I had alighted from my tanga. Paying the tangawallah, I rushed inside Prem Niwas. 'Vashma!!', I called out, craning my neck, looking around. 'Vashma!!'
'Arey aa rahi hoon, aa rahi hoon!', came a voice from up the stairs accompanied by a sound of hurried steps coming down.
I rushed to the foot of the steps, 'Zara jaldi nahi aa sakti!', I rebuked her.
'Oye! Turant to aa gayi! Do mint ka sabr toh hai nahi tujhme!', she grumbled back.
'Haan mujhimein sabr nahi hai!', I said, going through the contents of my bag. I took out my notebooks and thrust them in her hand.
'Likh lena saare aur –', I raised a finger. 'Kal ke kal khatam kar leyi! Ab main chalna', I prattled and turned to leave.

'Oye Raajdhani ruk!', she grabbed my dupatta and pulled me back.
'Kya hai Vashma?!' I complained, freeing myself from her hold.
'Chup chaap khadi reh yahan! Mujhe dekhne de pehle ki kahin kuch reh toh nahi gaya.', she ordered. 'Abhi aayi nahi ki 'main jaa rahi hoon'. Do mint ruk jayegi toh jaise pahad toot padega. Mujhse toh koi matlab hi nahi hai. Hmph!', she added in a grumbling mumble.
With an impatient look, I stood there while she pored over the notes one by one.
'Acha baba maaf karde mainu', I said with furrowed brows.
She slightly looked up at me with a glare and then turned away with another hmph.
'Vashma ab natak na kar!', I complained.
'Haan haan. Yeh achi baat hai! Hadbadi tu kare, sabr tu na kare aur fir shikayat bhi tu kare!', she exclaimed.
'Achi sacchi wala maaf karde!', I said guiltily with a not-so-guilty look on my face.
She considered me for a while and said, 'Maafi dikh nahi rahi tere chehre pe!'
I deliberately frowned the hardest I could. 'Ab ??'
'Hmm... behtar hai!', she replied, haughtily and returned to the books.
I chuckled. 'Main hadbadi kar rahi thi kyunki Holika Dahan ki taiyaariyaan hongi! Mummyji nu madad chaidi honi hai na meri!'
'Oh haan! Thik hai thik hai, bas do minute de mujhe!', she assured me.

'Yeh toh sab sahi hai', she said, halfway down. 'Aur hairaani ki baat hai ki Amrit Sahni ne saare notes bina kisi galti ke sahi sahi utaar liye', she exclaimed as if she were making an announcement. Then patting my shoulder, she pretentiously added, ' Mujhe garv hai tujhpe!'
I slightly jerked my shoulder, brushing her off with an amused smile.
She giggled and opened the one of the remaining notes.
'Oyeee? Ye kiski copy uthaa laayi?', she exclaimed in confusion, half-closing it and turning over the first page to check the name. 'Hai toh teri hi. Par likhaawat toh teri nahi?', she added. I mentally smacked my head.
She opened the last notebook. 'Phir wahi likhaawat. Oye ye hai kiski??', puzzled, she questioned again, squinting at it. I knew she was crossing off names in her head, of whose handwriting it wasn't.
'Tu.. aam kha na. Guthliyaan mat gin.', I said, averting my eyes.

'Amrit!', she looked at me with a meaningful questioning stare.
'Oho!! Randheer ki hai!', I gave in, looking elsewhere impishly. Why on earth couldn't I keep my mouth shut before her?!
She looked at me open-mouthed for a while. 'Tu Randheer se college ke notes likhwa rahi hai?!?!', she exclaimed out aloud. 'Sharam nahi aayi tainu!?'
'Thik hai na Vashma. Bas thode se hi toh likhwaaye!', I mumbled in embarrassment.
'Isse kehte hain pati ke pyaar ka galat fayda uthaana!', she reprimanded.
'Ye tu keh rahi hai?', I asked, narrowing my eyes.
'Haan haan main hi keh rahi hoon. Aur koi dikhaayi de raha hai tujhe yahaan?', she said in a matter-of-factly tone.
'Vashma agar main teri harketin ginwaane lagi na toh subah yahin ho jaani hai! Sab pata hai, mere Veerji ka kitna fayda uthaati hai tu!'
'Main college ke notes toh nahi likhwaati tere Veer se!', she said cheekily.
'Voh isiliye kyunki unki likhaawat tainu nahi pasand! ', I replied even more cheekily. 'Ab mere pati ki likhaawat sohni hai te main ki karaan?', I muttered under my breath, looking elsewhere.
'Oye kya kaha? Kya kaha? Kya kaha?', she said, rushing to my front.

'Amrit ?! Kudiye aethe ki kar rahi hai. Jaa parjaayiji ki madad kar. Abhi pooja mein kuch hi der reh gayi hai!', Mogar bhua remarked, coming down the stairs.
'Ji Buaji, main bas abhi jaa hi rahi thi. Isnu bas ye kuch –'
'Oye tum dono pe toh katayi bharosa nahi hai mainu', she interjected. 'Abhi lag jaogi baaton main aur saare kaam dhare ke dhare reh jaane hai! Jo baatein shaatein karni hai, sab kal! Hun tu jaa aur parjaayiji di madad kara!', she said firmly.
'Haan haan Amrit tu jaa!', Vashma too nodded. 'Tujhse hisaab mein baad mein le lungi', she added with a wink. I suppressed a smile, took their leave and rushed to Raizada Sadan.

The house was bustling with activity. Mamaji-Mamiji and the family would be leaving right after then Holika Dahan. The packing along with the pooja preparations was the apparent reason for hubbub.
The sofa-set in the baithak was nowhere to be seen. Instead the symbolic idols of Holika (gobar gulris) were placed in the middle of the hall with aasans all around it. Neero Bhaiya followed Mummyji into her room and a confused Keerti was following Mamiji around. Yash was loitering around purposelessly.
I quickly kept my bag near the table which held the telephone and rushed to Mummyji.
'Mummyji, main aa gayi. Kya taiyaariyaan karni hai, mainu bataiye!'
'Amrit!', she remarked with a smile. 'Pooja ki sab taiyaariyaan ho chuki hai. Uski tum fikr mat karo. Tum pehle jao haath muh dho lo. Fir bas pooja ki thaal sajaani hai.'
'Ji thik hai!'
I greeted Mamiji who entered the room, as I was leaving it.

'Inhone kehya mainu, tussi vi jaa rahe ho kitthe?', I heard Mamiji ask Mummyji. Curious, I stopped for a while.

'Ji bhabhi hum bhi bas kal dopahar tak niklenge Vrindavan ke liye. Amrit-Randheer ka vyaah ho gaya ache se. Ab byaaola ka shagun chadhaana hai RadhaVallabhji ke mandir mein. Randheer ko tickton ke liye bol diya hai. Somvaar subah tak wapas laut aayenge'
I had to keep a hand over my mouth to stop myself from squeaking. I took a swift turn and darted upstairs.
This was unexpected! I swayed and twirled around excitedly. My younger self would be so bewildered at me for dancing around shamelessly in the room because Mummy-Bauji were going out-of-town for a couple of days. Oh what is wrong with me?!
I stopped dead as I saw Neero Bhaiya standing at the door, confused. I straightened in embarrassment.
'Babyji -?!'
'Ugh ... woh...', I faltered, unable to think of anything good enough to reply.
'Mujhe nahi pata tha aapko Holi itni pasand hai?', he remarked with a puzzled expression.
'Oh Holi, haan!', I said, with a sigh of relief, looking elsewhere. 'Holi!'
'Par Babyji usse pehle, Holika dahan hai na! Main toh poochhne aaya tha ki aapko samay lagega toh thaali main saja doon?'
'Nai nai bas aap das minute rukiye. Main aati hoon neeche!', I replied quickly.
'Thik hai ji', he replied and left. I smacked my head. 

*

We had sat down for the pooja around the Holika idols (gobar gulris). I knew Randheer would be late and would probably not be present during the pooja too but I nevertheless kept glancing at the door every now and then. He dropped in beside me near the end of the pooja. Mummyji applied tilak to him; he joined his palms and we wound up the pooja with all possible haste.

The pyre for Holika was set up two lanes away. The entire neighbourhood was present. I and Mummyji performed the pooja. Veerji too performed the pooja, following Bhuaji's instructions. In Ludhiana, the Holika Dahan was the next day. Mamaji-Mamiji and the family would perform it the next day after reaching home.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Randheer, Vashma, Kabir, Gautam, Yash-Keerti having a gala time together. Randheer had overturned a laughing Kabir in his arms and everybody else too was laughing their hearts out. I was a bit envious for a second but then looked away to take my mind off them.

I too joined them after pooja. We all had an extremely enjoyable time together. Soon it was time for Mamaji-Mamiji and our cousins to leave.
'Aap sab jaldi aaiyega Ludhiana. Hum intezaar karenge!', Mamiji said with a broad smile.
'Parjaayiji, hum jaldi koshish karenge aane ki!', Bauji replied politely.
'Raazi-khushi rehna! Rab Rakhan!', Mamaji blessed us as we bent down to touch his feet.
'Bhaiya! Aap Bhabhi ka khayal rakhna!', Yash and Gautam exclaimed
'Aur Bhabhi aap bhaiya ka khayaal rakhna!', Keerti chimed in.
We nodded with a chuckle.
Shortly they all left for the station in to cars – one driven by Randheer, the other by Driverji.

*

I was sitting in the alcove, embroidering his name in one of his handkerchiefs. His handkerchief was fixed in a round wooden frame. I was getting rather good at this. Last time, I had made this, it had covered almost half the handkerchief. This time I had embroidered his name with red thread in one corner. I pulled at the end of the thread and cut it with my teeth. It was done. 
'रणधीर' I brushed my hand over it lovingly and blushed.
Removing it from the frame, I brought it close to my heart.

Just then I heard hasty footsteps. I folded the handkerchief quickly. He came hurrying inside and grasped my hand, 'Amrit jaldi chaliye!'
'Par kahaan??', I asked, bewildered.
'Ice-cream khaane!' he replied eagerly, making me stand up.
'Inni raat ko ice-cream kahaan milegi?', I asked with a chuckle.
'Amrit maine raaste mein dekha tha. Vo paas wala ice-cream parlour, voh bas band hi kar rahe the use. Main badi minnatein karke unhe kehke aaya hoon ki vo thodi der aur ruk jaayein. Aap chaliye na!', he said urgently.
'Oh! Chaliye chaliye!', I replied, letting him pull me along.
We were halfway downstairs when he turned to me with a finger on his lips. We tip-toed down noiselessly. The baithak was unlit. Hand in hand, looking around warily, we crossed the baithak.
Just then the lights of the dining area turned on. We turned around instinctively. Mummyji and Bauji sat there sipping either tea or coffee, looking at us with knowing smiles.
Startled, I and Randheer looked at each other for a while.
They looked at each other and then Bauji chuckled, 'Ruk kyun gaye?? Jaoo bhai!'
Randheer and I exchanged impish smiles and hurried out with a blush.

As we reached the ice-cream parlor, we saw that the shop-owner was pulling the shutter down. Before I could react, I saw Randheer close the car door hastily and dash outside. He held the shutter half-way, stopping him.
'Rukiye ji hum aa gaye!', he exclaimed.
'Janaab mujhe der ho rahi hai!', he grumbled.
'Bas – bas das minute lagenge. Bas das minute!', he requested cutely.
'Aap das minute kehke gaye the. Ab bees minute se zyaada ho gaye hai. Mujhe ghar jaana, aap hatiye zara', he said sternly.
Here I was thinking, why wasn't that person yielding if Randheer was requesting so sweetly?! He is stone-hearted. Humph!
'Janaab bas do ice-cream. Acha chaliye ek? Kitna waqt lagega – bas do minute!', he pleaded.
'Meri biwi ghar pe intezaar kar rahi hai!', he exclaimed worriedly.
'Meri biwi ice-cream ka intezaar ka rahi hai!', Randheer countered cutely. He joined his palms in request, adorably and realizing that he had let go of the shutter, grabbed it again promptly.
He considered Randheer for a while and then relented at last. 'Acha thik hai bhai. Aaiye!'
He pushed up the shutter finally. With a relieved smile, I rushed to Randheer's side.

Randheer was about to tell him the flavors when I stopped him.
'Nai nai nai har baar waale nahi! Aaj koi alag flavour aazmaen?', I suggested.
'Hmm! Kyun nahi!', he said. 'Ek kaam karte hain. Aap mere liye koi flavour chuniye, main aapke liye chunta hoon. Kaisa rahega?'
I nodded happily.
I ran my eyes over all the ice-creams. A blended white-pink-orange ice-cream dotted caught my eye. 'Ye kaunsi hai?', I asked, pointing at it.
'Triple treat – raspberry, vanilla aur orange', he replied plainly.
'Ye aapke liye!', I said, turning to Randheer.
'Thik hai!'
He was still looking around for a flavor. 'Amrit aap 'Rum & Raisins' try karengi?', he asked after a while.
'Par ...Rum toh sharab hoti hai na?', I asked worriedly. 'Nai nai-'
He chuckled, 'Haan Rum sharab hoti hai. Par ice-cream mein sirf itni si milaayi jaati hai', he gestured with a pinch of his fingers. 'Mehek ke liye hi samajh lijiye'
'Kuch ...hoga toh nahi na?', I asked again.
'Nahi Amrit!', he replied with a chortle.
'Toh fir thik hai' I turned to the ice-cream parlor owner.
He was tapping his feet impatiently, glowering at us.
It was all my fault. I had to suggest this flavor choosing today, when he was running late.
'Ek 'Rum & raisins' aur ek 'triple treat', Randheer said. Both of us looked guiltily at each other.

He swiftly gave us one ice-cream each and shut the parlour immediately after.
'Aapka bohot bohot shukriya janaab!', Randheer thanked him.
'Ji thik hai agli baar na aaplog samay se aaiyega!', he pleaded urgently and left.

After a moment of pause, I said sheepishly,'Iski mehek toh achi hai..'
'Um hmm?', Randheer looked at me with an amused smile.
I smiled to myself.

'Hume na Kabir ko bhi le aana chaiye tha!', Randheer said. 'Bacchon ki baat koi nahi taalta. Voh hume aur jaldi ice-cream de dete!'
'Aur phir?', I asked with a chuckle.
'Fir ..hum Kabir ko ice-cream khila ke gaadi mein sula dete!', he replied with a chuckle.
'Aapko sacchi mucchi Kabir ko saath laana tha?', I asked with an amused smile.

'Nahi'. He turned towards me. 'Aap aur hum... tanha hi ache hain', he replied, a husky tenderness to his voice.
I looked down, turning pink.

It was probably a quarter past midnight. The roads were deserted. Not a soul around. We strolled around the place , licking icecream leisurely. I pulled at his hand and took at a bite from his cone.

'Amrit..', leaning in, he pointed towards my face with wrinkled eyebrows. Before I knew it, he kissed me sweet. My cheeks burned. I looked away, blushing hard.

We were done with the ice-cream and had actually come to the other end of the locality. We made our way back from a different route this time. 
We came across a few puddles on the road. I thought to hop over them but them stopped.
After a moment's contemplation, I complained pretentiously, 'Meri jootiyan maili ho jaayegi!'
No sooner had I said this, than he lifted me up in his arms. My heart gave one heavy thump. 'Ab nahi hogi!', he said with a shrug and a smile.

I smiled impishly. Excuses are tremendously useful. 


enna sohna kyun rab ne banaya?
enna sohna kyun rab na banaya?
enna sohna kyun rab ne banaya?
enna sohna kyun rab na banaya?

aavan javaan te main yaara nu manaawan
aavan javaan te main yaara nu manaawan
enna sohna, enna sohna, enna sohna
enna sohna kyun rab ne banaya?
enna sohna oh-oh enna sohna oh-oh
enna sohna, enna sohna

I stroked his face softly. He gave me an endearing smile. I brushed his hair lovingly. He shook his head, dishevelling them. I chuckled and ruffled his hair again. 

Kol hove teh sek lagda hai
door jaave the dil jalda hai
kehdi agg naal rab ne banaya?
rabne banaya, rab ne banaya
enna sohna kyun rab ne banaya?
enna sohna kyun rab na banaya?

aavan javaan te main yaara nu manaawan
aavan javaan te main yaara nu manaawan
enna sohna, enna sohna, enna sohna