The lines in blue are the part of lyrics of the song Oh Ajnabi sad version from Mai Prem Ki Deewani Hun...a heart-touching song that has been playing on my mind since I named the lead pair of my ss as Ajnabi & Anamika. Hope u lik it too!
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Part 20
"Thanks Ishita! Dil karta hai zindagi bhar aise hi tumhara hath thaame rahun"
Did he just say that!?
But why? Isn't he acting weird today?
Did he by any chance come to know that I was going to ditch him???
No...that can't be! Can it???
"Kya hua? Kya soch rahi ho?"
"Kuch...nahi..."
"To chalein?"
"Haan...Can I get my purse?"
"Yeah sure...Mai bahar parking me tumhara wait karta hun"
"Ok"
When I came back with my purse I saw him leaning on the car with arms crossed.
As soon as he spotted me, he walked towards the passenger side & opened the door for me.
Chivalrous Plus 1...my mind noted
Having made sure I was seated comfortably he closed the door with a smile. I smiled weekly in response.
He adjusted himself in the driver's seat & looked at me "Are we ready to go?" He asked. I simply nodded.
Gentlemanly Plus 2...my heart gushed
As we turned into the main street a sharp ray of sunlight hit my eyes.
I closed my eyes in reflex and looked for my sunglasses in my purse.
Shit I forgot to get them.
I scrunched my eyes to protect them from sharp sunrays.
He must have noticed it.
He blocked the sunrays with the sunshade & handed over his glasses to me.
"Its ok. I am fine" I said hesitating to accept his glasses.
"I can see that" he said smirking and forced me to wear them.
I simply obliged.
Raahon me tumko jo dhoop sataye
Chaaoon bicha denge hum
Lines from Ajnabi's song rang in my ears again.
Caring Plus 3...my mind reminded
After about an hour of driving, he pulled into the parking of a commercial building.
Do I have to mention that the drive was silent?
Obviously I avoided every possible conversation.
He must have realized that & so kept mum throughout.
I remember nothing from the drive except him stealing glances at me every now & then.
He opened the door & led me to the elevator & then to a posh looking office.
From the entrance to a cabin that had CEO Ramn Kumar Bhalla written on its door, every employee that we came across stood up to wish him.
He nodded & replied with a smile.
So this is his work place.
But why are we here?
No i didn't ask him that!
I was on #AvoidConversationSpree you see.
He held the door to the cabin open signalling me to enter.
I did as was indicated.
He asked me to sit & I did that too.
"Poochogi nahi ke hum yahan kyun aye hain?"
"Wo..."
"Lagta hai tumne bin kuch pooche bin kuch kahe wali meri baat kuch zyada hi seriously le li"
"Nahi aisi koi baat nahi hai"
"Thank God tumne kuch to kaha. Warna mujhe laga tha ke tum mounvrat pe ho"
How did he come to know about my #AvoidConversationSpree?
"Ishita!"
"Haan?"
"Tum theek ho na? I mean you are comfortable right?"
"Haan"
"Sure?"
"Yeah"
"As you see ye mera office hai. My second home"
"Nice"
"Poochogi nahi mai tumhe yahan kyun laya"
"Haan...I mean why are we here?"
"Well mai tumhe ye batana chahta tha ke jab kabhi tumhe meri zarurat mehsoos ho, to you know where to find me. You must know ke I will always be there for you"
"Ermmm...mai kuch samjhi nahi ke aap aisa kyun bol rahe ho"
"No...its just that ke mujhe laga tumhe bata dun ke mai hamesha tumhare liye available rahunga. Koi bhi pareshani ho kuch bhi you can always come to me"
"Ok" I did not know what to say.
"Maine suna hai ke tumhe novels ka bahut shouk hai"
"Haan"
"Chalo tumhe kuch dikhata hun"
He walked to a closet in the corner of the cabin, that looked like a book shelf which actually was a door to a secret passage.
He entered the passage and I followed him.
Thud the book shelf cum door closed behind me, shutting all the sources of light.
The passage appeared like a dark tunnel now.
"Ayyammma" I shrieked.
Have I told you that I am Nyctophobic. Fear of darkness that is!
Immediately a flashlight was switched on which gave me little relief.
Holding the phone in his left, he wrapped his free hand around my shoulder "Don't worry. I am here" he said.
Andhere daraye to jakar falak pe
Chand sajaa denge hum
Rang in my ears again.
Still holding me securely, he led me to a small place that had books and pens and papers all over with a table in a corner facing a window that had a breathtaking view.
"Thisss is my little heaven. Jab kabhi pareshan hota hun, stressed hotha hun ya dukhi hotha hun, I come here. Writing gives me peace"
Oh he is a writer too! How could I forget that?
"You like this place?"
"Bahut. Its wonderful. Its messy though"
"Sorry about that. Likhte likhte kitna kachra karta hun realize nahi karta. Aur safayi mere bas ki baat nahi hai"
"Cleaners yahan ki safayi nahi karte"
"Yahan sabko ana allowed nahi hai. Its my private heaven. Mere alawa aaj tak yahan sirf 3 log aye hain, Simmi, Abhi aur aaj Tum. Yahan sirf wahi log jo mere dil ke bahut khareeb hain"
"Oh" I managed to say. There were so many emotions playing in my mind.
"Simmi safayi karne keliye ate hi. Otherwise she is not interested in writing. Aur Abhi ko bhi meri tarah yahan baith kar likhna pasand hai. To jab kabhi wo Delhi ata hai to hum dono is room keliye ladte hain"
"Abhi? Kaun?"
"Abhi is my best friend. Chaddi buddy you may say. Wo araha hai aaj rath party me. Tumse milaunga. Jo bhi mere dil ke khareeb hain usse bahut pyar karte hain" his expressions suddenly changed.
"Aap theek ho?" I could not help asking.
He breathed deeply and nodded in affirmative.
He still looked a little uncomfortable.
"Can I help you clean this place?" I asked to change his mood.
"No please! Wo department sirf Simmi ka hai. Agar usko pata chala ke maine tumse kaam karwaya to wo mera keema bana degi. Aur mujhe itni jaldi marne ka koi shouk nahi. Suna hai kunware mard ki aatma ko chain nahi milti"
This cracked me up & I started grinning like a maniac.
"Chalo koi to fayda hua yahan ane ka. Tumhari jheel jaisi hasi sunne ko mil gayi"
My jaws tightened suddenly force-stopping the laughter.
Chaaye udaasi lateefein sunakar
Tujhko hasa denge hum
The words echoed.
"Haste raha karo. Tumhari hasi me ek sargam hai jo gaane ki tarah kaanon me goonjti hai. Mera bas chale to is dhun ko sunte hue zindagi bita dun"
Haste hasaate yunhi gungunate
Chal denge char kadam
The lines played repeatedly.
With that I went into a different world altogether.
The world that had me & my Ajnabi.
Yes! I was physically spending time with Raman.
But mentally I was with Ajnabi.
Every moment I spent with Raman, every gesture of his, reminded me of Ajnabi.
Tere pyar ki nishaniyan
Ban gayi kahaniyan
The ring of his phone brought me back.
He excused himself to attend the call.
What was I doing?
I am literally going crazy.
I need to spit everything out.
I need to tell Raman all this.
He needs to know the truth.
As he finished his call & returned to me, I took a step ahead with determination and said "Raman mujhe apko kuch batana hai"
He was startled at the sudden declaration, but he composed himself quickly and said "Abhi nahi. It can wait"
"No Raman. Its important. Apke lie ye janna zaruri hai ke..."
He stopped me mid-way "Please Ishita! Mai is jagah aur is din ko achhi baton ke sath yad rakhna chahta hun. So please...aaj kuch math kehna...please" he begged.
I do not know what made me agree.
May be I wanted to give him some moments of satisfaction before breaking his heart ruthlessly.
"We have a reservation for lunch. Shall we leave now?"
"Ok" I said and was back to mechanically adhering to his instructions.
He pulled into the driveway of a plush restaurant, he handed the car keys to a valet and escorted me to a private booth.
"This place looks very expensive. Hum kahin aur chalein?" I asked looking at the interiors that screamed luxury. I am not a person who spends more than required on food and other stuff.
"Keemat jagah ki nahi, lamhon ki hoti hai. Tumhare jaise anmol sathi ke sath waqt bitana kisi keemti khazane se kam nahi. In lamhon ko jeene keliye agar mujhe khud ko bechna bhi pade to mai peeche nahi hatunga"
"Aap batein bahut mazedar karte ho, no doubt you are writer"
"Tumhare zaban se ye pehla compliment mila hai. I am honored"
A pang of guilt seeped in. I have never acknowledged his efforts, neither appreciated his gestures.
Does that mean I never tried to look at him as my life-partner?
Was I so obsessed with Ajnabi that I chose not to reciprocate his feelings for me?
Why Ishita??? Why didn't you give love another chance?
Had you appreciated his feelings, you might have fallen in love with him!
But my heart was in denial mode even today! It said
Phir se mohabbat,
Phir kaise mai pyar karoon
Phir se wafa ka
Kaise mai ikrar karun
Tere pyar me mai to dhali
Oh Ajnabi Mere Ajnabi
"Dil ne tumko chun liya hai
Tum bhi usko chuno na
Khwab koi dekhta hai
Tum bhi sapne buno na
Dil ye mera
tumse kuch keh raha hai
Suno na"
Did he just say that!?
---------------------To be continued-----------
How was this?
Like or Dislike...let me know...
I have all intentions of revealing the suspense soon...
But I want to close the plot with grace unlike CVs who give an abrupt climax to crucial tracks...
I hope u undrstnd & will co-operate...
thanks
Edited by maanvir - 9 years ago
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