"Hi jijaaji," said Amira sitting beside Salaar at the dinner table, "Appi isn't here yet?"
"Should be here in another 5 minutes," answered Salaar, "You can start eating if you are hungry."
"No not at all," said Amira, "I can wait."
"Good," said Salaar, "Who is Raj?"
Amira immediately regretted saying that she is not hungry. She could've really used that excuse.
"He is...uh...a friend..jijaaji," answered Amira.
"Didn't look like that," said Salaar, "Does your sister know him?"
"Please don't tell her," Amira quickly added.
"Who. is. Raj?" Salaar asked again.
"We...uh...kind of like each other," said Amira hesitantly.
"LIKE EACH OTHER?" said Salaar, "Amira, do I need to remind you that you are still a child?"
"Jijaaji...It's...it's not love like..." Amira tried to persuade, "It's...it's like like."
"What the hell is 'like like' Amira?" asked Salaar frustrated.
"Um...like like is...it's when you think someone is nice, sweet, smart...and is a good match...for you....but you don't...date them or love them.....because of some reasons...like in our case...we are too young...and we need to focus on our future....and so our brother in laws have nothing to worry about....and would help keep this a secret from our sisters..." answered Amira.
Salaar was still not convinced and continued to angrily glare at her. Meanwhile Haseena walked towards the table and Salaar diverted his attention to her.
"What happened Amira?" she asked, "You look scared."
"Just found out," said Salaar and Amira's hand started shaking. Salaar noticed it and changed his mind. "Amira got a question wrong in the test," he said and held Amira's hand as a sign of assurance.
"Come on Amira, just one question right?" said Haseena, "You will still get a good score. Don't be so harsh on yourself."
"Yeah," said Amira, "thanks Appi."
Meanwhile Vinod came and placed the curry on the table. It was freshly made Brinjal curry. The aroma spread across the room and Salaar had a hard time resisting himself. He reluctantly moved it towards Haseena and reached out for the dal but Haseena stopped him.
"You are not a child Salaar," she said. "For how long will you run away from Brinjal," she added and served him the curry.
"You are getting very bossy," Salaar said outloud but internally appreciated the gesture. He took out his phone in his left hand and texted Haseena.
Salaar saw Haseena's reply and smiled at her. She smiled back.
*********
"That happened!?" asked Vikram shocked.
"A lot more happened," said Rudra and continued.
*********
Salaar has a habit of watching news before going to sleep but then Haseena already occupied the TV. Amira wasn't around and on any other day, Salaar would've snatched the remote, but today, he decided to be...respectful and instead chose to walk around the sofa and wait but to his surprise, Amira changed to news channel.
"Wow," Salaar said outloud as he sat on the sofa, "I am afraid the earth might start spinning in the opposite direction."
"I didn't do it for you," said Haseena, "I wanted to watch the news too."
Meanwhile the news flash showed the election results. Haseena's man became the new MLA.
"Sandeep get me a call with him," said Salaar, "Our man is no longer the MLA. We need to make new deals."
"What if he doesn't listen to you?" asked Haseena.
"Everyone listens to me," said Salaar.
"Not me," said Haseena.
*** Present ***
"And then? Then what happened?" asked Vikram.
"We gave each other angry looks, watched the headlines and parted our ways," replied Rudra and walked outside with a file.
""Rajkesh's details," he said giving it to Pranav, "Send them to all police stations and keep them on high alert."
"Yes sir," replied Pranav. Rudra turned back to leave when he heard a familiar music from the TV.
"Balika Vadhu?" he asked the receptionist who was watching, "Isn't this supossed to come at night?"
Vikram widened his eyes surprised. Since when did Salaar start watching Balika Vadhu.
"This is a retelecast sir," replied the women, "You watch this too?"
"Yeah," smiled Rudra, "Watched it yesterday with my wife." Saying this he turned back to find Vikram who looked at him with questioning eyes. Rudra didn't know how to cover up.
"Excuse me," he politely said and walked away.
"Parted ways, huh?" said Vikram when they were in their private office.
"Eventually," said Rudra.
**** Flashback ****
Once the headlines were over, Haseena changed the channel and Salaar got up to leave but for some reason he didn't feel like leaving.
"What's this stupid serial about?" he asked.
"It's not your type," answered Haseena, "It's for people with emotions."
"Shouldn't be your type either then," countered Salaar.
"Shh Stop talking," said Haseena and increased the TV volume when the intro song got over. Salaar was intrigued when he saw the title, gained interest when he saw the first scene and continued to watch because......why not?
**** Present ***
"Happy?" said Rudra, "That's all that happened."
"I still feel like you are hiding something," said Vikram.
"Focus on work Vikram," said Rudra frustrated. Meanwhile someone knocked on the door. It was their constable.
"Sir, here are the jelebis you asked for," he said and gave Rudra the parcel. Vikram looked at Rudra again.
"WHAT?" asked Rudra frustrated.
"The jelebis..."
"For heaven sake, they are for Amira," said Rudra angrily, "Stop making a scene out of everything."
*** Later that day ***
"You sure?" asked Salaar.
"100% jijaaji," said Amira, "I don't like sweets. I'll take some for Albert Einstein."
"Okay," said Salaar and gave her the plate. He took a couple of jelebis in another plate and gave it to Haseena.
Haseena remembered yesterday's incident.
**** FLASHBACK ***
"Who is she?" asked Salaar pointing to a character on the screen.
"Anandi's friend," replied Haseena.
"And she?" he asked again.
"Her sister in law," answered Haseena.
"And that dude?"
"Random uncle selling jelebis," said Haseena frustrated, "Let me watch!" "Now I feel like eating jelebis," she said looking at the scene where Anandi and her friends are eating jelebis.
**** Present ****
"Did you really remember..."
"I didn't do it for you," interrupted Salaar, "I felt like eating jelebis too."
Meanwhile one of Salaar's men approached him. "THE MLA refused to talk to you," he said.
"Refused?" said Salaar surprised, "Refused to talk to me?"
"Uh...yes..." said the guy hesitantly, "he also...he...also..."
"ALSO WHAT?" Salaar asked impatiently.
"No...nothing...nothing..." said the guy.
"Don't be scared," said Haseena, "He said Salaar Bekaar (useless)."
"WHAT THE HELL?" said Salaar fuming with anger. "You know what?" he said angrily, "First thing in the morning tomorrow, we will meet the MLA. Let him know who is the real Bekaar."
Any one watched "Balika Vadhu" as kids?