Murthy House: Main gate: 11:30 am

Nyonika hesitantly presses the calling bell. A faint barking sound is heard from inside the house. Some minutes passed but nobody opens the door.

Nynika: (Mumbles in annoyance) "Sare bole hana?" (Are all of them deaf?)

She presses it again and this time a bit violently. The barking sound becomes louder. Nyonika crunches her nose. She is not scared of dogs but she doesn't like them either. Only then, the door gets open and an elderly lady aged around 60 comes outside.

Old Lady: (With curiosity) "Haudu, ninage yaru beku? I am sorry...I mean whom do you want?"

She checks out Nyonika from top to bottom. Nyonika is wearing a Patiala suit and it's not very difficult to guess her caste and province.

Nyonika: "Aaa...ummmm..Nandini Murthy. I want to meet her. I am Nyonika. Nyonika Malhotra."

Saying this Nyonika enters the house without waiting for an invitation from the lady. The lady crunches her brows as she is trying to match something with her notion. A chestnut colour dog comes out and starts sniffing Nyonika's salwar. She glares at it.

The Lady: (In confusion) "Nyonika..Malhotra..Ummm..is it you who called Rituja about Nandini's mobile? But she said you are her classmate. (She again scrutinises her from all the angles) But you are quite old. Do you fail every year?"

Her words ignite the fire in Nyonika's mind. Is this lady stupid?

Nyonika: (With flared nose) "Did you talk bullshit all the time with everyone? Who are you by the way? I will meet Nandini. When will she come back?"

Nyonika roams her inquisitive eyes all around in search of Nandini. The lady gapes in surprise. Did she just say that?

The Lady: (Angrily) "Yes, I do but only with people like you who don't know how to behave. I am Nandini's Amms..her grandmother and I know she doesn't know anyone like you. That means you lied Rituja that you are her classmate. Now, tell me who are you, or I will call the police."

That was enough for Nyonika. She adjusts her dupatta and jerks her leg to shoo away Ador who was nibbling on the hem of her Kamiz.

Nyonika: (Chides in annoyance) "Call the police? Ki iha mazaka hai?( Is it a joke?) Yes, I lied because I had to. Mere puta nu tere poti ne phasa lia hai. (My son has been trapped by your granddaughter) Quite obvious. Like grandmother like granddaughter. Chalaka lubari."(Cunning vixen)

Kishori doesn't understand most of her words but they are not so praising and sweet for her that she is sure about.

Kishori: (With equal exasperation) "Murkha mahile. (Fool woman) I didn't get a single word of yours. Say in English or Kannada. I don't know Hindi that much."

Though Nyonika doesn't know Kannada a bit the words Murkha mahile strike her common sense. Because in Hindi, Murkh and Mahila are very similar to those words and she knows the meaning of both of them. Her ears become hot and red.

Nyonika: (Yells) "Main murakha aurata ham? (I am a stupid woman?) You are stupid because this is not Hindi. It's Punjabi and I am a proud Punjabaan. Listen, your granddaughter has trapped my innocent son, Manik. But I will never let a Madrasi girl be my nu (Daughter-in-law)...I mean daughter-in-law. Never. You people are so narrow-minded, stubborn and proud of your culture."

Only then, Ador sounds in its affectionate tone. The reason gets revealed very soon. Nandini enters the living room and her eyes first fall on Nyonika and Kishori.

Kishori: (Screaming) "Yes, we are proud of our culture because we have that unlike you. Sanskrtiyillada. (Uncultured) Otherwise, you wouldn't have come to my house and uttered this nonsense about my Nandu. It's your insolent son who has trapped my Kanna. I have seen him in the restaurant. So rude, indecent and loudmouth. He will be our son-in-law? Never."

Until then, Nandini has whiffed all the fiasco. This lady is none other than Manik's mother and she is doomed. She nears the loggerheads immediately.

Nandini: (In an embarrassing voice) "Aunty, you are here? Aaa...ummmm I am Nandini. Did you have any important work?"

Nandini's presence makes both of them halt for a second. Nyonika flips to face Nandini. Her innocent and beautiful face melts her anger for a nanosecond. However, Kishori's next words immediately shoo away her admiration.

Kishori: (In a mocking tone) "She lied and intruded our house. Her son was not enough for us so that his mother has come to insult us. Kanna I swear, I will send this Manik to jail for sure."

Nyonika: (Yells) "Fittey muh! (Stay away) Khasmaa nu khao (A woman who eats her husband) Tusi mere putara nu jelha bhejogi? (You will send my son to jail?) Bhejke dikhao. (Come on, do it) And you, Nandini Murthy! Mere putara se dura raho. (Stay away from my son) Or else, I will put you all in jail."

Nandini: (Helplessly) "But Aunty, we love each other. Why you both don't understand? We can't live without each other. Please stop this fight."

She faces her grandmother.

Nandini: "Amms, that was a misunderstanding. Manik is not like that. Only because he is a Punjabi, you can't judge him."

Nyonika: "What if he is a Punjabi? Yes, we are Punjabi. That doesn't mean we are inferior to all of you."

Nandini again faces Nyonika and tries to calm her down.

Nandini: "Exactly, Aunty and like that it is also true that I am a Kannadiga but that doesn't mean I can't be your daughter-in-law. We all are equal, Aunty. My mother has instilled the same good values into me that you have given to Manik and that is being a good human. The rest is not relevant."

Kishori: (Scoffs) "Values! My foot! Her son Manik has already shown what kind of values he acquired from his mother. Anaksarastha." (Illiterate)

Nyonika: (Screams) "What did you just say? Did you abuse me again? Hey, Rabba! Mainu kithe phasa diya? (Oh, God! Where have you trapped me?)

Their verbal spat continues and doesn't seem to end very soon. Ador is circling both the hostile ladies with his wagging tail. It seems he is confused too that whom he should listen to and support. Nandini immediately calls Manik but as usual, his phone remains not reachable. Being fade up, she calls Harshad. Now, he only can control Amms and stop this fight.

....................................................

Behind the temple near Murthy house: 2 am:

Nandini: "There is no other way, Manik. Nyonika Aunty has messed up all things. Harshad and I planned to delay the marriage but because of yesterday's unexpected brawl, I had to admit my lies that I don't love you and will marry Harshad. But now they all came to know that I told that only to avoid my marriage with Harshad. They decided to get me married in the next two months and I will never do this. We have to get married before that."

Manik runs his fingers through his hair. Since yesterday, he can't even take a rest for a single second. After coming back from Nandini's house, Nyonika declared that if Manik marries her or even he talks to her then Nyonika will never be going to see her elder son's face. She has never been so humiliated before as Nandini's grandmother did to her. She gave her ultimatum that Nandini will never be her Daughter-in-law. Come what may. Although Shrikant didn't have any objection to their inter-caste negotiation Nyonika's tears made him think otherwise. This time even Kausar feels the same. They can't bring a girl from a family who has so much against them. It now has become a North Indian and South Indian ego clash. On the other hand, Nandini's family almost put her under house arrest. she didn't have any way to contact Manik. Doesn't have any other way, she sneaks out of the house and calls Manik to meet her in the temple near her house. It was 2 o'clock at night but love is rebellious all the time.

Manik: (In a sceptical manner) "What do you want?"

Nandini: (In a determined tone) "As I said before; we have to run away and get married. After that, nobody will separate us."

Manik: "What about Harshad? Did he...?"

Nandini doesn't let him finish.

Nandini: (In a grave voice) "This is his advice."

Author's note: So, finally the point came when Manan has planned to elope. But will it be so easy? To know, keep reading. 😉😉😉