As the warm rays of the unusually bright sun on a dark, cloudy day shone right on her face, highlighting her bloated eyes, he realised they had been sitting there for a good few hours...’she could take all the time she wants’ he reassured himself and her.
She turned to her side to look at him as he tried to find subtle ways to shield her from the sun....without meaning to come across as insensitive, he innocently gestured to the sky and shrugged to say it wasn't him but the bright rays that were disturbing her chain of thought.
Mentally reproaching himself, he turned to look at her meekly when he noticed a change in her rigid expressions...there was a faint yet persisting sign of tranquility seeping through as though she’d made temporary peace with her raging emotions.
*******
“ Chalein Anuj?” she raised from the seat with shaky determination..
”haan” he ushered her to the way home...not knowing where that would be ...the path was rough and bumpy, symbolising her rocky and uncertain ride ahead...
Lost in her drifting thoughts she toyed with the sequins on her dupatta and plucked them out one by one to derive some strange sort of pleasure...Blankly, she slogged on the pathway while he followed her closely and vigilantly watched every step she took...
Not paying heed to the cluster of pebble stones in her way, she stumbled on them ...he briskly rushed to catch her from the back and made her startle...Inches away from her face, he could smell the stench of her raw tears and fears...She held onto his arm unabashedly and pinched his sweater and subconsciously awed at his grief-stricken face.
jaanta hoon aapko sahare ki zaroorat nahi
main sirf saath dene aaya hoon
Mistaking her gesture as embarrassment, he gently landed her back on her feet and drew his hands away apologetically. She could tell he misunderstood her reaction and gave him a long gratifying look to rid him of his guilt.
har mulaqaat pe mehsoos yahi hota hai
mujhse kuch teri nazar pooch rahi ho jaise...
Slightly more aware of her surroundings now, she walked alongside him on the steep and crooked pathway...stealing occasional glances at his sullen face, she tried to strike a silent conversation with him while he was too nervous to look her way.
raah chalte hue aksar ye ghumaa hota hai
woh nazar chupke mujhe dekh rahi ho jaise
As they neared the end of the long path, a light drizzle from the skies tickled their faces, instantly making them reminisce the rainy night before...she flustered a little thinking of his near confession and nervously wondered if it was really that....he smiled happily thinking of how stunning she looked in the pink salwar suit that took him on a trip down memory lane when he saw her for the very first time and fell for her in that very moment.
ek lamhe mein simat aaya hai sadiyo ka safar
zindagi tez bohot tez chali ho jaise
********
Curiously following her, he wondered where she was leading him to and she could sense his doubts loud and clear...Mentally, he promised to walk along wherever she wished to go and she in turn thanked him wholeheartedly for being there by her side...
She took a long deep breath and forcefully sighed one last time before she switched from gloom to glee and pointed to the door of a small house and said “maa ka ghar! ”...He smiled back at her and beamed with pride to see her finally move on...
“Aayiye” she said inviting him in and he replied “ nahi Anupama aaj nahi, phir kabhi ” and walked back leaving her at the doorstep.
Smiling unintentionally, he walked back to his car as she watched him purposely until he got in....turning around to the door she hesitated a little before stepping in and turned back to check if he had driven off...
He turned the car’s ignition on and switched it back off in the very next minute...he couldn't get himself to leave and decided to wait just in case she needed him...
Making himself comfortable in the seat, he turned on the music and drowsily threw his head on the headrest as though he’d just conquered a long battle and won her over perhaps?
iss tarah pehro tujhe sochta rehta hoon main
meri har saans tere naam likhi ho jaise
Shutting his tired eyes, he hummed along the tune and drifted into her mesmerising thoughts yet again...
koi fariyaad tere dil mein dabi ho jaise
tune aankhon se koi baat kahi ho jaise
jaagte jaagte ek umr kati ho jaise
jaan baaki hai magar saas ruki ho jaise....
**********
ok so following the ‘tujhse naraaz nahi zindagi’ prelude, here’s my continuation to the story...the song being my absolute favourite for many reasons...please do share your thoughts and inspire me to write more, that’s if you want me to.?
thank you for your patience, see you again very soon!
Goodnight!
p.s. check the post below for the link to the first part
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
