CHAPTER 7:
She woke up with a start. did someone call her?
she felt him calling so close to her. It felt as if he knew she was waiting for his call to answer back. But the sound was so distant... as if it came in as an echo.
she wiped her sweat off the forehead and walked away from the bed and had a glass of water.
Aisha was back in her rocking chair. The sleep was far away again.
***
He too couldn't sleep well. He had a train ticket to Mumbai for next evening. It felt like pulling away the heart once again from its position. He got up and started to pack the already packed items again in the bag. He wanted to spend the night as fast as possible. Still the night was still young.
He took his laptop again. He was going through the photos, deliberately avoiding her. but how could he avoid those eyes?
"dekho... its the last time I'm going to say this, stay away from me... warna anjaam bura hoga!!"
"kyu Nadiya? why should I avoid you? and why are you avoiding me? Listen to me once please... this is not a place for you... you should not stay here..."
"just get lost please..."
Even today he could see her retreating self. he closed his eyes. "dammit!! ya kya horaha hai mere saath??"
***
She took her laptop again, reading the mails. There were no new mails. Maybe Sameer Rathod had at last given up. she gave a weak smile. It was time to rethink. She had promised him. And she could never break that.
She was back with the wallpaper. She hibernated the system and placed her head back on the headrest of the chair.
"tho kya socha hai tum ne?"
"I'm confused Arjun"
"ab yaha koi pending kaam tho nahi hai na Aisha jisse tum ek bahana banake rakh sakthe ho. now its really time to decide. apne pure zindagi aise akele sabse chup ke math jiyo. trust me, I did that mistake once. I know what a big mistake it is. Please don't repeat it."
"ok, Arjun. I'll decide soon"
"thats my girl!!"
"par wo kaun tha Arjun... jo mujhe awaz diya tha? It was not me that someone was calling for. but I could feel it!!!"
"iske jawaab bhi tumhe khud dhundni hogi Aisha. you will get your answers with time. ab so jao."
she was confused again. It didnt happen before that he left her with her questions unanswered. Then why now?
She kept on thinking that slowly made her to drift to a sound sleep.
***
Swati and her friends had a great reception at school, and all thanks to Aisha. The girls were so excited.
She came running to Aisha in the interval "WOW Di... sab bohot khush hai. thank you di.. thank you so much. aap tho yaha hero ban gayi!!!"
Ais: chup... aise kuch nahi. bas sabne mehnath kiya aur uska fal bhi mila. I'm so happy for you.
Swa: Di, mein ek hafte keliye yaha se ja rahi hu. Cousin ke shaadi hai. Aaj raath ke train se jarahi hu.
Aisha felt a bit bad. After all, Swathi was her only friend here.but she smiled for her. "thats great Swathi. have a great time. ok?"
Swa: I know aap mujhe bohot miss karegi, right? Sorry.
Ais: are sorry kyu? just go and enjoy. ok ab class ka time hai. lets see after class.
Swathi leaves Aisha and again she was feeling lonely. she took out a book to keep herself busy.but the emptiness had already started to kill her.
After class she was walking with Swathi.
Swa: Di, kya hua? aap bohot chup hogayi hai. missing me already?
Ais: I wil miss you Choti. par its ok, I'm used to it now.
Swa: aap mere liya hamesha ek paheli hai Di. I dont get you at all. kuch tho hai jo apke dil ko bohot confuse kar rahi hai. kya aap kuch share karna chahogi? aap hi kehthe hai na... ke dil ke boj ko dil me hi rakhna nahi chahiye.boliyena please...
Aisha thinks for a while.Yes she had always told her students to speak out their mind. But she could never do it. And today, Swati had caught her red handed.She turned to Swati who had stoped her steps waiting for Aisha to speak up. When she didnt say anything, her face fell. Aisha could see the disappoinment in her eyes. they reached Swati's home. Swati silently said good bye and started to walk towards her gate. but then her di called her back.
Ais: agar late nahi hua hai tho, kya ek cup chai piyoge? mere ghar pe?
Swati turns back to Aisha.
Ais: kyu na ek cup chai ke saath thode baathen kar le?
Swati was so happy. she rushes in and speaks to her mom and then walks with Aisha to her home.
Swati waited patiently till Aisha made a cup of tea. they were in the hall with it. Aisha was silent as she was not sure what to say. after a while she decided.
Ais: Swati, yaha ane se pehle mere ek ateeth thi. wo kya hai, ye sab mein zyada nahi batha sakthi. I had a job,many friends, ek pariwar... but then I had to leave everything. Aur ek aise zidagi me aani padi jaha mere ateeth mere saath bilkul na ho. magar aise kabhi nahi hosakthi Swathi. aur ab mere ateeth mujhe wapas bula rahi hai. and I'm confused, if I should go back or not.
Swati was silent. "aap confused hai. lekin apke dil kya keh rahi hai??"
That one quetion caught her off guard. she didn't know what to say.Swati caught up with her dilema,
"aap chup hai. aur iske matlab hai ke aap apne dil ke bath sunna nahi chahthe."
Aisha was surprised at the girl in front of her. It looked as if she never knew her Choti well.
Ais: tum kehna kya chahthe ho Swati?
Swa: its simple Di, agar aap puri tharah se soch liya hai ke aap wapas nahi jarahe hai, tho ye confusion kabhi nahi hothi. Ab hai, iske matlab aap ke andar kahi na kahi wapas jane ka man hai. shayad waha kuch aisa ho jo ab apke paas nahi hai. jo shayad wahi milege apko.
Ais: bohot badi badi bathein karne lagi ho tum.
Swa: apke asar jo hai. lekin ab topic wo nahi hai. socho di, kya aap sachmuch jana chahthe ho? kya waha aisa koi haiā¦ ya kuch kaam hai jo apke intezaar kar rahe hai?
Aisha was silent. Somewhere Swati's questions where hitting so hard. Swati was a great observer. She smiled a bit. "Di, mere train aaj raath 7 baje ko hai. par patha nahi mujhe aise kyu lag raha hai, ke agle hafthe jab mien wapas aungi tho aap yaha nahi hogiā¦."
Aisha was shocked now. she looked lost. "tum aise kaise keh sakthe ho?"
Swa: I dont know di. Par meri man tho yahi keh rahi hai. ke aap wapas zaroor jaogi. Lekin please mujhe bhool math jaanaā¦ please.
Aisha could feel her eyes burning. "chup, mien apni choti ko kaise bhoolenge? Huh??"
Swati smiles between her little tears. "mujhe patha tha, ke aap mujhe nahi bhuloge. Acha all the best Di. Aap jaha bhi jaye, please apna khayal rakhna. Ok?? Aur ha smile zaroor karna. Aur ye sad face bhi chod dena."
Ais: tum aise keh rahe ho ke tumhe pura yakeen hai.
Swa: hai, isliye keh rahi hu. Aap uthne kamzor nahi hai jithne aap sochthe hai. khair, I love you di. And I'll miss you a lotā¦
Swati hugs Aisha who was still in shock.
Swa: acha main abhi chalthi hu. Warna Ma datengi. Aur upar se mere rothe hue chehra bhi apko dekhni hogi. Bye di. Take care.
Ais: bye choti. Apna khayal rakhna. Aur khoob padna. Aur ek kabil aurat banna.
Swa: ji. Bye.
Swati wipes her tears and reaches the door and then turns to Aisha. "Di, agar hosake tho aaj railway station zaroor anaā¦. Train 7 baje ko hai"
Ais: koshish karungi.
Swa: bye Di.
She smiles and runs away from there. Aisha sits heavily on the sofa. She had never thought of going back but Swati had full confidence on her. But how? She doesn't know anything about the real Aisha. Still how??
***
Aisha had to sit thinking for a long while. she didn't have a serious answer yet. Swati's words were in her mind. Did she really want to go back to finish her unfinished task? Was it even worthy to finish it? was there any scope to finish it?
It was almost 6 now. she went to change and took a gift wrapper. She wrapped one of her most prized possession. She didn't even know why she was doing it. but she did it. soon she was in a taxi destined to reach the railway station.
***
He didn't have anyone to say goodbye to. Except the kaka who gave him the regular chai and also the receptionist Babu. Kaka noticed a change in his air. "kya hua beta? Jathe waqt ithne dukhi kyu ho? koi pareshani hai kya?"
Him: nahi kaka bas kuch hai jo man se nahi nikal raha. Wahi baath ke patha lagane ja raha hu. Warna mien shayad hi wapas jathe.
Kaka: apne kaam pe dhyan dena beta. Aur apne aap pe bhi. Kush rahna.
He smiles at the elderly man and pays him some money. Though the man refuses it, he makes him to take it. after a few minutes he too reach the railway station.
***
Railway station:
Swati was ready to abroad the train that was already there. She was looking around for her di.
"kahi aap mujhe tho nahi dhund rahi hai??"
Swati smiled as she turned back to her. "thank God, Di aap agayi. I knew you would come. Tho aapne decide kar hi liya ke aap wapas ja rahe hoā¦" there was a slight sadness in her tone.
Ais: abhi thak nahi Choti. Lekin fir bhi mujhe laga ke mujhe tumse milni chahiye. Aur lo, mein agayi.
Swa: achi baath hai.
Aisha have a small chat with the family. And then it shows that it was almost time. Swati looks at Aisha and this time both were already missing each other. Aisha comes closer to Swati. "dekho Swati, jo bhi decision le, wo soch samajh ke hi lena. Ek bar liya hua galat decision hame bohot dard dege. Chahe wo hum kithne bhi badalne ke koshish kare. Tum samajh rahi ho na??"
Swati nods yes. Aisha smiles at her and gives her a gift. "ye mere tharaf se. jaise tumhe lagtha hai ke jab tum wapas aoge thab mien yaha nahi hogi, waise mujhe bhi laga ke shayad ye tumhe dene keliye isse behthar time nahi hogi. So this one for you!!"
Swa: ye kya hai di?
Ais: jab yaha se nikloge thab hi dekhlena. Ok its time. jao. And take care. And yes, I'm going to miss you. But I'll never forget you.
Swa: (in between sobs) thanks Di. Take care. Bye.
She takes the gift and enters the train. They wave to each other till they were out of sight.
The train left the station. A new train took its position. There was a rush all over. She took a seat on the same platform. She was feeling all drained.
She was about to get up when the announcement came out loud. The train to Mumbai was right in front of herā¦
She kept on looking at the train. Why is it all happening now?? was it just a coincidence?? Or something more??
She couldn't breathe well.
***
He got into the train that was about to leave at 7 30 pm. He found his berthā¦ upperā¦ he was happy. He kept his rucksack and went out to buy a bottle of water and some snacks. He was not feeling good too.
He sat by the window, looking at noting in particular. And then he saw herā¦. A few feet apartā¦
He rushed to the door and went down to the platform.
She was on a seat, looking at the train. There was lonely tear rolling on her cheek. He stood at the same position watching her. How much have she changed?? Tearā¦ and in Nadiya's eyes?? Impossibleā¦.
The announcement brought both of them back. She woke up with a start and wiped her tears fast, but he didn't miss it. he looked back at the door and then to her. "jaldi aana Nadiya. I'm waiting for youā¦ "
He enterd the train and stood at the door way. The train started slowlyā¦ he passed right infront of herā¦ slowlyā¦ he never took his eyes off from herā¦ but she was too lost to notice himā¦
The train left Allahabadā¦.
***
Swati opened her giftā¦. It was her Di's ghungrooā¦
***
Mumbai:
His train reached by 3 pm. He was too tired. He couldn't sleep a bit. Her eyes were haunting him. He took a deep breath when he reached the station. He took a cab and went to his homeā¦ his den.
He didn't want to waste any moment now, after all he was back in action.
He had a quick fresh up and had some snacks which he bought on the way. He changed to crisp white cotton shirt and blue jeans. The camera found its position in its cupboard. Now he had a new companion. He took it out and checked. And placed in its usual place. He took out the envelope and went out to the destination.
The office was huge. He had his majestic stride towards his destination. Many recognized him on his way and acknowledged him. He reached and knocked at the door.
"yes come in!!" came in a voice. He walked in.
"Good evening Sir!!!"
The elderly man turned to him from the file with a smile. "good eveningā¦ so you are back!! How was your trip??"
"Great sir... and as for nowā¦. ACP Aman Ali, reporting on duty sir!!!"
He gave the envelope to the man, who smiled at him with full heart.
Com. Dustin Coelho was happy to have one of his best officers back on duty!!!
Cricket
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