Kasturi had only run a few steps when her mind cleared and she realised she'd made a mistake. Robbie had so much faith upon her, and this was how she repaid him? He'd supported her, refusing to believe the lies others spread. Even after Raunak, he had never made her feel like a second-class, second-time bride.
She spun around, to see Robbie wildly hurtling down the corridor. She ran towards him, into his arms. She buried her head in his chest.
"Kasturi, please mera yakeen karo, mere aur Tina ke beech kuch nahi hain, woh achanak aisa karne lagi, mujhe samaj mein nahi aaya kya ho raha tha. Mein kisi aur ka dil nahi dhookaana chahta tha. Par please.."
"Nahi, Robbie, rukho. Aapko yeh kehne ki zaroorat nahi hain. Mujhe hi chalejaane se pehle ek baar sochlehna chahiya tha, ke aap aisa kabhi nahi karsakte. Aapne hamesha mujhpe vishwaas kiya hain, aur mera saath diya hain. Maafi aapko nahi, mujhe maangni chahiye. I'm sorry Robbie, ke meine ek pal ke liye bhi tum par shakh kiya."
"I love you Kasturi. Sach mein, jaan se zyaada mein tumko pyaar karta hoon. Aur mere dil mein sirf tum ho, sirf tum."
***
"Lagta hain Tina chalegi. Baitho, Kasturi. Tumhare saaman kahaan hain?"
"Niche, reception mein. Mein baat mein kisi se kehdoongi. Tum kaise ho, Robbie?"
"Ab jab tum aagayi toh bahut khush hoon."
"Meri surprise toh surprise hi naa rahi," reflefcted Kasturi dejectedly.
Robbie gently cupped her face in his palms. "Tum maayoos mat hona, Kasturi. Aisi choti-moti baat hoti rahegi. Mere liye sab se ehm baat yeh hain, ke tum mujhpe bharosa karti hoon. Ab chalo, yeh sab choddo. Tum yahaan kab tak rehsakti ho?"
"Do din ki chooti hain. Toh mein tumhare saath hi lautungi."
"Theek hain. Tum takhee hui hogi. Chalo, sohjaate hain."
"Robbie! Capre toh badaldehnedo."
"Oh haan. Mein jaata hoon, tum reception ko phone karlo."
"Theek hain."
"Kasturi..woh abhi jo.."
"Nahi, Robbie, aapko kahani bataane ki koi zaroorat nahi hain. Jo bhi hua, mujhe tumpe vishwaas hain."
"Thank you, Kasturi."
***
"I'm sorry Robbie, mujhe andaaza hi nahi tha ke Tina aisa kuch karegi," apologised Devika. "Aayendaar se mein dyaan rakhoongi."
"It's ok, mom. It's not your fault. Par mein chahta hoon, ke woh kal se office nahi aayegi."
"Of course, Robbie. Mujhe lagta hain, woh anyways bahut sharminder hogi. Acchha, mein phone rakhdehti hoon. Tumhare concert ke liye good luck, au Kasturi ko bhi mujhse hello kehdo."
"Jee."
***
"Robbie, tum, yahaan?"
"Haan Kasturi, mein niche loan ki baat karne aaye tha, toh meine socha tha ke hum saath mein hi lunch kaayenge. Dekho kya kya laaya hoon."
"Arre waah paneer tikka, mutter ki sabzi aur gobi ke parathe. Baitho, Robbie, hum shuru karte."
"Rukho, Kasturi, mein tumhe khilaaonga."
***
Aditya watched from his desk as they sat happily together, chatting away, feeding each other from the small tiffin. He jumped up as he saw Kasturi shyly hug Robbie goodbye.
"Toh tumne Robbie ko maaf kardiya?"
"Aapko kaise bata ke hamara koi jagra hua..?"
"Mein..mein Tina ke baare mein jaanta hoon."
"Kaise?" demanded Kasturi softly but forcefully, noticing his shifty gaze.
Too late, he realised his mistake. "Mein..woh..hotel waleh.."
"Uss waqt aur koi nahi tha. Yeh baat sirf hum teeno jaante the."
Slowly, Aditya stood up. His plastered smile faded away and his face became menacing. Kasturi backed away.
"Tumne kya socha, ke yeh sab apne aap hogaya. Par phir bhi .. itna bhi mushkil nahi tha. Woh paagal Tina pehle se Robbie pe fida thi. Meine sirf usko kab aur kaise bataaye, waaki sab usne kiya. Aur tumne kya socha, ke mein sab ko chooti pehle din mein dehdehta hoon? Meine tujhe sirf isliye diya tha, ke tum Robbie ko range haath pakardo aur phir naaraz hokar, usse choddo."
"Par kyun?" breathed Kasturi, in shock.
"Abhi bhi kyun poochrahi ho? Kyun ki mein tumhe haasil karna chahta tha. Kabhi nahi socha, ke tumhe yeh job itni jaldi kyun mili?"
"Mujhe laga ke.."
"Ke yeh tumhaare kaabilat ka natija hain? Jee nahi. Mujhe tumse issi waqt pyar hogaya jab meine tumhe Robbie ka birthday party mein dekha tha. Tab se mera maksat sirf tum dono ko judaa karne ka tha," he clarified mockingly.
"Chee! Par aap ek baat soonlijye, mere aur Robbie ka rishta itna kamsoor nahi hain ke aisa tootjaayenga. Sirf saat hi nahi, satar janam ka rishta hain."
"Dekhenge kabtak tum dono bachpaayenge mujhse."
"Koshish mat karna. Aap haarjaayenge. Aur ek aur baat. Mein abhi is waqt resign kar rahi hoon. Dua karoongi ke hum aaj ke baat kabhi nahi milenge."
Her hands were shaking but she turned on her heel and strode out with her head held high.