Chapter 22

EPISODE – 34

 

"Oh wow! Look who is here." Naina said sarcastically as she entered her home. Navin was sitting there.

"Hey Naina!"

"Don't hey Naina me... Couple of days mein you were supposed to return and it's 5 days already!"

"Maine kab kaha tha ki 2 din mein aa raha hoon."

"Raj ne kaha tha... Ek hi baat hai. Aap dono saath gaye the ek hi kaam ke liye."

"To Raj ki jaan kha na... Waise bhi hum log do din uski wajah se late hue hain."

"Uski wajah se... Waise hai kahan woh?"

"Woh seedha apne ghar chala gaya... Rest karne."

"Rest? Aap army waalon ki dictionary mein rest word bhi hota hai."

"Doctors prescribe kar dein to hota hai."

"Doctor... Raj theek to hai na?"

"Haan theek hi hai."

"Theek hi hai kya matlab.... theek hai ya nahin? Hua kya usko?"

"Tujhe badi fikr ho rahi hai apne nakli boyfriend ki."

"Huh! Kisna kaha Raj mera nakli boyfriend hai?"

"To yahan khadi ho ke mujhse kyun pooch rahi hai. Khud jaa ke dekh le kya hua hai Raj ko."

"Haan jaa rahi hoon and I'll be late."

"Koi zaroorat nahin hai late karne ki. Raj ke sar pe chot aayi hai aur doctor ne use proper rest lene ko kaha hai. Waise hi doctor ne use 4 din rukne kaha tha hospital mein aur woh 2 din mein bhaag aaya hai upar se kal se resume kar raha hai."

"Zyaada lagi hai?" She sounded concerned.

"Haan but nothing serious. Just that head injury hai so doctors ne lightly lene se mana kiya hai."

"Aap to theek ho na?"

"Badi jaldi yaad aa gayi apne Bhai ki."

"Yaad aayi to. Aap dono ne mujhe ek baar bhi phone kiya itne dinon mein... Nahin! Upar se instructions aur de diye ki don't bug Niti with your questions."

"Acha baba... Sorry! Ab tu ja. Aur haan make sure Raj apna dinner aur medicines skip na kare."

"Don't worry!"

********

 

"Tumhein to bahut zyada chot lagi hai." Naina exclaimed as Rajveer opened the door and she saw a heavy bandage on his forehead.

"Hi!" He said softly.

"Topic change mat karo."

"Naina I am fine. Atleast come on in."

She entered and clung to him. She was holding him tightly.

 

"Naina!" He was surprised by her reaction. But the warmth of her hug was compelling enough for him to do the same. He took Naina in his arms and pulled her closer.

 

They stood there like that for a while.

"Are you okay?"

"Badi jaldi pooch liye. Tum the kahan itne dinon se? I was..."

"Scared?" He completed her sentence in a bit taunting tone.

"Nahin... Tumhari bhasha mein CONCERNED!"          

 

They smiled and he wiped the single drop of tear that was now rolling down on her cheeks.

"Tumne dinner kiya?"

"Nahin... Tumhara wait kar raha tha."

"Bhaiyya ne bataya na ki I am coming."

"Tumhein predict karne ke liye I don't need Navin. Itna to jaanta hoon main tumhein."

"Acha! Aur kya jante ho mere baare mein?"

"Yehi ki agar abhi maine dinner nahin kiya aur medicine lene mein mujhe late ho gaya to you'll kill me."

"Right!"

"Main dinner ready kar deti hoon."

"Dinner ready hai."

"Tumne banaya?"

"Aaj tumhein torture karne jaisa koi iraada nahin hai mera isliye order kiya hai."

She smiled again.

 

"Tum baitho main dinner laga deti hoon."

Naina set the table and they both sat down to take their dinner together. They ate quietly. After dinner while Rajveer took the medicine Naina cleaned his kitchen and returned to the living room. He was sitting on sofa with his head tilted backwards. She qietly sat next to him and after a few minutes lied down on the sofa keeping her head in his lap. He looked at her and took one of her hands into his while with his other hand he gently stroked her hair. He began to run his hand in her hair. She was still quiet enjoying that feel. But she could also feel something different. It had been 5 days having met Rajveer but she found herself at loss of words to talk about. There were so many things she wanted to talk about and also she had all the reasons to fight over with him but she preferred this silence to all of that.

 

After a little while she decided to break the stillness prevailing between them.

"Raj...."

"Hmmmm...."

"Tumhein nahin lagta ki kuch hai hamare beech jo change ho gaya hai."

"Ya shayad hum change ho gaye hain." He answered after a small pause.

 

She got up and looked into his eyes. For the first time in a very long time they have known each other, they could see an intensity in the other's eyes. An intensity which was unknown to them, a feeling too alien but a new phase of their relationship was to begin and they could sense it. The problem was they could not say that.

 

"Ek kaam karte hain." Naina said trying to sound normal.

"Kya?"

"Ek minute ruko."

Naina quickly left the room and in a few minutes reappeared with a couple of candles, a stool and a match box. She placed the stool near the sofa and switched off the light. She lit both the candle and put one of them in a distant corner of the room and the other on that stool. She took Rajveer's hand and pulled him down on the floor. She sat right in front of him across that stool.

 

"Okay... It's a simple game."

"Game? Abhi? Are you mad?"

"Shut up and listen to me. Waise bhi tumne mujhse promise kiya tha ki lautne ke baad... Whatever I say."

"Okay fine. Kya karna hai?"

"Very simple. Hum dono ek ek kar ke apne apne dil ki baat bolenge. Some confessions, okay! Jo bhi hamare dil mein aayega hum bol denge bina soche ki it mght hurt the other one. We just have to be honest with each other and with ourselves. Aur agar kisi ko lage ki kuch aisa hai jo hum shayad dossre ki aankhon mein dekh ke nahin bol paayenge then look at this flame and make that confession and if there is nothing more to be said just blow the candle. But remember no jhooth and no holding back."

"Fine. You start."

 

"Okay! Ummmm..... I am not sorry I broke up with Alekh. I don't like him anymore. Your turn now."

 

He smiled.

"I wanted to kill him the day I saw him trying to kiss you."

It was now her turn to smile and confess.

"It was too silly of me to drag you in all this and force you to pretend to be my boyfriend."

"I don't think so. I agree that was crazy but I love that crazy side of yours."

"That night in mussourie jab tum mujhe romance ki 'tutions' de rahe the... You unknowingly turned me on."

 

Rajveer kept quiet for a while that gave Naina an impression that may be he didn't quite like this confession. She lowered her eyes and concentrated on the candle flame feeling a bit awkward. But Rajveer's eyes were fixed on her. After a long pause he continued.

 

"You are beautiful."

 

She looked up and blushed.

"Mujhe yeh compliment bahut se logon ne diya hai but I always wanted you to tell me that."

"I can't see you cry."

"Your smile makes my day. It's too cute."

 

He smiled again.

"Never ever, all my life, have I had a girl so close and so important to me."

"I don't want you tell this thing to any other girl ever. Don't you dare!"

"I can't believe I am enjoying this candle lit atmosphere."

"I think this is romantic."

"I always enjoyed it when you tried to flirt and add romance to our non-existant romantic life."

 

She blushed again and bit her lips.

"I missed all that in last few days in your absence."

"Me too missed pulling your leg."

"I think I am addicted to you."

 

Rajveer again was quiet. She kept waiting for him to confess something. She was enjoying this session and something told her that Rajveer was going to blow the candle. But she didn't want it to end.

The silence remained for a few more minutes. All this while they kept gazing at each other affectionately.

 

"I want to kiss u." He finally made the biggest confession of the beautiful night.