Third Shot
"Naina, will you wait for me? One day I'll come back to take you along, and we'll be together forever after that!" said teenager Sameer to very young Naina, wiping tears out of the corners of her eyes with the knuckles of his thumbs.
Naina sighed, and her deep eyes expressed sadness, "I'll!" she spoke, nodding cutely, and Sameer suppressed his smile' "Promise?" he asked.
"Promise!" she replied, And the next some moments were simply worthy of being encapsulated in a camera, or limned by a painting, as they were in possession of a sight that was too adorable to be missed.
Naina had jumped up to hug Sameer, her arms around his neck, her legs dangling in the air, and she was clung to him like a damp clothes against a wet body. Sameer was taken aback at first by unexpected experience he'd just experienced, which was not unreasonable as she'd never physically expressed the affection he knew her heart held for him,however, her mind needed to grow up in order to get to the bottom of its elucidation. In two ticks his amazement had been replaced by sheer delight, his arms spontaneously hooked around her, pulling her more firmly against him and he twirled her around making her laugh like anything.
There was one thing he was very sure about that time that what he felt for her had only one destination and that was love; just love.
Naina had made a promise with a boy she knew for only a half year, nevertheless had bonded with for a lifetime.
Sameer was only 15 years old when he lost his parents in a car crash. Their love for each other must have been mighty deep, to such an extent that even death couldn't separate them. They set foot on the the final stage of their love hand in hand, leaving behind a son all by himself in the reality of a cruel world.
Sudden death of the created a vacuum at all level, leaving company scurring arround for right administration, and its ommission had the business insolvent.
Sameer's relatives had lent colour to the saying 'People reveal their true colours during worst storms of your life', he had been altogether devastated, shattered, helpless and destitude when Vivek Somani who had once been his Father's business partner brought him into his house. Vivek had no emotional attachement with him, he just wanted to transmogrify him into a puppet of his, when the time arrive. That's where he descried her, as a light at the end of the tunnel, a dream from life or a reason to live? Sameer had not a semblance of either thought that time, but, for how long?
Sitting on the floor of Somani House's lavish living room, across from him, she seemed to be wrapeed up in something, but what? That Sammer didn't notice as sitting right beside her on the couch, tapping quickly on the key board of her Smart phone using middle finger, Somani's Princess Kamya momentarily grabbed his attention, by the haughty look on whose face Sammer felt that he'd never like to have a glimpse of her again. He shifted his gaze back to Naina, and watched as her hand moved a pencil effortlessly across a white drawing paper. About a minute later a chubby lady entered into the picture from the Kitchen, "Naina! Kitni baar bola hai ki ye faltu kamo mei apna samay barbaad mat kar aur sirf aur surf apni padhai par dhyan de, samjhi?" Her anger visible on her face as well as audible in her voice. She bent down and quickly grabbed the paper, In a flash it had been torn up into small uneven pieces. If only she'd noticed that her 10 years old baby made her sketch.
Sameer failed to solve the mystery of what amazed him more? A young girl being scolded by her mother for drawing or a ting prick he felt somewhere inside his internal being, during the time that the radiance of her smile brutally killed by dejection.
Later he learned that the girl was the daughter of Junior Somanis Rohan and Kamya's caretaker Meena, and if his life was a storm of devastation, hers was no less. Her father died of tuberculosis when she was just five years old. They were hit hard by misfortune. When education and degrees could have been her armor against the challenges of life, Meena had none. Somehow she managed to get a job at Somani house and worked hard that she might afford to give education to her daughter. She used to take Naina along at work after her school, so that she could keep an eye on Naina as she studied. Rohan and Kamya were very fond of Meena, but neither of the Somanis had a warm feeling for Naina.
Since Meena'd understood the actual worth of money in life, all her dreams and hopes impromptu directed to Naina and her progress toward to be a rich woman. Rigidity of life's up and down concealed Naina's sad eyes from Meena's. She failed to see that her extremely intelligent and obedient daughter didn't laugh like other children did, nor did she ask for anything.
Sameer had realized that he and Junior Somanis couldn't pull together, as Vivek had given a long rope to his children, and about Vivek's wife Vishakha? Well, to be able to see through her fake concerns didn't require an eagle eye. To Sameer she seemed nothing but an annoying big mouth duck.
The only person who never annoyed him in there was Naina. That studious, sensible and calm almond shaped eyes girl had forged a liking toward herself in his being. There was no two ways about it, after all they were meant to be together.
It all started with him help her solve a tricky maths problem she got stuck on. Next day she showed her gratitude to him via a Thank You card, she made keeping from her Mother, and magically a way to hearts sprang up.
They became so close in a very short time. Two people who hardly smiled, injected moments of laughter and being happy into each other's lives. They would listen to each other's words of wisdom, share their problems and griefs with each other, go to their favourite place- nearby beach, now and then and relish the remarkable sight of fisherman fishing against sunset over there, whereas others were not really aware of their growing affinity.
Sameer taught her how to balance studies with hobbies, and their camaraderie served as a much needed punch for his purposeless life, which all of a sudden directed him to achieve something big. And taking first step toward the dream he moved to the US, with the assistance of his Father's very old friend Mr. Mishra, leaving behind an innocent girl, linked with him through a promise.
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Time flies! It had been 15 years since then. Naina grew up into a beautiful, industrious, wise and successful young woman. A PGDM from IIM Bangalore, and a position as Chief Marketing Officer of Somani Construction added dimensions to her glory. She left no stone unturned in fulfilling her Mother's dreams, while Meena had not changed much. She was still the same subservient lady who only knew how to ditto Vivek and Vishakha. Despite having a number of attractive job offers Naina had to join Somani Construction corresponded to Meena's wish. Vivek had lent them money for her college fee, consequently Naina had a perpetual duty of gratitude toward him as per Meena, despite it that the loan had been paid within first three years of her tenure. She had always been interested in working in a Financial Institution, but Vivek's job offer happened in advance of it and she couldn't turn it down, however she had no issue with working under him as long as she was satisfied with her work.
Naina was happy and contented with whatever she had pulled off, hitherto. Her shinning at the edge of being perfect life would have touched the door, if a little twing had not been there in her heart. The person whose memories had always been there with her like her knight in shinning armour, during all these years, never showed up again. She knew they were not fully mature when they made that beautiful promise to each other, besides, who keeps such promise as childish anyway? she did though,Yet she had not let any boy gain access to the centre of her heart so far.
"O bai Naina, jaldi kar na beta. Tujhe to ab tak uske saath hona chaiye tha." Meena all but pushed Naina out of the huge metallic door of their building. Was she half as beaming on her wedding day as she'd been today? Naina wanted to ask her Mother, but she decided otherwise. She lifted her long white gown slightly with both hands and began to walk toward her destination. In a while she left the city behind and get into a land which seemed too beautiful to be real. Trimmed emerald grass beneath her feet looked so fresh, as though it had been recently renewed, and the flowers growing all over the place looked rare and precious. The crystal clear sky, the fresh air which seemed infused with honey and roses astonished her. She turned around and her heart missed a beat, to hold up the weight of the delight her eyes suddenly met up with, it was a tree line pathway leading to a beautiful greystone castle that mesmerized her up to the hilt. The place was beautiful beyond belief that one could have spent the entire life over there cheerfully. She took a heavy breath and closed her eyes, taking in the ethereal silence of the environment breaking only by sweet chirps of some birds playing from one tree to another, and to break it further a clatter of hoofs along with a horse grunts emerged from behind the castle. Her eyes immediately opened as she heard the trample of hoofs grow louder, quicker. Her heart and her body worked on polar movements; the former beat as fast as the hoofs of the horse, while the latter stiffened in an effort to prevent trembling as she sighted a luminous white horse emerged from behind the castle cantering toward her, his satiny white mane flying in the wind, and the towering man on his back unidentifiable as his face was hidden behind a mask of dark blue velvet cloth that left only his eyes visible, still Naina was certain that he was not for whom her Mother had dressed her like a Princess, for he seemed even better.
The man pulled the reigns, forcing the horse to stop with a loud neigh, a few steps away from her. Once the horse was calmed he dismounted smoothly to stand next to it. Even with his face hidden, he looked every inch a fledging king in his smart attire. Dressed in white breeches and a delicate white shirt over that a striking navy blue coat with white facings and gold buttons, his boots were spotless, so highly polished that they glittered in the bright sun. His shoulders broad and straight like a warrior, his chin slightly down as he looked into her eyes . The initial moments of perplexity had faded away by the curiosity that was oozing out of every fibre of Naina's petite frame and to her surprise she wasn't afraid or worried. Her curiosity reached another level eagerness at the moment that he began walking toward her, taking slow, deliberate steps. Up close, His brawny , almost six feet body had towered over her and she had to tilt her head up to meet his eyes.
Her hand reached up to his face, he didn't protest at which betokened his consent to unveil his face unto her, Naina felt a wave of relief swept over her hastily. Just as she was close to strip velvet cloth off his face, "Naina... " Meena's shrill voice barged in from somewhere and everything went Stygian straight away.
Her eyes fluttered open, she woke up a little confused and shaken. She took in and let out a deep, audible breath, yawning she flipped over only to sight Meena with her oh so beaming smile, and Of course, who else could it be? Of all disrupting things, her Mother's uninvited voice, reserved the right to cease her dream at the climax. She immediately sat up and leaned against the headrest of the bed. "Maa, kya hua?" she spoke sluggishly.
"Neh wah. Mujhse puch rahi hai kya hua." Meena ensconced herself in bed before Naina, "Aaj sangeet hai tera aur tu ab tak soi hai." she bleated, faking anger and continued speaking , "Dekh tera Raajkumar to Kb se shaam ke nach ki peeeractise(practise)kar raha hai." Still too drowsy to pay head to whatever Meena had been speaking, Naina reached up to rub her eyes, and opened them slowly to find Meena leaning toward her forehead.
Meena pushed Naina's dishelved locks away from her face and kissed her forehead, cupping her face, radiating her maternal affection, she then slid her hands down Naina's arms and a smile appeared at the corner of her lips as she took her daughters hands in hers and looked down at the dark colour of beautiful mehndi design adorning them. "O bai! Naina tujhe pata hai khte hai ki dulhan ki kehndi ka rang jitna gehra ho uska dulha usse utna hi jyada pyaar karta hai." smiling broadly she looked over to Naina, who was listening to her calmly with unreadable expression on face. Meena resumed speaking, "Kher ye to hume phle se hi pata hai ki Rohan beta kitna pyaar karta hai tujhse, hai na?"
Naina was going to tie the knot with Rohan Somani in two days, one of the most eligible bachelors in Mumbai city, the apple of her own Mother's eye, Vivek Somani's heir and what not. The best resort in the city was booked for pre-wedding functions and rituals that had begun with their engagement ceremony, five days before.
Life is full of surprises, some of these surprises are highly unexpected yet equally pleasant. Despite the par excellence efforts of the most beautiful woman around, in order to go steady with him, Rohan fell for the girl, he had looked down upon during their early days. This miracle came to pass while their working as a team on a joint venture project with another company. He was struck by Naina's intellect, She was a one off, no one else had her skills, so beautiful was her simplicity in its own glory, so deep and rich were her knowledge and instructive experiences, she had absolutely grown up into elegance and was not the type to ignore, how come he didn't notice it all before? now that he had, she instinctively became the biggest share holder of his attention.
Even though it should have started with friendship, the lover boy having no patience left in him to follow the norm, jumped directly to marriage. His proposal too was incomparable- One day he sneaked into her office cabin before she arrived in the morning and kept a binder on her desk and hid behind the curtains. The moment he felt her presence his heartbeat shot up, but he managed to keep his breaths quiet and careful. Naina angled the binder so it faced her and flipped open the cover. The first sheet left her taken aback for some moments as it read "Ten reasons you should marry Rohan" from first to tenth, all of them told her the same thing "Because he loves you so much." As soon as she finished reading, he showed up with the last sheet of the binder in his hand, seeking the answer to- "I Love You.Will you marry me?"as he recited it. Naina's mind had trouble processing what he had said, it was actually a shock to hear it from his mouth. It was really hard to see the sense in him fell in love with her, but the sincerity of his sentiments reflecting in his eyes was really something; something hard not to take notice of.
Rohan was probably out of luck that day, in view of the fact that Naina rejected his proposal for she couldn't make a room for him in her heart. How would she when her heart belonged to someone else? so what that someone else had perhaps forgotten all about her? it was about her feelings ultimately.
Even though Rohan's anger had always got the better of him, but this time to his own amazement, he was more like hurt and restless. Love ain't always easy, he had to hang in there! moreover, he was not the kind of a man to give up easily, hence he knew what his next course of action would be, now his Meena maa would help him reach his destination.
Rohan beta and her Naina as one,it was a dream Meena'd never dared to dream(Neeh wah! Meena kahi tu sapna to nahi dekh rahi!) Every Mother wants to see her daughter with a perfect man, and to Meena, Rohan had always been the epitome of perfection. It wasn't easy, but she left no stone unturned and eventually persuaded Naina to take the right decision. With time positive changes in Rohan were conspicuous and genuine, Naina's neutral opinion of him did have transformed into liking him, but she was not sure whether she'd ever be able to love him? Notwithstanding her inner turmoil, there was no good reason for rejecting him or perhaps the reason was not weighty enough to be shared with her orthodox Mother and likewise society.
Vivek and Vishakha did put up a fuss. However, at the end of the day they proved to be helpless against their affection for their only son, like hindi filmy Parents, and anyway, set family background aside, Naina had always been one step ahead of their son in every respect.
Naina stowed Sameer's memories to the farthest corner of heart as to relieve their heaviness was pretty much impossible, afterwards in a private ceremony she was espoused to Rohan.
Meena rubbed Naina's palm, basically five letter- ROHAN written within the elaborated patterns, with her fingers gently, as if her Rohan beta were seated on there himself and she caressed his face lovingly. "Naina beta, tujhe pata hai tu kitni khushkismat hai ki Teri shaadi Rohan se ho rahi hai? Chirag lekar bhi dhondti na to aisa ladka na milta!", with that she started her extempore speech on Mera Pyaara Rohan Beta.
Naina knew her Mother could never pass up a chance to set forth her fondness for her Rohan Beta. If Naina'd allowed it, Meena wouldn't have minded marking every inch of her body with his name. There was no autocorrect on that, Naina'd experienced it- Wandering the streets of Goa Meena and Naina were having the time of their lives. Little drizzle falling on their heads bedewed their inner selves with titillating rapture. A vacation one month before the wedding was like a detox for Naina to rid her system of unnecessary worries and thoughts and strengthen herself for forthcoming duties and commitments. Though Meena was hell bent on bringing her Rohan Beta along, he couldn't make it, for a work in progress needed his presence back there in Mumbai, and Naina came by outright refreshment and recreation time. Clad in lime green sleeveless ruffled maxi dress Meena who seemed to be the epitome of fat and fanciable beauty, had turned many heads, "Yay Aunty!", "Totta!", "Maal!", "Hotcha!😛. Naina felt the blood rushing to her cheeks in embarrassment, but then Meena was Meena. "O bai Naina wo dekh!" Meena exclaimed, apparently excited as she pointed with her hand to draw Naina's attention to something to the left side of the road. Naina looked over to the left, a slight frown immediately creased her forehead as she spotted a Tattoo Studio by the roadside, What was her one of a kind Mother upto now? "Tattu banwa le Tattu Rohan Bete ke naam ka Tattu" Meena spoke up, grinning from ear to ear. Anoyance welled up inside Naina, and spread out across her face. She never wanted to be rude to her Mother, but this time she couldn't help it, "Maa, firstly its tattoo not tattu, secondly mai kisi ka bhi naam apni body par nahi likhwaugi fir chahe wo apka Rohan beta ho ya Salman Khan." Naina vociferated, with a look on her face that said, what do you always talk nonsense?! With her vexation still intact, she turned around swiftly and walked back to the hotel, leaving a grumbling Meena behind.
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The sangeet ceremony went through and through entertaining. All friends and family shook a leg to their select songs, but it was Meena and Vishakha's duet performance that stole the show. As soon as they came on stage wearing pink floaty layered tank tops with black harem pants, every spectator's lips spontaneously formed into a pucker, zapping out a loud whistle. Then the music started and made them both sway their hips, left then right. The song was tadakta bhadakta item song 'Sheela Ki Jawaani', considering their age, it should have been 'Sheela Ka Bhudapa' though, and to put the icing on the cake there was a step when Vivek joined them on stage, Meena clung to his right and Vishakha to left, then they both jutted their hips out and hit his legs simultaneously. Poor Vivek actually felt himself being sandwitched between two halves of a bun.
When everybody seemed to enjoy the humerous of performances, Naina and Rohan who were seated alongside in front of the stage, and looked a fairy and her prince, clad in designer royal blue Kurta-pants and Lehenga choli, looked at each other hopelessly. Rohan then leaned his face to Naina's ear so that she could hear him over the din of loud music, "Even though I know we ought to respect our Parents and should never think any wrong way about them, they can make you feel awkward at times?" he spoke up loud enough for her to hear. Naina raised her brows for a split second and then drop them back before she said- "You're telling me!", in a rather loud tone of voice, her sniggering smile mirrored his, as their eyes held a short lived stare.
Very gracefully their final performance became the crowning glory of the event. Rohan who had always been all thumbs when it came to dancing left his family stunned by his perfect moves. The choregrapher had selected a romantic song for them, called Sajde Mei Yu hi Jhukta Hu. With the beat of the music, the white lights started flashing and spun around the stage, making them visible to all. After rocking and tapping their feet in place to the music, he reached for her waist, she grasped his left shoulder and locked her left hand with his right. They started to sing along with the song and began to shake their shoulders and hips left then right in unison, having every appearance of being two beautiful figurines inside of a love globe, while everyone else present in the beautiful ambiance of the excellently decorated hall, was gaga over the view their dance merger had created.
The rest of the evening was running smooth, retaining an aura of leisure with much chit chat and laughter, people had indulged in drinks and food. Naina was happy seeing all happy faces around her, oblivious to the next twist of fate, on the way to her poised life. They were talking to a colleague when Vishaka tapped on Rohan' s shoulder from behind, to get their attention. They both turned around in unison to see her evergreen smile showing almost all of her safedi ki chamkaar teeth and a quite familiar looking stranger next to her. Damru, Naina look who I'd like you to meet," she spoke in her usual factitious stylish way,and Rohan frowned slightly at being called by his khatarnak wala pet name, that too in public, his Mom deserved a lecture all over again for sure. "This is Sameer, Sameer Maheshwari, you guys remember he'd come to stay with us when you were kids? You guys should know about his achievements. Vivek came across him in a business conference and invited him over here to your wedding. Isn't it great, Hain heee!" She said, looking at Sameer all smiles, who was now staring wide eyed at Naina standing right in front of him, looking down at the floor incessant in turn, unable to look him in the eye, not that he was a bad looking creature, other than his six feet lofty frame he had so much to look at, including his fit sturdy body to fathomless chocolate brown eyes, but her inner turmoil had left her shocked and numb for sometime . It went unnoticed by Vishakha totally, for she was busy multitasking, talking and forming a mental picture of Sameer and Kamya in traditional wear holding hands and walking around the sacred fire, originated about fifteen minutes ago ever since she heard of the rising net worth of Sameer's company based in NY city from Vivek. However Rohan's possessive eyes did take notice of it. He didn't like another man staring at his Naina non stop. What's with him? Idiot! He thought and greeted him formally out of courtesy.
Naina returned to her room early, on the pretext of having a headache. Nobody forced her to stay, thinking she needed her beauty sleep night before her wedding.
Vivek being an out and out businessman couldn't spare his son's wedding function a business deal, there he came face to face with Sameer, whose business had been trying to establish roots in India as well, meaning another business opportunity for Vivek. Even though Sameer had never been interested in anything of Vivek Somani and family yet he accepted the invitation with the hope that he might see Naina over there but definitely not like this.
Sameer stayed at the same Resort hotel that night. There was so much to talk about, so much to clarify, yet neither of them took a step forward instead of tossing and turning all night. The Next morning arose with a new happiness and a pathway to a new life for Naina. She should have been happy, excited and elated, but she felt neither of these sensations. She kept on waiting for him for fifteen years and now when she'd decided to move on he struck her with his existence and wreaked havoc on her mind. You don't even know if he remembere you or not? Think of Rohan, he's your reality. Came the voice of her conscience.
Rest of the day passed in a jiffy with everybody busy with last preperations and finally the most important evening of her life arrived.
"I know your happiness lies with someone else. And I'll not stand in your way." "I don't want anything more than your happiness." "I don't know why but I feel that you should be aware of that that's you whom I've loved always, since I knew what is love." "I returned to India only for you."
Sameers words echoed in Naina's mind as she walked toward mandap with some naughty girls either side, teasing her nonstop.
Sameer knew he had no right, but he couldn't help it. A part of him terifically restless and uptight, as if someone inside him was telling that he needed to pour his heart out to her. When she was all dressed up to walk down the aisle, he turned up to see her for one last time and shook her to her core.
Naina's heart was pounding furiously against her her chest, she wished she could freeze the time right then and elope with Sameer. Wait what?! Sameer? Yes Sameer! just then she saw Rohan, sitting in the mandap, his eyes twinkled for he was fascinated by her beauty. In that moment she realized that she was being stupid. "Rohan, I'm sorry I can't marry you, I just can't do this. You are a nice guy, it just that I'd boarded on the wrong train. 😆 You need to find someone who loves you." She spoke up and immediately turned around, pulled up the edges of her lehnga skirt and ran back down the pathway. Somanis and Meena were too shocked to move at this unexpected and weird turn of events, hence remained rooted to the spot in disbelief. Though an explanation to Rohan as outstanding, Sameer took priority over any other thing currently.
In no time Naina left the hotel premises and got to the ground outside and shouted "Sameer" but he was nowhere in sight. She didn't feel fully downhearted as she knew where she could find him.
Those who said that love gives you strength, must have meant courage and inner strength only, as there she was, her ankles aching, as she limped along a secluded road, and to top it all the road being devoid of taxi or any other conveyance, for the Resort was remote from the hustle and bustle of the city, added fuel to the stumbling block.
She didn't expect to find herself in her present situation, but then life is unpredictable. Her restless mind was coeval with her worried heart and her aching limbs, and through that, Every fibre of her being seeking solace, and her nearnerss to Sameer was where her solace existed presently.
Feeling overwhelmed, tears welled up in her eyes, and she wiped them with the back of her hand, without letting them spill down her cheeks. Hey bhagwan, please bring Sameer here to me. She prayed silently to herself, but God had a different plan. She stopped to take a deep breath. Her bridal lehnga embellished with heavy brocade, pearls, gems, zari and heavy embroidery was rather heavy, over it the chaotic situation she was in at present, it was certainly the heaviest weight her petite frame had ever carried. "Urgh, DJ wale babu mere wings laga de!" She exclaimed as she wiped beads of sweat from her cheek with the back of her hand, which eventually ended up ruining last neat bit of her cosmetic- a streak of frosted peach blusher, while rest of the makeup was already smudged.
"Come on Naina you can do it." She buoyed up her own spirit as no other soul was there to do so for her, then, she began walking down the path again. She'd walked a half mile, before she noticed something in the middle of the street. She continued walking, as the distance shortened her eyebrows rose and a frown creased her forehead when she got a clear view of a white horse standing in the middle of the road. It was not something to frown at, atleast at this point of time, so to rectify her mistake a cross of hope and relief smoothed out the lines freshly descended on her forehead, and spread all over her face. She whooped with delight, as if the horse were waiting for her only. The horse was a mere whose hair were plaited with sacred thread and it might sound funny ,but it was the same one that Rohan'd ridden in his baarat, was now on his way back home. Naina looked around for her owner, and noticed a man outside the shop across the street at a distance, whose back facing her, and who might be the owner. Alas, she had no money to hire the mare to ride, she realized at once that it was the time whe she had to put her ethics aside and take drastic action in order that she could be with Sameer shortly.
Considering her regular horseback riding lessons in school's extracurricular activity classes, it was not an uphill task for Naina. She rubbed the mare's neck and mare didn't move, which signified her state of being unafraid and calm,Naina took hold of her bridle, then patted and rubbed her back very gently. Naina put her right foot in the right stirrup and on her first try she swung her right leg over the saddle. Mounted she shouted. "Yeehaw! chal Dhanno chal take me to my Prince." She grabbed the reins tightly and kicked the mare to flee but the animal didn't budge. She tapped her back, kicked, kicked and kicked, "Hil bhi jaa please!"😆 but her didn't move even an inch from her place. Naina's heartbeat suddenly accelerated and to speed it up even, she heard a shout in the distance. The man she'd noticed was definitely the owner, it was crystal clear now, for he was rushing toward her as he shouted, "Hey kaun ho tum, ruko!" It was a call for the last tempestuous try, Naina swallowed to clear the lump from her throat. "Please get going Dhanno, tujhe Basanti ki kasam please! She shouted, almost pleading, as her cheeks grew flushed, And this time it worked, for the mare whose name was Basanti actually would only take off at her name. When the man was about to reach them, the mare set out a loud grunt and launched into a fast gallop immediately. The man tried to chase her, totes flummoxed for a bride hijacking his Basanti was severely startling, but he was a human not a horse, so in no time he ended up huffing and puffing. "Chor chor pakdo. Meri basanti..." he shouted at her, his hands clasping his thighs as he stopped to catch his breath. "Mai use kha nahi jaugi. Tumhari basatni wapas mil jaegi tumhe." Naina shouted over the sounds of pounding hoofs, she shifted the reins to her left hand to hold in place, and wriggled a thick gold bangle with Rohan's name engraved on it, that had been designed for her by Meena, off her right wrist and threw it behind toward him. "Tab take, isse kaam chala lo.", shouting, she slapped the mare over the shoulder with the reins to gallop faster and she spurted ahead, sending a dense cloud of dust up into the air.
A wave of the sea whooshed toward him rolling, to touch his booted feet and returned disappointed, deprived of his attention, for Sameer had momentarily engrossed in figuring out the connection between the depth of the sea and his lonliness and despodency.The darkness of the night would overshadow the sea completely, if falling lights from the sky were not there to cast long vertical strips around. As he wandered his eyes along the vacant seashore, he found himself standing alone on the sheet of sand. Alone! Was that his destiny? To be alone forever? He'd heard so many times that fruit of hardwork is always sweet, if so then why did everything around him seem bitter all of a sudden?Nothing had been handed to him on a silver platter, his life had been hard and a struggle, ever since he lost his parents, and in the US it was the hardest, where the only thing he had to do was hardwork, so that he could receive his dividend of happiness on life's preference stocks. In all those years there was only one thing that had endowed him with some comfort and tranquillity and that was a dream, a hope and a wish all clustered together as a craving for a felicitous and prosperous life with the girl who'd stolen his heart when she was a stranger to love, so was he rather. And now it was over it was all over in a moment as if it'd never existed.
While on the other side of the city, Naina had a beaming smile spread across her face, tears streaming down her cheeks, her dupatta flying in the air behind her and she was riding the horse like an expert.
The sweet wiff of the sea drifting on the breeze was meant to buck up his mood, but all it did was at variance. Sameer was on the verge of tears when a faint voice calling his name filtered through the loud hoof beats of a horse being ridden, reached his ear having an unpremediated objective to put a stop to the sea brimming over his eyes. He turned around and Naina emerged riding a white horse. She arched back as she drew in the reins with a tight grip, as soon as she reached his closest, and it had enough to set Sameer back on his heels.
Since when did men start dreaming of their Princess charmings on their white steeds? Naa this was not real? Or was it!? How could it be? Preplexed by off the wall happening, Sameer found himself unable to tumble to anything of it, he could only gape at her open mouthed. Only when Naina dismounted and stood right in front of him, did he close his mouth, gaining his senses back. He stared at her from head to toe, as if she were the eighth wonder of the world. Well at the moment she was no less, dishelved hair falling in locks on her forehead, her face stained with tears and smudged makeup, her clothing rumpled, she appeared nothing of the beautiful bride he'd seen about a couple of hours ago. "Naina, aren't you suppose to be at your wedding right now, what are you doing here?" poor soul was so utterly confused, that he really put his foot in his mouth. And then, CHATAKKK... Even the mare shivered once at the loud sound of the slap that had been plastered across Sameer's cheek , place of origin- Naina's hand. It just happened maybe because she was expecting something very different. He was about to drift into another world of being shocked, but Naina acted at the perfect time, she lunged forward and clung to him, her arms wrapped around him, her head buried against the side of his neck and He felt the dampness of her tears falling down his back for she'd started crying before speaking. "I broke the wedding off because I love you, Yes, I love you! I love you Sameer, I love you I love you!" She spoke through her tears, didn't know whether telling this to him or herself? Sameer'd waited a very long time to hear those words and when they finally came off, surprise paired up with euphoria and flooded in his heart, swamped tears in his eyes. "Why didn't you come Sameer,why did it take you so long to come back?! I waited for you for fifteen years. You were always the one and I've always loved you. I said yes to Rohan's proposal for Maa's sake, I never loved Him." She said, her voice cracking this time as she lifted her face from his shoulder and looked into his eyes. How long would Sameer control the fidgeting love inside him? He circled his left arm round her bare waist and groaned slightly for her softness, she was so soft and warm to his touch, he buried his right hand in her hair, pulling her closer, leaning into her as his love transformed into passion and its magnitude topped him for those ethereal moments. "I love you Naina. Jabse maine pyaar ko jana hai, tabse maine sirf tumhe chaha hai." He whispered before he started planting kisses all over face, her forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, lips, no features of her left untouched. His lips were roaming furiously over her face, though Naina was taken aback at first, very soon found herself melting under the heat of the rapturous attacks on her face. Once he'd had his fill he rested his forehead against hers, whispering "I can't believe its happening. I love you"and a soft smile curved his lips which didn't last long because Naina had put her mouth against his in a surprise kiss for she also needed to introduce him to her moves. They kissed as if it were their last not the first, and their lives depended on it. A whinny brought their lip lock to a halt and a speckle of red rose on their cheeks as they looked at the animal adjacent to them. Later when Naina told Sameer how she became a horse thief, their shrieks of laughter echoed within the atmosphere.
Naina did her utmost to get her mother back in her life's circle, but Meena never forgave her daughter for breaking her beloved( uska laal, hara,kala,neela,pila) Rohan's heart, to her what Naina did was no less than a sin for which she could never be exonerated.
Sameer didn't realize he fell asleep in the chair holding her hand and when he woke up he was still holding her hand. He cranked his stiff neck and check his watch. It read 1:00. He stood up swiftly as by this time he had to reach Ruhi's School to pick her up. "Ok baby, I gotta go, I'll see ya later!!" He spoke hurriedly as he bent down to plant a quick kiss on her forehead. Having reached the door he turned around to look at her and said a silent prayer for her to wake up like everyday, before he walked out and closed the door behind him slowly.
He didn't know whether his prayer would work this time or go unheard as always, He didn't know what life had in store for them next, all he know their love was sealed for eternity, no two ways about it.
Come what may, he loves her and will love her forever!
The End
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