"Kounsa Voice Message?"

Did he just say that!?

I broke the hug startled and stared into his eyes.

He was not joking, was he?

He must have sensed my discomfort and rather he too was startled on my sudden reaction.

He held my hand gently and announced "The stage is all yours now Abhi" he said throwing the mic at Abhi.

"With all pleasure boss" Abhi said.

Abhi and Simmi climbed on to the stage hand in hand as Raman and I stepped off,hand in hand.

"Sanson ko jeene ka ishara mil gaya

Dooba mai tujh me to kinara mil gaya

Sanson ko jeene ka ishara mil gaya

Zindagi ka patha dobara mil gaya

Tu mila to Khuda ka sahara mil gaya

Tu mila to Khuda ka sahara mil gaya"

I heard him sing. The lines were so apt for their situation.

But it seemed to contradict mine!

Raman was still holding my hand while his attention was on the lovely couple on stage.

I reflected upon the lines as Abhi repeated them

Kya meri sanson se jeene ka ishara khone wala hai?

Kya mujhse mera kinara chin ne wala hai?

Kya zindagi dobara lapatha honewali hai?

Kya ye Khuda ka ishara hai ke jo hath abhi mujhe thame hue hai, wo mujhe chod janewala hai?

Tears rolled down and must have landed on Raman's hand that was holding mine.

He immediately had his attention on me.

"Ishita! Kya hua?"

"Raman wo..." I choked.

"Wait a minute" he said and took me to a secluded area.

"Kya hua Ishita? Are you alright?"

"Raman...aapne...mera...voice...message...nahi...suna?"

"Kounsa voice message?" he looked confused.

"Wo jo mai ne... party me ane se pehle... bheja tha"

"Tumne bheja tha? Maine check nahi kiya. Let me check just a minute" he said yanking his phone out of his pocket.

"Oh haan! Voice message to hai. Par maine suna nahi"

I felt my knees going weak. He noticed that and held my shoulders for support.

"Ishita...kya hua? Tum itni pareshan kyun lag rahi ho?"

I could not control a sob.

"Ishita tum ro kyun rahi ho? Maine voice message nahi suna isliye pareshan ho? Don't worry. Mai abhi usko sun letha hun. Tum rona band kar do please"

"Raman mujhe ghar jana hai"

"Par Ishita tum bahut pareshan lag rahi ho. Wo voice message bhi maine nahi suna. Mai sun letha hun phir tummhe drop kar dunga"

"Nahi Raman...mere jane ke bad sun lena...Mujhe please jane do...please"

I was a coward. I wanted to escape. I could not imagine seeing Raman's concern for me changing into detest in front of my eyes. So I begged him to let me go.

"Please Raman"

"Ok...But I can't let you go like this all alone. Mai tumhe drop karta hun"

"Nahi mai akele chali jaungi. I have my car"

"Nahi...is bath me tum behes nahi karogi. Tumhara car mai driver se keh ke ghar pahuncha dunga. I am going to drop you home now"

He looked strict. I realized there was no point arguing. So I silently obliged.

The drive back home was silent.

I was too scared to initiate a conversation not knowing where it would lead to.

He too chose to keep quite considering the state I was in.

When I was about to step off the car, he held my hand

"Mera Valentine Gift kahan hai?"

Did he just say that!?