CHAPTER 3
It was as if she was crossing his path again and again and he was just not able to catch her...she was like a butterfly… probably the stars had conspired against him. they laughed at their own plan and peeped out of the curtain of day light…Spreading their twinkling light in the red dusky sky. He just thought he would go… but he didn't know why he was just stuck to the ground. He could neither move ahead nor backward. He wondered what was happening with him…something unknown...something a secret was making his life move instead of he himself! It felt as if he was not the master of his life today. Unable to think anything..he decided to stay back and look around for a while.
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People filled the place… lights decorated the gazebo..Making it appear like a beautiful stage and his rising anxiety..a perfect setting for two souls to meet. There some announcements he didn't even hear. It was some performance by some random dance academy which was there in hoshiyarpur. Dance!!! Something that reminded him of her. She was so small… how old would she be now? He watched the dancers clad in colorful dresses, capes twirling around… and he was least interested. But he must say they were good. He was more interested in searching for the girl who had just taken his sleep away. Every time a girl came to the stage..he'd look at her in concentration..but somewhere deep in his heart he just knew she was not the one he had been looking for. Her giggle just rang in his mind…she was supposed to be there right? People clapped and swayed their hands to the music…
O re piya haye..
O re piya haye..
O re piya haye..
Udne laga kyon man baawla re
Aaya kahan se yeh hosla re
O re piya haye..
O re piya haye..
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_TcbybfLAY[/YOUTUBE]
There was a gust of wind and he struggled to look at the stage where the girls danced. He did feel that she was there..and how strange it was..someone whom you haven't met ever..haven't even seen her even once has been haunting you for such long years and even stranger..he still wanted to see her and he somewhere just knew she was here somewhere.
Tanabana tanabana bunti hawaa haaye bunti hawa
Boondein bhi to aaye nahi baaz yahan
Sazish mein shaamil sara jahan hai
Har zare zare ki yeh iltiza hai
He tried to jump and see what was going and something shiny and sparkly caught his attention!!! His heart skipped a beat… and he tried to see more pushing the crowd. After a hard try he finally got a clear view of the stage with girls dancing…and to his luck or say un-luck they had their faces covered with their dupatta as per the theme of the program but still..that shiny thing is what he searched!
Nazrein bolen duniya bole
dil ki zaban haaye dil ki zubaan
Ishq maange ishq chahe koi toofan
And that's when he caught the gaze of the girl holding that same shiny thing he had seen years back…..that long silver sleek stick…and he knew it was her!!! she had grown a little taller but he was curious to see her face. She still possesses that stupid stick..he laughed to himself but then…he was just too amazed to see her there. She was still there and he really wanted to speak to her…to ask her why she had been haunting him in his dreams...rendering him sleepless...and to finally see her face.
Chalna aahiste ishq naya hai
Pehla yeh vada humne kiya hai
O re piya haye..
O re piya haye..
O re piya
Piyaaa...
He watched her swirl around holding that stick in her hands…and nature smirked at her conspiracy. He wished if he could see her face…for once.. but probably he was wishing against the plan of the stars. The evening grew darker and Dadima and mohinder watched Maan from afar! They had come to see Geet's program but then they were actually surprised to see Maan there. They maintained that distance and watched him lost in something.
Nange pairo pe angaro
chalti rahi haaye chalti rahi
Lagta hai ke gairo mein
Palti rahi haaye
He was just too surprised when she placed that stick near her lips… and that's when he realized it was not just a stick but a flute…a beautiful silver flute. He had mistaken it for some stupid stick for so long!!! She stood in the middle and played…till her heart's content and the girls twirled around her. and he just stood there…hearing her play… her dupatta still covered her face..and even that mesmerized him even more.
le chal wahan jo
Mulk tera hai
Jahil zamana
dushman mera hai
haaye
O re piya haye..
O re piya haye..
she played and played and played..Losing the track of time and place…and he listened as if she was trying to covey something through her music. It was all so mysterious yet it was as beautiful as it could get!!! It was a mystery as to why she was there after a gap of almost 10 years..it was mysterious as to who she was…it was mysterious that he could never see her face till date! But it gave a certain calm to his heart..and her music was so serene and beautiful… and suddenly he felt so light. Like he had no responsibilities on his shoulder despite being the MD of KC and what not!! He lost himself to her music right there… and he was just too curious to know who she was. Sometimes it just so happens that you fall for someone without even knowing anything about that person…and probably that's the most beautiful thing that ever happens to you.
As the program ended…he saw her running down the stage amidst a loud round of applause. His gaze followed her..still wanting to see her face but was shocked to see her hugging mohinder uncle and touch Dadima's feet!!! He was stunned…and confused as to what was happening! He still couldn't see her face. He winked once and there..she was lost again!!!! was 'she' mohinder uncle's daughter? Was 'she' the one whom Dadima was talking about? The crowd surrounded him…not letting him see her… and it was just too frustrating!!! It was as if god himself didn't want him to see her. by the time he managed to come out of the crowd, they were already gone. it was so irritating…and come to think of it.. he had never been able to see her face in the past..and even today!!!
It was exciting..it was mysterious…it was mind boggling and it was just too beautiful. Just the thought that she was so close to him..made him feel jittery all over. He wanted to get back home as fast as possible and talk to her. she had been haunting him since the first day he had seen her in the rain! She was mohinder uncle's daughter…and how come he doesn't even remember if he had a daughter!! He tried to think hard..but then he just couldn't concentrate. He ran back home where he found Dadima and his mom speaking to mohinder. They had already given the shagun and he realized they had actually said a yes! But he really wanted to see her…if she was 'that' girl. His heart thumped with anticipation..what if it was not her?
Dadima saw him home and called him closer, "humne rishtey ke liye han kar di hain Maan…."
His eyes widened in surprise and shock… wasn't he supposed to see the girl and reject her? why was everything happening so damn differently today..like nothing was under his control? He wanted to refuse..at least ask her name or se her face…but everyone was so busy in their own happiness that he was completely forgotten. The stars giggled seeing his plight and shined brighter to make way for the most phenomenal thing that was about to happen!
He tried to call Dadima and talk to her. he tapped her shoulder and managed to get her attention, "Dadima… what is this? Aapne mujhse bina pooche haan kar di?"
Dadima laughed, "ab haan nahi karenge tho kya karenge beta..aapki nazrien jis tarah Geet ka deedar kar rahi thi…unhone aapke dil ka haal bhi bayan kar diya…"
Everyone present there laughed but something struck Maan!!! "Geet"… he knew he had heard the name somewhere before.. somewhere long time back and he had even forgotten about it!
"Geet…" he whispered, remembering a sweet girl sitting in that old gazebo, polishing her stick..i mean "flute.."! it was her? he was getting married to her? a sudden excitement filled his heart..it was Geet…he so wanted to see her face…speak to her!! it was all so strange wasn't it? he saw some random girl dancing in the rain like a maniac…then getting possessive about some stupid stick… and then he sees her again after years…not knowing anything at all about her and now he was getting married to that girl???
His mom pulled his cheek, "go and at least tell her a bye before you leave!!!"
And he was leaving? This soon??? He hasn't even seen her!!! he doesn't even know anything about her… the only thing he knows was she plays a beautiful flute..that's it! he just couldn't go like this..not before knowing at least a little about her!! his eyes searched the whole place for her…lest he saw a glimpse of her. mohinder noticed his restlessness and mistook it to be his eagerness to meet his bride. He smiled and patted Maan's shoulder, "beta..she is in the backyard..you can meet her there."
He didn't even bother to listen further and just walked straight to the backyard, making up his mind to speak to her at any cost and see her face. The elders giggled seeing him so eager to meet Geet. They had met up with Geet while he was away and they loved her a lot and she seemed to be just perfect for Maan! So it was a yes! They had to leave to Delhi at night only so things were being loaded and unloaded in their car.
He walked faster and faster and faster…..but the stars played with him once again! they smirked at the plan they had set for him…and shined brighter to make the place even more eventful. He found the backyard door slightly ajar and he pushed it open…but the sight he saw in front of him just took his breath away. He slowly moved ahead…and his bare feet touched the grass…the wind was cold yet soothing…there were tall trees and short bushes..their leaves rustled but with a silence…the moon spread out its light brightly and the night seemed to get darker by the minute. He walked and walked..Wondering where she was until he heart a faint music of her flute.
He followed the music and finally found her…sitting on a small bench…by the small pond that reflected the moonlight. Her back faced him and her long dark think tresses covered her protectively not letting him see an inch of her skin. He got even more restless!!! He wished if he could see her…and the next moment a strong wind blew past them blowing her hair away to one side and there he saw her flute…on her lips. It shined in the shimmering moonlight and the music that she played…made him stand there rooted! It was something so peaceful…so melodious and so serene…like she was from a different world altogether!
this is the music that she played...pls hear this while you read
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABOxTtxJxNw[/YOUTUBE]
She played…lost in her own world…and he just stood like that..unable to move, forgetting everything that he has planned or thought of! that sweet music enchanted him...she was trying to say something …probably she was trying to ease that restlessness within him. He felt it because he suddenly felt so calm and composed…and he just stood there…behind her, hearing her and flute shined happily!!
She stopped after a while, not even realizing that someone was watching her, standing behind her and opened her eyes! It was probably the most phenomenal thing happening in the nature. Her dark eyes…as beautiful as the night itself…as deep as the sea…and had a twinkle that of the stars but it was his unfavorable luck that he just couldn't see it.
She sat still…looking up at the sky and her flute placed just beside her. he noticed each and every gesture of hers…so soft and so subtle. She was definitely an angel he thought. His heart was no more restless. He smiled and spoke softly, "you…play beautifully…"
She was a bit startled by that sudden voice…but then she smiled a bit, "thank you", she spoke so softly and probably he lost himself all over again. he wanted to speak more..ask her if she knew him at all…but his mother called and he had to leave.
She heard his retreating footsteps till it wasn't heard anymore and smiled to herself, "Maan….", she whispered!
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