Chapter 3

Part Three

*SPEAKERS OFF*

Next Morning..

It was 6:45am and as per Sharon's orders all were sitting in Rey's house as usual chatting, cribbing and having fun.. Swayam had just entered and his eyes searched for only one person.. Everyone was there but not Sharon.. He thought she must be on her way so sat next to the boys with his eyes fixed at the door.. Since last evening he was dying to see her, but she wasn't there yet.. All were waiting for her as she was the master planner and had not told anyone about anything..

Rey: Guys! Sharon kahan hai? Woh aayi nahi abhi tak?!

Simi: Maine usse message kiya tha but reply nahi aaya aur call woh pick nahi kar rahi..

Rey: Ok I'll call her..

Rey without wasting a single minute took his phone and called Sharon.. Everyone had continued with their conversation whereas Swayam was attentively listening to what Rey was saying..

Rey: Hey Shar.. Good Morning.. Kahan ho tum? Hum sab tumhara wait kar rahe hai..

Sharon: Hi Rey! Morning.. Woh actually main tumhe call karne hi wali thi.. umm.. Woh main nahi aa rahi..

Rey (shocked and confused): What! But why?

Sharon: Woh actually dad is in town for a few hours toh maine socha that I'll meet him..

Rey (confused): Gautam uncle is in town? But kal jab dad se baat ki toh unhone kahan ke woh uncle ko London main ek conference ke liye milne wale hai kal..

Sharon (fumbling): Haan.. woh.. main.. nahi.. Woh actually dad London jaane wale hai.. unki connecting flight Mumbai se hai and he is here for a few hours.. Iss liye..

Rey (confusingly): Accha?.. Ok then even I will stay back.. Main bhi uncle se mil luga.. Its been quiet a long time I've seen him..

Sharon: No! No! No! No!.. Tum jao.. Afterall Swayam tumhara best friend hai aur yeh uski party hai toh you should go.. Dad se next time mil lena..

Rey: But Sharon tum..

Sharon (cutting him): I'll be fine..

Rey: Ek kaam karte hai trip thoda postpone kar dete hai.. Come on ya! How can we go without you?! Ek toh tumne yeh trip plan ki hai aur tum nahi aaogi toh kaise chalega?

Sharon: No Rey! Don't postpone the trip because of me.. Aur waise bhi main iss trip pe rahu na rahu ek hi baat hai..

Rey: Sharon just a minute.. Hold (Rey walked a bit away from the gang) Uncle nahi aa rahe na?

*No response*

Rey: Kyun aisa kar rahi ho Sharon? Kal shaamko bhi tum Swayam ke aane se pehle chali gayi thi aur ab yeh trip khud plan karke tum nahi aa rahi..

Sharon: Rey Please! Understand..

Rey: Understand what Sharon? Tum kyun Swayam ko..

Rey couldn't complete his sentence because the phone was snatched from his hand.. He looked to his side to find Kriya standing there..

Kriya: Sharon what's the matter? Tum kyun Swayam se aise dur bhaag rahi ho?

Sharon: Kriya.. Woh.. main

Kriya: Come on Sharon aap mujhse toh keh sakte ho na?!

Sharon: Kriya woh actually.. Off late tumhe pata hai na Swayam.. Aur main woh.. (letting out a deep breath) I just want ki Swayam apna birthday poori tarah se enjoy kare..

Kriya: Kya aapko sach main lagta hai ke aapke na hone se Swayam enjoy kar payega?

Sharon (with eyes shut tightly): Haan! Kyunki ab.. ab mujhe nahi lagta ki Swayam.. mujhse pyaar karta hai..

Sharon was just not able to control the tears anymore.. Knowing the truth and accepting it were two different things.. And accepting it can give you more pain..

Kriya (a bit hyper): Sharon aap ro kyun rahe ho??

Sharon: Kriya please! Please Swayam ko iss bare main kuch mat batana.. Usse bilkul bhi pata nahi chalna chahiye ke main jaan-buchke nahi aa rahi..

Kriya: Par Sharon main aisa kaise kar sakti hu? Jab ki main jaanti hu ke Swayam ne aapko misunderstand kiya hai..

Sharon: Kriya please.. Mere liye!

Kriya: But..

Sharon (in tears): Please..

Kriya (sighing): Ok! Fine but please aap roiye mat..

Sharon (smiling amidst her tears): Thanks Kriya!.. Aur haan Rey ko Swayam aur mere beech hui koi baat nahi pata.. Please usse mat batana nahi toh woh Swayam se iss bare main baat karega aur Swayam ko yeh bilkul pasand nahi ke uske issues kisiko bhi pata chale..

Kriya: Ok.. Don't worry!

Sharon: Ok then, main tum dono ko Lonavala main jo bungalow book kiya hai uska address aur wahan ke care-taker ka number bhej deti hu..

Kriya: Ok.. Aur usko kitna pay karna hai?

Sharon: Don't worry.. Usko pay kar diya hai aur tum logon ke food kaarrangement bhi ho gaya hai.. Aur koi bhi problem ho toh mujhe call kar dena..

Kriya: Ok Sharon par aap apna khayaal rakhna..

Sharon: Yeah I will.. Aur Kriya.. Please..woh.. Swayam ka khayaal..

Kriya: Don't worry Sharon..

Both bid each other a good bye and hang up.. Rey and Kriya disclose the news of Sharon not coming to the gang.. But both their eyes were fixed at one person.. When he heard of her not coming he first was hurt and that was visible from his face but he immediately covered it with an expressionless mask.. All of them left after arguing and debating for an hour on to go or not to go without Sharon.. Kriya and Rey somehow convinced them to leave soon as Sharon had ordered them to.. Soon enough they were on their go.. Lonavala not being too far was a short enough drive..

Here Sharon was just sitting in that closed room like a lifeless sole.. Her feeling had started taking a toll over her.. So to relax herself she thought she should just go and dance it out.. Without wasting a single moment she left for college..

It had been a few hours that they had reached Lonavala.. All were sitting and enjoying playing games in the veranda of the bungalow.. Swayam was too a part of the fun but he just couldn't enjoy.. He was trying hard to smile but just couldn't.. His thoughts were drifting to just one person.. Sharon.. And to add to his misery his best friend Kriya was not talking properly to him ever since they started from Rey's house..

Few hours back..

Swayam: Kriya.. Woh Sharon.. Sharon theek toh hai na?!

Kriya (looking straight): Tum kyun puch rahe ho? Mujhe nahi lagta tumhe usse kuch farak padhna chahiye..

Swayam (taken aback): Tum mujhse aise kyun baat kar rahi ho?

Kriya (sarcastically): Toh tum hi batado mujhe tumse kaise baat karni chahiye?!

Swayam just thought of ignoring it for that time as he could see Kriya was a bit too pissed.. Asking her anything now was like inviting trouble.. So he chose to keep quiet..

Present..

*SPEAKER ON*

Kuch kum roshan hai roshni

Kuch kum gili hai baarishein

Kuch Kum lehrathi hai hawa

Kuch Kum hai dil mein kwahishein

Tham sa gaya hai

Yeh waqt aise

Tere liya hi tehra ho jaise

Mmm..mmm..mmm

Mmm...mmm..mmm

Swayam excused himself from his friends.. He didn't want to ruin his friends enjoyment by sitting there with a long face.. As it is he needed sometime alone.. He was just in too big a mess.. He walked out of the gate as he was told that there was a lake at the end of the lane.. he thought that would be the apt place to sit and think.. he walked for about 5 minute and spotted the place.. It was a small lake with trees at its boundaries.. Right in front was a beautiful view of the hills and valley.. Swayam got settled on a rock by the lake and let the silence take over him.. He closed his eyes and took in the freshness.. Then his mind relaxed a bit and so did he.. His shoulders sagged down and a small smile crept on his face.. The reason for the smile.. It was unknown.. Because he had only one picture floating in his mind.. Her.. All of it came flying back to him.. The rejection.. The pain.. The hurt.. The heartbreak.. The tears.. The anger.. One question revolving in his head.. Kyun Sharon?'

Kyun meri saans bhi

Kuch bhiki si hai

Dooriyon se huyie

Nazdiki si hai

Jaane kya, yeh baath hai

Har subha, aab raat hai

Kuch kum roshan hai roshni

Kuch kum gili hai baarishein

Kuch Kum lehrathi hai hawa

Kuch Kum hai dil mein kwahishein

Tham sa gaya hai

Yeh waqt aaise

Tere liya hi tehra ho jaise

Mmm..mmm..mmm

Mmm..mmm..mmm..

Sharon had reached the Rehearsal Hall a while back.. She tried to vent it out with dance.. But her body for the first time went numb.. She just couldn't move a limb today.. She just stood there letting the music play in the background.. She knew she won't be able to do it so she sat resting her back to the mirror.. The intensity of her pain was too much to portray through dance.. She just didn't know what to do? How to feel? Should she be happy because Swayam is happy? Or Should she be sad because Swayam was happy without her? .. Her tears had dried out by now.. It was as if she can't cry anymore.. She can't feel that stinging pain anymore.. She closed her eyes to relax her mind once again and what she saw did relax her.. His smile.. His breath-taking smile when he was surprised the previous night..

Phool mehke nahin

Kuch gumsum se hai

Jaise roothe huwe

Kuch yeh tumse hai

Phool mehke nahin

Kuch gumsum se hai

Jaise roothe huwe

Kuch yeh tumse hai

Khusbooien dhal gayi

Saath tum aab jo nahin

Kuch kum roshan hai roshni

Kuch kum gili hai baarishein

Tham sa gaya hai

Yeh waqt aaise

Tere liya hi tehra ho jaise

Mmm..mmm..mmm

Mmm..mmm..mmm..

Both opened their eyes.. The tears that were trapped escaped like a stream.. The heaviness they were trying to get rid of, returned.. Sharon bought her knees closer to her chest and hugged them tight as if trying to hug herself and assure her heart that everything will be fine.. You'll get used to it.. Swayam hid his face with his palms and wiped his tears.. He ran his fingers through his hair and tried calm himself.. He sighed and looked at the sun setting infront of him.. He was starring at it trying to absorb the calmness it exhibited.. That's when Swayam felt a hand on his shoulder.. He turned to see Rey settling next to him..

Rey (looking straight): Dhalte hue suraj ko dekh raha hai.. (looks at him) Ya apne zindagi main khoyi hui roshni ko dhund raha hai?

Swayam gave him a confused look.. Rey half smiled and looked in front..

Rey: Sharon ko miss kar raha hai na?

Swayam didn't answer but just looked ahead.. Rey glanced at him and continued..

Rey: Tujhe pata hai Swayam, maine Sharon ko bachpan se parties organise karte hue dekha hai.. Gautam uncle ke liye.. Doston ke liye.. College ke liye.. Par jis Sharon ko maine iss 1 week main dekha na.. Woh out of responsibility ya kuch teri party organise nahi kar rahi thi.. Uski aankhon main ek alag hi spark dekha maine.. Jis tarah se woh harr kaam kar rahi thi.. Gifts le rahi thi.. Usse ek alag hi maza aa raha tha sab karne main.. Sab plan karte waqt woh itni khush thi par uss khushi ke saath saath maine woh dard bhi dekha jo abhi tere aankhon main dikh raha hai.. Main tujhe yeh nahi puchunga ke Sharon aur tere beech aisa kya hua ke aaj tum dono ek dusre se dur bhaag rahe ho.. Par itna kahunga ke kabhi kabhi assumption ke bases par hum galat decision le lete hai.. Galat decision lene se accha ke ek baar saamne wale ki dil ki baat jaan le..

Rey got up and dusted his pant.. He looked at Swayam to find him lost in his thoughts.. He bent down and kept his hand on his shoulder..

Rey: Thodi der main nikal rahe hai..

Swayam (confused): Par hum toh kal jaane wale the na?

Rey: Haan but jab birthday boy hi itna lost hai aur Sharon yahan nahi hai toh party kis baat ki.. Iss liye hum sabne socha that its better we leave.. Toh jaldi aa jaana..

Swayam just smiled at his best friend for understanding him.. Rey left from there.. Swayam sat there for a bit longer thinking over what Rey just said to him.. After a while he too got up with a determined and left.. By late night all where back home.. Though they had cut short the trip but they did have some fun in the little time they were there..

Monday, In College..

Swayam, Sharon, Rey and Aashi were in VP sir's cabin..

Sharon: Sir, woh actually yeh humara last year hai college main.. toh hum soch rahe the why not have a grand celebration for Rose Day?

VP: That's a great idea.. Waise bhi sab juniors need to see ke humari Cultural Team kitni active aur efficient hai.. So ek kaam karo budget banake mujhe dikha do.. Then you'll can start your work..

Sharon: Sir budget ready hai.. (looking to her side) Aashi!

Aashi bought out a file and gave it to the VP..

VP: That's fast.. (going through the file) Ummm yeah that should be fine.. You'll can go ahead!

All: Thank You sir!

They were about to leave when the VP stopped Swayam and Sharon.. Rey and Aashi made their way out..

VP: Umm.. Swayam aur Sharon..Woh actually meri niece ne St.Louis main admission li hai toh kya tum log usse yahan settle hone main help kar sakte ho? I know I shouldn't be saying it..

Sharon (with a smile): Don't worry Sir! We'll guide her..

VP: Thank you guys..

After having another small discussion Swayam and Sharon made their way out of the cabin.. Sharon was reading through the file and Swayam was looking at her.. Actually trying to talk to her.. Just when he was about to say something Sharon turned..

Sharon (handing him the file): Umm.. Cultural Team ko message kardo to come to the Projector Room.. Rose Day ke responsibilities allot karne hai..

Swayam: Yeah.. Ok!

Sharon looked at him and somehow felt that he wanted to talk.. She gave him a quizzed look..

Sharon: Kya hua? Any questions?

Swayam: Nahi woh..

Sharon: Ok..

Sharon starts walking away..

Swayam (stopping her): Sharon.. Tumse kuch baat karni hai..