It was a cold morning. I got dressed in a plum red pullover with a pair of black trousers and draped a beige, printed muffler around my neck.
I was about to go downstairs when I spotted my camera – the one Amrit had given me. An idea struck me. I grabbed it with a smile and rushed downstairs.
Mummyji was in the kitchen . I zoomed around the hall with the camera deliberately – sometimes stopping here, making a few clicks there and letting out dissatisfied sighs every now and then.
Mummyji came and stood behind me, 'Kya dhoond raha hai ?'
'Ek aks ki talaash hai is camere ko, par kuch aisa mile tab baat bane' , I said thoughtfully, still looking down at the viewfinder. Just then I turned towards her. 'Mil gaya ! Ek behad khoobsurat aks', I said with delight. 'Kya aap mujhse tasweerien khichwaana chahengi ?'
'Subah subah tujhe photography soojhi hai! Par abhi mujhe kaam hai !', she said and tried to go away.
'Mummyji!', I blocked her way. 'Chaliye na! Kitne saal ho hue!', I requested.
Puttar main mana nahi kar rahi hoon. Bas thodi der ruk jaa.'
'Arey Bibiji yahan sab main dekh lunga', Neero Bhaiya chimed in. 'Aap Randheer baba ke saath jaiye!' I gave him a thumbs-up. With no reason to say no, she gave in with a smile.
'Agar tere is camera ko intezaar karna gawaara ho to main taiyaar hoke aa jau ?', she asked with a quaint smile.
'Ji ji zaroor', I replied with bright smile. 'Main study mein aapka Intezaar kar raha hoon. Jaldi aaiyega!'

I stood waiting in the study, checking the camera films, putting one into the camera. Our study was a cozy one – the wall opposite to the door was completely lined with books. A medium sized sofa stood in front of the book-shelf wall; two side tables and tall lamps on either side of it. To the right of the bookshelf was a French window and a comfortable armchair right in front of it. On the wall to left, there were glass shelves with some antique showpieces. On the left of the door was the writing table.

I had inherited the love of art and literature from my mother, and even back there in Karachi, the study was our escape. If we were to be found nowhere else, Bauji knew we'd be here.

Soon, Mummyji entered, dressed regally in a rich off-white-golden saree with a heavy set white pearl necklace and other matching jewellery. Her hair had been left open. She looked just like the queen she was!

'Kaisi lag rahi hoon ?', she asked with a self-assured smile.
'Royal !', I exclaimed.
'Good !', she said, gracefully settling on the left side of the sofa.

I brushed the curtains of the window, aside and turned towards her. 'Perfect !', I said, kneeling there and looking down at the camera's viewfinder. 'Ab aap armrest par haath rakhiye. Ji! Aur zara darwaaze ki taraf dekhiye. Haan bas waise hi!', I said and pushed the shutter to make a click and pulled the crank on camera out, turning it around for the second photograph. She followed my directions with poise.
'Ab aap neeche dekhiye, daaye haath ke upar baaya haath. Ji ji bas!', and I clicked another picture. 'Mummyji ab aap daayi taraf mud jaaiye'
'Aise ?', she asked turning a bit.
'Haan thoda aur. Haan bas. Ab meri taraf dekhiye !', I instructed, drawing one side of curtains to a close. She looked at me with a composed smile and I clicked.
'Aap khadi ho jaiye. Aur pallu ko saamne le aaiye. Ji usi tarah. Nice!', I said, clicking another one.
'Ab aap yahan aa jaiye khidki ke paas.'
'Hmm. Good Idea!' She said and walked over and stood near the window, while I moved back.
'Ab aap bahar ki taraf dekhiye', I directed while turning the crank around. 'Haan bas ab apna daaya haath parde par rakhiye. Perfect !', I exclaimed and pushed the shutter.

We clicked many photographs. I changed the films twice. Getting my life back on track, living each and every day, revisiting hobbies - it was all so blissful!
Suddenly Bauji walked in the study dressed in his usual coat-suit-turban  – ready for office.
'Is ghar mein ek aur insaan bhi rehta hai ! Tum dono maa aur puttar ko yaad bhi hai ya nahi ?!', he complained.
'Aap bhi na! Ab kya hum tasweerein bhi nahi kheech sakte ?', Mummyji replied.
'Haan to maine kab mana kiya. Par mainu bhi to bula lete !', he said settling down on the sofa.
'Ab Randheer ko meri tasweerein kheechni thi isiliye aapko nahi bulaya humne !', she said with a shrug.
'Randheer !', he glared at me.
'Bauji ! Kal aapki tasweerein bhi kheech lenge. Aap fikr mat kijiye!', I tried to pacify him.
'Ye pehli baar nahi hua hai ! Baatein na bana! Puttar tera vyaah ho jaane de! Fir main aur Amrit puttar ek taraf, aur tum dono Maa-puttar ek taraf. Bas usiko meri fikar hai !', he said with a humph.
'Bauji ! Ye aap kaise keh sakte hai ! Ab Amrit to usi taraf rahengi na, jis taraf main rahunga!', I said with furrowed eyebrows.
'Aap dono behes karte rahiye! Amrit to sirf meri tarafdaari karegi !', Mummyji said with confident smile.
'Tumhaari galatfaymi hai ye!', Bauji remarked.
'Nahi ji!'
 We were arguing about whose side Amrit would be on, when Neero Bhaiya walked in, 'Bibiji, Huzoorilalji ke yahan se Munshiji aaye hai, zevar leke.'
'Unhe bithao. Main abhi aati hoon!', Mummyji instructed. Neero Bhaiya nodded and left.
Bauji joked, 'Ye zevar paake neeche mat chali jaana. Bichaare Munshiji sakpaka jayenge aur main lutt jaunga!'
'Kuch bhi kehte ho ji !', she said brushing him off. 'Aap toh nahi lutenge par haan, Munshiji ki aankhein zaroor chaundhiyan jayengi ! Aap fikar na karo, main zevar utaarkar hi jaungi ! '

***

The table in the living room was laid out with jewellery boxes of different sizes. Munshiji was a parsi merchant, dressed in dhoti kurta and a parsi topi. He was seated opposite to Mummyji on the sofa. One by one, he opened the jewellery boxes, and showed them to Mummyji.
'Main kuch madad karu ?', I asked, walking towards her.
'Ab tujhe jewellery pasand karne mein madad karni hai?', she asked with raised eyebrows.
'Ji thodi bohot madad to main kar hi sakta hoon', I said with an embarrassed smile.
'Haan haan ab to tere hone waali biwi tere hi pasand ke zevar pehnegi na!', she said with a teasing smile.
I stroked the back of my neck in embarrassment. 'Mummyji !'
'Acha ab aa aur baith yahan', she said sitting me down, beside her. 'Ye dekh, ye necklace kaisa hai ?'
'Bohot khoob surat hai !'
'Iske saath ye baaliyan, choodiyan, sab alag kar diya hai maine, Dholki mein pehen-ne ke liye. Tujhe pasand hai ?',
'Haan mummyji, sab bohot ache hai !' I said and picked up a set, 'Ye kaisa hai ?', I asked with delight.
'Teri choice to badi achi hai ! Mujhe bhi tujhe zevar pasand karaake dekhne chahiye the !', she exclaimed.
I smiled, 'Pehle nahi karwaaya to ab karwaa lijiyega !'
'Hmm!' She picked up another box showed it to me, 'Ye kaisa hai ?'
'Nahi Mummyji, ye Amrit pe acha nahi lagega !', I replied with a frown.
'Puttar ! Ye Amrit ke liye nahi mere liye !', she said clarifying.
'Aap-pe ye bohot acha lagega', I said sheepishly, covering up for my blunder. Just then a beautiful pair of kangans caught my eye. I had a few golden bells on it! It was so pretty I lifted it and said, 'Mummyji, ye kitne khoobsurat hai ! Kya hum inhe le sakte hai ? Please?!'
'Haan puttar bohot sohna hai ! Tujhe jo pasand aaye lele!', she said caressing my face.

'Namaste Chachiji !'
We turned around to find Vashma, coming in chirpily with a bag in her hand.
'Sabhi dupatte le aayi ho na ! Kaarigar bhi aata hi hoga! Salme ke kaam ke liye ye sab aaj hi de denge!', Mummyji said, opening the bag.
'Aap college nahi gayi ?!', I asked her quizzically.
'Aapko dhyaan nahi ? Aaj shanivaar hai !', she exclaimed. Dear me! I am such a fool ! This meant Amrit was at home all the morning! I looked at Mummyji meekly. 'Jaa, mil aa Amrit se !', she said teasingly.
'Thank you Mummyji ! ', I said, giving her a quick hug and stuffing the kangans in my pocket. 'Main bas thodi der mein aaya !'

***

I rushed up the staircase and stopped outside her room. Amrit was sitting at her writing desk, dressed in a white salwar-kameez with a glittery white-pink-yellow shaded dupatta. She was writing - probably a story. I decided to stay there for a while.
While writing, she was playing with the blue quill. As the gentle wind blew past her face, she turned to look out of the balcony door. After a while, she returned to her writing. Sometimes she would smile to herself, sometimes she would blush. But every now and then, she would look out of the window  dreamily. The breeze was not letting her write. Or one may say, she was not in a mood to write!
All at once it started to drizzle. She got up and gently walked down to the balcony. I tip-toed towards her. She was humming a song.
'Mmm hmm hmm
Mmm hmm hmm

Piyu bole ...piya bole ...
hmm hmm hmm... jaanu na...

Jiyaa dole haule haule...
kyun yeh dole jaanu na!

I joined in, surprising her -

'Dil ki jo baatein hain, baatein jo dil ki hain-'

'Dil hi mein rakhna piya... !'

'mmm, lab to na kholun main
kholun na lab to par –'
'Aankhon se sab keh diya...
Piyu bole piya bole
Kya ye bole jaanu na...
Jiya dole haule haule...
Kyun ye dole jaanu na...'

'Piyu bole piya bole
Kya ye bole jaanu na...
Jiya dole haule haule...
Kyun ye dole jaanu na...'

As Amrit stretched out her hand, a few raindrops fell on her hand. Though she was a bit taken aback when I suddenly appeared, she continued singing with the same delight.

'Ek nadi se maine poochha
"itthla ke chal-di kahan ?
door tere pi ka ghar hai,
balkha ke chaldi kahan ?"
thoda vo ghabraayi, thoda sa sharmaayi
uchhli yahaan se wahaan
saagar se milne ka uska to sapna tha
meri hi tarah piya'

She looked at me, a soft blush warming her cheeks, and carried on -

'Jiya dole haule haule...
Kyun ye dole jaanu na...
Piyu bole piya bole
Kya ye bole jaanu na...'

I sung the last verses, looking at her and then out in the sky, beaming.
'Jiya dole haule haule...
Kyun ye dole jaanu na...'

We stood there for some time, enjoying the rainy breeze.

Just then Amrit turned towards me, surveying me top to bottom. 'Kuch kami hai aaj !'
'Ji ?!', I looked at her in confusion and moved back to the right of the balcony door, in front of the dressing table mirror.
She opened her almirah and hid something behind her back. I stretched out my neck to see what it was. She gestured me to bend a bit. I did, and she made me wear a checkered beige golf hat. 'Hmm... ab theek hai !', she said with a pleased smile. I grinned. She is just too adorable!

At that instant, I noticed a wooden paint-box and a leather brush roll-up bag behind her. Along with it, an easel and a couple of canvases too were kept there, wrapped neatly in newspapers.
'Ye toh mere kaam ka saamaan lag raha hai !', I said with a smirk.
'Ji vo main ae sab kal khareed laayi thi', she said sheepishly.
'Mujhe na ek din aapke kamre ki talaashi leni padegi ! Yahan aapki cheezon se zyaada mujhe meri cheezein milti hai!', I said with furrowed eyebrows.
'Aapka kamra, mera kamra – ek hi toh baat hai !', she said softly.
'Agar aap kahein to !', I said, with a twinkle in my eyes.
She smiled bashfully.
'Tussi meri tasweer banaoge ?', she asked innocently.
'Amrit ! Maine brushes ko chaar saal se haath tak nahi lagaaya hai. Aise mein pehli tasweer main aapki toh nahi bana sakta!', I said gently.
'Par tussi jaisi bhi banaoge, mainu koi dikkat nahi hai!', she babbled, looking timidly at me.
'Par mujhe toh dikkat hai !' Bending a bit towards her, I said, 'Aapki pehli tasweer... jo main banau, vo aisi honi chahiye ki bas... mere dil mein bas jaaye!'
A deep blush came to her cheeks. 'Thoda waqt dijiye mujhe, zara apne is bhoole hue hunar ko dubaara nikhaar lu, uske baad aapki tasweer banaunga !'
'Jaisa aap chaho!', she said shyly. 'Par mainu ek baat aur poochhni thi.'
'Ji ?'
'Aap mainu painting sikhaoge ?', she asked looking expectantly at me. Okay, this was unexpected!
'Aapko ... painting seekhni hai ?'
'Ji ! Mainu kab se seekhni thi, par koi na koi wajah se kade vi seekh hi nahi paayi. Tussi mainu sikhaoge ?', she asked with shining eyes.
'Umm thik hai. Main aapko painting zaroor sikhaunga, par uske badle aapko bhi mujhe kuch sikhaana padega! Manzoor ho to kahiye !', I said, crossing my arms.
'Par main aapko kya sikha sakti hoon?', she asked doubtfully.
'Khaana banana !' She smiled in amusement . ' Kuch bhi jo aapko bohot pasand ho! Main aapko bana kar khilaunga! Manzoor ho to kahiye !'
'Umm ... manzoor hai!', she said with a bright smile. 'Acha aap dekh to lo main sahi samaan laayi hoon ya nahi !', she said excitedly, placing the box on the bed and opening it. I sat down in front of it. It had the palette, paint tubes, a glass bottle of linseed oil, varnish and kerosene – all lined perfectly in it. 'Dukaandaar ne kaha hai ki tuhaanu ik vaari wapas jaana padega, apne hisaab se brushes lane vaaste. Main to bas kuch aam brushes hi lekar aa paayi !'
'Hmm ! Par baaki sab saamaan aap bilkul sahi lekar aayi hai !', I remarked. She beamed.

I drew out the kangans from my pocket. 'Mummyji shaadi ke liye zevar khareed raheen thi. Main aapke liye ye le aaya! Aapko pasand hai ?', I asked, looking at her in anticipation.
'Bohot pyaare hain Randheer!', she exclaimed in delight.
'Shukr hai ! Pehli baar aise koi gehne pasand kiye maine. Samajh hi nahi aa raha tha ki aapko pasand bhi aayenge ya nahi !'
'Aap kabhi bhi koi aisi waisi cheez yoon hi nahi pasand karoge! Mainu pata hai !', she said, bringing her right hand forward.
I took her hand and tried to make her wear it, but it just refused to go in. The kangan was small, her hands were tiny – so what was the problem?! Amrit rested her chin on her left hand, waiting as I struggled. I tried and tried and tried but to no avail. I tried as gently as I could so that she would not get hurt, but it would just not slip into her hand. Finally Amrit pulled out a tiny screw on it and lo! It fell open! She started laughing and it was face-palm moment for me!
I fastened them around her wrists and she jingled them gleefully. The smallest effort, which could bring a smile to her face, was important to me.

'Acha aap daftar kitni der mein jayengi ? Main bhi aapke saath hi chalta hoon!', I said, standing up.
'Aap apne waqt par hi jaana! Kal waise bhi Imraan Bhaijaan nu bohot pareshaan kiya hai maine!', she said meekly.
'Ye bhi theek hai ! To fir... main chalta hoon. Daftar mein milte hain!', I said softly.
'Ji !', she said demurely with a smile and waved me a good-bye as I went down the stairs.