As we were stepping down the stairs, we saw all the employees gathered together. They exclaimed in unison –'To akhir Burkhewali ka Taangewala aa hi gaya'. Amrit was smiling from ear to ear.
'Humne to Amrit ki aaj ki kahaani mein aakhri ki panktiyan bhi badal di ! Ye dekho', Preetika spoke up and handed us today's newspaper.
'Akhir Dilliwalo ko bhi to khush khabri mile' – she beamed.
They had changed the last two lines to –' Burkhewali ka Taangewaala laut aaya'. I was so happy. I felt so blessed that my Amrit had such loving people around her while I was away.
'Waise aap dono itni jaldi neeche aa gaye ?', a man in mid-twenties asked.
'Haan Ali Bhaijaan, ek bohot zaroori kaam tha'- Amrit replied with a twinkle in her eyes and taking a leave from everyone there, she pulled me out of the office. I had no idea where she was taking me.

We left Dainik Bhaskar in a Tanga. All the way, she had tightly hooked her arm into mine and was leaning on my shoulder. Her presence so near me was bliss. I was hers for life.
We stopped in front of an elegant bungalow. I suddenly felt jittery. She entered the house holding my hand and called out- 'Mummyji ! Bauji!' – I was perplexed. I was the one who had performed the last rites of Lalaji and Mummyji . Whom was she calling out to ?!
That's when I heard my mother's voice –"Puttar, Randheer aa gaya kya ?!"
She came running out of a room and Bauji was following her behind.
'Dekhoji, main keh rahi thi na. Mera puttar aaj aane wala hai', she said already in tears.
I ran and gave them both a tight hug. We couldn't control our tears obviously. All three of us cried and cried. I had missed them so much. More than three years away from Maa Bauji that too without any correspondence or information about them. I had never in my wildest dreams that I would have to face such a situation. We wouldn't just stop talking. Maa was going mad about how thin I had become, and I replied how I didn't feel even a bit thinner. 'Tujhe kuch nai pata. Aaine mein dekha hai khud ko ? Kya haal kar diya unlogon ne mere bacche ka. Inlogon ko itni bhi samajh nahi hai ki kaun gunehgaar hai ? Kaun bekasoor hai ? Kise kaid karna chahiye aur kise riha ! Aise desh chalaenge ye ?!'
Bauji agreed with her but he exclaimed, 'Arey ab mitti pao. Inhe akkal aayi isilye to mere puttar ko riha kar diya. Aaj to mere puttar ghar aaya hai. Maine poore mohalle mein mithai baantni hai aaj !' He was so excited. I sat down on the diwaan, Maa on one side, Bauji on the other. And it seemed we were trying to make up for the time we had lost.
All this while, my Amrit was silently standing a bit far, with a big bright smile on her face.
After sometime I heard another familiar voice – 'Chachiji ! Amrit yahaan hai kya ?'
I turned to find Vashma entering, with a small boy trailing behind her. Apparently humare Kabir miyan.
'Maine uske daftar phone kiya to unhone kaha vo to kabki nikal ...'- she broke off in the middle.
'Randheer ?! Aap aa gaye !! Oye Amrit tune mujhe bataya nai ! Kaisi dost hai tu, hein ?! Mujhe kisine kyun nai bataya !! Par Kab ? Aap..'
'Arey beta shaant ho jao'- Bauji interrupted her. ' Ye abhi abhi hi aaya hai. Aur Amrit tumhe kaise batati. Use khud bhi kahan pata tha'
Just then little Kabir spoke up – 'Ammi, ye to wahi hai na jinki photo Mummy kitni der tak ghoorti rehti hai ?'
'Dekh lijiye Randheer, Kabir kaise pehchaanta hai aapko ! ' – Vashma chuckled, nudging Amrit.
'Mummy ?!' I asked, surprised.
'Haan', he said cutely, 'Ye meri Ammi aur vo meri mummy !' pointing towards Amrit.
This was so cute. But I should have known. What else would Vashma's son call Amrit !
'Par Vashma tumhe kaise pata chala ki Amrit yahan hogi ?'
'Arey hum yahan saamne waale ghar mein hi toh rehte hain ! Amrit wahan nahi to yahan hi hoti'
'Sach ?! Aaplog bhi yahin rehte ho !'
'Haanji Jijaji ! Jaise Lahore mein Om Niwas aur Baig Manzil waise yahan Prem Niwas aur Raizada Sadan. Ab dekhiye main to apni Amrit se door reh nahi sakti. To aapka ghar hi paas banwa liya' – she beamed. All this felt like a dream.
Just then Uday came in, 'O kudiyon, tum dono itthe ho, main tum dono ko kab se dhoond raha hoon !?'
'Oye Uday, tum to kal aane wale the na ?'
'Ji chachaji vo mera match pehle ho gaya so main jaldi aa gaya.
O Randheer Sahab ?! O Amru Randheer Sahab !?' he looked at Amrit and then back at me, ' Aap kab aaye ! Aap... '
And this continued.
Everyone was so elated. I was so elated. But in all this excitement, everyone had conveniently forgotten about my Amrit. Par unhe sudh kahan thi ! Tab se lekar ab tak, vo to bas mujhe hi dekhein jaa rahin thi. Jaise isse zyada unhone kabhi kuch chaha hi nai. Unhone to in sab ki baatein bhi nai suni hogi.
But I did not get this privilege and I had to keep stealing glances at her. I tried to go near her but everyone was keeping me successfully busy and I was getting impatient.
And then after a while the Sahnis turned to leave. Was it night already ? Ab ye kya baat hui. Ek to sab ne poore din mujhe ghere rakha, aur ab ye log ghar jaane lage.
'Arey thodi der to ruk jaiye aaplog', I requested, hoping Vashma or Uday might take the hint. But they remained oblivious. And Kabir complained, 'Hume kal school bhi to jaana hai. Ammi ghar chalo na. Hume neend aa rahi hai. Ammi chalo na !' and started making faces.
'Haan Randheer sahab, hum kal milte hain. Aaplog ki shaadi ki taareekh bhi to nikalwani hai !', Uday patted my back and left with the three of them.
Here, Maa Bauji too were tired. They hugged me good night and retired to their room for the night.

I decided something had to be done that to today itself. I decided I would sneak into their house. I couldn't do much though. I would have to wait for some time so that everyone is asleep. And everyone would mean Amrit too. I know we won't be able to talk. I would obviously not wake her up. It may sound like a fool's errand. I had not, in my wildest dreams, thought that I would do this. Maybe this was pointless but it felt even more pointless sitting here when Amrit was just across the road.

I tiptoed out of the house, and went straight to the house opposite to ours. It had been correctly named 'Prem Niwas'. Firstly, it was home to four lovely human beings. And second thing is quite evident I suppose.
Surprisingly I found the gate open too. Lagta hai bhagwaanji ko taras aa gaya mujhpe.

I slowly entered the house and my heart was already beating faster. I had no idea where her room was but it seemed my heart was guiding me.
I took the stairs up and peeped into the first room I found. Unlike the cabin in Dainik Bhaskar, this room strangely breathed of ... me.

It was a fairly large room. Just opposite to the gate was an enormous book shelf. Towards the right was the bed. In front of the bed was her writing table. And towards the far right corner was a door which probably opened into the balcony. The bookshelf was completely packed with books except for some place left for some other objects in the middle. I spotted a copy of 'Kamayani' placed right in the center. It was placed face up instead of being stacked with the other books. Could I smile harder than I already was ?!

As I entered the room, I inhaled the ittar of roses which made me drift into a different world altogether. What was this magic tonight ?! I took a few steps into the room when something on my left caught my attention. The wall had a framed wall hanging made of a thick fabric, with these beautiful lines embroidered on it.

Madhumay vasant jeevan-van ke,
beh antariksh ki lehron mein
kab aaye the tum chupke se
rajni ke pichhle pehro mein ?

Kyun tumhe dekhke aate yoon
matwaali koyal boli thi ?
us neeravta mein alsayi
palkon ne aankhein kholi thi ?

The ecstasy I was feeling, I can't explain it. I stroked it gently and moved ahead towards the bookshelf. It was then that I realized, beside the ' Kamayani' there was a camera, just like the one I owned back then !
Amrit, Amrit, Amrit ! Kya karu main aapka !

I turned to move towards the writing table. Entangled to the back of the chair was a maroon scarf with green stripes, again just like the one owned.
Kahan kahan se dhoond dhoond ke saheja tha ye sab ?!

Her red-and-golden diary was kept on the table beside an inkpot.
Her payal was kept on the desk. I took out the other one from my pocket. Ab main tay hi nahi kar paa raha tha ki ye payal unhe pehnau ya apne paas hi rakhlu.

I picked up her diary and opened a page which was apparently bookmarked. Turns out, it wasn't a bookmark but my photograph. Evidently the only one she had. Is kamre mein unka bhi kuch tha ?

The page I opened had a poem was written in her elegant handwriting

"Gulbahar, palash, aur juhi ke phool jis mausam din-raat barsenge
us mausam mein vo milenge mujhse

Jab falgun ke rangon mein saara jahaan khilkhilayega
us mausam mein vo milenge mujhse

Jab daali daali hum par shabnam ki boondein bikheregi
us mausam mein vo milenge mujhse

Uss agle mausam tak main karungi intezaar"

Tears, tears of wait, tears of separation, tears of joy, tears of satisfaction. I was so entranced by all these things that I forgot why I had come here.

Suddenly I heard my name spoken so softly that I doubted if I had actually heard it. When I turned about I saw a bed partly covered with white lace curtains and in it, Amrit, sleeping like an satisfied baby. The scene was so picturesque. Amrit in a white salwar kameez, sleeping on a white bed surrounded with white curtains.

She looked resplendent.

Maine poochha chand se ke dekha hai kahin mere yaar sa haseen ?
chaand ne kaha chaandni ki kasam
nahi nahi nahi ...

Maine ye hijaab tera dhoonda
har jagah shabaab tera dhoonda
kaliyon se misaal teri poochhi
phoolon mein jawab tera dhoonda

Maine puchha baag se falak ho ya zameen aisa phool hai kahin ?
baag ne kaha har kali ki kasam
Nahi nahi nahi ...

Can anyone look this beautiful while sleeping ?
She was indeed murmuring something. I went near her sat down beside her. She was murmuring my name in her sleep. I was feeling helpless. Itne jazbaat umad rahe the mere dil mein par keh bhi nai sakta. Mann kar raha tha unhe utha doon. Par unki neend kharaab nahi karni thi mujhe.
Her hair was tied in a beautiful braid but two strands of hair were adorning her face. I had an urge to tuck them behind her ear but again that would wake her up.
But then I decide to go back home. It would be really embarrassing if Vashma aur Uday find me here now !

I turned to leave when a hand grasped my wrist.
'Randheer ?!'
Blood rushed to my cheeks. I couldn't decide whether I should be pleased that Amrit woke up herself or should I be embarrassed that she found me in her room so late at night !
While deciding how to face her, I felt a slight pull – a sign to sit down.
Ab aa gaya hoon to ruk jaata hoon. Now I can't just disappear from here.

Feeling very awkward, I sat down on the bed and turned to face Amrit who was staring at me with curious look.
'Aap aise yahan ?! Aap aaye kab ?'- she asked, looking with a sparkle in her eyes, and then getting up to check outside, ' aur kisine aapko dekha to nai ?!' She sat in front of me, her face slightly reddening. She looked pleasantly surprised.

'Ji vo main..'
'Ab boliye bhi ! Mujhe pehle kyun nai uthaya ?!'
'Vo aap sote hue itni pyaari lag rahi thi. Mann hi nai kiya ki uthau aapko'- I replied sheepishly. 'Aur aap ? Kya hua hai aapko subah se ? Bas mujhe ghar waalo ke hawale karke bhool gayi aap ? Subah se do bol nai bole aapne mujhse ! Main kya karta. Mujhse nai raha gaya. Main yahan chala aaya' I tried to defend to myself putting it all on her.
'Main kya karti Randheer ! Sab itne khush the aapko dekh ke. Mujhe kya pata tha ki raat tak sab aapko aise ghere hi rakhenge ?!'
She was right. If I would have been in her place, I too would not have interrupted them all.
'Aur ek to aap mujhe aise ghoore jaa rahi thi. Aapko pata hai meri kya halat ho gayi thi ! Aapki taraf dekhu ya unki baton pe dhyan du.'
'Ab itne samay baad aaye ho aur main dekhu bhi nai aapko !', she replied going all crimson and shrugged. 'Acha bataiye kaise hain aap ?!' she asked taking my hands into hers and emphasising on each word.
'kya lagta hai aapko kaisa hoon main', clasping her hands tighter, 'Amrit aapke naam se jee raha tha bas.'
'Meri halat bhi kuch alag nahi hai Randheer. Jaise bina neend ki raatein hoti hai bas waisi ho gayi thi meri zindagi bhi. Par maine na ek bhi din aansu nai bahaye. Mainu pata tha aapko jaise hi mauka milega, aapne jald se jald mujhe dhoond lena hai'
'Haan Amrit. Bhala aapka Randheer aapke bina kaha jayega ?', I gave her teary eyed smile. Then looking around the room I asked , 'Amrit, ye kamra mujhe aap se zyada mera lag raha hai ! Is tarah sajaya hai aapne ise ! Ye sab, ye sab cheezein kahan se laayi aap ?'
'Main to raaste dhoond rahi thi aapko apne paas rakhne ke. Kuch bazaaron mein milgayi yaadein. Jo na mili vo banwa li !,' she said with shining eyes. 'Ek minute' She was up on her feet and rushed to get me something from her almirah. Amrit brought a big pile of clothes. It had suspender shirts, sweaters, and patthaanis ! She picked up a light blue sweater, 'Aapko pata hai Randheer ye maine apni pehli kamai se khareeda tha ! Pasand aayi aapko ?!' she asked, smiling radiantly and pulled out a black patthaani from the heap. 'Aur ye to maine pichhle mahine hi banwai thi. Kaisi lagi aapko ? Bataiye na !' She was so excited and I was so happy. Ye sab to kabhi socha hi nai tha maine. 'Apko pata hai mainu na aapko har rang pehne huye dekhna tha. Isliye har rang ka kuch na khareedke rakh liya maine !'
'Amrit ! aapne to poori dukaan khareedli mere liye ! Aur agar main aata hi nai to'
'Bhole Baba itne nirdayi thodi hai jo kade bhejte hi nai aapko. Abhi nai to thode dino mein to aa hi jaana tha aapko mere paas !' , she beamed. 
'Waise choice badi achi hai aapki.' I gave her bright smile, 'Aur aapne to pehle hi intezaam karke rakha hai ki mujhe ek saal tak kapde hi nai khareedne pade ! Abse na mere saare kapde aap hi khareediyega !
'Ab khareedein bhi to kiske liye hain.'and then she blushed, 'Ab jispe Punjab di saari kudiyan marti ho uske liye to duniya ke sabse wadiya kapde hi kharidungi'.
'Marti hongi kisi zamaane mein !' I said carelessly 'Ab to kisiko yaad bhi nahi hoga ki Randheer Raizada naam ka koi shaks bhi tha'
'Aap ek baar wapas kaam mein lag jayenge na, to aapko apni pehchaan wapas paane mein zyada wakt nahi lagega Randheer !' she said confidently.
'Waise, aap chahti hai ki Punjab ki saari kudiyan ab bhi mujhpe mare ?' I asked with a mischievous glint in my eyes.
'Ab Randheer Raizada ka toh kuch dino mein vyaah ho jayega. Fir chahe koi bhi mare. Munda to mera ho gaya ! ', she blurted out and then biting her tongue, she exclaimed 'Hayee rabba !' and hid her face with her hands. 'Hayee soniye' I tilted my head, took her hands into mine and kissed her knuckles.
'Ye munda to kabse aapka hi hai Amrit. Bas intezaar thoda lamba ho gaya. Aapko pata hai jail mein jab maine jab aapki pehli kahani suni thi, mujhe mehsus hua tha ki ye kahaani likhne ka dhang to aapka hai par tab mujhe ye nahi pata tha ki vo kahaani aapne hi likhi thi. Fir jab Aamil miyan ne vo akhri ke lavz padhe tab pehle to mujhe vishwas hi nai hua tha ki maine jo suna vo sach hai ya sapna. Kitna pyaara tareeka dhhonda aapne ! Par Amrit main bohot khush hoon, bohot khush. Aap apne sapno ko jee rahi hai. Meri Raanjhan apni zindagi apni sharton par jee rahi hai.'

'Haan, Randheer. Par agar Vashma aur Uday veerji nai hote mere saath to shayad ye sab nai ho paata. Hum teeno ek doosre ki himmat bane hai in saalon mein. Ek doosre ke sapno ko pankh diye hai humne. Aur humari kismat dekhiye. Maa bauji bhi hume sahi salaamat mil gaye yahaan. Aur sabse achi baat. Aap mainu wapas mil gaye' she grinned and gave me a tight hug.
'Haan aur ab main chhod ke kabhi kabhi kabhi nai jaunga' I said giving her an even broader grin.
After a few minutes I spoke up
'Acha Amrit mann to bilkul nai hai mera par ab chalta hoon. Agar Uday ne mujhe mujhe dekh liya na mujhe yahan to danda leke bhaagega mere peechhe ki uski behen ke kamre mein adhi raat ko aa gaya main',  I joked.
'Mere Veerji bade seedhe hain. Vo aisa to kuch nahi karenge. Haan par aap unke saamne nai aa payenge.' she giggled. 'Koi soch bhi nai sakta ki Randheer. Is duniya ke sabse shareef insaan adhi raat ko mere kamre mein chale aayenge", she teased me.
'Amrit bas na. Aur mat chidaiye !'
'Arey maine chidaya hi kahan. Aap na Vashma ko pata chalne dijiye fir aapko pata chalega chidaana kise kehte hain !'
'Nai Amrit. Vashma ko mat bataiyega. Vo to mere peechhe hi pad jayengi.'
'Acha acha nai bataungi. Usse bata diya to mujhe bhi kahan chhodegi vo', she said, her cheeks turning scarlet.
'Kal milte hain Amrit !' with a sad face, not wanting one bit, to let go of her.
She came to see me off up to the stairs and stood there until I triumphantly closed the main door behind me. I turned to take a look at Prem Niwas one last time tonight and found her waving at me from her balcony. I waved back joyfully and slowly entered Raizada Sadan. Everything was so beautiful.
Soon I got to know, coincidently or rather, planned by my extremely sweet family, my room too was on the first floor and it opened into a balcony just opposite to hers. And she was indeed waiting in the balcony.
We did not sleep. We spent the night conversing in gestures to our heart's content.
A blissful night indeed.