Chapter 60: chapter 60

Preeti looked at her phone as it rang. She was in her room all ready to go down and face the crowd of inquisitive relatives but she didn't want to. Biji had told her Arnab  had taken Mowri  out for a while to get her to calm down and she hoped they didn't come back tonight. They went back. How many times was her sister going to face people and their comments? Why should she? It wasn't her fault. It hadn't been her fault the last time too and yet. But then Preeti had been very young. She had been in college. But even then she had understood the amount of pain and hurt Mowri  must have gone through. She was only sad that she hadn't been able to help her then and she hadn't been able to help her today either because had she been there the slap Simrit received from Mowri  would have been delivered by her. She was furious as to why nobody did anything and she had fought with her mother and beeji both for being spectators. She hoped Arnab  would be able to help Mowri . He just had to. She had refused to go down and help outwith the pretenses and stayed up in her room. The problem was she knew she will have to go down for Kulraj's sake. The girl had already come to her cried and then cursed Simrit. Preeti knew Kulraj loved Mowri  just as much as she did. And for her sake Preeti will have to put up a smile. She had been restless not knowing what to do and so she had called the one person who had become a good friend in the past few weeks. Only he had been busy at the time and unable to take her call.She saw his name flash on the phone as it buzzed. She sighed and picked it up. What was she going to tell him? What will she say? More so what will he think? But she needed to talk to someone. To let her restlessness and frustration out. And who better than Jay. He was the only one she knew who could cheer her up when her mood was down."Hello," she said into the phone."Hello," Jay said cheerfully, "how is pretty Preeti today?" he asked.Just his voice had the power to make her mood soar. And the nickname he had given her 'pretty Preeti' she liked it especially when he said it in his teasing, lilting voice. She usually felt better hearing it. But not today. Her guilt at not being there for her sister when she most needed her support was killing her."Not good," she told him sadly.Jay heard the sadness in her voice and wondered what was wrong. Preeti and he had become friends during his brother's marriage to her sister. She was a sweet girl with a great sense of humor and she was intelligent too. It was a strange combination but he had liked her instantly. They had kept in touch even after he had returned to Chandigarh. She was so easy to talk to. And he poured his frustrations and problems in front of her because he knew she understood. Most often than not she helped him with solutions too. But it was not just friendship. He didn't know why but he was drawn to her. He hadn't told her anything about how he felt but he knew he understood her and he didn't know how or why. He was attuned to her moods and thoughts so much so he sometimes surprised himself how accurate he was with her. And right now she sounded upset and sad. Was it because her cousin was getting engaged and soon she would marry and leave too? But that didn't make any sense. Because just two days ago when they had spoken she had been excited."Something wrong?" he asked her quietly. "Jay," Preeti said and bit her lip. She felt her voice breaking. She couldn't cry in front of him. What would he think? As it is she hadn't been able to help Mowri  and now to cry would be like...no she just couldn't. She took in a deep breath to control her feelings."Hey," Jay said with worry in his voice, "you are not crying are you? Did someone say something?" he asked.He heard her little sniffle to control her tears not to mention the way her voice broke after she took his name."Yes," Preeti said, "Simrit fought with di today," she said. She didn't have to tell him who 'di' was he already knew she called Mowri  that, "And she hurt her real bad. And I couldn't do a thing," she said rapidly."Hold on," Jay said seriously, "you are saying Simrit, your sister hurt bhabhi. How?" he asked."Oh, Jay, it is a long story but she said something bad to di then insulted jiju and di lost her temper," she said sounding more upset now."When did this happen?" Jay asked."This morning just before noon," Preeti replied."What did bhabhi do?" Jay asked thoughtfully."She slapped Simrit for insulting jiju," Preeti replied slowly."She did what?" Jay said incredulously then burst out laughing.Preeti was surprised to hear him laugh at the other end of the phone. What was he laughing about? It was such a serious matter."What is so funny?" she asked crossly."Hey, take it easy," Jay said in between his laugh, "tell me didn't your sister deserve what was coming to her?" he asked."Yes," Preeti replied."Then why fret. She was asking for it," Jay said lightly but Preeti knew he was serious about everything he said it didn't matter what his tone was like, "bhabhi did a great job defending herself. Some people just don't know when to shut up and from what you have told me previously about how bad the situation is between the two this was bound to happen. Was bhai around?" he asked."No," Preeti said churning his words in her head. He was right. This was bound to happen. Simrit hadn't ever made it easy on Mowri . And Mowri  well, she had changed and patience was not one of her virtues anyway. "What about all the relatives?" she said biting her lower lip."Pretty Preeti, you really do worry about things," Jay said keeping his tone casual. He knew the situation must be serious in her house but he couldn't stand her being upset, "okay firstly had bhai been there this would never have happened. He may not know the entire truth about bhabhi but he sure knows how to handle tricky situations. Had he been there things would have been different but he wasn't. Secondly it was good in a way because bhabhi needed to vent and Simrit needed to be taught something vital in life. Not everything can be manipulated all the time and neither can you be victorious all the time. I hope she got that message. Thirdly how does it matter who says what at the end of the day when something needed to be done none of them were there. They didn't do a thing to stop whatever happened so they are all equally responsible. If anyone says anything just tell them so whether they like it or not. One thing I have learnt from Mowri  is be straightforward in some matters, not all of course she is a bit overboard that way, but what I am saying is don't take other people's words sitting down. What happened if you think it was the correct way of things say so, you can never change how others think or feel but if you are clear about your thoughts their words will not matter much. They are here today gone tomorrow," he told her."I couldn't do anything to help," Preeti said remorsefully, "even when di went to her room I couldn't find the courage to go soother her. I had to wait for jiju to come and help," she said."Okay, stop feeling guilty over something you had no control over," Jay said firmly, "I can understand how you feel but you weren't there so you couldn't do anything. And stop biting your lips," he admonished."Sorry Jay," Preeti said, "I should not have disturbed you with this you must be busy but I didn't know who else to talk to. I already fought with mom and beeji and then they wanted to go on as if nothing happened, I was so upset," she said apologizing. "Preeti, you want me to come there and put you over my knee," Jay said angrily, "seriously, we are friends and here it concerns your sister who is also my sister-in-law, jeez, do you really have to sound apologetic. It concerns my brother too, he was also insulted in all of this I wonder how he is feeling and as far as going on as if nothing happened is the best idea ever," he said, "that way it will divert people's minds off things. If the family doesn't think it is a big deal then others will let go of it too, it may take a while but eventually it will be forgotten. So don't take it in any other way than what it is," he said."Thanks Jay," Preeti said taking in a deep breath as she realized how true his words were. Biji was no fool she may not be on the top of things like she used to be before but she still knew what she was doing. And Jay understood that while she didn't. Maybe it was easier for him because he was an outsider he could see things with much more clarity than she could."You know I don't know what to make of you," Jay said lightly, "a second ago you were apologizing now you are being grateful. Make up your mind girl, which one is it," he said as he teased her."Neither," Preeti said finally coming into her own mode, "you are my friend and it is my right to trouble you whenever I want, they were just words I said out of politeness but it is such a wasted emotion on you I guess I am better off being my nasty self," she told him.Jay laughed."That's my girl," Jay said, "but you are not nasty save that for your other sister," he told her.And Preeti rolled her eyes. Jay was such a nice person and she liked him. Though if she was ever to confess how much she wasn't sure which direction he would run. She almost sighed but caught herself in time. He would pressure her to tell him what she was sighing about and wouldn't relent till she did. In her own mind it was too early to say anything after all they hadn't met in over a month and how much could one really know over the phone or emails or chats. But she knew him instinctually and she knew he would never hurt her. How she trusted him she had no clue the point was she did."Okay, now I have to go and have some fun," she said, "you go do whatever you are supposed to do today," she told him."Well, it is Saturday evening and guess what I am working so no fun for me," he complained, "but you have double fun okay," he said and she heard his smile, "hey, do me a favor," he said and she paused, "take care of my sister-in-law and bhai," he told her.So he was affected by what took place today. Of course he would be. Preeti knew he liked Mowri  and he was very protective of her too. He had told her once that she was unlike his previous sister-in-law the one he could never connect with but with Mowri  it was different. And he loved his brother too so he was bound to get a bit worried."Now you want me to come there and put you over my knee mister," Preeti replied, "after all the lecture you just gave me you are asking for a favor like that. I will take care of them you don't need to ask me that," she said in mock indignation."Thanks pretty Preeti," Jay replied with equal mirth, "with you watching their backs I don't need to be worried," he said."Bye," Preeti said with a smile."Bye and take care," he told her then clicked the phone shut.Preeti looked at the equipment in her hand before she left. She was smiling now and all thanks to her friend. Nobody knew of the bond she had formed with Jay and a part of her couldn't stop but hope it could develop into something bigger.Maybe, in future who knows?*************