'Pankhuri kya hua? Aakhir baat kya hai, jab se hum boutique se laute hai tum itni udaas kyun ho?', Neha said folding the cloths & adjusting them in hangers.
Not getting an answer, she closed the wardrobe door and came to sit in front of Pankhuri. She held her hands and said, 'Kya hua Pankhuri?'
Pankhuri looked into Neha's eyes, & flung her arms around her at once & hugged her tightly.
She began sobbing uncontrollably, startling Neha.
'Pankhu!!! Kya hua...?!! Why are you crying????' said Neha, shocked!
'Neh...Neha'aa...I...I'mis...miss...' Pankhuri managed to say between the sobs.
'Kya Pankhu??? what do you miss??...' Neha asked.
'Ne...Nehaa...I'miss...miss...Aa...' Pankhuri tried saying when,
'Nehaaa...Pankhurriii...Sandhya Aarti (Evening Prayers) ka samay hogaya, jaldi neeche aajao beta.' Chachiji called.
'Chh...chaloo...ne'neeche.' Pankhuri struggled saying.
'Par Pankhu...tum kya keh rahi thi? Batao toh...' Neha asked.
'Baad mein...' Pankhuri said stepping into the washroom.
Pankhuri splashed cold water on her face to conceal the marks of hot tears that were flowing down her rosy cheeks, which were now growing pale due to the stress. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, staring deep into her own eyes, she tried figuring a face, a face she has hidden in her heart for all these years. She closed her eyes, only to find a glimpse of the 'Green-eyed stranger'. She opened her eyes with a startle, her heart began pounding hard, she took a deep breath to clam herself.
'Pankhu chalo, we are getting late...' Neha called out from outside.
*******************************
Adi's eyes were brimming with fresh tears as her voice rang in his ears, again & again. He pressed the accelerator hard making the car race among the traffic, he drove really fast leaving all the other vehicles behind. He sooned reached the airport road, but took the wrong turn & went on the other side. He drove on this isolated road as fast as he can, her broken voice ringing in his ears. The car came to a screeching halt at the end of the road. He came out & stood in front of the car, what he saw there was...a Lake ~
*Flashback*
'Oye Pankhu! tu yaha kya kar rahi hai?' Adi asked panting.
'Pehle aap batao itna haaf kyu rahe ho!? Kaunse marathon ke liye daud rahe thein?' Panhuri said sarcastically making Adi retort, 'Poora Kulu tujhe dhoondhne ke liye mein itna bhaaga aur tu yaha iss lake ke saamne khade hokar machliya pakad rahi hai?'
'Oyee mein machli nahi pakad rahi hoon, actually naa, main jab bhi udaas hoti hoon yaa agar mujhe kuch wish maangni hoti hai toh mein iss lake par aati hoon, Daadima kehti thi agar mein koi wish maang kar iss lake mein 1 coin daalo toh meri wish God zaroor poori karenge. Isilye I come here everyday buddhu!' Pankhuri explained.
'Ooohhh...toh kya maanga tune?' Adi asked sounding interested.
'Yahi ki humari friendship lifelong aisi hi rahe, aur koi bhi humari friendship ke beech mein naa ayee.' Pankhuri said smiling brightly.
'Aur agar aaya toh main uski bohot pitayi karonga!' Adi said.
'Promise?' Pankhuri asked.
'Promise...' Adi assured his bestfriend.
And then they tossed the coin together in the lake.
***
Adi looked at the lake & a hint of hope gleamed in his eyes, he searched for a coin desperatly & after finding one he held it in front of his eyes, he looked at it with teary eyes. He closed his eyes & said,
'God, meri Pankhu kehti thi aap har woh wish poori karte hai jo dil se maangi jaaye, toh iss lake mein aagar mein coin daalo aur sacche dil se wish karo toh aap meri Pankhuri mujhe lauta denge naa!? Please God, meri Pankhuri mujhe wapas dedijiye. Yeh 10 saal maine uske bina kaise kaate hai, aap toh acche se jaante ho. I missed her soo much, I can't be without her. You know that, please God, return my love back to me, please please!'
Adi sobbed tossing the coin.
************************
'Bhagwanji, aaj jo kuch hua...matlab maine jis tarah unn par gussa kia...mujhe bohot bura lag raha hai.' Pankhuri thought closing her eyes, standing in the aarti.
'Please bhagwanji, sab theek kardijiye, sab pehle jaise hojaye. Jab bhi aankhein band kar ke Adi ke baarein mein soonchti hun mujhe hamesha uss ajnabi ka chehra nazar aata hai. Yeh toh galat haina! Main aisa kaise soonch sakti hoon?! Pata nahi mujhe kya hogaya hai? har bar ussi ka khayala aat hai. Please meri help kijiye, aur please mere Adi jo jald se jald mujhse milva dijiye. Aap toh jaante hai yeh 10 saal maine unke bina kaise kaate hai, aab toh main 22 years ki hogayi hoon, itni akal aagaye hai ki unse ab kabhi nahi jhagda karongi. I promise, no fights! Please, please...mujhe mere pyaar se milva dijiye!'
Pankhuri & Neha took blessing from their elders, when Pankhuri touched her mothers's feet, she said 'Tumhari har manokamna poori ho' & caressed her cheek lovingly which finally brought a smile on Pankhuri's face.
The family had dinner together and, Pankhuri was at peace finally. All the family members, joked & laughed & discussed the wedding plans, the rasam, the arrangements, caterings, the women talked about the attires, jewellery, the things to go with the Shagun ke thaal, finally Dadaji made an announcement stating,
'Kal humare ghar pe mehendi ki rasam hogi, jis mein ladke waale bhi shaamil honge, woh sab kal shaam 8 baje tak pohonch jayenge toh taiyaari mein koi kami nahi rehni chahiye. Aur haan, Pankhuri aur uski saheliyon ne mil kar kuch manoranjan ka bhi intezaam kia hai, toh uski taiyaari ho gayi haina?'
'Ji babuji sab bilkul taiyaar hai...' Pankhuri's dad replied.
'Chalo bhai acchi baat hai, ab chalo sab jaldi soo jao kal bohot kaam karna hai!' Dadaji said.
With that everyone retired for the night in Gupta house.
{At the airport ~}
Adi reached the airport on time & after searching for a few minutes he finally saw his parents. He ran & hugged his mom tightly, Avantika guessed from this gesture that Adi was upset.
'Adi, look into my eyes. What's wrong son?' Avantika asked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They sat in the coffee shop, discussing...
'Oh, toh itna sab kuch hogaya...' Avantika said trying to analyze the problem.
'Tune kuch nahi kaha uss se Romeo?' Harish asked.
'Harish tumne suna na situation kaisi thi? How can you say, "tune kuch nahi kaha" ?!' Avantika remarked.
'Guys...can we focus on my problem?' Adi said.
'Adi tumne itni jaldi har maanli? I mean, you love her...it's not a game ki ek ne daant dia toh dusra phir uss se baat hi nahi karega!' Avantika said.
'Your mom is right, aur phir tune uska kitna intezaar kia hai. 10 saal! Kam nahi hota itna waqt, bina koshish kiye hi...how can you give up so easily Adi? bhool gaya, you're my Romeo. Tu kabhi har nahi maanta, jo tera hai usse toh haasil kar ke hi rehta hai, haina?' Harish said, motivating him.
'Haan Adi, try until you succeed. Make her fall in love with you, again...Usse apne pyaar ka ehsas dilao, make her realize ki tum hi ho uska pyaar. Woo her like a gentleman, sweep her off her feet Adi. Prove kardo that her heart beats only for you! Yes my son, go get your LOVE!...' Avantika said.
'Par zyada satana mat meri bahu ko...' Avantika said teasing Adi.
'Mom, I love you yaar...' Adi said hugging her.
'Oyeee...& me??!!' Harish said pouting.
'Aww. Dad. You make me go "Awww" like girlsss...! Still, I love you tooo...' He said hugging both of them.
'Chalo chalo enough hugging & kissing, ghar chalo.' Avantika said getting up.
They payed the bills & headed off towards the car. 'Waise, Adi tu karne kya waala hai?' Harish asked seating himself beside Adi on the passenger seat.
'Don't you worry Dad, kal ki flight se Preeti maasi, Arjun mausaji aur Nanu aarahe haina...unke aane ke baad hi decide karenge.' Adi said driving off towards the house.
'Aur nahi toh kya...hum aise aise ideas chun chun ke nikalenge ki tera plan hit hoga, tu fikar mat kar, Dilwale dulhania le jayenge...!!' Harish said & the trio had a good laugh, finally bringing some peace to Adi's heart & mind.
********************************
So how was it guys??? 😕 I know not so pleasing, but gimme another chance, next update pakka full on entertainer. So people, comments & likes plsss 😛 n Yeah any suggestions or opinions are warmly welcomed. 😊
Announcement time, first one, my third elder brother got qualified for state-level boxing championship, 🥳 yayyy !!!! I'm sooo proud of him 😃 ; second one, My fourth elder bro got engaged !!!!!!! Seher is officially my Bhabi now...!!!! 😃 😃 So ppl, next update very soon, till then smile, be happy, & make others smile, enjoy the summer...!!!
Cheers,
Sana ~ 😊
