"Sameer!Tumhari tabeeyat to thik hai na?''Naina asked for the umpteenth time as they sat in the library to study for the forthcoming exams.
She herself was stressed because it was final exams and all the marks were to be calculated in the final year of graduation to declare the topper and gold medallist. She wanted to win it all,only fo her Chachiji and Chachaji.She was still sad over the fact that Chachiji was miffed with her escapade to movie hall.Something still tugged in her heart for breaking their trust.
She knew Sameer was definitely not stressed like her but something was there which troubled him. He slept in class longer than necessary and was frequenting the rest rooms after each class.Asked,he refused to answer and she was plain confused and super worried.
"Sameer!Movie dekhne chale?'' Naina asked ,feeling that it was the only way he would be excited and atleast be back to the zest of life.She missed seeing him cheerful and smiling.
"Nahin Naina.Aaj nahin.Mujhe kal tak ka waqt do main bata dunga kab jaana hai.''Sameer said sleepily tossing his head between crossed arms.
"Nahin mujhe aaj dekhni hai.Wo Shahrukh aur Juhi ki nayi picture.Tum chalo aaj.Waise Chachaji aur Chachiji Pooja Didi ke ghar gaye hein.To aaj koi nahin pakdega.Chalona.'' Naina pleaded and Sameer opened his half lidded eyes to see if she was there for real and he was not dreaming.
"Naina!Tum sach mein film dekhna chahte ho? ''He asked,this time all alert yet seeming less enthusiastic to go on a movie date.
"Haan haaan..Suna tumne?Ab bike nikaloge ya mein auto mein chalijaungi? ''She asked getting up and collecting her books.He watched her in shock and surprise.Was this the very girl who had taken oath that no movie dates until married and granted permission by elders?Was this the same girl who had to be convinced day and night for a single 'Haan'?Naina?His Naina?
He saw her taking out a tiny floral printed wallet from the oblivion of her big handbag.Unzipping it,she fished out few old,few new notes and skimmed through them,rolling them with fingers.She was all ready for the movie and there was not an iota of doubt about this.
"Yahin ruko main aata hun.'' He asked and she waited patiently for him for good 10 minutes.He finally came after strolling around the lane of movie hall and she felt relaxed.She had known where he had gone though he avoided telling her.
"Ticket mila?Ya housefull hai?'' She asked,trying to hide her smile.
"Umm..black mein lena padega.Yeh Shahrukh ko dekhne ke liye bhi bhid itni badh gayi hai.Mujhe laga sirf Amir aur Salman ke liye itni pagalpan thi.''Sameer informed running fingers through his hair,straining his eyes to look to far.
"Tum usko dhundne gaye the na uss taraf?Phir ab kya dekh rahe ho?'' She asked crossing her arms and cocking an eyebrow.
"Wo..wahan nahin tha.Isliye iss taraf...''He trailed and saw her eyebrows furrow a little.She seemed unconvinced.
"Jhoothe!Sidhe sidhe bata nahin sakte ki susu ke liye gaye the.Iss baat se rishta nahin tod dungi tumse. Yeh lo.'' She handed him over a 100 rupee note.
"Sorry.Par yeh paise kyun'Mere pass hein.'' He stressed pulling out his wallet.
"Hum dono saath mein aaye hein na.Isliye sab kuch mil baant ke.Black mein to manmani hogi hi isliye yeh rakho.Paise bach jaayenge to popcorn kha lenge.'' Naina said and winked. He felt as if she was someone who frequented movie halls everyday and he was fearing,trembling like a first time cinema goer.Well he had his reasons to worry apart from the biggest worry of them being caught again.
Because first time is a mistake but a second time is decision.More than him,he was worried for her.But seems like she was more confident this time and her confidence surely gave him a push.
"Milgaye tickets?Chalo na film start hone wali hogi. ''She asked all enthusiastic while his face had fallen.
"Wo..Naina ticket nahin mili.Hum kal aa jayenge jaldi. ''He suggested while she quickly counted something with her finger tips.
"Nahin.Kal nahin ho sakta.Chodo chalo ab wapas.'' She sulked a bit not because she could not watch the film,obviously a part of her wanted to watch Shahrukh and her favourite from Qayamat se Qayamat Tak days Juhi sharing screen but she wanted to spend some time with him and make him feel cheerful.
"Naina!Chamatkar dekhogi?Usme bhi Shahrukh Khan hai. ''Sameer asked as she adjusted her long flowing skirt before mounting the bike.
"Tum dekhoge? ''She asked carefully tying her scarf around face and saw a glowing ,twinkling shine in his eyes through the mirror.Done!She will watch it ..wait a second!Where?
"Sameer!Par hum dekhenge kahan? Film to 5 mahine purana hai. ''She asked and he was ready with the answer.''Mere ghar mein ''He mouthed before speeding the bike.
She wanted to bombard him with questions but held back. She felt a warmth surge through her as she sat closely to him.Now matter how distraught he looked or how confident she seemed,he always had this aura of masculine warmth and magic around him.Her cheeks had turned pink charcoals as they waded through busy lanes and finally reached his home.
"Sam..meer!Tumhare ghar pe koi nahin hai?Kahan gaye sab?'' She asked fumbling as he pulled out a key to open the big lock on front door.
"Sab Bombay gaye hein.Kisi Mehta ki beti ki sagai hai.Main bhi jaane wala tha par mana kar diya.''He said as he opened the door and gestured her to follow him.
She entered the house and her eyes first fell on the garlanded photo of Nanaji.She remembered crossing the threshold , keeping her feet first time in his house,when Nanaji was alive.Though she was angry with Sameer then,but the feel still sent euphoric shivers down her spine. Today was no different.
"Naina!Kahan ho? ''He voiced peeping out of his room and saw her folding hands infront of Nanaji's photo.He realized why he chose her,why he loved her and keeps falling in love with her a little more than yesterday.
She heard him call her name and walked to his room.Nothing major had changed since the last time she had visited him. Except for the bedsheets ,curtains and a new table lamp everything was same.
She saw him opening a small bag and emptying it on bed.Quickly rummaging through the items,he finally had a winning smile.
"Tum betho.Main kuch mixture leke aata hun.'' He asked her and inserted the VCD in the VCR.
The first scenes of movie were hilarious with appearance of Naseeruddin Shah's character and Naina felt so sad seeing Shahrukh's character getting fooled in big ,bad city of Bombay.
"Sameer!Yeh Bombay sach mein itna kharab hai kya?'' She asked as she fed him with some mixture.He was fidgeting with the remote and Naina by the time knew he had bad habit of rubbing eyes while eating snacks. Spicy mixture and rubbing hands habit do not go well.So she volunteered to feed him while he immediately agreed to be pampered and feel loved.
"Koi bhi chiz kharab nahin hai.Bas use dekhna ka nazariya alag alag hota hai.Agar tumhare saath kuch acha hua to wo acha nahin to bura.Tumhari Phulla Bua bhi to Bombay mein rehti hai.Kya wo bure hein?'' He asked shifting closer to her and bending his face to take the peanuts from her delicate palms.
They were enjoying the ghost-comedy movie but she was itching to ask him the reason of few things.About why he refused accompanying his family? Why he was hesitating on a movie date when she was ready? As she put pressure on her brain ,her pituitary put pressure on her bladder.She tried not to ask but could not control anymore.Now she regretted emptying that big bottle of water.Thanks to the spicy mixture on plate.
"Sameer!Mujhe bathroom jana hai.Kahan jaun? ''She asked getting up and he pointed to his bathroom;completely immersed in fighting sequence flashing on screen.
"Thank you. ''She said and nearly ran only to hear.''RUKO.Udhar mat jao. ''His voice was loud and shaky?
"Wo..mera bathroom hai so tum wo baharwali ko jao.Bhabhi aur Mami jise use karte hein.''He guided her to the other bathroom.
Few minutes later,she came out and found him standing outside the door holding a towel.She was floored by his thoughtfulness.He linked his fingers in her as they returned back to movie viewing.
"Naina! Juhi tumhari favourite hai na?Hum pakka jaayenge wo 'Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman' dekhne.Tum udas mat ho.''Sameer promised seeing her lost a bit.Though on screen Shahrukh was romancing Urmila she seemed not so interested in watching them.
"Haan Juhi favourite to hai.QSQT ke din se.Jis tarah se wo himmat dikhati hai bhag ke shaadi karne ki apne Raj se.Sach mein bahut himmat chahiye bhag ke shaadi karne ke liye.Tumhe kaisa laga wo film?'' She asked peeling some more peanuts and offering him.
"Sach bataun to wo film mujhe itna jyada pasand nahin aaya.College jaati ladki ko aise jabardasti shaadi kyun karwana?Aur uske razamandi ke begair.Raj to acha ladka tha,pehle use mil ke baat to kar lete.Unhe bhagne ki zaroorat bhi nahin padti na hi itni jaldi maut keg hat paar karte.Mujhe Maine Pyar Kiya pasand hai.Jis tarah se Prem apne Suman ko sache tarike se paane ke liye mehnat karta hai,kitna kuch sehta hai ..''He trailed on while something hit her.
"Papa to tumse chidte hein.Agar unhone shaadi ke liye mana kar diya to kya hum bhag ke shaadi karenge?'' She asked apprehensive.He smiled and knew her fears had genuine grounds.He already was in the bad books of his 'Sasurji' but he needed to comfort her now.He put an arm over her shoulder and pulled her closer.
"Naina!Main sab kuch karunga par tumhe bhaga ke shaadi nahin karunga.Isse humara hi pyar ka haar hoga.Yeh jaante hue bhi ki tumhari Papa shayad kabhi mujhe damad banana ko raazi nahin honge,phir bhi main koshish karta rahunga.Aur mere koshish kabhi bekar nahin jaate..yeh to tum jaanti ho na?'' He asked ,winking at her.
"Agar itna pyar mujhse karte ho to ek sawal puchun jawab doge?'' She asked putting her head on his shoulder.He nodded and asked her to go on.
"Hum ladkiyon ke bathroom bhi Chachaji aur kabhi kabhi Arjun Bhaiya use kar lete hein..phir tumhara bathroom mein aisa kya hai ki mujhe andar kadam tak nahin rakhne diya?''She asked and felt his body tremble and shiver.She could feel the tremors.She lifted her head and there was look of fear written over his face.
"Kuch chupaya hai wahan? Wo jo kharab wali film aur magazines rakhe hein kya?''She asked ,trying to give him options to choose from;because she could see he was feeling uncomfortable with her questions.But she needed answers now for atlest her own peace of mind.
"Nahin waisa kuch nahin hai.Mere pants pade hein wahan.Safai ke liye.''He said and suddenly her eyes lit with an idea.Stifling a laugh she managed to form a two lined sentence. "Waise to hero banke ghumte ho ,aur girlfriend pants dekh liye sharam aa rahi hai.Nirma hai na?Lao main dho dungi. ''She said getting off ;pressing the pause button on remote.
"NAHIN..Tum use haath mat lagao.''He almost screamed and she was taken aback.She was helping him and what she has learned from years of watching her Chachiji that washing clothes is a woman-centric chore.She too has washed clothes of her Arjun Bhaiya,Chachaji when the laundry boy goes away to village.
"Arey fikr mat karo.Pata hai ki Bombay se branded kapde hein tumhare.Par mujhe aadat hai dhone ki.Tum jaldi se powder lao. ''She asked and tidied the area they were sitting.
"Tum saaf nahin kar sakti.Please.Bhabhi ko bhi nahin diye hein isi wajah se.Tumhein kaise.Please.Main saaf karlunga.''He said holding her by his strong arms.Though the grip of both his hands were hurting her arms,she could feel him tremble.Trembling like the weeds when a rough wind blows by the path.
"Kis wajah se?Wohi to mujhe batao.Kya takleef ho rahi hai tumhe?Teen din se puch rahi hun.''She demanded furiously and yanked off her arms from his now-loosened grip.
"Wo..wo..Mere pants..matlab..wo ''His words came fumbling and tumbling and she was angry now.He expected her to share with him everything but not parting with his secret factor.
"Kya wo ..wo..matlab ..ho rahe ho.Saaf saaf batao.''She was firm and was all determined to learn the truth.
"Mere pants gile hein''.He spoke in one breath,cenchin his jaw and shutting his eyes and the next moment found her laughing her lungs out.Well he expected that.
"Sameer!Chote bache ho kya?Pant gila karte ho?Oilcloth kharid ke laa do. ''She laughed more imagining him wetting the pants.
"Mujhe pata tha tum hasogi.Isliye nahin bata raha tha.Chodo tum aao baaki ki baatein film dekhne ke baad.''He pulled her by wrist and made her sit in their initial sitting place.But then something struck her odd and absurd.
"Naina!Ek baat bolun gussa to nahin karoge?'' He asked ,stroking her fingers lazily.She should have felt loved but his actions and tensed words made her feel like sitting in a haunted place.She pacified her internally and nodded.
"Agar main kabhi tumhe bola ki tum shaadi kar lo kisi aur se to shaadi karlena.Mujhe yeh mat puchna kyun kaha aise. ''He completed his sentence and Naina's eyes dilated.Was he talking sane?Few minutes back he was all determined to impress her father and get married to her the most righteous way..not running away..what happened now?
"Tum pagal ho Sameer?Kaise baatein kar rahe ho?''She asked ;completely confused and jaded.
"Main sahi bol raha hun.Mujhe nahin lagta ki main tumhe wo sab sukh de paunga jo shadi ke baad mujhe dena chahiye..jo tum mujhse umeed karte hoge.''He played with the words and she looked at him,surprised.Why was he talking like some heroine of yester year Hindi films.
"Sidhe sidhe batao na.Aise baatein se main kya samjhun?''She demanded and made her stance clear that she was not going to listen to any non-sense.
"Mujhe doubt hai ki main baap ban paunga.Isliye bola tumhe.Mujhe to aisa lag raha hai jaise bas kuch hi din hein mere pass jine ke liye.'' He uttered,and she felt a pang of hurt run down her spine.She felt as if she just had been gashed by a sharpened sword and not by mere words.
"Agar shaadi ke baad mere saath kuch aisa-waisa hua to tum mujhe chod dogo kya Sameer?'' She asked wiping the tears that were starting to pool,and threatening to flow down.
"Tum pagal ho kya? Aise kaise chod dunga tumhe?'' He questioned not believing she asked her such question.
"Aur tum samajhte ho ki tumhara dimag bilkul sahi hai.Aise kya h ogaya hai ki tumhein lagta hai bas kuch hi din hein.Bolne se pehle kuch sochte bhi ho tum? ''She asked, her bile rising.She felt that she would corrode herself with such acidity of anger.
"Mujhe gandi sapne aa rahein hein aur isliye pant gila ho raha hai.''He confessed propping his head in his palms.
Shock would be understatement.She was shaken.What on earth was this new thing?She never studied anything like this before and never knew.
"Gandi sapne matlab?Main bhi aati hun kya usmein? ''She asked trying to relate to dream sequences of Bollywood where heroes dream of heroines dancing all around.
"NAHIN..tum wo sab mein nahin aati ho.Achi wali main aati ho.Jo aate hein mujhe nahin lagta maine kabhi unko pehle kabhi dekha hai.Mera yakeen karo Naina.Main un ladkiyon ko nahin jaanta.Yaahan tak ki mujhe unka chehra neend tutne ke baad yaad bhi nahin aata.Pata nahin kya ho raha hai mere saath?Aur phir pant aur bedsheet bhi gile milte hein.Ek do baar theek hai..kuch din se baar baar ho raha hai.Isliye main rrat ko bina soye jagaa rehta hun taaki pant gile nah o aur waise sapne na aayein.''He completed and she tried deciphering what his words meant.Alike periods,there was a hush-hush matter about boys too...she never knew and never expected in dreams also.All she knew was boys had no tabooed problems.She tugged at his shirt and pulled him to a pacifying embrace.He was afraid of being rejected by her,he was afraid of losing his family and afraid of losing his life.He seemed to have completely given into his fears..no more he was talking from his cheerful and determined heart.
"Kisiko baataya hai ghar mein?Mamaji ya phir tumhare Bhaiya..Munna Pandit ? ''She asked rubbing his back as he relaxed a bit in her embrace.
"Munna ko bataya to usne bhi tumhari tarah socha aur Mazak mein uda diya.Phir socha ki yeh sab bhaiya aur Mamaji ko kaise bataun?Kya bataun?Tumhe hi pehli baar bata raha hun.''He said ,pulling apart from her comforting embrace.
"Isliye class mein sote ho?Raat ko hi sirf aisa hota hai kya?'' She asked and he nodded in affirmation.
"To phir din mein itni baar bathroom kyun jaate ho? ''She asked now finally realizing the reason behind his irritation,tiredness and frequenting bathroom visits.
"Wo..dar lagta hai ki kahin pant gila to nahin ho gaya.Check karleta hun.''He said and was amazed that how comfortably she was asking him questions ;not feeling embarrassed or shy.May be their love has given her that confidence to speak out without hint of abashment.
"Tum sach mein buddhu ho.Pagal ho.Ab sirf ek hi hein jo kuch kar sakte hein. ''She said and he looked at her with an enquiring gaze.
"Tum chalo hum Urologist ke pass chalte hein.Ab wohi sab kuch thik kar sakte hein. ''She suggested and his face scrounged in confusion.
"Urologist?Wo koun hein?Dekho Naina mein kisi aur ko yeh baat nahin batane wale.Mazak ban jaayega mera.''He said with clear words and she smiled.
"Pata tha mujhe.Mere padhai chor,aalsi,buddhu..Main Doctor ki baat kar rahi thi.Urologist unko bolte hein jo humare utsarjan tantra aur purushon ki prajanan tantra ki ilaaz karte hein.''She explained and he seemed completely lost with the terms.
"Naina!Hindi mein bolo na.'' He pleaded and pat came the reply "Excretory and reproductive system in males.Samjhe? ''He nodded and smiled wide.He never had imagined he would be discussing such sensitive issues with her.
"Ab mujhe apna daant dikhana band karo aur directory lao.Phone karke puch lete hein ki doctor hein ya nahin,agar hein to kab aayenge.Number bhi kara lenge jaldi se.''She suggested and he immediately pulled out the directory.
At the clinic
Naina and Sameer sat waiting for the number to come.He could see few boys of his age also strolling around,waiting for their turn.Maybe they too have turned up like him.His thoughts kicked in.He was feeling upset seeing Naina who was reading a healthcare advertisement fidgeting with her wrist watch.She wanted to watch her favourites ,was excited about movie date and then the movie viewing at home..all was wasted due to him.She should have been enjoying watching Shahrukh and Juhi grooving to some hit romantic number.But for him she was in a hospital wing,waiting among boys and men.
She felt his warm gaze upon her and turned to see him ,looking at her.She flashed a smile and walked back to her seat,to him.
"Bilkul pareshan mat ho.Sab thik ho jaayega.Doctor ko sab sach sach aur khulke batana.Kyunki wo Mazak nahin udayenge aur sab samjhenge bhi.Samjhe?''She asked and he nooded.If the the wing would have been vacant he would have engulfed her in a tight hug ,kissing her senseless.Well he would do that later,but surely.
His name was called and he got up to leave. She looked at him, his soft brown eyes and
tall form, and contemplated raising herself on her toes and kissing his cheek...But sanity of place had to
prevail.
Instead, impulsively before leaving, she reached up and
smoothed his messed hair.
He beamed and entered
inside the cabin.
She waited outside reflecting on how unplanned life is though she kept making plans everyday.No film ever showed such problems of boys.No film ever showed boys suffering from dreams.No film ever showed heroine bringing their heroes to urologists.
She realised real life is not fighting with 10 henchmen of a powerful villain.It is fighting the real woes of growing up years ,fighting the inner demons and fighting against the fear and trembles that always come with firsts.
With learning from firsts ,experience sinks in.
-------------------------------------------------------THE END-----------------------------------------------------
P.S.:Thank you for reading.Would love to read all your feedback.😳
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