Part 1
He felt emptiness engulfing him from all four ends... Life seemed to be slipping away...!! Yet his desperation to reach and make the most out of the opportunity that befell his way wanted him to step forward, forgetting that one person who, in such a short span of time, understood him better than himself! After all, it was a childhood dream and he could go to any extent to fulfill it.
****
He was a care free young lad unaware of the world's ways. All which mattered to him, all along, was that one dream, which in many respects, meant the world to him!
He had all the luxuries of the world but nothing could quench that thirst; even at the cost of his family...
****
His selfishness and her selflessness had led him to where, he thought, he belonged
****
They met exchanged glances and within no time an uncalled feeling paved it's way into her heart. Perhaps, not only her, also him! Yet their reluctance and hesitation could never bring the words to her mouth...
Well was it only reluctance and hesitance or was there a lot more to her side of the story?
****
It was the night his sister's wedding got over. They were merrily chattering the night away when he suddenly broke the news to her. At first she was taken aback; why had he told her: how did it even matter. She was but a mere friend of his sister. Yet delving deep, she meant a lot more to him than just his sister's friend. This fact only his unconscious mind and heart knew!!
****
The feeling their mouths were afraid to voice; their hearts were screeching out...!! Yet they were left unaware or was it just their concern for one another; that which had nurtured through time...?
Part 2
Ishita had let him go. Her heart had acknowledged her endless love for him. Yes it was late but the fact was she had realised.
****
He felt a pang on his heart. His reverie derived him down memory lane
****
FLASHBACK
"Raman isse mil; meri school friend aur college hostel mein bhi saath hi rehti thi."
"Toh Dii mujhe kyun bata rahe ho? Main kya karoon yaar? Mujhe aur sau kaam hain. Aapki shaadi hai par kaam saare mujhe karne hai. Peecha churo aur jaane do mujhe."
"Haan toh beta yeh meet aur greet session kaam ke liye hi karwaya! Ainvayi hawa mein naa ur. Ikluta bhai hai tu mera; kaam kar bhi le toh problem kya hai, haan?"
"Acha yaar kya kaam hai? Batao naa jaldi sai. In madam ko kahan deliver karna hai ab?"
"Yeh koi saamaan hai jo tu export- import chalu karle ga?? Kaam kar! Theek hai beta? Baatein naa bana. Isse mere kamre mein leke ja. Abhi! Zyada bhar- bhar maath karna!"
"Chali yeh madam...!"
****
"Waise Dii ne kaha toh hai muh band rakhne ke liye lekin itni khamoshi bardasht nahi hoti... ! Aap itni chup kyun hai... gaale mein dard hai kya? Nahi woh ek din mere gale mein bahut dard tha; poore do dino tak! You won't believe it unn do dino tak maine ek shabd tak nahi kaha tha! Oh that was torture yaar...!! Seriously.
...
"Oh sorry! Aapse ek question poochatha; aapne jawab nahi diya? Mundi toh hila hi sakti hain agar voice box se sound ko nikhalne mein problem hai...!! Doctor ko bhulaon?"
All that while she had been walking her head facing downwards. She glanced up and give him a soft smile and assured him that she was perfectly fine and it wasn't her personality to chirp and talk incessantly!
****
He was mesmerized by her beauty: her angelic face, those eyes which reflected her simplicity and sheer inner beauty left him awe-struck!
He had a slip of tongue and those words fumbled out...
"Lagta hai banane wale ne baari hi fursat se banaya hai! Kya ghazab dha rahi ho, yaar. Yeh red salwar suit tumpe bahut jhach raha hai, I must admit!"
She bridled a little. Noticing her uneasiness, he assured her, he had no bad intentions!
"Chill karo yaar, I mean no harm. Tum meri Dii ki friend ho and I respect you. Meri aadat nahi hai aise ladkiyon ko taarne ki!! Trust me, you are in safe hands... Simmi mujhe yeh responsility nahi deti, tumhe yahaan chodne ki agar mein... You know??? Meri toh aadat hi aasi hai; joh kuch bhi dil mein hota hai wahi sab shabd banke bahar aajata hai... Waise I'm sure tum mera naam jaanti ho? Actually, mein hoon hi itna popular!!"
He burst out laughing while she moved ahead to open the door and enter Simmi's room. He followed suit; lifted her bag and went to place it on top of the wardrobe.
"Theek hai ab mein chalta hoon. Kisi cheez ki zaroorat ho na toh kisi naukar ko bhula lena! Simmi Dii ke kehne pe tumhe yahaan chodne aaya tha warna mere aur sau kaam pending padhe hue hain...!"
He slammed the door shut and left to complete his pending work. Whilst on the way back he saw Simmi Dii and felt intrigued to ask about her. Strange it was; he had been blabbering non-stop about so many random things but forgot to ask that girl the most important question. How foolish could he get, he thought.
He went over to Simmi and began showering her with questions.
"Oye, Simmi Dii, aapki uss dost ka naam kya hai? Itni chup hai ke mujhe aisa laga ke kisi ghunge ke saath chal raha hoon, by God. College aur school mein bhi aisi hi thi yaa phir baad mein kuch hua?"
"Tu baara interested hai baachu! Kya baat hai, kahin usse patane ka iraada toh nahi?
Kya yaar aap bhi Simmi Dii... Mujhe koi interest nahi hai uss mein. Actually, pehle baar kissi isse insaan se mulaqat hoi jo itna shaant hai. After all, hum Punjabi hain yaar: loud boisterous! Aur kya baat hai?? Maine aapse sawaal kiya naa tu aap mujhe jawab do; yaahan wahan ki baatein kya kar rahe ho? Nahi toh mein jaa rahan hoon soone. Kaam toh kal bhi hosaktein hai, nahi?"
****
Simmi took Raman to the terrace. This was their area... Where the two came to spill their hearts out to one another. Raman knew that the matter was serious.
Part 3
"Ab bata bhi dona Simmi Dii, kya baat hai? Uss silent movie ko kya sadma laga hua hai yaar?"
"Har baat pe maazak hi karna hota hai tujhe? Khote di khur. Suna hai toh sunn nahi teh mujhe apni friend ke paas bhi jaana hai. Akeli hai...!"
"Chale jaana na!! Muh kholo; kya mystery hai...?"
"Bachu tu bara excited hai!! Acha acha I'll tell..."
Simmi's face dropped.
"Raman, Ishita itni kaati kaati isi liye rehti hai kyun ki woh anath hai."
Raman's mind was on an all together different tangent.
"Oh ho ladki ka naam Ishita hai... Nice name... I love it!!"
Simmi glared at Raman
"Main tujhe kya bata rahi hoon aur tu sunn kya raha hai!! Hadh toh hoti hai naa?"
"Sunn raha hoon yaar, I'm not deaf!!"
"Emotions naam ki koi cheez hi nahi hai tere andar!!"
"Emotional fool nahi bana hai mujhe! Life mein kitna kuch achieve karna hai, emotions ki jaaga hi kahan hai life mein, haan?"
Simmi sighed and playfully whacked Raman's arm and left him to be
****
The whole night, Raman thought only about Ishita. There was something so charismatic about her simplistic persona that which attracted her towards him. No matter how much he thought he wasn't affected and also refused to address his emotions, deep down he had started to care. He was actually shocked, to say the least. After all, he wasn't the one to care a damn about anything. Then how had this girl begin to matter to him in one day only?
Was it love? He pushed the thoughts out of his mind and indulged in a deep slumber to bring upon a new day and get an inch closer to his passion.
****
In the morning, Simmi Dii tip toed into his room and splashed a bucket full of ice cold water on him.
He got up with a jolt and remarked
"Kya baqwaas hai! Dimaag toh teekh hai naa aapka?? Mujhe thand lag gayi toh galti kiski hogi? Aap dekhna aaj Mummy ke lautne baad mein aap ki khoob complain karoonga! Wait and watch pyaari behna!!
"Oh drama queen male version...!! Mummyji ko jab airport recieve karne jaayega naa tab khoob ache se meri shikayat kar lena ab jaa aur taiyaar hoja time naa waste kar."
"Aap nahi chal rahe ho saath?"
"Mummyji itne dino baad aarahi hain tayari karni hai mujhe. Unke liye khaana banana hai..."
"Toh cook banalega naa. Usse kis liye rakha hai?? Paise milte hain muft mein todhe hi kaam karwate hain. Bada aalsi hai woh!!"
"Baatein na bana. Mummy do mahino ke baad aarahi hai aur tu hai ki cook bana lega khana."
"Oh ho Maa pe bada pyaar aa raha hai... cos kuch hi dino ke mehmaan ho naa ab toh aap!!"
"Raman jaldi kar"
"Sharma rahe ho Dii. Kya baat hai you're behaving like a girl. Yeh toh kamaal hogaya!"
"Jaa Raman"
"Acha main ready ho jaata hoon phir airport chala jaaonga. Flight kitne baaje ki hai?"
"Flight 12 baje ki hai; tu fresh ho jaa aur aaja breakfast karle. Aaj sab Ishu ne banaya hai."
"Kyun? Mehmaan hai yaar usse kyun kaam karwaya? Aap bhi bas har kisi ko kaam pe laga dete ho; Hitler Didi...!"
"Ishu ne khud kaha ke woh banana chahti hai breakfast meine usse koi force - vorce nahi kiya! Waise woh bhi jaayegi tere saath Mummy ko receive karne."
"Pooch rahe ho yaa bata rahe ho? Aur woh bhala kyun mere saath chalegi...?"
"Kyun ki tujhe usse Delhi ki sehr karwani hai... Shauk hai naa tujhe travelling aur touring ka??"
"So toh hai! Acha theek hai mein aata hoon...!"
****
Ishita along with making the food also set out the table. Everything felt so different today...!
They relished the food and Raman and Ishita set out for their mini trip
****
"Ishita tum toh kuch bolti ho nahi toh main hi keh deta hoon...!! ...
Palak paneer kamaal ka tha!! Mann kiya apni ungliyaan kha jaon!!"
Ishita chuckled!
"Aap haaste hue bahut pyaari lagti hain"
Ishita's face turned a crimson red. It was a first for Raman so how could he let this moment go to waste?
"Oh ho! Toh aap sharma bhi leti hain?? Kya baat hai; aur kya, kya karsakti hain aap; I mean aap ki hobbies? Dekho aap meri behen ki best friend hain but aap ke naam ke ilawa main aap ke baare mein kuch bhi nahi jaanta. Strange isn't it??"
Ishita nodded
"Toh phir shuru karo naa! Kyun ki ek baar humaari Mummyji aagayein toh hum koi bhi baat nahi kar payenge! Acha I'll start; mera naam Raman hai and main Simmi ka chota bhai hoon. Waise main aur Dii ek dusre se kuch and I mean kuch bhi nahi chupate. Weird yeh hai ke, itne saalon tak hume ek dusre ke baare mein pata kaise nahi tha... Ok I'm sorry; aap boliye!!"
"Hi Raman! Waise aapko nahi lagta ke aap kuch zyaada hi baatein karte hain? Could that be the reason ke aapko meri baatein suniye nahi deteen? Let that be! Raman, Simmi meri best friend zaroor hai lekin iska hargiz yeh matlab nahi ke humaara friends bane ka koi bhi chance hai. Aap uske bhai hain and I respect that lekin mujhse please nazdeekiyaan mat barai ye!"
"Perfectly fine with me!" Raman uttered grumpily
The rest of the drive was a silent affair. Raman bought flowers on the way and drove off with Ishita, making minimal eye contact.
****
"OYE!! Raman...!!"
"Oh Mummy aagaye aap?"
"Nahi betaji, teri Mummy ka bhoot aya hai tujhe yeh batane ke Toshi ko London itna pasand aya ke woh wahi bas gayi!"
"Aap ka sense of hammer... errm... I mean humour, kamaal hai Mummyji. Waise yeh lo.. aapke liye dher saare laal gulaab..." Raman said handing over the bouquet to Mummy.
"Aa jao Mummy!"
"Tujhe bari jaldi hai. Mujhe iss kudi se toh mil lene de. Koun hai?"
Tussi khud puch lo? Raman said arrogantly
Mummy advanced towards Ishita whilst she bent down to take her blessings.
"Jeeti reh puttar. Tu Ishu hai na? Simmi ne bataya tha mujhe ek baar. Aaja ghar chalein"
They set off for home; with Mummy and Ishita chattering their hearts out. As though they knew each other since forever!
****
They had their lunch and Raman told Mummyji, he was heading towards the terrace for some alone time. Simmi sensed something wrong and went behind him
****
"Kya hua Raman? Pehli baar tu mujhe iss tarah parshan lag raha hai. Kya problem hai yaar? Subah toh tera mood theek tha!"
"Subah mood theek tha naa; ab toh nahi hai! Aap jaao yaar. Thang naa karo!"
"Raman koi baat hai naa toh mujhe das de! Ki hoya?"
"Woh Ishita mujhe bilkul bhi pasand nahi hai!"
"Haan toh tujhe todhe usse life long commitment deni hai. As if hum keh rahein hain ke usse shaadi kar le! Nahi pasand toh theek hai na. Aisa toh nahi hai naa ke woh puri life idhar rahegi?? Chill maar!"
"Maine aisa kaha keh woh idhar rahegi? Lekin jitna time bhi idhar rahegi, atleast tareeke se baat toh kar hi sakti hai naa? Maa- baap ne tameez nahi sikhayi kya?"
"Kal raat jo tujhe bataya tha, kya bhul gaya? Lagta toh aise hi hai! Raman uske parents hai hi nahi! She's an orphan aur isi wajah se she doesn't easily open up to people!"
"Ajab hai yeh toh. Uske parents nahi hai iss wajah se, she doesn't want to form a close bond with anyone?!"
"Lekin uska tere se rudely baat karna mujhe bhi ajeeb laga! Don't worry main uss ke saath gal karoon gi!!"
****
It was now night and Simmi and Ishita were settling into their beds when suddenly Simmi sprang up with a question
"Ishu kahi tujhe Raman se pyaar toh nahi hogaya? Jo kuch hai naa mujhe sach sach bata dena! Teri best friend hoon aur teri rag-rag se wakif hoon! Tu unhi logon se rudely behave karti hai jinse tu dhoor rehna chahti hai kyun ki tujhe yeh darr hota hai ke you'll lose them jaise tune aapne parents ko koh diya! Tu nahi chahti keh Raman tere kareeb aaye? Bol naa; kehde aapne dil ki baat!!"
"Simmi main jitna bhi chahoon, tujhse kuch bhi nahi chupa sakti!"
"Haan Madamji, sach hai!! Toh ab spill it out..."
"Yeh pyaar ab se nahi hai Simmi, yeh bachpan se hi mere dil mein pal raha hai. Jab bhi tujhse Raman ki koi bhi baat sunti thi, it felt nice. Nice ek understatement hogi... Mera dil bas yahi chahta tha ke ek baar iss insaan se miloon. Isse aapne aankhon ke saamne dekhoon. Lekin kal se, I've been in a dilemma: I always wanted to meet Raman and tell him ke how much I like him but usse aapne aankhon ke saamne paake mujhe yeh realise hua ke agar yeh bhi mujhse dhoor chala gaya toh main nahi jee paaongi!"
"Ishu tu shayad realise nahi kar rahi hai ke teri in harkatoon se mere bhai ka dil kitna zyaada dhuk raha hai. All he wants is to befriend you. Give your life a chance my friend, who knows kal kya ho jaaiye. Try to live in the moment. Future main jo hona hoga, ho jayega. Kal ke baare mein soch ke aapna present maath spoil kar! Cheer up and await a new beginning tomorrow!"
"Simmi tujhse baat karke mann halka hogaya!"
"Yeh ool jalool baatein aapne dimag se nikalde!!"
****
Part 4
Ishita opened her eyes; welcomed by the bright sunset. The air was filled with tranquillity. The conversation with Simmi last night had tempted Ishita to give friendship with Raman a chance.
Ishita got out of the bed ready to begin her day with hope in her heart and conviction in her mind. She felt confident... a feeling amiss for so long! Perhaps, life was giving her another chance.
****
She walked past Raman's room and saw him wide awake; looking drowsy and teary eyed. She knocked on the door to be allowed in reluctantly.
Raman disliked his vulnerable side being seen by anyone other than his Simmi Di who knew him inside out. He had tried hard to mask the pain of departure from his sister yet had been unsuccessful! Simmi had known well enough but with Mummyji's desperation to see her daughter married had led to Simmi agreeing to marry. Raman was the first person to know of Simmi's decision and he hadn't been able to control his emotions well. He had urged his dearest Di to never leave him but this was the bitter truth. As days were drawing by, Raman felt all the more anxious not only because his sister would be leaving him but also the concern of his sister being taken care of by strangers! Raman was a sensitive and emotional person yet he seldom let people know of his truest sentiments.
Today he had been caught off guard which had made him feel very embarrassed!
RAMAN
Tu mere kamre mein kya kar rahi hai...??? Space naam ki bhi koi cheez hoti hai naa! Ainvayi kisi ke kamre mein nahi ghus jaate. Next time khayaal rahe Madam. Aur waise bhi tujhe toh mujh se baat karne mein koi interest hi nahi tha toh phir aise mujhe choron ki tarha dekhne ka kya matlab hai, bol naa?
ISHITA
Darwaza kola hua tha toh...
RAMAN
Bada acha bahana hai... dekh get one thing straight mujhe yeh bilkul pasand nahi hai ke koi bhi aake mujhpe taaka jhaaki kare! Ainda khayaal rahe. Kal tune jo kiya naa uske mujhse aise cordially baat karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Agar baat nahi karni hai mujhse; I'm cool. I don't give a damn!!! Main tujhse door rahoon ga... tu mujhse. Get that straight! Agar meri bad- bad pasand nahi hai; you can leave!
ISHITA
Tum apne dil ki baat mujhse share karsakte ho Raman; I surely won't have a problem!
RAMAN
Main apni baatein bhala tujhse kyun share karoon. I don't need anyone... main bilkul theek hoon! You best leave... subah subah tang math kar mujh
ISHITA
Raman please stop trying to run away from your pain. Dard batne se uska ehsaas kam hojata hai!
RAMAN
Shuru hogaya aapka gyaan! Itni philosophical baatein seekhi kahaan se aapne??? Waise, I don't need your lectures! Itna hi shauk hai toh teacher ban jaaye! Pehle keh chuka hoon... just leave me alone... simple si baat samajh kyun nahi rahi hain aap MISS Ishita??? Bye... will you just leave now???
ISHITA
OK!
Leave your comments and anything you want me to improve on. Criticism most welcome!
Edited by Badtameez_Dil_1 - 10 years ago
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