Gunjan headed towards her class and Samrat walked towards his cabin. He thought of utilizing the time in winding up the things.
As he was going towards his office, everyone greeted him warmly. Students were very happy to see him at Excel. Most of them asked him to join back, to which he just smiled and nodded.
It was an emotional walk towards his office. He had dedicated his life to this place for the last three years. Excel was always very special for him.....but since three years.....this place was like his home. After the accident.....he could live, breathe, smile, cry.....only because he was at Excel. The memories of the past were crowding his mind and his eyes were getting moist. Touching the pillars as he walked.....seeing glimpses of the notice boards.....watching students busy in their activities.....everything that gave him a sense of ownership and belongingness.....were now looking more like strangers. Life had always been cruel to him and had only taken his special belongings away from him. It was the same feeling again. Although, he had taken the decision to quit Excel himself.....yet it felt as if life was snatching another of his valuable possession from him.
He reached the door of his office.....took out the keys from the pocket of his coat.....opened the door and went in. There was so much peace there. Everything was in the same way as he had kept it. He looked around the room and seeing his things brought a smile on his face. He went up to his desk and took his name plate in his hand. Lost in his thoughts, he rubbed it gently with his finger. He never knew leaving Excel would be so difficult for him.
After a few minutes, he realized....."Ye mujhey kya ho raha hai?? Kyon Excel ko chodna merey liye itna mushkil hai??!! Mujhey toh khush hona chahiye. Afterall ye mera apna decision hai. aur waise bhi.....ab sub kuch theek ho gya hai. Nupur wapis a gayi hai. Chashmish ki family phir se complete ho gayi hai. Mera Excel mein rehney ka yehi toh maksad tha.....apni ghalti ki saza bhugatna.....aur Chashmish ke face pe smile ko wapis lana. Ab mera yahan rehney ka koi faida nahin. Yahan ab meri koi zaroorat nahin hai..... Bus, ab aur nahin sochun ga." Looking at his watch, "Oh God!!! Thoda hi time reh gya hai meeting mein. Main jaldi se apni cheezein wind up ker leta hun. Magar itna kuch hai abhi kerney wala. Ye sub itni jaldi kaisey ho ga??!!! Uff!!! Mujhey dobara yahan ana hi padey ga."
With these thoughts in mind, he got busy in the files on his table.
On the other side.....Gunjan was in her class.....physically, she was there.....but her mind was stuck up somewhere else. The last few hours had been very heavy for her. It wasn't only Samrat who was flowing in emotions.....Gunjan was also drowning in the thoughts of the words that were shared between her and Samrat since morning. Her guilt, pain and self-realization was not letting her mind focus on the lecture she was giving. But Gunjan could not let her emotions and feelings affect the valuable time of the students. She somehow managed to give the lecture and then distributed a case study in the class. The case discussion relaxed her mind to a certain extent.
Gunjan's class ended and she went to the Conference Room for the Disciplinary Committee Meeting. Samrat, and a few members were already there, busy in informal talks with each other.....and other's were joining in. It was a seven-members committee and since, it was the final meeting..the students (involved in the fight) were also called, but after some time. Initially, all the members wanted to develop consensus amongst themselves.
All the members took their seats. Gunjan and Samrat sat together. Just a couple of minutes before the start of the meeting, Samrat's phone rang.
"Hello.....yeah, I'm fine.....and you? Ok, I'm a bit busy.....will call you back", and he hung up the phone.
While he was putting his cell on silent mode, Gunjan almost whispered in his ear, "kiska phone tha?"
He looked back at her and replied (in a whisper), "baad mein batata hun".
From Samrat's way of talking on the phone, she could figure out that it was someone close to him. But as Samrat said, she had to wait to know who it was.
The meeting started. Samrat was asked to give his view point. He told everyone that he was firm in his decision and that he will never allow anyone to get punished for something that he/she hasn't done. However, he also told them that those involved in the fight should not be spared and should be penalized.
The members were very impressed by Samrat's decision and they even went up to saying that Samrat should reconsider his decision about resigning from Excel.
Gunjan was also asked about the whole issue. Her point of view was almost the same as Samrat.
Most of the other members also agreed with Samrat and Gunjan, and hence, a consensus was developed amongst the members.
Students were then called. A few questions were asked from them. Everyone tried to make them understand that whatever happened wasn't good for them and that they should stay away from indulging into these kind of activities, as this will not be tolerated and might lead to strict actions being taken against them.
When everyone had finished, Gunjan.....who was attending this meeting for the first time.....addressed the students.
"Tum log janytey bhi ho ye jo kuch bhi tum ne kiya hai, iske kya consequences ho saktey hein?!"
Samrat looked at her lovingly and proudly, as if his was heart saying....."ye hai meri Chashmish".....while Gunjan kept on talking to the students.
"Tumharey parents tumhein yahan pedhney bhejtey hein.....tum unki umeed ho. Wo khud terha terha ki sacrifices kertey hein tum logon ko pedhaney ke liye, aur tum loag, unhein ye sab ker ke sharminda kertey ho?! Jantey ho, tum mein se kuch ki ghalti ki sazaa kisi aisey student to bhi mil sakti hai, jo bilkul innocent ho.....jis ney kuch nahin kiya ho. Upney badley ke josh mein tum kisi bhi hud tuk ja saktey ho?!" She wasn't yelling at them.....her voice was soft, yet firm.....and was getting more n more stronger with every word. "Tumhein andaza hai, ke tumhari ghalti ki wajah se kisi ka career, kisi ki life tabah ho sakti hai?! Agar tumharey saath saath hum un be-gunahon per bhi ilzam laga dein, aur unhein bhi sazaa dein.....toh jantey ho keh us ka un per kya asar ho ga?! Kisi bhi insaan ke liye is se badi takleef nahin hoti ke ussey kisi aisey kaam ke liye ilzaam dia jaye jo usney kiya hi na ho. Humarey aisa kerney se uski zindagi tabah ho jati hai....."
As she was saying this last part of her sentence, her voice started cracking up.
Samrat who was looking down, suddenly felt as if someone has pushed him from within. "Did Gunjan actually say this?".....and he instantly looked at her. His whole body was experiencing a shiver. He saw that Gunjan had gone quiet. No one else noticed, but Samrat saw her wiping a tear from her eye that had skipped while she was opening her own heart in front of the students and the teachers present there. Whatever she said to the students was her own regret.....her guilt.....of punishing someone.....punishing the most special person of her life.....for something he had never done. So much was accumulated in her mind.....and the situation was making it unbearable for her to keep the things further enclosed within her. Thus, the situation gave her the platform to give voice to her own wrong doings.
She wiped off the tears quickly so that no one notices them and then immediately looked towards Samrat, because she knew, her words must have stabbed his heart. She was right.....he was completely shaken and was just staring at her.....while she could clearly see water drops gathering in his eyes too.
She could also manage to respond with a weak smile.
The meeting continued for another ten minutes or so and the students were given strong warnings. Samrat and Gunjan couldn't contribute much now. The students were told that the decision of the Committee will be communicated to them through letters from the Committee Head (Samrat), and their parents will be required to sign those letters.
Meeting ended and everyone walked out of the room. Gunjan and Samrat walked out together. They were quiet.....maybe, were finding some words to start the conversation.....or, maybe, after what happened inside the room had left them with no words. As they were walking, they shared glances and smiles. Their heart beats were definitely abnormal, and with every step, they could feel some strange feelings piling up within them. The corridor seemed to be a never ending one.....but this was more of a blessing for them. They both were longing for togetherness, and walking by each other's side, gave them that feeling.....a feeling of being with each other, despite every odd.
It won't be wrong to say that they were lost in the thoughts about each other, and thus, were almost unaware of things happening on their left and right.
Suddenly, something flew towards them and landed right at Samrat's feet. They both got a jolt as the thing flew in front of their eyes and fell on the ground. "Ouch".....came from Gunjan and as an instant reaction, Samrat extended his arm so as to stop her from moving ahead. For a flash of second, there was darkness in front of their eyes.
After a few seconds, when they got back to their senses, they looked down to see what the thing was..... It was the ball that was mistakenly thrown in that direction by the students playing basket ball. Now that they both were out of their thoughts and into the real world, they saw students standing on the sides of the corridor…and there were noises of sorry coming from the group that was playing the game.
"Sorry, Sir.....Sorry, Ma'm.....ghalti se ball idher a gya".
While Gunjan was trying to calm them down saying, it's okay, Samrat was lost in some thoughts again. He was staring at the ball.....and the memories of his early days were flashing his mind. The cheers for him.....him running in the white shirt and red trouser towards the pole.....dodging other's.....dribbling the ball.....then reaching onto the target and doing basket.....and then, throwing flying kisses to the girls.....every memory was crowding his mind. Basket ball was not just his passion, but it was his life. And like other things, the accident also took away this important possession of his life away from him.
He took the few steps towards the ball. Gunjan turned towards him and saw that Samrat had gone very quiet. She could figure out that something was running in his mind. She just kept on looking at him. Samrat bent down slowly and picked the ball in his hands. Just holding it gave him a satisfaction....as if, he had gotten back something very special. He was still staring at the ball and rotating it slowly. Everyone was now looking at him, wondering why he was behaving like this, and also thinking that what he was going to do with the ball.
Samrat moved to the side, crossing Gunjan, who was trying to understand Samrat's actions. He kept the ball on the side grill carefully.....and then started taking off his coat gradually. He kept the coat on the grill and rolled up his sleeves.....took the ball again.....and started taking steps towards the BB ground. There was pin drop silence as everyone wanted to see the star basketball player. When he was in the ground, he gathered pace, and dribbling the ball, raced towards the pole and just as he was very close to it, he turned back. Everyone was surprised, that why didn't he throw the ball in the basket. Gunjan was the most surprised one. "Awwwwww" was the word coming from everyone. Samrat was walking back towards the stairs that lead to the corridor.....and just when he was in the middle of the ground.....he raised the ball slightly and threw it backward. Every eye was following the ball now.....and bingo!!! It went straight into the basket. For a second, it was unbelievable for all.....and then, the whole area was resounding with claps. Samrat knew that he had done the basket. "Yessss!!!" was his reaction. He took a quick glance everywhere and then looked towards Gunjan.
There was a sense of pride for her. He saw her clapping for him, with a huge smile on her face. She looked relieved and that look of her's increased Samrat's excitement manifolds. He also gave her a big smile and winked towards her. After all, some habits always remain.....and this winking was his trademark for his Chashmish. She blushed at his wink and signaled him with her eyes that someone might see them. He again smiled.
The boys of the BB team came running towards him.....praising him.....and requesting him to train them in the game. Samrat thanked everyone but was very careful in NOT making any sort of a commitment.
He went back to where Gunjan was standing. When she saw him coming towards her, she took his coat from the side-grill.....and carefully held it on her arm. Samrat went to her......"Kyun, Chasmish.....aj bhi mera nishana bilkul pakka hai?!", he asked her mischievously.
"Excel ke best basketball player ka nishana kabhi kharab ho hi nahin sakta", she also responded with a naughty smile on her face.
They both laughed.....as Gunjan brought her hand forward to give Samrat his coat back.
"Ab pehna bhi do", Samrat's mischief's didn't end earlier.....and he bent a bit forward in the perfect mood to tease his Chashmish.
Gunjan shyed and lowered her eyes....."sab dekh rahey hein Samrat. Ye lo apna coat", she said while biting her lips.
He smiled and took the coat back.
"Chalo, main tumhein ghar drop ker deta hun".
Gunjan agreed and they both got in the car and raced towards Gunjan's house.
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"Undr aao na.....", Gunjan asked him, when they reached her house.
"Nahin Chashmish.....abhi nahin".
Though she wanted him to come, but didn't force him.
They both got off the car. Samrat was leaning on his door while Gunjan, after taking her bag and files, came to his side.
"Bye, Samrat"
"Bye, Chashmish"
And Gunjan started walking towards the gate. Samrat was watching her go. When she was close to the gate, Samrat also turned to open the door of his car. Just then he heard Gunjan saying, "Samrat....."
He turned and saw Gunjan coming back towards him.
He also walked towards her.
"Kya hua, Chashmish?"
"Wo main keh rahi thi.....ummm.....kya tum....." She was not able to say or ask what she wanted to.
"Bolo na, Chasmish. Kya hua?"
"Wo main keh rahi thi ke kya tum merey saath kal coffee peeney chalo ge?".....though she had said, but she was feeling shy and a bit awkward.
For a second, Samrat couldn't believe his ears. Gunjan asking him to go out for coffee.....wasn't it too good to be true. But in the last three years, so much had changed between them and nothing was unbelievable now.
He took a few seconds to respond.....and then, while getting close to her, he responded,
"Idea toh acha hai, Chashmish.....lekin ismey thoda change ker letey hein. Main abhi bhi Excel ke Trustee hun.....aur Excel ka Trustee wahan ki teacher ke saath coffee ke liye jaye.....kuch mazaa nahin aya. Aur phir loag kya sochein gein?! Isliye, Excel ka Trustee apni Chasmish ko coffee nahin, kisi five-star hotel mein dinner ke liye le ke jayega.....Kyun ye kaisa idea hai?!".....he asked Gunjan in a low and husky voice and raised his eyebrows.
Gunjan's heart skipped a beat or two. Dinner with Samrat.....was it really possible now?! She blushed at his question and then looking in his eyes, said....."acha idea hai".....and then lowered her eyes again. Her smile reached her eyes and twinkled in them.
He saw her shying and smiling and that automatically brought a smile on his face.
He moved back....."toh theek hai, Chashmish. Tomorrow 7 pm sharp.....I'll be here to pick you up".
Gunjan nodded an okay and waved bye to him.
Samrat also said bye.
Gunjan walked in her direction (towards the gate and into her house)…while Samrat got in the car and drove back home.
Real Estate
Fan Fictions
