It was about seven in the evening. I was sitting in my cabin and working as usual. Strange, Amrit wasn't here in my cabin. This time, before I go in for the daily meetings, she is usually here. Uh... she must have been caught up with something, never mind.
Just then Preetika came in my cabin.
'Radheer Sahab aapka yahaan kaam khatam hua. Ab aap ghar jaiye', she said with a smile.
'Ji?', I looked at her, lost for answers. 'Abhi toh meetings baaki hai. Kitna sabkuch baaki hai. Aur abhi toh saat hi baje hain?'
'Aapne reports aur lekh edit kar diye hai na?', she asked.
'Ji vo toh kar hi diye hai par-'
'Haan toh bas', she said, gathering all the sheets on my desk together. 'Ab aapse yahaan mulakat seedha bees taareekh ko hogi. Ab aap jaaiye'
'Lekin kyun?' I asked, alarmed. 'Aur bees taarekh? Aap shaadi mein nahi aayengi?'
'Maine aisa kab kaha. Main kaha 'yahan' mulakat. Shaadi mein to hum sab hi aayenge. Ye bhi koi kehne waali baat hai?!'
'Aur Amrit?', it suddenly struck me.
'Vo bhi bas abhi kuch der pehle hi nikli hai'
But we could have departed together? That is odd.

'Kis soch mein pad gaye aap?', she asked.
'Uh ji thik hai, main chalta hoon', I said uncertainly, getting up and crossing over my desk.
'Ek minute. Ye Amrit ne diya tha aapko dene ke liye.' ,she said handing me an envelope.
'Shukriya', I said courteously.
'Aur fikr mat kijiyega, daakiye kabhi khat khol ke nahi padha karte!', she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
I nodded with an embarrassed grin. I don't know if it is cuter or funnier or rather embarassing but somehow everyone here had become a messenger for us.
I reclined a bit against my desk and opened the envelope and subsequently unfolded the note.

"Kya aap mere saath ek date par chalenge ?"
Wait, what?

I reread it.

Shoot I was going on a real date?! Yes I was. Oh Good lord! Am I such a fool? - I didn't ask her out for a date all this while and so fed-up of waiting, she decided to ask me out herself? Whatever be the reason, it was my first date and I was rather being taken on one. Wow! Now that's something I can boast about!
The mysterious bag, which had aroused my curiosity in the morning, was placed on the chair on the opposite side of my desk. When did she keep it here?
I looked into it. It had a navy-blue coat, matching trousers paired with a white shirt and another note.

"Agar jawab haan ho, to kya aap ye pehenke ke aa sakte hain?"
Oh my God! She had sent me the garments too! Now excitement was building up. I dashed out of the office.

*

I got dressed quickly.
Standing in front of the mirror, I adjusted my clothes and gently stroked my hair perfect. I rubbed some ittar on both sides of my neck. Next, I pinned an oval brooch to the lapel of my coat.
Clothes- check; Ittar - check; hair - check; flowers? - I'll pick them up on my way: and my date? - where would I find her? I looked into the bag once again. Nothing. I rummaged my pockets - just in case. And there indeed was another note in the breast pocket.
'United Coffee House
E-15, Block E,
Connaught Place
New Delhi'

I hurried downstairs, trying very hard to not to smile too widely.
'Someone is looking very handsome!', Mummyji remarked. She was seated on the sofa, in the drawing room.
'Thank you!', I replied with a wide grin.
'Par ja kahan raha hai?', she asked curiously.
'Uh ek meeting hai mummyji!', I said nervously.
'Acha?', she asked with raised eyebrows. 'Thik hai! Jaldi aana!'

I seriously couldn't remember if I had lied to her ever before and somehow I felt that she could see through my lie, but for once I wanted to do something in hush-hush. We had never met secretly, we had never sneaked out like lovers do. We had the most open courtship if I may say - everything by the book, be it in Lahore or here in Delhi.
But for once I wanted to do something which only I and Amrit knew of.
I just nodded with a timid smile and left.

We had rented a garage for our car. It was a two-minute-walk from Raizada Sadan. Ours was a Black Hindustan 10.

I got into the car and drove off. I stopped at the florist. After considering for a while, I bought a bouquet of white roses. I hoped she'd like them!

*

Located in the centre of the city, Connaught place depicts the beauty of Gregorian architecture, while being inspired the Royal Crescent in England at the same time. Huge two-storied white buildings lined with majestic white pillars on the front, arranged in two concentric circles creating the Inner, Middle and Outer Circles. These had seven roads radiating from the Central Park in the nucleus, which connected Connaught Place to the rest of Delhi.

It was a half-an-hour drive from home and soon I was taking a turn into the inner circle of Connaught Circus.

I pulled up the car in front of United Coffee House. It had a similar Gregorian-pillars-frontage with a dark-brown board stating the name in embossed golden letters above, both inside and outside the porch. A gateman stood at the gate.

I checked my hair once again in the rear-view mirror, picked up the bouquet and stepped out of the car, looking around.

A lady stood at a distance, a bit away from the gate, in an almost dark spot.

'Amrit?'

Yes it was her.
She turned towards me and walked into light.
And I...

Tere saath saath aisa koi noor aaya hai
Chaand teri roshni ka halka sa ik saaya hai
teri nazron ne dil ka kiya jo hashar, asar ye hua...
ab inmein hi doobke ho jaau paar yahi hai dua...

Aankhon mein teri ajab si ajab si adaayein hai

Aankhon mein teri ajab si ajab si adaayein hai
Dil ko banade jo patang saasein ye teri vo awaaayein hai,,

She was wearing a beautiful dark-blue net saree with a princess pearl necklace and earings and her hair lightly tied to one side. She looked resplendent.

I took out a white rose from the bouquet and walked down to her.
'May I?', I asked. She nodded with a bashful smile. With a pleased smile, I gently tucked it in her hair.
Bending a bit towards her, I said tenderly,

'Jo yoon ban-sanwar ke niklogi ae nazneen,
to saara baag jaan jaayega
aaj gul ne bhanware ko bulaaya hai'

A deep blush came up on her cheeks as she lowered her eyes.

I presented her the flowers and she took them with a shy smile.
I offered her my arm, bent at the elbow. With an endearing smile, she took it, and we walked in.
The restaurant was long. It had a high rise decorated ceiling. The walls had aesthetic tapestries. There were three rows of dinner tables - two against each wall and one in the middle. The entire floor was covered with a rich tufted carpet. Huge venetian chandeliers hung from the roof, whose dim light casted a pool of soft gloom over each table.

The restaurant had another level, which was partly open-air. Its gallery was visible opposite to the door. We made our way upstairs.
While going up the stairs, I noticed that the cuff of her sleeves was unbuttoned. As I took her wrist, she turned towards me. She smiled as I buttoned it but I didn't let go of her hand - I was just looking for an excuse to hold it.

Upstairs, half the area was covered and the other half was under the open sky. The handrails were lined with globes of light. Unlike the square tables downstairs, here tables were round. They had hanging candle lanterns on either sides of each table.
All around us, there were adornments of flowering vines- on the walls, on the handrails, near the band.
On the covered side was the band, playing mellow melodies; an english-man each at a violin, a double bass, a flute, a clarinet and a saxophone. Pity they didn't have a pianist! Amrit would have loved it even more! She definitely was loving this too.

I led her to the table nearest to the band and she smiled radiantly at me. I pulled out the chair for her and settled down too, after getting her seated. I took the seat to her right rather than the one opposite her.

'Jagah toh bohot khoob chuni hai aapne Amrit!', I said with a grin.
'Shukriya!', she replied with a smile. 'Main bhi yahan pehli baar hi aayi hoon! Par ye Dilli ki sabse naamcheen jagahon mein se hai!'
'Oh toh aapne pehle se socha tha ki aap mujhe yahaan date pe leke aayengi?', I asked with raised eyebrows.
She suddenly turned red. 'Nai ... vo main...'
'Sach sach bataiye Amrit. Kabse tha aapke mann mein 'mujhe' date pe leke aana ka khayaal?'
'Aisa kuch nahi hai... vo toh bas-'
'Oh to aapke mann nahi tha matlab.', I said in matter-of-factly tone. 'Bas aaj yoon hi -'
'Nai nai nai nai', she said urgently.
I looked at her with questioning eyes. I so loved to put her on a spot like this and watch her go all embarrassed.
After a moment she said, 'Agar koi cheez pehle kabhi na hui ho, zaroori toh nahi ki vo kabhi ho bhi na?'
I looked at her in awe. She managed to make me fall for her every single day!

'Acha ye bataiye, humaari is mulakaat ke baare mein kis kis ko pata hai ?'
'Sirf Vashma ko. Ab bina bataaye toh nahi aa sakti na!', she said soflty
Ah yes! Amrit and her human diary!
'Aur Mukund?', I asked. 'Subah use dekh kar aisa lag raha hai, jaise vo bhi shaamil hai is sab mein!'

'Maine toh ohnu kuch bhi nahi bataya!', she said with a surprised look. 'Vo toh sirf ye kapde lane gaye jo maine pasand kiye the, kyunki main nahi jaa paayi.'
'Zaroor mere saamne yoon hi itar raha tha', I remarked.
'Mumkin hai!', she added with a chuckle.

'Par aapne baazi maarli Amrit!', I said whimsically. 'Aap pehle le aayi mujhe date pe!'
Demurely she replied, 'Iske badle aap mainu do baar le jaiyega!'
'Bada meetha Muafza hoga Amrit!', I said with a broad smile.

As the waiter appeared at our side, we ordered the food. There was a particular drink which caught our attention in the menu - Jamunrita. Curious, we ordered it too.

I just couldn't get enough of her hands. For a while I fidgeted with her fingers, for another I traced her palm and for a while I just held it. I noticed she did not have ring on her finger, which I could twiddle with. Point noted.

'Amrit!'
'Ji?'
'Aapne likhna kab shuru kiya tha ?', I asked
She looked at me with a surprised smile.
'Bas yoon hi.. zehen mein tha isiliye pooch liya!'
'Hmm.. main chaudah saal ki thi.', she said thoughtfully. 'Bas aaspas ke mahaul, aur logon ko samjh rahi thi, jaan rahi thi. Zamaane ka dastoor jaan rahi thi, bas tabhi mainu mehsoos hua ki jo raha tha mere aaspaas vo sahi nahi tha. Likhna mainu pasand tha, par tab main ek maksad se likhna chaahti thi, apni baat duniya tak pohonchaana chahti thi aur apna naam bhi banana chahti thi. Bas tabhi!', she said with a bright smile.
'Aur aapne apne kahaani mere hi akhbaar mein kyun bheji? Akhbaar toh kayi aate honge!', I asked curiously.
'Maine aapke lekh, aapke ullulaal padhe the. Aapka khyaal mainu mere jaise lage isiliye!', she replied with a winsome smile.

Amrit's love for music was so clearly evident - the rhythmic tapping of her foot and the gentle sway of her head in sync with the thrumming of the instruments. And the soft light of the hanging lanterns beside her, made it all a sight to behold.

Soon the food arrived and we started eating.
I saw that she was struggling while eating her food. It was then that I marked that she was eating with her left hand.
'Amrit ? Aap baaiyen haath se khana kha rahi hai?'

'Uh... vo...', she timidly raised her right hand from underneath the table, along with mine. I had been unmindfully holding it all this while and she didn't even let me realize this! Flustered, I withdrew my hand quickly. With a scarlet smile, she continued with the meal.

I could see that she was nervous. She wasn't uncomfortable - She was extremely happy, but something else was going on in her mind as well. And what it was, I really didn't know.

Shortly after the meal, the Jamunrita arrived. Strangely, it was served in a huge glass bowl, with spoons. It was a red slush-like beverage filled with crushed ice cubes. Amrit was the first to taste it. As soon as I was about to take a spoonful, Amrit stopped me. 'Thehro thehro!'
I looked at her confused.
'Ye teekha hai! Tuhaanu mirchi lag jaayegi!', she exclaimed cutely.
'Ye teekha hai?', I asked in confusion.
'Ji! Meetha bhi hai thoda sa, par teekha bhi hai.', she said with a slight smile. 'Aap mat khaana ise!'
'Ab aap na dekhti jaaiye. Ye main aapse jaldi khatam karunga aur uff tak nahi karunga!', I said with a grin.
'Par Randheer... nahi-'
Before she could protest anymore, I ate that spoonful. Thankfully, it wasn't as peppery as she panicked and claimed it to be. It wasn't just a jamun beverage, it was full of red chilli as well. As I ate a few more spoonfuls and Amrit saw that I was fine, she turned competitive. I obviously wasn't able to beat her at it. Moreover I had to drink two glasses full of water for this act of bravery, while she shot me glares for not listening to her. One goofy smile from me and she too looked down and smiled.

Soon, a pair of singers arrived- one male and one female. And they invited the guests for a dance. A few more couples had already proceeded for the dance. Delighted, I stood up and held out a hand for Amrit. With a shy smile, she took it. One hand behind my back, holding her hand with another, I walked down to the dancing space.

Looking at each other, side-by-side, facing the opposite directions, hand-in-hand, we rhythmically moved with the music.

'yeh raatein yeh mausam
nadi ka kinaara
ye chanchal hawa...'

One step towards one another, one step away - but dare I take eyes off her.
I spun her around, bringing her face-to-face.
She caught her breath as I slid my arm around her waist.

'yeh raatein yeh mausam
nadi ka kinaara
ye chanchal hawa...

kaha do dilon ne ki milkar kabhi hum
na honge juda

yeh raatein yeh mausam
nadi ka kinaara
ye chanchal hawa...'

I waltzed her around, while she looked dreamily into my eyes. I spun her in, I spun her out and she whirled without a care in the world, but her breath hitched whenever pulled her in my arms.

'ye kya baat hai aaj ki chaandni mein?

ye kya baat hai aaj ki chaandni mein?
ki hum kho gaye pyaar ki raagini mein
ye baahon mein baahein
ye behki nigaahein

lo aane laga zindagi ka maza!

yeh raatein yeh mausam
nadi ka kinaara
ye chanchal hawa...'

I turned her rearwards, and we moved with the beat, Amrit half-turned towards me. That sparkle in her eyes - may it stay the same forever.

'sitaaron ki mehfil ne karke ishaara
kaha ab toh saara jahaan hai tumhara
mohabbat jawaan ho
khula aasman ho
kare koi dil aarzoo aur kya?

yeh raatein yeh mausam
nadi ka kinaara
ye chanchal hawa...'

The restaurant started emptying, guests were leaving but it seemed we had made up our mind to dance the night away. Soon we were the only couple left on the terrace. But we were dancing heedlessly. Even the musicians continued with their chords and we swayed under the moonlit sky.

The restaurant closed at midnight. I had no idea what the time was. But I had a feeling that it was a little past midnight. I noted that the singers had disappeared some time ago. Reluctantly, we brought the dance to a close with a twirl and a dip.

I turned towards the musicians and gave them a grateful nod. They returned smiles to us, as they started packing their instruments.
That's when Amrit held my hand. I turned towards her. She was tensed. I was confused.
And then breaking all conventions, she took my hand and went down on her knee. And I looked at her, dumbfounded.

My first instinct was to make her stand up or kneel myself, but she tightened her grip around my hand, as if pleading with her eyes to let her do this.
'Aapko pata hai maine apni mann mein pehle se ek tasweer bana rakhi thi aapne humsafar ki. Koi aisa jo mainu samajhta hoga, jiski soch kuch mere jaise hogi. Koi jo meri marzi ka bhi sammaan kare. Jo sahi maaino mein mera saathi ho, mera saajhedaar.

Bauji ke saamne kuch bhi kehne ke darr se maine vo umeedein, vo tasweer bas apne mann mein hi daba kar rakhli. Aur fir aap aaye meri zindagi- aur jaise meri mann ki us tasweer ko main apne saamne dekh rahi thi. Fir bhi main aapki taraf ek ek kadam lene se katra rahi thi, par aapne kaske mera haath thaam liya. Meri khayaalon ki inni kadr ki aapne. Mere khwaabon ko pankh diye. Aapne meri chhoti se chhoti baat ko itni ehmiyat di. Jo cheezien mere liye zaroori thi, unhe aapne apni liye bhi zaroori maan liya. Mere Bauji ko manaane ke liye, itne jatan kiye aapne. Bauji ke aashirwaad ke liye bewajah sabki naarazgi sahi aapne. Mere gharwaalon ko bachaane ke liye na jaane kitni baar aapni jaan jokhim mein daali aapne. Aur fir meri saheli ki zindagi ke liye, apne na jaane kitni saal bas yoon hi kurbaan kar diye? Aap nahi jaante main kinni khushnaseeb hoon jo mainu aap mile.', she said almost teary-eyed.

I was so tongue-tied. I wanted to say so many things but I just couldn't get a word out.
'Amrit-?'

'Aap bhi soch rahe honge ki ye sab baatein aaj kyun. Par pyaar ka toh matlab hi hota hai na, voh sab kar jaana jo shaayad humne kabhi socha bhi na ho? Aur har baat ka kisi maksad se ki jaaye, ye zaroori toh nahi', she said nervously.

'Shukriya, meri zindagi mein aane ke liye, jo mere liye keemti hai, usse apne liye keemti maan-ne ke liye, mere har darr ko samjhne ke liye, mere dayaron ki kadr karne ke liye, mere sapne mere saath saanjha karne ke liye, meri marzi ka inna maan karne ke liye... mere saath rehne ke liye.

Main tuhaadi akhaan che akhaan paake kehna chaahdi haan, ki meri is duniya vich main tuhaanu sabse zyaada pyaar kardi haan... Sacche waala pyaar', she said with a sparkle in her eyes.

Mera dil jitni zoron se chilla raha tha, zubaan utni hi khaamosh thi. Kuch keh hi nahi paaya main.

'Main nahi jaanti humaari zindagi mein aage kaunsi uljhane kaise imtehaan aane baaki hai, par mainu bas aapka saath chaiye. Jab tak aap saath hai, main kisi bhi ladaai ke liye taiyaar hoon.
Mainu pata hai ki mainu kehne ki bhi zaroorat nahi hai ki kabhi agar main kamzor pad jaau to aap saath rehna mere. Par zindagi mein kabhi agar aap ladkhada jao, toh kya mainu bhi ye mauka doge ki main tuhaanu samhaal loon? Jitna pyaar aapne mujhe par lutaaya, utna main bhi lutaau aap-par?', she asked, looking expectantly at me.

I was way too stunned to say anything.

'Say yes, young man!', shouted one of the musicians. Startled, I turned towards them. All of them stood there eagerly with astonished and excited smiles. 'Why are you standing there silently? How often do you see someone doing this here? That too a lady! You'd be fool to let her go!'

I composed myself. Without wasting another second, I too knelt before her. Taking her hands into mine I tried to speak. I couldn't get the right words and I just didn't want to spoil it all by saying anything wrong. Her eyes were glistening with ecstasy and anticipation. I just took her in a tight embrace. No words could explain what I felt at that moment.

I could hear the musicians applaud behind us but I was too occupied to acknowledge them.

*

We both sat atop the bonnet of the car. We had parked the car along the boundary of the central park. Midnight, the deserted streets of Delhi and us. We were gazing at the starlit sky.
'Aaj aisa lag raha hai zindagi ke zarre zarre par chaandni bikhri hui hai!', I said dreamily.
'Pyaar ki chaandni!', she said looking at the sky with a radiant smile.
'Ye sar-saraate patte jaise koi nazm suna rahe ho!',
'Is raat ki khaamoshi mein behti bayaar jaise koi dhun gunguna rahi ho!'
'Aur is tanhaayi mein bas nain bolte hain', I said, turning towards her.
'Nain toh bas zariya hai, yoon toh mann se mann milte hain', she said tenderly, looking at me.

chaandni raat badi der ke baad aayi hai
chaandni raat badi der ke baad aayi hai

lab pe ek baat badi der ke baad aayi hai
chaandni raat badi der ke baad aayi hai

lab pe ek baat badi der ke baad aayi hai
chaandni raat...

na khule aankh agar khaab hai
toh khaab sahi
na khule aankh agar khaab hai
toh khaab sahi
yeh mulakat badi der ke baad aayi hai
yeh mulakat badi der ke baad aayi hai

lab pe ek baat badi der ke baad aayi hai
chaandni raat...

maang rakhi thi badi se
jo wasl ki shaam...
maang rakhi thi badi se
jo wasl ki shaam...

woh mere haath badi der ke baad aayi hai
woh mere haath badi der ke baad aayi hai
lab pe ek baat badi der ke baad aayi hai
chaandni raat...

I helped her get down from the bonnet and joined her forehead with mine, bringing my arms around her. She closed her eyes, with a satisfied smile.
'Thank you Amrit. Is khoobsurat shaam ke liye!'
She just shook her head gently.