Sandhya was even more tired than she had expected….. But instead of falling asleep she lay awake staring at the dark ceiling, fighting fatigue and mulling over the times she spent with Vishal…. All those beautiful moments over the months since she came to know him…. 😊
She turned around careful not to disturb Cynthia sleeping beside her…. She turned once again and frustrated sat up…. Pushing back her hair she rested her hands on her knees and supported her head in her hands…. She had been feeling restless the whole evening… Even though she never could show it…. But she couldn't sleep as the silence of the night pressed around her….
What was wrong?!?!? Where was she going wrong?!!? In her life she had never made any mistakes….. All her decisions were calculative and had reaped the perfect results required…
Looking around she saw everyone sleeping soundly….. She needed to get out of here…. She needed fresh air… She pulled on the coat of her night gown and slowly tip toed out of the room not making a noise…. Deep in thoughts she started walking not knowing where her legs were taking her….
The biggest decision of her life… Vishal…. He could never be a mistake…. Since their first meeting she knew, he was both intelligent and intense…. He stood apart from the others in more ways than one…. There was always something she found about him intriguing… 😳 And that always dragged her to him! ❤️
Then why was he not reciprocating?!? Their evening's performance had erased out any doubt or minute percentage uncertainty she might have had regarding his feelings towards her….. She now knew 200% that he loved her…. Loved only her…. And forever she would be the one he loved…. Then why!??!? 😔
She sighed frustrated….. She never could leave any puzzles unsolved…. Even when she was doing crosswords or Sudokus she never left them unsolved…. It made her crazy…. And now not knowing the answer for this question was maddening her….
Had she done something wrong which made him angry on her and not accept her love!?! But if that was the case she would have seen hatred in those deep dark eyes and not love…. Pure deep love! ❤️
Then what else could be the reason!?!? As she sighed frustrated and helpless she startled feeling cold breeze blowing her hair around…. Surprised she caught her hair and looked about and found her standing on the landing steps of the terrace….
She came to her full senses realizing that Aryan and Dipika were still here and had not yet come down…. She sighed relieved thanking herself for not making any noise… She turned around to go back down when her eyes caught some movement…. Curious she went to the landing window and peeped out…. What she saw made a smile form on her face…. 😳
Aryan and Dipika on the swing, his hands wrapped around her…. A beauty smile on both their faces…. She noticed that even though Dipika had her eyes closed Aryan was looking down only at her…. Awwwww……. How sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!😳 ❤️
She felt so happy for them…. Even though she had not known them for long, she had heard everything about them from Neha and others…. She knew how much they had loved each other but could not even express their feelings…. Due to various reasons!!!!!!!!
Immediately her thoughts rushed to Vishal…. If she was feeling so happy seeing them she could just imagine how he would feel when he saw them…. 😊
Thinking something she rushed back down lightly….. She went to the boys' room and tried the door… Thank God the door was opened…. She peeped in and saw everyone sound asleep…. She scanned the area and saw Vishal missing…. He was not here?!? 🤔
She looked around the room once more and around the hall… She saw the main door opened lightly…. Doubtful she went over and looked out…. And she saw him… He was standing in the lawn looking up at the sky, his back to the house….
He couldn't sleep too!?!? Her heart went out to him…. He could at least reason out things to her…. She would help him out….. But he refused to even mention about it…. As she walked towards him her mind traveled past to the day she first met him…. Months later… Her seeing him in the restaurant…. And the rest of their meetings which she had written in Golden Words in her life history…. ❤️
Just as she came and stood behind him he turned around….
He looked into that beautiful moon lit face and a smile automatically formed on his face…. With her around he had all the reasons to be happy…. Because she made everyone happy…. He was right when he had sensed her behind him…. Since the time she had stepped out and had started walking towards him, he was composing himself, tying him up again in his block to not let lose his emotions as he had done during the dance….
Vishal: Maine socha tha bahut achchi neend me hogi…. Humse phir se jeetke apna purse jo bhara diya!
Sandhya: (Smiling back) Purse to bhara diya isliye to neend nahi aa rahi…
Vishal: (Surprised😲) Kyun? Paise kum pad gaye?
Sandhya: (Walking around him to stand beside him) Naa baba…. Paise zyada ho gaye isliye to neend nahi aa rahi…. Ye soch soch ke ki un paison se karein kya?
Vishal: (Chuckling😆) Tum ladkiyaan hoti hi aisi ho…. Agar paise nahi mile to bhi neend nahi aati ye sochke ki kaise paisa vasool kiya jaye aur ab is tarah!
Sandhya: (Looking at him sideways) Kya karein? Aapka kiya dhara hai…. Jab maange tab nahi dete aur jab nahi maange tab dher saare de dete ho ki hum uske liye taiyaar hi nahi hote…. (Softly) Chaahe vo paisa ho ya…
Sensing the pause in her voice he glanced down beside her….. He very well understood what she was about to tell….. With months of just knowing each other he could read her mind and understand what she meant with every word she didn't tell…. He wondered how his understanding of her would be if they were….. 😕
He immediately snapped back to reality cursing himself for thinking otherwise and smiling a little looked away and said…
Vishal: Aap logon ki yahi problem hai…. Kuch karo to bhi problem agar nahi karo to bhi problem…. Waise options nahi hain to kuch suggestions de sakta hoon!
Sandhya: (Sighing) Options to kayi hain Mr. Great… Isliye to confusion hai…. Kum options hote to choose karna aasaan naa hota?
Vishal: (Nodding) Yeah… 😃
Sandhya: Ab ye to clear ho gaya ki mujhe neend kyun nahi aa rahi…. Lekin tum kyun is raat ko yahan bahar khade ho?
Vishal: Kuch nahi… Achchi raat hai… Hawaa bhi achchi hai… Socha iska mazaa loon… (Thoughtful) Pata nahi baad me aisa mouka milega bhi ya nahi!
Sandhya: (Instantly) Kya?❓
Vishal: (Looking at her stammering) Nahi… Mera matlab tha…. When I get back to work…. Aisa kabhi relax karne ka mouka nahi milega naa…. You know my profession!
Sandhya: Oh! Yeah.... Desh ki seva me desh se badkar kuch nahi hota!
Vishal: (Turning around towards her sharply) To tum maanti ho ki desh ke liye apna sab kuch tyaagna sahi hai?
Sandhya: (Confused with his sudden question😕) Well…. Haan….. I mean zindagi ko jab desh ke naam likh diya hai to…. In a profession like yours country and country men come first…. No doubt in that!
Vishal: (Smiling) Thank you!😊
Sandhya: (Puzzled) Thank you?!?! Lekin kis liye?🤔
Vishal: Nothing… Bas kuch soch raha tha aur tumhare jawaab ne us doubt ko clear kar diya hai!
Sandhya: (Burrowing her eyebrows still in confusion) Oh… O… Ok…. (Remembering) Waise thank you meri taraf se bhi… For the dance…. Bahut achcha tha! Sabne kaha!
Vishal: (Embarrassed a little😳) Yeah sabne mujhse bhi kaha tha…. It did come out good naa?
Sandhya: (Looking at him accusing😈) Lekin is tarah to tumne rehearsals me nahi kiya tha…. Chehere par jitna ho sake utna distaste hi tha…. I was in fact not so sure that this dance would turn out so well!
Vishal: (Smiling teasing😉) Agar confidence nahi tha to mujhe jhela kyun? Kisi aur ko apna partner bana leti!
Sandhya: (Nodding) Hmm… Should have…. Lekin time nahi tha… Aur…. (Pausing)
Vishal: Aur?!?❓
She looked at him wondering whether he really didn't know the reason for dancing with him…. When she had heard this song for the first time she knew if she ever danced this song it would be with him…. And she also knew this was not possible in the near future with him not even speaking to her about their relationship…. She also knew that he was going to be a very good volunteering gentleman…. He had to be dragged into this someway and she had found the way….
Vishal: (Repeating his question) Aur?❓
Sandhya: (Tartly) Aur?!?! Tumhare siva koi last minute me mila hi nahi…. Isliye Dipika ke suggestion ko maante hue ye karna pada….
Vishal: (Mildly) Looks as you are regretting!
Sandhya: (Immediately) NO! (Composing) Err…. I mean…. Jab dance achcha hua hai to regret kyun karoongi… You were a good choice…. (To herself) You always will be a good choice!
Vishal looked at her smiling and turned away trying to find a reason to move away from there….. He couldn't bear standing there anymore with her so close and alone…. Their light conversation itself was making him weak and he couldn't afford to break the dam he had with great difficulty built around him….
Vishal: (Turning back to her) Vo… I think hume andar chalna chahiye…. It… It is getting cold…. I mean… Raat bahut ho chuki hai….
Sandhya: (Feebly remembering their relationship) It has always been very cold!
Vishal: (Puzzled) What? 😕
Sandhya: Kuch nahi… Raat hai to thand bhi lagegi… (Then remembering her main purpose for coming down to meet him, smiled and said) Lekin aisa koi hai jinhe naa ye raat ka ehsaas hai naa thand ka!
Vishal: (Confused) Matlab?? Koun? (Guessing) Ajay aur Neha… Of course….
Sandhya: (Shaking her head) Nai… Mere saath chalo!
Saying she caught her hand and dragged him with her…. But he held his ground and didn't move… When she turned around questioningly he asked....
Vishal: Lekin kahan? ❓
Sandhya: (Sighing😒) Ghabrao mat.… Bhagake shaadi nahi karne waali… Bas kuch dikhane le jaa rahi hoon! (Sternly😳) Ab chup chaap chalo… Warna….. Uthake leke jaana padega!
Vishal: (Challenging👍🏼) Reeallly??!? Tum mujhe utha sakti ho? Kahan utha dikhao!
Sandhya: Maine aisa thodi kaha ki main tumhe uthane waali hoon… Tumhe mujhe uthake leke jaana padega andar! 😈
Vishal: (Immediately) Phir to behtar ki hum abhi andar chalein!
Saying he started walking towards the house with Sandhya smiling to herself….
Sandhya led him across the hall and up the stairs…. At the stairs he stopped for a second and looked at her questioningly…. She just indicated the stairs and shrugging his shoulder he followed her…. When he realized they were going to the terrace he stopped her and hissed…
Vishal: Ae…. Upar kyun leke jaa rahi ho? Tumhe to pata hai ki wahan….
Sandhya: (Hissing) Pata hai… Bas chup chaap chalo naa…. Ussse pehle….
Coming down she went behind him and said…
Sandhya: (Tapping his shoulder) Thoda jhuko!
Vishal: (Glancing over his shoulders mildly surprised) Kya?
Sandhya: Bina sawaal kiye juko naa!
Murmuring about 'Bandaron ko dimaag hi nahi hai ab pata hai!', while she retorted to that 'Of course, unke dimaag ko aap jaise chilgose jo khaate ho' he bent down a little… She closed his eyes from behind and told him to resume climbing the stairs… 😃
Coming to the landing window she told him to keep his eyes closed… Coming forward he adjusted him so that Aryan and Dipika fell directly in his view….
Then moving away she whispered….
Sandhya : Ab aankhein kholo!
He opened his eyes and what he saw was out of the world…. Involuntarily he took a step forward towards the window and a million dollar smile formed on his face…. She stepped closer to him and peeping from the side at his happy face said…. 😛
Sandhya: Yahi dikhane leke aayi thi… Dipika ke liye tum kitna parehsaan hote the, mujhe pata hai.... (Glancing at Aryan and Dipika) Ab uski life settled ho gayi hai, issse zyada tumhe aur kya chahiye?
Vishal: (Stunned caught her hand and said urgently) Aye bandariya…. Vo karo naa!
Puzzled having not expecting such a reaction from him she looked at him and repeated….
Sandhya: Kya vo karo? 😕
Vishal: (Looking at her impatiently) Are wahi… Vo jo… (Trying to remember🤔) I mean bade karte hain naa…. Jab kuch achcha hota hai!
Sandhya: Bade karte hain!?? Aashirwad? ❓
Vishal: Vo bhi… Lekin.. (Racking his brain) Are yaar…. (Showing his hand) Haath se kuch aisa aisa karte hain…. (Remembering) Subah Ajay ki maa ne uske kaan ke peeche kala…. I mean kajal lagaya tha kehke ki…
Sandhya: (Interjecting smiling) Nazar naa lage? Ab tum mujhe inki nazar utarvana chahathe ho?
Vishal: Exactly! Please karo naa! Ye to ladies hi karte hain naa? 😆
Sandhya: (Smiling at his understanding of the subject) Welll…. Nahi…. Lekin.…
Vishal: (Interrupting looking back at Aryan and Dipika) Explanation baad me dena…. Just do it!
Sandhya: (Fluttered the way he was excited nodded) Okay…. Okay…
Saying she positioned her hand exactly so that she could capture Aryan's and Dipika's frame in them…. Then twisting her hand she pressed her knuckles against her forehead…. Man…. Sounds erupted from them….
Sandhya: (Surprised she looked at Vishal) Vove!!!! Itni nazar!??!? Such me kyun naa ho? They are worth….
Her voice faltered as without another word Vishal turned towards her and smiling hugged her…. A crushing hug which made her go numb as a stun gun had been shot at her…. 🤗
She tried to steady herself but couldn't…. After a lot of debate she coiled her arms around him…..
Vishal: Unko meri hi nazar lagi hai….. Thank you so much Sandhya… Isi waqt ka intezaar tha mujhe itne maheenon se! I…. I never…. This moment… This very moment I will cherish my whole life….
Sandhya: (Her voice soft and unsteady) It…. I…. Wel…😕 😳
It seemed that the world had stopped around them as it faded behind them where each could feel only the other…. As her hands completely circled behind him she felt his hand tighten around her! ❤️
Sandhya was not used to feeling this close to edge…. She had never experienced his closeness so much…. And it was slowly raising all the tensions which lay deep down in her heart…. She closed her eyes to savor his touch, his closeness…. She could feel the steady beat of his heart against hers mixed with the male fragrance of him…. She sighed deeply wanting this moment to freeze! ☺️
Something about the breathless husky sigh of hers snapped him back to reality…. He opened his eyes shocked to see her like this in his arms…. As immediately as it had come he released her and stepped back…. 😲
Slowly he raised his head and studied her…. She blinked confused or dazed!!!??
He was instantly filled with regret….
Vishal: That should never have happened!
She said nothing and just looked on at him as he continued…..
Vishal: I promise you that it won't happen again!
Her eyes flickered with anger…. She opened her mouth, then abruptly closed it again…. Before another second passed she turned and rushed out of there! 😡