chand sitaareMeher was unwillingly being dragged outside to the party that had been specially held for her birthday.
"Sasha, mujhe nahin jaana." Meher whined wanting to go back to her books.
"Meher, for once, would you please let go of your books and appreciate what's around you?" Sasha scolded. "Do you have any idea how much effort it took to arrange all this? I mean to find out what your likes and dislikes are without asking you directly, has to be the hardest thing that I have done in my life."
Meher looked down embarrassed.
"Now, come." Sasha took Meher by the hand and led her to the backyard where the party was set up.
The moment Meher stepped outside, all the guests cheered for her and approached her to wish her a happy birthday. Not accustomed to all the attention, Meher awkwardly responded to them all. As the greetings were happening, the strumming of a guitar attracted everyone's attention.
Meher too tried looking for the musician amidst the crowd.
"Chand sitaare, phool aur khushboo," A male voice sang out and echoed around the backyard.
"Chand sitaare, phool aur khushboo, yeh toh saare purane hain," Meher's shoulder was brushed as Abeer entered the yard from behind her.
With a grand smile on his face and a guitar hanging around his neck, he sang,"Taza taza kali khili hain, hum uske deewane hain."
Meher lowered her gaze as she blushed from all the attention she was getting. Abeer lowered his head so that he was able to see her eyes.
"Kaali ghatayein, barkha saawan, yeh toh sab afsaney hain," Meher walked away from Abeer to stand by the pool while Abeer grinned.
"Taza taza kali khili hai hum uske deewane hain," Meher turned around at that as she felt her heart quicken.
She continued to wring her light blue dupatta due to nervousness. Sasha took Meher by the hand to introduce her to some of her other friends. As she was talking, Abeer continued to serenade.
"Andaz hai uske naye naye, hai naya naya deewanapan" He sang ever so softly, mesmerized by Meher's beauty.
When Nisaar nudged him on the shoulder, Abeer came out of his reverie and began singing again.
"Andaz hai uske naye naye, hai naya naya deewanapan" Abeer strummed his guitar and walked around.
"Pehnane taj jawaani ka hanske laut gaya bachpan" Abeer smiled as he saw Meher laughing whole heartedly.
"Geet ghazal sab kal ki baatein" He sat down beside the pool and gazed upon Meher.
"O geet ghazal sab kal ki baatein" Abeer became engrossed by her presence as he thought about how different she was from the other girls.
"Uske naye taraane hain" Her ambitions were similar to some other girls that he had known, but the immense dedication that Meher had shown weren't.
"Taaza taaza kali khili hai hum uske deewne hain" Everyone cheered and clapped their hands as Abeer ended the bridge.
Sitting down on the opposite side of the pool with Sasha beside her, Meher stared at Abeer as he sang further.
"Hai roop mein itna saadapan, to kitna sundar hoga mann" For a moment Abeer imagined there was no one in the backyard apart from him and Meher. His heart leaped in joy as his mind began conjuring up images for him.
"Hai roop mein itna saadapan, to kitna sundar hoga mann" Meher was standing underneath a soft white light with her eyes lowered. She was holding onto her light blue dupatta in her hands, her shyness making her heart quicken.
"Bin gahnein aur singaar bina woh to lagti hai dulhan" Abeer who had slowly approached Meher, picked up her dupatta and draped around her head as if she were a bride. Meher softly smiled and hid her face in his chest.
"Kaajal bindiya kangan jhumke" He sang, holding her in his arms.
"O kaajal bindiya kangan jhumke" When Meher raised her head to look at him, Abeer softly clinked her earring making her softly laugh.
"Yeh to guzare zamane hain" Abeer walked a few steps back but continued holding her hand at an arm's length.
"Taaza taaza kali khili hai hum uske deewne hain" Twirling her around, Abeer brought Meher back into his arms and joined their foreheads together with a smile.
"Chaand sitare phool aur khushboo ye to saare puraane hain" Walking up from their daydream, Meher and Abeer looked around embarrassed as all eyes were on them. Granted no one was able to read their minds but Abeer was certain they would have figured it out.
"Taaza taaza kali khili hai hum uske deewne hain" Abeer sang the next line with full energy as his heart was flying and leaping in joy.
"Arre kali ghatayein barkha saawan" All eyes turned from Abeer to Meher as she began singing.
"Yeh to sab afsane hain" Meher got up, and with her hands behind her back, she walked towards Abeer.
"Taaza taaza kali khili hai hum uske deewne hain" Abeer finished off with a grand smile.
Taking the guitar off his neck, Abeer held out his hand towards Meher which she happily took. Both, with flashing smiles, twirled and danced around to the music, allowing their hearts to be in control for once.
Jhanak
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
