The office is practically empty save for the office janitor, Abdul. He is sweeping the office and bumps into Kabir, who has just walked in from his flight.
"Salaam Saab...Kaise hain aap? Aur panv?"
"Main theek houn. Yahan pe sab kuch kaisa chal raha hain? Theek?"
"Kya theek chalega saab...jab aap nahi they to..."
"Ok, OK...kuch der baad mere liye office main coffee le aana. Theek hain?"
"Samajh gaya!"
And Abdul knocks on his cabin door five minutes later with a mug of coffee in his hand.
"So, Abdul...kaise ho? whats happening here? koi kand huwa kya?"
Abdul is acutely tuned to the office grapevine. He leans forward conspiratorially.
"Saab, aapko nahi pata...aap hospital main they na, tabhi Trisha Madam ne Sunny ko thappad maara!"
"Thappad mara? Magar kyoun?"
"Wo Sunny ne unko chheda na..."
"Kya?" Now this was totally alien to the culture of KKN, and moreover to the characters of Trisha and Sunny. Kabir leans forward, his nose twitching in anticipation.
"Ha Saab...phir Unko pakad ke Malvika Ma'm ke pass legayi. Wahan pe poora lecture baaji, bhashan wagairah poora hua..."
"Theek hain. I will ask Malvika!"
Kabir's tone was intended to dismiss, but Abdul was not done yet.
"Saab, sirf itna nahi...baad main pata chala ki yeh sab ek natak tha!"
"Natak?" Nothing is impossible in KKN. Kabir's thoughts flew to the instance wherein Ananya had pulled off a stint right under his nose.
"Haan, Saab...actually all this was done so that Ananya Madam could sneak out!"
"But for what? Koi lead thi kya?"
"Nahin saab, aisa kuchh nahi tha. Lead hoti to Sunny bhi saath hota na?"
Kabir was lost for a while.
"I don't understand. Lead nahi thi, to phir yeh sab karne ki kya zaroorat thi? Aur kahan gayi thi?"
"Wo neeche wala security bol raha tha, Ananya madam ne auto ko bola, Criti-care hospital..."
Kabir's professional antennae go on red alert. That was the name of the hospital where he was admitted post his accident! That means...
She had come there? But then why didn't she visit him?
"Saab..." Kabir comes back to reality.
"Aur five minutes ke baad Ananya madam waapis aagayi aur seedhe rest room main gayi. Wahan se aadhe ghante baad nikali to...aisa laga ki bahut royi hongi..."
"Royi thi? Magar kyoun?"
"Pata nahi saab. Phir aage Richa Madam se baat kar rahe the to maine kuchh suna..."
"Kya suna?"
"Ananya madam bol rahi thi...kissi Tarini ke bare main...ki woh wahan thi, isiliye..."
So that nails the issue! Kabir lapses deep in thought as Abdul departs with the soiled cup and loads of information.
Later that day, Kabir summons Ananya to his cabin. She walks in hesitantly.
"Ms Kashyap...Hope everything is fine with you? have a seat!
"I am fine, thank you Sir..."
"You were saying something that day, before I left for Singapore?"
Ananya shakes her head.
"Nothing Sir..."
"No, I remember it clearly. You said something like there is no dearth of relationships around me...' In case you have not realized it yet, I have the memory of an elephant!"
"Well, I might have said it. But now I have forgotten the context. Is that all you wanted to tell me? Or remind me about?" Anger flashes in her eyes alternating with desperation. She turns around to go when he calls her in his *that * voice.
"Ananya..."
"Whom...What...did...you...say?"
"Now I can't go about calling you Ms Kashyap all along, right? And you were right, there is no dearth of relationships around me. Tarini, her son Anurag, Laxman, PanditJi and many others. Including Khalid. When I was admitted to the hospital, they were all there for me. But the relationship I seek was not to be found anywhere...!"
"Kabir Sir, I..."
He sushes her with a finger.
"That's what I thought. Till the security of the Criti-care hospital gave me this..."
Ananya's eyes widened and one hand automatically went to feel the other.
"I believe this belongs to you. Right?"
It was her bracelet.
"I think...I think it fell down that day!"
"Yes, it did. That day when you came to see me. And then for some obscure reason, left without...!"
Ananya feels deflated as the events of the day suddenly come visiting.
"Tarini was there...and you both were having a whale of a time. So..."
"Hey come on! I never knew Ms Kashyap to be so fickle minded! In case you have forgotten, Tarini is a friend of mine, nothing more. So Ms Kashyap, you also have friends, who help you in all possible ways, including tricking the boss to help you escape...?"
"How did you..." Tears threaten to gather as she continues in a low voice.
"I was desperate to meet you. But Malvika Ma'm forbade me to go out, so...!"
He bursts out laughing.
"My stupid pea-brained reporter...turned friend, if given a chance, will you trick Malvika again to meet me on a date?"
-------- THE END--------
Anupamaa
