"2015..." I spoke.

"2015...?" he questioned.

"Yes, 2015!" I answered.

"Oh Okay!"

I felt that my answer was not up to his expectations.

"By the way -

Tumne all of a sudden, yeh questions kyu puche?"

I wanted to know the reason behind his sudden curiosity.

"Actually, main yeh soch raha tha -

Ki tumne mujhe iske baare mein, aaj tak kabhi nahi pucha -

In spite of the fact, that you knew -

I am from IIM INDORE"

His statement was valid and I was terrified, since I had no answer in my mind. After 10 seconds, I simply remarked -

"Huh..."

"Aise dekha jaaye, toh tumne bhi mujhe, aaj tak kabhi nahi pucha -

In spite of the fact, that you knew -

I am from IIM INDORE"

I repeated his words, to decrease his suspicion.

"Arre...I said na -

I was not sure about your institution." He gave a reason.

"So, that same goes with me, as well!" I was smart enough.

He smirked, although not quite satisfied with my answer.

"Par Mr. Mantri...

Sach bolu toh -

IIM INDORE itna bada institution hain,

Aur itne zyada diverse courses hain -

Ki hume pata hi nahi hota hain - ki dusre courses mein kaun-kaun se students hain!"

I tried to distract him from this discussion.

"Plus, it's not quite easy to meet and remember everybody in the campus."

"Especially the ones - from the different courses."

I gave my full-proof reasons, only to find myself caught again, as he spoke -

"Ayesha...chill"

"Main kahan tumse naraaz hoon - just because you did not know me." he spoke as I frowned, thinking about my over-exaggeration.

"But maine tumhare baare mein suna tha Abhi" I talked, as we started walking towards our respective vehicles.

"Kyaa...?" he asked.

I replied -

"Wohi...

Joh main aaj tak sunte aayi hoon." I left him behind, as I entered Kabir's car - since he was dropping me and Shreya home, that day.

He curiously stared at me as I shouted from the window of the car -

"Mr. Mantri - I have started admiring you!"

He blushed as I beamed with joy.

In the forthcoming days, my life seemed to be unfolding its glamorous chapters, wherein I was experiencing some ravishing split-second moments.

********************************

"Diaryyyyyyy"

"What if I tell you that I have started loving?

What if I tell you that I am not loving him?

I blushed while I was writing.

"What if I tell you that I have actually started loving his life?

I started imagining some happy moments which I had preserved in the memories of my heart -

And suddenly, this thought struck my mind.

I turned the pages of my diary and started READING MY DIARY from the top.

1. "Abhi, I have started imagining you to be happy!"

"Happy

With

Me"

2. "Yeh gallery/terrace/balcony - these open structures -

All these seemed to be the most important locations of my life.

Kyunki, apni sabse MEMORABLE MULAQAT humesha yahi hoti hain"

And the list of such lines/phrases continued.

After completing some 7 to 8 points, my inner conscience spoke a bitter truth -

"But Ayesha, what are you doing?"

"Is it your true love or a mere infatuation?"

"Are these your true feelings - or just to take a bloody revenge - you have got into this game of love?"

Whatever it might be,

"At the end, specifically-

Just remember one thing - don't cry on the fact that you lost your love.

And don't forget to rejoice on the fact - that you were successful to find the truth!"

*************************************************

I closed my diary - cleaned my wet eyes - and slept.

I slept with a heavy heart and an agitated mind.

A few days later -

I anxiously waited for him, to open the door.

After 30 seconds, since he did not open - I rung the bell twice.

"What the hell is wrong with this MAN" I commented angrily, thinking that - if by chance somebody saw me- on this Sunday afternoon - entering Mr. Mantri's home - I will be embarrassed.

And on top of that, many more questions would also be asked.

"Isko call hi lagati hoon" I dialed his number, which he did not pick at once.

I dialed twice, angrily waiting outside - from last 5 minutes.

Finally, on the third call - when he picked up - I purposely declined the call and rung the bell again.

He called me back but I declined, whereas I continued ringing the bell.

After 30 seconds, he opened the door - rubbing his eyes, with his palm - as I sensed that I had definitely disturbed his sleep.

"Ayesha..." he was shocked and surprised.

"Are you shocked - just because, you are happy that I came to your place?

OR

"Are you shocked, just because you are sad that I came to your place?"

I asked this man, standing in front of me, in a sleeveless grey jersey- that too, still half asleep.

"Option B" he laughed, as he asked to me get in and I felt shy.

Just when I was talking the step in, my foot slipped on that soft doormat and I mistakenly, pushed him - with my hand hitting the central part of his back. His back seemed a little rough.

And I fell, I fell badly.
(Laughing at my own stupidity)

"Oyeee...are you okay?" he cautiously held my hand, as I got up.

"Really sorry - pair fisal gaya" I got up, dusting my elbows a little.

At a comparatively low volume, he started singing - and I knew, he purposely sang this song -

"Chot lagi hain, usse phir kyu

Mehsoos mujhe ho raha!

Dil toh bata de,

Kya hain iraada tera"

Song - Banjaara

Movie - Ek Villain

"Bohat hi besuri aawaz hain - tumhari" although I taunted him, this seemed to be so romantic.

"Huh..." he glared at me, as I dropped my sack, on the sofa and sat down.

"Tu har Sunday, dopahar mein, sota hain kya?" I asked

"Ahhh...usually nahi, but aaj bohat zyada neend aa rahi thi.

And since Maa bhi ghar pe nahi hain, toh I slept." He gave me a chilled bottle of water and spoke -

I will come back in a minute..." he went inside the room and returned back, in 2 minutes - probably after changing his t-shirt and washing his face.

"Aaj aapne hume darshan kaise de diye?" he asked, since it was a hot Sunday and we had a holiday to office today.

"Kyu, nahi aana chaiye tha kya?" I taunted and continued.

"I thought you would LIKE THIS SURPRISE" - I waited for his answer.

"I did not like the surprise -"

"I simply LOVED IT." His cheesy answers made way to make me smile.

"Acha bata - what do you wanna have?" he asked me, out of courtesy.

"Oh My God..."

"Itni formality!" I exclaimed loudly.

After thinking for 10 seconds, I replied -
"Ahhh...I want to have ANSWERS."

"I simply want answers to my questions."

I stared at him, as he dropped himself on the couch, the one which was vertically adjacent to mine.

"Hey Bhagwan!"

"Itne saare sawaal - mujhe aaj tak exams mein nahi puche gaye -

Jitne iss ladki ne mujhe puche hain!" I laughed heartily on his statement.

Before I spoke anything, he continued -

"Ayesha, do me a favor -

YOU WRITE A BOOK ON OUR STORY.

Waise bhi, you are an amazing writer - so please write a book and give the title - THE AA's story."

I giggled, since I did not take his idea seriously.

"Arre baba - I am not kidding.

I am ready to help you with that." He grabbed my attention with his statement.

"Oh acha - how will you help me?" I curiously asked him.

"Jaise bhi tum chaho - I can help you, in whatever way you want." He exclaimed.

"Ohkay then..."

"Mr. Mantri - if you actually wanna help me - simply answer my questions." I declared my wish, as he gave an exasperated look.

"Okay - Ms. Ayesha Thakur- bring it on." He was ready to answer my questions.

Now, he agreed to answer my questions - but at present, I did not have any question.

So, after thinking for a minute, I probed -

"Tujhe tere back pe, peeth pe - kuch lagi hain kya?"

"Jab main andar aa rahi thi, tab maine galti se touch kar liya and I felt something." I suspected.

"Ahh....it was an accident - my bravery accident." He smirked.

"Braveryyyyy...aisa kya kiya tha - tune?" I curiously asked.

TO BE CONTINUED.