~*RaBir SS*~ Ch 10 Final update at Page 15 (09/3/2014) - Page 7

Chapter 8: That Kiss in the Passageway!

Kabir looked straight into Rachna's eyes bent forward and pulled her close, so close was he to Rachna that she could hardly look beyond his eyes! She was lost and as the soft music mingled into the air amidst dim lights Kabir spoke,

"I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times'
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,
That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,
In life after life, in age after age, forever.

Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, its age-old pain,
Its ancient tale of being apart or together.
As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,
Clad in the light of a pole-star piercing the darkness of time:
You become an image of what is remembered forever.

You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount.
At the heart of time, love of one for another.
We have played along side millions of lovers, shared in the same
Shy sweetness of meeting, the same distressful tears of farewell-
Old love but in shapes that renew and renew forever.

Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you
The love of all man's days both past and forever:
Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life.
The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours '
And the songs of every poet past and forever."

As he finished speaking Rachna lost into his eyes, his words, didn't know what to say! She was too engrossed. Just then the audience applauded and the curtains fell. Rachna came back to her senses. For some reason she wanted to stay alone during the interval. She didn't know why she had been so mesmerized or why on earth was she in tears. She only knew she wanted to believe whatever Kabir said. She wanted to think that it was not Raanjha's words but Kabir's. Rachna for some reason couldn't wipe away the overwhelming effect of Kabir's voice, his eyes, his touch. She left the stage immediately to gather herself before she got back on stage for the final act.

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Rachna was all taken aback. Initially when Kabir hugged her she went blank. She stood totally under Kabir's control squeezed under his arms, dragged into his warmth. But when she finally realized what it meant she closed her eyes tight and wrapped her arms around Kabir. In the darkness of the "hidden", unknown passageway, Kabir and Rachna remained that way for what seemed to be several sunrises and sunsets.

"Pagal, ziddi, akru, bewakuf ,jhalli" said Kabir breaking the hug and holding Rachna's face in his hands, "yeh kya.. kyun... kaise socha tune ke main... pagal tu.. tere bina main kaise.. kisi aurse.. kyun socha.. kaise socha.." stumbled Kabir with his words and without completing his words he dragged her back into his arms.

He hurriedly parted and said, "Rachna main.. main tere bina.. kaise.. tujhe pata nahi main.. maine kaise itne din.."

As Kabir continued his struggle for words Rachna looked at Kabir keenly smiling and crying all at once! She dint know how she was supposed to react! She just moved her eyes according to every movement that Kabir made.

When Kabir couldn't find words even after trying for a long time Rachna moved forward and said, "Nackchara Bander! Tu zindagi bhar aisa hi rahega kya?"

Kabir stopped all his blabbering immediately. He now moved closer to Rachna held her close bent forward looked into her eyes and Kissed her. The kiss was sudden and Rachna had little expected it. She gasped and caught hold of Kabir's shirt. Kabir kissed her softly at the beginning but slowly it turned passionate. But then Kabir stopped. He pulled away looking nervous. He turned around not looking at Rachna.

Rachna looked away too. They have been childhood friends, always been in close proximity. They have held hands, danced along, hugged each other innumerable times but hardly had they been this conscious, this alarmed. Kabir realized the seriousness of what he had just done. He didn't know how to initiate talking again. He was blabbering till now but now his voice could find no words.

After sometime Kabir turned to face Rachna, "I'm sorry Rachna. I shouldn't have... bas apne... aap hi ho gaya"

Rachna narrowed her eyes.

"Rachna main... Tum.. mujhse naraaz to nahi ho na! Actually I, I couldn't restrain... Itne dino se I am just thinking of ways to stay away from you and you don't have any idea how difficult it is for me. Main tumhare bina ek pal nahi reh sakta aur main..pata nahi main aage kya kahun.. main to bas.."

Kabir started blabbering again, "I know abhi jo.. matlab maine..."

Rachna was in tears staring at Kabir as he spoke. Kabir kept on uttering stuff he didn't mean to say at all. He just kept talking because he didn't know what else to do!

Rachna left his side and went and sat on the floor. Kabir noticing Rachna walk away followed her and sat beside her. There was silence.

Rachna looked over to see Kabir sitting next to her, staring into her eyes. Rachna melted from the intensity of the stare, he had the most beautiful eyes, and she loved him. Rachna dropped the gaze, and her long black hair fell over her face, hiding her. They sat like that for a while until he lifted the hair off her face, playing with them gently. Rachna smiled looking up at him. It seemed like he was thinking something over in his mind, like he couldn't make up a choice. He leaned into Rachna, but then stop. Then he looked at her again and held his gaze for a while. He leaned in slowly, till Rachna felt his breath on her face, and then she bridged the remaining distance between them, kissing him. He tackled her to the wall, kissing her passionately releasing his held up emotions for her. she fondled his hair holding her breath.

After what seemed like ages they parted. Rachna still had her eyes closed. "I Love You, Rachna." whispered Kabir in a husky voice.

Rachna opened her eyes slowly and they were watery. But as the tears rolled down her cheeks Kabir kissed them away!

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In another part of the world Rachna's absence was noticed and a certain someone was looking for her. Soon the entire household was awakened and they looked for her everywhere. Alas she was not to be found! They didn't know she was not a part of the world they belonged to anymore. She was lost, Lost in the world of unknown, secret passageways where no one was allowed but she and her play mate, but she and her secret keeper, but she and her lifelong Lover.

Their ignorance made the search vigorous. Soon Rachna's neighbours were informed about the missing fiasco and all of them together began a search for the would-be bride. But then soon the neighbours discovered that not only Rachna but also their son was missing. "Weird" was the word. But then two members of the neighbouring family probably understood what it meant. Dreading the consequences of the impending revelation, they started praying that their guess about the disappearances was wrong. Soon they started looking around all over to find the "Missing" people.

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Rachna rested her head on Kabir's shoulder while Kabir caressed her hair. They had a smile that refused to fade away. Kabir felt happy, excited, relaxed all at once. He had forgotten that they need to get back to their houses as it was quite late in the night and so had Rachna. Probably both of them wished to confine themselves to this undiscovered,hidden place forever. But little did they know that their place of bliss would soon be invaded.

"Kabir" said Rachna all of a sudden remembering something. She rose from the floor and faced Kabir while he still sat, "hum kya karenge? Ghar me to sab.. matlab meri sagayi hai kal aur abhi hum aise.. matlab.. sab ko kaise batayenge? Sab log ageye hain! Unhe kaise samjhayenge Kabir? Matlab.. kya bolungi main??"

"Main nahi.. Hum" said Kabir instantly rising up, "hum milke ghar walo se baat karenge.. par sabse pehle mujhe mom se baat karni padegi.. she knows everything so she can help us out!"

"Kabir" Rachna spoke in her softest voice, "sab thik ho jayega na. Mujhe bohot darr lag raha hai.. gharme sabse baat karni hai.. itne saare log hain..." Rachna was getting scared thinking about the reality.

"Kabir hum.. kaise yeh sab..."

"shhh..." said Kabir holding Rachna's face "maine kaha na main sab thik kardunga! Hamesha ki tarha!.." Kabir smiled and embraced Rachna.

Rachna cuddled up and closed her eyes. She knew it in her heart when Kabir says he will solve the problem, he will do it. Kabir too had his eyes closed. He did not bother to think what , where , when, how he would manage to solve this huge problem. He just knew that Rachna loves him and now no matter what he would be with her, for her forever.

"Rachna" shouted someone from behind

Kabir and Rachna were shaken back to reality. They immediately broke the hug and turned to see who it was.

The entire Thripati and Garg family was standing in front of them. The secret passageway was thus no more a secret. Their secret was revealed to the world and so was their new found love but certainly not in a way the lovers had wanted.

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