" Since when are you in this house? " , Shaahid asked Rubina, taking the cup of tea from her hand.

" Three years. " , she softly replied.

" I don't understand one thing.
Why does this house have so many servants? It isn't even needed! " , Shaahid dropped his jaws.

" That's none of your business. " , she said even softer.

Shaahid controlled. And came straight to the point.
" Errm... Okay.. Did you see Salman Siddiqui, when he was alive? "

" Everyone has. He wasn't always invisible. "

" Was he extremely handsome? "

" He was, but you too are. "

Shaahid grinned.
" Thank you. Was he very serious, and smart? "

" Maybe he was. "

" 'Maybe', why? "

" Because I hardly interacted with him, specially after knowing how much he hurt Sakina ma'am at times. "

" Really? But Sophia said he's a mind blowing personality, and everyone including Saajid was jealous of him! "

" Sophia?
Haha.
Yesterday she said you are impotent.
Should I believe her? "

The cup dropped from Shaahid's hand and broke into pieces.

___

For the first time, Shaahid knocked on the door to Sakina's room rather than just pushing in.

A long moment later, it opened.

Sakina stood like a doll. Shaahid got in smiling, she closed the door and returned to sit on the bed.

The room looked unnaturally tidy.

" Were you cleaning the room after waking up? " , Shaahid asked.

Sakina nodded a yes. Surprisingly she was calm.
Shaahid sat on the chair, examining her.

" Are you still mad at me? " , he asked, trying to make sure she hadn't undergone a memory loss post his neck pinch.

She nodded sideways. And kept staring at the floor like a possessed human.

" But why? Only yesterday were you trying to stab me with a knife. "

" 'Raat gayi, baat gayi. ' (The night has passed, so has the incidents.) " , she uttered philosophically.

" Wow. You seem drunk. " , Shaahid twisted his lips.

" Yeah. Drunk in love. " , Sakina still held a philosophical look.

" Ahemm.... Smoking kills in five years.
Alcohol kills in ten years.
Love kills everyday.

Something like that? "

Sakina now looked at him. And stayed still for a long time.

Shaahid got the chance to examine her thoroughly. She looked pale, but not an ounce less beautiful.

She suddenly said,
" I'm hungry. Please ask someone to serve me breakfast. "

" That I'll do, but did Saajid bhai meet you in the morning? "

Sakina nodded a yes.
" He has got big clients at the shop. So he went. "

Shaahid wondered how their interaction would have been. He would have to ask Saajid.

" Today's Sunday. And there's a big melaa (fair) at the Mirza Grounds.
Mind joining me than sitting with a gourd face at home? "

Sakina stared at him. And frowned.
" Why with you? If at all I have to go, it'll be with Salman. "

" First of all, friends too are important. Not just a boyfriend.
Second, he's mad at you, not answering your calls. But, if instead of craving for him you take a step back, he'll return to you if the love is true. " , Shaahid shrugged.

" First, you are not my friend.
Second, I don't believe this theory. I believe I should keep craving for the one I love, forcing him to return. " , Sakina made a grumpy face.

" I see.

By the way, did you receive those old records? "

Sakina was startled.
" Not yet. Maybe by tonight. "

" You won't. My intuition says, the dealer has already sold it to someone who has paid him a higher price. He'll call you soon and make some excuses, like the records have broken etc.

Secondly, within an hour you'll lose one of your priced possessions.

If these happen, come to me. I'm in my room, we can go to the melaa thereafter to make your mood right. "

Shaahid left, and Sakina felt her head was twirling.

_____

Sakina now stood at a stall that sold colorful dupattas, in the melaa at Mirza Grounds.

Through the hanging pieces of clothes, she could see Shaahid make soap bubbles in air with a kid who had just bought the device.

She could not really get why she was here in this melaa with him. But honestly, she was quite taken aback when the dealer called just ten minutes after he left, saying exactly what Shaahid said he would.

And then, while coming out of the room even more disheartened, she broke a Clay pot which she had collected from a Mughal Curio Shop a year ago paying a thousand bucks.

Not that she was terribly amazed, but it did strike her that this man had some special ability to correctly guess upcoming events. Even if he bluffed, by turn of fates, they did happen.

However, she truly did not feel like calling Salman again. For literally the first time she took a step back, and walked towards Shaahid's room.

" Madam, green yellow red white blue black, shall I give one of each color? " , the sly boy asked from beside.

" Why? So that I can open another dupatta stall beside yours? " , Sakina grunted.

The boy grinned, and brought out a red one from the pile.

" Woeww!! This one is terrific!! " , Sakina was startled when Shaahid spoke from beside. She didn't realise when he returned from the childish bubble business. She frowned again.
" No. It looks terrible. "

She walked out of the stall and strolled down the fair to a kite shop beside. Shaahid ran behind and caught up.

" True that. It looked terrible.
We can buy kites instead. " , he smirked.

" There's no 'we' here. You could buy that dupatta for yourself. " , Sakina chose a huge violet kite.

" Ophho! I said right, I too found it terrible. Though I initially like everything, soon after I discover how bad they actually are. " , Shaahid brought down another green kite. No one could actually insult him to huge extents.

Sakina nodded hopelessly. And asked the price of the kite, then bought it..

" Do you fly kites? " , Shaahid asked.

" As a kid I flew so many. Growing up, we leave behind all the childish acts." , Sakina heaved a sigh.

" Those kids in the middle of the ground, are flying. Will you join them? " , he asked.

Sakina's face lit up for a moment, then the glow disappeared again.

" I'm not a child anymore. We should get rid of childish antics when we grow up. You don't seem to realise that I guess.
I bought this only as a showpiece I'll keep in my room. "

Shaahid did not wish to force things.
He smiled.
" I see. Whom did you play kites with? "

" Bhai and Ammi. My Ammi was a pro.

I miss Ammi. "
Sakina walked away to a jewellery stall. Shaahid followed.

" What will you buy now, to be kept as a showpiece? " , he said.

Sakina threw an angry glance at him.
And began nudging a pair of earrings.
She murmured,
" Salman doesn't like long earrings. I stopped wearing them. "

" Hmmmm....

I understand. Your life revolves around a magic called Salman Siddiqui. " , Shaahid grinned.

Sakina smiled.
" Yeah, he's pure magic. He changed many of my ways of living. "
She immediately brought out the cellphone from her bag, leaving the earring.

And walked away.

Shaahid bought the earring and placed it in his pocket.

She returned with a sad face.
" He's still not receiving calls. I thought I could put aside my ego, and call him again....but.... "

Shaahid grinned.
" It's terribly hot, isn't it? " , he looked at the sky.

Sakina unmindfully nodded.
" I wish it rained. "

" You really wish? " , Shaahid asked.

" Of course I do!!
I have been waiting for a rain for almost a week. I love rains. "

" Follow me. " , Shaahid said.

Sakina was surprised. But she did follow him upto the middle of the ground.

" Now stretch your hands, close your eyes, face the sky, and call rain with all your willpower. " , he said.

Sakina stared at him.
" Are you insane?
There's no tinge of cloud in the sky. The sun is screaming hot.
You say I'll call rain and it'll come? "

" It will. Just do as I said. "

" Pichh.
You are mad.
But I don't know why I'm doing everything you say. " , Sakina stretched her arms, closed her eyes and faced sky. Shaahid stood beside.

" Come rain.
Come come.
Rain come. " , she said for sometime.
Then shot open her eyes.

" Bhakk!!
I'm not doing this insanity. Where's rain? "

" You ain't using your entire willpower. Call rain with all your heart. It's bound to come. "

Glancing at him for another long moment, Sakina closed her eyes again.
" Rain...
I've been waiting for you since eternity. Why don't you come? Why do you disappoint me this way? Please, please, please come....please come rain.
I'm waiting for you...

Please..... "

A drop hit her forehead.
Another, her chin.

She threw open her eyes, only to discover the sky covered with black clouds...

She was horrified, her jaw dropped, she stared at him as if she was ghoststruck...

" Oh my god.... It actually...... "

As the rain took pace, as people in the fair began running and taking shades,

Sakina, drenched, kept staring amazed at Shaahid, drenched.

He was smirking.

" Crave for Salman this way. With all your heart. He's bound to call you back. A lack, remains. " , he uttered.

Sakina, almost hypnotized, closed her eyes.

" Salman...
I'm waiting for you darling...
Please... Please call me...
I need you, I love you...
I owe you my life...
Please, please, please call me dearest... Please... "

With her eyes closed, she did not realise Shaahid dialed her number on his phone.

Her cell began vibrating, she shot open her eyes, and brought out the phone, the rains still hitting them hard in the middle of the ground.

Shaahid folded his hands behind.

And as he knew,

Sakina did not see an unknown number glowing on her screen.
Her mind intricately viewed it to be Salman, just as she wished.

Without throwing a thank you glance at Shaahid, she answered the call with utmost joy...

" Salman.......... "

Shaahid smiled to himself and looked at the sky.

Salman Siddiqui, you were a lucky guy. But it's really sad that you did not get the chance to nurture this immense love from her side, in life.