BOY'S HOSTEL (MORNING)
Raghav opened his eyes slowly……it was morning…..warm, golden rays were filtering through the window and filling the whole room…….it was a new day…..a new beginning!
Raghav sat on his bed and looked at outside…….how come I never noticed before that this place looks so beautiful at Morning?
He felt a certain calmness….an unknown happiness….he didn't understand what was so special about today that he was feeling like this…..And then it struck!
He remembered his words with Juno last night! He turned around and saw Juno's bed was empty. He memorized their discussion…..was it all true? Ya phir wo sab ek sapna tha?
Just then Juno entered the room, a towel in his hand. Juno was surprised to see Raghav awake….it was only 7! And Raghav's gym practice is from 8!
Raghav: Juno…wo me…
Juno: Kya??
Raghav took a deep breath…..God….Please kal raat wali baat e sach ho…koi sapna nahi!
Juno: Raghav! Tu Meditation kar raha he kya???
Raghav: Shut up yaar Juno! Mujhe bolne to de!
He then asked softly
"Juno…kal raat tune jo kaha wo sach tha na?...tu sach me wahi mean karta he na?"
Juno thought a bit and said
Raghav: Juno!!!! Tu kya bol raha he??? Me iss bareme baat nahi kar raha hu!!!!
Juno: Nahi kar raha he? to kis bareme baat kar raha he? oh!!!! Acha ki tu agar Gym time se nahi gaya me tujh par pani dal dunga….yeh wala?
Raghav: JUNO!!!! Kya bakwaas kar raha he!!!!!!
Juno started laughing. Raghav was amazed!
Raghav: Tujhe mazaak sujh raha he! Subah ki 7 baje tu mere saath joke kar raha he?!!
Juno: wo kya he na ki Raghav Oberoi ke taang khichayi kar pana ek rare opportunity he…so didn't want to miss it!!!
Raghav was now seriously angry….Juno ke bachhe! He got up from the bed. Juno seeing his expression ran to the other corner.
Juno: acha acha! Subhe subhe no fights! Raghav! I meant it!
Raghav paused. Juno came near him.
Juno: Raghav…..kal raat mene jo bhi bola…I meant it….I gave it a thought this morning also and I know what I am saying!...ab to smile karde mera bhai!!!
Raghav smiled now.
Raghav: Juno…mene…..I mean tu…
Juno: Chor tu! Tu yeh sentence kabhi khatam nahi kar payega…..BUT!!!! One condition he!!!!
Raghav was surprised….condition?
Raghav: kaise condition?
Juno: Sia ne kya jawab di…..well I know wo kya degi……..BUT firbi…..jo bhi jawab di…..sabse pehle mujhe batana parega!!! GOT IT?
Raghav grinned.
Raghav: Of course Juno…..Tu hi hoga wo pehla person!!!
Juno: Good!
And he grinned too. Raghav hugged his Best Buddy. God apne mujhe parents ke pyaar to nahi dia he….par its ok….I will not mind…….kyunki apne mujhe Juno se milwaye he!!!!!
Juno: Arey!!! Tu kya yahaan par hi reh jaega??? Gym ja!!! Varna tere iss dream me Coach ka hamla ho jaega!!
Raghav shouted " Bye Juno" and ran.
Juno smiled.
Yeh Raghav bhi na…..bilkul pagal he…..I hope wo Sia ko mana le….well hope kyun…. I know he will! Akhir mere Best Buddy jo he!
GYM (8:05 AM)
Sia came at Gym in her normal time. She didn't want to stress herself unnecessarily. She was warming up while the coach was making a new diet chart for her. Sia thought about last night.
How much Raghav cared and how much…..she….wanted him there.
She remembered their night at the Jungle…..how he protected her…..how he caressed her wounds…how he behaved…….agar use mujhse koi farak nahi padta he….toh usne kyun aisa….
Sia's thoughts were interrupted….Sia looked…..it was Raghav!
He smiled at her….his usual smile….full of warmth and a hint of battameezi! Sia hated this smile of his and at the same time loved it to the core! But….. why this smile?
Coach: wah! Only 5 minutes late! Not bad! START NOW!
Raghav put down his bag and took out his gloves. He was in such a good mood that he didn't want to flare up coach's temper any further!
When Raghav got warmed up….coach called him in the ring for a fight with the coach. Sia was practicing on the punching bag. But now stopped and looked at them fight. Raghav was in a good form today….he dodged Coach's punches and even attacked him a couple of time!
Coach: Good, tum acche kar rahe ho…enough for now.
Raghav couldnot belive it….coach mere tareef kar rahe he??
Sia felt very proud when coach said that to Raghav…..she smiled at him as if to congratulate him. Raghav returned the smile. Sia suddenly got conscious…what was she doing?
Raghav ke liye me khush ho rahi hoon? Coach Raghav ko acha bol raha he aur me smile kar rahi hoon!...aur khaas karke usne jo kiya he..uske baad?
Sia turned her face and concentrated on her practice. But it was almost 9 now and school will start soon! Coach has left already. She packed her boxing stuffs. Suddenly she felt him near her. She got conscious! But she ignored his presence and continued her work.
" Pushpa….I know ki tumne mujhe maaf kar dia he….to ab mujhe kyun ignore kar rahi ho?"
Sia did not speak.
Raghav now sat down on the bench on which her bag was placed. He smiled at her and said
" well me jab ring me tha tab to mujhse aankhe he nahi haata pa rahe the tum….to ab kya hua…ankhe mila bhi nahi pa rahe ho?... Sharma rahi ho??"
Sia gave him a glance. Yeh kya bol raha he?? Sharma rahi hoon?...isse kya ho gaya he aaj?
" ab kya tum kuch bologe bhi Pushpa…. Ya phir…", he came a bit close to her," Mujhe dekhkar tumhari bolti bhi bandh ho chukka he…..tumhare saanso ki tarah…." And he winked at her.
Sia looked at him…amazed!
Isse aaj hua kya he? subhe se eise baat e kar raha he…jaise wo pehle karte tha….mujhe taang karne ke liye….ya phir usne sab bhuladi…..DJ night wala baat aura pehle jaisa ho ja raha he!...Par….waise wo sach hi bol raha he….mere saanse toh….
Sia could feel her breath going uneven….feeling him so close to her. Raghav worsened it. He got up from his position and got closer!
He tucked her loose hairs behind her ears….his fingers brushed against her skin softly. Sia shivered at his touch. He was now inches apart from her. He cupped her face in one hand and lowered down his face to her. Sia felt her heart beat going wild! But then again she felt that painful feeling coming back…..she remembered that night. Her body stiffened and she tried to push him back……..but she didn't want him to.
" Raghav………please stop……"
Raghav smiled softly and said.
" Pushpa…..I want to say you something…but not now………"
Sia looked at him now….she could not understand any of his guestures today!
He took off his hand from her. He let the space between them increase. He said
"I will not come any closer to you…….not… until……you want me to….."
Sia's amazement increased…..what was he saying? Close to me?
Raghav again smiled.
" I know ki tum confused ho ja rahe ho….par Pushpa….I promise you…..by the end of the day you will know……aur tab tak ke liye……you will have to wait!"
Raghav again got close. He blew her loose hairs with his breath and winked and then left the Gym. Sia stood there….without any reaction…..he did not make any sense at all!
Kya kehna chahta tha Raghav?
Sia touched her locks…..the one which he blew. She then packed her bag and left the gym...confused.
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