used one of THESE before...'
'Achaa? But first tell me your opinion of my gift'
Opinion? He had opinionsss - plenty of them - in fact, from the second he'd laid eyes upon her amazing surprise that morning. The gift was bold and naughty. The idea was sweet and sexy. The gesture was indulgent and clever. In fact, it was everything-and-more a husband could want, in a gift, from a wife. But it'd take too long to frame all those feelings into sentences now - something he couldn't afford to spare time for, when he had the tempting sight of his wife-turned-seductress in front. So, Jalal chose to display his sentiments in ways he knew to do best 'I cannot give you my honest opinion till I've tried it first...'
'Really?' Jodha teased her charming rogue of a husband
He didn't answer that, but his eyes did a lot of the replying - transfixed upon her inviting profile, as he removed the cufflinks off of his sleeves. Then, the top button of his blue shirt came open, followed by the second one. But he left the shirt there - half undone - just the way she found it irresistible.
'Well...' he grinned, slowly sliding beside her on the couch 'what are you in the mood for, Jo? A twenty-twenty or a test innings?'
Biting the inside of her flushed lips, she averted those turned-on gazes as she tossed that 'suggestive' question back at him 'What about you?'
'Why ask me the question when you know my answer...' he whispered, slipping his hand through her saree, seeking the familiar warmth of her waist
She giggled at the ticklishness that his touch generated, her fingers beginning to play with the sides of his bare neck 'To many more years of such laughter and giggles, Jalal!'
'To many more years of such pranks and mischief' he firmly pulled her close, sending her pulse racing as the sharp edge of his nose grazed the soft lines of her neck 'To many more years of adventure and discoveries...'
'To many more years of togetherness...'
'To many more years of togetherness...'
'Happy Anniversary!'
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