Standing infront of the huge mansion, almost after two years,various emotions ran through her mind. She was scared, excited,happy thinking that she was back at that place... and sad thinking of those incidents that happened two years back. Time always brings changes with itself...but not as much as the last two years have brought in her life. She has always experienced the downs of her life, and had just started enjoying the so called ups of her life when life took away everything from her. She always knew that she has nothing left to lose... but still two years back ... when she was actually loosing everything, she realized that her life too has some precious relations, which caused her a lot of pains.
Standing in a black jeans and a offwhite tank top, the black colored jacket carefully placed on her left hand, her mind kept revisiting the old memories. However the scorching sunrays soon made her realize where she was.. and she took some slow steps ahead to reach the huge door of the THAKUR MANSION. Taking out her cell phone.. she dialled the number again. It was always a pleasure dialling her number... as she remembered the way she always comes up with different styles of HELLO.
The phone kept ringing and noone picked it up. She was getting restless... she called up again... and still it was the same. Again and again.. bt noone picked it up. Suddently the gap of two years completely vanished from her mind... and she found herself fuming over the silly girl.. just like she used to do two years back. " This girl... will never change " she muttered under her breath. Taking some quick steps... she tried to ring the calling bell. She smiled as she realized that she always used to avoid dis act of ringing the bell... because it was too high for her. She used to call her .. everytime she came home... and each time her excuse being.. " I wanted to surprise Ammaji... agar ghanti bajati..toh wohi darwaza kholti na.. issiliye nahi bajaya ".
Leaning against the door... she tried to reach the bell. Her hands roughly pressed the bell and a loud sound came out cracking the silent afternoon. She waited for two minutes for someone to come and open the door. Her impatience knew no bound when she realized that she had to ring it again. This making making sure that she would not leave the bell before ringing it continuously for some five minutes... she leaned against the door. With one leg over her suitcase... she was about to ring it .. when the door opened suddenly. As it is that she was leaning against the door ,in an odd position... the quick jerk.. made her fall flat over the person who was standing right on the other side.
She found herself crahsing against the hard floor once again as he managed to slide under her body anyhow. She groaned in pain and looked hard at him. Not a single word escaped through his mouth. She was struggling to get up.. and looked up at him for support... but all she could see was that he looked down at her with narrow eyes... clearly making her feel unwanted and unimportant. She hated the look in his eyes. She never remembered any such inhumane person dwelling in this mansion. His face twinched in irritation as she was about to say something... which didnt go unnoticed by her. She once more checked him out making a point to ask her about him as soon as she meets her. Her.. ya.. wherez the girl ?? She eyesbrows furrowed a little as she was suddenly feeling so strange. Here... there was no trace of her friend... and now she meets a guy whom she had never ever seen in the mansion before. Suddenly a strange fear captured her mind... and she fumbled out slowly .. " Where is Komal ?"
He walked past her... as if least bothered to answer her questions, when suddenly she heard a sweet voice calling her behind.." O My God.. Pratigya... tu aise.. neeche... gir kaise gayi ??"
For a moment.. she just ignored that sweet voice... as she kept looking at the tall figure that just walked past her... untill it finally vanished from her eyes.
"Pratigya.. kya hua?? Look here.. "
Now she looked back... with all the anger and irritation in her eyes.." Kya hua... ?? Tujhe pata hain.... and by the way.. please help me out Komal... mujhe utha upar " she snapped back.
" O..ya " Komal came quickly towards her helping her to stand up again.
"Pratigya... tu thek to hain na..I am soo..." she couldn't complete as Pratigya started her lines " SORRY... please Pratigya.. mera cell vibration mein tha... aur mujhe pata hi nahi chala ki tune call kiya tha... I am soo Sorry "
Komal laughed out loud as she had actually planned this particular excuse. But then quickly changing her mind.. she said " No!! it was'nt in vib mode.. I was actually taking my shower "
Pratigya carefully checking her out , said " But ur hairs aren't... wet !! Shut Up Komal.. I noe.. tu zaroor so gayi thi... hainna ??? "
Pratigya knew her too well to get convinced at her silly excuses. Knowing there was no other option left... she admitted it , with a cheeky smile. Pratigya smiled in her reply.. saying her " Haan.. tu so gayi..aur wahaan pata nahi..kissi ahjeeb insaan ne..."
Komal , with a petrified look asked her .." Pratty... darwaza khola kisne tha " .
Pratigya looked back and said " Kissi Weird admi ne... pata nahi..kaun kaun aata hain.. izz ghar mein... " . Komal... gave away a sigh and muttered quietly " Jis baat ka darr tha.. wahi hua "
However Pratigya was too tired to make any further investigation... and even from Komal's look.. she could easily tell that she wasnt even ready to divulge much details about that man... she chose to keep quite..untill Komal broke the silence.
" Pratty.. tu kafi thak gayo hogi... ja.. go and freshen up... "
Pratigya followed Komal to the room juse beside her's. The room was new for Pratigya... and she quickly asked her " Komal.. this isnt the one "
Komal , with a small smile said her " I noe dis is not... but this is new beginning of our relationship... and so.. eveything should be new"
Pratigya was deeply touched by her words. The single line revealed to Pratigya that even Komal missed her as much as she missed her in the past years. Quickly hiding the tears that had started brimming her eyes...she laughed out loudly as she heard saying her " Iss room ko mainne decorate kiya hain... aapne haatho se "
Komal gave her a frowning look as she started laughing out really loudly. " Tune... Tu..ne.. D E C O R A T E Kiya hain.... OMG... No... please ..." . The frown vanished from her face as soon as Pratigya gave a small kiss on her cheek.... " My cutie pie... U r juz tooo much "
Pratigya slowly entered the room... and as expected found some five six pillows scattered on the bed.... the study table aside.. had a whole lot of pens lying randomly on the table... along with a paperpad.. even she could see some pages crumbled on the table. The curtains were all pink..her favorite color... but some of them were streched..while some were folded. Rolling her eyes... she said out " Well Decorated... sweetie "
Komal pretended as if she actually deserved the compliment... and said with a shy smile " Thank U... dear... U made my day...Pata hain.. I have been trying since the last night to make things special for u ... waise... u go and take a bath... by that time.. I will arrange for the lunch "
Pratigya smiled back at her warmness. She hasnt changed.. indeed. Quickly closing the door behind her... she streched her arms behind her neck to relax a bit . Sitting on the bed... she streched her back on the bed. A strange sense of happiness filled her mind...the fact that she would again b inside this mansion... with full freedom and respect.. she had never expected. A tiny drop of tear escaped her eyes... and instantly she wiped it off. A pleasant smile covering her face... she quickly madeher way to the bathroom.
It was Komal..afterall.. the decorater... the Miss Messy oftheir college. so it was highly probable..that she would be finding the towels.. in the almirah... and soap in the study table. Entering the bathroom.. in order to get a list of allthe things that she needed to arrange before taking her bath... she was quite amazed. The bathroom was indeed docorated in the best possible way. She still identified Komal's cursive writings... as she read a paper..placed on the wash time " Time for u to get surprised "
She took some steps ahead towards the showers... where one had asmall paper sticked to it saying " HOT WATER... lest u burn urself " and the next one had another chit saying " COLD WATER.. GUESS U NEED IT to cool urself up "
There were some seven to eight kinds of soaps placed on the drawer.. along with a chit " I have placed my favorite soap in the soap case.. incase u dont like it.. dese are the available options " .Pratigya could not help but smile as the sweet nothings of this silly girl.
Taking her knee lenght payjama and a teddy bear top.. she entered the bathroom quickly.
She took some forty five minutes before she finally came out of the bathroom. The water was cool and was just perfect after a long journey under the scorching sun. Her hairs were still wet.. and she was about to blow them dry... when she heard a soft knock on the door.
Knowing that it would be Komal...she shouted a little loudly..." Aaja.. tujhe kab se.. knock kerne ki zaroorat padh gayi !!! "
Komal came inside just after some minutes... asking Pratigya if she was ready or not.
Kom: " Pratty... u r done ?? Should I start serving.. u must b very hungry too dearie "
Pratigya smiled and said " Yup... aur haan.. tu tab knock kyun ker rahi thi... and when I said u to come in... u didnt ..😲" . Komal looked at Pratigya and said " somebody knocked ur door ??!! But I didnt do"
The sudden unexpected answer had a strange effect on her... "Komal..."she said in a weak voice. Knowing exactly what Pratigya was thinking... Komal tried to lighten the situation.. and said " Letz have lunch... we will talk later. Cum On !!! "
Pratigya followed Komal for the lunch. Though Prats was a bit quite since the knocking thing happened with her... but as soon as she saw Komal serving her rice and hot chicken curry... she couldnt just stop herself from jumping up and down just like a little kid.
Prat: Komal... U still.. remember... !!
Kom: Pratty... it was juz two years.... why wouldn't I ?
Tears started flowing through their eyes... which they had hidden for almost the last two years. Hugging Komal tightly... she muttered a soft " I am Sorry " in her ears. Komal too replied... equally softly " I can understand "
While the two friends were busy with the outflow of their emotions... a pair of eyes observed them. The eyes were sharply observing Pratigya... her ways.. her moves... her eyes... and her lips. The figure slowly faded away.. just as the two started having their lunch... with their usual gossips following them .