"I loved a girl.

She loved me back.

We were very happy together.

And then..." he whimpered and wept and was no longer able to control his emotions.

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

Increase your expectations, for this new chapter of my life – which will definitely bring tears –

Tears of happiness/Tears of sorrow.

Kabir simply stood there like a statue as I walked towards the terrace, just to find the MAN – responsible for everything that just happened inside.

"Abhimanyu Mantri" I called him in anger.

"Ayesha..."

"Are you okay?" he could see me crying.

"Bahar kyu aaye tum?" I asked him furiously.

"Arre main toh......" he had no answer, because he was not ready to accept the truth.

I pushed him, as I spoke – "Tumhe sab kuch pata tha na..." he stared at me, as I continued – weeping with frustration.

"Tumhe SAB KUCH pata tha – you knew every freaking thing"

"Phir kyu kiya tumne aisa, haan?" I screamed indignantly.

"Ayesha...listen" he tried to calm me down, but I yelled at him again –

"Sab kuch jaante hue bhi, tumne Kabir ki help ki, to plan this surprise."

"Sab kuch jaante hue bhi, tumne mera haath pakadke, mujhe Kabir ke saamne khada kar diya."

"Sab kuch jaante hue bhi, tumne kabhi meri baat ko accept nahi kiya."

He started whining.

"Yeh sab kuch jaante hue bhi, kyu kiya tumne aisa ABHI?"

"Jawab do na ab, Kyu...?" I screamed at him and this time, his head – which was hanging down - he lifted it straight up - looked into my eyes and screamed –

"Tumhare liye Ayesha...

Sirf tumhare liye." He walked towards me, held my hand and spoke the words – which I always wanted to hear from him.

"Ayesha, tum mujhe humesha puchti thi na – ki what is the DARK PAST that I am hiding?"

He glared into my eyes and with lots of courage and guilt he spoke –

"I loved a girl.

She loved me back.

We were very happy together.

And then..." he whimpered and wept and was no longer able to control his tears.

"And then one day, she died Ayesha."

"She just died."

He broke and was totally shattered.

"Abhi...sambhalo apne aap ko!" I couldn't resist myself as I lifted him up and embraced him.

We hugged each other.

We had no idea of what was happening in the background, because both of us had our eyes closed.

After a few seconds, suddenly he got away, when Kabir shouted-

"Abhimanyu Mantri..."

"You bastard"

Kabir dragged Abhi away from me and pushing him strongly, he shouted –

"Saale Abhi..." Kabir was furious, seeing Ayesha and Abhi hugging each other and this definitely gave rise to misunderstandings within him and Shreya as well, who reached the terrace.

Abhimanyu resisted saying," Kabir, ruk ja aur, ek minute sun."

"Arre hutttt..."

"Maine tujhe apna best friend maana tha"

"Maine tere saath sab kuch share kiya tha"

"Maine tujhe pehle hi bata diya tha – that I like Ayesha a lot."

"Yahan tak ki maine tujhe new year ke plan ke baare mein bhi bataya tha."

Abhi looked at the frustrated Kabir, standing right in front of him. Shreya and 2 of my other colleagues had also reached to the terrace.

"Bol na...bataya tune Ayesha ko –"

"Bayata tune Ayesha ko – mera 31st December ko kya plan tha?" I looked curiously towards Abhi, because he did not tell me anything.

Abhimanyu did not answer and Kabir continued in anger," Mujhe pata tha!"

"Mujhe pata tha – ki tu ek jhoota insaan hain" Kabir spoke something, which shocked me.

He came towards me and held my hand –"Ayesha, yeh aaj joh maine tumhe ring di hain –

Yeh main tumhe 31st December ko raat mein 12 baje dena chahta tha."

I was stunned to hear this.

"Isiliye main uss din tumhe lene nahi aa saka."

"Maine Abhi ko – mere plan ke baare mein pehle hi sab kuch bata diya tha aur maine hi usse kahan tha – ki woh tumhe leke – club aa jaaye."

"Lekin uss din – hum nahi mil paaye – isliye aaj ke baare mein bhi – maine pehle hi ABHI ko bata diya." He conversed in a furious tone.

"Kabir suno – tum galat samajh rahe ho" I tried to console Kabir, but he paid no heed.

"Lekin yeh insaan hi aisa hain Ayesha" Kabir pointed towards Abhi and commented –

"Iski khudki girlfriend toh rahi nahi" Abhimanyu looked up gravely, while Kabir continued –

"Iski khudki girlfriend toh rahi nahi, isliye isse baaki logon ki khushi bhi dekhi nahi jaati." I could actually see the rage in the watery eyes of Abhimanyu.

"Kabir – don't." Abhimanyu screamed.

"Kyu Abhi haan...

Sach sun ne ki himmat nahi hain tujhme –"Kabir exclaimed in rage.

"Main batata hoon –

Iski girlfriend Kavya ne, terrace pe se jump karke..." before Kabir could actually complete his statement, Abhimanyu gave a tight punch on his face.

"Kabir - don't you dare talk about her." Abhi spoke while gasping his breath.

Antagonism had no limits, as Kabir bounced back on Abhi and this was no longer a verbal brawl.

Some of my other friends, tried to control these two boys and held each of them.

Lastly, Abhimanyu pushed them enraged and shouted at Kabir – "Don't you dare take her name, next time."

He looked at me, towards my watery eyes and left.

No one knew where Abhi went that evening.

Kabir got up and simply left the place.

I was weeping, sitting on the chair – when Shreya came to lift me up.

"Sab meri wajah se hua hain Shreya – sab meri wajah se..." I wept my heart out.

"Ayesha...its okay" she hugged me tightly and lifted me up.

"Shhh...its okay Ayesha – chal apan chalte hain, chal!"

We travelled back home.

Till 5:00pm, in the evening while I was asleep – Shreya prepared some snacks for me.

At 5:00pm, she entered my room – woke me and spoke – "Ayesha sun, mujhe kaam se mere uncle ke ghar jaana padega - Thane."

"Tu apna dhyan rakhna. Maine tere liye Sandwich banaya hain – bahar table pe rakha hain. Juice fridge mein rakha hain – le lena.

Main 8 baje tak aa jaungi." She smiled as I got up and sat on the bed.

Though I was sub-conscious, I held her hand and expressed gratitude – "Shreya, THANK YOU SO MUCH!"

She grinned back at me.

After 15 minutes, I got up. Washed my face, changed my clothes and freshen up myself.

I sat on the table – getting the sandwich from kitchen – since I was indeed hungry.

Taking the first bite, I thought twice but then dialed a number on my phone – KABIR CHAUDHARY.

I called twice, nevertheless he did not pick up.

Later, I thought of calling the other MAN – Mr. Mantri – but then, I was gloomy.

After having the snacks, I went back to my room and opened my CLANDESTINE ASSET – my secret bag – and started writing.

"Hey Diary,

Today, I am sad.

I personally believe – that I am solely responsible for whatever happened today.

What if I had not forced Abhi, to tell me anything and he would not have got into a brawl with Kabir.

It was indeed my worst Valentine Day ever.

But one second –

Why did Abhi not tell me, about Kabir's plan of 31st December?"

I was writing something – before which my phone rang.

It was Shreya. I picked up and she spoke hurriedly –

"Ayesha – jaldi Abhi ke ghar pe jaa – aunty ka accident hua hain!"

"What? Kab-kahan-kaise?"

"Aur tujhe kisne bola?" I anxiously asked.

"Mujhe unke ek neighbor ka phone aaya tha."

Shayad koi minor accident hi hain – lekin aunty ko injury hui hain.

Main Thane just abhi pohachi – toh mujhe aane mein 1 ghante se zyada lagega – tab tak tu jaa jaldi PLEASE."

"Oh okay" I assured her.

"Abhi ko pata hain kya?" I asked.

"Mujhe nahi pata yaar – usko call karni ki koshish karti hoon" she spoke and then I declined the call.

I hurriedly kept all the things in my bag and fetching my wallet – kept it in the bag and left for Abhi's home.

In the journey, I tried to contact Abhi, several times – but his phone seemed to be switched off.

At 6:30pm, I reached his home – and with the help of 2 neighbors, we travelled to the hospital.

On inquiring, we were informed that – it was a minor accident.

Some youngster travelling on bike pushed her, and she fell on the road.

Unfortunately, she got hurt on her forehead and turned unconscious.

The doctor gave the prescription for some medicines which I bought from the near medical store and took aunty, back home.

The neighbors narrated saying

– Firstly, they tried to call Abhimanyu but his phone was switched off.

Later, they also called Kabir – but to no avail, since he did not pick up.

Lastly, they called Shreya due to which I was here.

I also received a call from Abhimanyu's sister on aunty's phone and assured her – that aunty is well and right now she is sleeping peacefully.

She thanked me wholeheartedly and she was also upset that Abhi was not home.

At 8:00pm, I was still sitting in Abhi's drawing room with one of the neighbor by my side – simply waiting for Abhi to come back.

After 10 minutes, Abhi rushed towards the door and exclaimed,"Maa – kya hua Maa ko?"

I stopped him from entering the room, since aunty was sleeping.

He removed his shoes, and softly walked towards the room.

I walked behind him.

He opened the door silently and gave a glance towards his mother, sleeping peacefully – with a white band on her forehead and bandages.

His eyes were full of tears.

As soon as we reached the drawing room, he broke down.

He broke down – for the second time – on the same day.

The neighbor aunty – consoled him and so did I.

Looking at him, I felt pity on my MAN, and got some water fom him.

After 10 minutes, when he finally calmed down –

With his hands joined, he spoke –

"Thank you so much Aunty!"

"Agar aap nahi hote toh..."

Aunty interrupted him and spoke

"Shhh...beta - aise nahi bolte."

"Humne tumhe call karne ki bohat koshish ki thi – lekin tumhara phone switch off bata raha tha."

"Uske baad – woh tumhara dost hain na – Kabir"

"Usko bhi call kiya tha – par usne uthaya nahi – isliye phir maine tumhari behen ko phone kiya – aur phir yeh ladki aa gayi." That neighbor aunty pointed towards me, as Abhi was silent – carefully listening.

In the next 15-20 minutes, we described the entire incident to Abhi– about what happened to his mom and later, the neighbor aunty left the place.

Finally, it was – only me and Abhi at his place – when Abhi removed his phone – from the charging plug and contacted his sister.

Although he went inside one of the rooms– I could make out – that it was an emotional conversation.

Finally at 9:15pm, when he was normal – he came back and I read out the entire prescription – what the doctor had informed me, about aunty's health.

After 20 minutes, I finally spoke –

"Chal Abhi, I will leave now."

"Take Care of yourself as well as Aunty!"

I got up, when he spoke –

"Ayesha, thank you yaar."

"Agar aaj tum nahi hoti – toh MAA ko pata nahi, kya ho jata!"

He sniveled.

"Shh...kuch nahi hota Aunty ko...tu tension mat le – sab normal ho jayenga!" I consoled him, to which he replied –

"Ayesha,

Sab kuch normal ho jayenga na?" his question had utmost guilt.

I simply smiled back – since I did not wish to answer him, I turned back and kept moving.

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

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

TO BE CONTINUED.