"kehne ko toh woh tumhari best friend hain..par uske dil ki baat toh main hi jaan gayi hoon na! "
"Huh??" Samrat wasnt listening to her..he was simply lost in thoughts as to why he was lost in thoughts in the first place...he was staring at Sheena..but not looking at her...wats wrong wid me?? He kept on asking himself...here he was, wid that girl that every guy wanted to be with.. but he cudnt see her...all he could remember was how chashmish had gone away from there.. and the sadness in her eyes..and he tried his best to think of how he wud try to get back that smile on her face...that beautiful smile...that sends a warmth down his heart...that always makes him want to smile.. coz everytime he does, that smiles widens up...n then, nothing is more beautiful than that one thing-- STOP IT!!! He told himself.. concentrate on sheena..concentrate!!!
"Sorry...tum kuch keh rahi thi.." he tried to smile.. it was too painful.
" u kno wat samrat, I think tum kuch aur hi soch rahe ho..I dont think tum meri baat sun bhi rahe the.."
" u r right babes..main nahin sun raha tha..after all, jab tum samne ho..toh koi tumhe sun kaise sakta hain?? I mean, tumhe dekhne ke baad kisi ke paas woh fursat hi kahaa hain.." he winked at her.
Sheena smiled.." samrat..tum hamesha sab ko khush rakhne ki koshish karte ho na.. phir uske liye chahe tumhe kuch bhi kehna ya karna pade.."
" babes.. meri niyat pe tumhe koi shaq hain kya? " he said coming closer to her and smiling naughtily.
" nahin..par tumhare thoughts pe jaroor hain.."
" huh?? Main kuch samjha nahin.."
"yehi tumhara sabse bada problem hain samrat' she smiled at him and walked away from there.
He knew he had done it again...this wasnt the first time that sheena had left him like that after their talk. This had happened before...n the day before.,.n then two days before that..and then the other day when--
" hey chashmish!! " he shouted as he saw her across the hallway.
She looked at him and silently wiped off her tears...n replaced them wid a convincing smile.
" kahaan..? chalo saath chalte hain na.." he said, smiling awrmly at her.
" woh main actually library ja rahi thi...kuch books issue karne hain.. aur mujhe pata hain tum wahaan toh nahin aana chahoge.." she smiled at him.
" thank god .. tum smile kar rahi ho.. maine socha ki tum bahut sad ho.." he heaved a sigh of relief.
"nahin samrat.. main sad kyun hoongi? " she adjusted her specs and looked away from him.
" hmm..lagta hain tum mujhse naraj ho.."
" nahin samrat...tumhe aisa kyun lagta hain..? acha..sheena kaha hain? "
" pata nahin chashmish...aaj maine use phir se bhagaa diya.."
"kya?? "
He laughed.. " mera matlab hain... pichle bahut dinon se..jab bhi main uske saath rehta hoon..maujhe ajeeb se thoughts aate hain..matlab jaise ki, main uske saath hote hue bhi, uske saath nahin hoon.."
" aisa kyun? "
" my dear chashmish...agar mujhe yeh pata hota..toh main yahaan time waste kyun karta..ab tak toh use manakar uske saath date pe gaya hota na! "
They both laughed.
" anyway..mujhe der ho rahi hain samrat..mujhe chalna chahiye.."
" main tumhe drop kar deta hoon.."
"samnrat main library jaa rahi hoon...wahaan bhi kya bike se drop karoge?" and she smiled at her own joke.
" wow chashmish... tumhara jokes ka style improve ho raha hain..I like it! " he said making a face " par main library ki baat nahin kar raha ha..uske baad ki baat kar raha tha..ghar toh jaana hain na? ya raat library me katne ka iraada hain.."
Gunjan laughed.. " phir sheena kaise? "
" uske paas car hain chashmish.."
"par tumhe usse baat nahin karni hain kya? "
Samrat took a deep breath.." pata nahin chashmish..'
" nahin samrat..tumhe usse baat karni chahiye..'
" ok ma'am!! Jaisa aap kahen..' and he gave her a quick bow and a wink.
As gunjan walked away from there... he cudnt stop smiling. She was not sad.. she was smiling.. he felt relieved.. n then, he started searching for sheena.
"Gunjan...tumne aaj tak apne best friend ke liye toh kahi baar gaana gaya hain.. aaj apne best friend ke friend ke liye nahin gaaogi kya?"
" Benji.." she said shaking her head and smiling as she took the stacks of CDs from his hand and arranged them neatly on the table in the music room.
" no no..I'm serious.. dekho gunjan.. agar hum dono aise hi chupchap baithe rahe na..toh mujhe aisa lagega ki meri awwaj hi chali gayee hain.." said benji touching his throat and giving his innocent look.
Gunjan looked at him, laughed...and then turned away... and started her favourite song... it was the song which had made her realise wat her singing is to her...which had made her a singer.. the song which had gotten her...her best friend... so much has changed since then... she thought...
Yeh...zindagi...khole baahen...khadi...
Hava...yun chali...dil kahe toh bhi...
Zara......saaath....aaa........
Benji came towards her...and offered her his hand, indicating dance.. gunjan immediately stopped singing...
"benji..yeh kya?"
" kyun? Kya main apni friend ke saath dance nahin kar sakta.. come on gunjan...tum meri best female friend ho..infact, the only one.. kya tum mere saath dance nahin karogi?"
And then seeing gunjan's apprehensive face he added " I kno...tumne aaj tak sirf samrat ke saath dance kiya hain..par woh tumhe khaa nahin jaayega agar tumne mere saath ek dance kar liya toh.."
Gunjan laughed and gave him her hand.
Kal...chotisi... choti yaadon...ki gali...
Pal...mein naya... aisa waadon ka...silsila....
"samrat...yeh toh.."
"ssshhhh!!!" said samrat...and he took sheena's hand..and they crept towards the music room...
Bheeed mein bhi...kyun lage ki... hum do akele... yahaan......
Gunjan stopped singing as she heard claps.. she turned around to see samrat and sheena.
"wow gunjan!! I mean.. aaj tak toh maine tumhare awaaj ke baare mein sirf suna tha.. aaj toh dekh bhi liya.. oh I mean, actually sun liya!! " she started at her in amazement.
Meanwhile...samrat was staring as well...but not in amazement...his look was unfathomable...all he could visualise was benji and gunjan dancing together... Dude!! Chill..he told himself.. its jus a dance.. and he replaced his face wid a smile..that wasnt so convincing..
" wow chashmish...tumhari awaaj mein aaj bhi vohi jaadoo hain haan...good!!.." and he laughed...a totally fake laugh.
Seeing samrat, gunjan stepped away from benji and straightened her dress.
" hi samrat...hi sheena.." she said a little nervous.
" hi nahin gunjan... bye bolo.. hum toh yahaan sirf tumhari awaaj se kheenche chale aaye... abhi hume der ho rahi hain..rehearsals ke liye.... par haan, main miss tamanna ko jaroor baloongi..tumhara song play mein include karne ke liye.."
"nahin sheena..woh toh aise hi..benji ne kahaan ki gao..to maine.."
"are..par tum kitna acha gaati ho... tumhe toh har waqt aise hi gaate rehna chahiye...hai na sammy?" and she turned to look at him. Samrat still cudnt digest the sight which he had jus seen..
" kya hua.. tum ekdum chup hi ho gaye...sammy, uska gaana khatam ho chuka hain!!"
And everyone laughed.
" anyways gunjan..ab hume sachmuch chalna chahiye..nahin toh hum phir rehearsals ke liye late ho jaayenge..come on sammy.."
"uh... tum chalo..main thodi der mein aata hoon.."
"sheena...main bhi tumhare saath chalti hoon.. mujhe yeh CDs miss tamanna ko dikhani hain.." and gunjan and sheena both left the music room together.
"hey dude...wassup!! bahut kam dikhte ho aaj-kal... full on kya?? ' said benji indiacting towards the door through which sheena had jus exited and winking at him.
" nahin dude..woh toh bas aise hi.. tu bata...kya chal raha hain aaj kal...woh dance and all.." he indicated towards the place where gunjan and benji were dancing.
"hello...samrat!!" he looked at samrat in a tired manner and suddenly realisation dawned on him...as to how stupidly he had reacted. Samrat laughed at himself.
" benji..I'm sorry...woh u kno..chashmish ko pehle kisi aur ke saath nahin dekha na...dance karte hue..isiliye thoda weird laga.. waise teri jagah agar koi bhi hota..toh aisa hi lagta.. tu galat matlab mat nikalna yaar.."
"dude..main koi galat matlab nahin nikaal raha hoon... lekin sochne waali baat yeh hain.." he said as he put an arm around samrat as they exited the music room, ' ki tu...koi bhi matlab kyun nikal raha tha..?"
Samrat stopped dead in the tracks... "kya??"
"haan dude.. I mean, do minute ke liye toh mujhe aisa laga...ki gunjan teri girl-friend hain..aur tu mujhpar...yaane ki apne best friend par shaq kar raha tha...kyunki main teri girl-friend ke saath dance kar raha tha.." said benji melodramatically...and he clapped samrat's back..and went away laughing ...
Samrat seemed dazed...for the first time in his life...he wish he hadn't heard benji correctly....
SAMRAT'S REALISATION - PART TWO
"Come on people!! Aaj rehearsals itni boring kyun lag rahi hain!! get some life honestly.. aisa hi chalta raha to play toh door ki baat hain, hum log ek scene bhi complete nahin kar payenge! Aur yeh.."
"ma am yeh CDs deni thi aapko.."
"oh..thanks gunjan!"
Gunjan smiled and left away to do her work.
"Aur yeh samrat kahan hain..?? use kya lagta hain.. sara college uska hain?? Kabhi bhi aa sakta hain?? Koi kadar nahin hain time ki..!!"
"ma am woh actually..ata hi hoga..shayad kisi kaam mein busy hoga.."
"sheena.. maine tumse poocha hain?? Aur haan.. mayank and nupur.." all of a sudden ther was a warmth in her voice " tumhari chemistry is last scene mein mujhe bahut pasand aayi..well done, keep it up!!"
Mayank and Nupur smiled at each other lovingly and then both turn away as they realise it.
"Sorry ma am.. really sorry!!!" said Samrat rushing into the room.
Sheena gave him a look of where-hav-u-been-so-long-and-do-u-hav-ne-idea-how-mad-tamanna-is...
He cut her out wid a look that meant "later"..
"ok people..now that everyone's here.. lets start wid the scene.. come on samrat .. sheena.. tum dono ka scene hain..and please, let me see the chemistry jo maine last time dekhi thi..it should be the best!!"
"yes ma am.." they both said together and set to work on their scripts.
"Tam.. main aapke liye juice laaya hoon.. woh aaj aapka mind thoda hot lagta hain na ..waise aap toh humesha hot lagti hain.." and he smiled his typical smile "uhh.. par maine maine socha isse aap thodi cool ho jaayengi.. matlab, aapka mind.."
"oh uday.. u are really so sweet! "she said, ruffling his hair.
"dus!"
"kya??" said mayank taking his head out of the script.
"dusvi baar.. pata hain mayank, yeh dusvi baar hain jo miss tamanna ne uday ke baalon ko haath lagaya hain.." said nupur resting a hand on mayank's shoulder.
Mayank looked at it stubbornly..and knew he should brush it off..but he cudnt ..all the same, he smiled sweetly at nupur " ok nupur kumari..agar aapki detective agency band ho gayi ho toh kya hum humare scene par kaam kare? Yaad hain na miss tamanna ne kya kahaan.. hume humari chemistry ko barkaraar rakhna chahiye.." he said with a sincere look on his face.
"acha?? Lekin humare beech mein to already itni chemistry hain... saare chemicals react hoke jab ek saath mil jaate hain toh kaisa dhamaka udta hain.. humare beech bhi bilkul waise hi hota hain.. by God! Kya chutkulla mara hain.." she said clapping her hands and laughing to herself.
"nupur..kya main tumhari script borrow kar sakta hoon..maine apni scrip kahin kho di.."
She turned around to look at samrat.
" haan...kyun nahin.. waise bhi humara scene nahin hain..aur main is ulu ke pathe ke saath script share karrongi..tum ye lelo.."
"thanks.." he said and walked away from there.
" by god! Yeh isko kya hua achanak.. sorry..thanks.. yeh toh samrat ka style nahin hain..hain na?" she said conversationally at mayank
Mayank simply shrugged and buried his head in the script.
" sammy.. tum kahaan the.. bolo na.."
"abhi nahin sheena.. kya hum scene pe work kar sakte hain.."
"ok.."
" ok people.. from the top..lets begin!! Samrat and sheena.. ready?
They both nodded.
"good.. then come on..begin!"
"main apni poori zindagi tumhare saath bitana chahti hoon.. itni si baat tumhe samajh mein kyun nahin aati.. kya main kuch jyaada maang rahi hoon?"
Samrat looked frustrated.. his eyes scanned sheena..and then went over her to the door.. jus beyond that door..and a few steps ahead.. was the music room.. he could see benji and gunjan dancing..
SHUT UP!! He told himself.. but it wasnt silent
"what?" was all sheena could manage to say.
"mujhe aisa nahin sochna chahiye tha.."
"kaisa? Vishal, tum kya bol rahe ho..meri kuch samajh mein nahin aa raha.."
"meri bhi kuch samajh mein nahin aa raha.." he said running a frustrated hand through his hair. " kuch samajh mein nahin aa raha.. aisa suddenly.. kaise ho sakta hain" his thoughts were out of the rehearsal room.. he was unaware of people around him.
And he realised...he was battling wid his feelings.. for the first time.. he always knew wat he felt..at every moment of his life.. his heart obeyed him.. but now, it seemed to fail him..
" dekho vishal.. agar tumhe thoda time chahiye.. to main tumhe voh de sakti hoon.. mujhe koi jaldi nahi hain..."
" time toh bahut hain mere paas.. bas, samajh mein kuch nahin aa raha.."
Now sheena looked down at the script.. she thought Samrat was jus improvising the first few lines...but then she realised, he wasnt paying attention to the script at all... all the same, she played along with him coz Tamanna already was in a bad mood.
" tum chaho toh mere saath apni feelings share kar sakte ho.. I mean, yeh toh mujhe tumhe batane ki bhi jaroorat bhi nahin hain.. after all, humari shadi tay hui hain.."
" I kno.. lekin phir bhi.. kuch ajeeb lag raha hain..jaisa pehle akbhi nahin laga tha.."
"hum dono mile..usse pehle bhi nahin?'
"nahin.. aisa pehli baar lag raha hain.. jaise kuch dil mein hain...u kno, mehsoos toh hota hain.. par pata hi nahin ki woh kya hain.. aur kyun hain..'
"kya tumne apne dil se puchne ki koshish ki.. kahi baar answers humare paas hi hote hain.. bas hum unhe dhoondh nahin paate..'
"lekin.. dil mein khud itni confusion hain.. usse kya puchoon.."
"tam.." said Uday looking up and down the script and turning it over and over again.
"SSSSHHH!!!" said Tamanna silencing uday.. she was jus looking at the two of them.. this was improvisation to the best! She thought.
"ma am..yeh dono kuch bhi bol rahe hain.." whispered uday.
" I kno.. but let them finish.." said Tamanna whispering back excitedly.
" vishal.. kya tum mere saath khush nahin ho?" and sheena felt her voice breaking down.
"nahin.. aisi koi baat nahin hain!"
"toh phir?'
"pata nahin.. tumhare saath hota hoon.. toh khush toh bahut hota hoon.. lekin kuch missing lagta hain.."
"kya?"
"pata nahin.."
"oh vishal.." she said, resting her head on his shoulder.
But samrat seemed unperturbed by this..and unconsciously hugged her back.. he was thinking.. trying to understand wat was happeneing top him.. wat were those feelings hat were there since the last few days..
" vishal.. I m sure time ke saath sab thik ho jaayega.. hume thoda time do.." she said looking at his face. Her voice was pleading and there were tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
" time toh bahut hain!! Par time ko leke main kya karoonga.. jab meri kuch samajh mein hi nahin aa raha!!"
"vishal..' she said taking a heavy breath.." shayad tum mujhse pyaar nahin karte.."
He turned to look directly at her now... and tried to see her.. at first there was jus a blurred image... and then, he could make out her face and her sharp features.. that extremely smart face .. which spoke loads of attitude.. and that smile which had made him fall for her.. those beautiful brown eyes wid a naughty glint in them.. and he realised wat was missing.. the specs were missing... yes, they were missing.. but they wouldnt suit her now..would they? They would look out of place.. jus as she suddenly seemed to him.. out of place.. in his life, in his heart.. in everythin that he did.. he was seeing her in an entirely new light now..
"brilliant..!" whispered Tamanna while uday was busy staring at her.
" tumhare specs kahaan hain.."
"main specs nahin lagati vishal.." she said, now a little confused.
"nahin.. aur tumhe lagana bhi nahi chahiye.. kyunki woh sirf ek ladki par ache lagte hain..' She gave him a piercing look that spoke volumes .. and she knew wat he was missing in his life..
"tam..yeh dono kya badbada rahein hain.. mujhe kuch sunai nahi de raha.."
"mujhe bhi nahin.. lekin ssshh..let me try to listen.."
" vishal.. I wish ki yeh end nahi hota.. par I guess, yehi humara end hain.." and tears started falling from her face .. she could no longer control them..
And they were jolted out of their scene by loud claps.. initiated by Tamanna and then by the entire crowd.. she went over to give them a huge hug...
" guys..this was brlliant.. I mean, itna amazing improvisation.. itni rocking chemistry.. aur itne beautiful dialogues the! Seriously.. yeh break-up scene toh mere script mein pehle se hi tha.. tum dono ne ise chaar chaand laga diye!! Seriously..mind blowing!!"
Sheena quickly wiped away her tears.. and smiled at Tamanna.. Samrat was too dazed to notice anythin.. he jus realised wat he had said.. and he didnt kno how he was supposed to react... he did the only thing that he could do.. smiled alongwith the rest... and left the room as quickly as he could..
"samrat..ruko.."
"ma am.. " said sheena, stopping her. " jaane dijiye use.. kuch bahut jaroori kaam poora karna hain.." she said looking at the dorr sadly.
"hmm..not bad haan! Tum dono ek doosre ko kaafi achi tarah se jaan gaye ho.." she said teasing her.
Sheena gave her a smile and turned away from the crowd..
P.S. I hope I havnt gone beyond the limits of any character..if I hav, excuse me for it..I will try n improve the next time! 😳
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
