Chapter 1

Kisan let out a deep dramatic sigh as Swara sniffed into the tissue he had just handed her.

"Arey bas bhi karo rona Madamji. Ek toh na aap ladkiya roti bahot hai. Desh ka adha paper toh aapko tissue dene mein chala jata hai. Agli baar se main towel leke aaunga. Paper toh bach jayega."

Swara glared at him.

"Tum mera mazak uda rahe ho? Isilie main tumhe kuch nahi bata rahi thi. Tum bas faltu gaane gao aur unpe faltu dance karo. Tumse better toh Sahil hai. Kamsekam wo meri baat sunta to hai. Aur sirf sunta nahi, samajhta bhi hai. You know what, maine bahot badi galti kar di tumse apne dil ki baat share karke. Main ja rahi hoon."

Had Swara's vision not been clouded by her tears she would have seen the anger that had flared up in Kisan's eyes at the mention of Sahil. But it was for the best that she did not see it. He would not let Sahil spoil things between them a second time.

Swara got up & picking up her bag was almost at the door when she realized she was in her own home at the baadi.

"Ek minute! Main kyun jau? Ye mera ghar hai! Tum niklo yaha se. Abhi ke abhi!"

"Chi chi chi! Shame, shame! Ghar aaye mehmaan ko ghar se get out kar rahi hai aap? Kya yahi hai aapke sanskaar?"

"Uska naam mat lo mere saamne!!"

Kisan smirked.

"Chill Madamji. Main toh yuhi mazak kar raha tha. Waise aap badi solid hai ha. Ekdum aaj ki naari. Apne pati ke ghar jaake, pati ko hi ghar se bahar nikalwa diya? DANGER!!! Maine socha main bhi try karu! Yaha rent bahot jyada hai na, muft mein rehne mil jaaye toh baat ban jaaye."

"Tum mujhe taunt maar rahe ho? Aur waise bhi for your information maine nahi kaha tha Sanskaar se ke wo ghar chodke jaaye."

"Ab aap bolengi tum jao nahi to main jaati hu, gentleman banda kya karega boliye? Usko toh jaana hi tha na."

"Oh hello, kya gentleman? Khooni hai wo khooni."

"Arey kaheha khooni Madamji. Bhondu hai ek number ka. Apna ghar kaun chodke jaata hai. Main hota na khud aapko gate tak chodke aata par apna alishaan mahal kabhi nahi chodta."

A sudden tiredness seemed to overtake Swara & she plopped down on the sofa next to Kisan.

"Tumhe pata hai ye baat muze bhi bahot ajeeb lagi. Aakhir kyun chala gaya wo? Maine bilkul bhi expect nahi kiya tha ke wo aise chala jayega."

"Agar galti ka ehsaas ho raha ho, agar bura lag raha ho, toh maafi maang leni chahiye Madamji. Aur galti sudhaar bhi leni chahiye."

"Maafi? Wo bhi uss khooni se? Kabhi nahi. Par ha apni galti jaroor sudharna chahti hoon. Jab bhi uski Mom ko dekhti hoon muze bahot guilty feel hota hai. Wo apne bete ko bahot miss karti hai. Pata nahi wo kaha chala gaya hai, na koi phone karta hai, na kisise touch mein hai."

"Aaye haaye, koi sunega toh sochega aapko uski yaad aa rahi hai."

"Please! Muze uss khooni ki yaad kyun aane lagi? Main bas usse ek baar dhund lu aur bata du use ke wo ghar wapas aa sakta hai. Par pata nahi kaha hai wo, kaha chala gaya hai, kaha dhundu main use."

Kisan smiled.

"Dhundne pe toh bhagwan bhi mil jaate hai, ye toh fir bhi ek insaan hai. Dhundiye Madam ji kya pata shayad yahi kahi aapke paas ho. Aakhir aapse itna pyaar jo karta hai, aapse jyada door nahi ja payega."

"Pyaar? Kya bakwaas hai! Pyaar karta hai isilie mera khoon karna chahta hai?"

"Nahi madamji. Pyaar karta hai isilie aapke baar baar khooni kehne pe bhi aap pe gussa nahi hota, pyaar karta hai isilie shayad aap ko uss din ghar se jaane nahi diya aur ghonchu ne khud apna ghar chod diya. Shayad bada gehra pyaar hoga koi jo apni Ma ko dukh de raha hai par apni biwi ki zidd maan raha hai. Ye pyaar hi hai uska jo aapki khushi ke liye wo aaj aapse door chala gaya hai, itna door ke aap use dhund bhi nahi pa rahi hai. Use dil se bulaake dekhiye, muze yakeen hai pagal dauda dauda chala ayega."

Kisan got up. It was time for him to leave before he ended her search for him right away. The urge to end this farce had never been stronger. Kisan turned one last time as he opened the door.

"Kehte hai insaan apni akhri saaso mein apni poori zindagi jee leta hai. Kitni ajeeb baat hai na ke aap apna pichla saara saal bhul chuki hai, bas yaad hai to wo ek chehra, sanskaar ka. Ho sakta hai wo khooni ho jaisa aap sochti hai, par ye bhi toh ho sakta hai ke wo ek akhri dhaaga ho jisne aapko aapki zindagi se jode rakha? Shayad isilie jab aap apne baap aur behen ko bhi bhul gayi tab bhi use nahi bhula paayi. Kisiko bhi apni buri yaado ko iss tarah yaad rakhte nahi dekha Madamji."

Sanskaar's heart melted as Swara looked up at him, more tears welling up in her eyes. He searched through the multiple pockets of his red trousers till he found what he was looking for. Walking up to her he went down on his knees in front of her.

"Chocolate?"

Wiping her tears she picked up the proffered bar of chocolate. She peeled off the wrapper & took out two sections. When she offered one to him he just opened his mouth. She smiled & fed him the one piece before eating the other one. She thought she saw sheen of tears in his eyes but before she could comment he had gotten up & put on his sunglasses. Maybe she had imagined it?

"Thanks Kisan."

"Dosti mein..."

"...no sorry, no thank you! Yaad hai mujhe."

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3Ztq2hu5Kg[/YOUTUBE]