Thank you soo much everyone! The response was too good! Hope you like this. Zoya, I think you wouldn't mind if I borrowed your precap😆
...
Shravan and Ramnath were leaving their cabins and heading straight home, for it was the Sangeet Eve. The wedding planner had already called twice to finalise the decorations for the function tomorrow and now that Sumo had backed off, or rather AGREED with him, he was off to the The Radisson Residency, a 5 Star Hotel where a hall was booked. He wanted it exactly to be as his Chachi wanted. It wasn't because he believed in lavish functions but because he couldn't see the Tiwaris getting humiliated for lack of preparations.
Ramnath was discussing a last minute case with him and both of them were so engrossed during the walk back home that Preeta had to shout to Shravan.
"Aree Shravan!", She called out as he walked past her.
Both of them turned back to see her standing.
"Kya hua Preeta, sab theek toh hai naa?"
"Haan Ji, sab changa hai. Bass woh thodi si baat karni thi, agar do minute time Ho"
"Haan bolo naa", he said, closing the file.
"Woh Sumo aur PCT ke baare mein baat karni thi", she said hesitantly.
Ramnath widened his eyes at her name and glared looks. Shravan saw that but couldn't help it. He never intentionally meddled in her matters. It was always , by chance, that Destiny forced him to get into her way.
"Tum baat karlo, main chalta Hoon", told Ramnath.
"Nahi Papa, Ek minute wait karlo. Saath mein chalte hain"
"He looked towards Preeta who spoke
"Shravan, Dekho tumhe toh pata hi hai, ki Suman yaa Mamaji ke paas itne paise nahi hai ki Chaachiji ki saari demands poori ho... Aur Sumo bohot try kar rahi hai ki saari arrangements ekdum A1 ho. Aur uske liye woh ab tak ki apni poori kamai kharach kar rahi hai. Abhi PCT ki zameen Leni baaki hai, saara samaan khareedna baaki hai, aur Sumo apni savings aur advances, sab shaadi mein laga rahi hai."
Shravan lowered his eyes. The name of PCT always made him ashamed. He had indeed disturbed her life due to it.
"Tum toh Sumo ke dost Ho, tum kaho naa usse ki yoon saare paise kharch naa kar de. Kahin iss shaadi ke baad PCT band naa ho jaaye. Tum samjhaoge naa?"
Shravan smirked in his mind. Samjhaoge, my foot! The girl who didn't listen to her, avoided him more like a stranger, maybe didn't like to see him around, will listen to him? That too in money matter? He certainly didn't wat a self respect lecture darting towards him.
But before he could refuse, Ramnath jumped in -
"Haan Preeta! Shravan samjhayega Suman ko. Aakhir bachpan ke dost hain dono. Tum jao, Shravan baat karlega.", He said.
He signalled him to stay mum.
Later, at home
"Par Papa, main Kyun karun baat usse?"
"Baat toh tum karoge PCT ki, par woh nahi Jo Preeta chahti hai. Woh baat, Jo main chahta Hoon."
"Matlab?"
"Tum yeh Dava karte ho naa ki Suman tumse pyaar karti hai?"
Shravan lowered his eyes. That girl, she made him faulter in his own faith. She made him mistrust his Love. She made him doubt his feelings. What could he say now?
"Toh phir use yeh baat prove karni hogi. Poocho usse, kya woh chodd sakti hai PCT tumhaare liye? Chodd sakti hai apna business, apne dreams? Agar usne Haan kar di toh samajh jaana, ki woh Sach mein tumse pyaar karti hai, Varna..."
"Par Papa..."
"Par var kuch nahi. Agar usne Haan kar di, toh main personally yeh dekhonga ki woh tumse apne dil ki baat kahe. Aur agar usne naa kardi toh zindagi bhar tum uske baare mein sochoge bhi nahi. Manzoor?"
Shravan nodded in affirmity. Still, he wasn't sure about it. But maybe, his Papa was right. The girl who couldn't leave a business for him, how could she love him?
He had proved his love many number of times, but never had he got a strong signal from her. Except for that terrace event, she hadn't let him know anything about his feelings. And afterall, Ramnath was right. Being independent was good but what if Sumo values her work the most? What if...
Lightning struck and it began to rain. He opened the window to let some water droplets wet his face.
Naina lageeyan baarishan
Te sukke sukke sapne vi pijj gaye
Naina lageeyan baarishan
Rove palkein de kone vich neendh meri
Naina laggeyan baarishan
Hanju digde ne chot lage dil te
Naina laggeyan baarishan
Rut birha de badlan di chaa gayi
He recalled the last time that they'd met, arguing over the Hall.
"Tum samajhti Kyun nahi Ho, yeh humaare status ka sawaal hai"
Suman looked everywhere except him. Tears brimmed up, threatening to explode. She hated to accept it that they weren't so well off. But why couldn't he understand her?
Shravan rolled his eyes. Oh damn! Again that self respect lecture. He was in no mood to hear it!
"Aur tumhaari izzat ka bhi sawaal hai Sumo. Sunn lo meri baat"
"Theek hai phir, jaisa tum theek samjho"
And she left without another word.
He recalled how Ramnath had told him that an ideal housewife was that who didn't argue. And for a change, she had agreed with him.
Kaali kaali khaali raaton se
Hone lagi hai dosti
Khoya khoya inn raahon mein
Ab mera kuch bhi nahi
Har pal har lamha
Main kaise sehta hoon
Har pal har lamha
Main khudh se yeh kehta rehta hoon
Tujhe bhula diya oh
Tujhe bhula diya oh
Tujhe bhula diya oh
Phir kyun teri yaadon ne
Mujhe rula diya oh
Mujhe rula diya
Meanwhile, Suman was trying to shut the banging window. The storm was string and the water cum dust was whirling inside. She tightly grabbed both the flaps of the window and shut them tight.
Teri yaadon mein likhe jo lafz dete hai sunayi
Beetay lamhe poochte hai kyun hue aise judaa
Khuda, khuda mila jo yeh faasla hai
Khuda tera hi yeh faisla hai
Khuda hona tha woh ho gaya
Jo tune tha likha
Kaali kaali khaali raaton se
Hone lagi hai dosti
Khoya khoya inn raahon mein
Ab mera kuch bhi nahi
Suman looked outside to see the thundering rain. A thunderstorm similar to her warring inner self, the eternal fight between Love and Duty.
A lone tear escaped her eyes as she recalled their moments. Those small moments that they'd snatched from their cruel destiny.
Har pal har lamha
Main kaise sehta hoon
Har pal har lamha
Main khudh se yeh kehta rehta hoon
Tujhe bhula diya oh
Tujhe bhula diya oh
Tujhe bhula diya oh
Phir kyun teri yaadon ne
Mujhe rula diya oh
Mujhe rula diya
Naina lageeyan baarishan
Te sukke sukke sapne vi pijj gaye
Naina lageeyan baarishan
Rut birha de badlan di cha gayi
Sangeet
Shravan had told Suman to meet him on the terrace, in private, right before the function began. She had hesitated initially but then she gave in to his firm look.
Shravan was standing on the terrace, watching the sunset.
A memory flashed on
"Sumo tujhe kaisa life partner chahiye?"
"Life partner?!", She laughed
"Aree bata naa!"
"Mera life partner... Umm... Aisa ho ki Jo mujhe samjhein. Agar main kuch naa bolun, phir bhi meri baat sunn le. Aur Meri Khushi mein Jo khush ho."
Shravan smiled at her.
"Par aisa chashmish nahi chalega!", She laughed and grabbed his spectacles. He chased her calling Sumo, Sumo and they had fun running and frolicking around.
He smiled recalling that.
"Aisa kya hai Sumo, Jo tum nahi bol paa rahi Ho. Aisa kya hai Jo main sunn nahi paa raha"
"Shravan?", She called out.
He turned around to see her.
"Suman... PCT"
"Kya?!", She shrieked
But he kept looking intently at her. Those eyes, those jhumkaas, that dress, it was so beautiful!
Shravan stood there like a wall, facing her. She tried to look away , the thing she'd been doing since the past week but this time was different. Shravan wouldn't let her go with some stupid excuse. He was no more hurt by her actions because he'd discovered that something was a miss.
"Sumo kya tum mere liye PCT ko chodd sakti ho"
Her eyes widened as she frantically looked away. She blinked rapidly. Her mind had gone blank. What did he mean?
She remained silent , thinking.
"Bolo Sumo, kya tum mere liye apna kaam chodd sakti ho?"
He was being unreasonable!
Suman was so confused! Shravan,for the first time was demanding something. But what? Her work? Why? He knew what it meant to her!
She saw Ramnath standing far behind, behind a pillar. He nodded, looking at her, as if asking her to speak her mind out.
"Your silence gave me my answer", he said looking dejected.
"Ruko Shravan", she said, holding his hand.
If Love was being unreasonable, so be it! She couldn't deny it. And Ramnath himself had signalled her then what was the wait? She had remained silent for more than enough amount of time. It was time to speak
"Haan. Chodd sakti Hoon tumhaare liye PCT."
Shravan widened his eyes in near disbelief. He had expected a No or some argument. But surely not a straight yes.
"Par main jaanti hoon tum aisa karoge nahi kyunki mujhe takleef dekar tumhe Khushi nahi milegi. Yeh mera bharosa hai. You won't let your ego destroy my happiness"
Her words just bowled him. Knocked him out of his useless mind. Sumo believed in him, trusted him then why was she behaving like that?
"Kaam mera passion hain Shravan, mera business nahi. Kash tum samajh paate ki Maine apne business ko apna shauk banaya hai, apne shauk ko business nahi. Main independent Hoon par businesswoman nahi. Kaam important hain but..."
"But kya?!"
"Kuch Nahi"
But Shravan wanted answers today.
"Sumo tum... Main tumharaa kaun Lagta Hoon?"
"Shravan aaj yeh sab kya..."
"Jawab do!"
Again, she stood stunned.
Ramnath left, feeling defeated and disappointed. He indeed had lost as a father and Suman's reply had opened him up. She truly wasn't someone like Nirmala who would leave him. She trusted him, as a woman trusts her man.
"Do... Dost late ho", she fumbled.
"Sirf dost?", She stared at her, moving ahead step by step.
"A...cc...he d...ost", she stammered. His gaze was killing her soul and she could the feel the heat in his eyes.
"Theek hai phir"
He moved behind and left, leaving her in tears.
Shravan was furious now. She loved him, trusted him then why not accept it?! Why not listen to him? He didn't know what she was thinking but one thing was sure, he wouldn't say anything unless she asks for it. If she has her self respect, even he has his own.
"Sorry Ramnath uncle but main yeh Seh nahi kar sakti. Jis Shravan ko Pyaar ka Matlab, bharose ka Matlab samjhane ke liye main Nirmala aunty ko uske saamne le aayi, apne aap ko usse door kar diya, aur Shravan ko main toot Te aur bhikharte nahi dekh sakti. Aap some ego mein Shayad Bhool rahein hain ki aap apne hi bte ko Pyaar se alag kar rahein hai. Uski Khushi cheen rahein hain."
Sumo wiped her tears and ran behind him.
"Shravan!", She called out. She joggdd a bit to catch upto him and asked
"Woh kaunsi baat thi Jo tum mujhe coffee shop mein kehna chahte the"
She smiled and nodded.
"Woh toh coffee shop mein hi bataunga tumko", he winked. He smiled. A weight was pulled off his chest. She had asked him!
"But Tumhaare Papa mujhe pasand nahi karte", she felt, bad about it.
"Karne lagenge", he assured
"Aur nahi maane toh?"
"Bhaag jaayenge. Itna Risk toh banata hai!", he laughed.
Kaisa Yeh Ishq Hai
Ajab Sa Risk Hai...
They left for the Hall, together. Not much had been cleared but faith had been reaffirmed, which was the foundation for confession. Suman knew that maybe they would never unite, but atleast they could be together. Indeed, how weird love was!
PS - I feel it wasn't upto the mark towards the end. I had thought about it but after its done that effect isn't there. Sigh!
Bindi
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Jodha Akbar
