Hey NAUCians, this is my first try on NiRav. I just adore their bond and dedicate this to the K Khandaan. Also, thanks to Nimi for suggesting a NiRav OS for friendship Day.
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I was sitting on the terrace, giving finishing touches to the collage that I had made for Saurav. I smiled as my eyes fell on the pictures...pictures of our childhood, our youth... pictures of our memories, our friendship!
I heard someone climb the steps of the terrace so quickly hid the collage in my bag and sat with my laptop. Saurav entered the terrace with a big smile plastered on his face and hugged me tight.
"Meeting kaisi thi?" I asked him. But to tell you guys the truth, I know the meeting went great!
"Awesome! Saare clients ko humare designs pasand aaye, and they are ready to buy the duppattas from us, woh bhi, iss hafte mein jo Sale hai naa, wahaan bechne ke liye...can you believe it?" He smiled while breaking the hug.
I smiled at him. Dolly di and he were working very hard to get this contract, and happiness is when your friend is rewarded for his hard work, isn't it?
I looked at Saurav who was sitting on the bench, staring at his house, lost somewhere.
"Oye, tera ghar kahi nahi bhaag raha hai..." I punched him in his shoulder and sat next to him.
"I know, main toh ghar ko isiliye dekh raha tha, kyunki I remembered our first meet."
I smiled as I remembered a 5 year old Nisha handshaking with a 5 year old Saurav.
flashback*
I was punished by Dadaaji to be on the terrace till evening and study the alphabets. But I was more interested in the happenings of the house, opposite to ours then in those books.
I saw that a huge truck was standing infront of the main door and laborers were unloading things like beds, suitcases etc. from it. A lady, in her mid 20's got down, followed by a 5 year old boy. She thanked the driver and got in the house.
I heard Maa call me, so hurried back to my books. She told me that Dadaaji had called me down. Fearing Dadaaji's anger, I followed my mom downstairs.
I answered Dadaaji's questions somehow. Pleased with me, he said, "Humare pados mein Shrimati Shikhawat aur unka beta rehne aaye hai... Umesh, Dolly, Kirti and Nisha, tum log unse mil kar aana..."
Umesh Bhaiya and I were thrilled to meet some new boy and play a prank on him, while Dolly Di and Kirti made a face. I signalled Umesh bhaiya and we ran to meet our neighbor.
When we entered the house, the lady was crying. The boy looked at her sadly and then looked up at us. I smiled at him. He gave a brief nod. His mother followed his gaze and looked at us. Wiping her tears, she invited us in and went in the kitchen.
While handshaking with him, Umesh Bhaiya, "Mera naam Umesh hai, aur tumhara?" The boy smiled and replied, "Saurav."
Umesh Bhaiya gave me a hard stare and I realized that I too had to handshake. I forwarded my hand and while handshaking he said, "Tum chatt pe se hume kyun dekh rahi thi?"
*Flashback ends*
"Aate hi humare ghar mein taak-jhaak karne ki shuruwaat ki thi naa tune?" I asked him. He smiled knowing what I was talking about. He showed me a small compass box, and looking at it, I couldn't stop a small tear that trickled down. It was the first prize we had together won as a pair in drawing competition.
*Flashback*
All the 2nd standard students were busy in coloring the drawing pages with Mickey Mouse pictures on them. The coloring was a mess, but no one gave a damn, because the main purpose was to fill the black and white Mickey Mouse with colors with the help of your friend.
Saurav and I were too lost in coloring. After 30 minutes, the teachers collected the pages from us. We were anxiously waiting for the result.
"And the winner is Nisha Gangwal and Saurav Shikhawat." Our teacher said and we both started jumping. Everyone laughed as we ran to collect the prize tha was awaiting us.
Later at Saurav's home, we unwrapped the silver foil and looked in wonder at the compass box and the pencils, ruler, eraser and crayons in it. I grabbed the compass and ran to my house before Saurav could realize what just happened. He then came to my place and complained about me to Maa.
Maa entered my room, just before I could hid the compass. She stared at the compass and me angrily.
"Nishu, is this the way to behave?" My mother asked me and I nodded in a no. Tears collected in my eyes. My mom softened and said to me, "Baccha, dono ki mehnat hai naa? Tu akele kaise prize rakh sakti hai? Ek kaam karte hai, (she took the compass from me and removed pencils, ruler, eraser and crayons, closed the compass box and gave it to Saurav) Nishu, tu pencil rakh, Saurav tu compass rakh."
We both agreed to my mother's suggestion happily and ran outside to play.
*Flashback ends*
"Tune abhi bhi yeh compass sambhal kar rakha hai?" I asked in wonder. "Obviously, main teri tarah nahi hoon..." He said faking anger. "jyaada nakhre naa kar..." I said, pushing him outside the bench. "Tere gussa yaad karti hoon, toh aaj bhi hasi aati hai...I had first time sacrificed my share of jalebis" I said ignoring his cry which came out from his mouth when he landed on the floor because of my push.
*Flashback *
Saurav, Dolly Di, Umesh bhaiya and me were busy comepleting our homework. Umesh Bhaiya was busy with his Math problems while Dolly Di had difficulty in her English Grammar. I stared at the topic for the essay that I had penned down on my Hindi Composition book. "Mere Papa."
"Saurav, tune essay likha?"I asked a lost Saurav. Saurav replied in annoyance, "Nahi likha, toh?" I was taken aback. "bas aise hi puch rahi hoon... waise tere papa hai kaha? 5 saalon mein unhe ek bhi baar nahi dekha..." I said and realized what blunder I had made.
Saurav had warned me to never ask him about his father, but today I had done it. Dolly Di and Umesh bhaiya stared at me in horror. I looked at Saurav sadly, as he walked out of my house.
Umesh Bhaiya, "Jaa, usse maafi maang." I nodded agreeing to him and ran behind Saurav who was almost out the sight. My taaiji, who was carrying the plate with hot jalebis, stopped me and asked me, "kya kiya tumne? Saurav aise gusse mein kyun chala gaya? Usne jalebi bhi nahi khaayi?"
"Kuch nahi kiya maine..." I said as I picked 4-5 jalebis in my hand and rushed to his house.
"Taaiji, Saurav kaha hai?" I asked his mom, who was surprised when I entered the house, without caring to knock.
"Apne kamre mein..." She replied and not giving her a chance to complete, I ran upstairs, taking care that the jalebis do not fall.
I opened the door of his room. He was sitting on his bed, lost somewhere. He gave me a glance and then said rudely, "Jaa yaha se Nisha... tujhe kahi hui baat samajh nahi aati... kaha tha naa Papa ke baare mein mat puch, kyun pucha?"
"Saurav, I am sorry, galti se pucha..." I relied guiltily. "Teri galtiyon ki saza mujhe kyun milti hai, Bhagwan jaane..." He said, looking at me angrily. He got down from the bed.
I looked at him in shock as he ransacked his cupboard and threw an album near my legs. I narrowed my eyes. He shook his head and picked up the album and flipped the pages.
A young man of mid 20 stood with a woman and a baby in his arms. The man and his wife had blissful smiles on their faces. He flipped the page. It was an army officer, throwing boy of 3 in the air. The next page held the picture of an army officer, with his wife and a boy of 5 years. The boy was Saurav and the lady was his mom.
"tumhare papa army mein the?" I asked in wonder. "Haan and he is no more." he said in pain. I looked at him as he sat on the bed. "Yeh ghar mere Dadaaji ka hai... hum Delhi mein rehte the aur Papa ki posting Kashmir mein thi jab he was shot dead... I was five then..." He said and closed his eyes.
The picture was perfectly clear to me. After his dad's death, Saurav and his mom had shifted here and his mom was crying because of the loss of her husband. I placed my hand on his shoulder as he cried.
I had no words to comfort him then, but I had hot jalebis to calm him down. I gave them all to him that day.
*Flashback ends*
"Taaiji waapas kab laut rahi hai?" I asked him. "Parso train Jaipur pahuch jaayegi." He replied. Taaiji had gone to Vaishno Devi and I was excited to meet her, after all she is the one who gave me chocolates every day, and the biggest chocolate I had got from her, was on the day when my 10th standard results were announced.
*Flashback *
Everyone in the house was waiting for Maa, papa and Sukku to come and announce my result. Papa entered the house with sadness on his face. Fear gripped my heart. I knew I hadn't done well because the Pilani Sports Meet had affected me very badly that time. I sadly looked at my father and grandfather. More than anything, I feared Dadaaji's anger.
But then suddenly Papa smiled and hugged me. I was confused. "Congrats, tujhe first class mila hai..." He said happily and gave me the mark sheet. I had scored 70%.I happily hugged him back. My family congratulated, blessed and praised me.
I went to Saurav's house to share the news with Taaiji. She beamed in happiness and gave me a big bar of chocolate. I happily received it from her when we heard loud music outside the house, we rushed out and were shocked to see Saurav and Sukku dancing infront of 5 musicians who were playing the famous Bollywood Songs of that time.
Taaiji tried to speak over the noise, "Kya hai yeh sab" Saurav, "Arrey maa, Nishu ko first class mila hai na, isiliye..." "Aur tujhe?" his mother asked him.
Sukku started laughing and Saurav made a baby face. I signalled Sukku to shut up. Saurav gave his mark sheet to Taaiji. I peeped and was surprised to see that he had scored 56%. Taaiji started scolding Saurav while Sukku and I enjoyed the chocolate bar and the scene.
*Flashback ends *
"Yeh kya hai?" I heard Saurav say this and came out of my trance. I was shocked to see him with the collage, but then it was no use. He had already seen it and the surprise was spoilt.
"Kya yaar Saurav, thodi der ke liye ruk nahi sakta tha? de deti na main tumhe yeh collage?" I said annoyed. He giggled and then gave me the compass. I looked at him in confusion.
"Happy Friendship Day. Humari dosti ki yeh pehli nishaani." I smiled at him and hugged him. I wished him back.
"Meri beewi ke saath kyun flirt kar rahe ho? Tumhari fianc nahi hai kya tumhare paas?" We heard Kabir's voice so broke the hug.
Saurav replied cheekily, "Nope yaar, Dolly is boring... can I take Nisha with me?" Kabir made a "you are dead" face and Saurav looked at him in confusion and then turned pale when Dolly Di entered the terrace, all angry.
Dolly Di, "Kya kaha tumne? I won't spares you..." Saurav, "Dolly, dekho, main toh bas mazak..." he couldn't speak further as Dolly di was throwing whatever came to her hand towards him. Kabir and I burst out laughing. I hugged the compass box that was one of my most beautiful Friendship waale Memories.
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Dosti ka rishta khubsoorat hai... Dosti ka rishta umar bhar ka hai...
Humari khushi mein humare dost humare saath hai, aur dukh mein humhare paas...
Humare har acchayi se wakeef hai, Humare kamzori ko sudharne ki koshish mein hai...
Sab ko kuch mile yaa na mile, par tere jaisa dost jaroor mile...
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Do comment and tell how it was.
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
