Part 22

At the Agarwal house in Sameer's absence
Sameer had given her 2 cassettes to record her story. One was opened and one was sealed. She decided to use the open one first. But before recording, due to her meticulous nature, she decided to check both sides of the open one. Thus, she placed it in the tape recorder and started playing it. After a few fast forward and pauses, she heard Sameer's voice, reading a poem. She went back and rewinded and started to listen from beginning.

(This is Sameer's sorry poem for Naina...Sorry guys can't find the exact words... if someone does, please send me the link, I will paste it here. Meanwhile, this is from memory).

Kaho tou ek baar fir chaand sitaare paas le aoon
Kaho tou ek baar fir chaand sitaare paas le aoon
Ugte suraj ki halki si aag le aaon
Buss tu muskura de
Aakhon se wahi pyar chalka de
Bahut dil dukhaya hai
Bahut dil dukhaya hai yeh maana maine
Par dard par marham lagane ka ek mauka de
Ab tab itna kuch padhaya hai
Buss ek baar fir se iss rishte ka hisaab kar do na
Buss ek baar fir se iss rishte ka hisaab kar do na
Naina, mujhe maaf kar do na!

Sameer had recorded this poem when he had first decided to ask for forgiveness from Naina and always carried with him, but could never give it to her, sometimes as he couldn't muster enough courage, thinking that she might reject him and sometimes the unexpected turn of events prevented it. But, today in his haste to meet Nanaji, he had inadvertently given it to her.

She rewinded and listened to it a couple of more times and her misty eyes teared each time.

When Preeti came to the room, she was worried looking at Naina's pale face.
"Kya hua Naina? Tu ro kyon rahi hai?"

Naina hugged her with one arm and cried her heart out on her shoulder. Preeti knew something very emotional and definitely related to Sameer had taken over her sister's heart, so she let her cry and feel relieved.

After her sobs subsided, Naina, played the cassette again and Preeti heard the heartfelt apology. "Dekh Naina...Jijaji kitna pachta rahe hai apni galatiyon par. Aur fir tune hi kaha tha na ki unhone mandir mein tera haath pakad ke vachan diye the. Naina soch...apna topper dimaag laga, kya koi bhi ladka, kisi bhi mamooli faltu si shart ke liye, kisi ladki ko shaadi jaisa bada vachan dega? Fir wahi jeeti hui shart jaan bujkar haar jaayega? Arjun bhaiyaa ka sach jankar bhi wo chup hai, apna naam clear karne ke bajay, unka naam bacha raha hai! Aur maan le sab jhooth hai, toh fir unhe yahan aane ki kya zaroorat thi, tere Papa ke itne taane sunne ki maar khane ki kya zaroorat hai? Agar unhe school se nikal bhi diya toh kya fark padega? Iss desh mein itne saare school hain. Unke Nanaji ke naam aur paison ki wajah se unhe kisi bhi achche bade English school mein admission mil sakta hai. Unhe yahan, hamare ghar mein hall mein, deewan pe sone ki kya zaroorat hai? Soch Naina... yeh sab sirf tere liye, tere pyar ke liye....maaf kar de Naina, aur unka pyaar apna le".

"Preeti, maaf toh kar bhi doon, par pyar....pyar kaise karoon? Bharosa kaise karoon? Agar fir dhokha diya toh? Ek baar toh sambhal gayi, fir se aisa kuch hua toh?"

"Dekh behen, zindagi ki guarantee toh Bhagawan bhi nahi dete....rahi pyar ki baat, toh tu chahe kuch bhi kahe, teri aakhon mein pyar dikhta hai Sameer ke liye aur chahe jo ho jaaye, tu usse pyar karna chod nahi sakti...dekha hai maine, tujhe aisi haalat mein bhi, apne dard se upar uski taqleef mehsoos hoti hai".

"Nahi Preeti...maine apna mann bana liya hai, yeh competition khatm hote hi, main usse saare rishte khatm kar doongi....".

Naina tried to sound determined before leaving the room but who better than Preeti could read her sister's averted gaze. She couldn't meet her eyes and make this statement...she was too far ahead in love to come back and she didn't wish for her to come back. They were meant to be.
"Aur haan...yahan hamari jo bhi baat hui, tu Sameeer ko kuch nahi batayegi, tujhe meri kasam hai"...Naina came back to cement her resolve.

Preeti to herself "Jitni kasam deni hai de de behen...main kuch nahi bataungi. Tu khud batayegi...zyaada din tak apna pyaar chupa nahi paayegi...Jijaji ka pyar tujhe majboor kar hi dega...".

She smiled and got excited thinking about them as a couple. She had noticed the effect Sameer's heartfelt apology had on her.

Naina walked up to the terrace with the cassette and dictaphone...She rarely ever ventured there, as Taiji was strongly against the girls wandering up to the terrace without need. But today, she didn't care about anything....she needed to be alone and organize her haywire thoughts. The afternoon blazing sun also couldn't deter her thoughts. "What was Sameer trying to do? Did he really care for her now? Or was he here only coz he thought her hand burnt while trying to save him? Or was he here only to fulfill his Nanaji's words? Did he really love her even before the bet was over? Did he really forgo the bet and fall in love with her? Were all those vows for real? Could she trust him? Did she still love him? But what if he was just doing all this out of guilt? What if he betrayed her emotions again? What if one day he realized that all his gestures were out of pity for a plain simple girl and he was trying to rescue a damsel in distress? What if.....Ufff!"

Her what ifs had no end but her hand started tingling due to the excess heat. She couldn't decide what to do. Even after all the what ifs, her heart told her that his efforts were out of love and not guilt and pity, but she had to be absolutely sure about him before giving in. She couldn't make the same mistake again. She smirked thinking this, who was she fooling....she could fool the world but not herself, Preeti was right, even if Sameer betrayed her or left her, she could never stop loving him. Trying to ward off all the thoughts, she found a shade under the water tank area, sat down, switched on the dictaphone and started recording her first story in the new cassette. Without realizing she had put the apology cassette already in her safe keeping as did not want to supersede Sameer's words with anything else.

Sameer already missed his Nanu but was excited to be back to his Naina... He parked the car at the end of the lane as there was not enough space below the society and hurried back home. "Wow...main already Naina ke ghar ko "Ghar" keh raha hoon...kitna jaldi yahan sab kuch apna sa lagne laga hai" Sameer mumbled to himself while climbing the stairs.

"Aye baalon ki dukaan...Kahan gaye the bina mujhse puche?" An angry Rakesh followed him inside.

"Sir, wo Nanaji foreign ja rahe the toh buss milne chala gaya tha...aap ghar par nahi the par main Chachaji se puchkar gaya tha".

"Ji bhaisaheb, Sameer mujhse puchkar hi gaya tha...Naina ko bhi iski zaroorat nahi thi, issliye maine jane diya", confirmed Chachji while coming out in the hall.

Just then Naina came back from the terrace and heard the altercation.

"Tu kahan gayi thi?" Asked an angry Rakesh to Naina also.

"Papa, wo mein chatt par thi...wo competition ke liye kahaniyan bhi likhni hai na...toh buss shanti se sochne ke liye thodi der upar chali gayi thi....Sameer ki zaroorat nahi thi, issliye..." Naina also supported him.

"Theek hai theek hai... sab aa gaye iss ameerzade ki waqalat karne, par aayenda meri ijazat ke bagair tum kahi nahi jaoge...Tumhare Nana khud toh videsh chale gaye, tumhe hamare gale mein bandh gaye" riposted Rakesh as usual.

"Chachaji, aapko Papa bula rahe hai", Pralay came to call him back.

Rakesh mumbled something under his breath as if no one left him in peace and was about to leave when Sameer asked "Sir sir...Main kal subah school toh ja sakta hoon na?... Nahi wo aapne abhi kahan na ki aapse puche bagair main kahi nahi ja sakta... toh buss punch raha tha".

Naina was surprised at Sameer's boldness, while Chachaji couldn't control his smile. Chachiji and Preeti in kitchen also couldn't stop their giggles as not everyone could annoy Rakesh funnily.

Rakesh glared at him before leaving.
Sameer was happy to see smiling faces as he had managed to lighten the mood and relieve some unnecessary tension that Rakesh's presence usually caused.

Naina handed Sameer the Dictaphone "Yeh lo, isme ek kahani record kar di hai".

Sameer noticed something amiss but couldn't point his finger. She wasn't the same Naina he had left a few hours ago. Something had changed meanwhile. But she walked away and he couldn't ask.

Chachiji hollered from the kitchen, "chalo sab log, khana tayyar hai...Preeti, beta tu khane ke baad, apna aur Naina ka school uniform istri kar lena".

As usual Preeti made a big face about being assigned domestic chores, "Mummy....."

"Arre beta, kya kare, Mahesh isstriwala apni behen ki shaadi ke liye gaanv gaya hai, saare society wale pareshan hai, par ab kya kare, thode din sabko apne kapdon ki istri khud karni padegi....Ab Naina toh nahi kar sakti na, toh tu hi kar de..."

Later Preeti finished ironing her school uniform and still had to iron her two other dresses...Chachiji walked in, "Beta.. yeh le, Naina ke bhi 2-3 kapde aur hai, inhe bhi istri kar de", Preeti made a big grumpy face, but she knew if Naina was well, she wouldn't even have to ask, her sister would just do it for her.

Preeti muttered to herself, "Behen ke liye kya kya karna padta hai!"

Naina countered "Aur tu jo roz saara honework mujhse sirf copy hi nahi karti, mujhse karvati bhi hai, uska kya?"

"Haan toh, behene kis liye hoti hai....meri madad karna tera farz hai" Preeti stated as if it was a matter of fact.

Naina was no less "Haan toh yeh tera farz hai, tu bhi toh meri behen hai".

"Haan toh kar rahi hoon na..." Preeti got back to the task at hand...

Just then Sameer walked in for his usual bandage job and heard the sisters' banter.
"Main kar doon?"

While Naina shook her head vigorously in a No, Preeti nodded happily...

"Aap ko aata hai?" She asked. Sameer scrunched his face in remorse that he didn't know any of the household chores...

Preeti rolled her eyes but was happy that he was willing to learn and do everything for Naina "Aa jao fir, yeh bhi seekh lo".. and she pressed her dresses while explaining the settings on the iron for cotton and other fibers.

She thought to supervise him for the first time, but Taiji's holler from the hall made her to leave "Uff... yeh Taiji bhi na, sapne mein bhi hume aaram se baitha dekh nahi paati hogi...."

Sameer started pressing the uniform just as he was taught and hung in the hanger, pressed two of the other dresses but when it came to her nylon dress, he forgot to change the setting. Naina smelled something and screamed loudly, "Sameer...jala diya".

Sameer was busy detaching the iron that had stuck to the fabric and wouldn't come off, giving a burning smell...Finally, he managed to pull off with the burnt fabric stuck to the iron leaving a big gaping hole in her green skirt. He lifted it and saw Naina's fuming eyes and face reddened with anger through the burnt dress. "Sorry Naina", he was very apologetic.

"Kya kiya tumne Sameer? Meri sabse achchi skirt jala di aur yeh toh Preeti ki bhi favorite hai. Aur agar Chachiji ya Taiji ko pata chal gaya, toh bhale jalayi tumne hai par O bai O bai karke hamari jaan hi le lengi".

Sameer couldn't help but laughed while she cutely mimicked Taiji.

Just then Preeti walked in "yeh kya kiya Jijaji, meri favorite skirt jala di?"

"Sorry saaliji, galati ho gayi, main setting change karna bhool gaya...". He held his ear and turned to Naina feeling apologetic once again.

"Ab Mummy dekh le uske pehle iss laash ko thikane lagana padega...Naina, tu subah mandir jayegi na, ise apne saath le jaana aur fenk dena" Preeti advised.

Chachiji echoed from the doorway "Mandir, mandir kaun ja ja raha hai? Aur kya fenkna hai?"

Three scared pairs of eyes darted towards her. Preeti recovered first, hid the dress behind her as Bela hadn't noticed it yet "Wo Mummny, kuch nahi, kal somvar hai na, toh Naina har somvar mandir jaati hai na, toh main wahi puch rahi thi ki kal bhi jaayegi? Subah bhi toh haath ka senk karna thota hai, matlab dawaii aur patti se pehle" She tried her best to divert the topic and was successful.

"Haan, Naina, beta tu kal mandir jaana rehne de, kaise jaayegi, main toh keh rahi hoon ki school ki bhi chutti kar le...ek baar tera haath theek ho jaaye, fir chali jana. Kahi yahan wahan chot lag gayi toh" Chachiji voiced her concern.

"Nahi Chachiji, haath hi toh jala hai, beemar thode hi hoon...ise pura theek hone mein thoda waqt lagega, itne saare din school se chutti nahi le sakti, padhayee ka bahut nuksan hoga aur competition ki taiyyari bhi karni hai, main school zaroor jaoongi aur agar school ja sakti hoon toh mandir bhi".

Chachaji too walked in, "Naina beta, tumhari lagan dekhkar main bahut khush hoon...ek kaam karo" Chachaji removed his wallet and started giving some money to Naina "kal se tum rickshaw se school aana jaana, jab tak tumhara haath cycle chalane jaisa nahi ho jaata. Aur Preeti tum bhi iske saath hi jaogi".

Before Naina could take the money, Sameer interrupted "Chachaji...agar aap ijazat de toh main ek baat bolu?"

When Chachaji Chachiji looked at him enquiringly, "Wo Nanaji abhi kuch din yahan nahi hai, toh main unse puchkar, unki car le aaya hoon. Rakesh sir ne Naina ki zimmedari mujhe di hai toh mujhe bhi yahi laga tha ki Naina cycle nahi chala payegi. Issliye maine socha ki jab tak wo theek nahi ho jati, main use car se school chod doonga". He explained with slight hesitation and then quickly added, "Preeti bhi hamare saath hi aa sakti hai".
While both were amazed, Chachiji thought it was not right for a boy to take a girl in his car without the family and Chachaji was amazed at Sameer's foresight and thoughtfulness. He might be only 17 but he thought like a very matured responsible man, who cared for his loved ones. And here, he was being so considerate about a girl who was only his classmate; little did he know that Naina meant his world, his life, and he could go any lengths to make her smile and bring her comfort.
Sameer waited with bating breath for Chachaji to accede and he did. "Theek hai Sameer. Naina, Preeti, tum log iske saath car se ja sakte ho. Par Sameer, subah ek baar Bhaisaheb se bhi puch lena".

Sameer nodded excitedly and unknowingly made a blunder with the next statement.
"Theek hai fir Naina, kal 5.30 baje ki jagah, 6.30 baje mandir jaayenge aur fir wahi se directly school chale jaayenge".

Naina was astounded with fear while Chachaji-Chachiji were bewilderd.

"Bhagwan jhooth na bulvaye, tumhe kaise pataa yeh kitne baje mandir jaati hai?" Asked a suspicious Chachiji.

Naina, Preeti thought they were going to be dead in a minute, but Sameer covered it up, "Wo Chachiji, class mein ek baar tyoharon ke saath jude bhagwanon ke baarein mein charcha ho rahi thi, tab teacher ne pucha ki kaun kaun mandir jaata hai, toh Naina ne bataya tha...sirf mujhe nahi, puri class ko pataa hai, Naina har Somvar mandir jaati hai".
Naina breathed a sigh of relief as his lie had convinced Chachiji.

"Theek hai bhai, ab chalo sab so jao, der ho rahi hai", decreed Chachaji.

While the parents left, Preeti thought that she needed to give the love birds some time alone, may be Naina would open up to Sameer about whatever transpired in the afternoon.

"Jijaji, Naina ke kapde andar almari mein rakh do...mein patti ke liye paani lekar aati hoon" and she hurried away.

Sameer noticed Naina's discomfort but didn't mention anything. She came forward to fold the rest of the clothes that he had pressed. With some difficulty, she managed the task and he simply observed her. Whenever he gazed at her, even if she was not looking at him, he was transported to his happy dreamland where they were together, lost in each other's eyes for eternity.

He noticed that she couldn't lift the neat pile with one hand and offered to help. "Main rakh deta hoon andar, tum buss bata do kahan rakhne hai".

Naina just pointed to her side of the cupboard without uttering a word. Sameer opened and without looking anywhere else, he just placed the dresses in a neat pile, but his gaze still travelled to the back corner, which seemed like a shirt. Something struck him and he reached out and picked it up. It was a crisp white shirt with PVKM logo, neatly washed and pressed. It was his shirt that Naina had tricked him into removing by soiling it with mud. He was sure, she had used it for his measurements, but he didn't know that she had saved it like this as if it was some precious treasure.

"Kya dekh rahe ho?" Naina asked since he was still staring at something in her cupboard.
He turned around with the shirt in his hand and a smile of satisfaction on his face.

"Yeh meri wahi shirt hai na jo tumne utarvayi thi...dhoke se, sweater ke size ke liye" he came near her and whispered the last four words by bending his head close to her face.

It was unsettling for her but she retorted "wo meri wajah se kharab ho gayi thi na, toh maine dho ke rakhi hai, dena bhool gayi thi, tum le jao" she looked down, not meeting his intense gaze.

Sameer smirked "agar tumhe ise wapas karna hota, toh agle din kar deti....par nahi ki...matlab nahi karna chahti...." he straightened and walked backwards to put it back from where he found it.

"Wapas mat rakho...le jao, tumhari hai, mujhe nahi chahiye", Naina tried to return it half-heartedly.

"Theek hai...tum ne li thi, toh wapas bhi khud hi kar dena...main khud nahi loonga" he gave a goofy smile and returned it to its place.

While bandaging, both stole glances in each other's direction, but the thoughts were cruising differently.

Sameer's thoughts "Itna pyar karti ho, meri purani shirt ko bhi itna sambhal kar rakha hai. Keh rahi ho ki le jao, par dekh aisi rahi thi, ki agar maine wapas le li toh saansein tham jaayengi, jaise ki main hamara rishta tod raha hoon. Aur kehti hai pyar nahi karti. Buss karo na Naina, please maaf kar do, maan jao, bahut zyaada pyar karta hoon tumse...khud se bhi zyaada...please apna lo....tumhare bina tumhare Sameer ka koi wajood hi nahi hai".

Naina to herself "Kya karna chah raha hai Sameer...chala kyon nahi jaata yahan se...competition ke naam par ghar mein toh ghuss aaya, ab dil mein bhi ghusne ki koshish kar raha hai...main rok kyon nahi pa rahi hoon? Apni shirt le jata toh aisa kyon lag raha tha ki kahi dil nikalkar tut na jaaye? Nahi nahi, yeh sab kya soch rahi hai Naina? Abhi kuch ghante pehle toh isi baat ko lekar Preeti se ladayi ki thi, ki use dil mein nahi aane doongi. Par uska aas paas rehna itna achcha kyon lagta hai? Kuch der ke liye nahi tha toh itni bechaini kyon ho rahi thi? Kahi fir se toh pyar nahi ho raha? Fir se...jab pyar khatam hi nahi hua toh fir se kya hota hai...Naina....tujhe na Sameer ke alava kuch nahi sujta...ek din pagal ho jaayegi".

She jerked her hand back "Ho gaya na... thank you...good night". And she settled on the bed to pretend to go to sleep.

Sameer was sure, whatever transpired in a short while had affected her too much. He could read in her eyes that something had happened in his absence and now it was inclining her towards him and she was trying to fight it with full force. He had to break that resistance so that she would stop causing pain to herself and hurt him in the process. Coz he could stand anything but not seeing her in pain and turmoil.
He was determined to resolve this quickly.