My brother's best friend

Chapter 26

The weather wasn't that bad. It was pleasant actually, the exact kind where you could sit in your balcony and enjoy a steaming cup of tea with some crispy sizzling pakodas. But what's the fun in munching on pakodas when your cook is absolutely pathetic at cooking.... anything actually, and your beloved grandson isn't home.

Jaiprakash Maheshwari let out a long, audible breath. He turned his attention to the door in order to acknowledge the new arrival in the room. Ramdhari strode inside with long, careful steps carrying a tray with kettle, tea cups and some biscuits, occasionally tripping over showpieces and the floral vase that has been there for the past 15 years. It's about time a daughter-in-law made some nice changes.

The cook-cum-servant finally managed to put the tray down, and Nanaji let out an involuntary sigh of relief. As Ramdhari served the tea and laid out the snacks on the table, Nanaji took his sweet time to enjoy the beautiful weather some more.

"Nanaji chai lag gayi hai. Aap pee lijiye warna thandi ho jayegi. Munshi ji toh pata nahi kab tak aayenge"

"Arey Ramdhari aisa konsa amrit ya chappan bhog banata hai tu ki main khaane ke liye mara jaa raha hoon," Nanaji laughed at Ramdhari's deep frown and patted his head gently. "Munshi ko aa jaane de phir chai pee lunga."

"Kya Nanaji aap bhi mazaak mein lag jaate hai." Ramdhari pouted. "Kal toh Sameer bhaiya bhi humari banayi daal ki taareef kar rahe the." Nanaji merely laughed at his words.

"Ramdhari tune Sameer se pucha tha ki dal pichli baar se behtar bani hai na, aur usne tera sawaal bina sune hi haa bol diya tha. Ise taareef nahi kehte beta." The old man smiled good-naturedly as Ramdhari huffed in disapproval.

"Waise Sameer bhaiya aaj kal kuch pareshaan rehne lage hai Nanaji. Hamesha hi ukhde-ukhde se rehte hai," Nanaji frowned at that, but didn't look much surprised. Maybe he had caught on that little clue as well. "Humein lagta hai kuch jaadu tone ka chakkar hai."

Nanaji burst into peals of laughter and patted his head affectionately yet again, "Ramdhari tu jab bhi kabhi ek aadhi baat sahi karta hai na, saath mein kam se kam do bewakoofi wali baatein zaroor karta hai."

"Are Nanaji hum jhooth nahi bol rahe hai. Abhi kuch din pehle hi Sameer bhaiya bhi toh keh rahe the ki Ramdhari tu ekdum sach bolne laga hai aaj kal. Humare gaav mein Dhanna Seth ke chacha ki bahu ke bhai ka beta Dilli rehta hai," Ramdhari elaborated and Nanaji gestured him to stop, "Toh uske saath jaadu tone ka chakkar hua hai?"

"Nahi Nanaji uss ladke ka dost hai Dilli mein, woh usse bata raha tha ki uski door ki mausi ke bete ke upar kisi ne jaadu kar diya tha. Keh raha tha ki aaj tak gharwaale pareshaan hai." Nanaji shook his head in defeat. Ab isse aur poochunga toh uss door ki mausi ki rishtedaari batane lag jayega.

"Ramdhari ab jaadu tone ka chakkar hai ya nahi yeh toh pata nahi," the two heads turned at the arrival of Munshi kaka, "lekin Jaiprakash ji ko ab yeh Dhongi baba ki nahi, ek pyaari si bahu ki zaroorat hai."

Nanaji smiled warmly and hugged the younger man, ushering him inside. Ramdhari quickly poured tea in the second cup and offered snacks to the two men, both of whom avoided the matthi he had prepared like a plague.

"Jaiprakash ji ab Sameer ke rishte ke baare mein sochne ka samay aa gaya hai. Iss saal woh College khatam kar lega, phir aap use kaam par laga lenge. Ab bas kahi acchi si jagah uska rishta pakka kar dijiye. Ghar parivaar ki saari zimmedaari aapki bahu ki, aap bas aaraam kijiye."

"Arey Munshi baat toh tu theek hi keh raha hai. Lekin uske liye ek pyaari si bitiya bhi toh dhoondhni padegi na. Aur yeh karne ke liye humein kisi dayal ke yahaan Sameer ka naam likhwana padega. Ek baar Sameer se baat toh karni hi padegi" Nanaji explained, and took another long sip of his tea.