“Hello ji! Welcome to Kudi Ambarsariya i.e. Mehek’s world! A few of you have asked about my family. So, for generations, we Gills have served in the Indian Defence services. My Daarji(Grandfather; a shorter version of Sardarji) is a retired Major General from the Indian Army, just like his father and grandfather were. However, this family profession missed a generation. My father became a politician and his brother became a doctor. Uncle is now settled in Canada. This fact has become a bone of contention between the father and the sons. Jassi Bhai, however,has brought some sort of peace in the family by choosing the Indian Air Force. The thing about my Daarji is that he often forgets that he is retired. He runs the house like his platoon. There are rules and when the rules are not followed, punishments are given out.
You must be wondering why I am recording this blog in an awkward space?
Peshi lagugi meri! [I am being summoned to the verandah, where he will surely court marshal me!] I am literally shivering with fear. I have already received his special dose twice since yesterday. Now only one person can save me…my Dadi(grandmother).
If my Daarji breathes fire, my Dadi is a film of ice. Her eyes twinkle in mischief. A toothless smile always plays on her lips. Even though only curses come out her mouth, her heart is full of kindness, and most importantly I am her favourite.
She is the only one who can control this ‘angry old-man’ and right now she isn’t home. With a fate worse than death awaiting me…ok…ok…I am filmy! So here is what I did! The moment Daarji called for me, I ran to the nearest room- the same that was being prepared for the guests! See I am not dumb! No one will look for me there. I have now hid myself under the bed and I am not coming out till my Dadi, my saviour, returns. And imagine what kind of scolding Binny and Sunny would be getting from Daarji. Their first class for the season.
I will let you know what happens next in tomorrow’s Vlog. Signing off now.
Rab rakha![May God protect you]
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Post the ‘besanwali-holi’ incident, all hell had broken loose in the Haveli.
“Extremely sorry Sir!” Jaswinder Gill exclaimed.
Before Abhiraj could respond, Senior Mr. Gill rushed to him and profusely apologised for the misadventure that had just taken place.
An elderly gentleman, Jaswinder’s grandfather, came and unleashed a verbal fire in hard core rustic Punjabi on the two children, who looked grief stricken. Abhiraj couldn’t understand completely but got the essence.
“It is fine sir!” Abhiraj tried to intervene but the old man was not in the mood to listen.
“Bulla unno [Call her]”Retd. Major General Gill screamed at the top of his voice.
A flurry of people ran helter-skelter trying to catch the culprit but returned empty-handed.
“Is the girl absconding? Not just the setting is filmy, the family is too!”Abhiraj chuckled to himself as he dusted the besan from his clothes .
“Jassi take your Sir upstairs where you can change!”Retd. Major General Gill told them.
Someone got his suitcase from the car and he was taken to a room on the first floor.
“Really sorry Sir, once again!”Jaswinder showed me the room.
“Never mind Jassi! So much for my reflexes!” Abhiraj laughed to make light of the situation but he knew the truth.
He had always prided himself for quick reflexes. It was critical for his profession. But the moment he had heard that peal of laughter, his feet had stuck to where they were. He could see the powder moving towards him, but his eyes wanted to see the face behind the projectile. “And it was worth it!” he thought to himself.
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“Murphy’s law! Durr phite muh tera Murphy![Screw you Mr. Murphy!]” Mehek swore under her tongue and banged her hand to the head as she heard her brother bring the stranger in.
“Of all the four rooms, Jassi bhai could find only this room to bring the ‘besanwali-holi’ victim? Waheguru, please save me!”Mehek sent a silent prayer to the almighty.
The door remained open for a few minutes and Mehek could hear her brother apologising profusely to the person for her ‘misadventures’.
“Uff…it is just besan flour. You hear them apologise and you will think as if I stole his kidney. My family always always overreacts…Drama Queens!”Mehek’s temper rose as she heard her brother go on with the apology.
“Finally!” Mehek sighed in relief when Jaswinder took leave but before she could make her presence felt, she saw that the tall, muscular guy had shut the door. He opened the buttons of his shirt and took it off in a split second to reveal a well toned torso with rippling biceps.
“Hai rabba![Oh God!]” She whispered to herself. She could feel the heat seeping into her cheeks and ears. “Is his face just as amazing? Would the film live up to the teaser?” her heart asked.
“This is an utterly inappropriate question,”her mind scolded her.
Before she could do much, he reached for his trouser and a cry escaped from her lips. Mustering every iota of confidence Mehek crawled out from under the bed and declared herself.
“Helloji…myself Mehek Kaur Gill. Don’t worry about the besan, just scrub it off! It will add glow to your skin. Nice meeting you,” Mehek said in her much practised vlogging tone and walked out in a second. But, the question she actually wanted to ask was “Who was he?”
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The moment Abhiraj took off his shirt, a cry startled him. For the second time in a row, he stood rooted in his place.
“Well my adventure for the day isn’t certainly over”he informed himself.
“My culprit is definitely cute!” Abhiraj mused to himself as he stood confronted by her. He was startled by her simplicity. Dressed in a simple yellow punjabi dress, she looked like a timeless beauty. She had long hair, almond eyes with chocolate brown flecks, a creamy complexion, perfectly shaped teeth and a blush on her cheeks.
“Am I the reason behind the blush?” he asked himself and then realised with a cry that he was standing before her without a stitch of clothing on his upper torso. Before he could make a move, she breezed out with a beauty tip, a name and her fragrance hanging in the air.
“Mehek Kaur Gill. Toh yeh naam hai humare qatil ka![That is the name of my culprit]” Abhiraj said aloud as the girl blitzed out in a jiffy leaving a name and her fragrance hanging in the air.
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