???????? ???????? - ?????? ?? ????

? 1 ?

"I don't have time for this nonsense. Get lost," Vedant retorted before attempting to walk away.

"Hey, wait a minute! This is your fault, and I'm not wasting your time. That ice cream cost twenty rupees!" Nandini called after him, her voice rising in indignation.

He turned back, his face a mask of irritation. "If you had used your eyes properly, this wouldn't have happened," Vedant said, fishing out a 20-rupee note from his pocket. "Here, buy another one and leave me alone."

"Excuse me, ye meri beizzati kar rahe hain aap? Mai kya aapko bhikhari dikhti hun? Acchi khasi job karti hun mai," she snapped, crossing her arms defiantly.

"Oh, so you've come here to flaunt your salary now? Aur bezzati hone ke liye izzat bhi honi chahiye pehle." he taunted, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

"Haan ye toh hai." Nandini said, nodding her head thoughtfully.

Just then, Vedant's mom, Preeti, came out of their house, attracted by the commotion. She took in the scene with a quick glance, her eyes narrowing as she approached.

"Vedu, what's going on here?" Preeti asked, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and mild reprimand.

"Nothing, Ma. Just an accident. She dropped her ice cream, and now she's making a fuss over twenty rupees," Vedant replied, trying to sound nonchalant but failing to hide his irritation.

“See Preetu darling, your son is blaming me.” Nandini said and kept her head on Preeti’s shoulder.

"An accident? Vedu, you should be more careful.  I’m sorry Nandu baby. Vedu, maafi maang isse," Preeti said firmly, her eyes shifting between her son and Nandini.

"But Ma..." Vedant started to protest, his voice trailing off as Preeti's stern look silenced him.

"I'm not sorry, and Maa stop calling me vedu, it's so cringe" Vedant said defiantly, his tone cold. He turned on his heel and walked inside his home, leaving both women in stunned silence.

"Hawww!!" Nandini exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Did he just...?"

"Leave him, baby aise logon ke muh nahi lagte," Preeti interrupted, her voice soothing. "Tum andar aao. Mai kal market se ice cream laayi. Tumhe bulane hi aa rahi thi."

"Haan, let's go," Nandini agreed, shaking her head in exasperation but smiling at Preeti's warmth.

Preeti and Nandini entered Preeti's home, leaving the confrontation behind. Vedant, now sitting at the dining table and poring over his patient files, glanced up to see the two women making their way to the kitchen. They were soon seated at the table, eating ice cream and chatting animatedly, their laughter filling the room.

"Hey Bhagwan, Maa ko yahi mili thi best friend banane ke liye... Maa ke wajah se isse mai kuch bol bhi nahi pata, hamesha ussi ki side leti hain," Vedant thought bitterly, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Nandini.

[Oh God, was this the best friend my mom could find? Because of her, I can't say anything to her; she always takes her side.]

Nandini’s eyes fell on him. "Oh, hello, aise kya taad rahe?" she asked , raising her eyebrows in challenge.

[Why are you staring at me?]

"Taad nahi Ghoor raha hun… tumhe taadne se accha mai andha ho jaun," Vedant retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He abruptly stood up and stormed out of the room, leaving a shocked Nandini behind.

[It's better to be blind than staring at you."]

"Preetu darling, dekh rahi hain aap apne bete ko," Nandini complained to Preeti, her voice a mix of frustration and amusement.