It was a beautiful morning. Pale sunlight filtered through the windows. I gently brushed aside my bed curtains and climbed out. But it wasn't just the morning which was beautiful, it was my heart which was bubbling with happiness. Brushing the daisies softly with my hands, I went into my balcony.

Hawaa ke jhonke aaj mausamo se rooth gaye
gulon ki shokhiyan jo bhawre aake loot gaye
badal rahi hai aaj zindagi ki chaal zaraa
isi bahaane kyun na main bhi dil ka haal zaraa
sawaar loon... sawaar loon...
sawaar loon haye sawaar loon....

That moment I thought I saw a glimpse of Randheer walking down towards our house. Without even seeing properly, I dashed down the stairs. I could hear Jijaji's voice down there. So I slowed down and first peeped.

Randheer had just entered the house when Jijaji stopped him, 'Kya janaab ! Subah subah yahaan kahan ?'
Randheer asked, 'Tum taiyaar ho itni subah subah ?'

'Haan ab Daftar jaana hai bhai. Usse pehle ghar jaana hai. Par baat mat palat. Tujhe to abhi daftar nahi jaana ! Tu itni subah subah yahan kyun ?!', Jijaji asked with crossed-arms. Vashma kya kam thi jo ab ye bhi shaamil ho gaye ?!
Randheer promptly said, 'Darasal vo chali jaati na coll..eg..e', then stopped midway, realizing what he had said. I slapped my hand on my forehead.
'Haan toh ?', Jijaji asked.
'Mera kehne ka matlab hai main Amrit se ek kitab lene aaya tha'. I heaved a sigh a relief.
'Acha !?', Jijaji asked with raised eyebrows. 'Kaunsi kitaab, main bhi to sunu !'
'Amrit ko pata hai kaunsi kitaab', he started to come in. 'Main unhi se le lunga'
Jijaji stopped and pulled him back. 'Arey par tujhe jo kitaab leni hai usse, vo uske paas honi bhi to chaahiye. Naam to bata kitaab ka !'
Slightly irritated, Randheer said, 'Par tujhe kaise pata hoga unke paas vo kitaab hai ki nahi ! Unki book-shelf mein to kitni kitaabe hai !'
'Aur us book-shelf ki ek chauthaayi kitaabein maine use di hai aur baaki ki humne saath mein khareedi hai', Jijaji said matter-of-factly. 'Ab aap kitaab ka naam bataenge ?' I made a face.
Tongue-tied Randheer thought for a while and said, 'Nirmala'. Relieved, I smiled.
Jijaji exclaimed, 'Arey vo to pichle mahine hi maine li thi Amrit se.' I widened my eyes in confusion. 'Mere hi ghar par hai. Main kal lete aunga. Ab tu ghar jaa', He said and tried to turn Randheer around and push him out.
'Mujhe ek aur kitaab bhi leni thi', freeing himself from Jijaji's hold. ' "Volga se Ganga". Aur mujhe pata hai ye hai Amrit ke paas. Maine dekhi thi.', he said confidently. I smiled victoriously.
Jijaji said sounding uninterested, 'Arey par vo kitaab acchi nahi hai.'
Randheer said, 'Vo hum tay karlein padhne ke baad ?!'
Jijaji shrugged.

'Oye hoye hoye hoye hoye !' Issi ki kami thi bas !
Vashma appeared at the door. 'Aaj subah subah yahan ?', she asked with a mischievous smile.
'Janaab 'Kitaab' lene aaye hai Amrit se', Jijaji replied with a smirk.
'Oh to aap kitaab lene aaye hai !', she said in a matter-of-factly tone. 'Waise kitaab lene to aap Neero Bhaiya ko bhej dete ?', she said simply. I glowered at her.
'Arey haan Randheer', Jijaji too joined in. 'Itni subah subah tujhe uthke, taiyaar hoke aane ki kya zaroorat thi ! Neero bhaiya hi le jaate kitaab toh !'
Randheer clarified, 'Kitaab ka naam zaraa mushkil hai, Neero Bhaiya ko samajh nahi aaya'
'Par abhi toh tune kaha ki Amrit ko pata thi ki tujhe kaunsi kitaab chahiye !'
Vashma replied, 'Jijaji samjh jaaiye na ! Inhe kitaab nahi kitaab waali chaahiye !', and both of them burst out laughing. Randheer and I had already gone crimson. Can someone please drive both of them away from sometime?!

Just then Radha Chachi, oh sorry - Jiji came in from the kitchen, 'Oh ji Damaadji nu kyun sataa rahe ho tussi ?!' Oh atleast someone was taking his side!
Jijaji turned to her, 'Channa, main to bas-'
She complained, 'Vyaah to pehle tussi vi te mainu milan aaunde si ! Us samae Amrit ne tuhaanu cheria si ?'
Jijaji defended himself, 'Tuhaanu pata nahi ji, Amrit te Vashma ne mainu kinna cheria si !'
'Hein Sacchi ?! ', she asked with surprise. 'Oh ji to fir mainu koi dikkat nahi ji. Chhedo chhedo ! Khoob chhedo ! Main bhi chhedungi par usto pehle thoda kaam karlu ji ! Hein ! Main hune aayi !', she rambled and cheerfully went back into the kitchen.

'Satsriakaal Raisahab !', Veerji greeted Randheer, coming out from there.
'Satsriakaal Uday !'
Kabir was sitting astride on his shoulders.
'Satsrikaal Raisahab', he imitated Veerji.
'Satsriakaal chhote Uday !'
All of us grinned. Randheer patted on his cheek affectionately. Before Veerji could ask, Vashma and Jijaji said together, 'Ye Amrit se ek 'kitaab' lene aaye hai !'. I glared at them both !
However Veerji promptly said,'O ji tussi aethe kyun khade ho ?! Andar aaoji !'. Vashma and Jijaji looked at each other and slapped their foreheads. I grinned triumphantly. He was dressed in a sky blue pullover paired with navy blue trousers and a striped blue muffler. He came in and after a short conversation with Veerji, he turned towards me.

I stood there staring at him, in the same state - half hidden , while he slowly walked up to me.
'Good Morning Amrit !', he said with a smirk.
I did not even blink.
'Amrit ?!', he said widening that smirk.
'Hmm'. Stupid me, I was still standing like a stone.
He snapped his fingers, 'Amrit !'.
I straightened myself with a start. 'Kahan kho gayi thi aap ?'
Can I say 'Aap mein' ?! Nope. I just need to give a break to my thoughts. I turned my face away and shut my eyes in embarrassment.
Softly he said,
'Chaahe nazrein mila lijiye chaahe nazrein chura lijiye
aapki nigaahon par hum apna naam bohot pehle hi likh chuke hain'
Okay, now say this and make me go scarlet again!
But no! I'll answer this today. I turned towards him and replied softly, 'Aur agar ye nigaahein inkaar karde toh ?'
'Ji ?!', he asked in confusion.
'agar ye nigaahein inpar aapka naam maan-ne se inkaar karde... toh ?!'
'Kya aisa ho sakta hai ?!', he asked gently.
'Aazma lijiye !', I said with a quaint smile.
He slowly walked backwards, 'Chaliye aaj aazma lete hain aapko'.
Vashma asked playfully, 'Aur aapki kitaab ?'
'Rehne dete hai !', he said 'Aaj humaari maashuka ko hume sataane ki soojhhi hai !' and left.

I went upstairs to get ready for college. I pulled out a light blue salwar kameez with white and lemon-yellow dyed dupatta. It was going to be a difficult day today !

***
We were in the middle of the English lesson - the last lesson of the day. Professor Collins was asking us questions. But my mind was elsewhere. I was gazing at the birds chirruping, outside the window. A clutch of chicks was chirping cheerfully as the mother bird fed them from her beak. The scene was so enticing! However another set of thoughts was gnawing at me. Keh to diya ki aaj unke saamne nahi aayenge, par kaise ?! I didn't realize when it was my turn to answer. Vashma prodded on my elbow to grab my attention. The Professor had asked me to stand up. I did.

'If music be the food of love, play on!
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.'

'The duke says these, in reference to whom?'
Unmindfully I answered ,'Juliet'. I could hear a few giggles behind me.
Professor Collins crossed his arms and said, 'And can you please explain how did Juliet appear in the 'The Twelfth Night' ?'
' Sir?!'
' I said can you please explain how Juliet appeared in the 'The Twelfth Night' ? Are you not listening to me ?!', he said sounding irritated.
'I'm very sorry Sir. The answer is Olivia. I must have misheard the question', I said, suddenly realizing what I had blurted out.
'Do I need to remind you that we were done with 'Romeo and Juliet', last year ! Pay attention in class Amrit. I lose my patience when I find sincere students like you dilly-dallying.'
'Sir this will not happen again, I promise', I said glumly.
'Hmm. Now sit down and let me continue.'
I nodded and sat down meekly. I had somewhat disappointed him. I was feeling really bad.

I apologized to him after the class. He said, 'There are students who regularly waste their time in my class. I had stopped bothering about them long back. But I care about your studies dear girl! This was the first time that's why I excuse you. But this should not be repeated ever again! Do you understand that ?!'
'I promise you sir', I said earnestly and excused myself. Vashma was waiting outside the class.
'Mana liya sir ko ?'
'Haan', I said with tiny smile. 'Vo mere naal inna vi naraaz nahi the. Par mainu bura lagria si. Aaj pehle baar vo naaraz hue na, is liye.'
'Ab Olivia ko Juliet kahegi to naaraz to honge hi na', she teased me. I smiled shyly and we walked out of the college building. 'Acha tu Daftar jayegi ?'
'Haan ! Kyun ?', I asked turning towards her.
'Tune hi to kaha ki Randheer ko apna chehra nahi dikhaaegi aaj. To daftar jaake kaise chhupi rahegi?'
'Inna vi mushqil nahi hoga. Randheer to do baje daftar aayenge. Main niche hi nahi aaungi! Mujhe bas shaam ke waqt aur raat ke khaane ke waqt dhyaan rakhna hoga. Baaki samay to agar main na jau to unhe cabin se bahar tak aane ki fursat nahi hogi', I said with a wide smile.
'Par ye toh beimaani hui na Amrit ! Tu rahegi wahin aur chhupi rahegi ?!'
'Haan vo to hai', I said glumly. 'To main nahi jau ?!' I asked her with concern.
'Arey main to mazaak kar rahi thi. Pyaar aur jung mein sab jayaz hai !', she said with a wink.
I nudged her. 'Tu na bas mainu uljha deti hai !', I complained.
'Aur tu badi jaldi ulajh jaati hai !', she said playfully.

I bid Vashma goodbye in a tanga and boarded another one. But instead of heading towards office, I headed towards Lajpat Nagar and stopped in front of a store selling art-supplies.
The world of colours had always always fascinated me so much but for some reason or other I had never actually become a part of it. I had just been enchanted by it from afar. But now I really wanted to learn painting.
'Satsriakaal beta', the shopkeeper greeted me.
'Satstrikaal ! Ji mainu kuch paint aur brushes lene the', I said excitedly.
'Batao kaunse brushes chaiye round ya flat ? Size bhi batao, main abhi dibba nikaalta hoon',
I looked at him, lost for answers.
'Acha ye batao kaunse paint - oil ya acrylic'
I seriously had no idea, what kind of brushes or paint Randheer used. Mainu pooch lena tha na ohnu !
'Oil paint de ek dibba dijiye.' I don't know why but I had a feeling that Randheer must be into oil painting. However I had no idea about the brushes.
'Acha beta baaki sab saaman hai na tumhaare paas ?! Varnish, linseed oil, palette, kerosene, easel? Haan?', I shook my head cluelessly. I didn't know so many things were required for painting! How very silly of me. I thought only brushes and paint would do! Aur main bina jaane-boojhhe bas chali aayi saaman khareedne.
'Tumhe dekhke lagta hai tumhe painting ke baare zyaada kuch pata nahi hai ! Kiske liye khareed rahi ho ye sab ?'
I quickly said ,'Ji vo mere... pati ke liye'. I don't know why but I just said it. After all it was just a matter of few days. It sounded so different yet so pleasing. I just couldn't stop blushing.
'Thik hai. Ab kyunki tumhe nahi pata ki kaise kya lekar jaana hai, to main apni hisaab se hi ek set taiyaar kiye deta hoon. Thik hai ?', he asked with a warm smile.
I nodded with a grin. He slowly took out all the things needed, one-by-one and started packing them. 'Par itna sab saaman tum lekar kaise jaogi. Tehro zara', he said and disappeared inside the store. He returned a while later with a wooden box.
He opened the box and showed it to me. It was a paint-box. It had sections with one bottle of varnish, linseed oil and kerosene in each, one section lined with tubes of paint, and a detachable palette fixed in the inner part of the lid. It looked so good !
'Aur brushes ?!' I asked.
'Ye lo', he unrolled a leather case which had seven-eight brushes of different sizes. I was bubbling with excitement. 'Bohot bohot shukriya Kaka !'
'Arey shukriya ki kya baat hai beta. Ye to mera kaam hai. Easel aur canvas to inmein aayega nahi. Vo main alag se baandh deta hoon. Aur tum apna pata likhwa do. Ye sab mein bhijwa dunga.'
'Ji' , I said gratefully.
'Aur agli baar apni pati ko saath lekar aana !' I went pink at that word. 'Yoon to maine sab de hi diya hai lekin unhe kuch aur brushes ki zaroorat ho sakti hai. Vo khud hi aakar samjh lein to behtar hoga !'
I nodded with a smile. I gave him the address and left for office.

Entering the Dainik Bhaskar office, I went straight to Imraan.
'Adaab Amrit !'
'Adaab ! Mujhe na ek kaam tha aapse ! Agar Randheer aapse mere baare mein poochhe to keh dijijega ki main aaj nahi aayi daftar. Aur agar aap kar sakte hain to khyaal rakhiyega ki unhe pata hi nahi chale ki main aayi hoon'
'Par kyun ?', he asked utterly confused.
'Aap bas maan lijiye na meri baat !', I requested.
'Acha thik hai. Main koshish karunga', he said and went away.

With a feeling of accomplishment, I happily went upstairs. But to foil all my plans, Randheer was already sitting in my cabin. I stepped back at the right moment. Haye Rabba ! Ye inni jaldi daftar kive aa gaye ! I rushed down back to Imraan. 'Aapne mainu kyun nahi bataya ki Randheer pehle hi aa gaye hai ?'
'Kyunki unhone bataane se mana kiya tha', he shrugged. 'Ab mujhe kaha pata tha ki tum bhi aake aisi hi ajeeb ajeeb batein karogi ?!'
'Aap pehle tay karlo aap kiski taraf ho !', I asked with furrowed eyebrows.
After considering for a while he said, 'Acha main tumhari taraf hoon. Ab kaho'
'To ohnu jaldi neeche bulwaao !'
'Par jab tak patrakaar khabar lekar nahi aate, unke liye vaakayi koi kaam nahi hai ! Main kis kaam se bulau unhe ?'
'Kuch to kaam hoga ! Yaad karo na tussi !', I fretted. 'Keh dijiye ki kisine bulaaya hai - Harbir Chachaji, Jayant Sahab kisine bhi.'
'Acha thik hai main dekhta hoon . Lekin tum jab article likhke dogi tab ?'
I thought for a while and said with a start, 'Tab tussi keh dena ki ... kuch articles aur kahaaniyan pehle se likhke rakhi thi jo ab tayi chhapi nahi , ye unhi mein se hai'
He agreed and ran upstairs. I hid behind the press room's door. Soon after, Randheer came down with a dejected face. I smiled to myself and carefully crept upstairs when he was out of sight.

***

It was late in the afternoon. It was so tough spending the entire day upstairs when I knew Randheer was downstairs. I was writing when I heard footsteps of two people. I knew one of them was definitely Randheer's. Quietly getting up, I slipped behind the door. It was only Manoj who walked in. Randheer pakka baahar khade honge. He looked around the cabin and called out for me. When he turned to go out, he saw me. I quickly joined my hands pleading him not to react. He walked out as if nothing had happened.
'Amrit nahi hai andar, Randheer Sahab.' I was right.
'Aap sach keh rahe hai na ?',I heard Randheer ask skeptically.
'Haan Randheer Sahab. Nahi aayi hogi aaj. Humne bhi nahi dekha use'. I did not hear anything for the next few minutes. Baahar niklu ya nahi ? I peered from behind the door. Randheer was still standing outside. I was smiling like a fool as well as getting annoyed at the same time. Ab kahan jau?! Just then Imraan came running upstairs, 'Randheer Sahab aap yahan hai ? Vaasanti ji aapko dhoond rahi hai !'
Randheer paused for a second and then replied, 'Ji chaliye' in low spirits.
After Imraan gave a knock on the door, a sign that I could come out. Noiselessly I came out, looking out warily. Meri chunauti mujhpe hi bhaari pad rahi thi. I smiled abashedly and bit my lip.

Ye galiyan... ye koonche..
ummeed se lambe... yakeen se unche...
ye koonche... khurpech hai ...
dilchasp bhi ha..i raste ye dil ke...

Dil hi toh hai dil dil hai
dil hi toh hai dil dil hai
Dil hi toh hai dil dil hai...
Dil hi toh hai dil dil hai

Shartein lagaata hai har baar kyun dil ?!
Jazbe jagaata hai aur rulaata hai kyun yaar tu dil ?!

***

The articles for tomorrow had been sent to his desk. I couldn't even send a note with it, I grumbled. I decided to go downstairs and take a look at how he was faring. I hid behind the staircase wall and peeked out. Randheer was despondently working on some papers. He looked so crestfallen! A while later, Imraan went in his cabin. After talking for a while, he came out with an amused smile. Cautiously I waved to him, calling him towards me.
'Tussi aise kyun muskura rahe ho ?', I asked him.
'Randheer Sahab kehte hai aaj unki kalam unse baatein nahi kar rahi ! Ab batao kalam bhi kabhi baat karti hai ?!', he said.
I smiled sheepishly.
'Ab tum kyun aise muskura rahi ho ?!'
'nahi nahi kuch nai ! Tussi mera ek kaam karoge ?', I looked at him in anticipation
'Ab daftar ka kaam to tum mujhe karne nahi de rahi aaj. Yahi kaam kar lenge !'
'Aapka koi kaam agar main kar saku to mujhe bata dijiyega, filhaal meri madad kardijiye', I requested.
'Acha batao', he said warmly.
I opened my bracelet and gave it him, 'Ye ohnu de aao. Ohnu keh dena ki ae tuhaanu itthe giri mili'
He agreed with a shrug. I stood there, hidden behind the staircase wall. Imraan kept the bracelet on his desk, spoke a little and walked out. Randheer gently picked up the bracelet and looked at it longingly for a while and here I looked at him longingly. Suddenly he got up with a start. I realized what was coming and ran upstairs into the library on the first floor.
I moved past the rows of bookshelves and hid behind the farthest bookshelf in the corner. Standing my toes, I peeked from above the bookshelf. He had indeed followed me in there. I quickly ducked my head.
'Amrit!', he called out gently. I was about to reply when I stopped myself. If I opened my mouth, I would not be able to hide anymore.
'Amrit mujhe pata hai aap yahin hai. Bahar aa jaiye na !'
It took every inch of my will power, to not respond to him. But then I froze. I could hear the mellow tune of his harmonica. This was the last straw. I could not stay there anymore. I ran out from behind the bookshelves and stood infront of him, my eyes transfixed on him. Je unha ne mainu savere to nahi dekhia, te maine vi to ohdi ek jhalak hi dekhi savere to ! But I had wronged him. So I lowered my eyes and stood like a child who had been caught in mischief, prepared for punishment.

'Mainu maaf kardo ! Tussi kinni vaari upar aaye, par milia hi nahi tuhaanu. Tuhaade saamne bhi nahi aayi ! Mainu maaf kardo ! Maine fir kade vi aise nahi karna ! Kade vi nahi ! Sacchi !', I babbled.
'Amrit'
I continued, 'Maine bohot pareshaan kita na tuhaanu. Tussi mere naal gal nahi karna kal pura din.'
'Amrit', he said as dearly as ever. I looked up guiltily. 'Kya ab main kuch kahu ?', he asked tenderly taking my hands into his. I nodded vigourously. 'Aaj apne badi zyaakti ki humaare saath', he complained, looking at my hands. I opened my mouth to apologise but he stopped me, 'Amrit, par isse pehle ki main shikaayat karta, aapne khud hi apni itni shikaayatein kardi jitni main kabhi bhi nahi karunga.' I looked at him meekly. 'Chaliye subah se ab aapko dekh raha hoon. Zaraa muskura dijiye !' I smiled a bit. 'Aap ye bataaiye ki aap jeeti ya haari ?!', he asked with a twinkle his eye.
'Haar gayi !', I said timidly, a soft blush warming my cheeks. 'In nigaahon par aap hi ka naam hai aur ye kabhi inkaar nahi kar sakti.'
'Vo toh main jaanta hoon. Lekin main bhi dekhna chahta tha ki aap kab tak mujhse door reh sakti hai'
'Aur kya paaya aapne ?', I asked expectantly.
'Ki ye Dilruba apne Dilbar se door bilkul nahi reh sakti', he said flicking my nose gently.
'Bilkul nahi !', I said flustered.

'Waise mujhe sataa ke kaisa laga aapko ?', he asked mischievously.
'Bilkul bhi acha nahi laga mainu', I said glumly. 'Saara din bas yahi sochte sochte nikal gaya ki main neeche chali aau ya nahi. Kha-ma-kha tuhaanu itna sataaya. Agli vaari aisi koi bewakoofi karu to tussi meri baat nahi maan-na !'
'Ye toh nahi ho sakta ji !', he said whimsically.
I looked at him amused and he grinned. 'Waise Manoj ne mujhse jhooth kaha tha na ki aap cabin mein nahi hai ? Aap wahin thi na ?!', he asked with a glint in his eyes.
I nodded with a slight smile.
'Pata tha mujhe !', he said, thumping his left fist in his left hand. 'Bas Imraan ne us waqt bula liya -'
'Ji vo Imraan meri madad kar rahe si', I said timidly.
'Sach ?!', he asked in astonishment. 'Aur mujhe laga ki meri taraf hai! Chaliye unse baat karni hai mujhe !', he said in mock anger.
'Chaliye', I said with a smile.