Part two
This new set of news was too much to handle for both of them. Rajveer couldn't believe that he fell in love for the first time and that too with the enemy's daughter. Life couldn't have been more unfair. He just stood there watching at the space in which Naina stood a few minutes ago but now was gone. He just walked off abruptly without answering any of his friend's questions.
"Eh jaane de ose. Kuch dair akela rahega to apne aap theek hojaaehga." Alekh turned back to his table and sat down to drink as things like these never perturbed him very much. Yudi was however worried about Rajveer but Shalini came and took him away with her so he really couldn't do much about the issue either.
A girl dressed in a rather short red dress came storming through the couples in the hall and stood in front of Alekh with her hands on her hips and quite cross with him. He didn't really look up and kept drinking as if he hadn't even noticed her. "I think you forgot something?" she rolled her tongue in her mouth waiting for an explanation.
Alekh stopped drinking and looked up at her and gave a sheepish grin, "uh wo kya huwa ke…I mean I was going to come but you know…"
"I know exactly what happened. I quite remember you had said we'll be going together to the fresher's ball. You see something of the significance in that sentence?"
He stood up, "oh come on. I didn't do it on purpose, I mean I was going to come but I got…"
"As usual you got so involved with your so called looser friends here that you forgot that I've been waiting for you from the past hour."
"Hey who are you calling a looser?" Ali felt offended. "Hamaree bhi koi izzat hai to agar gaali denee hee hai to zara izzat se dijye." Pooja was standing behind him as his date and slapped on his arm for being so stupid.
The girl was waiting for Alekh to explain his actions but she saw how he was not making much effort as usual. She didn't know why she got stuck with him but her heart just got carried away. "Bhagwaan ne saw ghade peda kiye honge tab jaake tum aaye honge."
"Now that's just too much Neelu okay. Mera standard itna giroa mat okay. At least call me a decent animal…kyu sahi kaha na maine?" he asked Ali as he carried on drinking.
"You're just impossible." Neelu was frustrated with him now so she grabbed hold of the drink in his hand and dropped it all over his head. Everyone around him began laughing at him but he gave a glare at Ali and he stopped. He looked really funny with the drink all over him. "Ab puree tarha tum ek gadhe hee lagrahe ho." She walked off and Alekh was really annoyed.
"Yeh saali larkiyo ka maamla hee aisa hota hai. Thorisee baat pe bharak jaatee hai. Apne ko to is lafre se hee dhoor rehna hai." Alekh began wiping himself off and then he sat down again on the table.
Ali also sat down opposite him, "I think you need to go and apologise to her. I mean after all she is your girlfriend."
He sighed, "I know and that's what I'm regretting about till date." He pulled another drink from the waiter and began gulping it down. "wo saali kounsee manhoos gharee hogi jiske ander meree nazar uspe pari or wo mere gale pargayee."
"What!" Neelu had returned and was aghasted to hear that from him. "me tumhaare gale paree?" she charged towards him and grabbed onto his collar, "let me remind you that it was you who had asked me out first and it had been you who had been running after me."
"Are Neelu calm down," he laughed in a comical way and tried releasing her grip, "me to mazaak karaha tha." He looked around and saw people were looking towards them. "you know my rep around here…wo to bus kabhi kabhi dosto ke saamne aisa jhaar na parta hai. Come on you know I love you." He became coaxing her and she did release his grip. "Hush…jaan chutti." He sighed and saw she again gave him menacing eyes. He really got scared of those eyes as he knew how wild this Neelu could get. "I mean thank God tum aagayee mujhe in sab good for nothing loosers se baachene." He saw Ali was not pleased with him and was about to charge on him. "hmmm you know what yaha ka mausam kuch theek nahi lagta mujhe," he grabbed onto Neelu's arm, "let's go out. Come on." Before anyone could protest or say something he dragged Neelu out of the ball with him.
Naina had reached her room now and she was really upset about what happened. She couldn't believe that she fell in love with the enemy. Standing by her window she sighed as she looked at the moon in the sky which had been covered by the clouds. Her life also seemed the same way.
"Now which one is it?" Rajveer was walking down in the KMA ground towards the girl's hostel, searching for Naina's room. He knew that his heart would give him the sign and he'll definitely find her. "This is the hostel so now where is the room." He kept walking when he heard the loud DING DONG in his heart and he looked up and there she was, looking so serene under the moon light and picture perfect.
"Why did it have to be this way? Why did he have to be from the enemy's house? Rajveer, Rajveer kyu aise aaye tum or kyu aise chalegaye?" she kept talking to herself and then looked at the moon and saw the clouds had moved away. She smiled.
Seeing her in that way made him smile too and he went and stood under her room to listen further. "My name looks so magical on her tongue. Oh my sweet Naina keep repeating it." He closed his eyes and sighed as if absorbing her fragrance.
She continued conversing with her soul, "I don't want him to be the son of my enemy. Oh why did he have to be a Shekhawat?" she felt crossed but then calmed down again and leaned her elbows on the window sill and kept staring into space. "If I look at it his name doesn't mean anything to me because it is nor his foot or hand or lips or…" she began thinking about all the rest of the parts belonging to him and smiled dreamily, "or any other interesting parts belonging to a man." Rajveer also laughed silently at her innocence. "Oh be some other name. What's in a name that we call a rose which would not smell so sweet were he not Rajveer called." She slapped her head as she was going back into the Romeo and Juliet notion. She had to remember that this was not Romeo and Juliet or was it? She closed her eyes and folded her hands together into a prayer. "God please, I know last time when I prayed I'd said that this is the last time I'm wishing for something but can you please cancel that order and make a new list. Please, please can you make all of this go away and not make this the real Romeo and Juliet. I really hate tragedies so please don't make my life one too. Please make me and Rajveer unite forever."
Out from the shadows Rajveer walked out and stood underneath her room window. "Naina, my sweet, sweet Naina." He spoke in a soft voice so that only she can hear.
She opened her eyes in amazement, "wow God you seem to be really gracious on me tonight. You personally have come to answer my prayers." She was getting excited like a small child.
"Naina, listen to me. Look I've come to tell you something." He tried getting her attention towards him but she kept looking heavenwards believing that God was speaking to her.
"I'm listening God. Please give me good news." She still had hands folded as she thought she was still standing in front of God.
"Naina neeche dekho." He wanted her to look at him.
"Neeche? Per bhagwaan aap to upar hain na to phir me neeche kyu dekhu?" she was confused.
Rajveer shook his head in disbelief, "me jaanta hu ke bhagwaan upar hai magar me neeche hu."
She still looked perplexed, "I don't get it. You said you're up there in heaven and then you're saying you're down here on Earth. What am I supposed to understand?"
"Ufff…Naina me bhagwaan nahi Rajveer hu. Neeche dekho."
Finally she looked down and was shocked to find Rajveer standing there. "Oh my God, Rajveer what are you doing here? Please you must leave right now. And plus you're disturbing my conversation with God."
"Oho Naina, that was me from the beginning. You were not talking with God." He felt like pulling his hair out with this woman. "Naina I've come here to tell you something."
"Rajveer don't say anything. I'm afraid for you. Please leave from here before anyone sees you." She had this worried expression on her face.
"I'm not afraid as I've my love to protect me. Naina I've come here to hear what I've already have said but you still have been left to say. Please tell me what my ears are eager to hear."
She thought about what he said and became bright red as the very thought of it was making her blush to the core. This guy that she had just met was so amazing but she didn't want to give in so easily. "I'm afraid, sir I don't quite comprehend what you're trying to convey here."
"What do you want?" he scratched his head wondering did he miss anything till now.
"Kavita." She sighed looking at the moon and waiting for a whole lot of compliments to come her way.
He gulped and thought, "Ab is waqt me is Kavita ko kese dhoondunga." Then he looked over at her, "Naina itnee bheer me mujhe Kavita nahi milegee. Ask for something easier."
She frowned, "you said you love me and you can't even find Kavita for me." She turned away crossed with him.
"Naina come on…okay, okay I'll try and find Kavita for you." He began walking away and Naina turned around and wasn't happy to see him leave.
"Rajveer where are you going?" she called after him and instantly lowered her voice again making sure she didn't alert anybody.
He halted and looked towards her, "tumne hee to kaha ke tumhe Kavita chaheeye to me osse lene jaaraha hu. I think wo abhi tak fresher's ball me hongi." He continues to go and Naina slaps her forehead in frustration.
"Halt Rajveer Singh Shekhawat!" she ordered and he stopped in amazement. "When I said Kavita I meant poetry. You know what Shakespeare used."
He cursed under his breath as he hated Shakespeare. Last night only he had spent reading that crap Romeo and Juliet and tonight he had nearly made a fool of himself because of it. "Naina tumhe bhi kya bakwaas pasand hota hai. Shakespeare was one twisted pervert."
Naina got excited and cross, "hey don't you dare say anything about my Shakespeare okay." Then she goes back into a dream stance, "he was just so romantic."
Rajveer thought about what she said and just shook his head as now he would have to think something poetic for her. But how? He didn't even know the P of poetry. He scratched his head again and walked back under her room and thought of something. "Naina this is not easy."
"Rajveer mujhse pyaar karna bhi aasaan nahi hai. How am I to know you love me?"
He thought, "pehle pata hota ke itne paapar bele ne parenge to pyaar kabhi nahi karta" he kept wondering what to say when he remembered this scene he read last night in Romeo and Juliet where there was the exact situation. He smiled and began reciting. "Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear. That tips with silver all these fruit- tree- tops-." Alright he knew that made no sense to him but it looked poetic enough and he hoped she would like it.
To his ignorance he had no idea that Naina had been in love with Romeo and Juliet to such extent that she had memorized each and every dialogue of it that she recognised this one too. Oh she had loved the balcony scene the most and since then had dreamt about it being in real life. Her life. She was so excited and thanked God. "Oh thank you God so much. Thanks a lot." He found her behaviour rather strange as to why she was thanking God. His answers were soon given, "you don't know how happy I am after you said that Rajveer."
"are wah yeh to bus itne me hee maan gayee," he spoke under his breath and then patted his back, "wah beta Rajveer you're the best."
"Since I've read the whole Romeo and Juliet I've been dreaming of my own Romeo and I'd no idea that my prayers shall be heard so soon. Oh keep reciting, please keep reciting." She wrapped her arms around herself in a hug and swayed around.
That took the smile off his face as he realised that by saying those lines he had hit his own leg with the axe. He began thinking about the further lines but it was at this point that he had shut the book as it was just getting on his nerves. How was he to say anything further when he didn't even know what to say?
"Oh wait, aage kee line to meree hai." She gave a dramatic pose and then began, "O swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her monthly orbs, lest that thy love prove likewise variable."
He didn't understand a word but it was as if he couldn't help himself and automatically he recited the following line of it, "what shall I swear by?"
"Do not swear at all; or if thou wilt, swear by gracious self, which is the god of my idolatry, and I'll believe thee."
That was it as these thees and thys and thous were getting on his nerves. "Ab aage mujhse nahi hota Naina. Me yaha tumse kuch kehne aaya hu or wo me tumhe apne hee andaaz me kahunga." He took out a flute from inside of his coat and then started playing a tune. She was surprised at first but then loved his tune and began swaying along with it.
He looked up at her and began singing.
"yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover
Yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover"
He put the flute away and looked up towards her as if putting his heart out to her.
"yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover
Yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover"
Dekha maine dekha
Jabse tujhko dekha
Kuch bhi na socha na samjha
Dil de diya re
Hogaya re hogaya is dil ka kaam re
Hogaya re hogaya dil tere naam re
yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover
Yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover"
On the other side of the KMA grounds Alekh and Neelu were also strolling around and Neelu was still not that happy with him and he was looking for all sorts of ways. He found a bike and came, speeding towards her and got her off guard.
"Maahi ve, o mere maahi ve."
Seeing him with the bike excited her and she hopped on behind him and then they sped off out of the gates.
"Sona sona mera maahi sona sona, sona sona
Sona sona mera maahi sona sona, sona sona"
Back to Rajveer and Naina and now Rajveer leaned against the lamp post and kept staring at her innocence.
"Tauba meree tauba tera nakhra kamaal hai
Tauba meree tauba tera nakhra kamaal hai"
She joined in.
"Taarif karne me tu bara bemisaal hai"
He kept staring at her
"sone sone mukhre pe zulfo ka jaal hai"
She twirled around dancing joyfully
"Mera naseeb hai tu, yeh mera khayaal hai
Hogaya re hogaya mujhko bhi pyaar re
He leaped with joy as finally she said what he wanted to hear and danced around in excitement.
"Hogaya re hogaya deewaana yaar ye"
yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover
Yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover"
Neelu and Alekh had successfully left the grounds of KMA and now were lying under the starry night on the bike leaning on each other. Both of them were in deep thought when Alekh began.
"Bara hee puraana love ka takya kalaam hai"
Bara hee puraana love ka takya kalaam hai"
She hugs his waist resting her head on his chest
"Main hu teri tu hai mera charcha yeh aam hai"
He sat up and pretended he wanted to leave
"Chal hat jaane bhi de mujhe bara kaam hai"
But she prevented him from leaving and pushed him back against the bike
"Tu hee subha hai meri, tu hi meree shaam hai
Hogaya re hogaya mujhko bhi pyaar re
He smiled and pushed her off him and began dancing around and she joined him
"Hogaya re hogaya deewaana yaar ye"
yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover
Yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover"
Now Rajveer had finally made his way towards the pipe leading up to her room and was slowly climbing it up to get to her.
"Dekha maine dekha
Jabse tujhko dekha
Kuch bhi na socha na samjha
Dil de diya re
Hogaya re hogaya is dil ka kaam re
Hogaya re hogaya dil tere naam re
He was nearly there now and she kept encouraging him to come on further.
yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover
Yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover"
yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover
Yo my love, my love jaane ja yo my lover"
Finally he had reached her and was just going to seal the kiss with her when unannounced Pooja entered the room alerting Naina and she turned around with a fright and in that excitement she accidently punched Rajveer in the face which made him loose balance and he fell down. "RAJVEER!" She looked down with horror as he fell down with a loud thud. "I'm so sorry, are you okay?"
The fall was quite bad and he lay there still recovering from the shock. His eyes were left wide as if he had become delirious or something. For a while he kept hearing this fluttering noise reaching his ears but couldn't see anything. Then something was being said to him in slow motion and he woke up from the trance and saw Naina standing up in her room looking down at him and shrieking about him being alright or not.
"Rajveer are you alright?" she was really worried and Pooja also came to her side after she heard the shriek and was surprised to find Rajveer lying down there. Both of them knew it must have hurt him a lot.
He just kept staring, still recovering. Eventually he was able to sit up and he felt his hurt head and let out a short groan, "I'm fine Naina." He stood up with some difficulty and now he felt demented. He tried walking but his legs were just crooked. "I think." He spoke under his breath as he made each step. She just kept staring after him but couldn't go down to help the poor thing.
Rajveer was walking back towards his room in the same manner. Soon he was graced by Ritu and two of her other friend's presence and when they saw him struggling they became hysterical and crowded over him.
"Oh my God RV what happened to you?" Ritu spoke as she held onto him.
"Yes what happened to you poor baby?" one of her friends took hold of his other arm and supported him.
No matter how much he denied he always loved this undivided attention from the girl cadets. He groaned further and the girls all fussed over him and supported him, helping him reach his room in the boys' hostel.
When they reached his room he gave them his heartfelt thanks and released himself from their grip. But they were not ready to leave him and kept fussing over him and saying he' will need help going in. He will need help changing and all sorts of excuses. However he did manage to get rid of them and rushed inside the room shutting it tight behind him. Running away from these girls was next to impossible. Just when he thought he was safe the door was barged open and he fell in front with a jerk onto the bed. What was with people and throwing him off guard tonight?
"Oh I'm so sorry RV I didn't know you were here." Yudi walked in casually not even bothering to help him up. "I thought the door was blocked. Why were you standing there anyways?"
"Jee let me think? This is my room so I CAN BLOODY WELL DO WHATEVER I LIKE!" He was annoyed and plus was really tired that all his frustration came out. His whole body hurt as if he had done some vigorous exercise.
"Yaar tu to aise akar raha hai jese wo Major Nair tere kamre me aagaya ho."
The very mention of Major Nair sent chills down Rajveer's spine. "Don't remind me man. Os saale mucchar ka chehra mere sapno mese bhi nahi jaata. Phirse kal parade lagane waala hai ham sabki."
"I know." Yudi also looked a bit dreary hearing Major Nair's name. He saw Rajveer was groaning massaging his muscles so he helped him relax.
From the girl's hostel opposite Neelu had returned and was just waving goodbye to Alekh and her gaze fell on the two in the room. She found it too curious as to what Yudi was doing to Rajveer and from her side it looked a whole lot than what actually was going on. The way Yudi was massaging and the way Rajveer was enjoying was only telling her one thing. She shook her head with horror. "I knew all of them were good for nothing loosers. I'll have to keep my Alekh away from this influence." Then she began wondering something, "kahi isliye to wo mujhse aise kabhi ukhra ukhra rehta hai?" then she dismissed the idea out of her head and made it clear that Alekh loved her and only her and was completely straight. She shut the curtains as the scene in front was making her sick.
As Navin was reaching his room he had seen the girls rushing out of the hostel and he had become curious as to what was going on. Then he heard them say Rajveer's name and that boiled his head further. This was the limit he thought that not only did he steal Ritu away from him tonight but also had brought her here till his room. Now he definitely was going to kill him.
End of part.
Ishaani
5