Miley Jab Mayank aur Nupur |Chp 2 Pg15 NEW| - Page 6

Chapter One - A New Beginning

Mayank caught the basketball as it came his way, with a smug expression on his face. He lowered the ball and saw his friendly rival, Samrat Shergill. Samrat was the exact opposite of him. While Mayank excelled in academics, Samrat excelled in sports. While Mayank was a man of few words, Samrat was flamboyant. Both of them were the heartthrobs of Excel college, the proud possessions of the Principal, Mr. Akash Saxena.

"Mayank and basketball?" Samrat smirked.

"Yes, it can be highly rewarding at times," Mayank said, sarcastically. "I heard about your win, congratulations."

"Thank you Mayank," Samrat said. "The scores are now 14-13, so that makes me the champion of Excel college."

"Wrong," Mr. Akash Saxena said. "It's 14-14, equal once again."

"Debate competition," Mayank said instantly, looking at Samrat.

"Oh congratulations dude!" Samrat said, shaking his hand.

"Thank you," Mayank said. "May the best man win."

Saying so, he politely excused himself and went into the library. The librarian smiled on seeing her most regular student. He went to the media law section and took out a textbook. He was ruffling through its pages when felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see his friend Chitra Jain aka CJ smiling at him.

CJ was his only friend in college as she was also academically oriented and they shared a good understanding of each other. She was the rebel kind with grungy clothes and wild curly hair. She had a great sense of humor and was sarcastic and witty, just like Mayank. She always came second in class, as she felt that the first position was way too boring.

"Hey Mayank," she said, grinning at him.

"Hey," Mayank said, returning the grin. "How were your vacations? Had a good time?"

"Oh simply fabulous," CJ said. "I am totally looking forward to the new year."

"Me too," Mayank said. "I am in Deodhar Sir's class this semester, it ought to be exciting."

"Mayank Sharma, you are perhaps the only student who is actually looking forward to Deodhar's classes," she said. "I mean everyone is terrified, and I myself am dreading his classes."

"I have nothing to fear, I top the batch, and I am a responsible person," Mayank said smugly. "So I ought not get into trouble with him."

"You are great dude," she said. "I ought to go now, will see you in class!"

"Sure, goodbye," Mayank said.

As his friend left, he continued reading through the pages of the textbook. After a short while, he issued the book and left the library, to his first class- Media Law by Ajay Deodhar.

Nupur and Gunjan arrived at their house and were greeted by their Bauji- Shashi Bhushan, Bui Ratna Bhushan, and their cousins Lakshmi and Rajesh. The sisters bent down to touch their Bauji's and Bui's feet in order to take their blessings. Then they hugged their cousins and handed over Nupur's flowers and gifts to the maid servant, Rani Bai.

"All set for the big move?" Lakshmi asked Gunjan.

"Yes," Gunjan said, softly.

"Oyye Nautanki, you are going to rock it in Mumbai right?" Rajesh asked, punching Nupur on her shoulder. "Once you get their and meet Dia and Uday, you will forget all about us right? Bad nautanki!"

"Stop calling me that!" Nupur said indignantly, hitting her cousin back. "And if you continue calling me nautanki and punching me, I might as well forget you, but I wont forget my pyaari Lakshmi."

They were always like that, Nupur and Rajesh. He was three years older than her, and her closest and most favorite cousin. Owing to their outgoing natures, they got along exceptionally well with each other and teased each other constantly. Gunjan, on the other hand was closer to the silent and sober Lakshmi, who was quite a mirror personality of herself. While Nupur and Rajesh were the pranksters, Gunjan and Lakshmi were the peacemakers, the kind of daughters who everyone wanted to have.

"Thanks Di," Lakshmi said, smiling at her. "Gunjan, chalo, lets go see the fields once more. You wont feel so close to nature in Mumbai."

Both the "angels" went out from the back-door, for a walk along the fields. Rajesh excused himself as he had to do some important work, and Nupur decided to see whether she had packed all that she wanted and needed for her stay in the big bad city of Mumbai. She had two big suitcases containing just her clothes. There was another small bag which held all her favorite movies, most of them starring Shah Rukh Khan of course.

Nupur actually had mixed feelings about leaving Morena and moving to Mumbai. True, she had always wanted to live in the city of dreams, but a part of her really ached to leave her life in Morena behind and look for greener pastures. She had many friends and admirers here, not forgetting her favorite cousin Rajesh and her beloved Bui. Granted, Bui was a little strict, but it was for the betterment of the Bhushan children.

Nupur, Gunjan and their father Shashi were to live with Shashi's younger brother Rishi Bhushan and his children, Uday and Dia. Uday was in Nupur's year, while Dia was in Gunjan's. Nupur was apprehensive of whether her "cool" city cousins would accept her and her sister, since they came from a small town in Madhya Pradesh. Nupur had never met Uday and Dia because the duo had never paid a visit to Morena, and neither had Nupur and Gunjan gone to Mumbai. She hoped and prayed that the four of them would get along really well and have loads of fun together.

The Morena sisters were supposed to join their cousins' college, Excel, one of the best institutions in Mumbai. Nupur was taking a course in Mass Media, while her sister was doing a psychology course. If it had been upto Nupur she would have become the lead in a Yash Raj film, but owing to the conservative nature of her family, it never happened. She wondered whether her dream would come true in Mumbai.

Sighing, she sat on her bed and opened her album of childhood memories. She ran her thumb over a family photo of her, Gunjan, Bauji and her Maa. Her mother had died when she was only 14, making her maturer and more responsible. Though on the exterior she was chirpy and childlike, in the interior she was mature and a strong individual. Within weeks of her mother's death she took over responsibility of Gunjan and became a mother figure to her. Hence, Gunjan never felt the absence of a mother in her life, as Nupur filled in the gap almost perfectly.

After borrowing two books from the library, Mayank headed home. He took the local bus, as he didn't want to waste money on the taxi service, and also since his mother used the family car. He paid for his ticket and sat down, when he saw an elderly lady looking for a seat. Without thinking twice he got up from his seat and gave it to her.

"God bless you son," the lady said, smiling kindly at him.

"Thank you Aunty," Mayank said, returning the smile.

He stood stiff and took out a novel and started reading it. The jerking of the bus didn't seem to have an effect on the lad, as his eyes remained glued to the novel, fully concentrated on the wonderful words it had. People around him moved back and forth owing to the pathetic state of Mumbai's roads, but Mayank Sharma stood still, like the earth, like nothing could change him, he was immovable.

As time passed away, it was time the bus arrived at Mayank's bus stop. No one told him he had arrived, in fact without looking up for a second glance, he walked out of the bus and took the turn home. He shut his book and put it back in his bag, and walked, his eyes focused on the road.

After a short walk of fifteen minutes, he arrived at home. Unlocking the door, he entered it and placed his bag on the sofa. Locking the door behind him, he grabbed his bad and went straight to his room. He sat at the study table, took out his text books and notebooks and began making notes. He always prepared his notes ahead of everyone else, hence finding it easier to answer in class and do well. He had gotten so immersed in his work, that he was brought back to earth only when he heard a knock on his door.

Nupur stood in front of the mirror and began braiding her hair. She was dressed in a blue shalwar and pink shalwar kameez. Just as she was half way done, Rajesh came upto her from behind and showed her a small hair piece made of jasmine flowers. He gestured her to put it on.

"Aw Rajesh Bhaiyya," Nupur said, braiding it on with her hair. "Thank you so much."

"Now that is a promise from nautanki to Rajesh bhaiyya that you will never forget me and that I'll be your favorite brother forever."

"Forever," Nupur said, smiling. "My favorite brother."

"Good nautanki," Rajesh said, hugging her.

"Don't call me that," Nupur complained.

"Meri choti nautanki," Rajesh said. "Mumbai or Morena, you will always remain my nautanki behena."

"And you will always remain the most ANNOYING cousin brother known to mankind," Nupur said.

"Thank you for the compliment," Rajesh said, grinning.

"You are welcome," Nupur said, hitting his shoulder playfully.

"Nupur, Gunjan come on," Bauji called. "We have to leave for the station."

"I am coming," Nupur said. "Okay bye Rajesh bhaiyya, I have to go now. Are you coming to the station?"

"Of course I am nautanki," Rajesh said. "No doubts, no dilemmas."

"Good," Nupur said, grabbing her bag. Rajesh took her suitcases out of the room and they went and waited for Gunjan in the hall

Gunjan and Lakshmi were teary eyed at the prospect of having to leave each other and go. They had lived their entire lives with each other, from the day of their births, till the current day. Granted, Gunjan was closer to Nupur, but Lakshmi was like her twin sister, a person who knew exactly was going on inside her mind. Lakshmi took out a bangle from her hand and slipped it onto Gunjan's hand.

"This bangle will keep the both of us close to each other always," she said, at Gunjan's expression.

"Lakku, I have nothing to give you," Gunjan said.

"You do not have to give me anything Gunji," Lakshmi said. "Just promise not to forget me, ever."

"Lakku!" Gunjan said loudly. "You are my best friend, how can I ever forget you?"

Just then Nupur entered the bedroom.

"If your sentimental talks are over, shall we leave?" she asked.

"Oh sure," Gunjan said. "Lakku come to the railway station, please."

"Sure Gunji," Lakshmi said.

Then the five of them went to the railway station. After a while Rajesh and Lakshmi went back home and Nupur, Gunjan and Shashi waited for their train. As Shashi went to the platform to talk to a friend of theirs, the sisters pondered over the new change that was going to happen in their lives. They shared their deepest fears of not being accepted by their Mumbai cousins Uday and Dia and much more. Gunjan was really worried, while Nupur calmed her sister down saying it was impossible for anyone not to like the Morena girls.

Soon it was time for them to bid adieu to their town. Gunjan and Bauji went inside and sat on their berths, while Nupur gazed out of the door, wondering what her future held for her. Salty tears fell from her eyes as she thought of the long year she would have to spend before she could visit her home town again. Many of her friends, admirers and relatives had gathered in the station to bid her goodbye and she waved gracefully at them. Despite the pang of depression she felt at the thought of having to leave all of them, the prospect of starting life anew excited her a lot. Finally she was going to live in the city of her dreams, and make every single dream of hers, a reality.

Shilpa Sharma scolded Mayank for being such a bookworm. She was an outgoing and friendly person and she would have loved it if her son was a tad bit more friendly. They shared a relationship of friends rather than parent-child, owing to Shilpa's ways of bringing up Mayank and her faith in him.

"Mayu stop studying!" Shilpa said. "Lets have dinner, come with me."

"Maa only a little more," Mayank said.

"No ways," Shilpa said, shutting his book firmly. "You will come and have dinner with me right now, no if's and but's."

"Fi-ine," Mayank said grumpily and followed his mother to the dining table.

Mayank wanted to study even after his dinner, but Shilpa refused. She took away all his books and forced him to go to sleep. Much against his wishes, Mayank Sharma finally went to bed. He wanted to forcefully stay awake, but sleep overtook his willpower and soon he was in deep slumber. In his dream he saw a blurry figure in green bump into him and move away swiftly from there. He had no idea what that meant...he never believed in the dreams he saw in the night anyways.

After spending sometime talking to her Bauji and Gunjan, Nupur finally lay down on the upper beth and went to sleep. She loved to sleep, so it wasn't long before she finally drifted into deep sleep. Her dreams were invaded by a blurred orange figure which collided with her and walked away. To her it meant a new destiny, a new meaning to life. The dreams one saw in the night was a blurry reflection of their future, according to her.

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Love,

Nidz😳