Hey! Back after a long time. I'm lil busy. Btw I changed the title to 'Faasle'. I felt it's more apt and also it's the journey of covering those differences and distance. This is really a small chapter. Do temme if you liked. And again Not proofread so forgive grammatical and spelling errors. Enjoy reading.
CHAPTER 2
"Hello Dadi." Kunal said hugging Devyani from behind who was watering the Tulsi plant. She smiled hearing his voice and turned to look at him after completing her prayer. "Tujhe aaj meri yaad aayi?" Devyani complained pretending that she's angry at him. "Sorry na Dadi. Vo main thoda sa busy tha with studies. Baki ki toh you know na how much I love you. You're my favourite you know na." Kunal said with puppy eyes. "Accha toh Devyani teri favourite hai main nahi?" Badi Dadi said from behind. "Marr gye." Kunal thought. "Nahi Badi Dadi. Aisa nahi hai. Aap dono hi toh meri favourite hain. Meri life line." Kunal said hugging her. "Bas bas. Zyda makkhan mat lagao meri Dadiyon ko." Naksh said. "Arre sach bol raha hoon. In fact, ye puri family hi meri life line hai. Bachpan se koi tha hi nahi family kehne ko. My parents were divorced when I was just three. Phir kabhi Dad ke saath toh Kabhi Mom ke saath. Phir Mom ke jaane ke baad, it was only Dad. Family toh mujhe ab mili hai." Kunal said wiping a lone tear from the corner of his eyes. "Oh come on Dude. I was just kidding. Tu toh senti hi ho gya." Naksh hugged him.
"Kartik tumne kuch socha hai uss baare mein?" Suwarna said serving him his favourite matar ki kachori that she made. He paused looking at the Kachori. There was a sad smile. "Vo ladki kafi acchi hai. Tumhein bahut khush rakhegi. In fact, maine tum dono ki kundli bhi milwa li hai. Padit ji ne kaha hai ki vo bahut lucky hai tumgare liye." Suwarna was really excited. "Maa please. Mujhe shaadi nhi karni." Kartik, who was annoyed as hell spoke get up from the dinning table. "Shaadi nahi karni? Kyun?" Suwarna said getting by his side and keeping her hand on his shoulder. "Bas nahi karni baat khatam." Kartik moved away not paying any heed to Suwarna. Taking the file kept on the coffee table in the living hall he moved out of the house, sat in his car and told the driver to take him to the office.
"Bhai. Actually aapse kuch puchna tha mujhe aur Kunal ko. Aap free hain abhi?" Naira said sitting on the dining table beside Kunal. "Haan bol. I'mI'm free." Naksh said taking a bite of the red apple in his hand. "Vo actually, we have got a project together, to work with some firm or restaurant or something like that for some days. Sorta training. And then we have to write a detailed report on it. Can we join Krishna?" Naira said fidgeting with her stole. She doesn't like to take favour regarding her projects but she couldn't help this time. "Of course Naira. Krishna jitna mera hai, utna tera bhi hai. Jab bhi start karna ho aa jana. Even you Kunal. You may do your report there." Naksh said smiling. "Thanks yaar." Kunal said. "Accha vo sab chodo, tum ye kheer khao. Maine banaya hai." Devyani said stuffing his mouth with a spoon full of his favourite kheer. "This is yum Dadi." Kunal said licking the spoon. "Eww. Ab chammach toh mat chaat. Aur rakkha hai. Kha le aur." Naira smacked him. "Chup kar. Tu apna kaam kar." Kunal said still licking the spoon. "Mendak kahika." Naira started laughing but soon her laughter faded away. She got up from the table and went to her room. "Ab isse kya hua?" Kunal said looking at her. "Kuch nahi. Kuch purane zakham usne kured liye." Devyani said. "I'll go check on her." Naksh said getting up. "May I?" Kunal asked holding his hand to which Naksh just nodded his head in a yes.
Naira was in the balcony of her room. Sun was about to set. Cool breeze played with her long lustrous hair. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Kabhi kabhi humein lagta hai ki hum akele rehna chahte hain, kisi se baat nahi karne ka mann karta but insaan ko ussi waqt apne kisi qareebi ki zaroorat hoti hai. Zindagi mein humein saari khushiyan nahi mil sakti and that's nature's law toh jo haath se phisal gaya uska dukh manane se accha hai ki jo haath mein hai usse phisalne naa dein." Kunal said standing just beside Naira, looking in the direction she was looking. Naira didn't say anything. "Tumne yeh dialogue kis movie se churayi hai?" Naira finally looked at him, a little smile adorning her face, the orange hue of the sunset spread on her face. "Arre khud ki hain." Kunal said in a tone that sounded like he was offended delivered in a joking manner. "Accha? Tum kab se philosophy jhaadne lage?" Naira now completely looked at him. A big smile replaced the previous small one. "Jab se tu sad huyi." Kunal said with the equal big smlie. "Ooo. Hmm. By the way thank you." Naira again looked at the sunset. The sky was becoming darker. "Thanks kis liye?" Kunal asked. "Meri smile mujhe wapis dene ke liye." Naira said still smiling. "Teri smile ke liye kuch be. Accha tune bola tha you'll teach me that chapter. Aaj karein kya?" Kunal asked. While Devyani and Badi Dadi looked at the duo from afar. "Kunal accha ladka hai bhabhima." Devayani smiled. "Sahi keh rahi ho." Bhabhima smiled too.
5