SYDNEY PHONE CALL

Chirag sat on his round chair in a glass window room with a straight face that did not give away any expression, his neatly trimmed beard shaping his perfect sharp jawline,his black coal orbs too focused on the agreement papers he was looking into. His white shirt rolled up to his elbow showing off his perfect veiny arms. They maroon coat plopped somewhere on the couch while he was engrossed in his files when his phone pinged. It was his best friend calling .
His hands paused mid air knowing it was a long phone call.

Kartik: aur mere sher...kaisa chl rha hai aapka kaam?
( So my lion....how is your work going on?)

Chirag: shreya ko ache se drop kr diya aapne kartik
( Did you drop shreya nicely?)

Kartik: koi shkh hai aapko....humaari jaan ko kaise chorr kr aayenge hum?
( Do you have any doubt....what do you think ...how will I see off my jaan?)

Chirag: aap pyaar mein pagal ho chuke hain.....pyaar jaisi chiz kuch nhi hoti hai kartik.....log bs dusron ka faayeda uthate hai....dusro ke drr ko unke khilaaf istemaal krte hain
( You have gone crazy in love...there is nothing like love....people just use them for their profit....they use their fear against them)

Kartik: pyaar jb hota hai na chirag....usmein drr ki jgh nhi hoti
( When you are in love...there is nothing like fear that exists)

Chirag: pyaar ek jhoot hain...jismein log apne aap ko kho dete hai....duniya mein kevl power,paisa,pahuch ki ehmiyat hoti hain.
( Love is a lie....where people forget themselves....only money,power and connection are valuable in this world)

Kartik: come on hukum sa....Thora apne us aura se bahar aaiye...ha humne ache se unhe drop kr diya...she is all fine...and her roomate...she is also interesting..just like a cute panda
( Comeout of your hukum sa aura......I have dropped her safely)

Chirag: roommate...humne kaha tha na....shreya ko koi taklif nhi honi chahiye...uske liye ek single room kaha tha...aapse ek kaam nhi hua Kartik
( I told you to get her a separate room.....you couldn't do a single work)

Kartik: shaant mere gadda dhaari bheem.....shreya akele pr jaati....ghr se pehli baar dur...aur aise bhi usko norms ke hisaab se sb kuch Krna tha...so I did not say anything
( Calm down my weaponised bheem....she would have been lonely....she will be away from house for the first time.....and she wanted to live a normal life)

Chirag: kaha ki roommate hai... background check kraya...koi bad influence....hum aisi koi cheez bardaash nhi krenge kartik
( Didi you check the background of her roommate....I won't tolerate any bad influence....where is she from?)

Chirag clenched his first just at the thought of possible danger to his sister.

Kartik: koi problem nhi hai....wo achi larki hai....shreya ke hostel mein luggage le jaane ke liye larkon ka jana allowed nhi tha...to usne aage se help liya...aur bahut cheerful type ki hai...shreya kaafi ghul mil gyi kisi se pehli baar mein....aise wo kaafi shaant rehti hai...uski roommate ki ma sa bhi achi hai...shreya jb Rani sa ke baare mein btaya aur thori emotional ho gyi to uski ma sa ne shreya ko bilkul ma ke trh pyaar diya....family kaafi middle class hai....koi khatra nhi hai humari shreya ko usse
(There is no problem...she is a nice girl...boys were not allowed to go to Shreya's hostel to take luggage...so she took the initiative to help...and is a very cheerful type of person...Shreya got quite friendly with someone for the first time...that's why she is quite calm...her roommate's mother is also nice...when Shreya told about Rani sahib and got a little emotional, her mother loved Shreya just like a mother...the family is quite middle class...our Shreya is not in any danger from her)

As kartik stopped...there was silence on both the side. His mother's mention brought in the old memories of his ma sa....how she use to love him and care for them.

Kartik: bolna to nhi chahiye pr wo larki ikdm bindaas types...bihar hi hai na...pura full on confidence....puri pataka
(shouldn't say this but that girl is a very carefree type...she is from Bihar...full of confidence...complete firecracker
)
Chirag: kartik...behave....words....larki hain wo...aapke manners kaha hai
( She is a girl....where are your manners?)

Kartik: sorry ...wo kya naam tha uska...Vaani sharma.....wo flow flow mein nikl gya....bahut pyaari si larki hai...hai to 18 ki pr 21-22 ki lgti hai...chubby chubby si hai....but dil ki achi hai
(What was her name....Vaani sharma....that was in flow....she is cute....around 18-19 but looks like a girl of 22-23....little chubby but good at heart)

Chirag : aapko mental asylum mein jaane ki zarurat hai...kisi larki ko body shame nhi krte
( You need to go to mental asylum....we should not body shame any girl)

Kartik: sorry...hum to bs aapko use portray krne mein help Krna chah rhe the...unki eyes brown with curly brownish black hair....bilkul aapki opposite hai but kya shi hain...waise ye btaiye kb wps aayenge?
( Sorry....I was just trying to help you in imagining her....she has dark brown eyes...curly brown black hair...just your opposite ...by the way...when will you return?)

Chirag: chaitanya apne seminar ke liye austria jaa rha hai fashion week ke liye....shreya bhi ghr pr nhi hai...ab 3 mahine baad wo malaysia wala hotel ke inauguration ke baad hi aayenge hum...tb tk Shreya ka birthday bhi aa jaayega waise hum Paraag ko India bhej rhe hai...jai humare security ke liye yahaan hai...jb tk hum wps nhi aa jaate...wo unki suraksha karega
( Chaitanya is going to Austria for his seminar for the fashion week... Shreya is also not at home... Now he will come back after 3 months only after the inauguration of the hotel in Malaysia... By then Shreya's birthday will also come. Anyway, we are sending Paraag to India... Jai is here for our security... Till we do not come to WPS... he will provide security to her.)

Kartik: okay tb hum bhi jld milte hai aapse hukum sa
( Okay....then I will meet you soon hukum sa)

Chirag: aap kya krne aayenge
( What will you do here?)

Kartik: karya architecture firm aapke liye hi to khola hai....aap hotel kholte jaaiye hum design krte jaayenge...aise bhi steel ka business rajputs ka hai..Mera to architecturing ka hai
To aapko chor kr hum kaha jaayenge
(Karya, I opened an architecture firm just for you...you keep opening the hotels, I'll keep designing them...after all, the steel business belongs to the Rajputs...mine is in architecture.
So where will I go after leaving you?)

Chirag cut the call and flipped the phone in his hand.

"VAANI SHARMA ...."

The name oddly felt familiar... someone who is opposite to him...his mind was still stuck on the particular name that rolled out from his lips as if it belonged there ..as if he had chanted this name for years..never heard or met before....but it felt like something he owned. Chirag stared at nothing in particular but he could already picture the silhouette of a curvy woman with light brown curls
Something he hasn't done ever in his life .

A WEEKS LATER

The day started peacefully or that they thought it to be. It was the last day of their ragging evening, The female seniors did call the freshers for their ragging which was quite interesting.

Shreya has observed a particular sentence which Vaani usually speaks in anger "tumhara seer aur mera slipper hoga".

They were asked to introduce themselves and then dance,act, sing and other few activities. Shreya told them that his family had a family business in textile and nothing much that could reveal her real identity while Vaani being the chirpy one had a good impact on seniors. They were impressed by her confidence.

Vaani though from Bihar had studied from a Christian girls school all her life that too from ICSE board thus she had a sharp edge. She was a good orator,a leader and girl of many skills.
Though they tried to make fun of her weight she did care less and shreya wondered from where did she got that strength.

TEO WEEKS LATER

JODHPUR COLLEGE CAMPUS

Few seniors have kept their tabs on Shreya as she was cute and they wanted to approach her for dating.
The entire city knew about SINGHANIYA FAMILY yet no one ever saw shreya as she never made a public appearance. Her brothers insisted but she did not feel it right if her father hasn't accepted her as his daughter.

Vaani and shreya entered the canteen when senior boys came at their table.

Senior 1- hi freshers....what's going on?

Vaani:aapki decency ko chor kr sb acha hi going on
( Apart from your decency.... everything is going fine)

Senior 2-  shut your mouth

Vaani-wo to mumma bhi nhi kra paayi...aapse nhi hoga
( Even my mother could not do it....it won't happen from you)

Senior 1- choro yaar....ha to kaisa lg rha hai yahaan?
( Leave her....so yes....are you liking this place)

Vaani: kaafi acha lg rha hai bhaiya...aaplog jaise supportive seniors ho to sb acha hi hoga
( A lot brother.....if we have supportive seniors like you..... everything will be great)

Senior 2: o mota packet....abhi senior tumse nhi unki hone wali gf se baat krne aaye hai (they shoved Vaani aside) side mein hone ka...so miss black eyes....kya naam hai aapka?
( You fatty....seniors are talking to their would be gf....stay out of it...so black eyes...what is your name?)

Senior 1: ms. SINGHANIYA....my ms. SINGHANIYA.... won't you talk to us....we are very respectful....say something

As he moved forward to hold Shreya's hand,Vaani put her foot in between while the senior stumble over her foot crashing directly at shreya's feet

Vaani: bilkul shi jgh pr gire hai bhaiyaa......wo kya hai na aaplog humare mamle mein Bina mtlb taang araane aa gye to hum soche...Mera taang kyu akele rhe..uska bhi haq bnta hai....
(you have fallen exactly where you belong to.... brother… you all came to interfere in my case without any reason, so I thought… why should my leg remain alone… it also has a right…)

Senior 3 -don't cross your limit...

Vaani- bihari ke limit hum khud decide krte hai....agr abhi yahan se nhi gye to aapka seer hoga aur mera slipper
( Bihari's decide their limit on their own.....if you won't leave right now ...your head will be graced with my slipper)

The seniors glared at her in anger while the entire college gathered there looking at the drama.

Senior 3: how dare you...tumne bahut glt kadam utha liya ....ab tumhara college mein rehna haraam nhi kr diya to dekhna
( You took a wrong step.....we will make it impossible for you to stay in the college now...wait and watch)

Vaani: dekh lijiye gaur se....zyada dur nhi hai hum...aur agr nhi dikh rha to left turn lijiye ..waha se dikha kr chasma lgwa lijiye
( Look at me all you want I am not too far....and if you can't see....take a right turn and get your eyes checked...wear a spectacles)

Before the matter could worsen , college faculty rushed in asking them to return to their lecture hall.

Vaani: tu thik hai...unko kuch to bolna tha....nhi to agle baar aur pareshan krenge
( Are you fine? You should have answered them back....else they will trouble you more)

Shreya: tujhe ye nhi Krna chahiye tha...wo seniors hai...agr pareshaan krne lge to
( You should have not done that ..they are seniors.....if they will trouble then?)

Vaani: ek kaam kr....kartik bhaiya ka no. De....wo to aas paas hi rehte hai na...humlog complain kr dete hai
( You do one thing...call kartik bhai....he must be around....we will file a complain)

Shreya too felt it right and called kartik narrating the entire incident .
Kartik lost his calm yet composed himself calming down crying shreya and consoled her saying he will be there in minutes. Vaani hugged Shreya.

DEAN'S OFFICE

Kartik: aapko pta bhi hai aapke college mein kya hua hai....acha hua hai Chiraag yahan nhi hai...nhi to inke parivaar walon ko inka body bhi naseeb nhi hota
( Do you even know what is happening in this college of yours? It's good that chiraag isn't here....else their family would have not been blessed with their bodies also)

Dena : sorry sir.....hume bilkul idea nhi tha...hum inhe abhi resticate kr dete hai...please aap hukum sa ko smjhaaiyega
( We did not had any idea...we will resticate them right away....please convence hukum sa)

The seniors were shocked to know that shreya was the only daughter of hukum sa's family of Jodhpur and they have invited their own destruction.
They pleaded but nothing helped.
The dean appreciated Vaani for helping Shreya and they left deam's office.

Outside dean office

Vaani: so tum hi ho the great " Singhaniya" ki beti...tumne kbhi btaaya kyu nhi?
( So your the only daughter to the great Singhaniya's....you never told me?)

Shreya: aaj tk jitne friends bne sb mere royal family se hone ke wjh se hi bne the...you were the only exception jisne mujhe genuinely acha treat Kiya isliye
( I wanted to experience genuine friendship because of being from a royal family. You are the only one who is an exception who treated me with generous concern)

Vaani: ye bilkul mt sochna ab hum tumhare liye red carpet bichaayenge...tum pehle bhi meri friend thi aur ab bhi whi ho
( Don't you dare to think that I am going to welcome you with the red carpet now.....you are still my friend)

Shreya was over the moons that finally she had a genuine friend...she hugged and grinned like crazy while they swayed each other locking there arms around each other.

Kartik: hmmm hmmm.... sorry to disturb...but thank you so much Vaani....shreya ko protect krne ke liye and uska saath dene ke liye
( Thank you for protecting shreya and taking a stand for her)

Vaani:humko aapke permission ki zarurat nhi hai...meri friend ko hum nhi protect krenge to kaun krega...but agle baar agr aisa hua aur tumne apne liye stand nhi liya to tumhara seer hoga
( I don't need your permission for that....she is my friend...I have to protect her..who else should....but if this happen next time ...you need to take stand for yourself else it will be your head and)

Shreya: aur tumhara slipper....pta hai meri maa .....bs kr....abhi bhai sa ka call aayega tb bhi hume daat sunna hai ..thori energy rehne de
Thank you so much kartik ji...aap aaye
( And your slipper...I know.....please let me have some strength....bhai will also scold me enough....thank you kartik ji..you came)

Kartik: aapke liye nhi aaunga to mere hone ka kya faayeda....Mera mtlb mera aapki suraksha humaari bhi zimedaari hai
( For whom will I come if not for you...I mean....I.....your safety is my responsibility)

Shreya and kartik's eyes locked while our very intelligent Vaani understood the equation two shared

Vaani: aaplog ka eye lock ho gya ho to khaane chle shreya....aaplog ke chkkr mein humare bhook pr haar chadh jaayega
( If you are done with the eyelock...let's have some food....I am dying)

Kartik patted Vaani's head like a elder brother thanking her and bid goodbye to the two

SYDNEY PHONE CALL

Chirag : itna kuch ho gya aap abhi hume bta rhe hai....college ko blacklist kra dijiye kartik.....un larkon ki haddiyan bhi kisi ko naseeb nhi honi chahiye
(: So much has happened and you are telling us now...get the college blacklisted Kartik...no one should even get the bones of those boys.)

Kartik: shaant ho jaaiye hukum sa...aapki behen ke paas ek lady boss hai....usne kya shi treatment diya unlog ko...manna parega...himmat to bahut hai usme
(Calm down Hukum sa...your sister has a lady boss...what a fair treatment she gave to those people...I have to admit...she has a lot of courage)

Chirag: mtlb....kiski baat kr rhe hai aap
( What do you mean....whom are you talking about)

Kartik: are pichle baar btaaya tha na...shreya ki roommate, wo golo mol...
( I told you last time about Shreya's roommate...that round...)

Chirag: words kartik....aakhri baar bol rhe hai aapko
( What has happened to you)

Kartik: sorry yaar...wo glti se...Mera mtlb hai vaani ne....usne to shreya ko saaf saaf warning de diya hai..ki agle baar agr wo aise musibat mein phassi aur agr wo nhi apna stand li to wo shreya ke seer pr slipper se maaregi
( Sorry friend...that mistake...I mean Vani...she has clearly warned Shreya that next time if she gets into such trouble and if she doesn't take her stand then she will hit Shreya on the head with a slipper.)

Chirag: whatttt....ye kya tarika hai...kaisi larki hai...wo singhaniya ki beti pr haath uthaayegi
( What is this behaviour....what weirdo she is...will she hit Singhaniya's daughter with slipper?)

Kartik: are shaanti ho jaaiye yaar...wo mazaak kr rhi thi..but you know what...ek chiz ki khushi hai..shreya ab kaafi expressive ho gyi hain....shreya bahut km log se close hoti hain and trust me Vaani ke wjh se un mein ek positive change aaya hai...aunty ke jaane ke wjh se bachpan se hi wo khud ko express krne se drti hai...but looks like...vaani's energy is quiet contagious
(Hey, calm down friend...she was joking...but you know what...I am happy about one thing...Shreya has become quite expressive now...Shreya is not close to many people and I trust that a positive change has come in her because of Vaani...since childhood, she has been hesitant to express herself because of aunt's departure...but it looks like...Vaani's energy is quiet contagious)

Chirag : hum aapse baad mein baat krenge bye
( I will talk to you later)

Chirag rested his head on the back of his chair while his mind ponded over the particular name VAANI SHARMA more that what it should.

2 MONTHS LATER

Vaani and shreya returned back from their mess after their dinner. Vaani was busy in chatting with her parents, her sister and jiju on a conference video call

Vibhor: choti di....did they ask you to do a belly dance....you would look amazing.

Vaani: agr muh bnd nhi kiya na to tumhara seer aur mera slipper hoga...soch lo
( If you won't shup up now...it will be your head and my slippers)

She chatted for some more time and then ended the call.In the span of these 2½ month , shreya has grown close to Vaani's family...she actively participated in her family video calls, rudra and vanya treated her with same love and care as Vaani. Sandhya ji use to send extra dibba of namkeen for her and vibhor, chaitnya,shreya and Vaani and formed teams to play ludo online. Kartik was busy on his business trip yet he use to call shreya for her where about and has also taken vani as his sister that her never had.

"Kya soch rhi ho shreya...itna gehan chintan?"
( What are you thinking shreya....such a deep wandering in your thoughts)

"Your life is so perfect Vaani....ek pyaari family...itne ache log....bindaas dil.... confidence...how?'

"It's not that I don't have any flaws shreya.....you won't believe but I have my own shares of pain....hum apne looks ko le kr already kaafi insecure the because I was always the fat kid...XXL one.....but then...I knew I don't have the choice....I have to live my life....larkiyon ko ek pimple hoti hai...unki jaan nikl jaati hai...mere body pr to bs ugly scars hai but I take pride in it....wo scars psoriasis ka kbhi nhi Jaa skta...it's incurable....but that's a sign of strength....bhagwaan aapko life de dete hai...usko kaise jeena hai...wo hum pr depend krta hai...agr rona hi hai to kyu na smile kr ke roya jaaye"
("It's not that I don't have any flaws Shreya.....you won't believe but I have my own shares of pain....I was already quite insecure about my looks because I was always the fat kid...XXL one.....but then...I knew I don't have the choice....I have to live my life....girls get a pimple...it takes away their life...I have only ugly scars on my body but I take pride in it...those scars can never be psoriasis...it's incurable...but that's a sign of strength...God gives you life...how to live it...it depends on me...if I have to cry then why not cry with a smile")

Shreya did not know how to respond. She was utterly speechless ..this bundle of joy that loves to spread joy has so much hidden yet she chose to smile through her pain.
Shreya looked at vaani's smiling face that showed nothing but a strong woman fighting against the world and conquering it in all her glory

shreya wrapped her arms around Vaani passing her silent comfort which she needed though she was not vocal about her needs.

"You know what vaani...meri life itni difficult to nhi hai but yes....humari ma sa ke jaane ke baad baba sa ne kbhi humare trf nhi dekha...unko lgta tha agr ma sa ne hume na chun kr khud ki jaan ki parwaah hoti to sayad aaj wo humare saath hoti....mere wjh se pichle 18 saal se humare ghr viraan hai....bare bhai sa 8 saal ke the aur chote bhai sa 4 saal ke....unlog ki jaan hum mein basti hai....dadi sa humse pyaar krti hai but wo kbhi express nhi krti...puri life humne kosis kiya hai ki humare wjh se kisi ko koi dikkat na ho...aur isliye sayad hume khud ko express Krna nhi aatha. But I promise...tum meri sbse achi dost bnogi"
("You know what Vani... my life is not that difficult but yes... after our mother's death Baba never saw our troubles... he felt that if mother had cared for her own life by choosing me then maybe she would have been with us today... because of me our house is deserted for the last 18 years... elder brother was 8 years old and younger brother was 4 years old... their lives reside in us... grandmother loves us but she never expresses it... whole life I have tried that no one should have any problem because of me... and that is why maybe I should not express myself I don't know how to do it. But I promise...you will become my best friend.")

"Shreya....its important to know your worth....you don't need validation from people whether you are enough or not....on matter if they are your parents...stop begging....agr koi chiz tumhara hai....they will ultimately come back to you....i don't know what's wrong with your father...but you should stop chasing him and let him realise what he can lose it won't let go of his stubbornness...you are precious shreya...so stop doubting your worth...look...mere family mein sb tumse kitna pyaar krte hai...may be you aren't blood related ye you are a part of our family now...tum bhi to mumma ko mumma aur papa ko papa bolti ho...so what you deserve will come back to you"
( My family loves you.....the same way you refer them as mumma papa the way I do)

Vani spoke with calmness that stirred something in shreya's heart. She should let time heal and stop bottling up her emotions. It was time she invest her love in people who would reciprocate it.

Shreya: tumse jise bhi pyaar hoga wo bahut lucky hoga....tumhari jaisi pyaari larki jo milegi...jo bs pyaar dena jaanegi
( Who ever will be loved by you will be luck....who will get such a pretty girl who knows to give love unconditionally)

Vaani: pyaar ek lauta sach hai life mein jisme log kho kr ek dusre ko paate hain .....pyaar aur parwaah se hi to pehchaan milti hain.
( Love is the only truth that let people loose themselves to find themselves again....love and care is the only truth)

Shreya hugged her tightly almost chocking her.

" Maar dogi kya bhai...choro....Bahut emotional scene ho gya"
( Are you planning to kill me? Leave now.....enough of emotional scene)

".ab finally humlog bahar Jaa skte hai....kl Sunday hai...hume jodhpur ghumane le chlogi ....jb se aaye hai..yahaan se bilkul nhi nikle hai...ab to exams bhi khtm ho gye hai...aise bhi diwali vacations aa rhe hai...humko patna jaane se ehle sbke liye yahaan se kuch le jaana hai"
( Finally we can step out of this hostel....now show me your Jodhpur tomorrow.....exams are over now ..I want to see your city and buy some gifts for my family as I will be going patna for diwali vacation)

" Ok vaanu...deal done ma'am"

The duo giggled while Shreya 's phone pinged. It was his chirag bhai sa's call

" Hello Bhai sa..kaise hai aap"

"ji"

"Ji Bhai sa...."

"Ok Bhai sa"

"Bye..good night Bhai sa"

It was 3 Am at night while there Maggie bubbles in the kettle.

" Shrey....tere bhai sa military mein to nhi na hai?"
( Is your brother in military?)

"Nhi...kyu?"
( No...why?)

"Tum kbhi ji...ok..ji se aage bolti hi nhi ho...kbhi kbhi dictator lgte hai phone call se...I mean more or less tumhare family mein sbse mil hi liye hai...pr inki to shkl bhi nhi dekhe hai"
( You never talk anything more than..ye..ji..okay....he seems to be like a dictator....I mean I have almost met everybody from your family ....but I haven't seen his face till today)

"Bhai sa is quiet... responsible and disciplined....his  responsibilities has forced him to mature beforehand.....wo mere liye mere baba sa se badh kr hai....jaise tum mere ma sa bn jaati ho kbhi kbhi"
( He is more important to me than my father...just like you are to me like my mother at times)
"Hmm....lets have our Maggie...I can't wait to go on shopping tomorrow.."