He could have returned to Pune, but he didn't feel like. Instead he parked his car in front of Sanjeevani. He got out and started walking towards the assembly ground. Hours ago, this place had been brimming with people so much so that it almost felt festive.
Now, it was deserted. The stage had been stripped off the curtains and colourful decoratives. Half the chairs had been moved and half still remained, some tilted, some toppled. A sad grin spread on his lips. If someone were to peep inside his heart, would it look just like this? Would it also reflect a similarly grotesque transformation?
He walked past the field to the 3C class room. He had thought it would be locked but it wasn't, in fact as he looked around, none of the classrooms had been locked, perhaps because it was a boarding school and most of the teachers as well the students lived on campus. He pushed the door and stepped inside. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to recall the time from the afternoon. If only he could roll back time. Time, he felt was like sand, one moment you could have a handful and the very next moment it could all slip through your fingers. If only he could have that back.. If only..
He had made big plans for the day. Last week she had taken him to Kaka ki tapri which was hands down the best but today he had planned to take her to a place of his choice, a close second best. This was a very posh restaurant on the mountain top where only the high and mighty could have entry to. His reservation was still valid, but now he knew no one would turn up at their table. He had booked a penthouse right off the cliff of the hill because he had planned to spend the entire weekend in Panchgani and because it was a penthouse, she could have her privacy and yet be with him all the time. He had planned to witness a couple more sunrises with her and during one of those magical sunrises, he had planned to whisper those three special words the same way she had introduced him to music.
He smiled again at his destiny and leaned against the table, trying foolishly to recreate the scene from earlier in the day.
Sometimes we mourn for people even when they are alive, sometimes we cling on to places and things, wishing that they would bring us back the very people we made those memories with.
This is exactly why he preferred to have a wall of anger around his heart, so that no one could simply walk in and walk out as per their own preference. No matter how much he wanted to deny, the fact was that he was jealous of her imaginary boyfriend, of her best friend and of every single person who had a claim on her. He wanted her to be his, and only his. He wanted her to shine only for him. It was out rightly selfish, and he accepted that, but he couldn't help it because that's how he was.
He closed his eyes.
"Who aapka boyfriend hai?? He is so cute." Those were the first words of Chiraag, he clearly remembered. If she had a boyfriend, these kids would have definitely known because if she could bring him here, she would definitely have brought her boyfriend as well if there was one, especially on the annual day function.
He tried to replay his question and her answer.
"Do you love someone?" That was a vague question, because it could have meant anyone...even him. He didn't ask "Do u love anyone else." Why didn't he think about it earlier.
He rushed out of the classroom to the junior hostel dormitory.
"Can I meet Chiraag, from class 3c? You can tell him, its his Manik bhaiyaa" he waited impatiently at the lobby till the girl at the reception went upstairs and brought Chiraag along.
"Manik bhaiyaa!!" Chiraag came running to him. "Nandu miss kahan hai?"
"Ghar pe, sun na champ mujhe tujhse kuch baat karni hai, I need your help yaar." The receptionist was visibly amused to witness a 6'1" drop dead gorgeous guy seeking help from a 3'5" tiny school boy. As if his looks weren't lethal enough, he could kill even with his cuteness.
They settled on the steps outside the hostel.
"Woh tujhe aisa kyun lagta hai ki main Nandu miss ka boyfriend hun"
"Woh miss ne batane ke liye mana kiya tha. Secret hai."
"Yaar samjha kar, dil ka mamla hai, main kisi ko nahi batauga ki tune mujhe bataya hai, pakka promise... Nandini promise"
"Pakka???"
"Pakka promise champ"
"Woh rain wale din jab aap aye the na, usse pehle mam bohot gusse mein thi aur sabko daant rahi thi. Mujhe bi daant diya tha miss ne. So I was crying and mam came to say sorry. Fir mam ne bataya that she was worried because aapka phone nahi lag raha aur yeh bhi ki aap special ho.. Boyfriend wale special." He stopped for a while to take a breath before he could continue further "Par mujhe to pehle se pata tha ki aap hi mam ke special wale boyfrnd ho"
"Ab woh kaise.."
"Bhaiyaa aap hindi films nahi dekhte kya...woh dialogue nahi suna aapne.. Meri umar mein..ek jhalak mein Pata chal jata hai ki ladke ladki mein Kya chal raha hai " He tried to imitate Dara singh.
"Acha bacchu, yehi sikh raha hai tu school mein, chal teri mam se teri complain karta hun" He started tickling Chiraag and they both broke into peels of laughter.
"Acha Champ sunn" He summoned Chiraag as he got up to enter the hostel.
"What's her favourite thing?"
"U, me and fireflies."
Manik couldn't help blowing a kiss at Chiraag.
He felt much better and wanted to say sorry to the girl who had taught him the very meaning of sorry, but he wanted to do it in person and may be just may be he could still execute his plan. He would make up for all the mess he had created and this time fireflies would help him in his plan. He smiled.
He drove across to her home and called out for her...but even after calling her thrice, there was no response. He was getting worried, had he been too rude to her? He checked the main door , it wasn't locked. He went inside but she was nowhere to be found. Suddenly his eyes fell on the bathroom door which was ajar and the light inside was on. He cautiously peeked in and received the shock of his life.
Nandini was lying on the floor, unconscious...
Tum Se Tum Tak
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