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Heylo!
This one is for you Payal.
Wish you a very berry Happy waala birthday😳
Here is your tragic ArNi. Hope you cry buckets.😆 Ab isse zyada tragedy main nahi likh sakti
Enjaaay!😉
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Khwaabb
The man lay staring at the sky with vacant eyes. That was how he laid most days. As if looking for something that he was sure was there but that was hidden from his eyes. Sometimes tears would roll down the sides at failing one more time to spot the thing he was dying to see. But that was becoming rare now. His well of tears was fast drying up.
No one went near him anymore. Except his mother. His grown hair and beard gave him a scary look. But scarier was his hollow eyes and his deathly silence. No one had heard him speak in years.
Only his mother in the dead of the night heard him call out for the one who could never ever respond.
Roshni.
He begged God one more time to let him be with her.
Year 2001
She clutched the letter to her bosom and tried to feel him. She then held it to her nose and breathed in his scent. It had been an a hour since the postman with a sly smile had handed her the letter but she could not bring her self to open it. She wanted to savour the anticipation of what he might have written to linger some more.
Slowly she lay on her stomach and opened it with a huge smile on her face.
Dear Roshni,
A thrill went through her like always as she read the two words in his beautiful slanting handwriting. She could smell roses in those. She kissed the letter and tried to breathe him in some more.
Hope you are fine. My ass as always is being kicked left right and centre. The moment I get my service revolver the first thing I'll do is shoot my Academy commander.
She smiled and shook her head.
If it were not for you and your lovely letters I swear I'd have gone stark mad. I would give my arm and leg to be with you now.
I miss you.
Her smile faltered as the pangs of separation hit her too. Her eyes moistened as every cell of her being yearned to be with him. A painful stitch in her heart had her curl up and look at his smiling photograph on her bedside table. It was the first thing she saw every morning. She slept only after drinking in his image for hours at night.
I miss you too,Arjun, she whispered.
They were born in adjacent houses four years apart in the small town of Kabirpur near Delhi. Their families were close and were in and out of each others houses all the time. At first they were just friends but not close. Both went to separate schools and had different friend circles. Being in a conservative climate Roshni stuck to the girls and Arjun hanged out with a gang of boys.
But things started to change when Roshni began to blossom into a beautiful young girl. Arjun, who uptil then used to glance at her in passing began to stare at her a little too long. He even began to find excuses to go to her house. Sometimes he would demand something for lunch or dinner that only Roshni was an expert in preparing. He knew his mother would run to call her to their house and ask her to cook. He would then sit in a corner and quietly watch her diligently sweat it out in his kitchen making his favourite meal. She looked like an angel as the days passed.
Soon it was time for Arjun to join the Police Academy at Delhi. He had passed out with flying colours in college & the UPSC exams.
His dream was turning into reality but all he felt was adread in his heart. He could not bear to be apart from his Roshni. He had tried a million times to open his heart to her. But could not find the courage. Roshni too did not make it easy for him. She was was polite and friendly but there was a certain aloofness also. Has she given her heart to someone else already he had fretted over many sleepless nights.
His parents were escatic and threw a get together. Roshni would be there. He had to tell her. It was now or never.
The festivities were in full swing. Roshni had come dressed in beautiful pink & gold salwar suit and stone jewelry. She laughed and joked with his mother and even helped out in taking care of the guests.All his friends stared at her open mouthed. A few naughty comments were made which angered ARjun no end. But he calmed himself. He had to seek her out somewhere alone.
Gathereing courage he walked towards her and stood nervously preparing his line.Roshni noticed him and softly whispered,"I want to talk to you. Come at the well behind the house,"
He stood there with his mouth hanging open.
A little while later they met in the silent spot.
Both stood looking at each other without speaking.
Roshni broke the silence.
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
Arjun was sucker punched."N...No" he stammered.
"Do you like me,Arjun?" she asked him her eyes brimming with tears and her lips quivering.
He could just stare at her.
Then the expected happened. Roshni came charging at him and went into his arms.
"Don't leave me,Arjun.I couldn't live with out you. Don't go to Delhi,"
Arjun had only heard of it before but now he could understand the meaning of the word Bliss. He was soothed & pleasured to the core and he held his precious Roshni to his chest. He closed his eyes savouring every nanosecond of it.
"Okay" he said simply.
Roshni broke the hug and stared at him.
"Really?" she asked her eyes round with wonderment.
"Really. Nothing is more important for me than your love. I won't join the Academy if you don't want me to,"
"Arjun" she went back into his arms and this time the hug turned more passionate.
Roshni had always loved Arjun since the time she understood the meaning of the feeling. She like Arjun was terrified of rejection. So she had hid it carefully. Only the news of Arjun's impending separation spurred her to run to him.
They talked for hours sitting beside the well and poured their hearts out to each other.
By the end of it Roshni was urging Arjun to fulfill his dream. She wanted nothing more than his happiness. She promised to wait for him till he became a policeman. He promised to become hers forever. They melted in to each other's arms.
He had left the next day with a heavy heart.
The wait was painful but sweet. Both pined for each other and wanted for the chasm of time to close soon.
And thus began a passionate long distance relationship between the two love birds. They had written hundreds of letters to each other. Arjun had sent countless gifts for Roshni which she never opened. She wanted to open them on their wedding night. She dreamt all day & night about that night in heaven.
Two years had passed. The day had finally come when Arjun would be a police officer and come back to their town to fulfill his promise.
That was what he had written in his latest letter. He was coming home in five days time.
It was a bittersweet time for Roshni. On one hand the wait was finally over. They were going to be one. On the other the five days could not pass off quickly enough.
She began preparing for his welcome. She had run to the bazaar and bought a lovely blue saree and matching jewelry and bangles. She hunted shops for the perfect bindi. She had blushed when she dreamt that soon there would be a Suhaag teeka on her forehead.
The morning of his arrival Roshni had woken up while it was still dark and began applying ubtan on her face and hands. Not that she needed it. She had grown more beautiful over the years but she wanted to look special for their day of union.
As the sun came up she ran to Arjun's house to help prepare a sumptuous meal for him. By now both families had sensed that Arjun & Roshni had found their life partners in each other and had given their blessings. Roshni was already the Bahu of the house. Arjun's mother happily handed over the kitchen to her.
Roshni prepared every dish that Arjun loved. It was only a few minutes left. Baba had gone to the station to recieve him. He would be here any minute.
She ran back to her house to get ready.
She took her time to dress. By the time she stepped out she was transformed into an Apsara. Her mother put a Nazar ka tika behind her ears and smiled.
"He wouldn't be able to wait another day. Mark my words. You won't come home today,"
Roshni had blushed crimson.
The family left to greet their future son in law and Roshni followed them nervously.
The sight of him breathed new life into her. He looked more handsome than ever.
Then it was his turn to spot her and the wind got knocked out of him. He stared at her much to the amusement of the whole family. She shyly smiled at him and he smiled back.
Roshni served lunch to everyone and took speacial care of Arjun's plate. It was the tatsiest food he had eaten in years.
Soon the couple found themselves near the same well where they had first expressed their love for each other.
Both stood awkwardly waiting for the other to speak first.
But something was changed Roshni sensed. Arjun wanted to say something but was hesitating.
She had dreamt of their reunion every moment up till now . How she & Arjun would run into each others arms and give each other a fiercest hug. But even now when alone Arjun was holding back.
"Kya hua,Arjun?" she asked him nervously.
"I want to tell you something, Roshni. I hope you will accept it and move on,"
Roshni felt chilled to the bone.
"Kya keh rahe ho? Kya hua Arjun? Muhe darr lag raha hai,"
Arjun stared at her and then slowly removed a photograph from his pocket. Placing it face down on the wall of the well he said,"Mai shaadi kar raha hoon. Iss ladki se. Hope you will understand. I am sorry,Roshni,"
She had gone completely cold now. She hear the walls of her dreams come crashing down. She stood rooted to her spot and stared dazedly at Arjun.
"M..Mu..Mujhse pyaar nahi karte?" she asked in a small voice.
Arjun shook his head slowly and walked out of there.
Darkness fell in front of Roshni's eyes.
She stared at the glass and tears rolled down her cheeks. She began hyperventilating. Taking a deep breath she downed the entire content of the glass into her throat.
She stumbled towards the well again to take a glance at the girl who had snatched it all away from her. Picking up the photograph she turned it over and gave cry of shock.
She crumpled to the ground with a scream as blood spurted out of her mouth.
"Hey Bhagwaan!...Hey Bhagwaan...yeh kya kardi main?" she wailed hitting her forehead hard several times.
"Yeh kya kardi main? ..." She kept repeating hiccuping and throwing up more blood. She writhed on the floor in pain as the rat poison began to eat up her insides. Her blue saree was slowly turning red.
He was a born prankster. He had played one on her. It was her photograph he had placed on the well. If only she had taken a look before taking the extreme foolish step.
She could not bear to live without him. She could not bear the thought of him with another woman. So she sought the only way out. She decided to commit suicide.
She began crawling towards the house calling out for the love of her life. "Ar...Arj...Arjun. ARJUN!"
He peeked into the courtyard and cheeky smile playing on his lips.
"Oh!God! Why did I do this? She is going to beat the crap out of me. I'll go pacify her," Thinking he had tip toed outside to find her drenched in blood screaming for him.
"ROSHNIII!"
His blood curdled at the sight and he charged towards her.
Taking her in his arms he screamed,"Roshni,Roshni, kya hua tumhe? Yeh kya hua?"
"Ar...Arjun" she hicupped. "Maine zeher pee liya,"
Arjun was shocked to the core. He could not speak for a moment. Then he screamed again,"Baba..., Kaka...Ambulance bulao,"
It was too late. Roshni was declared brought dead.
In one moment the light went out of both Arjun & Roshni's life.
A day of festivity had turned into a day of mourning for two families. Roshni's mother's words came true. Roshni did not return home that day.
Fourteen years had passed. Arjun had still not come out of the catatonic state he had gone into. Fourteen years he had spent on a charpoy on his terrace staring into nothingness.His parents had sold everything they had to treat their son. But he had gone away. With his Roshni. Long ago.
A point had been reached when his own parents began to pray for a peaceful death for their son.
They begged God to let him be with her.
Tera shehar jjo peechhe chhoot raha
Kuchh andar andar toot raha
Hairaan hain mere do naina
Yeh Jharna khaan se phoot raha
Jab jab chaha tune rajj ke rulaya
Jab jab chaha tune khul ke hansaaya
Jab jab chaha tune khud mein milaya
Ik tu hi tu hi... tu hi tu hi tu hi
Kuchh andar andar toot raha
Hairaan hain mere do naina
Yeh Jharna khaan se phoot raha
Jab jab chaha tune rajj ke rulaya
Jab jab chaha tune khul ke hansaaya
Jab jab chaha tune khud mein milaya
Ik tu hi tu hi... tu hi tu hi tu hi
