Read on guys. You won't be disappointed. 😊

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PART 10

The students had left home for their vacations. The college was empty except for some staff. Prof Vardaan regularly came to college either for the preparation of the new semester or for correction of exam papers or for some administrative tasks or just to spend some time in his cabin smoking and doing nothing. He was in his cabin preparing some notes. After some hours, he finished writing and opened the drawer to keep the papers in a folder. His eyes fell on some piece of metal. He picked it up. It was Sanyukta's earring. His mind recollected all the previous encounters with her. Her lustrous long hair, her pouting face seeing hospital food, the way she felt shy when she wore the red dress in the hospital, the way she grooved and sung the lyrics, that oily paav bhaaji she had stuffed in her mouth, the twinkle in her eyes, her eyelashes, her chubby cheeks that he always felt an urge to pull etc etc. All this brought a smile on his handsome face. In fact, he was laughing thinking about how she had started ignoring him in the last few weeks of the semester.

Thinking this, he quickly opened the seal of the envelope which had the label, "SEMESTER 1-FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT". He switched on his computer. He opened an MS-EXCEL file, the document which contained the details of all the students of the batches to which he taught. He pressed Ctrl+F. In the dialogue box that popped up, he typed "Sanyukta Agarwal", and he hit ENTER. In nano seconds, the cursor was on the row, which contained Sanyukta's name. Sanyukta Agarwal: Roll No-27. He opened the envelope of the answer papers, and took out RollNo-27's answer paper. He hadn't seen such a beautiful handwriting in a long time. He picked his red pen and started correcting it. The presentation was awesome, with all the final answers of the numerical questions, boxed using a ruler. Vardaan couldn't find a single mistake to cut marks. He knew that 95% of the paper contained numerical questions and all her answers were damn right. There were 5% theoretical questions where he could cut marks. But, no, he was mistaken. This girl had written 2 pages of answers even for a 2 mark question. He reached the last page of her answer booklet. He was reading the last few lines of her answer. After, her answer finished, he saw a laughing smiley drawn by her. He felt as if she was teasing him. "Interesting, very interesting", he smirked. She deserved full 100 marks, but he couldn't do that. So he gave her 99 marks, thinking, "I have cut 1 mark for this smiley, Ms Agarwal."

Sanyukta's vacations were going on in the uber cool way. The plaster on her hand was removed. She was feeling better. The physiotherapist recommended her minor exercises for the right hand. She was doing it daily. Along with it, she was continuing with her kathak practice. The competition was due next month. She wanted to win it at all costs. She used to wake up at 5 AM every day, freshen up, and do her riyaas. If not anything, FITE had surely taught her discipline. She used to be in ghungroo almost the entire day. In the evening, she and her brother used to play games on play staion, just like old times. She wasn't worried about her exam results as she was confident that she would fair well. After some few days, it was time to go back to FITE, to welcome her new semester. She started packing her bags. She kept everything, books, clothes, snacks, and her ghungroo. Her brother bought her a new gift. She quickly opened the wrapper and found a new play station in it. She lovingly hugged her brother. She was happy that her brother was over with his obsession with FITE, and was seriously involved in taking her dad's business further. "Chal tujhe campus tak chodne aata hu", he said. She gleefully agreed.

The students were back in the campus after an entire long vacation of one month. They were extremely joyful seeing each other. Everywhere in the campus, there were hugs, hi-fives, happy punches, giggles, elongated hiii's etc. Kaustuki spotted Sanyukta, and ran to her. The friends happily hugged each other. After all, they were meeting each other after one month. They proceeded towards their room. After getting fresh, they moved to the canteen to meet all their other friends. All of them were having a great time. But, Sanyukta's eyes were constantly searching for one person. Sanyukta excused herself saying she wanted to see the new timetable of the semester. She took her notepad and a pen, and proceeded towards the notice board. She was writing down her new timetable. Vardaan was walking on the corridor, when he saw her. He hid behind a wall, and was observing her. "The plaster on her hand has been removed, thank god. She looks fit now. Fit?? She has gained weight. Looking cute. But, she is glowing like anything. Hmm...new hairstyle? Suits her." Sanyukta left the spot. Even Vardaan left after Sanyukta.

The lectures of all the semesters started. This time, Prof Vadaan had only one lecture in the entire week for the 2^nd semester batch, "Cost Management." He entered the class and as usual, at every step, ignored Sanyukta. "Oh god...inki cassette abhi tak wahi tak wahi pe atki hai", Sanyukta thought. But, she was happy that finally she got a glimpse of him. He hadn't changed, those same specs, that French beard, that slight smiling that always killed Sanyukta, chiselled jawline, that manly voice, those broad shoulders that Sanyukta had held when she was scared to death. Absent mindedly, Sanyukta kept the elbows of both her hands on the desk, bent forward and cupped her face with her palms. She was longingly looking at Vardaan. Kaustuki observed this, and quickly shrugged Sanyukta with her hands to change her body language. Sanyukta came out of her dreams and became conscious.

Sanyukta's kathak competition was fast approaching. It was Sunday. Kaustuki again provided her the brilliant idea of going to the college auditorium which Sanyukta straightaway refused remembering the last time's fiasco. Sanyukta came up with the idea of going to the college terrace, as nobody not even a fly dares to come up to the 14^th floor. Only problem is that she didn't know, whether the terrace was locked or unlocked. Kaustuki offered to go and check. She quietly went upto the terrace, hiding from the security guard. She was happy to find that the door was unlocked. She quietly came to the dorm and informed Sanyukta. Sanyukta was happy. She pleaded Kaustuki to come with her to the terrace, but Kaustuki had to go the market to do some shopping.

Today was Niharika's death anniversary. Every year, this day used to be the most difficult day for Vardaan. Sitting in his cabin, he wished he had a time machine. He wished he could take time backwards, to that night's phone call...that conversation they had.

FLASHBACK:

Vardaan: (Screaming)"Hello, Niharika...finally tum se baat ho paa rahi hai yar. I've been calling you since yesterday. How are you? Safar kaisa raha? Koi takleef toh nahi hui na. Tumhe pick karne aae who log? Kaha pe ruki ho..."

Niharika: (Laughing) "Enough Vardaan...Kitne sawaal puchte ho. Saas toh le lo. Main bilkul theek hu. Safar bohot achaa tha. Mujhe koi takleef nahi hui. Aur haa, Sister Mary, mujhe airport pick karne aai, aur umm...woh last question kya tha??"

Vardaan: (Laughing) "Kaha pe ruki ho??"

Niharika: "Haa..Little Angels orphanage mein hi...Sister Mary ke saath room share kar rahi hu."

Vardaan: (Shocked and angry)"What?? Tum orphanage mein ruki ho? Kyu?? Tumhara dimag toh kharab nahi ho gaya? Kisi acche hotel mein ruk jaati? Is it safe there?"

Niharika: "Calm down, Vardaan. Main theek hu. Aur pata hai, yaha pe bohot enjoy kar rahi hu. Ab hotel mein rukti toh roz mujhe yaha tak travel karna padta. Aur Mumbai ka traffic toh tum jaante ho. Aur yah ape meri zaroorat hai. Yeh Municipality ke officers, kabhi bhi aa jaate hai. Accha when are you coming?"

Vardaan: "Soon. I am getting done with teaching the pending syllabus this Friday. After that, I'll take a flight to Mumbai."

Niharika: (In a low voice) "Acchaa...thoda jaldi nahi aa sakte? I mean...I am not feeling good without you here. Feeling as if something bad..."

Vardaan: (With concern in his voice) "Ssshh...Niharika...Hey, kya hua hai sherni ko? Everything will be fine, trust me. Main aa raha hu na agle hafte. Phir sab theek ho jaaega. Accha...I have to leave. Mere lecture ka time ho raha hai. Oh and one more thing, please call your Dad. He's been worried about you."

Niharika: "Ya, sure. Bye."

Vardaan: (Smiling)"Umm..one minute...Love you!!"

Niharika: (Smiling) "Love you more!!"

FLASHBACK ENDS:

Vardaan went to the terrace to get some air. Niharika's thoughts, her helplessness were choking him. He saw a ladder on the terrace leading to the tank. He climbed the ladder and sat on the concrete tank. Cold winds were blowing on his face. He was constantly looking at the morning sun. He took out a cigarette and started smoking. A tear escaped his eyes, thinking...this used to be their i.e Niharika's and Vardaan's favourite spot in the entire college. She loved climbing up the ladder, sitting with folded legs and witnessing the sunrise and sunset. He remembered how her face used to shine when sun's rays fell on it.

Sanyukta was proceeding towards the terrace taking baby steps, looking left and right. She opened the door of the terrace and was amazed looking at the small city's view from the top. It looked beautiful. She looked down. People looked like tiny ants. The terrace was huge enough. Without wasting much time, she took out her dupatta and tied it along her waist. She was wearing a cream colored, full sleeves, anarkali dress. She wore her ghungroo and played the music on her cell phone at a very minimum voice.

She started with her prayer. After offering the prayer, the beats of the tablla started, followed by shehnai, basuri, sitar, harmonium and then a good mixture of all the instruments, making it a good rhythm. Sanyukta danced with a sparkling footwork, fast whirling movements, subtle abhinaya's and all that her masterji had taught her. Her expressions, her eyes, her hand movements were just perfect. Not too loud and rough and neither too weak and silent. She danced with effervescence. She looked every bit of an angel.

Her footworks and her ghungroo were making enough sound to get Vardaan's attention.

Vardaan: (Thinking)"Ghungroo ki awaaz...maine yeh awaaz pehele bhi kahi suni hai. Par kaha? "

He remembered that night's encounter with Sanyukta, she said she was searching for her earring...but then he could hear the sound of the ghungroo while she was walking. He silently, without making any noise, moved towards towards the small fence of the tank. He could see Sanyukta dancing there.

Vardaan: (Thinking in anger) "Sanyukta Agarwal! What the hell is this girl doing here?"

But after a few seconds, he was lost in her dance. Those intricate footworks, the precise rhythmic patterns, that she was articulating by controlling about 100 bells tied to her ankles. Those long eyelashes, those heart soothing expressions, her cream flowing dress, which looked beautiful whenever she whirled around, the different postures that her body formed, her jhumkaas going to and fro according to the rhythms and hitting her face. Aah..her face, sweat clearly glistening on it in the morning sun, yet her expressions, her gestures, were not that of a complaining one. In fact, she was lost. Lost somewhere. Lost in her kathak. It looked as if she was contented, contented with everything, as if this is her identity. Her eyes, her eyes were showing a different picture today. Not that of a sometimes nave, sometimes brat kind of twinkles. But today, every look was filled with passion. He could see it in her eyes. He dropped his jaw, and his lips formed a small O'. He exclaimed, "Who is this girl? Who is she? I don't know her."

Suddenly, the clouds thundered and it started raining. Sanyukta stopped dancing and ran for shelter. She looked at the time. She had danced for a good half an hour. She thought that the rain would go off soon, since it was an off-season rain. She switched ON the FM radio on her cell phone. Some radio jockey (RJ) was on air.

RJ: "Toh aisa lag raha hai ki Indra devta hum sab se either zyaada prasann hue hai ya phir bohot naaraaz hue hai. Is liye toh yeh bin mausam barsaat karva rahe hai. Toh dosto, aise mausam mein garam chai aur pakode toh bante hi hai. Toh chaliye aap apne loved ones ke saath chai-pakode share kijiye, aur main yaha play karta hu saaare romantic gaane. After all barsaat ho rahi hai yaar, romance toh banta hi hai."

Sanyukta giggled hearing this. The song that was being played was,

"Dil ye bechain ve, raste pe nain ve
dil ye bechain ve, raste pe nain ve
jindarii behaal hai, sur hai na taal hai
aajaa saavariyaa, aa, aa, aa
taal se taal milaa, ho taal se taal milaa"

Sanyukta just couldn't control herself. She came out of her shelter. She stretched her hands in the open air, lifted her face, closed her eyes and was feeling every drop of the rain fall on her body. The lyrics followed and she started dancing.

"Saavan ne aaj to mujh ko bhigo diyaa
haay merii laaj ne, mujh ko Dubo diyaa
Saavan ne aaj to mujh ko bhigo diyaa
haay merii laaj ne, mujh ko Dubo diyaa
aisii lagii chadhii sochuu main ye khadii
kuchh main ne kho diyaa, kyaa main ne kho diyaa
chup kyon hai bol tuu, sang mere dol tuu
merii chaal se chaal milaa, taal se taal milaa
o, taal se taal milaa ...

Vardaan descended down the ladder. Sanyukta couldn't see him. She was engrossed in her dance. Following her dance steps, she stretched her hands and turned around to complete the step. She was about to slap Vardaan as her hands were stretched. But then, she stopped at the right time.
She was stumped and beyond shocked to see the person standing in front of her. She let a soft moan. She went 2 to 3 steps backwards in fear . Her ghungroo made some sound as well. She was panting. Rain dripping from their faces. Their eyes constantly on each other. After what seemed to be an eternity, Sanyukta broke eye contact.

Sanyukta thought, "Miss Sanyukta Agarwal, agar jaan bachaani hai, toh yaha se chup chaap nikal le. Yeh khadus toh abhi bohot daat lagane wala hai."

She turned around to leave, when Vardaan held her wrist and pulled her towards him. Her long hair touched his face as she turned. He held and took her wrist at her back. She collided on his chiselled chest. She was frightened. She had never seen him this way. Vardaan raised his hand. Sanyukta thought he was going to slap her. She quickly closed her eyes in anticipation. He saw a flick of her hair, sticking on her cheek. He slowly pushed it behind her ear, caressing her cheek. He saw her eyelashes, water dripping down to her face from the end of those long eyelashes. He saw her red lips, now moist and glistening with rain water. He moved in closer. Sanyukta opened her eyes. She saw their faces were just inches apart. For a moment she thought of giving in. But then her rational mind raised its head. She slightly struggled to free her wrist from his hold. Her facial expressions changed. Vardaan sensed it and immediately left her hand. Sanyukta moved back. She collected her belongings and just ran from there without looking back. She ran through the stairs, her dress flowing behind her. She ran through the corridors. Her ghungroo making a beautiful sound. The students were staring at her in utter surprise. She rushed to her room, closed the doors in fact locked the doors, and stood resting her back on the doors. She was gasping for breath. She just couldn't believe what just happened o n the terrace. There on the terrace, Vardaan was just frozen on the spot. He just couldn't think straight. He was left flabbergasted.

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Here I am guys with an another update. This one is really long. Also, I wanted to embed the TAAL SE TAAL MILA song in this post. But, I don't know how to do that. Hope you guys like this update. Also, just to mention, i really like elongated comments. 😉