Chapter 7
Anshumann came out of the washroom. Preet was standing and looking at the portrait.
Anshumann: Preet?
Preet: Huh? Anshumann, you are an great artist! Sachh mei.
Anshumann: Thank you. Achchha, Preet? Ab mai chalta hu.
Preet: Jaa rahe ho? Kyu?
Anshumann: Jiss kaam ke liye mujhe bulaya tha, vo to hogaya. Ab to mujhe jana hoga na.
Preet: Okay... Mai Deepak se kehti hu tumhe drop karde. Waise kaha jaa rahe ho?
Anshumann: Pata nehi...
Preet: "Pata nehi"?
Anshumann: Mai yaha Dehradun ki khubsurti dekhne aya tha. I wanted to capture those in my sketch-book.
Preet: To tum jaoge kaha? Tumne hi to kaha tha ki tum yaha naye ho, kisiko jante nehi, raaste nehi pata. Aise hi bhatakte rahoge yaha se waha?
Anshumann: Haan. Aur koi option bhi to nehi hai.
Preet: Option bhi hai aur solution bhi! Tum yehi rahoge, iss Haveli mei.
Anshumann: Mai yaha kaise reh sakta hu? I mean... Na tum mujhe jani ho aur na mai tumhe.
Preet: Mai Rani hu, DAYAAN nehi jo tumhe khaa jaungi! Tumne hi to bola ki tum Dehradun ke bare mei janna chahte ho aur yaha rehke tum aapna kaam zyada achchhe se kar paoge. Kahi aur rahoge to raaste dhundne mei problem hogi, yaha rahoge to tumhe directions aasani se miljayenge.
Anshumann: Baat to tumhari sahi hai...
Preet: To phir decide hogaya. Ab aur koi par-var nehi! Mujhe thora kaam hai, mai thori der mei aati hu.
Anshumann nodded and Preet left.
Anshumann: Yehi to mai chahta tha, Preet. Agar mai yaha nehi rahunga to mera maksad kaise pura hoga. Tum sach mei bohot achchhi ho...kuch zyada hi bholi ho. Bina kuch soche ek ajnabi ko rehne ke liye bol dia. Khaer! Mera kaam ab bohot aasani se hojayega...
-*-*-
Anshuman entered Preet's room but couldn't find her. But he noticed a open book on her desk. He went near to close it. He didn't intended to read it but he did read something. After thinking for sometime, he left the room taking the diary with him.
-*-*-
Preet was with Deepak and some more people discussing about business.
Deepak: Iss factory ka kya kare, Ranisa?
Preet: (in her mind)Mujhe kya pata!
Deepak: Ranisa? Aapne kuch kaha?
Preet: Ne...nehi to. Iss factory ka...(Anshumann knocked on the door)
Anshumann: Mai andar aa sakta hu?
Preet became happy seeing him.
Preet: Haan, haan, ao na!
Anshumann: Maine...aap dono ko disturb to nehi kia na?
Preet: Bilkul bhi nehi. Hum to bas ek band factory ko leke discuss kar rahe the.
Anshumann: If you don't mind...mai madat kar sakta hu.
Preet: Really?
Anshumann: Sorry, but maine aapki baatei sunn li thi.
Preet: No problem. (in mind)Thank God, Anshumann, tum aagaye! You are a saviour.
Anshumann: Mujhe lagta hai...(presented a proposal for the factory)
Other 1: Innhone sahi kaha. Isse factory bekar bhi nehi rahega aur humara kaam bhi hojayega.
Other 2: Haan, mujhe bhi aisa hi lagta hai.
Preet: (delighted)Great! To ab aap jaiye aur kaam shuru kardijiye.
Deepak: Thik hai, Ranisa.
Deepak left with the other people, PreeMan were left alone. Preet was relieved.
Anshumann: Tumhe business mei koi interest nehi hai, right?
Preet: Not at all! Mujhe to ye sab samajh mei hi nehi aata. Ye sab to Babasa...(stopped, became emotional) Vo hi sab sambhalte the. Mai kabhi inn mei interested nehi thi. Ab jab vo nehi hai...mujhe karna parta hai...
Anshumann: (understanding her pain)I am sorry...
Preet: Tumhari galti thori na hai. Pata nehi kismat mere saath kya khel khel rahi hai...
Anshumann: (trying to change the atmosphere)Achchha, chalo bahar chalte hai.
Preet: Bahar? You mean...Haveli ke bahar? Nehi! Mai bahar nehi jaa sakti!
Anshumann: Kyu nehi?
Preet: Anshuman, maine tumse kaha hai na...
Anshumann: Okay, fine, nehi puchhunga iss bare mei! To...tum aapne bare mei kuch batao?
Preet: Mere bare mei? Mere bare mei kya bolu...
Anshumann: Kuch bhi! Like...tumhe business nehi pasand, so...what do you like?
Preet: Mujhe...(walking towards the balcony and looking at the sky)Khule asmaan mei parindo ki tarha urrna pasand hai...
Anshumann: "Khule asmaan mei parindo ki tarha urrna"... Ye kaisi baat huyi?
Preet: Tum nehi samjhoge. Lekin jab tum mujhe jaan paoge tab tumhe mere baatei samajh mei ayengi.
Then he was lost in what she actually meant and from that day his goal was to understand Preet.
-*-*-
Days passed...
They chatted a lot and had bonded very well. Their bonding was getting stronger day-by-day.
Anshuman: Preet, tumhare koi dost nehi hai kya?
Preet: Hai na!
Anshuman: Kaha? Maine aajtak kisiko bhi nehi dekha...
Preet: Vo bohot khaas hai. Sab unnko jante hai.
Anshuman: Achchha? Aise kaun hai?
Preet: Mere sirf do friends hai. Ek subhe aata hai aur raat ko jab vo chala jata hai tab dusra dost aata hai...
Anshuman: Preet, paheliya matt bujhao. Saaf-saaf bolo na.
Preet: Vo dekho.(pointing out from the window)
Anshuman: Bahar kya hai?
Preet: Kya dikh raha hai tumhe?
Anshuman: Dhoop... Sooraj. Aur kuch bhi to nehi.
Preet: Wahi to hai mera dost! Subhe ka sooraj aur raat ka haand.
Anshuman: Kya!
Preet: Haan. Mai kabhi kisi se mili hi nehi, iss liye mere innke ilava koi dost hai hi nehi.
Anshuman: Matlab...tum kabhi Haveli se bahar gayi hi nehi?
Preet: Nehi...
He noticed some kind of pain in her eyes.
Anshuman: Aisa kyu?
Preet: Anshuman, iss bare mei...na hi puchho to hi achchha hoga.
Anshuman: Lekin kyu?
Preet: Please?
Anshuman: Okay! Mai nehi puchhunga.
Preet: Tum ho na! Mere dost... Ho na?
Anshuman: (keeping his hand on hers)Humesha...
Both smiled and this time he smiled from his heart, which he doesn't have... He himself couldn't understand what happened with him suddenly.
Preet: Tum muskurate huye bohot achchhe lagte ho. Lekin tum kabhi muskurate kyu nehi? Maine aajtak tumhe muskurate huye nehi dekha.
Anshuman: Ye kuch important thori na hai!
Preet: Are, ye bohot important hai.
Anshumann: Itna kya important hai ye? Mujhe bhi samjhao!
Preet: Ye koi samjhane ki ya sikhane ki baat nehi hai! Jab tumhe koi chizz dil se achchhi lage aur tumhara dil bole ki ye baat mujhe achchhi lagi, tab vo muskurahat ke roop mei chehre par dikhti hai.
Anshumann: Sach mei?
Deepak: (intervening in between)Ranisa, kuch zaruri baat karni thi.
Preet: Anshuman, mai aati hu.
Anshumann nodded and she left the room. He became thoughtful. He noticed the mirror and went to it. At first he stared at himself, then tried to smile by trying many facial expressions. Preet started laughing. He turned in surprise.
Preet: (laughing)Tum kya karne ki koshish kar rahe ho?
Anshumann: (embarrassed)Vo...vo... Tumne muskurane ko kaha tha na...
Preet: Pagal! Aise muskura nehi sakte. Muskurahat dil se aati hai. Vo aapne aap aati hai.
He became thoughtful again.
-*-*-
A few more days passed...
Shimla
The Dark House
Two vampires were standing in front of someone who was sitting in a relaxing chair.
Kunal: Ek mahina hone ko aya, abhitak Anshumann ka koi pata nehi hai.
Trisha: Mujhe ab tension horahi hai... Bhai thik to honge na?
Riddhi rose from the chair.
Riddhi: Mujhe Anshumann pe pura yakeen hai. Vo aapna maksad zarur pura karega. Aajtak ussne aapna harr maksad pura kia hai. Ye bhi zarur karega!
She said this to them full confidence. But inside, even she was scared about Anshumann.
Riddhi: (in mind)Anshumann, mai umeed karti hu tum mera bharosa nehi toroge...
Dehradun
Palace of Dehradun
Even Anshumann was thinking about his mission. Rather, he was confused.
Anshumann: Kuch samajh mei nehi aaraha kya karu mai... Ek taraf mera maksad jiss ke saath sabke sapne jure huye hai, aur dusri taraf Preet... Jisske sapno ko pura karna mera maksad bangaya hai... Kya karu?
This was heard by Deepak who was actually keeping an eye on Anshumann.
-*-*-
Its almost mid-night. The whole town was covered with darkness. All were asleep.
Anshuman was thinking about his clan and Preet, he was confused.
Anshuman: Mai itna confused kyu horaha hu? Mai yaha aapna maksad pura karne aya hu. Vo maksad jisse saare Vampires ki umeedein juri hai. Lekin mai mere maksad pe concentrate kyu nehi kar paa raha! Kyu! Jabbhi Preet mere samne aati hai...mai aapna maksad bhul jaata hu. Aisa kyu?! Nehi, jo bhi hojay...mujhe mera maksad pura karna hi hai! Kisi bhi halat mei... Pehle mujhe Moonstone dhundna hai.
He set out in search of the Moonstone in the palace. He roamed and roamed but no success. He went to the third floor of the palace, it was darker than hair.
Anshuman: (thinking)Lagta hai yaha pe koi aata-jaata nehi. Shayad Moonstone yehi kahi hai.
He searched each and every corner of the floor. When he was passing by a room, he heard some noises. He, curiously, opened the door and silently entered the room. As he walked inside, sounds got louder.
He reached the end of the room where candles were lit and a girl was dancing. He stayed silent and watched the girl dancing. He couldn't see her face as he was facing her back. While dancing, she twirled closer to him, they collided and both fell on the floor, he over the girl. She was Preet!
Anshuman: Preet, tum!
Preet: Anshuman, tum! Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?
Anshuman: Mai...Mai...bhatak gaya tha! Tum yaha kya kar rahi ho?
Preet: Vo...vo...Mai...
Anshuman: Ek minute.
He got up and then gave a hand to help her in getting up. She held his hand and he pulled but his pull was stronger than necessary because of which she became imbalanced. But he helped her to balance. An eye-lock...
~~~~~
Kuch Khaas Hai Kuch Paas Hai
Kuch Ajnabi Ehsaas Hai
Kuch Duriyaan Najdikiyaan
Kuch Hans Padi Tanhaayiyaan
~~~~~
Their posture was such that they seemed one in the shadow.
Anshuman: (maintaining the eye-lock)Tum...thik ho...na?
The eye-lock broke and they got separated.
Preet: (embarrassed)Hmm.
He picked a candle and looked her from bottom to top.
Anshuman: Tum...itni raat ko...yaha pe...nach rahi thi!
Preet: Anshuman, actually... Ab jab tumne dekh hi lia hai to tumhe bata hi deti hu! Tum mere bare mei janna chahte the na? Ye hi hu mai! Mujhe meri zindagi pasand nehi.
Anshuman: Matlab?
Preet: Mai ek Rajkumari hu... Sabko lagta hai Rajgharane se hona khushnaseebi hai. Lekin...mujhe meri zindagi pasand nehi! Mai jeena chahti hu, ek aam ladki ki tarha! Khulke saans lena chahti hu. Mai azaad hona chahti hu!
She imagined each moment as she said. He watched her carefully as she revealed her dream.
Preet: Ye hai mera sapna! Jo kabhi pura nehi ho sakta...
Her happy, smiling face turned gloomy.
Preet: Pata hai...(got hurt by some pointy thing)Ah!
He quickly brought the candle close to her to check if she's okay. He noticed blood flowing out from her feet. His eyes twinkled seeing the blood, he felt thirsty.
Preet: (in pain)Ah!
But hearing her groan, his mind changed.
Anshuman: Tum kitni laaparwa ho! Aisa andhere mei kuch bhi hosakta hai.
Preet: Aur kitna daantoge! Madat karo.
He tried to support her in walking but she couldn't. With no choice left, he picked her up in his arms.
~~~~~
Kuch Khaas Hai Kuch Paas Hai
Kuch Ajnabi Ehsaas Hai
Kuch Duriyaan Najdikiyaan
Kuch Hans Padi Tanhaayiyaan
Kya Yeh Khumaar Hai
Kya Aitbaar Hai
Shaayad Yeh Pyaar Hai
Pyaar Hai Shaayad
Kya Yeh Bahaar Hai
Kya Intjaar Hai
Shaayad Yeh Pyaar Hai
Pyaar Hai Shaayad
~~~~~
He took her to her room and laid her there. Then according to her directions, fetched the first-aid box and aided her. It was very difficult for him to control himself but he did it and treated her wound.
Anshuman: Tumne kaha tha tum kabhi Haveli se bahar gayi nehi. Tum to trained dancer lagti ho.
Preet: Vo iss liye ki Daisa Katthak dancer thi aur bachpan se mujhe nachne ka bohot shokh hai. To unnhone hi mujhe Katthak sikhaya.
Anshuman: To Katthak mei tumhe interest hai. Good. Ab tum rest karo, mai chalta hu. Take care!
He left and she fell asleep.
After coming back from Preet's room, he sat with his sketch book and started sketching.
After hours, it was almost morning, he stopped and smiled seeing the sketches. He sketched Preet dancing.
Anshuman: Ye mujhe kya horaha hai? Preet meri dushman hai! Usse Moonstone hasil karna mera maksad hai. Lekin... Preet ke mere samne aate hi...mai mera maksad bhul jata hu... Bhul jata hu ki vo meri dushman hai. Usski baatein, usski harqaate, usski hansi...sab kuch mujh pe itna kyu asar kar rahi hai? Kyu! Kya hogaya hai mujhe...
~~~~~
Kuch Khaas Hai Kuch Paas Hai
Kuch Ajnabi Ehsaas Hai
Kuch Duriyaan Najdikiyaan
Kuch Hans Padi Tanhaayiyaan
Kya Yeh Khumaar Hai
Kya Aitbaar Hai
Shaayad Yeh Pyaar Hai
Pyaar Hai Shaayad
Kya Yeh Bahaar Hai
Kya Intjaar Hai
Shaayad Yeh Pyaar Hai
Pyaar Hai Shaayad
~~~~~
-*-*-
Preet was sitting on a chair doing something on a paper with a pencil. Anshumann was passing-by and became curious seeing her. He went behind her stealthily and tried to look at what she was doing.
Anshumann: Kya kar rahi ho?
She jumped off the chair, scared, and the paper fell on the floor.
Preet: Tu...tum?!
Anshumann: Ye kya hai...(bends down to pick it up)
Preet: No!
But too late, he already picked it up. He stared at the paper for some time then looked at her who was cursing herself for jumping off which made the paper to fall. He then bursted out laughing seeing it.
Anshumann: (trying to control himself)Preet...Preet, ye kya hai?(laughing)Oh! Mera pet phat jayega.
Preet also started laughing.
~~~~~
"Samjhawan" starting music
~~~~~
Anshumann: (not able to control)Preet, tumne ye kya banaya hai?
It was a sketch which was very weird.
Preet: Maine socha...tumne itne dino meri itni saari sketches aur portraits banayi hai. To mai try kar rahi thi...tumhara sketch banane ki. Ye...(also starts laughing)
He then realized and stopped laughing.
Preet: Dekha, ise kehte hai hasna-muskurana! Aaj tum khulke hanse ho. Tum aise kyu nehi rehte?
Anshumann: (in mind)Kya batau mai tumhe, Preet... Jaise tumhari majboori hai, meri bhi kuch majbooriyaan hai...
_______________________________
So, here's the update!
Do comment and let me know how did you like it. Let me know what you liked and what you didn't.
Criticisms also welcomed.
Great Update ! Loved the way they r becoming close 😊 Preet is such a sweetheart. . .Good job Zaariyat Continue Jaldi !
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