Dil Ki Bhasha - AbhiRa OS

We spent the night under the stars, memorizing the list of "current affairs" together. Ironic was the solace I felt sitting there with Meera as we discussed the world's crises.

While I was so focused on the future, she lived in the moment. What type of an influence will I be on the kids in the house? How will I manage to save up for the pending expenses this month? These were the types of things I'd be worrying about. But Meera ji? I smiled. She'd probably focus on doing what makes her feel happy, instead of worrying.

"Meera ji, ek baat puuchu?"

"Haan, pucho, Abhishek ji" she flashed her crooked smile. I caught her implication, but continued on anyway, "Meera ji aap yeh kaise kar leti ho?" I asked, genuinely fascinated by how easy-going she was.

But as if she didn't get what I was talking about, she looked around her at first, and then back at me. "Kya? Main kya kar rahi hu?"

I chuckled, shaking my head with a no at her. "Mera matlab hai ki aap kaise koi bhi pareshaani ko bina tension liye solve kar deti hai?"

She crossed her arms before speaking, "Tumhe kya lagta hai? Tension nahi hoti mujhe?" She waited for a reply, but I just shrugged. "Of course hoti hai, par main na hamesha se tension ko ignore karti hu. Waise bhi mera dimaak nahi chalta tension mein. Toh tension leke kyun apni problems badhaau? Hai na?"

I nodded; but it also mattered on your situation in life I suppose.

"Nope!" she said immediately, catching me by surprise to be honest. "Ji kuch kaha aapne?"

"Main jaanti hu tum kya soch rahe ho. Jawab hai naa!" She got up from the grass and sat on the ledge of the gazebo. I followed suit; "Aapko kaise pata?"

"Itne dino mein tumhe, thoda sa hi sahi, lekin jaan gayi hu Abhishek ji. Haan pata hai ki tumhari bahot saari responsibilities hai, bahot mushkile jhelni padti hai tumhe. Uske comparison mein toh meri life bahot simple hai boss. But yeh baat bhi sach hai ki tension toh sab ko hoti hai. Of course ab tension same nahi hoti sab ki life mein. Jaise ki meri tension filhaal toh yeh hai ki main Aman ki yeh boring si party kaise jhelungi. Aur tumhaari tension yeh hai ki tum property tax ke payment ko kaise chukaoge."

She kept going on, but more than listening to her talk, I looked at how expressive she was. Her hands flailing as she went on, her eyes widening when she talked about her biggest stress in life, her look of - wait, was it admiration? - when she spoke about my family and our financial situation. Her simple perspective on life wasn't something I hadn't thought about, but it certainly was more persuasive than I ever was thinking about it. I snapped out of the trance and focused on what she was saying. Yes, she was still speaking. I couldn't stop myself from smiling at the sight.

"Meera ji!" I suddenly interrupted her, catching her off guard. "Kya hua?" a look of confusion crossing her eyes. "I like you!"

There I finally said what I was thinking. For the first time in my life, without any hesitation. Finally. Pheww.

"Whaat?"

"I like you Meera ji! Aap bahot acche ho!" A goofy smile erupting on my face before I could stop it.

"Tum bhi naa Abhishek. Aisa koi achanak se kehta hai?" she remarked. "Ab friends hoke tum mujhe like nahi karte toh friendship meaningless ho jaati na?" she giggled. "Waise Abhishek, tumhe pata hai, tumhaare pehle mera kabhi koi itna accha dost nahi tha. Pant Bhavan mein pata nahi kitne din rahungi, lekin yeh zaroor pata hai ki ek rishta toh ho hi gaya hai iss Homestay se, aur uss Homestay ke logon se," she finished off slowly, resting her back on the pillar while fixing her cardigan.

"Aur aapse pehle mere life mein kabhi bhi mujhe aisa nahi laga ki main itna hasna seekh lunga, itna muskuraane lagunga" I confessed to her, realizing how many changes she had brought to my life.

"Chalo ab mujhe channe ke jhaad pe mat bithaao," she laughed. "Anyway, ab kaafi der ho chuki hai. Riya di mujhe jagaane aa rahi hogi," she sighed. "Stupid si party ke liye tayyar bhi hona hai. Toh phir hum raat ko milte hai, theek hai?"

I nodded wordlessly, of course with a smile though. It was funny how often I found myself smiling these days, that too without any reason in particular.

"Bye!!"

"Bye Meera ji," I waved back. I was about to leave but I saw her approach me again. I was just about to ask her what happened when she pecked my cheek. "Thank you for everything Abhi!" she smiled, a hint of affection visible in her eyes.

Yeh dil hai dil ki bhasha dil hi jaane.