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

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

"You remember Sri Sir –"he questioned.

"Ahhhh...shayad nahi"

"But If I am not wrong, he was in the BoD of IIM INDORE."

"Right..?" I was seriously not able to recollect.

"Correct!" he spoke clearly.

"Mr. Srinivas Sir a.k.a Sri Sir" one of the leading members of the Board of Directors of IIM INDORE.

He replied.

"Oh Haan..." I tried to remember him.

"but unka aur iss accident ka kya connection hain?" I enquired.

In answer to which, he narrated the entire story –

'MY' refers to Abhimanyu
'I' refers to Abhimanyu

"It was my final year of BBA – 2013.

Final exams ke exactly ek hafte pehle – yeh accident hua tha.

Uss din, it was a Sunday – jab I, Kavya and some of my friends were planning to go out for dinner.

"Chat at Chappan" the most famous food place in Indore – and we decided to go there.

Uss time pe na – IIM ke bahar, raaste ka kaam chal raha tha – toh there were many big vehicles and tractors and all.

Saath hi, sirf one-way ka raasta allowed tha, because dusre side pe - road repairing - ka kaam shuru tha – toh shaam ke time pe – traffic usually bohat zyada hoti thi.

That evening, hum sab log, main gate ke bahar khade thee – while one of my friend went to the parking to get his car.

Traffic toh waise bhi zyada thi – aur upar se uss din Sunday tha – toh Srinivas Sir ki bhi gaadi aayi thi – he was going home.

Suddenly, we saw that Sir's 14 year daughter - came out from the car and started walking towards us, towards the main gate, for which she had to cross the entire road.

Now the worst incident that took place was –

A new posh Innova broke the nearest signal and the driver seemed to be in excess hurry.

While the daughter ran, towards the gate, the driver broke the signal and was driving at full speed.

Unable to save her while shouting, I ran towards her and jumped upon her, while the car hit me in the back, as I rolled on the road – holding her tightly in my arms.

All my friends, rushed towards me – while some of the people standing near, ran to call Sri Sir, the college authorities and stopped the other vehicles.

The last sight that I remembered was – Kavya held my face in her lap, as I could see her sniveling. I was unconscious.

Later, my eyes directly opened in the hospital bed.

I could see nurse and 2 of my friends – one of them being Kavya, entering the room.

Kavya walked towards me and spoke –"Tu pagal hain kya?"

I replied – "Bhalai ka toh zamana hi nahi hain".

"Humesha tujhe hi – hero kyu banna hota hain?" Kavya probed, with her eyes wet in tears.

"So that, I can make you feel proud." I replied, as she smiled and cried – and she looked beautiful.

Just then, Srinivas Sir entered my hospital room and said that he was indeed thankful and grateful towards me, since I saved his daughter's life.

I asked about his daughter to which he replied that his daughter did not suffer much injuries and she was safe.

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

"Not bad Mr. Mantri – another heroic display" I, Ayesha applauded the MAN, and yes, his deed was worth everything.

"Aur Kavya ne ekdum sach aur sahi bola –

Humesha TUJHE HI HERO BAN NA HOTA HAIN" I exclaimed, stressing on all the words.

His reply was astonishing – "Kavya waise bhi, humesha har baat – sach aur sahi hi bolti thi" his eyes turned wet.

I got up and sat just beside him – "You loved her aloddd"

"Right?" I knew the answer, yet I questioned him.

"Yes Ayesha – I loved her aloddd!" he replied, as I could see this mixture of emotion – in his eyes – sorrow and fear.

There was an awkward silence for 60 seconds, where neither of us spoke.

I glared at him, while he just closed his eyes – recalling his past love.

Suddenly, he looked at me and sweetly asked –

"Ek baat puchu Ayesha..." I nodded in a yes.

"Yeh sab baatein, maine aaj tak Kabir ya Shreya ya aur kisi dost se nahi ki...

"Phir aaj, main yeh sab kuch – tumhe kyu bata raha hoon?"

He lifted my spirits and made me feel special, this time.

"Kyunki tumhe mujhse pyaar hone laga hain Mantriji!" I spoke this, but only to my heart.

"Mujhe kya pata...

"Mujhe toh aaj bhi yaad hain – 31st ki raat ko – tune balcony mein – mujhpe zor se chillaya tha" I teased him.

"Arre...

Tab baat kuch aur thi, ab baat kuch aur hain" he commented.

"Oh Acha... aur aisa kya badal gaya – uss din aur aaj mein?" I enquired.

"Uss din, mere bulaane pe – tumhe mere ghar aana pada tha.

"Aaj tum khud-se, specially mujhse milne, mere ghar aayi ho"

Typical cheesy lines –

"Itne cheesy lines, kahan se aate hain tere dimag mein?" I suspected.

"Dimag mein toh – automatically aa jaate hain –

Because mujhe pata hain – ki mere saamne wali ko –

Yeh bohat pasand hain!" I blushed as he spoke.

"Aaj kal – meri pasand/napasand ka bohat dhyan rakhne laga hain?" I asked.

"Haan...par ab kya kare...kuch paane ke liye, kuch khona padhta hain!" he exclaimed.

"Kya KHO rahe hain ho tum?" (What are you losing from this?") - I asked.

To which he answered,

"DHYAN Thakur Ji...

Aaj kal, main dhyan khone laga hoon.

Aaj kal kaam mein mera dhyan nahi lagta" he replied.

"Aur isse, kya PAA rahe ho tum?" (What are you gaining from this?)

I excitedly waited for his reply.

"Normal banne ki help"

"Iske badle – ek ladki mujhe normal banne mein –

Meri help karegi"

I moved towards him, rested my head on his shoulders and closed my eyes.

"Abhi...ek baat puchu?"

He nodded.

"Maine jitna bhi suna hain – tere aur Kavya ke baare mein

I have got to know that – both of you were indeed happy together."

He again nodded.

"Toh usne aisa kyu kiya?" I completed my question.

"Usne aisa kya kiya?" he asked, still my head resting on his shoulders, with my hand around his hand.

"Abhi...maine Kabir se suna tha – ki

I took a deep breath and spoke -

That she committed suicide."

Before he could speak anything, I started talking again –

"Dekh Abhi...I have no intention to hurt you.

It's just that...

I was silent for a second.

It's just that – now, I have seriously started thinking about US.

I know that you are an amazing MAN and I totally understand that it is very difficult for you,

Or rather for any normal person, to get over this phase.

Toh isliye, before I begin to strengthen my bond with you – I want to know SOME THINGS about you..."

"It's just that - I do not want to keep any secrets to you, and at the same time – I would appreciate – if you share with me"

He carefully listened to my words.

After 60 seconds,

Since he did not respond, to my long paragraph, so I asked -

Abhi, tu samajh raha hain na?"

"Haan Ayesha...I understand your feelings and YES, you are right." That's it.

"Yeah...Thank you"

But still, I did not receive any answer to my question, so after a few moments and I again tried to get an answer –

"Haan Abhi...?

Why did she commit sui...?"

Before I could even complete my question, he interrupted and exclaimed loudly

"Ayeshaaaa...

I was startled and stunned. I got back to my original posture and stared at him as he got up, with his back still facing me.

"It was not a suicide."

While I definitely pretended to be shocked and traumatized hearing his answer, deep down in my heart – I knew that this past was darker than I thought.

"But Abhi...

Kabir ne toh uss din bola tha – ki she committed sui..."

He turned around, faced me and spoke few words, very clear and screeching –

"Maine bola na Ayesha –

It

Was

Not

A

Suicide."

Maut se toh duniya marti hain,

Aashiq toh pyaar se hi mar jaata hain.

Agar ruk jaaye meri dhadhkan, toh maut na samajhna

Aisa kai baar hua hain – tujhe yaad karte karte.

TO BE  CONTINUED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.