The first rays of dawn woke me up. I straightened to realize that I had fallen asleep on the diwaan in my balcony. It took me a moment to recall the events of last night. Randheer had sneaked into me room. Well, it even sounds weird to say that he sneaked into my room. No. He didn't. He came into my room to meet me. It's just that it was midnight and everyone was asleep including me. And he would probably have returned if I had not woken up on time.
Now that I think about it, yesterday seems like a dream - an extremely beautiful dream.
I turned towards his balcony to find him sleeping there.
Mere Randheer... He looked even more handsome with the morning sun shining softly on his face. Who could resist falling in love with this man every moment?
I leaned back a bit again, to gaze at him.

Kis taraf hai aasman, kis taraf zameen khabar nahi
Jab se aaya hai sanam, mujhko khud ki bhi khabar nahi
Hosh gul sapno ke main baandhu pul
Aankh kab khuli khabar nahi

But he was sleeping on a jute stool, leaning against the wall. It must have been so uncomfortable! Oh Why did he sleep here?! He should have gone inside and slept comfortably.
it was that I realized it was very early in the morning. An idea popped up in my mind. I rushed inside to check the time. It was six in the morning. Why miss this opportunity ?!
I found a spare sheet of paper, wrote down a short message for Randheer, clutched a couple of sheets more and returned to the balcony. Crumpling the paper with message, I aimed at Randheer. It missed it mark but nevertheless landed in his balcony. I crumpled another sheet of paper and aimed it. Unfortunately, it hit Randheer right on his nose. I clapped my hand on my head. Oh Gosh ! What did I just do !
He woke up with a start, rubbing his nose, not knowing what on earth had hit him. Embarrassed, I waved to him. On noticing me, he stopped rubbing his nose and gave me a big grin !
Oh this man !
I felt even more sorry for what I had done. I held my ears apologetically. He gestured with his hands that he was fine. I meekly pointed towards the crumpled piece of paper. He picked it up, read it and looked up to me with a puzzled look. I had asked him to get dressed and meet me downstairs in ten minutes. I gestured him to come soon and went inside. We were going to spend a beautiful morning together.
I donned a red salwar-kameez with a colourful dyed dupatta. I took a few more things I needed, in a bag and hurridly scribbled a note to Vashma. Just when I was leaving the room when I remembered, it was still chilly outside. I swifted opened my almirah, grabbed a muffler for Randheer and ran downstairs. I was half-way down when I thought, I should just go a bit carefully, lest I wake up my family.
I opened the gate to find him already waiting for me.
'Good Morning, Amrit',he beamed. 'Itni subah subah jaa kahan rahe hain hum'.
'Ek khoobsurat jagah ! Aap bas chaliye'

He was wearing a grey full-sleeved shirt. And I handed him the muffler. 'Pehle aap ye pehen lijiye. Thand hai abhi.' He gave a surprised yet gentle smile. 'Aap hi pehna dijiye !', he said with a twinkle in his eyes and lowered his head.
I gave him a shy smile and obliged him.
'Aap apne liye kuch nai laayi ?'
'Mainu thand nahi lagti Randheer.'
'Kuch to laana chahiye tha aapko Amrit ! Shawl ya scarf kuch toh le lijiye.'
'Randheer mainu sach mein thand nahi lagti. Par thik hai aap keh rahe hai to ek scarf le aati hoon.'
I rushed inside, stuffed the first scarf I found in my bag and came back.

'Acha ab jaldi chaliye, hume bus pakadni hai'
'Bus ?! Aisi kaunsi jagah jaa rahe hai hum ?!'
'Aap abhi chaliye, raaste mein batati hoon', I replied and we headed towards the bus stand.

The bus stoppage was a five-minute walk from our house. The streets were mostly empty except for a sweeper cleaning the road at a distance. I glanced towards him. He was indeed rubbing his hands for warmth. I was right. He couldn't bear the cold.
I smiled to myself.
'Aap muskura kyun rahi hai ?'
'Ji kuch nai', I replied and smiled once again.
He gave me confused look and then continued.
'Acha bataiye Amrit. Kaise bitaye aapne ye saal.
Ab to aap ek mashoor likheka ban gayi hain. Bilkul waise jaise aapne sapna dekha tha ! Aapko bata nahi sakta ki main kitna khush hua tha jab mujhe ye baat pata chali thi ! I'm so proud of you!
Par mujhe sab jaanna hai. Aur bhi kya kya hua aapki zindagi mein. Sabkuch !'
'Sabkuch to pata chal hi gaya aapko Randheer. Inna vi kuch nahi hua meri zindagi mein. Haan shehar badal gaya to aisa laga ki duniya poori ulti ho gayi meri. Lahore to meri rooh mein basta hai. Usse door jaana ki takleef kade kam na ho payegi. Kabhi kabhi lagta hai us din jab Bauji ne Lahore ki mitti se door na jaakar, wahan marr jaana zyada munasib samjha to kya vo galat the ? Ek shehar jahan unhone apni poori zindagi bitayi. Us shehar se bahar vo kade kahi gaye hi nai. Us shehar ne unhe sabkuch diya - unka naam, unki pehchaan, unka rutba. Zaahir si baat hai batware ke waqt unhone ne apni zindagi se badhkar apne Lahore nu maana.'
'Aapki ek ek baat bilkul sach hai Amrit. Apni mitti se aisa pyaar mujhe apne saamne dekhne ko mila, is liye main apne aapko khushkismat samajhta hoon. Par aise chunaav ki naubat hi nahi aati agar batwaare ke samay dono mulko ke logon ne dono mazhabon ko barabar samman diya hota.'
I fell silent. I was thinking about Bauji. The horrors we had gone through, I could see them in front of my eyes. I did not speak for a few minutes and Randheer did not say anything either. After a while he just held my hand reassuringly. I did not know what good deeds I may have done to deserve a person this sweet, in my life.
'Randheer, wahan jail mein to aap bilkul akele ho gaye honge. Hum sab se to aap door the hi. Aapke paas ek bhi aise insaan nahi tha jinse aap apne mann ki baatein kar sakein. Aapne jo jo saha hoga, vo soch kar to meri rooh kaamp jaati hai !'

'Bhagwaanji itne bhi beraham nahi the. Haan shuruat ke kuch mahine bohot bure the. Tab hum kaidiyon ke saath bohot bura bartaav kiya jaata tha. Kai bekasoor logon ki bina kisi karan ke kaid kiya gaya tha. Wahan rehte rehte aise kayi logon se meri dosti ho gayi thi. Hum saath baith kar apne apne parivaaron ki, apni zindagiyon ke kisse baatan karte the. Dheere dheere wahan kuch jailoron se bhi meri dosti ho gayi. Aapko pata hai, aapko wahan sab jaante hain ! Rihaayi se ek din pehle maine pehli baar aapki kahaani akhbaar mein padhi thi. Us din to meri khushi ka thikaana hi nahi tha ! Us din unhone meri saath ye khushi manayi thi. Un sab ne mujhse waada liya hai ki aapse milne ke baad main unhe khat likhunga.'
'Sach ! Thik hai aap aaj hi ghar jaakar unhe khat likhiyega !'
'Ab aap bataiye Amrit. Aaplogon ko yahan basne mein koyi takleef to nai hui ?'
'Shuruat ke ek mahine to kisike paas yahan ghar nahi tha. Hum sab refugee camps mein reh rahe the. Par Dilli ne wakai hume poore mann se apnaya. Aapko pata hai Pakistan se lagbhag panch lakh log to aakar akele Dilli mein basein hai. Fir yahan dheere dheere sabki zindagi patri pe aane lagi.'
We had almost reached the bus-stand. I enquired about the first bus to Sultanpur, Gurgaon. Finding it ready for departure, we boarded it quickly. Needless to say, the bus had very few passengers. I took a window seat and Randheer sat down beside me. I noticed that he was tired.
'Mainu nai laana chaiye tha na aapko aaj. Aap thake hue lag rahe hai. Aapne mana kyun nai kiya mainu !'
'Nahi Amrit ! Main bilkul thik hoon. Aur aap kaunsa mujhse mazdoori karwaane le jaa rahi hai !', he joked.
I smiled. But after about ten minutes his head drooped down on my shoulder and he fell asleep.
Can he be any more adorable ?

O mehermaa mere meherma
O puri hai dua
Ab kuch bhi to andh nahi
Tujhe paake lage mukammal hai khuda

O rehnuma mere rehnuma
O tere naam sa
Ab koi bhi lafz nahi
Padh kar dekhen sau kitabein sau dafaa

Dildara Dildaara ye ratti bhar ka jag saara
Dildaara Dildaara tere nazar-o-kadam pe sab waara
Dildaara Dildaara jag jeeta jab tujhse haara
Dildaara Dildaara

After about an hour, I lightly shook him awake. An hour's sleep had done him good. He looked much fresher now.
As we got down from bus, we stood in front of flowering yellow mustard fields which stretched as far as we could see. And they were shimmering in the morning sunlight.
'Amrit ?! Ye kitna khoobsurat hai !'. He was beaming.
Maine kabhi sarson ke khet nahi dekhein ! Sarson ke kya, maine to koi bhi khet nahi dekhe. Haan sune the ki bohot khoobsurat hote hain. Mann bhi bohot tha jaane ka par kabhi waqt hi nahi mila aur na mauka.'
'Randheer, Aaj waqt bhi hai aur mauka bhi. Shayad tuhadi ae tamanna mere naal poori hone wali thi !' I gave him a bright smile.
'Mainu laga tussi inne lame samay to jail vich si. Kitho bahar vi nai gaye. Khuli hawa vich saans nai li. Itthe aauna tuhanu pasand aayega.'
He was looking as pleased as a punch. Atleast bringing him here was successful.
'To chalein ?!', I exclaimed and grasping his hand, I rushed into the field.
It was a breezy morning and we were weaving our way into the flowering fields, hand in hand enjoying the wind.
'Amrit, ye sab na mujhe ek khoobsurat sapne jaisa lag raha hai !', he said gripping my hand tighter while we were strolling. 'Agar ye sapna hai to main kabhi jaagna hi nahi chahta'
'Raisahab ! Ye sapna nahi hakikat hai aur aise kayi kayi din hume saath bitaane hai !', I grinned.
'Waise, ek aur cheez laayi hoon main', I said revealing the camera.
'Amrit ! aap to poori taiyaari karke aayi hai !'
'Mainu na aapki bohot sari tasweere kheenchni hai. Abhi tak aapki ek hi tasweer thi mere paas. Ab mainu bohot saari chaiye'
'Amrit main to poora aapka hoon. Tasweeron ka kya karengi aap ?'
'Mainu chahiye bas!', I insisted.
'Acha ek shart pe. Pehle main aapki tasweerien kheechunga !' he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
I nodded with a smile.
I gave my dupatta a wave, posing for the first photograph and he clicked it
Randheer clicked so many photographs today, probably more than I had ever got clicked.
And then after much persuasion, he gave me the camera so that I could click his photographs to my heart's content.
Soon the day started becoming warmer and we went to sit under the shade of a tree nearby.
We sat down leaning against the tree trunk and closed our eyes, enjoying the serenity of nature.
'Amrit'
'Hmm'
'Ek kavita yaad aa rahi hai mujhe'
'To kahiye na', I said softly
'Snigdh rajni se lekar haas - '
'roop se bharkar saare ang', I continued, for I immediately recognized which poem it was.
'Naye pallav ka ghoonghat daal -'
'achhoota le apna makarand'
'Dhoond paaya kaise ye desh ?'
'Swarg ke ye mohak sandesh', we gleefully completed it together.
'Ye kavita mujhe bohot achi lagti hai, Randheer', I said with a smile.
'Haan Amrit. Phoolon ki khoobsurti kitni ache se bayan ki gayi hai isme. Mahadevi Verma ki aur bhi kayi kavitae hai jo mujhe bohot pasand hai. Aur yahan sab itna suhavna hai ki bas kavitaein yaad aa rahi hai. Waise Amrit, Aap yahan pehle aa chuki hai ?'
'Yahan nahi aayi thi. In kheton ko maine raastein mein dekha tha pichle saal jab hum university excursion par Sultanpur aaye the.'
'University ?- '. Seeing his astonished expression I realized that I hadn't told him about the university.
'Haye Rabba ! Main to batana hi bhool gayi aapko. Main aur Vashma St. Stephen's mein padhai kar rahe hain. Ye aakhri saal hai humara', I told him enthusiastically.
'Amrit ! Kya baat kar rahi hai aap ! St. Stephen's ! Ye to Dilli ka sabse mashhoor college hai na ! Aapne pehle kyun nahi bataya Amrit ! Aap to ek baad ek surprises de rahi hai !'
'Mere dimaag se hi nikal gaya Randheer. Mainu maaf kar dijiye
Jab yahan sab dheere dheere thik hone laga tab ekdin Veerji aaye St. Stephen's ke admission forms lekar aur kehne lage - 'Dekho, Main te padhai val kade dhyaan ni ditta. Pehle te Taiji kaan pakad ke padha deti. Par mera te mann hockey mein lageya si. Aur je dhyaan de bhi deta to kaunsa mainu Barisster banna tha. Bauji to mainu hatti mein hi bithate. Par meri sherniya to inni hoshiyaar hai ! Tum dono kyun apni buddhi mein zung laga rahi ho. Jao jao, thodi mehnat karo ! Mera naam roshan karo !
Ye na Dilli ka sabse wada college hai ! Isme to mera dakhila agle janam tak bhi nai hoega ! Aur meri to college jaane ki umar bhi nikal gayi. Par mainu pata si, tum dono ne to sabko peeche chad dena hai'- I said mimicking Veerji, who had been so excited to get us admitted in the prestigious college.

'Aapko pata hai St. Stephen's ki duniya humare liye kaafi alag thi !' I explained to him how Lahore had been essentially an Indian city, deeply rooted in its culture, whereas Delhi was a metropolis, and being the seat of power for the British, had a westernized touch to everything. And this implied to the people as well. St. Stephen's was one of the oldest colleges of Delhi University. Being British established, most of the teaching staff was European. 'Pehle to hume bohot dikkat hui. Hum Lahore mein jis school mein padha karte the vo bohot seedha saadha tha. Hume English padhai jaati thi par zyada dhyaan Hindi aur Urdu par diya jaata. Par yahan students aur professors aam taur pe English mein hi baat-cheet kiya karte hai. Aap hote mere saath to ye dikkat menu kade ni hoti.'
'Par Amrit mujhe yakeen hai mere bina bhi aapdono ne bohot achi tarah manage kar liya hoga. Acha ye to bataiye aapne subject kaunsa liya ?'
I filled him in how I wanted to take up Hindi Literature but as it was unavailable for specialization, I took up English instead. However I had Hindi Literature as one of my subjects. Afterall Literature was my first love. A change in Language could be borne with.
'Aapko pata hai jab humara admission ho gaya tab mere mann mein aaya ki aaj agar Bauji hote to ohnu mera ek British College mein padhna, vo bhi ek aise college mein jahan gin-chun ke ladkiyan sirf 30-40 thi, ae sabkuch katai manzoor ni hota. Onu to ye aage ki padhai vi manzoor nahi hondi. Par fir Veerji ne kaha - 'Tayaji nu main jaanda si. Haan onu ye sab na pasand aata. Par je is karan tum dono ne padhai nai ki, te mere hon da ki faida ?!'
'Aap bohot khushbnaseeb hai Amrit, jo Uday jaisa bhai mila hai aapko ! Aap dono par jaan chhidakta hai vo.'
'Vo to hai ! Mere Veerji is duniya ke sabto change Veerji hai. Aur meri saheli bhi ', I smiled radiantly.
'Aapko pata hai college ke bohot excursions hue the pichle saalon. Par mainu na mann hi ni karta tha kahi vi jaane ka. Aur mere layi Vashma bhi ek bhi excursion pe nai gayi. Kehti thi use akele nahi jaana. Pichle saal ka excursion yahan Sultanpur gaon ke logon ki madad ke liye tha aur Veerji aur Vashma dono ne mainu bohot manaya ki ache kaam ke liye to hume jaana chaiye. Tab main maani yahan aane ke liye.'

'Acha aap chaliye mere saath.' I got up and asked him to do so as well.
'Ab kahan le ja rahi hai !', he asked, looking amused.
'Kaafi der ho gayi hai. Bhook lag rahi hai mainu', I chuckled. 'Je hor kuch nai to chai ya coffee to mil hi jaani hai itthe!'
And we did find a tea stall on the roadside, after hunting for a good ten minutes.
'To Raisahab, kya lene pasand karenge aap ! Chai ya coffee ?', I asked pretending to be the host here.
'Swaad to dono ka hi bhool chuka hoon', he joked but when I glared at him he quickly said, 'Coffee please, Madam !'
And within minutes I got 2 kulhads of piping hot coffee and handed him one.
We returned to sit under the tree. The breeze was so refreshing. But the best thing was that we had each other's company. What was love if we couldn't sit together in silence comfortably.

'Amrit'
'Hmm'
'Ab agar yahan baarish hoti to maza hi jaata. Nai', he remarked turning towards me.
'March mein baarish ?' When he gave me a questioning look I said, 'Haan matlab , aisa nahi hai ki ho nahi sakti. Aur hoti to maza aata. Par mausam dekhke mainu lag nahi raha ki baarish hogi. Aur waapsi ki bus bhi bas aati hi hogi !'. We had enquired at the tea-stall about the next bus home.
'Kya pata Bhagwaanji aur meherbaan ho jaaye humpar !', he said with delight.
'Randheer, mainu kabhi kabhi lagta hai, aap mujhse behtar kahaaniyan likhenge !', I said giving him a sly look.
'Nai ji. Main shayariyon aur articles tak hi theek hoon. Kahaaniyan aap hi likhiye! Main bas unhe padhkar khush ho jaunga. '
'Mainu na sacchi lagta hai aap bohot wadiya kahaniyaan likhoge. Ik waari koshish te karo !'
'Sochenge kabhi. Filhaal aap coffee pijiye. Thandi ho rahi hai', he pointed out with a smile.

Well, it did rain but after we had boarded the bus.
I was laughing all the way home while he was sulking.
'Bhgawaanji ne aapki khwaahish sunne mein thodi der lagadi', I teased.
'Haan haan uda lijiye mera mazaak. Par Bhagwaanji ne meri suni to sahi', he remarked and sprinkled some water he collected from outside the window. Sadly, I couldn't do the same as I was not sitting on the window seat this time.
'Acha koi nai. Baarish bhale hi der se hui par aaj subah bohot hi khoobsurat thi. Thank you Amrit ! Mujhe yahan lane ke liye', he was all smiles.
And I was satisfied that he was so happy.