"Ayesha..." his call made me pause, in an instance –

"Kya tum normal ho?" he spoke, this was indeed concerning yet gloomy.

I turned and walked straight towards him.

"Abhimanyu..." calling out his name, I embraced him – and gave him a warm hug.

While our eyes were closed, I whispered in his ears –

"Abhi...main tumse sirf ek cheez chahti hoon –"

We still clasped each-others back, as I spoke –

"Yeh sawaal joh tumne mujhe pucha hain na –"

"Ask this question to YOURSELF"

"Apne aap se pucho

– kya tum normal ho?"

I backed off from him.

With a tear in my eye, I continued –"Aur jis din, tumhe iss sawaal ka jawab apne aap se mil jayenga –

Uss din – tumhe mera jawab bhi mil jayenga." I was very stern when I looked into his eyes, and he was capricious.

I walked outside his home, not even turning back.

I reached home at 10:30pm and then described the entire situation to Shreya.

Since I had already called Shreya saying– the neighbors were already present – and aunty was safe – so she had not come to the place – on my insistence.

At 11:30pm, when I finally lay down on my bed – I was definitely tired – but did not feel like sleeping.

At first, I looked at my phone – but seeing nothing interesting – I opened by wardrobe – to look for my clandestine asset.

"Oh Shit..."

"What the F..."

"NO...NO...NO" I banged my hand against by head and shouted.

I had just forgotten my bag – with my secret diary – all my secretive articles, that Prega News instrument and everything – which I never wanted to disclose to anyone –

Especially not to Mr. Abhimanyu Mantri.

I left this bag – at Mr. Abhimanyu Mantri's home itself.

"Phone karu ya nahi..." I was confused and tempted.

Now, there can be 2 consequesces -

1. What if – he is not aware that I have forgotten my bag?

With me, personally calling him – he might get to know and then he can check – revealing all my secrets.

2. If he himself finds the bag, he might open it and all my secrets would get spilled.

That night, I could not have a peaceful sleep – because every single hour – the thought all my plan getting ruined – would make up and tense me – to the utmost limit.

Nevertheless, I eagerly waited for the next day. The next morning, I got up far before my regular time - got ready – and lied to Shreya – that I have some work to do and will directly reach the office.

At first, I thought of going to Abhi's home – but that might increase his suspicion – so I decided to reach the office well in advance – waiting for the MAN to come.

I believed that – either he will get my bag with himself OR if he does not bring it, I will myself go with him – to fetch my bag in the evening.

Hardly did I know that – all my expectations would get ruined, because till 11:30am, there was no sign of Abhimanyu Mantri.

Also, Kabir did not come to the office – but at last, I was more concerned about Mr.Mantri – since he possessed my clandestine asset.

At 12 in the afternoon, I tried to call him – but to no avail.

Later, at 1:00pm – during our lunch time – I received a call from Abhi.

"Hey Ayesha..." he greeted, in his normal tone. But on the other hand – it was me, who was anxious.

"Hi Abhi."

"Ahh...aaj office nahi aaya?" I questioned him.

"I am staying home – with my mom."

"Maine Shekhar Sir ko inform kar diya tha that today I will be staying home, so isliye." He answered and I frowned.

"Oh ahhh...okay" I had no reply, because his reason was genuine.

For the next 15seconds, there was this awkward silence – which I could not tolerate.

"Abhi...how's aunty now?" I enquired about her.

"Well, she is okay. Ab sab normal hain!" he replied.

"Acha okay. Take Care."

"Byee" I declined the call, pissing off at myself.

Exactly after 15 minutes, when I was planning to call him again, about my bag or something – the magic took place.

My phone rang and it was Abhimanyu Mantri himself.

I picked up and he spoke –

"Ayesha, ek request hain..." he exclaimed.

I do not why, but it brought a smile on my face.

"Haan bolo..." I was curious.

"Can you come to my home tonight, for dinner?"

I stayed silent for a second, when he continued –

"My mom asked me – to invite you for dinner." He laughed a little, while he spoke this statement.

"If you don't mind, can I confirm you in 10 minutes?" though I was pretty sure, with my answer.

"Haan sure!" I declined the call.

Now, I was pretty sure – that I had to go to Mr. Mantri's place, but was thinking about the reason – that I should give to Shreya.

Obviously, I did not want to reveal it to her.

I went to Shreya and spoke –

"Ahh...Shreya sun na"

Seated at her desk, she looked up at me –

"Aaj sham mein mujhe bahar jaana hain" I spoke, a little tensed with my expression.

"Kahan...?" she suddenly asked.

Because Shreya knew that I had no close relatives in Mumbai, especially near our locality.

"Woh mujhe mom ka phone aaya tha – ki mere masi ke relative rehte hain – in Juhu.

"Aur aaj unhone mujhe dinner pe invite kiya hain!"

For the next 5 minutes, I gave her some genuine reasons and later at 3pm – called Abhi and confirmed my presence.

That day – I got ready in my Indian avatar.

Shreya actually commented – "Ayesha – mujhe aisa lag raha hain – as if tu ladke walon ke ghar jaa rahi hain!" she snorted, as I glared in amazement at her.

Although, I had not put on a very goddy make up – but still – she might have spoken this – because it was rare that I wore an ethnic Indian dress.

Exactly at 8:15pm, with a small bouquet for aunty, I was at the doorstep of Abhi's place – flat no. 401.

I anxiously waited for 10 seconds – when the door opened.

"Hello Aunty!" I entered and touched her feet – with a bouquet in one hand.

It was indeed funny, because the bouquet fell as I bent down.

Looking in front, I could see Abhi, standing at the threshold of the kitchen – wearing a black denim and a full-sleves dark blue folded t-shirt.

That combination indeed suited him.

While I examined him, from top to bottom – he could not control his laughter at the fact – that I had mistakenly dropped the bouquet.

Forget him, I was myself laughing at this scene.

"Arre beta iski kya zaroorat thi!" aunty spoke about the bouquet and then continued, while Abhi brought some water for me-

"Thank you toh main tumhe bolna chahti thi."

"Tumne meri bohat help ki kal.

"Aur woh bhi tab, jab mera Abhimanyu wahan pe nahi tha."

She looked at Abhi, while Abhi hung his head down, because he was definitely sad - at this fact.

I had a normal talk with aunty for a few minutes, while Abhi went into the kitchen.

10-15 minutes later he called," Maa, table pe aa jao."

As we walked towards the dining.

The dishes lying were indeed tempting, but then I got to know – that Abhi was not the master chef behind the menu served.

We had our dinner, where it was a good discussion about me and my family as well as Abhi and his family.

Later in the night, at 9:15pm, we reached to the drawing and aunty went inside the room – for getting her medicines.

"Ayesha – balcony mein chale?" he asked me.

We sat on the chairs – lying in the balcony – where we had experienced our last encounter on the New Year's night.

Not reminding him anything, he continued," I didn't know that you are an amazing writer and blogger."

And then I remembered – that I had totally forgotten about the main agenda of coming to his home – taking back my clandestine asset – my red bag – my secret diary.

After 15 seconds, when I was thinking about this, he suddenly called out my name and I spoke -

"Abhi...mera bag!" he nodded at my statement.

Got up and handed over it to me.

Now - I was totally frantic and anxious. Had he actually opened my diary – and read everything?

But my diary is usually locked, so that is not possible.

But had he opened that PINK BOX, I was totally lost in my thoughts when he commented –

"Ayesha – kya soch rahi ho?"

"Nahi kuch nahi" I replied.

"Mujhe woh red bag mom ke room mein mili, shayad tum bhool gayi thi."

"Aur actually, woh bag ke niche ek folded page pe – tumhari poem likhi hui thi – with the title INFATUATION – and tumhare blogs toh maine padhe hi hain!"

After hearing his statements, I purposely asked in a comparatively louder tone –

"Abhi, tumne meri bag open ki?" glaring at him.

"No...not at all."

"Sirf yeh poem padhi – joh bag ke bahar rakhi hui thi!" I took a deep breath, probably trusting the words of this man sitting in front of me.

"The poem was indeed mesmerizing!" he praised.

And my "taarif" was evident – because my INFATUATION – the only person whom I had idolized in my this recent poem – was none other than Mr.Mantri himself.

"Aur tune mere sab blogs padhe hain?" I questioned him, because previously in my life – only a few people had commented and praised me for my blogs – and now it was very normal – so I didn't expect comments on them.

"Haan! Sab padhe hain!"

"The poem and the blogs are indeed attractive and worth reading!" I noticed that he mentioned about the poem – for the 3rd time.

"Tujhe poem bohat achi lagi kya?" I TAUNTED.

He laughed at himself and spoke persistently –

"Yeah! It is just incredible!" he stared at me.

I was pretty sure – that he understood the fact that –

THE POEM WAS INDIRECTLY ABOUT HIM.

"Thank you!" I laughed at my situation.

I looked at my watch and was anxious to check – whether all my secret articles were in their right place – locked and safe.

And for this, I had to go back home – because it was not possible to check here.

"Acha Abhi – it is late now" I looked into my watch.

"I will leave now."

Although both of us, got up together, yet he called out my name and spoke with a cute smile on his face – that caught my attention –

"Ayesha – I am planning to do something."

"And for doing this thing – I need your help."

He seemed to be serious.

"What is it?" I enquired curiously.

"Ahhh...Main shayad thodi zyada hi demand kar raha hoon – but will you help me?" he pleaded.

I took a deep breath, controlled my emotions and spoke –

"Look Abhi – after everything what happened – I cannot promise you!" I gave a stern look.

"But I will definitely give my best."

"Pehle yeh toh bata – kya help chaiye tujhe?"

He took a step forward and exclaimed with a smile –

"I am planning to become NORMAL Ayesha!"

"Kya tum normal banne mein meri help karogi?"

I always wondered – how does this man has so accurate of sentences in his mind or in his heart,

That he is always successful to bring a smile on my face –

"Acha ji!"

"Aur yeh NORMAL..." I stressed on this word purposely.

"Aur yeh NORMAL banne ka plan, aapke dimag mein kaise aaya?"

He smirked.

"Yeh tum puch rahi ho?" his just-the-perfect rhetorical question.

I turned and started walking and all of a sudden, he shouted, this time in a comparatively louder noise –

"Ayeshaaa..."

"Answer toh de do."

"Abhiiiiii..." a loud noise in the background

Pagal ho gaya hain kya" – aunty shouted

Itni raat mein,

Tu chilla kyu raha hain?"

(Why are you shouting?)

All of a sudden aunty walked from behind - and I burst out laughing as Abhi was embarrassed.

"Woh actually Aunty –

Aapka beta normal banne ki koshish kar raha hain –

Toh...

Usse thoda tolerate toh karna padega na!

This time - aunty smiled at me curiously as Abhi gave a shy smile, while he walked towards me and aunty.

I continued speaking –

"Zyada kuch nahi aunty, bas -

Thodi help karni padegi uski.

Tohhhhh...

Thodi help aap kar dena

Aur..."

With the most attractive smile on my face, I exclaimed –

"Aur..

Thodi HELP –

Main kar dungi!"

"Kis kis tarah chupaun main tumhe,

Ab meri muskaan mein bhi tum,

nazar aane lage ho!"

"Iss muskaan se sudhar jaati hain tabiyat meri,

Sirf ishq karte ho tum,

Ya humaara ilaaj bhi karne lage ho!"

Chupaun – to hide

ilaaj– treatment

TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.