Part Six: Chupke Chupke
Next Morning in Manali
Khanak was awfully quiet as Adi dropped her off at the University in the morning. She had been concerned for Shaantanu but had no way to make to make contact with him, moreover she felt like she really had no right over Shaantanu. She was unable to sleep as her heart and mind kept wrestling with one another, her tears would flow endlessly and she would have no control over her emotions. She had neatly wrapped his own belongings as gifts and placed them in her bag, hoping to somehow give them back to him. As Adi pulled up to the University's main gate, Khanak was anware of the sudden halt as she was still occupied with her thoughts.
"Chutki ajj University janay ka mood nahi hain kya?" Adi asked as he found Khanak still sitting on the bike.
"Huh…? Haan main…nahi…hum kafi jaldi agaye…?" Khanak was startled by Adi's words and she quickly managed to get off form the bike, fixing her bag and clothes.
"Sub theek toh hain na….? ajj subah se kuch tabiyaat theek nahi lag rahi tumhari…" Adi asked concerned of his sister's unusual quiet nature.
"Nahi Bahiyaa aisi koi baat nahi…ajj tests hain na mera issi liye sub revise kar rahi thi silently..app preshaan nahi huye." Kahank gave a faint smile to assure Adi and somehow convinced him that she was alright.
Khanak went on to attend her first class and was completely distracted by her preoccupied mind, she was thankful that Shaantanu wasn't in her morning class. She wouldn't be able to approach him or even talk to him in his presence. She knew that there was nothing wrong from his side, he didn't even say nor do anything intentionally to upset her but she was still unable to nullify the concern she had for him ever since the first time she met him.
"Lucky please tum bus rehnay do…sirf canteen mein beht kar stupid jokes crack kartey rehna…yeh project tumse nahi honay waala…" Tara taunted Lucky about his habits as she was upset about him not taking part in the annual visual project.
"Tara just because tumhay yeh lagta hain kay mere jokes tacky hain, it doesn't mean kay main project mein part nahi le raha…I even have the editing done, bus do din mein complete hogaye ga…Abhay se pooch lo if you don't believe me…" Lucky spoke in his defense as he was working on his own pace and style.
"Arey yaar tum dono ka yeh rooz ka jagrah hameesha yunhi chalta rahay ga…pata nahi Khanak aur Shaantanu kahaan reh gaye rooz yahi miltey hain lakin ajj dono nahi nazar arahay…" Abahy took the conversation in a different direction so the two bickering lovebirds are not bickering happily.
"I know, Khanak ko bhi maine uski morning class mein jaate huye dekha tha…she seemed lost, meri awaaz bhi nahi suni…" Sam informed the gang as they all tried to figure out where the two crucial members of the gang were this morning
"Hey guys! Sorry ajj late hogaya, meray guitar ki tuning karni thi so I lost track of time...tum sub kaise ho?" Shaantanu joined in with an explaination as the rest of the gang smiled back at him knowing that his musical excuses will always have their way no matter what. Shaantanu however was putting up a brave front as he was running late due to his newly acquired job. He needed to inform Adi of his schedule on weekdays due to classes, he promised full time on weekends but would join in after 2 on the weekdays as his last classes ended around 1:45.
"Finally tum agaye Shaan…abb batao Khanak ko kahaan chor kar aye ho?" Tara asked looking over his shoulder trying to spot Khanak behind him.
"Khanak…? Vo yahaan nahi hain? Maine toh ussay nahi dekha." Shaan informed everyone who was looking at him with questioning eyes.
"Matlab voh tumse bhi nahi milli?" Sam asked as if she already knew both of their schedules and the fact that they always met up after morning classes.
"Nahi…mujhay laga voh yahi hogi…tum logoon kay saath." Shaan was starting to get a little worried but maintained his clam demeanor in front of others.
"Uff guys tum sub toh yun preshaan ho rahay ho jaise Khanak koi do saal ki chooti si baby ho…library mein hogi, Sir Shekhar ka naya assignment abhi se complete kar rahi hogi…ya phir lake kay pass chill kar rahi ho gi…hum sub aik gang hain per ka yeh required hain kay hum sub saath mein rahay sara waqt.." Lucky said cooly after observing the tension stirring up in the atmosphere.
"Haan…I think Lucky sahi keh raha hain…khair mujhay bhi chalna hain meri class kuch dair mein shuru hone waali hain…phir milta hoon…" Shaantanu decided to excuse himself from the group as he felt the need to go find Khanak, he hadn't seen her since three days due to the weekend. He had missed her even though he was engulfed in his own miseries.
Khanak was seated by the lake just as Lucky had predicted, Shaantanu's eyes had spotted her from some distance, and he could easily tell that the turqoiuse blue churidaar and the mid-length ember hair belonged to no one but Khanak. He walked over to the bench where she was sitting, holding on to two wrapped gifts that belonged to him. She was looking at the wrapping intently when he joined her.
"Khanak tumhara birthday hain?" Shaantanu asked as he observed her hands and the objects that she held in them.
"Nahi…yeh app ke hain…" Khanak said quietly, without making any eye contact she simply placed them in front of him, waiting for him to take them from her hands.
"Meray liye..?" Shaantanu questioned as he took them from her hands slowly. He was unaware of her tears that were threatening to spill out of her eyes any moment now. His presence had an unusual effect on her and according to her he was completely oblivious of it.
Shaantanu opened up the wrapping carefully, wondering about the reason behind her sudden act of gift giving. As he took the last layer of the wrapping off the object he was both shocked and surprised to discover his Rolex under it. He looked up at her and she simply pointed to the second unwrapped item he was holding; he opened that up as well and retrieved his recently sold Blackberry quietly. Complete silence followed after that moment. No noise at all, except the fluidity of the water nearby and the distant chatter from the students hanging out in the courtyard. He stared at her, trying to find the words to say something…anything… but nothing came to his mind…he had no words.
"App ne itna gair samjha mujhe…?" She undid the silent knot as Shaantanu felt the pain in her tone go through his insides, crushing his already broken soul further in to pieces.
"Kha..Khanak…aisi baat…main nahi chatha tha kay…I just..I am really sorry." Shaantanu closed his eyes, regretting his decision of not telling Khanak abut his situation earlier.
"Maafi kyun maang rahay hain? Jub main app kay liye koi maine (meaning) nahi rakhti toh maafi maang kar aik jhoota yakeen kyun dila rahay hain…uss saach ko itni jaldi bhula diya jis saach se humari shuruaat huye thi…yaad hain kitni asaani se mujhay app ne sub kuch bata diya tha uss din…app Manali kyun aye, kitnay akelay hai yahaan, voh hair aik baat jo appke purane rishtoon se juri huyi thi…sub kuch…kya itna galat aur kamzoor samjha mujhe app ne?" Khanak questioned unable to control her emotions any more, she just had to let this flood take its own course as
Shaantanu listened to her every complaint quietly.
"Khanak main tumhay preshaan nahi karna chahta tha…" Shaantanu spoke up trying to soothe some of her pain away, he had no idea he was capable of inflicting pain over Khanak. He would have never wanted that, no matter what he would have protected her from him but it was too late now.
"Lakin app ne mujhay preshaan kiya hain…app ka iss tarah se baatein chupana…mujhe apna keh kar bhi apna na maan na…na jaaney aur kitna kuch bardaasht kar rahay hain phir bhi chehray per smile liye sub kay saath normal behave kar rahay hain…kyun?" Khanak exposed his faade as she was able to see right through it and Shaantanu wasn't surprised to learn that, he knew that if anyone could ever read him like that it would be her.
"Shaayad intezaar kar raha hain tha kay koi ho jo mujhay khud se bacha le…Khanak main toh khud itna toota hua hoon kay kissi aur koi dukh denay ka honsla bhi meray pass nahi hain…Zindagi meray liye voh nahi rahi jo Mumbai mein hua karti thi…I am sorry Khanak…main dil se maafi maang raha hoon…" Shaantanu said sincerely, placing one hand on his heart while holding his left ear from the other. Khanak smiled through moist eyes observing his sweet gesture, she finally felt relieved of her worries.
"Pakka waala sorry…?" Khanak asked pointing her index finger to him like a little girl and he smiled widely in return.
"Bilqual pakka waala…ainda aggar aisi galti huyi toh main khud tumhara ghussa kahnay chala aaoga…theek hain?" Shaantanu assured her of his obidence and then looked down at his belongings that Khanak had gifted him.
"Aap ko aapki cheezein gift kar kay maine koi galti toh nahi ki…?" Khanak asked concerned of his sad expression as he observed his possessions, they looked different than before as now they meant something more than just his things.
"Nahi aisa toh maine nahi kaha…" He paused and looked up at her before continuing "Khanak jaanti ho yeh Rolex mujhay kub milli thi?" Shaantanu asked as if Khanak was some sort of a mind reader who knew all about his past.
"Jaanti toh nahi ho per jaan na chahti hoon…aggar app bura na manay toh…" Khanak said softly as he looked up in her eyes with a calm expression. He loved her intrest in his life, she never felt sorry for him, she cared and he knew she cared whole heartedly.
"Akshay Baahiyaa ne mujhay yeh gift ki thi jub mera Business School ka acceptance letter ghar aaya tha… kitnay khush thay voh uss din, bhabhi was so jelous kay itna toh voh khud ki shaadi per bhi khush nahi huye thay…he was so proud of me… actually unhay yeh watch Dad ne di thi when he got his first contract for our company…Main toh bus iss baat se khush tha kay Dad ke select ki huyi cheez meray pass hain…voh Watch jo unhone khud custom made khareedi thi Bahiyaa kay liye...iss ghari mein jaise mujhay Dad ka pyaar or approval pehli daafa milla tha…per shayaad main galat tha kyunki aaj mere pass na unka approval hain aur na pyaar…" Shaanatanu's head dropped with obvious dissapointment as he finished off his sentence.
"Jub yeh ghari app kay pass hain toh aik din unka bharoosa aur pyaar bhi app tak ajaye ga…Aapne khud ko bahut kamzoor kar liya hain, lakin kabhi meri nazar se dekhay toh aap ko aik mazboot aur bahadur Shaantanu Khandelwal nazar aaye gay…" She completed her sentence with his full name, leaving a lasting impact on Shaantanu's senses. The way she said his name gave it a different meaning altogether, his heart felt it, his mind registered it, and he simply admired her words.
"You know what Khanak I think humay inn sub serious baaton ko kuch dair avoid karna chahiyay…Main hameesha tumhay sad kar deta hoon or phir baad mein yahi soochta rehta hoon kay agli baar koi serious ya heavy baat nahi karoonga…so Miss.Mathur app please apna mood kuch light kar le, vaise bhi aapka ka gang app ko dhoondh raha tha aur aggar unhay app sad milli toh mera band baj jaaye ga…so smile for me… please?" Shaantanu requested, changing his demeanor and tone completely.
Khanak got up smiling, giving in to Shaantanu's request almost immediately while he informed her about her friends and their eagerness earlier in the morning.
Mumbai- Khandelwal Industries
Akshay was busy going over his notes for the upcoming presentation with some foreign delegates, his notes were coherent and factual as always but something just didn't feel right to him. He felt like starting them all over again, he knew he had covered all the major points for presentation but there was still an invisible gaping hole that annoyed him. As he looked over the file one more time just to be sure, he realized that the project was missing an introductory theme…the major opening that he would use to grasp his audience and their undivided attention.
Shaan was usually the one to give him the lead in his opening; he would come up with random analogies, simplistic everyday connection to approach the promotion Akshay would use to convey Khandelwal originality and humane touch to dry business deals. As this realization dawned upon Akshay, he became gloomy knowing that not only his presentation was missing originality, but the person responsible for always aiding him with inspiration was gone as well. His Choota was no longer with him, the one person who always remembered to wish him luck, to help him out at dead ends in business world, and to simply be the best brother in the world was no longer available for Akshay to joke around with. He missed Shaantanu. He missed his go to brother for anything and everything. He wondered if he missed him as well, a faint smile appears on his face as he looks on to the photo frame holding their picture from a camping trip they made on Khusboo's insistence last year.
Back in Manali
Shaantanu was headed for his favorite class of the day with Sir Shekhar. He needed to make sure he stays on top of things due to work obligations. He would practice with Sir.Shekhar for exactly an hour and then head to work afterward as he promised Adi to be there for the evening shift. There was no room to hang around after school, like before but he was not complaining.
"Shaan you are finally here! Let's get started." Sir Shekhar declared as Shaantanu walked into the music room where he held his class for his talented students.
"Yes Sir! I was thinking ajj app ko voh naye waali composition sunao…ho sakta hain appko immature lagay but I really tried…" Shaanatu said taking out his guitar and placing it around his torso.
Sir. Shekhar was quite impressed with Shaantanu's devotion towards music; he was getting good at his it day by day. It was unusal for someone as selective as Shekhar to praise his student, but Shaantanu had earned that in the former musician's experienced eyes and ears and it didn't take long for Shekhar to realize the potential that his young and gifted music student had. He was confident that Shaantanu had capability of doing much more than composing. Currently Shekhar was testing the waters with him and exploring what he could do to make Shaantanu use his talent to the best of its ability.
"Shaan I think lets start from the top…jo chords kal practice kiye thay voh bhi aur ajj expression I, IV, and V per focus karna…" Sir Shekhar instructed Shaan as he stood next to the piano where he would randomly throw in a piece to go along with Shaan's acoustic.
"Alright Sir…from the top it is…" Shaan followed Sir Shekhar's instruction and begin to play, starting from a soft note to grudal increace in volume and bass. His smooth yet powerful transition and blending of the notes was empowering; the one thing that Shekhar admired most about Shaan. Everything he played flowed with rhythm. There were no random breaks or loudness; it reminded Shekhar of the noise that he considered true music.
"Great Job!" Shekhar exclaimed from across the room as Shaantanu finished his piece and felt pride in his accomplishmet. His teacher's appraisal was just another treat to dwell over later when he would practice some more.
"Shaantanu sing for me…" Shekhar said as Shaantanu tuned his guitar before putting it away.
"Jee Sir?" Shaan was surprised at Shekhar's sudden demand as he had no experience in singing other than bathroom singing at times.
"I am serious…Composition kay saath saath you need some lyrics and I am sure you have got a good voice…try it…" Shekhar said as he came forward and handed him a paper with lyrics on it.
"But Sir main…I've never…"
"Actually… you know what I think jo lyricist humein kafi dair se chup chup kar dekh rahi hain, ussi ki lyrics zaayda achi rahay ge…" Shekhar said, narrowing his eyes as he noticed Khanak's reflection in one of the mirrors that had ended up in music room from the theater department.
Shaantanu was clueless as to whom Shekhar was reffering to, considering there was no one around. But as he followed Shekhar's eyes he spotted a guilty Khanak revealing herself from behind the curtain that covered the back wall of the huge room. It was meant to divide the theater practice from musical orchestra, who knew Khanak would use to hide and listen in on Shaantanu's music class with Sir Shekhar.
"Miss Mathur you cam come on out now…" Sir Shekhar smiled as he gestured her to come towards the center where Shaantanu and him were standing.
"I am sor..sorry Sir…" Khanak came apologizing like an innocent kind. Shaantanu was trying hard to hold in his laughter that while Shekhar just shook his head knowingly.
"Apology is NOT accepted…" Shekhar looked at Khanak sternly as Shaantanu moved forward to make a plea in her defense but was stopped by Shekhar's glare.
"But Sir..I…"
"Unless you can convince this fellow here to sing…mujhay pata hain lyrics achay likh leti hoon per Shaan ko gaanay kay liye convince karna paray ga…" Sir Shekhar said putting an ultimatium in front of Khanak and Shaantanu who exchanged confused looks and shrugs.
"Jee Sir..I..think I can manage that…kal tak?" Khanak spoke up as Shaantanu looked at her in disbelief over Shekhar's shoulder.
"Okay Good! So I'll see you two tomorrow…Shaan ganay kay saath… I don't expect perfection but I want to see you try…Thanks Khanak!" Shekahr nformed Shaan and then expressed his gratitude to Khanak who smiled nervously knowing Shaantanu's uneasy facial expression. She knew that she was about to hear the lecture of her life as soon as Sir Shekhar leave the room.
"Khanak!" Shaantanu exclaimed loudly after making sure Sir Shekhar was gone from the premises of the sound proof room.
"Shaantanu please maan jaaiye…" Khanak pouted like a child and pleaded in an innocent tone.
"Khanak gaana…main…I don't know…kabhi try bhi nahi kiya..." Shaantanu calmed down a bit and tried to reason with Khanak.
"Sirf aik baar try he toh karna hain…Sir perfection nahi chahte …please" Khanak reminded Shaan of Shekhar's requirements, trying hard to convince him as he glanced at his Rolex and realized that he only had ten minutes before he was expected to show up for new job.
"Khanak, okay fine…theek hain… per mujhay abhi jaana hain..." Shaantanu quickly gathered his belongings and started to rush out the room.
"Kahaan ja rahay hain app?" Khanak followed behind, half running and half walking trying to catch up to Shaantanu.
"Job per…kal milte hain…" Shaantanu gave her a short reply and rushed through the main halway as Khanak smiled while watching him cut through people who were hanging out in the hall. She didn't try to stop him knowing Adi Bahiyaa wanted people to show up at work on time and besides Khanak needed to keep the suspense for now as she intended to surprise Shaantanu by appearing at the shop later in the evening.
P.S: Sorry for the LATE update...got so busy with stuff...umm so yes i am trying to keep it emotional yet light-hearted as the story requires a lot of emotions but it won't always be depressing and sad...hopefully...also ShaNak will remain subtle for some time...i don't want to term their relationship as "friends" because as described in previous Chapters their bond is kind on untitled due to the strong connection they both know and feel...Lets just keep it flowing until the story requires further involvement with specific titles...hope that is not super confusing but ask away anything that confuses or throws you off..
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
