Beverly S.C park,,

Tej: ji Sanjay Saab... Kaise hai app... Bade Dino baad humari yaad Ai?

Sanjay: bohot zaroori baat krni thi appse..

Tej: kya baat Hai? Sab Thik?

Sanjay: uhh... Nahi.... Zyada din Nahi Hai mere pass.. Or chahta hoo ki Bari ki shaadi jals hojaye..

T: matlab?

S: mujhe tumor hai... Or...

T: Sanjay... Tumor? Par aise or kab?

S: 4 mahine Ho chuke hai..

T: kya? Or aapne bataya Nahi?

Taking a deep breath.

S: meri aakhri Iccha puri karenge Tej ji?

T: bilkul... Aap bataye to sahi..

S: Mai chahta hoo ki ap meri bhateeji Gauri ko apni bahu banaye... Om se uski shaadi krvaye...

T: ye to bohot acchi baat Hai... Do dost rishtedar banenge... Hum RAAZI Hai...

S: shukriya. Meherbani apki. 🙏

T: humari khoosh kismat.. Ki gauri humari bahu bane...

They share a laugh followed by a long silence. The silence before the storm, that would change everything.

***************

Sharma dwellings,,

Pawan: par Sanjay r u sure? Vo bhateeji Hai aapki...beti mante Hai usse.. Or vnaha to.... Aur kya Vo ye Kar payegi......

S: meri bhateeji se pehle apne pita Ki beti aur Hindustani hai....

P: taking a long breath.... Hnaa vo to Hai.... Par..

S: kya aap usse sikhayenge? Vo... So Sab Sikh jayegi... Usse us K papa ka maksat poora Krna Hai.....please pawan.. Pawan...maine jijaji se wada kiya tha ki Mai unki beti ko...

P: it's OK Sanjay... Mai samajhta hoo... Jaisee tumhari Marzi...... Usse baat kro... Or phir dekhte hai...