Part-53
Dev , sitting near the window side, closed the shades. He tried to bring the darkness into his eyes.. The host took the dinner tray away and soon they turned all the bright lights off. He saw few enjoying the small screen in front of them.. but nothing fascinated him at this moment to divert his attention.. he took the small pillow from behind and placed that near his neck.. for support and then slowly rested his head back on to the seat..
He slowly closed his eyes.. there he saw his Radhika, standing near the window, looking up at the clouds' .. her eyes are wet but she is still keeping that smile for him.. how could she do that? I struggled each moment that I spend with her, to cover my own emotions, my pain. So only I suggested for that dinner prep, so that we can avoid that missing talk, that pain.. to divert her.. she was forgetting the world around her.. I felt it when she held my arm in that crowd.. I saw a new Radhika in this last two days, may be for last one week.... where she wants to be with me, her eyes always cornered me.. the Radhika I met first time is vanished totally.. no she is still there in her some where hiding , but '
'You stood there for me, in my room, leaning onto that wall.. closing your eyes.. last time I pulled you, but this time you gave up.. .. but the fear inside me.. i am sure if i have looked deep into those eyes, i might cancel my trip.. seeing your love for me.. , pulled me away from you, from giving what you conveyed.'.
"sir, anything to drink?".. the sound of a beauty wake him up from his thoughts..
"water please"'
She poured cold water with cubes in it to a plastic cup and gave to him with a smile on her face..and then moved to the front.. he pulled up the shade and looked out through the oval window.. now he felt the feeble feeling of heaviness, of being so high'.. he sipped onto that cold water looking blindly outside..
***
"Didn't he call yet?' Suchi again asked Surender with a hope..
SUrender: Suchi, now this is becoming a routine.. there is still time.. try to relax.. please..
Suchi sat back on the couch with a heavy heart'
Radhika was totally into her assignment works, to take away that tension'... but somewhere her ears were trying to listen to that phone to ring...'
Finally it rang.. Suchi got up first and lifted the phone.. Surender saw the smile and then the chain of questions'.. he stood there with patience..and finally
Surender: Suchi, can I ask him something?
Suchi: ha..
Surender talked with him and asked him to call once he reach his apartment..
Radhika got back to her room as she saw Surender keeping the receiver back.. She thanked God as she got back on to the chair.. how long it may take him to call back again'... that time he may talk to me.. but then "what will he talk?..'.. may be about his journey.. may be what he ate during his journey.. or will he say something else.. like he missed me.. like he closed his eyes and found me standing near the window looking at him'... Radhika was smiling with that thought.
Unknowingly the tears rolled from her eyes at this time..
She went back to that moment.. where he pulled her towards him and took into his tight embrace, and then all that loving kisses just to pacify my pain.. I wish if I could stop you from going.. but no I know how much you dreamed of this .. so only I let you go.. but next time, when you come after six months, I won't let you go anywhere.. I want you to be near by me .. all the time'
She jerked as she heard Lechu's sound calling out for her, saying Bro's phone.. She wiped off her tears.. and ran down to the main hall..
Oh God.. I need to say something.. with so much force she was able to bring out the sound : hello'. In a very low voice..
"muaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa'' you suppose to give this na.". Dev's voice said very softly
She blushed and looked at Suchi, but then found Suchi chatting with Lechu something about his journey..
"Radhikaaa'. Say something.., I know you won't be able to give it back as everybody is around you.. but say something na.." he requested..
But what will I say.. I don't know what to say'.. he suppose to say everything...' her mind mumbled inside..
Dev: Radhika.. are you there..?'
"ummm".. she managed to say that out..
Dev: why? Don't want to talk to me now..
Rahdika: um'
Dev: what?
Radhika looking around: um..
Dev: what is this Um.. um.. Radhika, please say something..
Radhika: vo.. vo.. you are Ok, right?
Dev with a smile: finally.. at least you asked me something'.. ha Yes, I am fine.. the journey was OK.. I reached on time..and now back in my lonely place.. and..
Dev: hello.. hello.. hello'.. Oh god , the line got cut..
He tried again and again.. it was giving a busy tone.. he got frustrated.. but then resting his head back onto the chair, he tried to relax...'
****
After getting fresh up he went out to buy some milk and basic groceries.. He felt so lonely while making the tea.. he remembered how Radhika was making tea for him.. his time passed quick as he tried to settle back in place.. he checked on his college site, time ticked by... and finally he decided to check his mail..
His eyes gone wide as he saw the one from Rahdika..: how she got it.. um.. smart..
He opened it and just one line: take care..
Dev smiled seeing the message'.. he replied.. "not fair.. so short.. you didn't even talk to me properly.. and just this!.. you need to compensate, or I won't write much either"..'
Later next day, reading the message, she smiled and replied: "is your class started? Here, Heena is teasing me' she is telling that I changed' ... 't.' ... '.. .. t.. t' it was so fun..'
Dev reading it.. smiled self thinking.. she write all class incidents in this mail.!!. as he was about to reply , other mail popped up'... he checked the time.. it should be around 1 AM there and she is online..!! he checked back.. her sign was gray.. he checked wih sending a message.."r u there?'
The message popped back quick: r u there?!
Dev: its too late ,, go to bed..
Radhika: I am not sleepy..
Dev: Radhika'
Rahdika: um..
Dev: use the earphone.. I am calling you..
Radhika picked it and connected to her computer.. soon she heard the ring sound and she clicked the answer button with a smile..
Dev: so what's up?
Radhika: nothing..
Dev: thinking of me, this late..
Radhika: no actually i was studying and when I finished I thought to send you a mail..
Dev: oh really, you were studying this long..!!
Radhika: ha, tomorrow I am going to Chandenpur, so I prefer to finish all the works before hand..
Dev: um, I know.. so will you send me mails from there..
Radhika: um..
Dev: I will call you too..
Radhika: um.. no college?.. it is around noon, right?
Dev: starts from Monday.. I came little early.. so settling everything down.. so after that it will be difficult to catch you like this..
Radhika giggled..
Dev: and then.. what else..
The talk went on for an hour..
Dev: Radhika, now go to bed.. will call you tomorrow..
Radhika: um.. goodnight..
Dev: just that..'.
Radhika: why?
Dev: just a goodnight..
Radhika: um' she smiled shy..
Dev: Radhika.. I can see that shy smile on you.. ye, connect to the videocam..
Radhika: no, I don't have any here..
Dev: oh' ya.. but there is one in Dad's office..
Radhika: I ain't going there..
Dev: u have one in Chandenpur?
Radhika: ha.. but never used.. it came along with the packet at that time..
Dev: try to connect it there OK' ..and I will cacth you online on Saturday, '
Radhika: um..
Dev: still um'.. give me my hak..
Radhika: what hak?
Dev: you know it..
Radhika: not now.
Dev: what?
Radhika: now there is no stock.. when you come after 6 months' .. then..
Dev: Radhika , that's not fair..
Radhika: that is fair' .. now goodnight..
Saying that she logged off quick..
She smiled getting up from the chair and then went to bed with a smile on her face, totally in her own world.. she closed her eyes with that smile tucked to her lips..'
****
Radhika was in daadi's room for sometime.. talking about Dev's trip and whatever she knew till that time.. Daadi was smiling all through her talk.. thinking how much Radhika changed.. she felt as if her granddaughter is living in a dream world now.. even though her eyes are open, she is seeing him in front of her..
She waited for him to join.. and finally he came up with some excuses.. they tried to connect each other.. he saw her image in, but not much clear, the light was not enough.. he asked her to adjust so many things but nothing went fine.. she was unable to see his image, he said his is not working, some issue.. will look for a new one soon.. he saw her irritated face when she heard that .. she turned the cam off as she heard him giggling..
Dev: what happened?
Radhika: no.. now you will see me only after 6 months..
Dev: not fair Radhika.. very disappointedly
Radhika: ha, it is fair.. then with a tinge of sadness she said; if I see you one more time and I won't be able to let you go. I think this is fine.. I am getting adjusted to it.. so.. her words trailed off, but she managed with her broken words.. and she logged off from there quick..
Suchi: he is calling more often now days'
Surender: um.. missing Radhika..!
Suchi smiled..
Surender: I am really happy Suchi.. finally it happened what I wished for, or may be granny dreamed for long' he really in love with Radhika.. I hope he will come back soon.. and I am sure he can join with me in business.. and I can take a break..
Suchi: um.. all this time, it was him to accept Radhika..now it is having him with the business' next?
Surender: what else: marriage.. why to wait?.. when he is working in a reputed business firm and anyway its all fixed.. so
Suchi: good.. after that...
Surender very seriously: Radhika can also join our business.. I mean..
Suchi: Oh really.. good , then..
Surender: then.. then.. what else/
Suchi: Thank God.. you stopped dreaming at that point..
Surender: what do you mean.. tightening his forehead..
Suchi: no, the hope is really nice.. but this five months should pass quick na..
Surender: see , how fast the first month passed , so I am sure, this will also go quick and he will be back soon..
Suchi: um', I hope too..
