"Akka! Was it Ajnabi?"

Did she just say that!?

I stared at her unbelievingly.

"So it was Ajnabi" she said firmly.

I simply nodded.

"Ek minute" she said and shut the door behind her.

Get ready for the interrogation I said to myself.

Somewhere deep down my heart I felt this interrogation was going to help.

May be pouring out my heart and sharing my confusions with someone could help me take a decision? I hope so!

"Akka tell me everything"

I told her how he confessed to me and how adamant he was on making me confess.

"Ab aapne kya soch hai Akka?"

"Kya sochun? Kuch samajh hi nahi paa rahi hun main. Dil kehta hai ke uski bath pe yaqeen kar lun. Phir dimag poochta hai ke kis bina par bharosa karun"

"Kya apko lagta hai ke wo sach keh raha tha?"

"Patha nahi Miku. Wo kehta hai ke usne pehle bhi call kiya tha aur maine pehchanne se inkar kiya. Mai bhala aisa kyun karungi, jabke mai khud uske call ka intezar kar rahi thi. Par jab wo keh raha tha I Love You Anamika to man kar raha tha ke sab kuch chod kar uske paas chali jaun"

"I love you Anamika? Wo apko Anamika kyun bula raha tha?"

"Kyunki maine use apna naam nahi bataya. Humne ye faisla kiya tha ke wo hamesha mere liye Ajnabi rahega aur mai uske liye Anamika"

"Oh shit. I am so sorry Akka"

"Tu kyun sorry bol rahi hai? Isme teri kya galti hai? Galti sari meri hai. Actually galti sari uski. Jhoot to wo bol raha tha"

"Akka wo jhut nahi bol raha"

"What?" I asked baffled.

"Haan Akka...wo jhut nahi bol raha. Wo sach keh raha hai. Usne call kiya tha"

"Mujhe better feel karane keliye kuch bhi mat bol Miku" I warned.

"No Akka. Mai sach keh rahi hun"

"Tu itne yaqeen se kaise keh sakti hai ke usne call kiya tha?"

"Kyunki wo call maine hi receive kiya tha"

"Kya?" I was stunned at the revelation.

"Haan Akka. I am so sorry"

"Phir tune mujhe bataya kyun nahi?"

"Kyunki mai nahi janti thi ke wo apka Ajnabi hai"

"Ye kab hua tha?" I asked taking a deep breath to calm my nerves.

"Koi function tha us din" she said in a deep thought "Haan yaad aya. Tamil association ka women's day function jisme apko felicitate kiya ja raha tha. Yaad hai jab aapka naam announce hua tha to stage pe jathe waqt aap ne apna phone mere paas de diya tha. Us waqt ek call aya"

Flashback

"Hello"

"Hello"

"Koun?"

"Itni jaldi mujhe bhool gayi Anamika?"

"Sorry wrong number. Yahan koi Anamika nahi rehti"

"Sorry"

"Ok"

(End of Flashback)

"Aur phir maine call disconnect kiya. Mujhe isliye achhi tarah yaad hai kyunki mujhe ye naam Anamika kuch ajeeb sa laga. Anamika' yaani bina naam wali. Aur us admi ke awaz me ek dard tha jab wo ye pooch raha tha ke mujhe itni jaldi bhool gayi"

"Tumne mujhe bataya kyun nahi?"

"I am sorry Akka. I thought the call was not important, just a random stranger. Mujhe nahi pata tha ke wo apka Ajnabi hai. Aur us function ki bhaag doud me it just slipped out of my mind"

"Women's day! Yaani 8th March. Iska matlab usne hamari mulaqat k eek mahine baad call kiya tha. Yaani Akka ke shart ke mutabiq mai jeet gayi thi" I realized.

"I am sorry Akka. Ye sab meri galti hai. Agar maine apko bata diya hota to aaj aap apne Ajnabi ke sath hotin. I am sorry Akka" Mihika begged.

"Isme tumhari koi galti nahi Miku. Ye to sab kismat ka khel hai. Dekho na usne call kiya par meri jagah tumne uthaya. Use laga ke maine use nahi pehchana aur mujhe laga ke wo mujhe bhool gaya hai. Meri kismat me Raman hi likhe hain isiliye to Akka ki shart jeetne ke baad bhi mai Ajnabi se nahi jud payi"

"Akka..."

"Its ok Miku I am fine"

"Ab aapne kya faisla kiya hai?'

"Kaisa faisla?" I laughed at the irony of life "Jab kismat ne khud mere liye faisla le liya hai to iske aage mai kya kar sakti hun?"

"Akka ye bhi to kismat hai ke usne aaj apko call kiya aur apko sach ka patha chal gaya. Aisa bhi to ho sakta tha na ke wo apki shadi ke baad call kare. Par aisa nahi hua. Usne apki shadi se pehle call kiya. Iska matlab to yahi hai na kismat apko ek aur mouka de rahi hai"

I was stunned. She had put me in another dilemma.

"Par Raman se bhi to kismat ne hi mujhe milaya na" I was contemplating the situation with every angle. I did not want to commit a grave mistake.

"Aur Ajnabi se milna bhi to kismat hi tha na Akka"

"Meri shadi ho rahi hai Miku"

"Hui to nahi na Akka"

"Par mai Raman ko dhoka kaise de sakti hun? Wo mujhse bahut pyar karte hain"

"Kya ye dhoka nahi hoga ke aap pyar kisi aur se karo aur shadi kisi aur se?"

"Aisa bhi ho sakta hai shadi ke baad Raman se mujhe pyar hojaye aur mai Ajnabi ko bhool jaun"

"Ek saal ye jane bina ke Ajnabi aap se pyar karta hai ya nahi, aap use bhula nahi payi. Kya ab aap use bhula payengi jab aap jante ho ke wo aapse pyar karta hai?"

Her question was a wake-up call for me. She was right indeed.

Now that I know he loves me Will I ever be able to forget him?

"Kya soch rahe ho Akka?"

"Mere kuch samajh me nahi araha hai"

"Akka aage jake regret karne se to achha hai ke aap is mouke ko haath se jane na den. Hai na?"

"Haan...par..."

"Zyada mat socho Akka. Phone ghumao aur bol do ke aap usse kitna pyar karte ho"

"Are you sure?" I was still apprehensive.

"100%" she handed me my phone.

I took the phone in my hand and looked at her again for assurance.

She slightly pressed my palms and said "Go ahead Akka. All the best"

I smiled a weak smile and with trembling fingers tapped on the call logs.

My heart sank to Earth's core glancing at the Caller ID.

"Kya hua Akka?" Mihika enquired.

I raised my hand that held the phone and showed her the Caller ID.

Her eyes widened.

"Kismat"

Did I just say that!?