Shraman- Ek Duje Ke Vaaste

The morning sunrays has fallen. Waking up with a warm smile and thanking almighty, she switched off the alarm and got set to freshen up.

Seeing the washroom she realised that it's not her room but her hotel room arranged by her client.

Seeing the glassdoors she sulked "Pata nahi yeh kaanch vale darwaze ke peeche nahakar in ameeron ko kya maza aata hai". Nahane ke liye aur freshen up hone ke liye chahiye hi kya hota hai? Ek shower, ek baalti, ek mug aur basin. Par nahi yahan bhi logon ko apne architectural skills ka display karna hai". Suman was mumbling to herself.

Accha hua Preeti nahi hai saath me, nahi toh bathroom se nikalne ka nAm hi nahi leti.

Suman arrived in Jaipur for a client meeting. Being one of the best cook and a catering owner in Delhi, she was now expanding her talent in other neighbouring states as well.

She was approached by one of the leading business personality of Delhi to look after the catering service for their son's wedding. Since it's a destination wedding happening in Jaipur, she was called at the palace to have a client meeting and inspect the kitchen and surroundings so that it's easy for her.

Same Day, Delhi....

Ramnath Malhotra: Vaise Tiwariji, aapke liye ek khush khabri hai. Aapka adhoora chess ka game ab poora hone vala hai.

Raghuvir Tiwari: Kya matlab hai tumhara???

Ramnath: Shravan vapis aa raha hai London se.

Tiwariji: Kaun Shravan? Me kisi shravan ko nahi jaanta.

Ramnath: Tiwariji me jaanta hun. Shravan ka yeh London jaldi jaana vo bhi kisi ko kuch bataye achanak se galat tha bhale hi hum use bhejne hi vale the. Par vo aapki aaj bhi utni hi izzat karta hai jitna ki vo tab karta tha. Jab bhi hum use London Milne jaate the vo hamesha aapke baare me poochta tha. Main maanta hun ki galat tha aise achanak jaana. Aur aapko poora haq hai use daatne aur maarne ka. Par please naraaz hokar kal party me aane se mana mat kijiyega.

Aap toh jaante ho ki kal mera birthday bhi hai. Isliye me chaahta hun ki aap poore pariwar ke saath aaye.

Tiwariji: Me maanta hun Ramnath ki me Sharavan se naraaz hun. Par tum chinta mat karo. Is vajah se me tumhare ghar aane se inkar nahi karunga.

Ramnath: Vaise Tiwariji, Suman kahi nazar nahin aa rahi.

Tiwariji: Vo Jaipur gayi hai. Khanna ke bete ke shaadi ka contract mila hai use. Usi silsile me vahan gayi hai.

Meanwhile the phone rings...

Tiwariji: Yeh lo shaitan ka naam liya aur Shaitan hazir...

Both starts laughing....

Tiwariji: Haan Suman! Kaisi hai beta?

Suman: Main theek hun Nanu! Bas abhi abhi meeting khatam hui hai. Aapne dawai Li?

Meanwhile Ramnath signals Tiwariji to handover call to him once done.

Tiwariji: Haan beta. Khaana aur dawai dono Teri maami ne time se de Diya tha. Bas jaldi ghar vapis aaja. Bahut soona lag raha hai.

Suman on the other hand smiles at her Nanu's words.

Tiwariji: Accha Suman, yahan Ramnath aaya hua hai. Voh tumse baat karna chaahta hai.

Ramnath: Hello Suman!

Suman: Hello uncle! Kaise ho aap?

Ramnath: Main theek hun beta. Vaise tum Jaipur se kab aa rahi ho?

Suman: Me kal subah ki flight se vapis aa jaungi uncle. Vahan sab theek toh hai na? Ya phir Pushkar ne vapis koi jhol kar diya Ghar pe?

Ramnath (with laugh): Nai nai. Darsal baat yeh hai ki kal mera birthday hai. Toh ghar pe ek party rakhi hai. Aur uske alava kuch aur bhi khaas baat hai.

Suman: Kya hai uncle?

Ramnath: Tumhara bestfriend kal vapis India aa raha hai. 10 saal baad.

Suman starts shivering.... Her eyes become moist and she feels as if the ground beneath her feet is shaking.

Ramnath (with a smile): Mujhe andaaza hai beta tumhare reaction ke baare me. Me bhi pehle kuch aise hi react Kiya tha. Mene tumhe yeh batane ke liye call kiya tha ki tum kal party me aa jana. Aur haan as a catering owner nahi balki as our guest aur mere bete ki best friend banke aana. Tum aur tumhara khaana Delhi ka best Hai. Isliye uss baat ki koi tension nahi hai.

Suman(with a lump on throat): Ji uncle. Me aaungi kal. Aur haan me rakhti hun. Mujhe kuch kaam hai.

And she cuts the call.

She looks at her in mirror with a moist eyes.

She could hear all those laughs, bullies an mockery in her ears. She covers her ears and cries.

"Bahut toot chuki thi. Apne aap par itna taras khaaya. Sirf aur sirf tumhari vajah se Shravan Ramnath Malhotra. But not this time. Mere liye tum sirf aur sirf mere ek distant family friend ho aur mere best friend ke bhai. Nothing else. Agar mere saamne iss baar aaye , then you are going to face my wrath" she says to herself by wiping off her tears.

She makes a call to Khannas.

Khanna: Yes Ms. Tiwari. Boliye.

Suman: Khanna Ji, darsal mujhe abhi ek baat strike hui ki mujhe kitchen aur mess ke saath saath nearby market ki bhi thodi jaanch partaal karni thi. I'm case kuch issue ho jaye toh emergency ya back-up ke liye hum yahan nearby jagah se raw materials purchase kar sake.

Khanna: Sure Ms.Tiwari. Aap ka booking extension aur flight tickets me parso ke liye kar deta hun. Aur kal aapke liye car bhi bhej deta hun.

Suman: Thankyou Mr.Khanna. but haan mujhe car ki zaroorat nahi hai. Me khud chali jaungi. Kyunki uske baad kuch personal kaam bhi hai mujhe.

Khanna: Sure Ms.Tiwari. Jaise aap chaahe.

Suman cuts the call and gives a smile to herself in mirror.

Jis bhoot ka naam sunke mood kharab Kiya hai ab us cheez ko avoid karne ke liye ek solo mini trip toh banta hi hai.

With this thought she doses off.