IDHAR UDHAR KI BAAT 72- UN DINON KI BAAT HAI -Brig PS Gothra (Retd)
The
school staff room was buzzing with its usual mid-morning energy when
Manju leaned across the table, her curiosity evident. “So, did he hold
your hand?” she asked, her eyes gleaming mischievously.
“No, he didn’t!” Pinky replied, her tone laced with irritation, clearly regretting bringing up the topic in the first place.
“Achha,
so what would you have done if he had held your hand?” Radhika chimed
in, smirking as she leaned back in her chair, ready to stir the pot.
“I
would have asked him to behave,” Pinky declared, raising a finger in a
stern, school-teacherly way, as though reprimanding an errant student.
“Oye,
Madam PGT English!” Manju burst out, laughing so hard her chai almost
spilled. “You were talking to your fiancé, not scolding one of your
students! And, for heaven’s sake, stop pointing fingers like that until
at least a year after your wedding.”
“If
he had held your hand, Pinky, I bet you’d start a lecture right there
on ‘Appropriate Touch in Public Places.’ Poor guy would have second
thoughts about the wedding!” said Radhika
“Very funny,” Pinky shot back, her cheeks turning crimson.
“Achha, come on, tell us everything. What all did you two do?” Radhika leaned in, eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Nothing much,” Pinky began hesitantly. “He came to buy a suit for me. We went to Rainak Bazar.”
“Rainak Bazar? Knowing your taste, you must have dragged him to the priciest section,” Manju teased.
“Not
at all! I was looking at normal wear,” Pinky protested. “But he told
the shopkeeper, ‘Bhai, kudi ne vihah vaste suit lena hai, changa dikha’
(Brother, the girl needs a suit for her wedding, show her the good
ones). So, in the end, I picked one I liked, and he paid.”
“Hmm, nice. Did you two have coffee together?”
“Yes, we had lunch instead,” Pinky admitted, her voice softening. “I really enjoyed listening to him. He talks so thoughtfully.”
“Did he, I don’t know, touch you accidentally with his feet or something?” Radhika probed, barely containing her laughter.
“No!” Pinky exclaimed indignantly.
Manju
and Radhika exchanged knowing glances. “Banda kisi kaam ka nahin hai,”
Radhika quipped. “At least you could’ve held him tightly while riding
pillion on his scooter. You’re practically married now!”
“I
kept a proper distance! I placed my purse between me and him.” Pinky
shot back. “I anticipated every speed breaker to avoid bumping into him
when he braked.”
That did it—both Manju and Radhika burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching their sides.
“Alright,
alright,” Radhika said, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. “But what
did you two talk about? Come on, Pinky, share the juicy bits!”
“Nothing special, just idhar udhar ki baat (random talk),” Pinky replied shyly and got up to walk out of the staff room.
On
the way she heard Manju saying, “Ah, idhar udhar ki baat. That’s just
Pinky’s polite way of saying, ‘We discussed the weather, Iraq war,
Shakespeare and global warming.’ Riveting stuff for a romantic date.”
Pinky
walked out of the staff room, her lips curved into a reluctant smile
because Manju was bang on target regarding topics discussed.
Note:-
1.The man who married this teacher thirty-one year ago writes Idhar Udhar ki Baat.
2. Share your own sweet experiences in the comments on the blog, https://idharudhartales.
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Very nice. Your pen has the right magic.
ReplyDeleteSo you have been into idhar udhar ki baat since long. No doubt you have become so good at it. 😊
ReplyDeleteExcellent - Dil Se
DeleteInteresting but unfortunately I was not lucky as my father in law told me categorically not to speak and even write letters
ReplyDeleteGreat!! All of us have done this “Idhar udhar ki baat” but never realised!! You write so well sir!!
ReplyDeleteSir amazingly penned loved it. Every emotions were well written which one could feel
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Sir….Those moments are so special and different- One Starts this Journey with - 'Udhar ki Hi Baat’ and one enjoys it Too - Subsequently the same better half tells you 30 years later - 'Idhar Udhar Ki Baat mat Karo’ - ‘Seedhi Baat Karo’. 🤗
ReplyDeleteAnticipated the same
ReplyDeleteCandid and spot on.
It must be the case with max middle class well groomed grown ups. The ethos were so much stressed upon that one hardly dared to gi beyond a limit as it was considered in appropriate and un manly. I do remember my mother telling me to to take care while driving my motorcycle with caution that the girl has not yet come home as a daughter in law. Take care that she is not hurt or injured. Behaved almost the same way as your narration. Sipping coffee, tea,juices and eating Snacks but not daring to touch. Telling stories of my work culture and trying to find out if she liked or nor. A dilema in an arranged marriage can only be understood by people like you and those arranged
A strong foundation was laid 31 years ago for Idhar Udhar ki baat- over a period of time you have made it interesting through your vast knowledge, experience & power of pen - looking forward to more such episodes !!!
ReplyDeleteSir so that's the origin of idhar udhr ki baat...hmmm...nice memoirs
ReplyDeleteVery nice , how the time has changed from Idhar Udhar ki baat to Meri - Teri baat ,total changed culture and ethos . Excellent!!
ReplyDeleteThat's the way it used to be 😊
ReplyDeleteSuperb
ReplyDeleteThank you
Delete“Banda kisi kaam ka nahi hai” very rightly commented by Manju and Radhika 😀
ReplyDeleteSatish
Ha ha
DeleteVadde shy type ke aadmi they tussi!! Asli baat toh madam bataengi!!
ReplyDeleteAndar ki baat
DeleteSo should I surmise it that “Baton hi baton mein ishara ho gaya baithe baithe jeene ka sahara ho gaya.”
ReplyDeleteGreat
DeleteAnother gem IUKB !
ReplyDeleteSimple that’s life in the 80s for a fauji
ReplyDeleteChithi mein 'dear' likha hota tha to hum khush ho jate the
DeleteLovely.
ReplyDeleteIdhar ki baat udhar karne waale, aapka jawan nahin.
Thank you
DeleteGood aap beeti Tipu. I can well visualize the state of your happiness at that moment.
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteGreat Narration as always. So when did she start pointing finger at you? After one year?
ReplyDeleteAfter one year.
ReplyDeleteInteresting Write. Suspense kept till last, suddenly triggered the mind to rewind the Whole Story, again.
ReplyDeleteVery well brought out the dating pattern of our Era. Loved reading it. Present generation may not understand these feelings.
ReplyDeleteYes sir
ReplyDelete