It was a chilly, windy morning. I was sleeping, tightly snuggled into my blanket, when I felt somebody brush aside my bed curtains from one side. Before I could open my eyes to see what was happening, someone drew the curtains covering the left window wall, filling the otherwise dark room with brilliant light. I instantly buried my face in my pillow to avoid the sudden brightness. Who was this?
Next that person pulled away my blanket. I groped for my blanket in sleep when someone pulled my legs, pulling me slightly down from the bed. 'Randheer Uth! Subah ho gayii!', came Mukund's voice. Startled, I got up with a jerk and looked around. Mukund stood at the foot of the bed, holding my feet, with a big grin on his face.
'Kya hua???', alarmed, I asked.
'Kuch nahi. Subah ho gayi, utha raha tha tujhe!', he said with a shrug.
'Par kyun? Kitne baje hain?', I asked rubbing my eyes and searching for the alarm clock on the bedside table.
'Paanch baje hai. Chal Mamaji ko liwaane station jaana hai.'
'Mujhe neend aa rahi hai!', I said irritably.
'Oye maine station pe board leke nahi chilaana 'Randheer ke mamaji! Randheer ke mamaji!'. Main nahi mila hoon kabhi unse. Chal jaldi taiyaar ho!'
'Ye naainsaafi hai Mukund. Main waise hi kuch do-teen ghanta hi soya hoon!', I complained, sitting up on my bed.
'Pata hai pata hai, sab pata hai! Meri saali sahiba ke saath date pe jo gaya tha!', he said whimsically.
I blinked my eyes and looked at him.
'Aise kya dekh raha hai mujhe!?', he asked with a crooked smile. 'Tujhe waakayi laga ki 'mujhe' pata nahi chala hoga? 'Mujhe'?'
I looked at him blankly. I should have known.
'Mujhe sab pata tha. Aur jo na bhi pata hota to kal itni der se laute tum log, ab toh poore ghar ko pata hai! Vashma ne bata diya tha'
Understandable.
'Main aur Uday chat pe baithe intezaar kar rahe the.'
'Hmm', I said thoughtfully . 'Par aise kaun uthaata hai??', I exclaimed in a complaining tone.
'Main, Aur kaun ?!', he said perking up his collar. 'Aise hi toh school mein roz uthaata tha tujhe! Aaj itne saal baad aakhri baar mauka mila hai, kaise chhod doon?!'
'Bhabhi to pareshaan ho jaati hongi tujhse!', I said, in an annoyed tone.
'Oye vo toh biwi hain meri. Unhe toh itne pyaar se uthaata hoon – aye haye! Kya batau! Unse baraabari mat kar tu!'
'Main bhi Amrit ko bade pyaar se uthaaunga!', I murmured dreamily.
'Kuch kaha tune?', he asked, with raised eyebrows.
'Nahi nahi kuch nahi!', I said, brushing him off.
'Uth kyun nahi raha tu!!' He exclaimed, pulling me out of bed. 'Chal!!'
He handed me some clothes and pushed me in the bathroom. 'Panch minute mein bahar nahi aaya hai toh darwaaza khatkhata khatkhatake teri saari neend udaa deni hai maine!'

Dost ke naam pe toofan mila hain mujhe!

*

We entered the Delhi Junction railway, bustling with porters and passengers. Around us there were station pointsmen standing near the tracks and waving green flags, the station master ringing the bell, porters some dragging wooden carts, some carrying the luggage on their heads. We were walking down the platform with two porters towing behind us. I had only been here twice, so Mukund was leading the way. Soon we heard the announcement of the arrival of Amritsar-Katihar express. The train led by the red-black engine halted in front of us, puffing steam all around. We rushed, searching for the right carriage.

'O Rab Rab Rab Rab!', came a familiar voice from behind us.
Both of us turned around. Mogar bhuaji was standing at the train door with a suitcase near her feet.
I was taken aback. For once I was relieved that she was fine, safe and sound but then I was skeptical, hoping that this was not something to worry about.

'Oye khote! Khade khade mera muh kya dekh raha hai! Aa itthe! Samaan utaar mera!', she exclaimed in an annoyed tone.
I wondered for a while whether she was talking to me, but then Mukund walked past me.
'Satsriakaal bhuaji!', he said touching her feet. 'Oh ji kade do meethe bol bhi bol liya karo mere naal! Jawaai hoon main is ghar ka!', he said dramatically.
'Hatt pare! Meri chhoti parjaai nu uda ke lae gaya! Vadda aaya jawaai!', she said whimsically, getting down from the train.
She walked down to me. 'O Randheer puttar! Bada changa laga tainu inne saal baad vekhke! Saddi Amrit ne bada intezaar kitta tera. Uski saari prathna rang laayi hai jo tu sahi salaamat laut aaya!'
I bent and touched her feet. 'Humesha khush reh!', she said stroking my head. All this was so strange! She had been this nice to me before, but all in pretence. Nevertheless I smiled a bit.
'Aap kahan se aa rahi hai bhuaji?', I asked her.
'Ambarsar se aur kitthon! Aur vo Uday mainu lene waaste station vi nai aaya! Ae koinsi gal hui! Rab Rab Rab!', she complained.
'Oh aa gaya ji main aa gaya bhuaji!', exclaimed Uday, who came running towards us. 'Ohji maaf kardo mainu zara der ho gayi!', he exclaimed courteously.
She pulled Uday's ear and exclaimed, 'Apni sagi bua de naal aisa karega? Je main station vich kho jaati te?!'
'Hum the na bhuaji!', Mukund chimed in. 'Hum thode hi khone de dete tuhaanu!'
'Oye khoteya! Tera bas chale to mainu jaan-bujjh ke itthe hi chhad jaaye!'
'Ummm vo toh main kahu!', Mukund said with a smirk.
'Hai na ? Hai na? Dekh na main kinne ache se tainu jaandi haan!', she said crossly.
'Nai ji bhuaji! Aise koi iraade nahi hai mere ji! Mainu jaan se haath thodi dhone hai!', he said playfully.
All this was just so confusing. I'd have to ask Uday or someone about this. I just wanted to make sure of one thing – she did not mean trouble. I would not bear with anything this time.
'Bhuaji pehle mere kaan toh chhad do!', Uday pleaded. 'Bas do minute hi toh der se aaya main!'
'Chal ja maaf kiya tainu! Pehle ek gal dasso mainu! Je mainu lene Uday aaya to tum dono itthe kyun ho savere savere? Hein?'
'Ji vo mere Mamaji aur unke parivaar ko lene aaye hain. Vo Ludhiana se aa rahe hain.'
'Randheer mujhe lagta hai aage wale dabbe mein honge, Chal chal dekhte hain!', Mukund said, tapping my shoulder.
'Ji hum bhi nikalte hain fir', Uday said.
He picked up Mogar Bhua's suitcase and walked away with her.
Meanwhile we rushed a bit further, looking around.
'RANDHEER BHAIYA!!!!!', I heard twin voices from the train door. I had only half turned when two teenagers came running and hugged me tightly. Behind them came Padma Mamiji and Raghuveer Mamaji. Teary-eyed they too enfolded their arms around us, 'Humara baccha wapas aa gaya!', they said wearily.
'Arey main bhi hoon yahaan!', came Gautam's excited voice. 'Saamaan mere hawaale karke sab bhaage chale aaye bhaiya se milne!'
He too joined the embrace.
They were so so so happy to have me back. Distance makes us realize what we actually feel for dear ones.
After a few moments they withdrew. I hadn't actually seen any of their faces yet.
The first ones, right in front of me were Yash and Keerti. Both of them had grown so tall! - Yash almost as tall as Mamaji! Gautam was still taller. Gautam was dressed in formals – just like Mamaji, just him being Mamaji's replica all the time. Inspite of being almost adults, Keerti and Yash were dressed alike – pullovers and trousers but they both looked so smart and elegant! And Keerti! If I may say, my baby sister had grown up into a young woman now.
'Kaise hain aap Bhaiyaa??', both of them asked together.
'Pehle ye batao tum dono ho kaun, mere bhai-behen to itne chhote chhote the. Tum kaun ho?!', I asked playfully.
'Mazak mat kijiye bhaiya!', Keerti complained, 'Hum hi hain aapke Yash-Keerti!'
'Aap jaante hain, humne shart lagaayi thi ki aap hume lene station aoge ya nahi. Maine toh kaha ki aap toh dulhe ho, aap kyun aaoge.', Yash exclaimed.
'Par maine bola tha ki bhaiya zaroor aayenge!!', Keerti added eagerly.
'Umm... sach kahu toh mujhe yahan laane ke liye tumhe iska shukriya-ada karna hoga.', I said, pulling Mukund slightly by his arm. 'Mujhe toh waakayi nahi pata tha ki aap sab abhi pohonchne waale hain'.
'Wajah jo bhi ho, tu aaya toh sahi!', Mamiji replied lovingly.
'Haan bhaiya, waise bhi vyaah mein shayad aapka dhyaan kahin aur hi rahe!', Gautam whispered in my ear. I glared at him, with an embarrassed smile.

I turned to Mamaji. I had never seen tears in his eyes. He had always been that proud, tough, formidable general whom everyone feared.
'Aap ro rahe hai Mamaji?', I asked gently.
'Kade kade aansu sabnu aate hai puttar. Aena vi sakht nai hai tera Mama', he said and hugged me tight.
After a while he withdrew. 'Aene parivaar ujadte dekhe, apna khudka ka parivaar toot-ta dekha is batwaare de kaaran. Maine dekha hai Abha aur Raisahab ko teri yaad mein tadapte hue. Aaj tainu waapas apne saamne sahi-salaamat, khush dekhke mainu inna sukoon mil raha hai na puttar- ki dasaan tainu.'
I nodded with a sigh.
We all conversed about each other for some time standing there.
Mamaji took out his pocket watch from his breast pocket and said, 'Chalo bacchon humaari baatein toh khatm nahi honi. Ghar chalte hain, baithke ikminaan se gallan karenge!'
Agreeing with him, we helped the porters lift the luggage and left for home.

*

We reached home soon. Mummyji-Bauji were waiting in the drawing room itself for our arrival. Everyone exchanged pleasantries with them.
After a while Mummyji came up to me, 'Kya hua Randheer? Tu thoda pareshaan sa lag raha hai? Koi baat hai?'
'Mummyji, Mogar Bhuaji aayi hain Amritsar se.', I replied. 'Kahin is baar bhi voh kuch... Pata nahi Mummyji. Aisa nahi hai ki mujhe unke bartaav se kuch laga. Main bura sochna bhi nahi chaahta par ye khayaal jaa hi nahi raha mere mann se.'
'Baat toh teri sahi hai. Mogar pe toh mujhe bhi bharosa nahi hai.', she said in a slightly irked tone. 'Vo kehti toh hai, ki itna sab dekhne ke baad, ab uske mann mein koi bair nahi hai, par main phir bhi hoshiyar rahungi. Mere bacchon ki khushiyon pe dubaara kisiko bhi nazar nahi lagaane dungi, fir chaahe vo koi bhi ho.', she said firmly.
She had to leave the conversation mid-way because Mamaji had called for her.

I wanted to be assured. For this, I went to Prem Niwas. Everyone seemed to be upstairs. Luckily I saw Uday coming downstairs – just the right person.
'Satsriakal Uday.'
'Satsriaakal Raisahab, station pe ache se baat hi nahi ho paayi aapse.', he said politely.
'Haan Uday par mujhse ek zaroori baat karni hai tumse.', I replied.
'Kya hua Raisahab? Koi chinta waali baat?'
I took him into the room, on the left of the drawing room, just beside the stairs.
'Mujhe tumse Mogar Bhua ke baare mein tumse baat karni thi. Kya waakayi unke mann ke mann mein kuch nahi hai ab? Main bas tasalli chaahta hoon. Kya voh khush hai humaari khushi mein?'
'Haan Randheer! Befikar raho tussi!', he said reassuringly, holding me by my shoulders. 'Lahore chhodte waqt jo Tayaji ne apne se pehle unhaanu jeep mein bithaake ke Amritsar vhejya, usse toh jaise unki zindagi bhar ki saari shikaayatein khatam ho gayi ji. Unhe Tayaji-Tayiji ke pyaar ke maayne samajh aaye. Ab unke mann mein ratti bhar bhi koi baat nahi hai. Aap befikar raho. Aur ab te Kiran ka vyaah bhi ho gaya, to kis baat ki khataas? Sab change hai ji!', he replied.
'Hmm', I replied thoughtfully. 'Par fir voh Amritsar mein kahan se aa rahi hai?'
Uday became a bit serious at the question. After a while he replied in a slightly upset tone, 'Bhanu veere aur Saroj parjai ke ghar.'
I was startled at the answer. After a moment of thiught I said, 'Uday... maaf karna par tum sab ek itna bhara poora parivaar lagte ho, mujhe wakayi kabhi laga hi nahi ki kisi ki kami ho.'
'Hum sab yahaan wakayi bohot khush hai ek saath Randheer Sahab. Par humne kabhi nahi socha tha ki kabhi bhi hume aise akele rehna hoga. Sapne mein bhi nahi socha tha. Tayaji, Tayiji, Bauji, Mogar Bhua, Bhaanu Veer, Parjaayji- ek ek kar sab ka saath chhoot jaayega. Kuch kismat ke faisle se, kuch humaare faisle se.', he said wearily.
I sat down on the bed beside us- to listen to their tale.
Sitting down beside me, he continued, 'Batwaare ke baad jab hum Amritsar ke campon mein the tab Bhanu Veerji aaye the hume dhoondte hue. Vo aur Mogar bhua parjaayi ke maayke mein thehre hue the. Hume dekhkar vo jitne khush the, Vashma ko dekhkar utne hi nakhush. Unhaade sasural waalon ne Vashma ko apne ghar mein kadam nahi rakhne diya', he said in a vexed manner. 'Hum teeno ne bhi Vashma ke bina us ghar mein jaane se mana kar diya.
Bhaanu veere ne bhi koi khaas koshish nahi ki is baare mein. Vo bhi otthe camp wich hi saanu milne aa jaande.
Us waqt Amru ne pehli baar hum sabke saamne ye baat rakhi ki usnu likhna hai, kaam karna hai. Meri toh ji khushi ka thikaana hi nahi tha. Par Bhaanu Veerji, unhone toh jaise koi kasar hi nahi chhodi uski himmat todne mein. Kehne lage ki 'kudiyaan bahar jaake kaam kare, iske kya jaroorat hai- hum kya mar gaye hain?; Randheer Sahab ke saath kuch din kaam kya kar liya, bade oonche sapne dekhne lagi hai; Aena koi asaan nahi hota lekhak banna; yahan koi Randheer Sahab nahi hai tere ye aasmani khwaab ko hawa dene waaste', aur bhi pata nahi kya kya. Vashma se unki ye sab baatein sahan nahi hui bilkul bhi – usne bata diya ki Amrit koi khayaali baatein nahi kar rahi. Amrit ki likhaayi ki toh pehle hi duniya kaayal hai. Raanjhan aur koi nahi saadi Amru hai!', he exclaimed. 'Ohji mainu toh vishwaas hi nahi hoyaji ki jis lekhak ke charche poore Punjab mein hai, voh aur koi nahi par meri behn hai! Is gal ki bhi main changi tarah khushi nahi mana paaya – Bhaanu Veere ko ye gal zaraa bhi pasand nahi aayi.

Bhaanu Veer ne mere aur Vashma ke rishte ko maan-ne is inkaar kar diya. Mere Kabir ko apne parivaar ka hissa maan-ne se inkaar diya. Vo chaahte the ki main apni Vashma aur apne bacche nu chhod doon.', he said, seething with anger. 'Koi itna patthar dil kaise ho sakta hai ji?', he asked looking at me teary-eyed.
'Humne apni taraf se unhe manaane ki poori koshish ki par vo apni baat se tas-se-mas nahi hue.
Phir Amru ne ek baat kahi ohnu, ki –' dangaiyon se jaan bachaakar, Faarukh ke us pinjre se nikalkar kya isiliye hum Hindustan aaye the ki yahan dubaara hume ek aur pinjre mein dhakel diya jaaye? Humaari zindagi kya bas har pal bas kisi munde ke ishaaron pe chalne ka naam hai? Kya aur koi mol nahi hai humaari zindagi ka?'
Aeni nikki ji hai meri Amru par baatein....', he said with a proud smile.
'Amru ke kaam karne waali baat pe toh jyon-tyoh apni baat manwaa lete hum. Par jo unhone Kabir aur Vashma ko chhodne ki baat ki toh main, Amru, Maa, kisi se nahi raha gaya. Parivaar ke maaine jaante hai hum par us waqt hum chaaro is tarah ek ho gaye the ki apni akhaan ke aage ek dusre ki zindagi aur sapnon ko khaak hote hue nahi dekh sakde the ji. Je us waqt hum us galat baat pe jhuk jaate toh shaayad kade vi fir uth nahi paate. Isliye hume faisla karna pada. Unhi dino mere layi Dilli se bulawa aa gaya tha, so hum sab yahan chale aaye.
Amru te abhi bhi khat likhti hai ohnu par aajtak kade jawaab nahi aaya ji. Hum phone karde to toh humaari awaaz sunke hi voh phone kaat dete hain ji. Gharwaalon ko bhi nyota vhej na pada vyaah ka, pher bhi vo naa aaye.', he said with a sarcastic laugh.
Lost parents, estrangled family - what had they done to deserve this? Dream? Love someone? I wondered what more was in store for them all. But I was so proud of all fiur of them, for having stood up for eachother and for making the tough but right decision.

He stood up and turned to me, 'Sab changa hai Randheer Sahab, aap jyaada socho mat is baare mein. Aaj nahi te kal baat toh unhone samajhni hi hai unhone. Humne woh ghar chhoda tha, unhe apna parivaar maan-na nahi.'
I nodded thoughtfully.
'Bas ek binti hai aapse ji'
'Haan bolo na Uday! '
'Aap is baare mein Amrit se koi baat nahi karna. Uske chehre pe jo khushi hai, main nahi chaahta kisi bhi wajah se vo inni si vi kam hoye'
I nodded with a smile.

Suddenly we heard voices from outside the room. Confused, we looked at each other and went outside. No one was there. We followed the noise which could still be heard up the stairs.

As we reached upstairs in the hallway, we saw that Gautam and Yash-Keerti had arrived here to meet their Bhabhi, making the maximum noise possible. Amrit stood at the door of her room, with a pleased smile. She was wearing a dark green salwar-kameez with golden embroidery work, paired with a yellow-orange-pink dupatta. Yash and Gautam had dhols around the necks and all of them just broke into a bhangra right there!
Vashma, Mukund, Radha Bhabhi and now Uday too joined them.

'oye hoye sohniye... heeriye
oye hoye raanjhna.. chat baliye

Oye hoye sohniye... heeriye
oye hoye raanjhna.... Chat baliye

They pulled me and Amrit too in the dance.

sohniye sohniye heeriye heeriye
sohniye sohniye heeriye heeriye'

'Satsriakaal Bhabhi!', Keerti hugged Amrit, kaisi hai aap?'
'Main achi hoon. Aap sab kaise hai?', Amrit asked gleefully.
'Bhabhi hum toh bohot bohot bohot khush hai!', Yash exclaimed.

'Raha nahi gaya tum logon se?', I asked them with an amused smile.
'Toh hum Bhabhi se milne ke liye intezaar karte?!', Keerti exclaimed.
'Dekhiye bhaiya, humare ghar ke pehli shaadi hai, aapki shaadi hai!', Yash replied. 'Humne toh poore maze lootne hai!'
'Aap jaa sakte hain yahan se', Gautam added teasingly. 'Aap bas pheron ke waqt samay se aa jaana, baaki...aapki koi zaroorat nahi hai yahan!'
'Haan bhaiya, hume toh yahin basera karna hai. Aap jaa sakte hain!', Yash too joined in.
'Kahin nahi jaa rahe bhaiya!', Keerti said firmly.

She took out a wooden frame from a bag and presented it to Amrit.
The wooden frame enclosed an off-white fabric which had pretty floral designs embedded on it and the center, in red and golden thread, was embroidered beautifully – 'रणधीर की दुल्हनिया'

With a smirk Keerti said, 'Bhabhi ye maine khud banaya hai. Aapko apne darwaaze pe lagaana hoga.'
'Ye hum teeno ki maang hai', the three of them exclaimed together.
Amrit turned crimson. Vashma nudged her and she blushed harder. I too could feel warmth rising up my face.
'Aap sharmaate bhi hain bhaiya?', Gautam whispered to me. I glared back at him.
'Bataiye na Bhabhi!!', Yash asked urgently. 'Aap lagaengi na?!'
Amrit nodded with a bashful smile.
Keerti jumped up in excitement and quickly hung it on her door.
'Kya shor sharabba chal raha hai yahan?', came a familiar female voice from up the stairs behind us. We turned to find Zaida Chachiji, Iqbal Chachaji and Mogar Bhua coming down with a confused smile.
I went and touched Chachaji and Chachiji's feet.
'Jeete raho beta. Kaisa ho?! Sab khairiyat?', Chachaji replied.
'Ji Chachaji. Main bilkul theek hoon. Aap sab bhi kuch der pehle pohonche hain?'
'Haan beta, bas kuch der pehle', replied Zaida Chachiji. 'Uday hume hawaai-adde lene aaya tha, isiliye shayad use Mogar ko liwaane mein zara der ho gayi!', she added with a chuckle.
'Oh parjai, changi tariya kaan khech liye maine isde', Mogar Bhua said dramatically.
'Haan Haan Mogar, vo toh hume poora barosa hai ki tune achi tarah kaan kheech liye honge Uday ke', Iqbal Chachaji replied with a laugh.
'Randheer, hume bhi toh in bacchon se milwaao!', Zaida Chachi turned to me.
'Ji ji chachiji, ye hai Gautam, ye Yash aur ye Keerti.', I said, pointing towards them one-by-one and they joined their hands in a 'namaste'.
'Aur ye hain Vashma ke Ammi-Abbu- Iqbal Chachaji aur Zaida Chachiji. Uh Vashma-'
'Vashma Bhabhi ko jaante hain hum bhaiya!', Gautam added casually. 'Uday bhaiya, Mukund bhaiya, Radha Bhabhi, Kabir - sabko jaante hain hum!', he said proudly.
I gave them a surprised smile.

Everybody got engaged in conversations with one another. I looked around – Amrit was missing.
I looked at Vashma and raised my eyebrows in question. She gestured towards her room. I nodded gratefully and proceeded towards her room.

Vashma's room was just the same size as Amrit's. It had a bed adjacent to the left wall, with a balcony on the opposite wall on the right of the bed. It had two set of curtained windows – one beside the balcony door and one beside the door on the left. Next this window was a lattice work wooden partition. Amrit couldn't be seen anywhere here, but I could see shadows behind the wooden partition. Noiselessly, I picked up a brass dish, filled with mogra blossoms from a table beside.
As she came out, I tossed all the flowers upon her.
Taken by surprise, she shut her eyes but then fluttered them open with a smile.

'Ye mogre bhi khafa honge aapse!', I said whimsically.
'Ji ?', she asked uncertainly.
'Aapne khushbu jo churaa-li inki!', I added.
A soft blush crept on her cheeks, as she gently brushed off the mogra blossoms off her hair and clothes.
'Subah subah aapki neend toh nahi kharab ki na inhone?', I asked gently.
'Nahi nahi!', she replied with a pleased smile. 'Aur... aapki?'
'Meri toh kal shaam ki khumaari hi nahi utri hai ab tak!', I said dreamily.
'Subah ho gayi hai Randheer', she said with a demure smile.
'Subah... ho gayi?'
'Ji?'
'Meri toh subah nahi hui hai. Kyunki... mera chaand toh kabhi ...doobta hi nahi!', I said softly. Completely flustered, she turned her back towards the window and concealed herself behind a curtain.
'Lijiye doob gaya aapka chaand, jaiye ab aap', she replied shyly.
'Dooba nahi hai, uh huh', I said moving closer. 'Bas chhipne ki koshish kar raha hai'
As I drew the curtains away from her face, she held up her dupatta in front of her face.
I gently lowered the dupatta a bit and she looked up at me with shining eyes.

tere naina tere naina tere naina re
tere naina tere naina tere naina re

tere naina tere naina tere naina re
tere naina tere naina tere naina re

Nainon ki chaal hai
makhmali haal hai
neechi palkon se badle samaa
naina sharmaaye jo

Ya ke bhar aaye jo
thamke ruk jaaye dono jahan

rab ki nehmat hain teri nigaahein
jisme basti hai uski duaayein
aisi naino ki baatein mein
koi kyun na aaye?

tere naina tere naina tere naina re
tere naina tere naina tere naina re

tere naina tere naina tere naina re
tere naina tere naina tere naina re

This were, are and shall remain the most beautiful pair of eyes ever.

All at once I heard one of my youth troop call out, 'RANDHEER BHAIYAAA!'
I looked towards the door and let out a huff.
Amrit let out a stifled chuckle. With a sigh, I turned and left.