Arjun walked to the scooty with a smile seeing sakshi's antics. When they neared the scooty, arjun turned around and handed over the jacket he had taken from the room, to sakshi. as a reply to her confused looks, he answered "pehan lo, tumhe thand lag rahi thi na?"
Sakshi accepted the jacket with a smile. She was so happy to know that arjun noticed her plight and took effort to help her. But it was not unexpected. Though to the outer world , arjun always showcased his 'I don't care a damn' attitude, but only a few know how sensible and sensitive he actually was. A frown on someone's face, a tear in someone's eyes, everything affected him so much. And he always try getting rid of them. He never voiced out anything openly, but people who kew him can read him like an open book. Sakshi came out of her thoughts when she heard arjun saying something.
"main tumhe ghar chodke office chale javoonga"
Sakshi : "ghar. Main ghar nahi jaa rahi hoom , arjun. Mujhe kal savere kuch important kaam thi, isiliye ghar jaa rahi thi. But just now got a call, and came to know that that programme has been postponded. Ab toh main tumhaare saath office hi aati hoom. Agar is waqt ghar gayi aur so gayi toh main kal subah time pe office nahi pahuch sakthi."
Sakshi got on the back of the scooty and arjun started the scooty. He insisted on driving because he couldn't afford to feel sleepy again and also because he enjoyed driving.
The roads were deserted and silent. A haze was settling in because of the drizzle. The city looked much more beautiful through the haze. Lights blurred , not powerful to hurt your eyes yet enough to avoid the darkness. Everyone loved the city at night, beautiful and elegant. Arjun rode slowly enjoying the views and the breeze.
they were riding along a deserted road and that is when something caught their eyes.
"pav bhaji!!" both of them exclaimed together. There was a street vendor selling their favourite snack. Arjun slowed the scooty and took it near the stall. Both of them got off the scooty and went to the vendor.
"bhaiya, do paav bhaji dena. Aur haan ek cutting chai bhi" sakshi said looking at arjun for assurance. He nodded his head in a yes.
"bhaiya, aap itne late raat ko yaha kya kar rahe ho?" sakshi said trying to start a conversation.
"vo kya hain na beta, meri beti ki school fees kal bharni hain. Uske paise jama karne ke liye zyaada der kaam kar raha tha." the vendor said passing a smile.
Arjun slowly walked away from the stall and sat on the wall which faced the sea. The place was bringing back memories of roshni. She used to love beaches and sunsets. The memories of time spent with her always brought a smile on his face but with tears in his eyes.
"yeh lo tumhaari pav bhaji and cutting chai" sakshi said as she placed his cup and plate near to him. he came out of his trance when he heard her. "voh bhaiya puch rahe the ki tum itne khoye hue kyu ho" sakshi said hesitantly.
Arjun turned to her and replied with a smirk, " VOH BHAIYA puch rahe the ya tum?"
Sakshi gave him a cheeky grin , " main jab ouchti hoon toh tumhe acha nahi lagtha hain na. isiliye jhot kaha."
Arjun turned his face away from her and let out a deep sigh. Sakshi was expecting silence from him but he replied to her slowly , startling her.
" This was Roshni's favourite place. Second favourite actually. Mera dil hi uska favourite place hain jaha voh forever rehna chahthi thi. We used to come here quite often and take a stroll on the beach with our hands entwined. Par ab voh meri haathon ko khali chodke chali gayi, mujhse bahut dur." Arjun said looking at sakshi with a sad smile.
Sakshi patted his hands assuring him and said, " vo tumhe chodke kahi nahi gayi hain arjun. She is very much alive inside you. Aur voh tumhe chodke jaa bhi nahi sakthi na kyunki voh tumse itna pyar jo karti thi. So she is still there, safely , at her favourite place, your heart. " She said placing a hand over his heart. Arjun looked down to her hand over his heart and then at her. She tilted her head and gave him a smile. He couldn't stop a smile from coming up his face. Her words and her gestures gave so much relief to his aching heart.
Kaise mujhe tum mil gayi
Kismet pea aye na yakeen
Ki utar aaye jheel mein
Jaise chand utartha hain kabhi
Haule haule
Dheere se
Gunguni dhoop ki tarah se tarannum me tum
Chooke mujhe guzree ho yun
Dekhu tumhe yaa mein sunu
Tum ho sukoon tum ho junoon
Kyun pehle naa aayi tum
The sea evoked memories in sakshi as well.Those are her most pleasant memories of her childhood. She used to come to the beach with her father. They enjoyed playing at the beach, building sand castles, swimmimg. That day too he had promised to take her to the beach. But he never came. Sakshi never saw her father again. Only a news was heard that her father's car was found from a river and her father was killed in an accident. More shock came to her when she heard from some trusted sources that they suspected it to be a murder.
The sea always brought his father's memories and also invoked a fear in her- the fear whether she would fail in getting her father's murderers. The sea always brought out a new sakshi , who was vulnerable and hurt.
Sakshi was sitting with her eyes closed. She opened her eyes and turned to his side feeling his gaze on her. Their eyes met .
The moment their eyes met arjun saw some emotions in her eyes that were alien to her eyes. There was a fear and pain in her eyes that hid the sparkle that was always present in her eyes. The emotions that her eyes conveyed looked very familiar to him. Aren't they the same emotions that he has been seeing in his eyes ever since Roshni's death? Pain of losing a dear one, fear of failing them. but why would Sakshi feel the same. Does she have a past that he is unaware of?
Sakshi broke the eyecontact when she snapped out of the trance. She looked everywhere exceot him. she knew that in those few moments arjun would have definitely noticed the change in her. He would have definitely seen that sakshi whom she had been trying to hide from everyone. She got up suddenly and voiced out, "mujhe ek aur cutting chai chahiye. Main voh lekar aati hoom."
Arju knew she was trying to avoid him. she didn't want him to question her abiut what happened a few minutes before. Sakshi needed time to open up to him. who other than him will be able to understand how difficult it is to open up their pains to someone. She needed time and he was happy to provide it.
Somehow he knew that he would be the first person with whom sakshi will share her pain whenever she is ready.
Sakshi came back with her chai and sat near him avoiding his eyes. He moved closer to her and nudged her. She looked at him hesitantly. Arjun just tilted his head and smiled. The smile held promise that everything will be alright or else he will always be with her to make it alright.
Badley Raate Jharne Aur Nadi
Badkey Ret Tim Tim
Chhedhe Zindage Dhool Koi Nahi
Badley Barkha Ki Rimjhim
Badkengi Rituen Ada
Par Main Rahoongi Sada
Usi Tarah
Teri Bahon Mein Badhen Daalke
HAr Lamha
HAr Pal
Zindagi Sitar Ho Gai
Rim Jhim Malhar Ho Gai
Mujhe Aata Nahi
Kismat Pe Aaye Na Yakeen
Kaise Mujhko Mil Gayi Tum
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