Tia's Thread - Guilt Trips!!!

Before I begin today's post, first of all a big thank you to Gauri for opening the thread yesterday. It was a very short notice and she got it done.

So thank you very much, Gauri.

Also, to all my American friends and family, a very Happy July 4th to you.

Now back to my post. 

Those of you who had been reading my posts for long, know that I love travelling...

In fact, my husband and I both do.

My husband has travelled 40 countries (41, as of end of this August). While I haven't travelled as much as him, I can also count at least four countries and counting (5th one as of end of this August)

But there is one trip, I think, people should not take too frequently. That is called Guilt Trip.

If you made a mistake, take the trip, get things sorted (if can't get sorted, say sorry and move on) and then don't go back there again unless you commit another mistake.

Think of your mistakes as one way return ticket to this trip. You can't keep taking the trip over and over again using the same ticket. 


Why?


1. Because it's annoying to watch a constant pity party

and 

2. Who has time to console someone for the same thing over and over?


Hence, my advise to Bhaiya is that please don't purchase season's pass for Guilt trip. You have been there, done that, got absolved. Now get a move on and don't repeat the same mistakes.

And oh, while you are at it, stop dancing to your wife's tunes. If you constantly behave like a toy with a key which she turns for you to keep hopping, you will just turn her into your mother of season one variety. 

I never wanted you to go from being Mummy's puppet to Wifey's puppet. I wanted you to become your own person.

And Sonakshi, could you please tone down your lectures and teaching moments? It's as annoying coming from you as it was coming from season one Maiya.

How about spending some time with Bhaiya like going out on dates and stuff instead of trying to "fix" him and his screw ups in the past, eh? You know, the stuff normal couples do. 

Besides, how about for a change, gently and politely of course, remind the sisters that they should have been doing their duties and taking care of their brother for a change?



EPISODE: The episode starts with Sonakshi asking Ishwari if she goes out to give space to Dev and her.

Ishwari denies and asks why is she saying that?

Sonakshi says: I wasn't saying this. Dev was saying it. Who understands you better than Dev? Maa, Dev wants you to stay at home, play with children, take rest. You don't have to go out to give us space. 

Ishwari says: You two think too much. I like to go out and meet new people. This is the time when I can do something for myself. If I sit at home, then I will get rusted like my chair. Come on, drop me off. You are getting late too.

Sonakshi smiles and leaves with Ishwari.

Me: I could understand why Ishwari might not want to share this news of her job before getting a job. But I don't understand why she is not sharing her achievement now. It's a great thing to restart one's life. Isn't it better if one's family are also part of the success?


Sonakshi is working at her office. Bhaiya also comes to work.

Bhaiya is surprised to see Sonakshi at work. He asks when she came to office.

Sonakshi says: I dropped Maa and then came to work.

Bhaiya is about to say something else but just then Mita calls. 

Sonakshi picks up the phone and gives her instructions to give her report. 

Then she hangs the phone and asks Bhaiya to continue.

He is about to speak when someone else calls her name.

Sonakshi goes to check and gives instruction to her as well.

Then she turns to Bhaiya and says sorry and asks him to continue.

Bhaiya again starts to talk when Sonakshi gets a call again from Mita.

She excuses herself and takes the call.


Me: Sonakshi looks busy Bhaiya. Come back at lunch time, okay? Thoda apna kaam bhi dekhlo ki Vicky ne kitna loota aaj.

(Supervise your business as well how much Vicky robbed you today)


But Bhaiya is Bhaiya. So he snatches Sonakshi's phone and cuts her call and tells her employees to go home.

Sonakshi is shocked.

Me: It's good that Ishwari got a new job. Soon both of their companies will shut down. Kisi naa kisi ko to ghar chalana padega. Warna yeh log khayenge kya?

(So someone needs to take responsibility of the household, naa.)


Ishwari comes to her new office tensed. 

Someone comes and shows her where she'd sit. He also says that his name is Raju. If she needs any help, she should tell her.

Ishwari thanks him and comes to her desk. She touches her new desk proudly. Then she takes out a Ganesh idol, water bottle, notepad, ink pot and pen, a photo frame (must be her family's picture). Then she sits down at her chair.

She pulls a lever and the chair goes down. She gets confused.

Lakshya was watching her with Raman (I think that's what Raju said the other guy's name was). He tells to Ramesh: Interesting, interesting. I hope this new intern works well.

Raman smiles. Lakshya leaves.


Me: The first day seems to have started. I am very interested to find out Ishwari's profession life since these days she is the only one who has one. Baki ka to profession ke naam pe drama chal raha hain.

(Rest of them are doing drama in the name of profession).


At the other office, Sonakshi is still standing shocked. 

Bhaiya quickly gets into damage control mode. He drags Sonakshi to her chair and says: Today you can throw anything. You can even throw my shoes at me. You can even throw whatever at me. Sit here.

Bhaiya runs around and gets a pillow.

Sonakshi is confused: What are you doing?

He plops the pillow at her back: I have heard that standing too long isn't good for health. (Grabs her phone) And phone? Phone is not at all good for health. Radiation affects your health. So you should keep it away from yourself.

Bhaiya sits down across from Sonakshi.

She says: Dev, this is my phone app. How can I stay away from it? And what is all this?

Bhaiya: I can take care of this much of my wife.

Sonakshi thinks and smiles: Okay, thank you. 

Bhaiya says: Okay. Then come on and scold me that... what's that you say? Tomar matha kharap (Means you are crazy in Bengali).

Sonakshi says: Dev...

Bhaiya says: Tell me naa.

Sonakshi says in a resigned voice: Tomar matha kharap ki. (Are you crazy?)

Bhaiya says: Okay. Now say it in angry voice, loudly.

Sonakshi is confused: But why will I do that?

Me: Good question. Bhaiya, are you seriously on some kind of hallucinating drugs? You know that you had been pretty awesome lately in terms of behaviour. Why would she shout at you for no reason?


Bhaiya: Because you should do exactly that.

Sonakshi is confused.

Bhaiya: Sonakshi, remember you had said that the moments we missed, we will live again? I have missed those moments and want to relive them with you. That's why, you must have mood swings in pregnancy. You must have got angry on little things. And you can demand strange things, ask for strange things to eat. What do you call Golgappas in Bengali? 

Sonakshi: Phuchka.

Bhaiya: Yes, phuchka. Do you want have it?

Sonakshi shakes her head. She says: You were planning this from the morning to relive my pregnancy days?

Bhaiya: Yes, Sonakshi. The moments I missed, will you give me the opportunity to relive them? And the moments you missed, I will let you relive them with me.

Sonakshi says: If that's what you want, then I want to drink coffee.

Bhaiya: Coffee? Humm... But not too strong.

Sonakshi: Why?

Bhaiya: Arre, you are pregnant.

Sonakshi pretends to take him seriously.

Bhaiya leaves to get coffee.

Sonakshi laughs: Tumi ekdom impossible, Mr. Dixit.


Me: It was a sweet scene. BUT, since I am a sensible person, I have a question.

Bhaiya, aap jab bhi apna naak pakadte ho, poora sar ke upar se ghumake kyun pakadte ho? Itna hi shaukh hain pregnant Sonakshi ko dekhne ka, to ek aur baby paida kar lo. Phir real mein dekh lena kitna mood swings hota hain. Yeh office bandh karwake house house khelne ki kya jaroorat hain? 

(Bhaiya, whenever you grab your nose, why do you go around your head to grab it? If you really want to see pregnant Sona, then have another baby. Then you can find out for real how much mood swing she gets. What was the need to shut down the office to play house house?)



At Ishwari's office, She comes to Raman's desk.

He says: Welcome to NIL. How are you feeling? Are you comfortable?

Ishwari smiles: Yes. I actually came to ask you what I should do today. Actually no one knows me here, naa.

Raman says: But everyone knows you here.

Ishwari is surprised: Me?

Raman says: Yes.

Ishwari asks: Really? How?

Raman says: Actually, when we have someone new joining us, we email the rest of the team the details about them. You will meet them some time. So that leaves Lakshya. He is my partner and our boss too. 

He then points Lakshya to her. 

Ishwari looks at him and smiles.

Raman says: He is busy right now. Otherwise I would have introduce you to him.

Ishwari says: No problem.

Raman: And that leaves the matter of work. We have different departments here and every department is handled by a different employee. I have told about you everyone already. That you will help us as an intern. The reason for that is that if you work in different departments, then we will be able to evaluate which department you should work in. The world is yours. You can go and see which department needs your help the most. 

Ishwari is impressed. 

Me: NIL is a very well run modern office. I like their HR strategy. I wonder if Raman will play an important character later on. He seems to have bonded pretty well with Ishwari.



At Sonakshi's office, Bhaiya brings coffee and Sonakshi turns. He sees that Sonakshi has stuffed the pillow under her dress.

He looks at her fake tummy. Sonakshi looks at him and smiles.

Bhaiya smiles: So, how far along is the baby?

Sonakshi says in mock anger: You are going to be a Papa and you don't even know how many months it had been? Seven months. We are going to be parents in two months and you... I am very disappointed with you. Okay, husband. Go get me a Chocolate Lava Cake. This was a sample of the journey of being a Papa.

Bhaiya feels a little awkward and shy. He smiles and stammers: Lava Cake, naa? Chocolate lava cake? Okay I will get it. But first tell me, what should we name our child?

Sonakshi: Okay. We will decide on a name. But then you can get me Red Velvet pastry. Okay?  

Bhaiya is confused.

Sonakshi laughs: Look at you. You are so confused. Come on. Let's decide on a name.

She puts her arms through him and they walk side by side.

Bhaiya says: Okay. Name no?

Sonakshi: Humm...

Bhaiya: Okay, if it's a boy, then Golu. If it's a girl, then Suhana.

Sonakshi: If it's a boy, then Golu? What kind of name is this?

Bhaiya gets defensive: It's a good name. It sounds so nice that a little, chubby baby is called Golu.

Me: Methinks that Golu name was given by Bhaiya. That's why he is such a staunch defender of that name.

Sonakshi laughs. 

Bhaiya: What? But I have this sense that it will be a girl.

Sonakshi: Then you want a girl.

Bhaiya: Yes, just like you. Strong, smart, intelligent, independent... But yes, she will listen to me. If she listens to me, then everything is perfect. 

Sonakshi holds Bhaiya's hands and the pillow slips.

Bhaiya says: Miss Bose, manage our baby. It's moving everywhere.

Sonakshi grabs the pillow and lifts it up. She laughs: I just realised that Soha is in so much hurry.

Bhaiya laughs too.

Sonakshi says: Okay now shut up. Go and get pastry for me. 

Bhaiya: Yes, pastry. I will definitely get pastry for you. But first I want to show you something.

He hands over an envelope with Suhana Charitable Trust written on it.

Sonakshi smiles and asks what is it. You didn't even tell me.

Bhaiya says: I didn't know if I will be able to do anything or not. But now everything is done. 

He opens the envelope.

He shows the papers to Sona: I have done all the planning. The approvals are done as well. Europe's best doctors are also on board. The ward where Suhana was born, I am developing it into super speciality ward. And do you know, what is so special about this ward? Whichever poor girl is born in this ward, her birth and education will be sponsored by this ward. Any woman, any mother will only leave with happiness from this ward.

Sonakshi smiles big: Dev, I hate you.

Bhaiya smiles big: I hate you too.

They hug.

Me: Awwwww.... That won me over. That was such a sweet thing to do. Good job, Bhaiya. I am sure a lot of women and girls will bless you for this venture.

This is more romantic for me than all your silly antics put together. Because you turned a past pain into a triumph. 

Everyone can put medicine on a wound and make them forget the pain. But you have healed the wound from inside out and made it into a battle mark Sonakshi will be proud to recall. Now when Sonakshi thinks of her past, she will have a smile on her face.


At Bose house, Asha gets dressed to go out. She is drinking water.

Saurabh whispers Bijoy: Look, how Maa has dressed up and going out.

Bijoy says: So what?

Asha looks at Saurabh. He changes tone and says loudly: I was just saying just like that. Maa is looking so pretty naa? She must be going to meet some special friend.

Asha says: So what? I have hardly taken three hours to get ready.

Saurabh butters up Asha: Correct.

Asha leaves.

Bijoy looks at Saurabh confused.

Saurabh whispers again: See Baba, Maa took three hours to get ready. Does anyone go out like that for no reason? I am telling you she must have gone to meet her special friend. I mean he is her friend. But anyone hardly dresses up so much to meet a friend.

Me: All I can say is Narad, Narad. 

Those of you unaware of Hindu Mythology, Narad is the gossip guy who always gossips about one God to another and gets people into trouble.


Bijoy whispers: One minute. Shut up. Are you talking about that friend from the book?

Saurabh whispers: Who else? I mean see how she gers irritated when I ask her.

He asks Asha: Maa, are you going to meet that neighbour friend in your book?

Asha: Don't speak nonsense. Didn't I say I am going to meet a friend?

Saurabh stammers: Maa, but I...

Asha says: Saurabh, I don't have time to waste. Besides, I shouldn't make my friend wait either.

Saurabh butters some more: Correct.

Asha leaves: Bye.

Then Saurabh turns to Bijoy: See? What did I tell you?

Bijoy says: Enough. Now shut up.

Saurabh says: I was just helping you. But you don't need my help, then...

Bijoy: Oh helpful person. If you wanted to help me, you'd have read the book and tell me who's that friend.

Saurabh says: What's it to you? Maa went in front of you to meet her special friend. 

He walks away.

Bijoy thinks. 

Me: Oh Bijoy, you poor innocent man. Anyone can make you dance to their tune by playing on your emotions. You were holding out pretty good. But Saurabh finally got to you, didn't he?


At Ishwari's office, she is coming from somewhere. A guy approaches her and says: Hi. You much be the new intern. My name is Mike.

Ishwari says: Yes. I am Ishwari.

One of the girl introduces herself as Shivani.

Ishwari greets them.

Mike asks: Can we call you aunty?

Ishwari nods with a smile.

Shivani suggests: Intern aunty. That's cool.

Mike then asks: So Intern Aunty, guess what? I need your help. 

(She doesn't understand English. So he translates to Hindi)

Ishwari eagerly says: Yes, yes. Tell me how can I help?

Mike asks: Do you know Photoshop?

Ishwari says: Yes, I just saw a photo shop downstairs.

Mike and Shivani look at each other. 

Mike says: No, no. I am not talking about that Photo shop. Photoshop is a computer software used for editing photos.

Ishwari looks confused.

Mike says: No worries. I will get help from someone else.

Ishwari looks worried.

Shivani says: Thank God, aunty you don't know photoshop. Because I need your help very much. Here we have some addresses to send invites for app updates on Saturday. 

Ishwari interrupts and clears what invite means.

Shivani says: This has to be done today. Because we are doing testing on Saturday. Aunty this is very urgent. Will you be able to do it?

Ishwari eagerly says: For sure, I will do this. You will tell me naa what to write in them?

Shivani smiles: Oh, I forgot to tell you that.

Ishwari runs and gets her notepad. She confirms: This is what I have to write naa?

Shivani says: Yes.

Ishwari smiles: Okay I will do it.

Shivani thanks her.

Ishwari gets busy.

Me: App updates? That means, the invites will be an email. But Ishwari doesn't know computer nor anyone gave her a computer. Then she will be writing by hand. Oh dear. But it's not her fault.

1. She didn't get any computer or laptop to work on and 2. The girl assumed she will know what needs to be done. She should have prepared one invite herself and showed Ishwari how to do it. How would Ishwari come up with this on her own?



Anyhoo, just then Nikki comes to office. Lakshya greets her at the door. Ishwari had her back to the door.

Lakshya says: If you keep coming to meet me for lunch, what if I get used to it? Then you will regret it later.

Nikki laughs: Shut up. Just hope that I submit my dissertation on time. 

Me: That means she is doing Masters.


Lakshya: Have you ever been late until now?

Nikki: Right. That's why you should do your work and I should go home.

Lakshya: Don't forget your purse.

Me: Which by some magic flew to the table across from Ishwari where Nikki didn't even go.


Nikki checks her phone and walks to the table. She picks up her purse and turns. She frowns seeing something. But of course she doesn't see Ishwari because she was picking up something from the floor.

Nikki leaves and Ishwari gets up from the floor.

Lakshya, who was sitting on Shivani's desk, sees Ishwari working and smiles. 


Me: Hummm... I am not sure if he is smiling to see her hard at work or smiling because Ishwari is obviously not doing the job right.

I can't make up my mind about this guy. Sometimes he seems a good guy. But the background music is confusing me.


Asha meets Ishwari at Coffee house. 

She laughs: Intern aunty? Fantastic. I was getting worried how you must have been adjusting with all those young people.

Ishwari smiles: I am adjusting. When my family asked this morning where I am going, I said that I am going to meet a friend at temple.

Asha says: I also said the same thing in my home that I am going to meet a friend.

Ishwari: That is true. It's my good luck to find a friend like you at my age.

Asha: You are absolutely right, Ishwari ji. Besides family, one should have a friend with whom we can share everything. For that matter, when have you decided to tell Dev and Sona about this new job?

Ishwari sighs: I want to tell them and I will tell them. But not now. Let me get a little more settled in my job. Then I will tell them. I want to go in front of them as a winner, not a loser. 

Me: Hummm... Fair enough. I can understand that. Okay Ishwari, take your time. After all your children are hiding things from you as well. My only worry is that before they can tell their secret, your secret might come out thanks to their secret roaming around in your workplace and it might be a difficult situation.


Asha: Don't worry. You won't lose.

Bijoy who obviously got influenced by Saurabh and was spying on Asha says to himself: Dug a mountain and turned out Ishwari ji. Asha is talking to Ishwari ji. Where did that book guy went? How do I find that book guy?

Me (sighs): Bijoy, I swear you are the elder version of Bhaiya. Aap ko bhi apni naak ghumake pakadna hota hain. Arey, book pad lo to bookwala waise hi nikal jayega.

(You two grab your nose going around your head. Why don't you read the book? You will find out yourself)

And besides Asha had promised you that she will tell you everything about the book guy, if you get all her books from Ishwari's house. You did your part. Now hold her onto her promise. Just because she told Ishwari and the threat was eliminated, it doesn't mean that you didn't carry on your side of the deal.

God save me from idiot men.

Oh and another thing. Stop listening to your equally moronic, useless son. 


Ishwari sees Shivani getting scolded by Raman while Lakshya was looking on.

She worries what happened.

She leaves from there but stops at Shivani's desk and asks: Shivani beta, what happened? Raman was a little bit angry. Was he scolding you?

Shivani says: No. It's not that. I made a mistake. So sir was angry with me. 

Ishwari asks: Oh. What was the mistake?

Shivani: Aunty, I gave you a list. You were supposed to send them invites. They were supposed to be emailed. But you must have send them hand-written letters and that too in Hindi. Aunty, our brand is not like that nor our clients are like that. I thought that may be you will be able to copy English content. The mistake is mine. I should have sat with you and get it done.


Me: So I was right. And Shivani, you are also right. It was not Ishwari's fault. It was yours for being vague. Because Ishwari did her due diligence.

First of all, Ishwari brought a notepad and confirmed what is needed to be written. If that was written in Hindi, you should never have approved it. If that was written in English, Ishwari is not capable of translating it into Hindi. 

Someone who confirms if invite means nimantran, means that she doesn't know English. In that case, you should not have given Ishwari a responsibility to write a letter in English without making sure that she can do so.

Secondly, you must have given address along with email address. Otherwise, Ishwari couldn't have mailed the letters. You also said that those letters needed to be mailed. You didn't say that those letters needs to be emailed. 

Thirdly, you didn't make sure if Ishwari has a computer/laptop and access to company's email address to send those emails. As it is on the first day, IT guy comes and sets up the equipment, gives access to emails etc. It was Ishwari's first day, so you should have confirmed if Ishwari has an email address or even if she knows how to email considering she doesn't understand English. 

You can't send emails without an email address. Even if Ishwari had a home email address, she won't have used it for work purposes. 


Ishwari feels bad: You told me to mail, so I mailed. I misunderstood. It was my fault and you got scolded. I am sorry.

Shivani says: No no. Aunty please. It's not your fault. You are new. You are learning everything new. I should have explained this whole process to you better. Sir was also telling me this.

Ishwari says: I can talk to them. I will tell them that it has happened because of me.

Shivani says: No no aunty. There is no need for this. We learn from our mistakes. Besides, I don't mind if boss scolds me.

Shivani gets a phone call and attends to it.

Ishwari thinks: Poor child. Because of me, she got scolded. I couldn't even do this little job.

She feels guilty.

Me: Awww... Don't feel guilty. It's not your fault. I am glad Shivani understood her mistake. She won't repeat it again.


Ishwari comes home and Golu comes running. Ishwari kisses him.

Golu says that he was waiting for her for so long.

Ishwari asks about Soha. 

Golu says that Soha was also waiting for you. But now she went to study in Ishwari's room. Soha wants to sleep with Ishwari today.

Ishwari kisses him and asks him to come and sleep with her too. 

Golu says: Dadi, do you know what happened?

Ishwari asks him to tell his story.

Just then Mamaji comes there: You are here? Poor kids were waiting for you for so long. And you spent all day at temple today?

Ishwari nods her head.

Golu asks if she will play with him.

Ishwari agrees. But she says that she will wash up and then play.

Golu insists on playing but Sona comes there and says: Golu, Badi Dadi just came home tired. Let her freshen up. Then she will play with you.

Mamaji says that he will play with Golu. He picks up Golu and leaves.

Golu waves at Ishwari and leaves.

Ishwari says: You came early today?

Sonakshi says: You came late naa? Let me get something for you.

Ishwari stops her: Arre no. Let it be. How can I get tired by sitting and talking?

Sonakshi says: I can't wait anymore. I have got you something.

Ishwari says: For me? What?

Sonakshi gives her gift. It's a note.

Ishwari is surprised: What is this?

She reads the note. It's a poem: 

The old fear is the same in the heart

But the beginning is new...

The eyes are the same, but dreams are new...

The sky is the same, but the rainfalls are new...


Ishwari looks at Sonakshi surprised: You wrote it?

Sonakshi says: It's not good naa?

Ishwari says: It's very good. Very nice.

Sonakshi: You have told me that there is no bad time to tell the truth. You just need courage. So I got inspired by that and want to tell you something.

Ishwari: Tell me.

Sonakshi: There is no right time for a new beginning. When we take the fear out of our hearts, that's the right time. And since we made a new start, I got you this.

Sonakshi hands over a gift.

Ishwari asks: What is this?

Sonakshi: Look for yourself.

Ishwari opens it and it's an identical looking watch like Bhaiya gave her. Wait a minute. This IS the same watch.

Ishwari is surprised but confused.

Me: And so am I. Seriously Sonakshi? You bought an identical watch? Who wants the same watch twice? Couldn't you have bought even the same watch in different colours? At least you could have got the strap replaced with a different colour like white or pink. As it is, it looks really bad. Now Ishwari got two of the same ugly watches. 

Whoever is my future daughter-in-law, please don't pull this on me. I will love you even more if you spare me with the ugly watches. No really. I am very particular abou what I wear.


Sonakshi says: I know that Dev has given you this watch. So this is very special for you. But from now on, I also have equal right on your time. 

Ishwari feels emotional.

Sonakshi asks: Shall I put it on your wrist?

Ishwari says: Yes.

Sonakshi takes of Bhaiya's ugly gift and puts her equally ugly gift on Ishwari's wrist.

Ishwari smiles looking at Sonakshi.


Me: Ishwari is probably the only person who either didn't mind getting two identical watches as gift (ugly to boot) or she is so scared of making Sonakshi mad that she will even drink arsenic flavoured juice to keep Sonakshi happy.

Sonakshi, you and Bhaiya earn so much money. Couldn't you two have better taste?


PRECAP: Ishwari gets a phone call from Raman who says that Lakshya wants to meet her.

She agrees to reach there on time. But gets worried. 

Me: Don't worry. You have done nothing wrong. They won't scold you. Besides, you can pay back Lakshya when he wants to marry your daughter. Win win!!!


NO RULES!!! YAY!!!