CHAPTER 3:
A new day. Aisha's day begins with a silent good morning wish to Arjun, who wishes her back too... just for her to hear. Anyone would have thought that she was mad to speak to an invisible being. Well, it was her way of existence. And today was no different. Each day, she was just living to finish that day. Breathing to just to keep her alive.
She had a bath and had her prayer. She never did anything before her prayers. Then a quick breakfast for herself and then waiting for Swati. She was punctual too. Swati never missed her walk to the school with her didi.
Aisha was the librarian of the small Govt school in which Swati was staying. Residing in a not so popular area in Allahabad, the school didn't have much facility. The library was just a normal one. And to get a job there, it was not that tough. He half educational qualifications certificates that were presented to the school authority allowed her to grab the job. Her full certificates would have brought suspicion to her, that why would such a lady opt for a librarian post. She kept herself isolated. There were no friends till she met Swati. There was a good bonding between them.
The room full of book kept her busy. She used to mend the books to keep her busy. One at a time, just to make some reason to come the next day.
One such day, Swati mentioned about the Taj Mahotsav. It was a leading classical dance competition in which the students wished to participate. They had a new rule this time that the students should dance with the teacher as a group. The teacher that taught them was on her maternity leave. So there was no option for them.
Dance... it brought a new life to her life. She used to dance once... and she did dance for him too... once... the day when he had a chance to see her old photographs of her college life. He didn't listen to her pleads that day and made her dance for him. The looks and the happiness he had.. the proud feeling...she could never forget it...
She took her ghungru that night from her drawer where her memories were dwelling. She saw him having his usual smile... "Go for Aisha... I want to see you dance again... please..."
She met Swati next day and asked if she could help. Swati was on cloud nine. But Aisha asked for a day. That day Swati took her to the place where they used to dance. The ghungru in her leg felt so heavy for her. But then she closed her eyes, saw him giving a thumps up. She had a silent prayer and she danced.
She danced for a song, and that was when she realized... I'm alive...
Ek lau hai, sau parchhai hai
Duhai hai, duhaai hai
Aankhon ne yaadein barsaai hai
Duhai hai, duhaai hai
Chahat ki zara koi pooche hai
Duhai hai, duhaai hai
Keemat kya dil ne chukaai hai
So from that day she was a librarian in the day time and a kathak dance teacher after school time. it was now her usual schedule.
They danced in the evening. And then walked back home.
Ais: Swati competition agle hafte hai right?
Swa: ha Di.. actually mujhe dar lag rahi hai!! kaafi teams hoge... aur patha nahi kya hoga!!
Ais: Swati, hume bas apna 100% deni hai. baki sab dekha jayega. Ok ab kal milthe hai! bye.
Swa: bye di...
Aisha walked back home. After her regular work she was back in her study. the previous nights talks was disturbing her. She took her laptop. He was smiling again at her through the wallpaper.
She opened the mail. Today no new mails, except some scraps from some lottery man.
She went to the 'starred' label. And there he was...Sameer Rathod.
She went back to the oldest mail.
Aisha
kaha ho tum? Kab thak aise chup ke jiyoge? Come back. At least give me a call.
Rathod.
Next a few were not much different. She could feel a friend calling her back home. She browsed through some more mails.
... aaj Sree ke bday hai... he is missing you. Kam se kam ek bday wish tho kar sakthe the tum...
Sree's bday. She never missed it. that day she brought sweets for her dance students. Swati was excited that day. "wow Di, aaj koi special din hai?"
Ais: ha, aaj mere dost ya ye kaho mere bhai ke bday hai.
Swa: wah.. kya naam hai unke?
Ais: Sreekant. Ya sirf Sree.
Swa: cute name. wo bhi cute hoge right?
Ais: (smiling) bohot cute hai...
Sanuja: tho kab milwaoge unse?
Ais: (little bit sad) patha nahi. Ab sab chodo, jaldi sweets khao aur position lo. We have to finish this part today.
They practiced that day.
Ho... bandishon mein jiya kiya
Jiya kiya main toh
Ranjishon mein jiya kiya...
Yaaron mujhe le chalo, le chalo
Le chalo tum wahaan
She went onto some other mails and then reached the one that came yesterday.
Aisha,
Patha nahi tum ye mail bhi ignore karoge ke nahi. I hope not. Its almost 2 years now. Ab kithne aur wait karoge tum? Jithna time mila uthne me patha nahi tumhe kya kya paya ya ye kehdu ke kya kya khoya. Jo bhi tum khoyi ho, wo ab wapas dena mere bas ke baath nahi hai. par ithna tho keh saktha hu, ke agar koi madad chaho, tho bolne me math rokna.
Tumhare chupne se kuch badla nahi hai Aisha. Mumbai waise ke waise hi hai. har roz wahi zindagi, wahi jung. Aur yaha ETF me bhi kuch khas changes bhi nahi hue hai. ha, bas kuch naya chehra agaya.
Ab ye sab tumhe kyu batha rahe ho?? right?? Wajah ye hai ke we are really missing you. Jo team pehle tha...(she stopped there for a while... "tha...") wo ab nahi rahe. Rahe tho sirf mien, Sree aur Chotu. Aur fir baki sab. Why don't you come back?
Sree tumhe dhundne ko puri tharah se ready hai. bas meine order dekar chup karwaye hai. he is really pissed off at me for that. but I didn't have a choice and you know that. akhir wada jo kiya tha tumse. Thod kaise sakthe the??
But ab aur nahi hosaktha. I want you back here Aisha.hosake tho isse ek order samajh lena.
Please kehne ka aadat thode kam hai. fir bhi... please come back... if not for me or you... please come back for him...
Please...
Waiting for your reply,
Sameer.
She could imagine Sameer's face writing this. His expressions. His sincerity in each line. But how can she respond back? How to break his heart again?
Yaaron mujhe le chalo tum wahaan
Ho jahaan har khushi, dosti, pyar bhi
Ho jahaan zindagi har Nafas mein basi
Le Chalo...
She closed the laptop and went to her rocking chair. She was more confused now. And again she felt his presence.
"kya hua?? Ithne pareshan kyu ho?"
"you know it right? Fir kyu puch rahe ho?"
"patha hai, isliye puch raha hu... akhir kab thak Aisha... kab thak aise chupoge?? I don't see a reason for this hiding. Kyu tum is baahar ke dunaiya se dari ho? akhir wo kya hai, jo tumhe aise pakad ke rakha hai?"
"patha nahi Arjun... but I don't think I belong to there anymore..."
"aur ye tum bol rahe ho? the Aisha... the jungle billi of ETF!!!"
"please ab mere mazak math uthao..."
"mazak nahi kar raha hu. I really mean it Aisha. You are actually killing that Aisha in you..."
"well its already dead Arjun."
"no its not... wo abhi bhi mari nahi hai... and I wont let her die too."
"tho aap kehna kya chahhe ho? should I go back? Wapas ussi duniya me...?? jaha..."
"ha... lekin wo lautna mere wajah se nahi honi chahiye.. it should be your decision. Aaram se socho... aur tumhare har faisle ke saath me bhi hu... hamesha...hamesha keliye... I promise..."
"give me some time..."
"take your time... but zaroor soch lena..."
He faded from there. She kept on thinking. Was there a reason to go back? Was it necessary? I am happy now... or am I actually happy now? She closed her eyes and sighed.
Her heart has closed once to keep all her thoughts at bay. To open it and to check out what it was actually crying out was tough.
To live a life where the living meant to keep oneself alive... it was never her dream. But life had taken her to some points where it was necessary to take the most unaccepted life. Still she gave a silent promise to him... that she would rethink about the matter.
Ab main chala hoon wahaan
Jahaan bas rihaai hai... Rihaai hai...
Khaali rahegi jagah jo dil mei banayi hai
Duhaai hai...
***
Somewhere else: a few hour back:
The day was ending. He looked around feeling the slight cold atmosphere. A smile lingered over his lips. He placed the camera in position. He had waited for almost 2 hours now adjusting the lens and focusing on it. he knew it was worth waiting for it.
The sun was about to set. He could feel the change in air. He knew it was time. "any time now..."
He adjusted himself back to the camera. And then it began.
The birds started to call it a day and decided to go back to their home. Home... Sweet home. They took off from the giant tree. At first one of them took the lead and followed by the others.
He captured the moment well... they birds gave him a great shot. Flying away from a giant tree, with a setting sun in background. He clicked till his heart was filled. And then he lowered his camera with gratitude to them. "thanks guys... that was awesome..."
He said to no one in particular.
A day was about to end, to bring up a new day infront of him. Little did he know that within a few days, his life was about to change. His whole idea about living... his idea about existence... his theories... everything...
CHAPTER 4: page 13
Cricket
Arjun
12