Thank you to all those who read and appreciated my earlier Short Story Silent Echoes ... and are still doing so...
It means a lot to be able to share my thoughts here on the forum and also be welcomed into the forum with such warmth!
Thank you!
I jus started penning another Short Story, that was started with not particularly Milind and prachi in mind, but then when I was done with it, I felt I could relate it to this pair with a few minor changes ...
Do let me know , if you would like me to go ahead and post it here on the forum!
Song of the Lark …
The faint call of the cuckoo drifted into his conscious, jerking him awake…
Barely managing to focus his sleepy eyes, he noticed the dim light emanating through the dark, from the lamp at the far end of the room… puzzled at what had jerked him awake…
Pulling himself up, he sat on the edge of the couch… trying to take in the silent surroundings of the room, stifling a yawn…when a book slipped off his lap onto the carpet noiselessly…
Bending over to pick up the book, her slender figure asleep on the bed across the room caught his eye…
Placing the book noiselessly on the table next to the couch, he slowly walked over to the edge of the large bed… as he watched her asleep… when he noticed her hand hanging off the bed carelessly…her fingers wrapped around her thumb lightly…
A faint a smile lingered on his lips, as he watched the soft light of the lamp caress the soft features…
His gaze shifting to her hand and her folded fingers… he smiled, stepping forward noiselessly… and gently held her hand by the wrist, glancing at her face, wishing not to wake her…placed her hand gently on the bed , by her pillow… watching her for a tad bit longer, adoring her soft features…and the peaceful expression on her face…
Caught by a movement , she shifted ever so slightly , pulling her hand closer to her face… as jus as quickly … settled into her peaceful sleep… as he watched on… almost holding his breath…thinking to himself…" Bilkul bacche ki tarah soti hai…"… he smiled to himself, looking at her curled fingers … and slowly… turned away…
*****Standing afore the mirror, he stared at the man looking back at him, with strange sense of detachment to all that was around , filling him , he twisted the tap open, the sound of the cold water rushing out… evoking a sudden sense of familiarity to his surroundings…
Feeling the cold water, numb the skin, as he splashed the cold water on his face, he let the cool tingling feeling, seep in… as visions of the moments of the night that was, giving way to yet another summer morning…loomed afore him…
The tingle of her laughter… the sound of her voice… the soft soothing music , his own soft laugh … enjoying her company and that of the others…in the family… seemed to echo softly now…
It had been a get together to celebrate their marriage, with family and friends…
Friends… the word seemed to stay in his mind… they always had a held a special place in his heart, an extended family… and yet… as he stood there now, staring at the man in the mirror, he couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment towards the word , surprised at his own mixed emotions towards it…
Splashing his face with the cold water, yet again, he let the drops of water drip across his face, wishing the chill, would numb his thoughts …
Sipping his evening drink, he had watched her, looking angelic, greeting and catching up with her friends… when she her face had suddenly lit up , her smile reaching her eyes , her soft voice unable to hide her excitement …" Neev…" … she had called out…as the man she faced… smiled back warmly… and hugged her gently… "Kaisi hai …"… he had asked…" Theek…" she replied…pulling herself out of him embrace gently … smiling softly…
Watching them, he let a soft smile escape his lips, as he emptied his drink and slowly walked over to the bar to pour himself another, when he had her call out softly… "Suniye…"…
The sound of her voice, unmistakably addressing him, he turned around…to look at her smiling at him… "Dekhiye… Neev aaye hai …"…
Smiling at Neev with a light nod of his heard… he gestured that he'd join them… in a moment, and turned around to fetch his drink…
Joining them back and handing over a drink to the man… he joined their conversation, regarding the festivities that were to follow the following week that seemed to divert to various other topics …
Ever once in a while, glancing at her, an undeniable pang of longing tugged at his heart , as he watched her smile… the tingle of laughter, as she conversed with the other man, her best friend…
Brushing away the thoughts, he would continue, unable to shake away the heavy feeling of disappointment that had begun to settle deep inside his heart…
*****
Desperate to shut out the nagging thoughts, the unsettling feeling deep inside, filling him with a simmering sense of inexplicability and a painful longing, he splashed the cold water, willing the simmer to fade, feeling the cold splash of water across his cheek, seep in deep inside his heart… calming him…
Moments passed as he succumbed to the soothing numbness of the cold water…
Lifting his gaze to face the man in the mirror… he saw, a man who seemed at peace, with eyes that seemed hopeful and alive… the unmistakable glint of a longing evident … it seemed to only him…
Shutting his eyes momentarily, he turned away from the mirror…and walked out…
Closing the door behind, he lifted his gaze to notice her slender figure asleep… the sight of her curled fingers … making him smile… slightly… he slowly walked over towards the balcony…
Sliding open the door to the balcony ever so little, so as to not let the cold seep in to the warm room, he walked on to the balcony sliding the door to a close behind, the cool air of early dawn caressing his face… calming him …
*****
Leaning against the railing, running his fingers through his hair, he watched the first crimson streak of dawn break into the fading night sky…
The call of the cuckoo, broke into the silence of the hazy morning, as his eyes, followed the sound of the cuckoo …
Smiling to himself, he waited for the morning bird to call out … call out to him … sing to him a morning wish…
Dressed in a deep wine red saree, walking down the stairs, and her eyes on, no one else but him … as he walked over the threshold into the house… across the room…she had smiled at him…
Like the morning sun smiling down on him, he had watched her make her way to him across the room… feeling, his restless heart, calm... it was home now…
"Aapka trip kaise raha…?" … her voice seemed to have had jerked him into reality…as he had watched her eyes, smiling back... looking back into his…
A slight nod of an approval…with a tinge of insignificance that the trip held at the moment for him, he had asked…" Kaisi ho…"…
"Ji theek…"… she replied… her eyes searching his, with an unmistakable glint of concern… when he had replied softly…" Main bhi…" answering her unvoiced question…smiling back slightly at her…
Watching the crimson hues spread across the morning sky…, feeling the dew on the railing, the chill seeping into his fingers… he played his fingers absently on the railing…
Turning around to face the door… he gazed at the dark curtains through the glass door…"Meri.. ".."Aur…"…"Uski… duniya.." …the one room , that had seemed to open a new world to him, a world , the belonged to him, to her… to them….
*****
Lost in the quiet moments of the misty summer morning, he leaned against the railing, the warmth of the morning rays, drifting him back to his familiar surrounding…
Walking back, he slid open the door slightly and stepped into the warmth of the room, closing the door behind him noiselessly… as the cuckoo clock chimed six times behind him...
Looking up at the sound of chime, he watched as the little bird cuckooed away, before shutting itself inside the cuckoo house…
The smile lingering on his face, he turned his gaze away from the clock, to notice her asleep… thinking to himself… "Bachpana abhi gaya nahin…" shaking his head smiling…
On his way out of the room, turning around slightly , to her , only two steps behind…he had said softly… "Wo aaj der ho jayegi… Khaane pe naa aa paaoon…"… he finished turning to face her… when he noticed her looking transfixed , a smile playing on her lips… looking at the cuckoo dance in and out of the cuckoo house clock…
As the cuckoo bid its good bye on the last chime, smiling contentedly to herself… she had turned her gaze away from the clock to notice him looking at her …
His soft knowing look, setting her aflutter, she had lowered her gaze momentarily, shutting them, momentarily, suppressing a smile, that gave away her embarrassment of the moment …
"Wo…".. she had begun… unable to continue…struggling … with a sudden loss of words…
"Aap kuch keh.."… she had managed.. to say..
"Kuch nahin… " …"Wo bas .. shaam … ko…"… he had replied...when she had slowly … cut in…looking up at him..
"Aap ko der ho jayegi ? …" ….
"Nahin… "…he had lied… perplexed at his reaction….as he continued surprised at his response…" aaj ki dinner meeting cancel hui hai…"
"Accha…" he had finished... with a nod towards the door, looking her in the eye, indicating he was to leave, as she had smiled…back at him
Walking out of the door, he had frowned, a perplexed smile playing on his lips …"main bhi na…" he had smiled to himself, shaking his head slightly... as his heart leapt lightly, at the thought of seeing her wait for his return…
*****
Standing there watching the dull light of the lamp caress the soft features of her face, he knew it wasn't a lie, for nothing could be more true, that to watch her smile , looking into his eyes, was all he had wanted that very moment…
Drifting out of his thoughts, he noticed her shifting in sleep, snuggling deeper under the covers, as the warm rays of the morning sun seeped through the drapes, shutting her eyes harder… pulling the comforter over her face …
He let a soft laugh escape his lips, as he watched her snuggle deeper under the covers…
Glancing back at the dark drapes over the glass door, he walked across and pulled them closer, shutting out the bright rays and with one last look at her sleeping form, he walked across the bed to the couch… and pulled a copy of the previous days news magazine… on the table, and within minutes found himself lost in seemingly insignificant issues that mattered…
*****
Folding the paper, he noticed her pulling off the comforter from her face, squint her eyes to focus on the clock…
As the position of the clock's hands came into focus and she deciphered the implied time, she muttered in surprise… "Oh ma…der ho gayi…" completely unaware of him watching her…
Throwing aside the comforter on the bed, she quickly pulled her self together, and staggered sleepily towards the washroom, when she noticed him on the couch , who had gotten back to to perusing the newspaper when she pausing momentarily… spoke..
"Oh ... aap... wo ..main der tak so gayi… main abhi…" she spoke , the tone of embarrassment evident as she spoke , pausing, when he turned around folding the newspaper…and spoke softly…" Kal party ke baad thak gayi…"… he smiled knowingly…as she smiled and lowered her gaze…
"Main bas abhi chai laati hoon aapke liye…wo bas do min… "…she replied apologetically… knowing he enjoyed a cup of tea the first thing along with morning news read…
With a slight nod of his head… and a slight smile, he got back to reading his paper…
*****
Wrapping his morning read, he went about his morning routine …
Emerging out of the changing, fiddling with the cuff buttons of his shirt, he noticed the silhouette of her form through the tainted glass of the door, when he noiselessly he made quickly , opening the door, holding it momentarily as she made her way in, letting the door then, close behind with a soft click…
Placing the tea tray on the table, she quickly went about making him a cup, wordlessly… as he joined her , when she handed him the cup of tea… and slowly made her way around the room, picking up his accessories and placing them near his briefcase …
Watching her, go about pick up his accessories that he effortlessly managed everyday to leave scattered all across the room…he smiled…finishing his tea…
Picking up his mobile from the couch, she placed it with rest of his accessories on the corner of the bed… and turned to leave, pausing momentarily …"Wo neeche naashta lagaa deti hoon… aap aa jaayiye…"… she smiled…
With a slight nod of his head, he got up, and his made his way to corner of the bed, as she made her way out of the room, as the door closed shut behind her with a soft click…
*****
Adjusting his watch over his wrist, a careless glance towards the table, he had jus left, he watched the empty cup and the tray, stopping midway, as his watch hung in lose grip of his fingers…
His thoughts drifting … he stared at the table, where few moments ago, she had been there…making him a cup of tea… wordlessly…
Staring, with a forlorn look… he thought…" kaash ke mere saath …"… pursing his lips in disappointment, and suddenly realizing the metallic device that felt heavy, he quickly wrapped his watch on his wrist, and picking up his accessories, made his way out of the room…; the desire to share little moments with her, to watch her smile… to feel her, around her… etched away into the lonely corners of his heart…
*****Settling down at the breakfast table, he looked around, to notice the caretaker of the house , busy with his daily chores, when he called out in a low voice…"Kaka.. "… as the man turned around…"Ji ..saab…"….
"Kaka… aaj ka akhbaar…"…..he continued softly…
"Abhi laaya beta…"… the caretaker… replied promptly … turning away…as she stood holding the breakfast tray at the corner, sighing with disappointment…thinking to herself…"Ab phir se akhbaar mein doob jaayenge…"…
Realizing there was no use even thinking about it …as she saw the caretaker hand over the paper to him, she walked quietly over to the table … when he looked up and acknowledged her momentarily… and got back to his read...as she went about serving his breakfast…
Unable to hold her disappointment, at his seemingly apparent disinterest in breakfast, while he buried his face in the newspaper… she attempted in vain …"Suniye…"…
"Hmm…" replied, acknowledging her, not once looking up…
Realizing her vain attempt, at distracting him from his morning read, she sighed softly in disappointment ….
"Kuch kehna tha? "…he spoke softly… startling her, that he had been waiting for her continue…
"Ji… wo … nahin kuch nahin…"… she replied …
"Aapko ek aur paratha doon…" she dismissed all thoughts of suggesting that he get back to his morning read later…
Folder the corner of his paper, ever so little, glancing at the paratha in her hand momentarily, he nodded ..."Hmm…" …before he got back to his paper…
Serving him the paratha, she joined him for breakfast, nibbling away at her paratha distractedly, when the dull ring of his phone, startled her…
Placing the clumsily folder paper on the table, he answered the phone in a soft deep voice…"Hello…"…
"Haan Neev…"… he spoke into the phone… unable to resist stealing a glance at her, as she nibbled away at her paratha…
Surprised at his own reaction, unable to shake a sense of guilt that suddenly gripped his heart, as he stole a glance at her reaction… he continued …"haan , main pahunch jaaonga…theek hai…"….
"Accha … ek min … wo yahin hai… baat karlo…"…
"Suno…" … he nodded at her… as she suddenly realizing, the unmistakable voice was addressing her… jerked out of her thoughts, looked up at him… to notice him holding out his phone to her…
"Neev ka phone…"… he smiled warmly… as he held the phone out to her…
*****
Looking her in eye, as she picked up the phone silently, he felt a tug deep inside, the unmistakable glint of disappointment in her eye, that didn't miss his…
Perplexed at her reaction, he watched her momentarily as she answered softly… "Hello … Neev…"… smiling warmly as she spoke, playing absentmindedly with the unfinished paratha…
"Haan… theek…" she replied…" der tak so gayi…" she laughed softly…
"Accha theek, main… "…she stopped mid-way glancing at him… "Ek min… "… she spoke into the phone… and then looked up at him…
Covering the cell phone with her palm, she said softly… "Ji... wo… "…as he looked up at her, finishing his paratha…
"Wo … main … aaj dopahar ko… Dadi ke yahaan…"… she continued… when he cut her off gently… smiling… "main gaadi bhijvaa doonga.."…he finished…with a slight nod of his head …
Smiling back at him warmly… she spoke into the phone..." Haan main daadi ke yahaan aa jaaongi… accha… "
"Theek…" she finished, clicking the phone shut…
Walking over to him, who was now busy perusing his files, leaning onto the pillar… she paused a step away… momentarily unsure of herself, fiddling with the instrument, when he sensing her presence, turned around, folding the file…
"Arre haan… phone…" he gently held out his hand… when she handed it over… smiling…
Fiddling with the instrument, with a slight nod, smiling, he turned to go... when she hoping desperately, that she wouldn't stop him, on his way to work… she blurted … before he turned to go…" Suniye…"… when he turned to face her… as she looked , visibly anxious and guilty at her stopping him… as her grand mom's words rang through her head…"Peeche se tokthe nahin beta.."…making her wince at what she had jus done…
Suddenly seeming to realize, the reason for her discomfort, he smiled… "haan…"…
Seeing him smile, a sudden sense of ease filling her… "Wo … agar aap bhi… aaj shaam ko... daadi ke yahaan…" her voice trailed off…
Unsure of his want to be with her, as much as being there with the rest of the family, he nodded … smiling hesitatingly… desperately hoping his smile had masked his hesitation…
Turning away from her smiling face, he felt a heavy tug in his heart, as his thoughts drifted to the party , the night before…
*****
Meandering its way through the jammed lanes in the ocean of traffic, the metallic beast cruised along, as he let his thoughts drift away… the din of the traffic surrounding, fading away around him …
"… agar aap bhi… aaj shaam ko... daadi ke yahaan…" … her voice echoed in his ears…
As longing to share little moments with her, a wish to see her smile looking in his eye, suddenly overwhelmed him, the burdening sense of guilt and hesitation returned, his heart feeling heavy, as the visions of the night that was loomed afore him, the sound of her voice echo in his ears…
Belying his heart that had felt, his eyes that had seen the truth in her eyes, moments ago, he willed himself to shut out visions of her smiling at the man, her friend, wishing him…as he looked out, the incessant din straining his ears, a look of frustration etched over his face… his wanting to be wanted… overwhelming him, his haplessness to crave constantly… simmering through his being…
Pulling over his metallic machine off the driveway, he sighed… the vision of her requesting him… looming afore…him… whispering to himself …"Kaash tum bhi…"… a distant look in his eyes…
*****
Stepping into the chill of his office, shutting out all thought, he let the incessant din of the routine, drift him away from all thought of his longing and desire…
The dull ring of the phone broke the stiff silence of the room, as he perused through the details of a yet another of his wins.
Irked at the silence having been broken, he answered the phone…in a deep voice belying his irritation…" Hello…"…
"Sir…".., his secretary answered in a clear voice, a slight apologetic tone to her voice, as she sensed his irritation at being disturbed…
"Mr Shergill aapse milne aaye hai…" …she continued… realizing he was listening and had not cut her…
"Haan theek hai…"…he replied casually…into the phone, belying his expression of a vague surprise… at this sudden visit…
The light knock on the door, made him look up, as his visitor entered…smiling…
Smiling back warmly… he stood up, as the two men shook hands…
Sensing his surprise at the sudden visit, the man spoke in a lighthearted voice…"Main meeting ke liye do ghante jaldi aa gaya hoon shaayad…"…he laughed softly at his own joke…
"Haan , lagta tho aisa hi hai …Neev " he smiled warmly… with a glint of mischief in his eyes…
Shifting to a much sober tone…" Actually… mujhe tumse kuch chaahiye…"…noticing the puzzled look…he continued..." zyaada…kuch nahin, bas tumhara ek ghante ka waqt…"…"Milega? "…
Nodding in positive, "Par..? "
"Aha ha… sirf ek request, no questions please…"… Neev smiled…
Puzzled at his sudden request and unable to deny him…, a sudden tingle of hope, tickled his heart, as he smiled puzzled … at his own reactions… softly replying…"Ok… kab?"…
"Aaj, meeting ke baad? …"
"Theek hai…" he smiled…
"Alright then… meeting ke baad chalte hain…" he smiled , turning to go…
"Kahaan…?"…
"Sorry … no questions…"… Neev laughed, as he closed the door behind him…
*****
Stepping out of the building, onto the driveway, making their way towards the car, Neev looking at him, asked..."I'll drive…"... the impish smile on his face, belying the requesting undertone to his voice…catching the keys mid air that were flung across, sportingly towards him…
"Cool…" he smirked … to no one in particular… playing with the keys…
Maneuvering the machine, on the steely metallic lanes, Neev let out a low whistle…"Cool machine…"… fingering the wheel admiringly… as he steered the machine swiftly …
"Yeh toh…"… he said aloud… realizing the familiar lane… looking at Neev… with a questioning look…as his heart raced, at the thought of the place, they were towards…
"Ab itna intezaar kiya hai, toh thoda aur sahi…? … Hmm…" Neev replied smiling mischievously, staring ahead, not once looking at him …
With a resigned look, he sighed, leaning back in his seat… gazing out of the window with a forlorn look, waiting for moments to tick by...his heart racing rapidly, deep within…
*****
He let his gaze meander along, as the machine swerved along the curves, the rays of the afternoon sun, sneaking through the thick foliage of leaves, casting hypnotic reflections on the wind shield…
Feeling the cool summer breeze caress his face, he let his thoughts drift away…
The sound of her voice, reaching out to him…"Suniye"…; Her soft eyes, that had searched his own, ever so often, leaving him wondering, craving … ; Eyes that seemed to smile, as they found him amidst hazy chaos…; the smile that lingered on her face, as she gazed out of the window, feeling the breeze caress her tender face…; the sound of her footsteps, as she walked beside him; the touch of her hand…as she held onto his, walking into the party…
… "walking into the party…" …breaking out of thoughts of her, he felt a stab of pain deep inside… and looked around to see , her best friend , steer the machine swiftly… enjoying his moments at the wheel… oblivious of his pain and much to his chagrin…
*****
Realizing a deep voice, that broke the silence of the surroundings, he turned to face Neev…who was speaking now softly…staring head, at the bend around the corner…with a distant look in his eyes…
"Uske chehre pe , muskuraahat kai baar laaya hun main…"…
He watched him… as the man spoke, the sudden realization of the moment, glaring him in the face… as the vision of her , smiling back, loomed afore… leaving a smile lingering on his lips…
The ecstatic feeling, gripping his heart again, he walked, breathless… waiting for him to continue, the desperate hope , seeming unreasonable at the moment , consuming his being, at the very moment…
"… par unki wajah , kabhi bana nahi… " …
Breathless, he walked on… the stark truth of his words, reflections his own, longing… as he willed him to continue…
"Sang chala hoon hamesha, uske, par saathi uska kabhi tha nahi…"
… Turning around the bend, he stopped…realizing Neev was silent ….looking … ahead…
*****
The sound of her voice… ; the tingle of her laughter echoed in his ears, the silence of the surroundings fading away on him, as he stepped ahead… overwhelmed a inexplicable , lightness of being, the beat of his heart, echoing loud…
Surrendering to the ecstatic euphoria that filled his being, like the rhythm of the summer rain…he stared head, willing himself to not blink, lest he miss the moment … when he heard, a voice behind him.. speak again...
Stepping forward, beside him, Neev, stared ahead… speaking slowly… "Andaaz-e-bayaan badal sakta hai, wajah nahin… my friend…"… as he turned around to face Neev…who winked at him, smiling…
A perplexed look, with the unmistakable glint of ecstasy… etched over his face… he waited …for him Neev to continue…
Sensing his desperation, the look of puzzled excitement etched on his face , making him smile, Neev … continued … after a pause…with a knowing look… as he watched him standing afore … reading his thoughts, continuing his unexpressed thought as he looked him in the eye…" … koi aur ho hi nahin sakta… tha…"…
*****
*****
... To be continued...
Do let me know what y'all think... and leave your comments coz they matter and they help. Criticism awaited... 😊
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