"Ji ji..Shreya ko kuch nahi malum iss loan ke bare mein. " said Shreya's father.
"Par agar Shreya ko shaadi ke baad pata chal gaya toh kya karenge aap?" asked Siddharth's father.
"Kya karein ji. Bas unko samjhana padhega. Aur koi raasta nahi..but main vaada karta hu ki iske bare mein Shreya ko kabhi pata nahi chalega"
"Siddharth ko bhi iske bare mein kuch nahi pata. Par haan, woh Shreya se bohot pyaar karta hai"
Siddharth stood frozen inside his room. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop on the elder's conversation but since he overheard the talk about the marriage he was forced to listen. They're forcing her to marry for a thing as loan just to satisfy their selfish motives! He couldn't quite digest it. He felt himself shaking with anger. He quickly got out of the room and without informing anyone started his car and left the house.
*********
It was seldom that the cops got a day off from work. Eating her mother's food at home, lazing around the house and doing what she liked, were not something that happened very often with the CID officers. Shreya sat on her balcony, facing outside. As she sat sipping lemonade, she wondered about her journey in CID. Those pranks they enjoyed in the bureau, the laughter, the tough times and the bonding that everyone in the team shared. She would do anything to stay in the very team always. The ringing of her phone made her snap out of her thoughts.
"Oh no! koi naya case toh nahi"
She picked up the phone and saw the name Siddharth displayed. Heaving a sigh of relief she answered the call.
"Haan bolo Siddharth...Abhi?...achha ok.. milthe hai.. bubye"
Something about Sidhharth's tone disturbed her. She made a mental note to ask him about it.*****
When Shreya arrived there, she found Siddarth already waiting for her. Something about his expressions warned her to be careful. She wondered what was wrong.
"Hi Siddharth"
"Hi Shreya...aao baitho"
Oh God! Shreya thought. Not only was Siddharth's voice sounding painful but also his eyes- they seemed to be swimming in rage, agony and frustration.
"Kya hua Siddharth.." she asked "...Achanak phone karke milne ko kaha tha.."
"Haan woh tumse kuch poochna tha"
"Sab kuch theek toh hai na... I mean tum pareshaan lag rahe ho"
"Dekho, mujhe yeh beating the bush nahi aata. Seedha poochta hu..Humare shaadi ka asli reason kya hai?"
Shreya was dumbfounded. She hadn't expected this question from Siddharth. How could she tell him that her parents had forced her into this marriage because of her mom's illness? She wondered how he got such a doubt.
"Matlab?" asked Shreya
"Mera matlab yeh hai ki, kya tumne ek dil se iss shaadi ke liye haan bola?"
"Haan Siddharth. Isme shaq karne ki kya baat hai"
"Jhoot mat bolo Shreya. Tumhare parents ne force kiya na iss shaadi ke liye? Mujhe pata hai. Mujhe sab kuch pata hai."
Shreya decided to break the ice. She took a deep breath in and said, "Haan! Yeh sach hai ki mujhe iss shaadi mein koi interest nahi. Mummy papa ne force kiya tha. Mummy ki tabiyat theek nahi hai. Woh chahti hai ki main jald se jald shaadi kar lu."
"Lekin woh baat puri sachhayi nahi hai.. Pura sachh mujhe malum hai. Aur mujhe yeh bhi malum hai ki tum Daya sir se pyaar karti ho"
Shreya's eyes widened with shock as she asked "Puri sachhayi? Maine sab kuch bata diya tumhe!"
"Maine kab kaha ki tum chhupa rahi ho. Main bas yeh keh raha hu ki iss shaadi ke peeche ek aur bada reason hai"
"Kya?"
"Haan. Abhi kuch der pehle tumhare papa aaye the mere ghar. Sunne ka toh intention nahi tha mera koi. Par jo baat maine suni thi, use sunkar bohot dhakka laga"
Shreya remained silent. Taking it as a sign to continue, Siddharth said "Humare shaadi ki asli wajah tumhari mummy ki illness nahi hai. Baat yeh hai ki tumhare papa mere papa se paise liye the. And in return they want you to marry me."
"What!!!! Yeh kya bol rahe ho tum Siddharth?"
"Main sach bol raha hun Shreya. Maine khud suna tha." Siddarth said, as he slammed his fist on to the table.
"Mere papa...aise..." she muttered, unable to control herself. Unaware of this reason, she had left Daya sir who she loved so much. She had broken his heart. She hated herself for it now. Hot tears sprang from her eyes and before she knew it, she was crying.
"Dekho Shreya.. ab bhi time hai. Mujhe malum hai ki tum Daya sir se ab bhi pyaar karti ho"
"Par Siddharth..."
"Meri baat suno.. haan yeh sach hai ki main tumse pyaar karta hu, lekin jab humari shaadi ho jayegi, tab hum dono khush nahi reh sakte. I agree that strangers have fallen in love after they've married each other. But this is not the case with us. Tumhare dil mein koi aur hai. If you marry me now, main jo karunga tumhe sirf Daya sir ki yaad aayegi..usme main nahi dikhunga tumhe."
"Aisi baatein mat karo, Siddharth.."
"Main sach bol raha hu Shreya. Zara socho. Agar yeh shaadi hogi, toh kya tum khush rahogi.? Nahi!"
"Siddharth please..."
"Apne mummy aur daddy se baat karo, Shreya. Bolo phir se ki yeh shaadi nahi ho sakti. And haan, tum aur Daya sir humesha khush rahenge and you and I, we will be friends forever."
"Baat toh suno meri, Siddharth..."
"Yeh shaadi nahi ho sakti Shreya." choked Siddharth. "All the best for your life with Daya sir. Bye!"
Shreya tried to stop him but Siddharth was gone. She couldn't believe what had happened now. It seemed fuzzy. Part of her wanted to marry Siddharth because of her parents, but her heart longed for Daya. Her Daya. Unable to stand this anymore, she rang up and poured out all her emotions and tears to Purvi, her best friend. When she cut the call, she had made her decision.
*****
The officers except Daya in CID Bureau were busy enjoying evening coffee with light chitchat while taking a break from file work. He was in record room searching for the file of a high profile case. Abhijeet excused himself feeling the vibration in his pocket as his cell buzzed. He got confused seeing the name of the caller.
"haan Sidhharth bolo, achanak kaise call kar liya?" Abhijeet asked.
"Sir, mujhe aap se kuch jaruri baat karni hai... Daya sir aur Shreya ke bare mein."
Abhijeet was surprised. "Shreya aur Daya ke bare me!! Kya baat karni hai?"
"Wo main aap se phone pe bata nahi sakta. Aap mujhse mil sakte hai iss waqt?"
"iss waqt?"
"haan, main abhi aapke bureau ke parking lot me intezar kar raha hun. Aap aa sakte hai please?" Sidhharth sounded impatient.
Abhijeet nodded "theek hai, aa raha hun." and cut the call. He wondered what could Shreya's would be husband have to talk with him about her and Daya. Seeing him engrossed in thought Freddy asked in concern "kya hua Sir, kiska phone tha? Aap kuch pareshan lag rahe hai".
He snapped out of his thought hearing his voice, "haan woe k jaruri phone tha, main abhi aaya". Abhijeet left the bureau leaving the rest confused. He saw Sidhharth waiting at the entrance of parking lot. "Hi Sidhharth, kaise ho? Tum yahan achanak?"
"Sir baat hi kuch aisi hai... Aap ko toh pata hai ki yeh shadi humlog aapne parents ke khushi ke liye hi kar rahe hai.. par.. he paused.
"par?"
"mujhe pata nahi tha ke mere aur Shreya ke papa iss shadi ko ek business deal samajh liya hai".. he started taking a deep sigh. "Shreya ke papa ne use yeh shadi karne ke liye majbur kiya taki unhe wo loan wapas na karna pade jo wo mere papa se liye the aur mere papa bhi iss baat pe agree kiya hai." His head hung in shame.
"Mujhe pata hai Sidhharth" Abhijeet nodded slowly which shocked the former.
"Aa..aapko pata hai?! Kaise?" Sidhharth exclaimed.
"wo choro lekin tumhe yeh kaise pata?" Abhijeet asked.
"Aaj jab Shreya ke papa hamare ghar aaye the toh maine unke aur Papa ke baat sun li thi..irada toh nahi tha sunne ka par achha hua maine sun liya warna teeno jindagi barbad ho jati."
Abhijeet was shell shocked. "Matlab? What exactly do you want to say?"
Sidhharth finally blurted out, "Main janta hun Shreya Daya sir se pyaar karti hai aur shayed Daya sir bhi. Shreya iss waqt aapne parents ke khushi ke liye mujhse shadi karne ke liye haan kar di hai. Lekin iss shadi se na wok hush rahegi na main aur na hi main use kabhi wo khushi de paunga. Compromise karke puri life toh nahi bitayi ja sakti hai na.. Jis shadi se hum dono me se koi bhi khush nahi reh sakta us shadi ka koi matlab nahi hota hai aur na main aapne parents ke choti soch ko barwaha nahi dena chahta.
"Tumhari baat sahi hai Sidhharth lekin tum exactly karna kya chahte ho?"
"Main Shreya aur Daya ko wapas ek karna chahta hun" Sidhharth blurted out finally taking a deep sigh.
"Kya?! Tum..tum sach kahe rahe ho?" Abhijeet exclaimed in shock.
"Kyun sir aapko meri baaton pe yakeen nahi ho raha hai?"
"Nahi, aisa nahi hai. I mean she is your would be wife.. Are you sure? Yeh decision tumne soch samajh ke liya hai na?" Abhijeet asked.
"Yes sir..maine soch samajh ke hi liya hai yeh decision. Maine yeh sab aapko isliye kaha taki aap meri help kar sake. Aap baat karenge iss bare me Daya se?"
"Haan jarur.. Agar Daya aapne life me settle ho jaye toh mujhse zyada khushi kisi ko nahi hogi. I must say tumhare jaise dil aajkal sabke pas nahi hota hai. Par tumne Shreya se iss bare me baat ki? Use bataya aapne decision ke bare me?" Abhijeet became serious.
"Haan sir.. She was shocked as well. Wo itni shocked thi ki kuch keh nayi payi. If you don't mind aapse ek baat puch sakta hun? Aapko kaise pata chala loan ke bare me?" Sidhharth asked hesitatingly.
"Wo actually... Main Shreya ko Daya ka letter dene gaya tha uske ghar. Tab uske papa ne mujhe yeh sab bataya aur...aur request ki ke main un dono se kuch na kahun.. Tum toh jante hi ho ke Shreya ki mom heart patient hai.. Daya!! Tum..tum yahan?" Abhijeet exclaimed in shock as he noticed Daya standing shell-shocked near a pillar behind Sidhharth.
He came out of the shock hearing his name.
"Abhijeet tum..tumne itni badi baat mujhse chupayi? Maine tumhe itna kuch kahan, itni bar pucha tumse phir bhi tum chup the, ek aise insan ka maan rakhne ke liye jise aapne swarth ke aage aapni beti ki khushiyan bhi dikhayi nahi deti?" Daya demanded in a loud voice.
Sidhharth got confused as he had no idea about the rift created between the two best buddies just because of Shreya's father and how much Daya had been hurt. Abhijeet hid his eyes from Daya.
"Daya I know tumhe bohot taklif huyi jo sab hua usse. I am really sorry.. Shreya ke father ke sath mere papa bhi in sab ke liye jimmedar hai. Un dono ki wajah se teeno jindagi barbad hone ko hai. Isi liye main .." he was interrupted by Daya.
"Nahi Sidhharth tum sorry mat bolo. Tumhari kya galti hai? Maine suna tumhari aur Abhijeet ki batein..lekin mere liye phir se yeh rishta jorna itna easy nahi hai. I've moved on in my life. Bohot mushkil se maine purani baaton ko bhula diya hai." Daya tried hard to sound normal but the sadness in his eyes and voice did not get unnoticed by the other two.
"Daya beeten huye baaton ko bhula kar age barhna hi jindagi hai aur isi liye main chahta hun ki Shreya ke sath aapne life me age barh jao." Abhijeet placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Haan Daya, Abhijeet sir sahi keh rahe hai. Agar main Shreya se shadi kar bhi lun toh bhi hum me se koi bhi khush nahi reh payega. Aap bohot ache insan hai.. I am sure aap Shreya ko bohot khush rakhenge."
"Tumlog samajh nahi rahe ho. Mujhe nahi pata if she still has any feelings for me now."
"Yes, she has warna main yeh decision leta hi nahi. Yehi hum sab ke liye acha hoga. Aap usse baat kijiye. Main chalta hun philhal. Bye." Sidhharth turned away immediately to hide his moistened eyes and left from there.*****
Shreya could not believe that her father had done this to her. Driving back home seemed to take forever, but when she reached her house, a sudden pang of anger and pain grappled her. She went inside, refreshed herself and joined her parents at the dining table.
"Kaisa gaya tumhara outing, ain? Mazaa aaya?" asked her mom, as she patted Shreya on the back
"Haan ma, bohot" replied Shreya
"Tumne leave apply kar diya na Shreya? Shaadi ke liye bas kuch hi dino baaki hai aur kam se kam ek hafte ki chhuti leni paregi" told her dad
"Kya! Ek hafte! Main bas 3 din ke liye leave le rahi hu"
"Shreya beta, baat ko samjho. Saare rishtadhar aayenge, kitni khushi aur celebrations hogi yaha par. Aur tum duty karna chahte ho?"
"Haan papa. Meri khushi meri duty mein hi hai. Iss shaadi mein bhi nahi"
"Kya bol rahe ho Shreya?" asked her mom.
"Main sachh bol rahi hu maa" said Shreya
She was angry, hurt, and guilty. She didn't know if Daya would even accept what happened. She had hurt him, perhaps irreparably. Their relationship had ended even before it started and now she didn't know how she'd mend it back. The worst feeling that she had was that she felt responsible for the fight between the two best friends who are the pillars of the team. Although they had both gotten over it and moved on, the guilt seemed to cut through every cell in her body.
"Shreya.." called her father, causing her to jump out of her thoughts
She took a deep breath and the exhale caused tears to overflow her eyes. She calmed herself down and picked up the strength to directly come to the point.
"Sach sach batayiye papa. Meri shaadi ki asli wajah kya hai?"
"Maine jo tumhe bataya, bas wohi hai beta. Main kyu tumse jhoot bolunga. Tumhari hi khushi ke liye na"
"Jhoot papa. Sab jhoot"
"Shreya..."
"Mujhe sab kuch pata chal gaya.. sab sach. Paise liye the na aap Siddharth ke papa se...in return aap chahte hai ki main Siddharth se shaadi kar lu. Hain na papa"
Her father was silent. His eyes were fixed on Shreya as though trying to assess what he had just heard from her daughter.
"Batayiye papa..yehi hai na asli wajah? Siddharth ne sab kuch sunn liya..sunne ka toh koi iraada nahi tha unka, par usne jo suna, woh kaafi hai "
"Mujhe maaf kar do beta..." said Shreya's father
"Aap aise kaise kar sakte hai papa mere saat." She turned to her mother, "Maa, maine sirf isliye haan bola taaki aapko kuch na ho jaay, par aapne bhi mujhse yeh sach chhupayi. Kabhi yeh nahi socha ki mujhe kaisa lagega jab yeh sacchayi saamne aa jaate toh."
"Shreya beta.."
"Mujhe bolne dijiye ma. Mujhe shaq ho gaya tha jab Daya sir aur Abhijeet sir ke beech woh ladai hui thi. Purvi unintentionally sunn liya dono k eek argument ko aur usne bataya mujhe, ki papa, aapne Abhijeet sir ko Daya sir ka kisi letter mujhse dene ke liye mana kar diya. Lekin agar mera guess correct hai, aapne Abhijeet sir se yeh asli sach batayi aur kisi ko na kehne ke liye bola. Hai na papa? Boliye"
"Shreya, haan yeh sab sach hai beta. Magar mere paas aur koi raasta nahi tha."
"Isliye, meri marzi ke kilaaf shaadi karwa denge? Papa, iss wajah se theen zindagi barbad hone ko thi.. ek Siddharth, ek main ..."
"Aur who theesra?" asked her mom
Shreya sighed as she once again realized who her love belonged to. She loved him and him only even now but the marriage topic had changed it all.
"Daya sir"
The entire household was silent except for Shreya's mom's silent sobs. Shreya got up and went close to her dad.
"Papa, sacchayi kisi bhi tarah se saamne aa hi jaati hai. Dekhiye papa, mujhe pehle se iss shaadi mein koi interest nahi hai. Mujhe malum hai ki aap bhi yeh baat jaante hai. Iss shaadi ab hogi bhi toh main khush nahi rahungi. Main aur Siddharth khush nahi rahenge papa. Please papa. Yeh shaadi rok dijiye", she said as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Aise kaise rok sakte hai. Main kya bolunga Siddharth ke papa se?"
"Sach bol dijiye papa. Siddharth ka bhi yehi kehna hai ki agar humari shaadi hogi bhi toh yeh sacchayi hume har pal satati rahegi aur hum dono khush nahi reh sakte. Kabhi nahi."
There was infinite silence. Shreya broke down on her mother's shoulders unable to hold it for any longer.
"Theek hai beta." said her dad. "Main bol deta hu Siddharth ke papa se. Yeh shaadi ko rokne ke liye". He choked.
"Thank you papa." Said Shreya as she hugged her dad
"Ja beta. Khush raho apni zindagi ke saat" said her mother she she patted Shreya on the back.
******
Sitting in the living room, Daya was still trying to process what he had overheard from the conversation between Siddharth and Abhijeet. Relationships do go through heartbreaks and misunderstandings, but what he had been forced to go through was something beyond his thinking. Earlier, he had learned the bitter truth that Abhijeet had not given her the letter and when Shreya's wedding was fixed, it had shattered him. Next when he had had a confrontation with Abhijeet, the argument had taken their relationship to the extent of Abhijeet applying for transfer in despair. But then, later the transfer had been cancelled and all was well. Daya knew, that even though he had apologized and reconciled with Abhijeet, some part of the scar that his scalding words had caused still remained in the deep chasms of Abhijeet's heart, making their way to healing. Of course, Abhijeet's lies had hurt him too but when the puzzle fit together now, Daya realized how much Abhijeet had to go through to keep his word and also to fight for their own friendship. He felt his eyes glazed as he realized how much Abhijeet very presence in his life is meant to him. A spark of friendship that ignited 18 years ago, still raged strong enough to kill the evilest of inner demons.
"Oye. Darwaza khologe ya thod du?"
Abhijeet's voice brought him back from his reverie and he opened the door to let him in.
"Kya hua? Itni der kyu hua aaj" asked Daya
"Bas woh kuch kaam baaki tha, khatam karke, I had to wind up. Isliye late ho gaya" said Abhijeet "Tum kyu itni jaldi aa gaye?" he asked Daya, although he know the reason
"Err..woh bas aise hi. Mera kaam ho gaya tha. Isliye aa gaya" said Daya, turning his gaze away from Abhijeet. " Tum relax karo, main kuchh lekar aata hu"
"Kuchh nahi chahiye mujhe ab. Baad mein. Ab baitho" said Abhijeet.
Oh no! thought Daya
"Tum wahi soch rahe ho na, jo Siddharth ne bola tha"
"Nahi Abhijeet. Main hum dono ke bare mein sochh raha tha"
"Hum dono ke bare mein? Ab kya hua saab ji?" joked Abhijeet
"Please Abhijeet"
"Haan theek hai theek hai..bolo"
"I'm sorry Abhijeet. Mujhe kuchh pata nahi tha, ki kya hua, aur mere nazar mein sirf yeh baat aayi ki tumne woh letter Shreya ko nahi diya aur mujhse jhooth bola. Kabhi socha nahi tha, ki yeh sab hua hoga."
"Bhaisaab, woh baat ab history ban chhuki hai." Said Abhijeet, trying to hide the last bit of pain in that wound that was still healing.
"Nahi Abhijeet. History ya Geography, I don't care. Tum dusro ko befakoof bana sakte ho, mujhe nahi. Abhi bhi, ek chhota sa ghav hai, tumhare andar uss baat ko lekar."
"Haan, main maanta hu. But, mere part mein bhi galti hai. Maine jhoot bola ki maine letter de diya Shreya ko. Sorry yaar Daya, I couldn't break my word to her father." Said Abhijeet
"Par..."
"Woh sab chhodo. It can't be undone. Tumne Shreya ke bare mein kya socha hai?" asked Abhijeet
"Matlab?"
"Aree yaar. Sachh toh unko bbhi pata chal gaya na, toh baat karo milkar ek dusre se."
"Par Abhijeet, tumhe maalum hai ki I've moved ahead."
"Nahi yaar. Tumhare andar abhi bhi ek hope hai ki shaayad tum aur Shreya ke beech sab kuch pehle ki tarah ho jaay."
"Nahi Abhijeet. Baat ko samjho" he said, his closed wounds reopening once again at the thought of the relationship. All that it had gone through and how meanly it had ended. He still remembered vividly the night that he had come home, locked himself in his room and cried his heart out. He didn't feel bad about crying. Venting out emotions was his way of feeling better. He didn't know why the wounds reopened but going through them once again was no less painful. He didn't realize he had been choking on his sobs until Abhijeet put a hand on his shoulder.
"Tum abhi bhi pyaar karte ho yaar Shreya se. Purani yaadein tumhe abhi bhi satati hai, isliye yeh aansu dekh raha hu main. Ro mat yaar. Behtar yeh hai ki tum woh sab bhul jao, completely aur ek nayi zindagi shuru karo, Shreya ke saat" said Abhijeet, looking into Daya's eyes
"Abhijeet lekin.."
"Aree...Bahane mat banao yaar. You know that I'm telling the truth. Baat karo bhai Shreya se."
"Woh sab theek hai. Kya woh abhi bhi mujhse pyaar karti hai?"
"Haan, bilkul tumhari tarah. Siddharth ne kaha ki abhi bhi Shreya tumse pyaar karti hai. Toh kal hi baat karo yaar. Achhi baaton mein der kisliye!" smiled Abhijeet
"Abhijeet.." called Daya
"Kya hua? Ab kya hai" asked Abhijeet.
Before Abhijeet could react, Daya hugged him tightly spilling all the tears bottled up since the time he had known the truth. Abhijeet patted comfortingly on his back.
"Bhai, ab chhodoge ya mere ribs ka fracture kar doge?" asked Abhijeet, in a tone that Daya knew too well. It was a mix of emotions like Abhijeet was trying to feel cheerful after being choked up.
"Fracture kar du?" asked Daya winking, as he pulled away
"Pehle khana khayein. Mera pait khali hai..phir fracture ka discussion karte hai" laughed Abhijeet, as he got up to have supper.*****
Now that he had permanently settled things with Abhijeet, he wanted to make attempts to fix his lost relationship with Shreya too. She was in fact his Shreya, the only girl he had loved so much. He had dreamt of a bright future with her and that was when all hell broke loose. Shreya's wedding was fixed and he was shattered. She had left him to marry Siddharth. Then, now again God had given both of them the opportunity to fix this and he was going to make every effort to do the same. After much insistence from Abhijeet, he had contacted Shreya 15 mins ago and asked her to come to the coffee shop where he was currently waiting. He tensed up when the familiar gait of Shreya appeared at the door and walked straight towards him. Daya studied her as she sat down, her eyes were nearly bloodshot, and she had creases on her forehead with dark rings around her eyes.
"Kya hua Shreya? Soya nahi raat ko?" asked Daya
"Aapko toh pata chal gaya hi hoga ki mere iss haal ki wajah kya hai. Hai na sir?" asked Shreya
"Bass aise..hi poocha. Shreya...err dekho..kal Siddharth ne Abhijeet se baat karte waqt, mujhe sab sach pata chal gaya."
"Aap toh bohot khush honge na.?" asked Shreya, trying hard to hold herself
"Achha?? As much as you're upset, tum bhi ek kone mein khush ho. Haan ya nahi?"
"Haan yeh sachh hai ki main bhi ek taraf se khush hu ki yeh shaadi toot chhuki hai. Par main kisi aur rishte main phir se nahi aa sakti" she said, careful not to look at Daya
"Nazar kyu chura rahe ho tum Shreya. Agar sachhi mein you don't want to continue a relationship, tum mujhse nazar milakar baat karo" said Daya
"Sir, please..." pleaded Shreya
"I'm not forcing you Shreya. I'm very sure ki tumhe iss meeting ki wajah malum hai. Aur mujhe yeh bhi pata hai ki tum phir se humara , I mean hum dono ka rishta jhorna chahte ho. As much as I want it, you also want it." said Daya
"Nahi. Aisi koi baat nahi hai" said Shreya, once again refusing to meet his eyes.
"Tum apne aapko bewakoof bana rahe ho Shreya. Ask yourself. I know I'm right." said Daya
Shreya was silent for a long time. Knowing that he had done the job of igniting that old love again, he waited for her to respond. She shifted her gaze downwards at her coffee and stared at it. Daya saw silent tears cascading down her cheeks as she struggled to hold herself together.
"Shreya..." he called.
"I'm sorry, sir..." she choked, " Maine aapko bohot hurt kiya."
He remained silent, secretly rejoicing that the game was won.
"Maine uss din jab mummy aur papa se batane hi jaa rahi thi, tab mummy ko heart attack aa gaya aur woh baat adhuri reh gayi. Phir maine yeh decision liya ki mummy papa ki khushi ke liye mujhe iss shaadi ko haan bolna hoga. Mujhe nahi pata that ki asli sach kya hai, warna yeh sab..." she cried
"Main samajh sakta hu Shreya."
"I'm really sorry sir.." she said again, " Sach yeh hai ki...main aapse bohot pyaar karti hu."
"Main bhi Shreya" said Daya, he added, as he placed his hand over hers, " Would you like to continue our relationship?"
Shreya met his eyes for the first time since the meet and Daya saw the happiness in her eyes. She smiled and said "Haan"
Then they sat there, talking for a long time before Abhijeet called Daya for some work. That night Daya spent a long time as he stayed awake and thanked God and his best friend Abhijeet for helping him find his lost love. He was happy beyond what words could describe. He filled in his diary and pulled the pillow and fell asleep almost instantly to see his dreams as pleasant as the day had been.
****The End****
Edited by ANGELICEYES - 9 years ago
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Fan Fictions
6