Part 2:-
"Ashu '.eat your dinner first'" this is the third time dadi bua called him to join for dinner '..
Putting his science journal aside, finally Ashu got up with yawn as he made his way towards kitchen, where his baba and dadi bua are waiting '.
"Eat your food first '.padne ke liye takat tho honi chahiye na .." patting his back , DB served him dinner '..
" sorry Db '..wo main kuch pad raha tha .." Ashu mumbled by helping himself with extra curd
" Aur kitna padega '..din , raat pad raha hain na 'huh " Db rumbled
"Db '.you know right, I have to work hard to get inside PH.D program'.." he groused as Db went inside to check something in kitchen
His baba, who was watching this conversation '..Looked at his side and smiled
" so Ashu '.what is happening '.any news on your scholarship ?"
Ashu shook his head " No baba '..not so soon , my professor asked me to submit 2 project papers which I am working currently '.then later on they have some preliminary exams to be cleared '.." Ashu mumbled chewing his food '.
"What about university 'did you thought which one to consider?"
" yes 'professor told me that university of zurich is best to do phd in cancer biology '.but parlelly I am checking for other universities also '" Ashu replied '..
After a brief pause his baba whispered '.." you are not going to forget it...Aren't you?"
Ashu said nothing for a while, putting his spoon aside '.he stared at his baba, stared at pained expression etched on his face '.." it was not your fault 'that she died, you mother...Ashu "his baba tried to convince him '
"But she died '.and we could not do anything "came his reply as he closed his eyes to shut out memories of those awful days , where his mother struggled to stay alive but eventually succumbed to death as her disease grown out with astounding speed'..
"You know that 'she was beyond help'." His baba replied coming to his side.
"And I wanted to help '.and now I want to help those to whom you think 'they are beyond help "Ashu huffed...
Stroking his head affectionately his baba patted his back '." Chalo '.now when my son is working so much to get his dream...even I can help '.let me talk to your professor , don't worry ..If you don't get scholarship'..I can afford to send you wherever you want to study '.you just concentrate on your studies 'rest, I will take care "he smiled
When Ashu still sat with grim expression 'his baba continued " now if you don't cheer up '.I will call DB'and you know what will happen next and beside '.DB told me you are joining some piano class or something '.huh ? koi ladki ka chakkar hai kya ?" his baba smiled at him to lighten up his mood
" ohh common baba '..You know , I always wanted to learn something related to music '."
" but how come now 'all of a sudden ?"
"huh '.you 'know 'just ' just like that ' and beside , I feel , it look good in my profile that I am involved in something else too '.you know have many interest '.and not only studies '" Ashu blabbered looking away
"And do you really think that within months '.you will learn '?"
"Why can't I '..When Beethoven can play when he was totally deaf 'why can't I learn when '.you knows all fit ..?"
His baba laughed and ruffled his hair '" chalo '.koi baat nahi ! but are you sure '.this is nothing related to any girl '.huh ?...arey , I will be great help'..you don't know when I was young how nicely I charmed your mother "
This made Ashu grumble as he took his spoon to finish his dinner so that he can get away from his baba...Who can very easily read all expression of his face '.and of his heart!
____________________________________________________
Next morning, when Ashu was hurrying towards Chem lab ..Arman came rushing to his side '..
"Armaan, I am getting late for Biochem lab '." Ashu mumbled, pushing Arman aside.
"Biochem lab!! 'are you out of your mind, bunk the class, have you forgotten that tomorrow is election 'and we still have astronomy and math dept to cover up for our campaigning "Arman dragged Ashu by shoulder ...
" Armaan , I can't miss it today '."Ashu replied
" why can't ?" Arman stared at him strangely
" because '.."
" What ?"
" Because , today is last day to submit my thesis '." Ashu lied
" Cant it wait '.ask you professor to give you some extension '"arman muttered
" No , I can't '"
" why you can't '?"
" because '" Ashu sighed '..
" what ?"
" because '.as you know , I am not the only one who is working on this project 'even Nidhi is involved '."
" who Nidhi 'you mean ..Nidhi verma ?" Arman glared at him
" yes ..we both worked so hard on this project, and now I cannot let it go like this '."
Arman tugged at his shoulder and mumbled looking into his eyes " Ashu 'listen carefully , I don't want you to get involved with anything where there is verma gang Is involved ..you hear me "
" ohh Common Arman '.she is not like rest of them 'and what do you mean by don't get involved ' we are already involved 'with verma gang!"
Arman stared at him for a second in return Ashu just smiled
" I don't care 'just stay away from her ok '??..she is trouble , they all are trouble '..Just stay away from her ok ??" Arman asked
Ashu nodded his head '.." ok '.now can I leave, you please cover up the campaigning...I will join once I am done with my project "Ashu smiled and ran towards Biochem lab even before Arman could stop him.
Nidhi entered deserted Bio-chemistry lab and moved towards her seat '..Picking up her thesis papers, she scribbled little analysis which she pointed down in her notepad '. '' lab attendant came to her side, holding the equipment to carry out their daily project "how are you Nidhi beta?" he looked at her smilingly '
Her hands trembled and she lowered her eyes and nodded her head'." Suna tera bhai kal election me kada hai '." He asked her once again
Without looking up, she nodded her head '
"tera baba kaise hai '? 'yeh paralysis ka koi ilaaj nahi hai kya? "He asked her trying to establish a conversation '.
Dropping her shoulder even down, chewing her inner lip...she avoided looking up '
Just then Ashu came running to her side '." Hi , sorry ..I came late "he mumbled sitting next to her
" so what's up '?" he asked looking at her face
She shook her head 'Lab attendant left them alone after making sure all equipment delivered to carry out their experiment
"you had your breakfast '?" he asked gasping under his breath
Nodding her head she extended water bottle
"Thanks '" Ashu mumbled and gulped down half bottle in one go.
" so , what you had for Breakfast '" he asked adjusting the beaker .
She did not responded for few second and then replied '" Paratha '"
"Lucky you , I ate sandwich '.and I hated it "Ashu grumbled
" I like sandwich '." Nidhi replied beamingly
" do you '?" he asked making a face " Well , I think , its patients food '.you know , it is for those who sleep claiming a tummy upset '" Ashu grumbled which made nidhi go into hiccupping laugh
" your Baba '..he is doctor right ?" Nidhi asked him measuring temperature of liquid content
" yes , '.A neurosurgeon'Baba used to work for JMH hospital in delhi then 'hmm ..few years back , we shifted here 'baba is working for KGH now "
" what about your mom ?" she asked unaware of everything '.
His eyes hardened as deep sigh escaped his lips 'taking lungful of air , he wheezed his words " she 'is 'was an artist"
" an artist ?" nidhi asked without realizing the past tense in his voice '
"Yes '.painter , she used to paint '.."
" doesn't she paint now ..?" Nidhi asked
" No ..I mean you know she died '.few years back , because of cancer 'Baba And no one could save her " he mumbled looking away from her '.
" I ,,,I am sorry '.I dint knew that " after a brief pause she replied guiltily
Hearing her meek guilty voice, his cold rigid body relaxed a bit ..." That's ok 'its ..its fine . '" he muttered " and ..will you please check this 'this needs to be heated to extreme boiling 'I will go and check for acetic acid " he walked away from her but her gaze followed him everywhere he went '..
An uncanny silence surrounded them even after he returned '..she stared at his face which just turned gloomy and his eyes which suddenly hardened '..she know this , she know this look 'she can relate it 'she can understand , who can be better than her to understand what loss is ..even she lost someone , dint she ?'
" Do you miss her '?" Nidhi asked abruptly when they were measuring the content in pasture's pipet'..
Her sudden question thrown ashu out of his thoughts 'yes , he did not expected this from nidhi '.it is not nidhi , he just don't want to talk more about it ? hell what is the use 'when there is no use dissecting same old past which cannot be changed '.but something in her voice , the way she looked at him expectantly softened him a bit '..
Throwing his glance all over the places 'he mumbled "all the time"
After a brief pause, she replied "Even I do '.I miss my sister '. You know all the time '" she sighed,
he heard the story , what happened to her sister'..in bits and pieces , never shaping fully 'like awful secrets but in the end'..whatever he heard , they were just words nothing real '.something unsettled which he never carried with him '.. but the numbness of her loss haunted him more than his own as he stared back at her'..but strangely he found her smiling as if she just vented out her years grief and succeeded in telling him what is been eating her up '.. What is keeping her caged, hurt '..And quiet.
After closing for the day, picking his books, he walked along with her '." We just have a day '.to finish this project '." He spoke
She nodded her head
Outside, Leaning his back to adjacent wall, he stared outside 'most of the classrooms were deserted with few students scurrying here and there '.
"After that 'you are not going to forget me '.right?" Ashu asked her grinningly
She narrowed her eyes, after a while Shaking her head she smiled '.
"And don't hate me incase ...I win over your brother?" he asked her jokingly
Shaking her head, she replied "No"'..
"Are you sure? Chances are there that I might win this election "Ashu grinned
"I won't '." She replied
"What is the guarantee '.?" Ashu pressed on same point again '.
She gave him annoyed look "Because 'I won't "she replied
He chuckled; it is one of those rare moments 'where he gets glimpses of her real self 'like reminder of her old self '.
"Ok then '.but do you know what my friends think " he asked her
" what they think '?"
"That ' you hate me, you all 'you know hate me" he replied controlling his chuckle
"But I don't '."
"Can I trust you '?" he asked her one last time
Rolling her eyes in frustration, nidhi leaned close towards him and muttered "I said ..I won't '.but I will , if you continue asking the same question"
He chuckled as he took her hand and whispered '..
" ok then I trust ':" He was cut short as pair of hand tugged his shoulder and throw him backward '.
"Back off '." Aditya verma screeched near his ear and yanked at nidhi's arm '
"And behena '..what are you doing here ! How many times, do I have to tell you stay from this '.angrzi speaking double headed people '..." he groused
Ashu stared at nidhi and did not fail to notice the fear and sudden change in her expression '.
Pushing him away Ashu covered nidhi behind his back '" don't '..She is not at fault; let me explain "Ashu wheezed his word
"Hell with your explanation huh ...you just Stay away from her ok'" pushing Ashu aside, he took nidhi by arm and tried to drag her away '.
"But, we are just talking '." Ashu tried to explain
"I'.don't want 'your clarification 'I want you to stay away from her" he spat his words '.
"Is it something '. Because I am your competitor that I can't talk to your sister '.We are friends "Ashu grumbled by firmly stopping Aditya
"Friends '..I don't like my sister befriending someone like you 'or anyone like this '..You understand ' now back off" And he pushed Ashu aside and dragged nidhi along with him '
Standing there, he stared at her face 'her eyes, which is fast filling with tears, there is pain and hurt and what not fear '..Her silences resonated through his ear drums, her pleading eyes haunted him but unable to do anything '..He buried his face in his palm and slumped backwards...until she moved away from him and out of his sight '..
The howling, whistling and blast
Of the wind
Making all braches
Turn, sway and bend
There movements over head
Rhythmic like dancing
Everything blessed
Everything true
Walk in my woods
With nothing but you
In turn
Look into your soul
Towards the things which are missing
Due to times toll
You once were different
Where did it change?
The old you remembered
far out of range.
Come
And walk through my woods
And search through your heart.
Let go of the fear
They will help you
My dear, they bring you back''.
Smoke of words curled through his brain as he scurried his pen through rough parchment paper '..Abruptly he closed his palm sized notebook and buried in his side pocket when he saw arman coming to his side holding 2 cups of chai '.
"Here take this "Arman came and sat next to him '.
" thanks " Ashu replied
"it's almost done ...looks like this time, we are going to win this election '.." patting his back arman smiled
Ashu looked up "you think so?"
"What do you mean by you think so ''Ask mallika, all girls are totally lattoo over you '.Everyone are just spellbound by your speech meri jaan '.kya speech tha. .." Arman uttered with lot of enthusiasm
Ashu pushed him away " Shut up Armaan '.by the way where is mallika and jagan ?" Ashu asked looking up
Arman made a face "how do I know '..Both of them are going out, don't you know that '.?"
Ashu nodded his head "yes, I know '."
"I heard that Verma and you '. 'that you both had bit of clash'.." after a pause Arman enquired '
"It's nothing Arman '.small misunderstanding"
" I told you to stay away from her ''Cant you see that she is danger '."
Ashu chuckled "stop it Arman '."
"'why should I stop '.bass thu ek baar es election jeet jao and let me get single chance to snub it on their faces '.sab ke akal tikane aajeyega " Arman mumbled spitting his rage'.
" so what is all this racket here ?" Ashu enquired looking at group who are busy discussing
"Everyone are planning for tomorrow's party once you win election '." Arman smiled gleefully
" ohh ..and what is the guarantee that , I will win ..?"
"Because People are not fools to vote for someone like aditya verma 'everyone know how much obnoxious he is '." Arman smirked
Ashu got up from his seat '.." I will go from here '..I promised Db that I will come to help her with shopping" Ashu spoke getting up from his seat
Putting his arm around Ashu, Arman smiled "yes ...let's go '.because I feel tomorrow is going to be long day for you'.way too long day my boy '."
Punching on his chest Ashu laughed " Arman , you are too filmy '.." as his words reverberated through deserted college ,bumping on empty classrooms , empty corridors and empty sky'..
Hope you all liked it , let me know ...how it came out 😃
Anupamaa
