Twinj FF || Kuch Adhura || Chapter 9 - Page 33 - Page 19

Chapter 8

He sat on the steps of the back door into the college, his head pressed against the wall. A smile of content graced his rather handsome face. His full attention was focused on the chattering girl who was currently pacing the staircase. She was throwing her hand up dramatically and making the most weirdest faces just to get her point across. Yet he found it rather amusing. It felt oddly nice to just hear the lull of her one-sided conversation. Off course, once she found out he wasn't listening, all hell would break loose. Most likely he'd be forced to listen to a whole lecture on how to be "a good listener". Right now, however, he was too busy just enjoying her presence. Seconds past and he had the sudden feeling that she'd notice soon. It was just a feeling but usually his feelings about her turned out to be right. And sure enough, only a moment after the thought crossed his mind, she let out a shrill scream.

"KUNJ!!"

Kunj cocked his head towards her slowly, doing his very best to give her a look of "innocence". She didn't buy it.

"Kya kahan maine?" Twinkle asked, almost menacingly. Kunj hesitated because like always, e really didn't know.

"Uff. Itni bolti hai na tu ki mujhe kuch yaad nahi rehta."

"You're impossible," Twinkle said exasperatedly, "I'm just going to leave."

The word leave triggered some sort of sensor in his mind. He immediately stood up to stop her. He didn't want to let her go, he couldn't let her go.

"Maat ja na Twinkle. Aise akele rehna pasand nahi," he saw her eyes soften at the pleading undertone in his voice.

"Itna bhi mat darro Kunj. Tumhe kabhi akela chod ke nahi jaungi," she said with a vibrant smile that could light up his whole world.

"Promise?"

"Promise. Tumhe kabhi nahi chod ke jaaungi," and she wrapped her arms around his as if confirming her promise.

The memory flashed in his mind, as he kept his arms clutched around Twinkle. She had frozen at his question. The playfulness had vanished, replaced with a sort of guilt and sadness.

"Kitne sare vade banaye the humne Twinkle. Tune sab tod di. Ek baar toh mere bare mein soch leti. Tujhe pata bhi hai yeh 3 saal kaise guzare hai mere liye? Kaise maine ek-ek din tere bina guzara. Har pal tujhe yaad kiya Twinkle. Subah uthi, toh iss umeed ke saath, ki aaj tu vapas aa jayegi. Ki shayad aaj tujhse se phir mulaqat hogi. Meri nazrein hamesha darwaze ki taraf hoti ki gash wahan pe tu kahi dikh jaye. Par aisa kabhi nahi hua. Main intezaar karti rahi, karti rahi lekin tu nahi," he let go of her abruptly. Tears were pooling in the corner of her eyes, as she refused to look at him. Kunj didn't know what had come over him but every emotion he'd been keeping in for the last 3 years, spilled out. Voices were screaming in his head, some warning him to stop, others urging him to continue.

"Kunj," Twinkle whispered, ever so softly that anyone could've mistaken it to be just a whisper of the wind. Her voice sounded so broken, so fragile.

"Mat kar Twinkle please," Kunj begged, "dard hota hai. Tujhe aise tuta hua dekhte, aise tuta hua sunte accha nahi lagta," he turned to leave but the softness of hand wrapping around his wrist stopped him. His eyes closed, the sudden yet slight contact leaving his heart wild in a frenzy.

"Kyun rok rahi hai mujhe? Aur roku bhi kyun main? Tu ruki thi kya?" he asked, without turning around. Kunj knew the slightest of eye-contact had the potential to kill him. Looking at her right now would only bring back thousand of painful memories. Gently he pushed her hand away from his. Kunj's palms felt empty now, as if something essential had disappeared. He heard her wretched sobs behind him; his breaking at each one. Yet he willed himself to not look; to not succumb into her agains. Kunj was scared of letting her in again. What if she left.

"Meri saath aa Twinkle," he said softly. He wanted to show her something; something he'd hidden away from the world for 3 years. As they walked towards his bedroom, there was nothing but silence. Tears blurred both their vision but neither paid heed. Kunj was too busy concentrating on not turning back to look at her and Twinkle too busy trying to keep herself composed. Mere minutes ago, they'd been laughing, smiling and it had felt as if not time had past. It had felt as if they were back to being the same Twinkle and Kunj; the same Khadoos Sarna and Siyappa Queen. They'd forgotten in that moment that anything had ever kept them apart. They'd forgotten any worries, and angst they still held against each other. Yet a few words had triggered a thousand tears. It had caused a double waterfall and a rainstorm that came without a rainbow. Now was they walked in a silence that spoke louder than words, they had nothing but pain in their eyes. The door had never seemed so far away before. When they finally did reach it, it felt as if eternity had passed. As Kunj turned the door handle, he heard Twinkle sharp intake of breath behind him. It was the type that was filled with nervousness. The room was polished to perfection; too neat you could say. Kunj walked towards one of the suitcases that was tidied against the wall. His breath hitched as he slowly opened it. Behind him, he could feel Twinkle presence as she tried to catch a glimpse inside the half-open suitcase. She gasped, as the remnants appeared before her eyes.

"Kunj," she sighed, "yeh sab?"

"Teri yaadein," he replied taking a step away from the bag to let Twinkle get a closer look. The case was filled with pictures of her, little things she'd left behind and anything else that had any connection to her. From when they were little to day's only a few days before she'd left, all the memories were there. They were little antics that seemed so well cared for. The pictures were either framed and the ones that weren't seemed to be laminated. 2 rupee friendship necklaces were all kept in a jar. He watched as she pawed through the contents of the suitcase, a mixture of happiness and guilt flying around her face. Suddenly Twinkle's hand stumbled upon a bundle of papers. Kunj watched silently, as she pulled them out of the case and gave him a queer look.

"Chithiyan hai," he answered her unspoken question.

"Matlab?" Twinkle asked, still looking perplexed.

"3 saal mein, har ek din tujhe ek chitthi likhi. Socha tha ki jis din mujhse phir mulaqat hogi, uss din tujhe de doongi. In mein voh har ehsaas hai, woh haar baat hai jo main tujhe in 3 saalon mein bolna chahti thi. Rakh le, time mile toh kabhi paar bhi lena," Kunj said, his voice coming out strained.

"Kunj--" Twinkle started but her sentence remained unfinished.

"Jaa Twinkle. Please bas ja," he turned away; tears threatening to spill. Second passed and it wasn't until he heard the distant footsteps of her walkways, that he finally turned. Kunj let himself fall to the ground; finally breaking down after being composed for 3 long hard years.

Kasmein the jitne,

Vade the jitne,

Sab tune tod diya,

Dil yeh puchta tujhse,

Bata dena mujhse,

Beech raste saath kyun chod diya