~Socha Na Tha~
It was a pretty stormy night.One would only be in the most extreme end of lunacy to think of going to the beach at late evening hours and such a girl was Bharti.She was all alone at home,pondering over her dull and monotonous life after marriage.To her,everyday of her life was pure hell.She had compromised to live with a man whom she could never possibly love.A man who had no idea what she was going through every single day.She had to let go of her job due to her husband's demand and it was her mother's last wish of getting her married before she passed away.Bharti couldn't possibly fail her mother in any way and thus she agreed to marry him.A man who might possibly be right in every way but she couldn't love him,despite several attempts at doing so.Two hours ago,she received the good news from her friend who finally attained her true love and is thinking of her wedding.Bharti could sense the elevated excitement in Payal's tone and as much as Bharti wanted to resume listening to Payal's plans,Bharti was lost in her thoughts and she just hung up without saying anything.Bharti got reminded of her own wedding, done in haste at the expense of her ailing mother's happiness.
She was walking down the road,heading to the beach without any particular plan in mind.She had brought her mobile along with her,just in case.She didn't care of the stormy weather.She wondered,"What am I to care for when my own life is shaky and stormy,with no sense of direction!!".The rains were getting heavier with every minute ticking by.Her mobile was ringing but she paid no heed to it.She walked on the sands and stopped,upon seeing a small group of friends enjoying themselves with loud,blaring music.They were having their drinks whilst some an=mongst them were dancing to the party numbers being played.Bharti found in them an old Bharti whom she had alienated herself from;the party girl whom all loved,including Bharti herself,in college.Bharti smiled when she saw a reflection of herself at the party.However,her smile faded gradually as the image of the parrty girl transformed into the present Bharti,who's married and accustomed to a fate which she had brought upon herself.Bharti diverted her attention to the waves which splashed at her feet.
As the rains got even heavier,Bharti walked slowly in a forward direction into the waiters.She had taken off her sandals and took off her black rubber band,letting her hair fall back on her shoulders and further down.She ahs heard of people trying to kill themselves and it had never occured to her the reason behind their attempts.However,she had kept herself in their shoes and for the first time perhaps,she understood the plight and the helplessness that they could be possibly feeling.She continued walking,having flashes of how her life got changed after marriage entirely.She had become a totally different individual-conservative,boring,a mere puppet to the changes around her,not thinknig of acting otherwise,someone whom she couldn't recognize while looking at the mirror.
The party was going on in full blast within a large stage sheltered from the rains which Armaan and his friends had organized.Armaan realzied that he had left some refreshments outside and he went to take them inside.He excused himself to attend to a phone call outside and after he ahd hung up,he watched the sky getting darker and got wet in the rains for a while before he ahd accidentally tripped on someone's sandals.He was pretty sure that the shoes and sandals worn by his friends were inside.He looked behind and to his sides but he saw no one.He looked in front of him and watched closely.He saw something,rather like a shadow moving ahead of him but he wasn't too sure due to the heavy rains.His friends kept calling for him but he went in the direction of the shadow and walked rapidly toward sthe shadow.He saw that it wasn't a shadow but a girl with her long tresses laid back,walking even further.Armaan ran to stop her from walking any further.She turned around and saw the guy who was trying to stop her and both of them looked into each other's eyes for the first time(ArBi Theme Music being played)
Armaan:Hello?Are you crazy or something?(Bharti looked at him blankly)Hello,I'm tlaking to you..If you go any further,you may die..
Bharti:Who are you and what do you want?
Armaan:What?
Bharti:(looked at Armaan's hand having held her's) Let go of my hand and mind your own business..
Armaan:(let go of Bharti's hand)Are you in any problem?Maybe i can help..
Bharti:Look,just mind your own business,will you?I don't need anyone's help..Leave me alone!!
Armaan:Ok,would you clear a doubt of mine?Are you going to commit suicide?
Bharti:(got pretty much irritated)Yes..Do you mind?
Armaan:Yes, I do mind for i can't see a grogeous girl like you going to die in front of my eyes..Any problem can be solved in life and death is definitely not the answer to any problems..
Bharti:What do you know about my problem?About my life?
Armaan:i may not know anything about you but i know that if yuo were to stay out in the rains anymore,you can really fall ill and you may not want to add further trouble to your troubled life already...
Bharti:Leave me alone..
Armaan:I will,but only on one condition,that you'll give me 2 hours of your life,after which you can decide what you wish to do and i'll not stop you at all..Please!!
Bharti:(hesitated)Ok...
Armaan brought Bharti to a shelter near the boat jetty,a little distant from his friends.Bharti gently went to a corner and tried to get rid of the excessive water from her hair and as she turned while tossing her hair around,she saw Armaan having stood pretty close to her and Armaan's face got wet from the water from her hair.Bharti saw him gazing at her and she didn't know what to do.She riased her left palm to place her hair,which got stuck to her neck,behind her ear.
Armaan:Hey,,erm would you like something to eat or drink?
Bharti:No thanks..If i'm not wrong,are you from the group who wer epartying?
Armaan:Yeah,well...
Bharti:Your friends might be looknig for you..
Armaan:that's ok..
Bharti:Why do you need 2 hours of my life for?I can't believe that i've come here,listening to a stranger's words..
Armaan:Well,the answer to your question lies partly in your words.Being a stranger myself,i can easily share my thoughts with you.My problems with you..
Bharti:why would you want to do that?
Armaan:Well,mainly because i trust you..I have complete,pure faith in a girl who's about to take her own life about 2 hours later..And i'll be honoured to be the last one who have the opportunity to talk to her without any fear..And more than anything,i don't think you will have the time to share my problems with anyone else since you're going to die..
Bharti:you don't seem to be the type to be having any probs in life..
Armaan:What do you know about me that you'r emaking that assumption?Look,everyone has his or her share of problems in their lives but if everyone were to give up hope,there won't be a single person left alive on this planet.It is said that each problem brings with it an equal or greater opportunity.If one door of happiness closes,several other doors open.
Bharti:Do you really think so?
Armaan:I believe so and that's because i've seen it happen right in front of my eyes.My wife left me all alone one night and that too on the night of our second anniversary.She left to Milan all by herself,leaving me and my baby girl who was only aged 1 then..This happened about 5 years back.Both of us are officially divorced now.At that moment,it was really hard on me but i didn't give up hope for my baby girl needed me.I had to even forsake my job for some time to sort out my life but perhaps destiny offered me a stroke of luck such that my boss was very much understanding and offered to help me out and be kind enough to exercise flexibility.The problem in my life,actually became a blessing in disguise for me...And i'm ever so glad that i didn't give up on myself and my life.
Bharti:I'm really sorry to hear about your wife...
Armaan:Oh no don't be..I'm not!!I'm only grateful to her for it is her through which I really learnt the meaning of my life...
Bharti smiled widely at him and Armaan naturally smiled back.After a long time,it has been the first time in these 5 years since he has felt attracted to a girl as gorgeous as the girl standing at a distance from him.Her smile was a precious asset to her external beauty and he just felt that he could gaze into those large,bold,brown eyes all night long.
Armaan:if you wish tos hare anything with me,you may do so...
Bharti:What can i possibly say?Well i'm married..
Armaan:You are?
Bharti:Yes,I am..(touched her mangalsutra which blended with her black saree with shades of red)for the past 3 years to a guy who possibly don't know what goes thorugh my mind.We don't talk much and I've accutomed myself to living as such..For the sake of my ailing mother who passed away a few months back,He may be right in every way but i simply can't love him.And i just feel that i am to be blamed for snatching my real identity from me..
Armaan:And the real girl behind you is??
Bharti:A girl who's modern,bold,someone who loves to party and live life in her own way.A girl who believes that one day,a guy will come into her life by storm and take her breath away,bringing her with him.Someone who craves to be loved unconditionally despite her flaws.For the past few moths,i felt that i was not only ruining my life but someone else's too.And i simply thoguth of putting an end to my life to end all the problems associated with me.I couldn't bring myself to face anyone,especially my best friend,Payal who's getting married in 3 month's time..I can't bring myself to be as happy and enthusiastic as her for i get reminded of the circumstances of which I had to get married,forsaking my studies,job and my aspirations..
Armaan:It is never too late to begin your life anew..Talk to your husband and perhaps try to work things out.But remember that this is your life and you only get a chance to live it..So live it in yuor way and always be happy..So no more attempts of suicide form now on?
Bharti nodded and started to feel at ease,gently beginning to open up to the guy who aroused in her a meaning,a chance to understand her life all over again.She didn't know a night's encounter with a stranger could transform her life for the better.He smiled at her and brought her along with him and introduced her to his friends who had gathered for a simple reunion dinner and party.Bharti sat down and ate with them.One of his friends,Rohan had noticed the sudden change in Armaan's mood that night and teased him about it.Armaan kept looking at Bharti who was simply gorgeous in the sari which she wore,adorned with the beautiful maroon bangles,coveing her forehands.He knew that he should stop looking at her in the way he was fantasizing about her but he was unable to do so.There was a charisma in her eyes which kept him attracted to her.He didn't know if he will ever meet her ever again but as he offered to drop her to the roadisde while waiting for an auto,he was wondering what to ask her while his group of friends were secretly peeping to see what was going on between them.
Bharti:thanks a lot Armaan...
Armaan:Anytime..Erm...
Bharti:Yes?
Armaan:Nothnig..Good night..
Bharti:enjoy yourself at the party;I do not know if i'll ever meet you again but i'll be really happy if i can get to meet you again...
Armaan:Hold on..Would you mind if i were to give you something?
Bharti:No,I wouldn't..
Armaan:Some chocolates for you...
Bharti:Chocolates??
Armaan:It is said that chocolates have an immense capability of making a girl happy...
Bharti:These are my favourite...Thanks!!Bye...
Armaan:Never say bye...It kills the chance of meeting you again...So...
Bharti:So??
Armaan:We'll meet again...
Bharti:How sure can you be??
Armaan:I believe in my destiny and i'll pray that i'll meet you again...
Bharti smiled and waved to him before leaving.Armaan kept looking at the auto which was speeding away.His heart kept telling him that he'll meet her real soon and as he turned,his friends came to him and gave him a group hug and teased him about Bharti.Meanwhile,on the other end,Bharti was thinking of Armaan and how she had opened up to a stranger and shared such a great level of comfort with him.She didn't know when she had last smiled and perhaps she had only a person to thank--Armaan!!!
~2 Years Later~
It was Payal's and Bhaskar's second anniversary bash and Bharti was enjoying herself.Several of Bhaskar's colleagues and Payal's friends had turned up to congratulate them.Bharti was helping to serve some drinks to the guests and after that, she had a drink for herself and looked around.Just then,someone tapped on her shoulder.
Bharti:Armaan??
Armaan:You remember me??Wow..that's impressive!!
Bharti:How can i forget the person who saved me from making a mistake of my life??
Armaan:Wow..You definitely look so much more different from the girl whom i met two years ago...
Bharti:You were definitely right..
Armaan:Come again?
Bharti:You were right that we would meet again..Perhaps it was written in my destiny to meet you again...
Armaan:Perhaps,it was in my destiny too to have met you again...So where is your best friend??
Bharti:She's having dinner with her hubby..But what are you doing here??
Armaan:Don't worry;i wasn't spying on you or stalking you..Well,my friend,Bhaskar invited me here...
Bharti:You know Bhaskar??
Armaan:I'm his colleague;i work with him...
Bharti:Indeed,the world is such a small place after all...
Armaan:Yeah,it definitely is...Erm,don't mind me asking..How are you??
Bharti:I'm good..In fact,i'm great!!I'm single and am working..But more than anything,I'm happy..
Armaan:I'm glad of that..Erm,would you like to dance with me??
Bharti was stunned to hear him ask for she had similar thoughts running in her mind.She smiled and Armaan extended his hand.Bharti looked intently into his eyes and placed her hand in his and danced with him to her heart's content.She didn't realize that Armaan could make her blush.Armaan watched the movement of her eyes closely and he noticed her cheeks getting a lil rosy and genuinely smiled and swirled her around to the soft,melodious music being played in the background.
After a few hours,Everyone gradually left.Bharti hugged Payal and wished her heartiest congratulations while Armaan hugged Bhaskar and wished her the same.Armaan looked towards Bharti who smiled and broke off from Payal's hug and she bid goodbye to her and Bhaskar. She turned to go off on her own,walking by her own after she saw Armaan busy talking to Bhaskar.
A while later,she heard someone calling out to her.Just then,she tripped and lost balance but Armaan had come in time to let her fall in his arms.Armaan gently brought her to stand but she almost fell again.Just then, she realized that she had broken her heel.Armaan asked her to take a seat at the nearby bench.He took her heels off her feet and asked her if she was alright.She smiled and nodded.She told him that she'll make a move since it was quite late already.Armaan too agreed and decided to walk by her side and walk her home, to which Bharti tried to refuse but Armaan didn't pay heed.As they walked side by side,their fingers gently touched.Initially,Bharti was a bit nervous but she didn't let go or withdraw her finger.Instead,she let him do what he was intending to do and both of them held each other's hand,interlocking their fingers in each other.Bharti reached her home and she let go of his hand and bid Armaan goodbye.Bharti smiled and walked further inside but as she walked,she just wished that Armaan would call her and perhaps stop her.
Armaan went off,walking towards her gate but stopped.He knew that he couldn't walk any further,for he felt as if he ahd left something behind him.He felt detached and incomplete without Bharti's touch.Bharti had already gone inside but he couldn't bring himself to walk further and decided to take the chance.Bharti was standing behind her front door,thinking of what had happened to her tonight.Just then,she heard the doorbell ring.Bharti opened the door to see Armaan at her doorstep,walking closer towards her.She was surprised that he hasn't left and was perhaps watching him come closer to her.All she did was stand and watch him.Armaan gently held her face with his palm and brought her face closer to his.Armaan caressed her cheek and placed her hair behind.Bharti closed her eyes progressively and Armaan watched her quivering lips and leaned forward to share a passionate kiss with Bharti.As he broke off from their kiss,Bharti smiled and hugged him.Armaan hugged her back intimately and smiled upon his destiny which had brought him much more happiness than he could have ever imagined.....
Kabhi Dil Ke Kareeb, Tumhe Mere Naseeb
Yun Laayenge Socha Na Tha
Ek Chahat Ka Pal, Sab Savalon Ka Haal
Yun Paayenge Socha Na Tha
Kabhi Dil Ke Kareeb
Aankhein Joh Ab Meri Aankhon Mein Hain
Dhoond Raha Tha Kayi Salon Se
Kitni Milti Hain Aankhein Yeh
Khwabon Se Mere Khayalon Se
Ke Haqeqaat Mein Hum, Sapno Ka Sanam
Yun Paayenge Socha Na Tha
Kabhi Dil Ke Kareeb, Tumhe Mere Naseeb
Kabhi Tanha Bethe Bethe Yunhi
Pal Mein Hi Main Ghum Ho Jaati Thi
Main Bhi Kahaan Main Rehti Thi
Aksaar Main Tum Ho Jaati Thi
Yeh Ajaab Si Khata, Aur Isski Saza
Yun Paayenge Socha Na Tha
Kabhi Dil Ke Kareeb, Tumhe Mere Naseeb
Yun Laayegne Socha Na Tha
Ek Chahat Ka Pal, Sab Savalon Ka Haal
Yun Paayenge Socha Na Tha
Can soo imagine them dance.. closely....
