~~~STEP~~~

Vikash couldn't sleep last night. His parents had come to Delhi.. to see a girl for him..

Whole night he thought.. imagined how life could be.. an unknown girl.. complete strangers.. what wud he say to her.. what wud he ask?

he smoked his whole pack of Milds that night.. even had some whisky that his friend brought from Goa, but the anxiety wasn't less till now..

he sat at the couch staring outside his window.. with questions in his mind all over..

"Utho Vikash.. chalo taiyaar ho jaao.." (Get up Vikash.. get ready..) his dad told him tapping his hand.. "Did't you sleep last night..?? and whats this..?" his dad asked him showing the buds on the floor and the ash that dropped from the ciggi.. "Clean all this.. I dont want your mother to see all this.. and please grow up now..!! you are going to see a girl today.. act mature.."

Vikash hardly could hear or understand anything.. he looked lost.. he stared at the ground and then at his father's face.. he could see his father's lips moving.. but words couldn't reach his ears.. or brain .. may be because it was busy in questions rising since last night..

it was a deadlock occurred there.. he dint know what to do.. what will happen.. what was his father saying??.. "Oh God.. why dint you call me to heavens last night in my sleep only??" Vikash said to himself..

he went inside his washroom.. looked at the mirror.. stared in his own eyes.. and felt something strange..

a sense of confidence was rising in his eyes.. yes he wanted to get married.. yes he wanted someone in his life.. whom he could love..

only the thought of which girl..?? whom he has not seen ever in his life..?? again same questions hovered his thoughts...

he splashed cold water on his face.. his mind calmed down.. he came out.. and wore a simple white shirt with faded blue pair of jeans.. some perfume.. some gel in his hair.. the canvas he bought last month.. watch.. and was now out of his room.. had some cold water.. he called his friend who got married last year.. but he dint pick up his call.. tensed now.. he went to washroom again.. washed hands.. some water on eyes..

suddenly he went back to his room.. opened his almirah.. picked the wallet he forgot to take last time.. opened it and looked at the photograph.. his with his grand father's and wished he could have been here at this point of time.. he cud have hugged him and felt relaxed.. put his Parker pen in his pocket.. closed his eyes for a moment and left the house with his parents.. to meet the girl Roshni..

..........................

they reached the going-to-be Bride's home.. the father welcoming everyone with traditional Namaste and smile on his face..

Vikash saw few girls and found everyone beautiful and charming.. giggling with some actions.. and one of them constantly on her cell phone.. like a secret agent.. talking.. sorry.... whispering something .. that might have been uphill task for the other person to even hear properly..

everyone entered the house... Vikash was nervously looking around the room.. and then suddenly one more girl entered home.. shouting on cell phone.. "yes baba.. I am at home now.. now drop the call.." and on hearing this that secret agent put her cell back in her hand bag..

Vikash asked to himself.. that who was this another girl.. and the answer was she was Roshni.. in Pink Kurta embroided with pearls.. paired with blue denims and lot of colourful bangles..

"Hi Vikash.. Roshni here.. you have come here to talk to me... and I hope you know that we are supposed to agree on this relationship..! So..? Ready to get married..?".. saying this she forwarded her hand ... friendly gesture.. for a hand shake.

Vikash closely looked at her.. she looked beautiful.. never in his life he thought that he cud have such beautiful girl as his girl friend.. he blankly shook hands with her..

He looked at her face.. her face white as milk.. her eyes deep black.. her lips with the most sexy shade of pink colour on it.. small ear rings.. till that time his hands were still holding her hands.. and then he noticed the bangles she wore..

so many colours.. he touched them.. and then looked at Roshni... and asked.. "You love colours... dont you..?" .This was not the question that she was expecting.. she softly said "Yes.. why..? and how did you know..?"

Vikash just smiled and said.."You are wearing may be 100 colours at this moment.. at that point of time when I believe everybody is tensed.. about this relationship.. whether it will be a Yes or No.. but you are colourful from your heart.. from your soul.. I see joy and happiness in each of your words..

I dont know what to ask.. I dont know what to say.. but now I know that you are one such girl whom I can really marry.. I know that I want my life colourful.. I am tired of all Black and Whites.. and I want a companion like you.. to colour it in the most beautiful way.. my life.. "

hearing this Roshni was speechless.. she looked at her parents.. then Vikash's parents.. then she turned around as looked at her friends.. their jaws already dropped.. actually everyone went into a shocked state.. no one had ever seen such a quick arrange marriage's first meet turning into a Yes..

Vikash was still holding her hand.. she looked at Vikash.. his eyes read true.. she felt the sense of commitment in his eyes.. the one who will never ever leave her alone.. one who will love the way she is.. and the one who will always understand her like the way he was doing now..

she smiled... closed her eyes.. and said Yes..

~~~Meeting Up~~~

"Hey Dad.. m going.. will see u at dinner.." Amit screamed as he ran out of house..

His dad just replied.."OK.."

he picked up his bag.. and left out in hurry.. it was only an hour that he came back from London.. after 2 years..

as he went out.. he started running towards the cab stand.. where he could get the cab for the point he discussed with Saakshi.. to meet at.. when he wud be returning from London..

he got the cab and asked the driver to move as fast as he can for the sector-2 hill.. he couldn't wait.. he looked at his watch.. almost every minute.. "Fast.. fast dude fast..".. he shouted driver every minute..

and he looked at the big gate.. that just crossed by .. making him realize that the point is very much near...

he opened his bag.. and checked if the present is safe or not.. that he brought and thought of gifting it to her after they meet up..

he reached the point.. got down from the cab and asked the driver to leave while he cleared the fare..

he sat down on the large hump of hay in the bushes.. he looked around the place and felt as if he travelled back to time.. the picturesque view made him nostalgic as he went back to visualize the memories.. of Saakshi..

he remembered that day when he first saw her in the freshers party.. it was a dull afternoon.. he could not enjoy that day much.. all of his friends were busy with their girl friends.. and he was alone standing there with a glass of drink in hands listening to some uninteresting answers and facts spilled out by freshers in a desperate attempt to win the title..

he aaarrghhed at his fate.. and went out for another drink.. and saw one beautiful girl clad in a red-green silk saree.. he went near her.. and asked her name.. she looked at him as if he asked her whether she is single or not.. with a look of disgust and without answering she disappeared from the scene..

then as he turned back he saw a girl smiling.. who burst out out into laughter after seeing Amit's saddened face..

"Hi.. my name is Saakshi.. section B.. you are from section C right..?" she said to Amit..

"Hi.. Amit here.. yes from section C.. but I din't ask your name.. I asked her name.. and she went off.. she is also from section B .. isn't she..? ".. Amit answered back with his eyes still on the girl.. whose name he couldnt know..

"Hmmmm.. ya she is.. joined this year only.. her name is Payal.. but why are you so interested in her.. if she isnt..?" Saakshi asked..

"Well.. asking name means I am interested in her..?? Excuse me..!!"..

"Well.. Amit.. then why did not you ask my name..?"

"mmm.. because.. mmm.. may be I was too busy looking at her.. she looks damn beautiful.. oh my God.. what charm.. she's so sexy.. oops.. sorry.. Saakshi.. nice name yours is.."

"ha ha ha.. Amit.. you are a kid... come lets go inside.."

and they walked inside that boring hall again where some question answer round was going on.. for Amit it was getting intolerable .. he asked Saakshi if they can go some where else where he can feel peace..

in real he wanted to go to the place where his firends were.. though Saakshi was not her girlfriend, but on seeing Amit with a girl would definitely have given his friends an answer for the question they often put to him..

they came out of the hall.. and moved towards the parking stand..

"Saakshi.. can we go somewhere..? I am not liking this place and all.. somewhere peaceful.. park.. restaurant... anywhere but not here.. please.."

"hmmm.. okkk.. not to restaurant.. then I would order something.. and you will have to pay.. and i will not like that.. if you want to go some where peaceful.. I have a place that i can show you.."

"Cool .. lets go.." and Amit took out his bike and Saakshi sat behind her with her hand on his shoulder..

Inside his heart.. he already started liking Saakshi.. for her simplicity, for her way of dressing.. for her choice of colours.. for her smile.. for her deep black eyes.. for her velvety voice.. for her pink complexion.. for her frankness.. for she sitting behind him..

he rode to her directions.. and crossed many lanes.. many turns.. and finally they stopped near a small hill.. lush green grass every where.. small hump of hay between the bushes..

he stood still.. gazed around the sight.. and then looked at Saakhi.. who standing with her eyes closed.. feeling the wind that passed through her.. Amit found this moment extremely beautiful.. he held her hand.. she opened her eyes.. smiled and winked at Amit.."Like this place..?" and Amit nodded..

he came to present..

he looked at his hands.. he checked his cell phone again.. to check if she called.. then his watch.. and then got off the hay.. and started walking ..

from the distance he saw a girl coming.. whom he immediately recognized.. he stood still and watched her coming towards him..

"Wow.. Amit.. you look handsome.. ahaa.. London makes every one so cool haan..? so.. how you talk now..? wassup and all..?" and Saakshi laughed.. he too smiled..

he turned around.. and started walking to other direction.. opened his bag... took out a small box.. the thing that he brought from London.. just for Saakshi.. Saakshi was confused.. she followed him.. but before she neached near him.. Amit turned around again.. and went on his knees..

Saakshi stopped there only.. eyes wide open.. he raised his hands with a samll blue box in his right hand.. and then opened it with his left hand.. it had one diamond ring inside..

Saakshi covered her opened mouth.. she was about to scream.. tears were already in her eyes..

"Will you marry me?.. Saakshi..? and before you ask anything.. let me tell you everything.. I loved you since that day when we first came here.. since that day you are the only girl who have resided in my heart.. i wish to live with you since that day.. i wanted you to take in my arms that day only.. but God only knows why i dint do it that day only.. may be i dint had the courage.. but now i couldnt keep this thing to myself any more..

you remember you used to say.. there is someone who used to call you at midnight.. blank calls.. that someone was me.. I loved your voice at such midnight.. and you innocently saying hello hello.. hahaha.. and then i wrote my diary.. and after these many years i saw.. i had your name in every page of my entries.... I said to myself.. gosh.. i love her.. then i decided that I will confess my love for you the day I will come back to India.. to the place where we first went out..

aaarrrghh.. what am I saying.. hey Saakshi.. I love you.. Marry me.."

Saakshi stood there.. she listened everything.. now smiling and crying.. she forwarded her hand.. he put the ring on her finger.. stood up and gazed in her eyes.. and kissed her hands.. "Saakshi.. will you.."

and before he could complete his question again.. his lips were sealed with the kiss from Saakshi.. that went for a long time.. and after that Amit dint had anything to ask.. and they remembered the old time as they walked around the place.. with hands in hands.. and love for each other in their heart..

~~~AGAIN~~~

Previous Post :- http://jasmit-arora.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-that-night.html

It was early morning.. around 5 A.M. when Jasbir's cell started ringing.. It rang once.. then twice.. thrice.. but all calls went un-attended..
Shruti.. she never had to make so many calls.. Jasbir always respoded.. midnight sleep.. office meeting.. whatever be the situation.. Shruti always got an answer from him before she tried for 2nd time..

But today was something different.. almost like yesterday...

Last night when she called.. Jasbir threw the fone hard on the floor.. Shruti coundnt even complete what she wanted to say.."Jasbir.. I am sorry.. please listen to me.. I.."

Almost 30 hours .. and she couldnt sleep.. she desperately wanted to talk to Jasbir... who by no means was answering to her..She knew she was wrong.. she knew Jasbir loved him much more than she could ask anyone in her life.. but she never expected him to react in this manner.. not answering her call.. not calling her..

few months back.. Jasbir told her.."Shruti.. I love your voice.. the way you speak.. the way you call out my name..I love to listen each word of yours.. and.. I love to see your eyes when you speak.. they go so deep when u have heart in your words.. I love to see your lips.. when you speak.. and when they join.. I feel its me and you who are meeting each other.. in ur every word.."

but now.. he wouldnt talk to her.. wouldnt meet her.. he said her once.."The day i will get to know.. you wont be mine.. i will end my life.. there is no point in living.. like a dead man." and it was then the second time when Shruti slapped Jasbir.. after that he promised.. he would never do that..

she couldnt wait more.. she rushed towards Jasbir's home.. she reached there in about half an hour..

pushed the door bell.. and his grandfather came out.. she touched his Grand Pa's feet.. and asked about Jasbir.. and got the news that he dint come from office yet.. she tried calling him again.. but found that the mobile was ringing somewhere inside.. inside the house.. she very well knew the ringtone.. it wasnt changed since she had once set.. when one day they were sitting in the park... it was her favourite song.. that they both heard amlost 100 times that day.. with one earphone in each of their ear.. their heads and heart joined..

she rushed inside the house.. following where the sound came from.. she went inside the bedroom.. and found that he left the mobile at the home only... his Grand Father came from behind.. said to her.."O mobile ghar te chhadd gaya.. main almaari wich rakh dittaa.. kii gal ho gayi..? enni subaah..?" (he left mobil at the home only.. i kept it in almirah.. but what happened..? early morning..)..

Shruti.. she had now tears in her eyes.. she hugged his Grand Pa... and cried her heart out.. she told everything.. that happened just 2 days back.."Dadaji.. you might not be knowing.. my father has arranged my marriage to a guy of our community.. my sister.. she did love marriage few months back.. but now she is going through a very tough phase.. she is getting divorced.. my father was very worried.. and without asking me.. fixed my marriage to his friend's son.. i dont like him at all.. I love Jas.. I got him back after 10 years.. that night when i saw him.. I felt I got my life back.. I have lost him once... I dont want to lose him again..

dadaji.. we met 2 days back.. I said everything to him.. he asked me to run away with him.. he said he could not live without me.. I said.. this cant be done.. just for my own sake of happiness.. I cant ruin my parent's lives.. your family reputation will also be at stake.. they will lose the confidence of living happily.. walking their heads up.. shame is not the gift that we are ought to return for their love towards us.. after that we never talked.. its been 2 days.. he has not called.. he is not picking my call since yesterday.."

Dadaji consoled her.. patted her back.. and asked her to calm down.. gave her a cup of tea.. and asked her to wait till he arrives.. they can then clear everything.. that is stuck between them.. and asked her to pray to God.. HE will help..

then after few minutes.. Shruti's cell started ringing.. his dad called.. definitely.. finding his daughter missing .. he would be worried.. she picked up the call.. "Shruti.. where are you..? Come home.." He said only this much.. and dropped the call..

she touched Jasbir's Grand Pa's feet again.. and asked for his blessings.. and left for her home..
as she went inside.. she saw Jasbir in her room.. looking at the pictures Shruti had framed in her room.. on her table.. one of them where when they were at the beachside.. hands in hands and beautiful sunset in the background..

her dad followed her in the room.. "Jasbir came so early in the morning.. looking for you.. and you wre not here.. this is not good.. I am telling this for the last time.. stop all this now.." and he left the room murmuring something..

Shruti's eyes were all wet.. the kohl had totally disppeared.. making black streaks on her cheeks.. she was still crying.. and crying she went on knees.. her face covered in her hands.. she was hurt.. she couldnot marry the guy she loved most.. her father wont let her..

Jasbir went to pick her.. wiped her tears.. and made her sit on the bed.. and gave her some water..

"I've talked to your Papa.. I have said him that we will not do any such thing that will put a shadow of shame on their lives.. I just came to say this to you.. I couldnt sleep since 2 days.. everytime when you called.. I thought what to say..? I had nothing left in my life.. after I came to know that you wont be... " and he stammered.. he recollected his words.. stopped his heart from crying.. and continued.. "I will live the way I have lived past 10 years.. with you in my heart... without you in front of my eyes.. but I want you to be happy.. happy for your parents.. for your life.."

Shruti was still crying.. she couldnot stop.. her whole body ached.. tears were all dried up.. crying she clutched Jasbir's hand.. and said "sorry..".. Jasbir had a long look of her face.. and he left..