Part 17
"Isme Bangalore ke tickets hain, 6th
Feb ke"
Did she just
say that!?
"Bola tha na
maine tujhe jhatka lagnewala hai. Laga na?"
"Akka...par
Bangalore ke tickets kyun?" I was unsure
of her intentions.
She gently held my shoulders and said "Mujhe Miku ne sab bata diya. Mujhe
lagta hai tujhe jaana chahiye"
"Par Akka..."
"Kya par war...kitna
sochti hai tu! Sochna wochna band kar aur packing shuru kar de"
"Par ye sahi
nahi hai na Akka"
"Ishu...Kismat
ne tujhe ek akhri mouka diya hai apne pyar ko hasil karne ka. Ise apne hath se
jane mat de"
"Amma Appa
kabhi allow nahi karenge"
"Unki fikr tu
mujh pe chod de. Unhe mai sambhal lungi"
"Par Akka aap
to Ajnabi ke khilaf thi. Aaj achanak?"
"Mai kabhi
uske khilaf nahi thi. Mai to is baat ke khilaf thi ke tu aise admi ka intezar
kar rahi thi jisne tujhe wapas mud kar bhi nahi dekha. Par aaj usne mujhe galat
sabit kar diya. Waise bhi technically to tu meri shart jeet gayi. Usne do
mahine ke andar tujhe call kiya tha. To is naate mujhe apna wada poora karna
hoga. Isiliye ab tujhe uske paas bhej rahi hun"
"Ek wada
maine bhi Raman se kiya hai 6 mahine pehle. Uska kya?"
"Uski
zimmedar bhi mai hi hoon. Maine hi tujhe force kiya tha us rishte keliye. Jis tarah
mai apni pehli galti sudhar rahi hun, apni doosri galti bhi sudhar lungi. Tu fikr
mat kar"
"Patha nahi
kyun mujhe ye sahi nahi lag raha. Mujhe Raman ki fikr ho rahi hai"
"Raman ki
fikr hai tujhe par pyar to Ajnabi se karti hai na?"
"Haan par..."
"Par war kuch
nahi. Bas maine keh diya to keh diya. Tu Bangalore ja rahi hai" she said
strictly.
I opened my moth to say something
"No...tu kuch
nahi kahegi...kuch nahi sochegi...bas chal de...aur haan is baar apne Ajnabi ka
naam, patha, number sab kuch poochkar aana. Pichli baar ki tarah khaali haath
math ana"
I chuckled. After how long? I have forgotten when is the last
time I smiled.
"Waise wapas
nahi ayegi to bhi chalega. Par mere aur Miku keliye 2 Bangalore ke 2 tickets
book kar dena. Register marriage keliye 2 witnesses ki zaroorat to padegi na
tere taraf se"
"Kuchh bhi!?
Mai abi tak usse mili bhi nahi aur aap shadi tak pahunch gaye" I rolled my
eyes at her weird imaginations.
"Yeh hui na
meri Ishu wali baat" she said patting my back "Patha nahi kahan kho
gayi thi meri ye wali Ishu" she said with tears in her eyes.
My eyes welled up too.
"Pagli rula
diya na mujhe. Ab kuch ansu apne bidayi keliye bhi bachake rakh" she said
wiping her tears "Patha hai mujhe ke tu apni bidayi me dukhi nahi hogi par
formality keliye thoda to rona padega na" she said lightening the mood.
"Akka aisa
karna sahi hoga na?" I said voicing my doubts for one last time.
"Meri yahi
prarthana hai ke ab sab sahi ho. Aur mujhe yaqeen hai ke ab jo kuch bhi hoga wo
sahi hoga. Tu chinta math kar" she caressed my head gently and took me into a warm hug.
"Hello! Akele
akele Milan milap kar rahe ho. Mai bhi hug deserve karti hun. Is sare karamat
me mera bhi yogdaan hai" Mihika butted in.
"Ye sab to
aap hi ki kripa se hua hai Baba Mihika Iyer. Apke gale milne ke bhagya hamare
kahan, hum to apke charan sparsh karenge" Akka replied dramatically.
We laughed out loud and did a group hug. Our trademark hug.
I am glad to have sisters like them.
6th Feb
Here I am
sitting on the same bench, in the same platform of the same railway station at
the same time like last year.
Everything seems same except one. He is not sitting beside me.
I am waiting from 4 hours. As I told you before, I don't hate waiting
anymore.
But this
waiting definitely hurts.
With every passing minute, my heart is crushing into million pieces.
I need to use the washroom but I am not ready to leave this place.
I am afraid that he would turn up the minute I leave and I would miss
meeting him.
I know if he comes he would definitely come looking for me at this
place.
Although I have not moved an inch from this place my eyes have not
stayed in its place for a nanosecond.
They are restlessly wandering scanning the entire railway station in
search of him.
My hands are clutching the phone tightly to feel the vibration.
My ears are alert to catch the ringing of the phone.
My eyes glance every few seconds to check the network.
My fingers swipe, tap and move to ensure I have enough currency to
receive a call.
Neither the
phone vibrates, nor does it ring.
Neither the
network weakens, nor does the currency deduct.
In short, I don't
get a call!
My eyes wander again restlessly.
My legs shake nervously.
My heart beats rapidly.
My lips tremble helplessly.
My mind says he won't come.
My heart says he must be here.
Ajnabi's POV
This day, I wanted to be there with her on the same bench, in the
same platform of the same railway station at the same time like last year.
I had preponed all my appointments to 5th Feb and worked
late night so that nobody disturbs me today.
The long hours of working took a toll on me and I didn't realize when I
slipped into a deep slumber on the couch in my cabin.
I woke up with the startle when my secretary Manvi gently tapped on my
shoulder. Sharp daylight hit me and I glanced at my watch only to realize it
was 11 am. Oh Shit! I have missed my train!
"Why didn't you
wake me up earlier?" I vented out
all my frustration on the poor soul.
"I am sorry
sir. Mujhe nahi patha tha ke aap office me ho. Aapne kaha tha ke aap aaj nahi
aaoge. Isliye mai apke cabin me nahi ayi. Abhi ek file lene keliye ayi to dekha
ke aap so rahe ho. I am sorry sir"
It was not her fault. How would she know that I would fall asleep here?
"I am sorry
Manvi. I was just a little stressed"
"Its alright
sir. Can I get you a coffee?" she asked sweetly as always.
"No its ok. I
will get one on my way home. Just do me a favour book an air ticket to
Bangalore. I need to be there at the earliest"
"Sure sir. I will
do that. Anything else sir"
"No thanks. Just
do that. Remember the earliest one. Ok. I will just go home, freshen up and reach
the airport. Make sure the tickets are booked by then"
"Sure sir"
"Thanks" I mumbled and
left for home.
By the time I reached Bangalore, it was quite late. I just hoped that
she was there.
Will she
come?
If she loves
me she will surely come.
I am sure she
will!
I am already late, I wish her train gets
delayed like last time.
With all these thoughts in mind, I hired a cab to the railway station.
In quick strides I reached the bench where we sat last year only to
find it empty.
A train zoomed off as if saying is baar bhi tumse gaadi choot gayi.
With a shattered heart I slumped on the bench and covered my face with
my palms.
Did she wait
for me?
Did she leave
without waiting for me?
Did she even
come?
This was my only chance to know if she loves me or not. How could I miss
it?
Shit! I hit the
bench in frustration when something that flew off the bench die to the blow
caught my eye.
It looked like a sticky note. I immediately reached for it.
My breaths
quickened and my heartbeats raced as I read the note
"Meri zindagi me Ajnabi ka intezar hai
Mai kya karun Ajnabi se mujhe pyar hai"
Did she just
say that!?
------------------------To be continued--------------------------------
Unexpected part??? 🤔
Dont kill me please
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