SS: Salaam Namaste -LAST PART pg117(01/16) - Page 48

Arohi was feeling much better after deciding to not look for him. Atleast she will know she did not do anything to jeopardise the situation. Remembering Arjun's love filled eyes she laid on her belly and took out his picture from under the pillow. She outlined his face and stared at his face. He smiled back. She stroked his nose and felt his nose stroke hers. She outlined his eyes and drowned in the intensity of them. She outlined his lips and felt his warm lips on hers. Her whole body felt alive. She turned around and placed it on her fast beating heart. Then she realised it was a mistake to do so as she felt him very close with his strong arms around her and she felt a shudder. Burying her face in the pillow she controlled her rapid breath and hid his picture that was causing havoc with her senses under the pillow. Only for few seconds, she took it out again and kissed it. This time she felt he winked at her. She covered her face with his picture and inhaled deeply. Seeing his picture Arohi thought to herself she too will race the time and emerge a winner.

In her dreams she saw arjun again, he was wearing the same clothes as he did in the photo she had. He winked at her like she had felt. 'tum kab aaye' she asked him, 'jab tum meri tasveer mein kho gayi thi' 'main? maine kuch nahi kiya' 'maine kab kaha ki tumne kuch kiya? maine apne baare mein pucha' 'tum? tum kuch nahi kar sakte' she teased him 'sach? abhi dikhadu kya kar sakta hoon? baad mein mat bolna ki warn nahi kiya' 'dhamki diya toh main dar jaaungi?' 'mujhe tumhe darana nahi hai' 'phir' 'pyaar karna hai' he said in a husky tone and came near her 'main .. main ne toh aise hi kaha tha, sach mein tum bahut kuch kar sakte ho, mera matlab hai ki tum kar sakte ho par abhi nahi, mera matlab hai ki abhi kyun...' 'chup' he put his hands around her 'yahi kar raha tha na' he stroked his nose with his nose and brushed his lips against hers, then he hugged her pulling close and kissed her again. He stroked her arms with his fingers and bent her to the side supporting her waist with his hand and with another hand he held her arm and bent down to kiss her again, he then swirled her around and pulled her back. Resting his hand steadily on her waist he outlined the side of her face. Arohi was long lost. She had closed her eyes and her breathing had become deep. She gulped when he bent down and kissed her neck. From there he trailed kisses to her ear and whispered 'tum jaha par mujhe dhund rahi ho, main waha par nahi hoon'. She jolted from her sleep wiping the sweat off her forehead. 'jaha par dhoond rahi ho waha par nahi hoon?' what did he mean by that. was it just a dream. why did she feel it was all real. She still felt his arms around her and his lips on hers, his whisper, his breath, his scent. Everything felt real, but the reality was it was all a dream. All the composure she had accumulated fell apart in the form of tears.

Arjun's state was no different. He was equally love struck. He flipped through his phone and found her picture he had taken on her her birthday. For the 1000^th time he thought 'kitni pyaari hai'. How her nose gets all red when he teases her, her lips quiver when he looks deep into her, those delicacy of those lips that he had felt when he had kissed them. The shudder she had experienced that had sent his body pulsating. She need not have to do anything and just look at him lovingly and he would feel like his heart ached for more, to hold her, to feel her. How she distracted him with her talks when she found out what he was thinking. He laughed remembering arohi's embarassed face when she used to detect desire in his eyes. 'main jaanta hoon ki tum jaanti ho main kya sochta hoon' he thought. That hair which he sometimes touched lightly with his fingers felt so soft, the look she gives when he praises her beauty, the spark in her eyes and blush in her cheeks, she probably knowingly ignites him so he praises her more. Ek baar meri ho jao toh dekhna kaise apni appreciation dikhata hoon. he outlined her smile. 'kyun' he mocked her whisperingly, kyun satati ho aisa? . That night he too dreamt that of arohi 'jahan par bhi theek ho na?. main theek hoon. tumhe dhoondne gayi thi, lekin ab nahi, hum bas sapne mein hi mil sakte hai jaise tumne kaha tha, khayalon mein hi baatein karenge. kyunki khayalon mein sapno mein koi pabandi nai rehti'.

A silent agreement was hence reached. They grew more and more strong. More dreams, more sweet moments in those dreams. Their bond strengthened. Man se man ka jab rishta hua hai, toh ek dusre ke saamne nahi rahe toh kya hua, ek dusre ka sath hai. Both felt a calmness dwell on them. Even being miles away , Both felt they were in presence of each other while their hearts said together

chot tumhe lagi toh dard mujhe hua, aisa kyun
saans tumne liya toh aahat mujhme huyi, aisa kyun
raat ki khamoshi mein sapnon ki shor hai, aisa kyun
din bhi na dhalta hai chain bhi na milta hai, aisa kyun

jabse mohabbat ruh ko chua tabse yeh haal hai, aisa kyun

As days went by there were changes in Arohi's life. She got the job she had tried. It was going to be a good thing according to her, since she can be occupied and stay out of her home so she doesnot have to witness her mother trying to convince her otherwise. Soon she became noticed in her office for her efficiency. Her boss Madhav was truly impressed, not only by her work but also by her simple and sweet personality. Arohi was unware of this development.

Arjun had found an Islamic Center nearby. He visited regularly. He called his parents and assured he was doing great. He had taken up to early morning workouts. He found exercise to be the best way to exert his stress. Winter was setting in and he wanted to make the best of the outdoors as long as he could. An young girl, about 15 years old, observed him everyday while walking her way to the busstop. One day she too sat next to him and introduced herself. 'Hi, I am Stephanie' ' Hi, Arjun' he introduced himself. 'I have not seen you before, are you new' 'yeah' 'where were you before?' 'I came about a few weeks ago from India'. 'oh wow, I have heard a lot about India. Chicago is a great place to be' 'I agree' 'oh it is a great city, a survivor, you should take a tour, it is really awesome to go around, dont forget to take the tour on lake Michigan. it is A-mazing, like you will totally love it, you must go soon or it will close for winter' 'thank you , I will sure do that' 'winter too is A-mazing' she started again chit chating non stop amusing Arjun. He had to remind she has school and he has to go to work.

While jogging back he bumped into someone and said sorry. The man too said sorry and hurriedly walked away. Trouble comes in many forms. For Arjun it came in the form of Abbas.