FF: Khamoshiyaan... (chap 37 page 133) - Page 14

CHAPTER 6:

And he captured her... in his frame and in his heart…

He stops a while after capturing the last moment. She looked lost in the music. As the whole reality felt nothing in front of her. As if she was just living that moment.

A thunderous clap brought her and him back to the ground. there was a fraction of second when her eyes cried out that she was brought to an unknown land. That very second, he saw something else in her eyes, something that hurt him. He wished to mute the whole world for her. As the voice was disturbing her. And that did hurt him too.

That fraction of second vanished as fast it came. She, along with her 8 girls came forward in a line and bowed to the audience with their hands folded. She looked up at the cheering crowd, now with another emotion in those eyes. He captured those eyes in his camera just before the curtain came down.

The curtain that fell brought terrible pain in his chest. As if his life source was pulled out. As if he lost his heart…

He leaned on to a stand near to him, breathing heavily. What's happening to me?? Who is she? Why is she affecting me? Am I so weak enough to fall for an unknown girl?? Or IS SHE UNKNOWN???

He wiped away his sweat beads. A part of him wished to go away from her. But the other part… it was pulling him to her. As a magnet.

He went out of the place…. He walked out to the open road, where people were still coming in. he sat by the footpath trying to compose himself.

***

It was a beautiful experience for her. She never thought she would live this day. But she did. The girls were so happy with the performance. They hugged her tight. It was a dream come true experience for them.

Sanjana: aapne teekh kaha tha Mam, abhi mujhe prize ka koi tension nahi hai. agar mile tho milne do. Nahi, tho jaane do. I enjoyed dancing. WOW… aap bhi enjoy kiya na??

Ais: of source Sanju. Enjoyed a lot. Prize ka kya hai?? aaj nahi tho kal mil hi jayege. Par hum aaj, abhi jirahe hai. isse khul ke jeeyo. Muskurao. Ye umr hamesha nahi athe. It's the time to know your life and live it. I'm so proud of you girls. Thank you so much.

They got emotional and each of them hugged Aisha.

Ais: ok, ab tum sab baki dances enjoy karo. mien abhi ayi.

Swati: aap kaha ja rahi hai?

Ais: bas abhi ayi. Now go and enjoy. Aur ha, zyada dur math jana. And be in a group.

Swa: yes mam.

The goes out and she sits back in front of the dressing table. There was no one else there. The organizers were good enough to allot a dressing room for each team. She sits in front of the mirror.

She could hear her own voice.

"Par hum aaj, abhi jirahe hai. isse khul ke jeeyo. Muskurao. Ye umr hamesha nahi athe. It's the time to know your life and live it."

How could I say it to them, when I'm not following it? am I living now? do I have the right to advice them?

She placed her face in her hands. The smell of the jasmine was hurting her now. she slowly pulled out the pin removing the tread of jasmine. It was so light and still fresh. She could not hold it anymore. She places it back on the dressing table and rushes out.

After a while:

He was still on the footpath. He felt it's awkward to run away. He walked in as it was time for the prize announcements. He walked in with an air of excitement.

"second prize goes to…. Navaratna Group!!!"

All clapped hard and there came the nine angels. His breathing stopped as he saw the white shawl again. He moved forward for a better view.

She was behind with a beautiful smile. He captured it in a click. The smile brought something back in his memories… WAS IT HER?? NO….!!!

The girls were so happy. But just before taking the prize, they called her to the front and the whole team took the prize.

A new doubt and anxiety clouded his eyes. He kept on clicking her pictures.

The first prize was for the prestigious and well known group from Lucknow, who had years and years of practice. The second prize didn't hurt the girls at all. Even getting recognition in such a huge number of participants was more than enough.

Half an hour later, he was at the parking lot. There she came with her group. All were so excited. Suddenly,

Swati: di, apki flowers kaha gayi jo balon me the?

She looked distracted for a second. He captured it too.

Ais: wo foolonse sir dard ho rahi thi. Isliye uthar diya.

The girl looked satisfied, but he wasn't. he was not leaving a second in clicking her, especially those eyes.

A moment she felt someone at a distance, someone was looking at her.

She turned, but he was too quick for her. He ducked in time. her confusion prevailed in her eyes. He could see it those eyes. He wished to capture it too. But he couldn't do it without putting himself in front of her. And something didn't allow him too.

She looked around and went into the vehicle where her girls were already seated and goes out.

He comes out of his hiding. If he wished, he could follow her now, get her address, get all information he needed.

Par kya wo wahi hai??

***

Mumbai: ETF office:

Sam was in his cabin, and again he was checking his inbox. Still no reply.

He closed it and leaned back to his chair. The meeting with the Commissioner had brought a slight confidence in him. But he didn't know how long he had to wait.

Few hours back: Comm. Office:

Com: come in Rathod. So how's the work going on?

Sam: going well sir.

Com: but its still going a bit slow, right?

Sameer Rathod was silent.

Com: I'm not blaming you Rathod. You are handling too much now. why don't you approve for a second in command. You know I have the full power to assign one for you. And I did it the last time….

They were silent. The days flashed in front of him… he could hear his own voice

"com sir ke orders hai ke aaj se Arjun hamare team ke hissa hoga… mere second in command… iss bar mujhe team ke pure cooperation chahthe hai… kisko alag se invitation nahi dunga…."

Com sir could detect his dilemma. "dekho Rathod, no one can work alone. You have the best team, but you need someone as a back up too."

Sam: I agree sir. You may do as you wish. Mien apko nahi rokunga.

Com: Rathod, sabke tharah aaj me jeene ke koshish karo.

Sam: will try for sure sir. Par… mujhe apse kuch puchna tha… in fact kafi din se puchna chahtha tha…

Com: ha pucho

Sam: sir, do you have any contact with Aisha?

Com was silent. Sam was noticing him silently.

Sam: sir apke khamoshi, mujhe aur sawal karne me majboor kar rahe hai. I swear I won't ask where she is. Please tell me, do you know where she is?

He nods yes. There was a relief on Sam's face.

Sam: wo teekh tho hai na?? najaane kithne mails kiya hai meine usse. And you know it. Still no reply. Its more than 2 years now sir. If you have any touch with her, please tell her to come back. At least to reply once.

Com: I have spoken to her. You may expect a reply soon. Kab, ye mien nahi keh saktha. Still I can say, you can for hope for it.

The com. could see a relieved face of Sameer. The one that was missing for a while now.

Now:

So she may reply soon. But when? What will she say?

He heard a knock at the door. "yes come in!!"

Sree comes in with a file. "sir, file works are over. Ye lijiye"

Sam: ok. Good. Now you may go. Sabse keh do.

Sre: aap nahi ja rahe hai sir? Raath kafi ho chukka hai.

Sam: nahi Sree, mujhe kuch kaam hai. you may leave. Good night.

Sre: araam kijiye sir. You need it. good night sir.

Sree walks off. He was always amazed by the team. At times they were just a bunch of noisy kids and at times so matured…

After some half an hour he takes his SUV to a destination which was already in his mind from the evening. He pulled his SUV and walked to the reception. an elderly man who kept the night watch stood up behind the reception desk. "are ACP sab aap is waqt?"

Sam: ha, bas aise hi. Sorry raath ko thakleef kiya.

Man: aise kuch nahi hai sab. Aap kabhi bhi yaha asakthe ho. aur pichle do sal me aap yaha aise hi waqt athe rahthe hai. koi problem nahi. Hum apke kaam ko samajh sakthe hai. par abhi bhi ye bath samajh nahi paye, ke uss bandh kamre me apko kya milthe hai?

Sam: kuch bathein samjhana bohot mushkil hai bhaisab. Usse waise hi rahne dena chahiye. Ye lijiye iss mahine ki paise.

He pays some amount for him and gets the receipt.

Man: aaj uss room ke safayi kiya tha. Mien bhi tha waha pe. Aap tho janthe ho ke mere bina wo room koi nahi kholthe. Ithna tho mien kar saktha hu na apkeliye. Aap jaake aram kijiye. kuch chai ya aisa kuch bheju apke liye?

Sam: nahi. Mien kamre me hoge.

He walks toward the stairs and goes to the second floor. Room: 121. He opens it with the key that was already in his pocket. He walks in. the room looked as tidy as always. It was well arranged. A simple bed. A cupboard. A table with a chair near to the window. The door to the washroom was closed. He goes to the washroom and splashes water on his face. He comes and sits on the end of the bed and then falls back with eyes closed.

"Sam ye tum kya kar rahe ho? mere dress sab nikalke fekne wale ho kya??"

"nahi mere bhai… ye sab pack kar raha hu. Shaadi ke baad yaha rukne ka plan tho nahi hai na?? dekho Arjun… Aisha ko iss room me math lana. Usse wahi ghar lejana jaha tum already plan kiya hai!!!"

"lekin shaadi tho aaj nahi hai na?? fir aaj kyu pack kar rahe ho??"

"kyunki, tum kal uss ghar me shift kar rahe ho. kal se thode bohot sajana sab shuru kardo. Waise tumhe raath ko neend nahi hai… so you have loads of time to arrange your home" there was no reply from Arjun's side. Sam looks at Arjun, who had a bit sad face. He knew he had taken the wrong track. Sam walks to him and places a hand on his shoulder.

"sorry Arjun I didn't mean anything. Mien tho bas…"

"its ok Sam, I get it. par patha nahi, kya mien Aisha ko kush reh paunga ke nahi"

"aise kyu soch rahe ho? you love each other. Ab sare baath bhool jao. (getting naughty) aur ye raath ko neend nahi aana… well it can come to an advantage… ab samjhe ya…"

That was the limit. Arjun was banging him with what he got first in his hands.

He could still feel his voice now. he opens his eyes afraid of closing it again. This room had something special. The room in Ravi Lodge that had seen Arjun's sleepless night, had given Sameer loads of memories whenever he came here. For more than 2 years he has been saving this room. He knew one day he may have to give it up. But he was not ready for it. every month he would pay the small rent for this single room. This room was Sam's companion whenever he needed a bit peace of mind.

He got up from the bed, which was not Arjun's best friend and walked over to the chair. He opened the window and sat on the chair. The bright red light from the hoarding was visible from here. RAVI LODGE.

He sat there for some time, till he lost track of it. very close to the dawn he went back to his home.

***

Allahabad: same night:

He was back in his room after the chai. Today he took 3 extra cups of tea from kaka and filled his flask. He needed it very badly tonight.

After fresh up, he connected his camera to his laptop and started to go through the clicks. A smile came on his lips when he saw Sweta and her antics.

But then…

It faded as she came up. As expected the first pics of her dance were blurry. Later it came to focus.

Her finishing look, her distraction at the claps, her coming back, her folded hands and bending down to the audience, her last look on the stage just before the curtain goes down, her at the parking lot, her answering a lie about the flower, she speaking to the girls, and then the moment just before her turning to him…

Each situation had multiple clicks. But what pulled him to her, was her eyes. He zoomed it trying to read it up. The screen just showed her eyes.

He zoomed out and took her smiling pic. A rare one… of course. He kept on gazing it.

YES … its her… but how??

He kept on looking at her, sipping the tea. Thinking it would clear his head. It always brought the same conclusion. He kept the laptop on the bed and fell on to the other side of bed. He could see her clearly now… but that was not her, those days… but then how??

He kept on thinking.

After a while, he took his phone.

Him: hello sir, its me

Caller: kya hua? Ithne raath ko? Any problem?

Him: sir.. I'm coming back tomorrow night. May meet you by day after tomorrow evening. If that's fine for you.

Caller: no problem at all. But baath kya hai? ithne achanak decide kar liya? Any problem?

Him: nahi sir. Aise kuch nahi. Bas kuch confusion clear karna hai. ya fir ye kehdo ke kuch sachayi jaana hai.

Caller: I don't get what you mean. Still on question, do you accept your new order?

Him: (thinking for a while) yes sir. I accept it.

Caller: bina kuch jaane kaise accept kar rahe ho?

Him: I trust you sir. I'm going ahead with it. see you soon sir. Good night.

Caller: good night my boy.

He keeps back the phone on his bed and inhales deeply. He gets up and looks at her photo again. She was still smiling.

"why are you doing this to me? Why are you calling me back? Socha tha, ke uss zindagi se dur rahunga. But no… you are calling me back. So here is it… I am coming back to Mumbai. Patha hai tum yahi ho, par mere dil keh raha hai… tum bhi bohot jald aane wale ho waha… uss Sapnoke nagari me… Mumbai me…waiting for you… NADIYA…!!!"

***

She gets up with a start!!! Did someone call her???