It was a nice bright day, the atmosphere felt magical. Even after getting four hours sleep Pratigya felt fresh and ready for a new day. The alarm went on and was switched back off of instantly. Ninaji called for Pratigya at the door and Arushi stirred in the parallel single bed. The door was ajar and Nainaji walked in.
"Mummy, Why don't you ever knock?" Said pratigya climbing out of bed and getting into her slippers.
"Yeh kaisi baat karahi hi Pratigya beti?" Enquired Nainaji waking Arushi at the same time.
Arushi yawned and smiled at her mum. Arushi was Pratigya's young sister, who suffered mental health problems. Inspite of being eighteen years old she had the mind of a eight year old. Nainaji had suffered depression since Arushi's birth and found it hard to accept Arushi's condition at first but eventually learnt to live with it.
Pratigya cleaned up and after breakfast got hold of her assignment, which had kept her awake till early hours of the morning and set off for university. This was her final semester before graduating. Pratigya's father was a professor at the same college, so Pratigya decided to take a ride on his motorbike to Rolly's house on the way to university. "Bye Papa" She waved.
Rolly was Pratigya's best friend since childhood and also Adharsh's fiance, who was Pratigya's elder brother. Rolly was at the door waiting "kyaa yaar itna waqt laga diya?" asked Rolly. Praigya tugged at her arm and wrapped the other hand under Rolly's "Papa drives too slow, He doesn't want to be arrested for speeding". Rolly replied "In that case he may get arrested for driving under speed limit instead". And they both laughted. They had not much alternative then to call a rickshaw instead down the Allahabaad streets .
Finally climbing into one Pratigya gave her hand to Rolly to climb in, still a bit reluctant of spending money on a rickshaw. The cool breeze was touching Pratigya's face and she loved it. There was a good amount of traffic jam ahead and the Rickshaw driver decided to ride near the footpath instead to try and beat the traffic. All of a sudden Pratigya's eyes dropped on a young man near the footpath, with his head down repairing his motorbike. She couldn't see his face but his kneeling structure fascinated her. As the Rickshaw passed him, the stranger didn't look up at her or aknowledge her but a yard away, something pulled at her scarf. She asked the driver to stop and turned around and called out "Badtameez!" Now the young man did look. She met his gaze and stepped out of the rickshaw holding on to her end of the scarf. She ambled towards him and he watched her every step as though mesmerized by her being. She started "How dare you?". The young man replied "Kaa?". Pratigya closed her fist tight and neared him some more. "How dare you pull my scarf, never seen one before? Such a cheap act that was". Now the young man's jawbone twitched still keeping his gaze on her and stood up. "Naam kaa hai tumra?" He asked which infuriated Pratigya even more. "My name?, my name? What you want to tattoo it on your head?". He gave a smirk and said "What am I being accused for, Aise ration paani lekhe tumo kyun hum pe chadi ja rahi ho?"
Annoyed Pratigya went to explain about how he handled her scarf when she noticed that the scarf's other end was no way near the stranger but was dangling on a loose nail of a wooden stall. She felt embarrassed.
She tried to apologise but the young man wasn't interested, infact he walked over to the stall and lifted her scarf end carefully then walked over and opened Pratigya's closed fist and left it in her hand. His eyes never once leaving hers until he took a few steps back and turned away from her to head back to his abandoned bike. The matter was at end as far as he was concerned.
Pratigya climbed back into the rickshaw. She was completely dazzled and Rolly prodded pratigya. Pratigya's head was turned back to see the stranger, but he was busy with his bike. Rolly asked "Why did he want to know your name?" and Pratigya just shrugged and replied "Forget my name Rolly that's not important ' Lekhin is ladke kaa naam zaroor puchna parey gaa!"
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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