Before I can even reach the door, i was startled by sudden raise in voices which followed by a bang, not the bang-bang but what I suspect is a chair banged on someone.
I heard a groan and then another bang.
Before I can pass the door, my aunty raced me out.
So the round 3 is action climax. People started to gather around to watch it,
There was yelling, cussing and throwing of stuffs. I can hear my grandfather yelling but it was hardly audible.
My uncle, torned between wether to be a coward or a hero, so just a few steps into the hurrican fight, few steps from getting into the house.
"khade khade kya dekh rahe hai!?" hissed Aunty " Cup samet ke lete aayiye!"
He gave her shut-up-bitch look before snapping "bhagi tum yahan se?"
My aunty stomped back in.
My grandfather?
He got this guy kneeled and was throwing punches on his back, the poor guy was doing nothing but moaning in pain. I guess my grandfather didn't realised it was his own staff from the shop who just came to drop the bike he had borrowed.
He did tried to speak himself out, but the old man was in rage.
I thought he was supposed to play the peacemaker.
More people jumped into the fight and Finally, Police arrived. The fight immedietly died, people seperated.
Two constable jumped out of the jeep and then, A girl familiar to me as Vaishali and a guy of same age.
"Ram Ram Ram ji" Daroga, the head constable greeted my grandfather " Sab badhiya?"
Vaishali's eyes met mine and I gave her a small smile. She forced back a smile, nervously looking around people.
It's a bit odd to see her like that. Sindoor and mangalsutra. Its just really odd.
Trying to find her voice she looked over, now, her husband who held her hand and gave her a tight squeeze of assurance.
*aww, that's cute*
Before anyone can bitter the air any-more. The guy held his hand to stop them all "Humlogo ko pata hai aap log hamari wajah se jhagar rahe hai, aur humari galti bhi hai. Alag jaati me shadi karne ke liye nahi, apne ghar me bina baat kiye bhaag jane ki"he said " Hume aplogo ko convince karna chahiye tha",
If they actually did tried to convince their parents, I don't know about the guy, but Vaishali would have been married by now to another man. And she knows that too.
The girl visibally shivered, the guy continued " Par humlog wapas aaye hai, taki mafi mang sake"
"Papa" Spoke vaishali very sofly and timidly. Manipal sahab looked away angrily.
" Papa, please.. Gussa khatam kar dijiye"
He looked at her scornfully, and then turned to my grandfather.
"Ramji! Hmlog wapas jaa rahe hai"Manipal Sahab spoke "Apni beti ka shradh karne"
"bohot achche" I spoke suddenly "Itni notanki kese kar lete hai Uncle aaplog?"
" Bachche log bich me nahi bolte" Manipal sahab said "Ramji ki poti ho isiliye kuchh nahi bol rahe"
" Arre hume koi dikkat nahi hain aap bol lijiye," I assured him "Khud dada ko bhi parwaah nahi jitni aap kar rahe"
" Ayye Ladki! Ander jao" My grandfather snapped angrily.
Not this time old man, I have deep hatred for this caste-system that has rotten the place we live in.
"pehle bolne nahi dete, fir frustration me kuch kar jate to tamasha bana dete hai" I retorted " Kya naam hai tumhara?"
"Ajay"
"Ajay Nagar?" I asked playfully
"Bas Ajay" he smiled.
"dono hi achcha kamate hai, mature hai, responsible hai, Vaishali uske sath me khush hai, aur kya chahiye?"
"Caste alag hai humari!! Samaj me naam kharab ho gaya hai humara!!" said someone from Manipal's side
"Tume pata bhi hai kya bol rahi ho?" another one
" Aaj kal ke bachche, palne se utare nahi ki bado ko sikhane chale hai" Then another " Ijjat-pratishtha sab se hath dho liye"
"Uncle aaplog apne bachche ko school vejte hi honge, kabhi unse caste-system ke bare me puchh lijiyega, pata lag jayega kon avi tak palne me hai." I turned to Manipal " Haan to uncle, apse bhi bare ijjat-prtishthawaan boht hai duniya me , fir bhi unko samaj ki galiyan parti rehti hai, muh latka ke ghumte hai wo log, Ese samaj me rehte hai humlog"
"Aapke liye beti jyada jaruri hai ya esa samaj? Bimar padte hai to beti dekhti hai ya samaj?, aur caste system jesi pratha ane wale 50 salo me vilupt ho jayegi, shayad usse bhi kam samay me " I said "Ab aap khud bhi samajhdar hai"
" Bohut bolne lagi hai!!" Yelled Dada,
"Dada apko pata hai ki hum boht aalsi hai, bolne ka kaam bhi mere se nahi hota par Kisi ko to bolna parega na? Jo kaam apko karna chahiye wo hum kar rahe hai" I said " Aap to lage pare hai Sumit bhai ko pelne me"
Dada's head snapped to side, realising,and then giving another fist on his back before saying "gadha, Bol nahi sakta tha ki "hum hai", maar khane me man lag raha tha?"
"Aap bolne dete tab to" He said painfully " le gada gad-le gada gad bajaye jaa rahe the"
"Titu sahi bol rahi hai Manipal sahab" Said the relative guy " Maaf kar dijiye dono ko"
"haan Manipal ji, gussa thuk dijiye" said Daroga
Slowly, but impressively, table turned. Voices raised, in our favour.
Manipal was still uncertain. Everyone's eyes glued to his face making him more sellf-conscious.
Peer-pressure of samaj.
"Ab to samaj bhi bol raha hai uncle" I joked gaining a few laugh,
He nodded "Thik hai, agar sab sahi hai to" He said " Maaf kar dete hai"
Everybody hailed in excitement, clapping and patting backs. I stepped away before the relative guy can lay hand on me. His hand waved away awakwardly, scratching his head.
Vaishali and Ajay moved forward and touched feet of not-so-angry Manipal Sahab and others.
So everything didn't ended up as a total disaster, broken chairs, wounded people, broken china, tray and smiling people.
My phone started buzzing.
Before I can take a look, I was yanked into a bone-crushing hug from Vaishali.
She thanked me, and I was invited to their wedding now.