His sound sleep was broken by the shrill ringtone of his phone. He was tired and already upset with what happened last night. He got up muttering abuses but one look at the caller id and he was wide awake. He didn't know whether to receive the call or not. He knew what the caller was going to ask and he was worried because he didn't have an answer. But still he received the call and was surprised.
Sameer: Hello!! [Caller speaking]... Namaste Uncle [Caller speaking]... Kya hua Uncle? Mujhe bataiye [Caller speaking]... Kya? usne aapko kuch nahi bataya? [Caller speaking]... Wo aisa kaise kar sakti hai? [Caller speaking]... aapne usko call kiya? [Caller speaking]... phone nahi utha rahi hai? Pagal ho gayi hai kya? [Caller speaking]... aap fikar mat kariye ... mai kuch karta hoon...
Call disconnected.
For a moment he was confused but very soon his lips curved into a naughty smile. He knew it was revenge time. He glanced at the watch. It was 8 AM.
He quickly got ready and went to Arjun's place.
He rang the bell and Arjun opened the door.
-----------------------------------------
A little while ago.
Arjun still couldn't believe his luck that a girl like Roshni agreed to stay at his place just because she was upset with Sameer. He made tea for himself and Roshni and woke her up. They were just enjoying the tea when the door bell rang.
Arjun opened the door. Roshni frowned and pretended to ignore Sameer as he entered. Samer too pretended to ignore her which made her raise an eyebrow.
Sameer carelessly walked in and sat on the sofa opposite to Roshni confusing both Arjun and Roshni.
Arjun: Sam!! tu itni subah subah ... mere ghar pe?
Sameer(faking the tension): Haar yaar!! ek emergency hai ... isliye itni subah aana pada ... wo mere ek uncle hain ... unki beti ghar se bhaag gayi hai ... unhone uske liye ek rishta dhundha tha ... aur ladke walo ko ghar bulaya tha ... apni beti se milwane ... par wo us ladke se milne se pehle hi bhaag gayi ... aur mere uncle bahut pareshan hain ...
Roshni choked on the sip of the tea she just had.
Arjun: Ye to bahut serious baat hai ... I mean ... us ladki ke saath kuch bhi bura ho sakta hai ... its not safe for her ...
Sameer: Nahi ... problem wo nahi hai ... I know she is safe aur mujhe ye bhi pata hai ki wo kahan hai ... bas usey uske ghar tak pahuchana hai ...
Arjun: Great!!! to fir der kis baat ki hai ... mai bhi chalta hoon tere saath ... tere uncle ki beti to uske ghar tak pahuchane ... waise abhi kahan hai wo?
Sameer: Tere ghar mein (shifts his gaze to Roshni)
Arjun realises that Sameer was talking about Roshni.
Arjun(to Roshni): Roshni!! tum? ghar se bhaag ke...
Roshni(panicked): Haan... bhaag ke aayi hoon ... to? Papa meri marzi ke khilaaf mera rishta karwa rahe they ... mai kya karti ... Bhaag ke aane ke siva mere paas koi option nahi tha ... Aur meri umar 18 saal se upar hai ... mai apni marzi se kahin bhi jaa sakti hoon ...
Sameer(cuts her short): Lekin apne retired army officer dad ki gun chura ke bhaagna ek crime hai ...
Arjun(surprised): Tum apne dad ki gun chura ke bhaagi thi?
Roshni: apni safety ke liye ... tumne hi to abhi kaha tha ... ki ladkiyon k liye akele nikalna safe nahi hai ..
Arjun: but still ... ye galat hai ...tumhe aisa nahi karna chahiye tha ...
Roshni(in tears, in dramatic voice): Arjun tum bhi aisa bol rahe ho ... Kya mai apni marzi se jee hi nahi sakti ... papa meri baat kabhi nahi sunenge ...(looks at Sameer) to socha mera best friend to meri kadar karta hai ... wo meri baat sunega ... aur us best friend par bharosa karke mai aayi ... to usi ne mujhe ditch kiya ... (Looks at Arjun) tumhe apna naya dost banaya ... to tum bhi mujhe hi galat bol rahe ho ...
Arjun was in a mess. He didn't know how to react. Sameer was amused to see all this. It was his funny revenge after she dumped him last night.
Sameer: Agar dost pe bharosa kiya tha ... to fir usey sach kyun nahi bataya? Pehle to khud hi sach chhupaya ... achanak se ghar se bhaag aayi ... main duty par tha isliye jaldi nahi aa saka to mujhe blame kiya ... fir jab lene aaya to mujhe hi nikaal diya yaha se... mere saath nahi ghar nahi aayi ... sach bhi nahi bataya ... ye bhi nahi socha ki ghar pe sab pareshan ho rahe honge ... sabko tumhari fikar hogi ... par tumhe kya matlab hai sabse? jo log tumse pyaar karte hain ... unki koi kadar hi nahi hai tumhe ...
Roshni was feeling guilty now.
Sameer: I give u 30 mins ... taiyar ho jao ... hum tumhare ghar jaa rahe hain ... and no arguments on this ... samjhi?
Roshni looked at Arjun for help with pleading eyes but he was helpless. He just shrugged his shoulders.
Roshni got ready and Sameer had booked the flight for both of them to back to Delhi. He quickly called up his senior officer regarding the emergency.
Arjun dropped them at airport with a sad heart. Roshni turned back to look at Arjun who was still standing there. Their eyes met for a moment. She smiled a little and waved her hand. Arjun returned the gesture.
-----------------------
Arjun couldn't bear the silence in his empty flat today. last few hours his empty house and empty life were filled with Roshni's gigles and mischiefs. Events of last night were played in front of his eyes.
The piping hot maggie noodles for dinner followed by a game of cards. He couldn't help but look at her innocent beauty, her bright smile and her twinkling eyes. She had a mesmerizing effect on him. Sameer did spoil his happiness in the morning but he knew it was important for Roshni to go back home.
His waited outsie airport while Roshni and Sameer went inside. Unknown to him, he blushed when Roshni turned back and smiled at him. Since then he was having butterflies in stomach. He didn't know what to infer from that. Did she like him or was it just a formal gesture for her host? He was lost in her thoughts.
-----------------------
Sameer and Roshni reached Roshni's place. As expected her dad for angry and worried. Sameer had already taken his gun from Roshni and handed it back to him.
Roshni's father: Kahan chali gayi thi tum Roshni? Hum kitne ghabra gaye they?
Roshni was quiet.
Roshni's father: Sameer! kahan mili ye tumhe? kya ye tumhare saath thi?
Sameer: Uncle ye aayi to Mumbai hi thi ... par mai isse mil nahi paaya ... but ab fikar karne ki koi baat nahi hai ... ab to ye wapas aa gayi hai ...
Roshni's father: aur tum bhaagi kyun thi?
Roshni was still quiet.
Sameer: Roshni! Uncle ko batao ... ki tum ghar chhod ke kyun gayi thi?
Roshni was in tears.
Roshni(trying to control her tears): Mai ye shadi nahi karna chahti ...
Roshni's father(shouts): KYA?
Roshni bursts into crying. Her father mellows down a little. Sameer hugs Roshni side ways and she turns a little and hides her face in his chest and continues to cry.
Sameer: Shhh... Roshni ... rote nahi ... u r such a good girl ... Jaao andar aur fresh ho jao ...
He parts from her and wipes her tears. She goes inside. her father looks at her as she goes inside and shifts his gaze to Sameer.
Roshni's father: Sameer! ye kya keh rahi hai beta? kahin aisa to nahi ki tum dono ek dusre ko pasand karne lage ho? agar aisa hai to mujhe koi objection nahi hai ... Roshni ke liye meri pehli pasand tum hi they ... tumne hi pehle manaa kar diya tha ... isliye maine Roshni ke liye dusra rishta dekha ...
Sameer: Nahi Uncle ... aap galat samajh rahe hain ... hum dono ke beech aisa kuch nahi hai ... Roshni ab bhi meri sabse achchhi dost hai ... aur mujhe uski fikar hai ... aur hamesha rahegi ... aur isiliye uski taraf se mai aapse ye keh raha hoon ... jo wo chaah kar bhi aapse nahi keh saki ... aapse darti hai wo ...
Roshni's father: aisi kya baat hai?
Sameer: Usne mujhe bataya ki wo Fine Arts mein masters karna chahti hai ... usey paintings and arts mein bahut interest hai...usey is se khushi milti hai... aur wo bahut achchhi paintings bhi banati hai ... maine uski painting college ki exhibitions mein dekhi hain ... she is very talented ... usne Mumbai ke ek college ke bare mein information bhi nikal li hai ... wo wahan admission lena chahti hai ... par aap se wo ye sab keh paati ... uske pehle aapne uska rishta tay kar diya ... aur wo dar ke Mumbai bhaag aayi ...
Roshni's father: Par beta maine jo ladka dekha hai wo bahut achchha hai ... usey bahut khush rakhega ... unka apna bada business hai ... ghar hai ... Roshni ko aur kya chahiye?
Sameer: Uncle!! aapko lagta hai ki apni marzi ke khilaaf... apne sapno ko todke ye shadi karke Roshni sach mein khush rahegi? Aur is waqt aapke liye kya zaroori hai? Uski shadi ... jismein wo shayad khush na reh paaye ya fir uski sachchi khushi?
Roshni's father was quiet for a while thinking about what Sameer told him. Roshni came back to the living room with a red nose. Sameer looked at her and smiled.
Sameer: Mai janta hoon aap Roshni se bahut pyaar karte hain aur aapko uski fikar hai ... par aapko is baat pe garv hona chahiye ki aapki beti kuch alag karna chaahti hai ... Art ki duniya mein apna naam banana chahti hai ...Waise aapko poora haq hai ki aap apni beti ki zindagi ka faisla karein ... par mai bas aapse request kar sakta hoon ki koi bhi faisla lene se pehle ek baar meri baat par sochiyega zaroor ...
The maid came and told them that lunch was ready. All of them had a quiet lunch. After lunch Sameer was about to leave when Roshni's father stopped him.
Roshni's father: Sameer !!! Maine faisla kar liya hai ... (Smiles) Roshni ka Mumbai ke college mein admission karwa do ... (To Roshni) Tumne apna bag unpack to kiya nahi hoga ... wo le aao aur abhi jao Sameer ke saath ...
Roshni was again in tears but this time she was happy. She hugged her father and then Sameer.
Roshni's father: Par meri ek shart hai ... tum Mumbai mein Sameer ke saath rahogi ...
Sameer: wo safe nahi hoga uncle ... meri duties alag alag times par hoti hain ... kabhi kabhi aane mein der ho jati hai ... (Roshni gave him a mischievious smile) isliye mai Roshni ke liye ek safe paying guest accmodation dekh loonga ... but aap fikar mat kariye ... mai uska poora dhyaan rakhunga ...
Roshni's father: Theek hai beta ... jaise tum theek samjho ... ab Roshni tumhari zimmedari ...
Sameer and Roshni come back to Mumbai by night.
Roshni got admission in Mumbai and her college started. Arjun was happy to know from Sameer that Roshni was back and will be living in Mumbai. He hoped to see her again but couldn't directly ask Sameer.
After a few days Roshni happened to send a message to Arjun and they secretly met without informing Sameer. This continued for a while. They developed feelings for each other.
One fine day Arjun finally gathered courage and proposed to her. She was waiting for this day and was very happy and accepted his proposal. Both had one thing in their mind. How to break this news to Sameer but they didn't discuss it with each other. Arjun was more casual about it but Roshni knew it was going to very difficult talking to Sameer.
Same day Arjun went to meet Sameer and they had a casual conversation and Arjun brought up Roshni's topic.
Arjun: Sam!! Roshni kaisi hai? uski padhayi kaisi chal rahi hai?
Sameer: Roshni theek hai ... padhayi bhi theek hi chal rahi hai ...
Arjun: Good ... aur uske papa?
Sameer: Uncle bhi khush hain ...
Arjun: Aur wo ladka ... jiske saath uske rishtey ki baat ho rahi thi?
Sameer: Uncle ne uski family ko bata diya tha ki Roshni agey padhna chahti hai ... uske aspirations hain ... uske baad dekhenge ...
Arjun: Sam! ek baat poochhu? agar tu bura na maane to?
Sameer: Tu yehi poochhna chahta hai na ki Roshni itni sundar hai, smart hai, usey mai itne saalon se janta hoon, uske papa bhi mujhe trust karte hain fir bhi mere aur uske beech mein koi affair ya relationship kyun nahi hai? Kya mujhe ussey aur usey mujhse kabhi pyaar nahi hua? ... Well... the answer is ... Yes, I love her ...
Arjun(taken aback): Really?
Sameer(smiled): Pyaar kya hota hai Rawte? Physical attraction, kisi ko lekar possessive hona, kisi ko apna bana lena...
Arjun: Shayad kuch aisa hi ...
Sameer: Nahi Rawte ... mere liye ye sab pyaar nahi hai ... mere liye pyaar ka matlab hai kisi ki fikar hona, kisi ki khushi chahna, us khushiyon mein apni khushi dhundhna, Kisi ka dard mehsoos karna, us doosre insaan ki takleef ko mehsoos karna ... aur mai Roshni ke liye ye sab mehsoos karta hoon ... usey khush dekhna chahta hoon ... mai kabhi nahi chahta ki usey koi bhi takleef ho, koi bhi dukh uski zindagi mein aaye, koi bhi mushkil us tak pahuchne se pehle hi mai rok dena chahta hoon ... mai usey dard mein nahi dekh sakta ... uske aansoo mujhse bardasht nahi hote ...
Arjun: Tune usey ye sab bataya kabhi?
Sameer: Mera aur uska rishta aisa nahi hai Rawte ki mujhe usko ye sab batane ki zarurat padey ... wo janti hai ... humari bonding hi kuch aisi hai ...
Arjun: Tere dil mein kabhi usse shadi karne ka khayal nahi aaya?
Sameer(chuckled): Rawte! agar mere dil mein kabhi ye khayal aaya hota to ab tak meri aur uski shadi ho chuki hoti ... uske aur mere parents to taiyar they ... Roshni bhi mujhe trust karti thi ... par ...
Arjun: par kya?
Sameer(took a deep breath): Par mai shuru se hi IPS join karna chahta tha ... aur tu to janta hai ki humari zindagi kitni tough hoti hai ... duty par jaate hain to pata nahi hota ki shaam ko wapas aayenge ya nahi ... humari zindagi ka koi bharosa nahi hai ...aur nahi hum police walo ki families ki safety ki koi guarantee hoti hai... aur isiliye maine kabhi shadi ya aise kisi relationship ke bare mein socha hi nahi ... na Roshni ke saath na kisi aur ladki ke saath ... aur yehi ek wajah hai ki mai nahi chahta ki Roshni kisi Police officer se shadi kare ... ye baat maine uske Papa ko pehle hi bata di thi jab wo humare rishte ki baat kar rahe they ...
Arjun: But that doesn't make any sense Sam ... kya police wale shadi nahi karte?
Sameer(serious): Karte hain Rawte ... par tu isey mera obssession samajh ya pagalpan ... mai nahi chahta ki Roshni ki shadi kisi police wale ho ... agar us par koi dukh aaya to wo bardasht nahi kar payegi ya uski jaan ko kabhi koi khatra hua to ye mai bardasht nahi kar paunga ...
Arjun: Aur by chance usey koi police officer pasand aa gaya to ?
Sameer: Aisa kabhi nahi hoga Rawte!! Aur agar aisa hua to bhi wo mujhpe bharosa karti hai ... mai samjhaunga to wo samajh jaayegi ... after all i care for her and she knows it...
Arjun passed a faint smile. He was worried. He knew Sameer's feelings were genuine but he and Roshni were madly in love with each other.
Sameer's phone rang. He smiled looking at caller id. It was Roshni calling. He recieved the call.
Sameer: Haan Roshni bolo!!
Roshni: Sameer! Mujhe tumse milna hai ... aaj hi ... koi sawaal mat poochho ... mai tumhare ghar aa rahi hoon ...
Sameer: OK Madam !!! aapka hukum sar aankhon pe ... mai ghar par hi hoon .. aa jao ...
Call disconnected.
Arjun: kiska phone tha?
Sameer(chuckled): Think of the devil and devil calls ... Roshni ka tha ...bahut lambi umar hai uski 100 saal to jiyegi hi... wo abhi yahan aa rahi hai ...
Arjun: Good ... mai chalta hoon fir ... baad mein milte hain ...
Sameer: Ruk na ... wo tujhe kha nahi jayegi ... tum dono ek dusre ko jante ho ...
Arjun: nahi yaar ... fir kabhi ... Bye
Sameer: OK... as u wish ... Bye ...
Arjun left and Roshni came after a few minutes.
She hugged Sameer the moment she entered in.
Roshni: Sameer!!! aaj mai bahut khush hoon ...
Sameer: Mai dekh sakta hoon (parting the hug) par baat kya hai?
Roshni: batati hoon par pehle promise karo ki tum mujhe support karoge ...
Sameer: OK ... i promise ... ab batao ...
They come in the living room and settle on the couch.
Roshni(serious): Sameer!!! ye meri life ka bahut bada decision hai ... aur jaise har baar tumne mera saath diya hai ... waise is baar bhi tum doge ... doge na?
Sameer: Ye bhi koi kehne ki baat hai? of course!!
Roshni: Aur agar mai ye kahoon ki shayad meri is baat se tum khush nahi hoge ... to ?
Sameer: Roshni! Meri khushi sirf tumhari khushi mein hai ... mai sirf tumhe khush dekhna chahta hoon ...
Roshni: Sameer! I'm in love
Sameer was taken aback for a moment but then smiled.
Sameer: Hmmm ... to meri Roshni dear ko ab pyaar ho gaya hai ... aur ab apne Dad ko fir se batane se darr rahi ho ... (blinks his eyes) Dont worry ... Uncle ko kaise manana hai ... wo mai dekh loonga ... (smiling mischieviously) aur us ladke ko bhi dekh loonga jiske saath uncle ne tumhare rishte ki baat chalayi thi ... ab khush?
Roshni(smiles faintly): Sameer! Mai Arjun se pyaar karti hoon ...
Sports
66