I was in light sleep when I felt voices around me. I lazily opened my eyes to find Vashma and Veerji sitting on my either sides, shushing each other. Kabir was still asleep, hugging me. Carefully putting aside his arm, I got up slowly with questioning eyes.
'Oh tu uth gi. Changa! Ab humaari uljhan vi suljha de', Veerji said, keeping his voice as low as possible.
'Haan Amrit. Hum fas gaye hai. Ab samajh hi nahi aa raha kya karein. Tu hi bata!', Vashma said with a troubled look.
'Lekin hua kya hai ?', I asked in a low voice, looking at both of them.
'Vo phoolwala thodi der mein aayega to use batana hai sajaawat ke liye kaunse rang ke phool laane hai. Main boleya peele-naarangi phoolon sajwaaenge. Par ae Vashma meri sunti hi nahi hai!', Veerji said grumpily.
'Oye peele-naarangi to humesha hi hote hai. Is baar safed aur laal rang ke phoolon se sajwaate hai na ghar ko !', Vashma exclaimed.
'Haan teri gal vi sahi hai', Veerji said, looking uncertainly at her but then babbled, 'Oye par bina gende ke phoolon ke koi vyaah wala ghar dekheya tune?! Peele-naarangi phool toh chaiye mainu!'

I looked at them with raised eyebrows, 'Issi liye aeni pareshaan shakalein banayi thi aap dono ne ?! Daraa diya na mainu!'
'Oye tu baatein baad mein kari. Abhi humaari uljhan suljha!', Veerji said. 'Aur jo tune aaj iski tarafdaari kari hai na to dekh leyi fer!', he warned me.
'Amrit jo meri baat nahi maani to baat na karna merese!', Vashma threatened.
'Ae ki gal hui! Vyaah mera hai na! Tussi dono to meri raay lene aaye the na! Te aise dhamkaaoge mainu ?!', I complained.
Alarmed , Veerji said, 'Oh nai nai Amru hum kahan dhamka rahe hai tainu! Hai na Vashma!', he said gesturing at Vashma, who nodded vigourously. 'Hum dhamka nahi rahe tainu. Teri jo marzi!', he said affectionately. 'Bas gende ke phool yaad rakhna!', he added goofily.
'Amrit safed-laal phool !', Vashma said with shining eyes, trying to induce me.
I looked at both of them for a while and then said, 'Ek tay karna zaroori hai kya ? Dono ki pasand badi changi hai! Gende ke phool ghar ke baahar laga lenge aur laal aur safed phool ghar ke andar! Aur saath mein gulaabi phool bhi sajwalenge! Kyun ?!', I said smiling brightly.
'Oye hoye hoye hoye hoye! Badi sohni sajaawat chaiye tainu haan! Ye bhi chaiye, vo bhi chaiye - sab chaiye!', said Vashma teasingly, slightly bumping her shoulder with mine.
'Ab chaiye toh chaiye! Vyaah baar baar thodi hota hai!', I said with an embarrassed grin!
'Ayee meri sohni! Main Randheer se kahungi! Vo to har saal terese dubaara vyaah karlenge!'
'Vashma!', I said glaring at her with a flustered face.
'Oye ae sahi hai fir. Main bhi Rai Sahab se gal karlaanga. Dono bhai-behen ikko hi din dubaara dubaara vyaah kar laenge! Kyun Vashma, kya kehti hai!', Veerji said grabbing Vashma's hand. 'Mere naal vyaah karegi dobaara ?', he asked with shining eyes.
'Hatt pare!' Vashma said red-faced, withdrawing her hand in a flash and getting up. 'Kaam hai mujhe bohot!'
'Ae to bata de Nikaah padhegi ya phere legi?!', he called out behind her as she went out.

'Pehle Amrit ka vyaah kara dein. Fir sochungi tere mere baare mein!', she said peeking in from the door, blushing pink.
'Ayeee Vashma!', Veerji said happily, grinning to himself and then turned to realize I had been sitting here all while.
'Uh vo main Kabir ko laeke jaata hoon!', he said, trying to hide his embarrassment. I nodded, suppressing my giggle. He lifted Kabir up and left with a flushed smile.
I too got up to get ready. I pulled out a light blue flared kameez and salwar with a bright pink dupatta. Another happy day awaited me!

***

Me, Veerji, and Vashma were the kitchen with Kabir frolicking around us. We were making aloo parathas for breakfast. Veerji was rolling the parathas on the rolling pin first and handing them to me. I continued the process with stuffing and rolling them yet again. Lastly Vashma was roasting them on the Angithi stove.
Veerji was making Kabir memorize numbers along with this.

'Bol puttar. Gyarah, barah-', Veerji said looking at Kabir while rolling the dough.
'Oye ya sab bahar jaake nahi kar sakte tum dono!', Vashma muttered.
'Ammi! Mann nahi lagta baahar!', Kabir said.
'Wahi na Vashma. Hum dono kalle kalle bahar kyun baithein. Acha hai tum dono ka bhi mann laga rahe hain. Sadda kaam vi ho raha hai!', Veerji added.
'Ek saath do do kaam nahi karne chaiye! Ya to roti bel le ya to isnu padha de!', Vashma grumbled.
'Arey assi ustaad hai! Tum dono bas dekhti jao. Main isnu padha bhi dunga, roti bhi bel lunga! Aur mera puttar hoshiyaar hai, sab aata hai ise! Kyun puttar?', Veerji exclaimed, looking at Kabir eagerly. Kabir nodded with a pleased smile.
'Uday! Roti thodi gol bana lae!', Vashma said, slightly laughing.
'Oye aur kinni gol chaiye tainu ? Chaand se zyaada gol hai meri roti!', Veerji complained.

'Haan Vashma!', I said with a giggle, 'Aur kinni gol roti chaiye ?'
Vashma stretched her neck towards us and then replied haughtily, 'Gol to hai! Chal itna bhi nalayak nahi hai tu!'
'Kya Vashma! Bina dekhe aise hi bol diya na tu ne Veerji ko!', I said, nudging her.
'Amru chhod na isnu. Iske kiye roti nahi banayenge! Apne teeno ki banaake chalte hain!', he said grumpily.
'Aise karega tu mere saath', Vashma said, making a face.
Veerji looked at her uncertainly for a while and then complained, 'Oye Vashma yaar! Ae koi gal nai hui! Pehle lad mere naal fir aeni shakal banake mainu hi bura mehsooos kara!'
'Do minute to ladai tikti nai tussi dono ki, fir bhi aaivayi chhedte rehte ho ek duje nu!', I remarked with a smile.
'Is baari galti Ammi ki thi!', Kabir chimed in with a frown. 'Bauji ne kuch nai kitta!'
'Oye! Tu bada aaya galti ginaane wala!', Vashma said, widening her eyes.
'Galat baat Puttar! Ammi ko aise nahi bolte!', Veerji told Kabir off.
'Par main to aapki taraf hoon Bauji!', Kabir exclaimed in disbelief.
'Bacche! Inke jhagde mein beech mein kade ni bolna! Daant tainu hi padegi!', I whispered to Kabir. He looked at them with a frown and nodded.
'Chadd ohnu!', Veer said, brushing her off. 'Tu mainu ginti suna!'
Kabir diverted his attention to Veerji and started reciting the numbers.
'Gyarah barah terah chaudah satrah atthrah'
'Arey nahi puttar! Chaudah pandrah solah satrah', Veerji corrected him. 'Dubaara bol, shuru se!'
'Gyarah barah terah chaudah satrah atthrah', Kabir said it all wrong yet again.

'Puttar, Veerji ne abhi bataya na! Chaudah pandrah solah sattrah', I too tried to make him understand.
'Chaudah pandrah solah khathra mattrah batrah', he said, beginning to laugh midway.
'Kya bole jaa raha puttar. Aise ni honi ginti. Sayaana puttar hai na! Ache se bol chaudah pandrah solah satrah-', Veerji tried to persuade him.
But adamant Kabir continued his gibberish after 'solah'. If by chance he spoke legible numbers he would skip 'pandrah solah'. Veerji tried and tried and tried but to no avail.

'Dekhlo! Ginti nahi yaad karaayi jaa rahi janaab se!', Vashma said loftily, turning the parathas on the stove.
'Bol to aise rahi hai, jaise yoon chutki bajaate hi yaad kara degi!', Veerji said, shooting her a glare.
'Dekhte hain!', she said whimsically. 'Kabir, idhar aake baith'
Like an obedient child, Kabir rushed to her side and sat down.
'Ab main bolungi mere peechhe peechhe bolna! Thik hai?'
Kabir nodded.
'Bol. Gyarah, barah, terah, chaudah, pandrah'
'Gyarah, barah, terah, chaudah, pandrah ', Kabir repeated after her.

'Solah, satrah, atthrah, unnees, bees'
And to Veerji's disbelief, Kabir correctly repeated, 'Solah, satrah, atthrah, unnees, bees!'
'Bahut achhe!', Vashma said proudly.
'Oye main kya Tamil bol raha tha jo meri gal tainu samjh nahi aayi!', Veerji exclaimed looking at Kabir.
Completely ignoring Veerji, Vashma stoked Kabir's head and said, 'Tu is jahaan da sabot changa puttar hai!' Kabir gave her a big wide grin.
'Haan haan, baatein bhi meri chura lo, merese baat nahi karna tum dono!', he said with a humph and turned to the other side.

Vashma looked at Veerji for a second and then gave Kabir a peck on his cheek.
Kabir ran to Veerji and in turn pecked him on his cheek.
'Baat nahi karoge humse ?', both of them asked together cutely.
Veerji lifted Kabir up in flash and started tickling him, 'Haan gal nahi karni maine!'
All of us burst out laughing.

'Acha chalo gal mukao! Mainu badi bhook lagi hai! Paraathe khaane hai maine khoob saara makkhan maarke!', he said taking two parathas on his plate and loading a spoonful of butter on them.
'Mainu bhi khaana hai khoob saara makkhan maarke !', Kabir said eagerly.
'Tere liye tere maan ke parathe!', I said serving two mini parathas I had made specially for him.
He gave me a big goofy smile.
'Chal hum bhi saath hi baith jaate hai!', Vashma said turning off the stove.
'Tussi sab khana khaao. Mainu mandir jaana hai! Aaj somvaar hai na!', I replied.

'Badi jaldi yaad aa gaya tujhe ki aaj somvaar? Pichhli baar kahan thi 'somvaar' ko ?!', she whispered with raised eyebrows. 'Arey nahi nahi, tab toh sarson ke khet dekhne the tainu!'
'Jaa na Vashma! Tang na kar mainu!', I said glaring at her with an embarrassed smile.

***

Covering my head with my dupatta, I walked up the white marble stairs of the Shiv mandir. The atmosphere inside was very calm and serene. Pujaariji was accepting flowers and fruits from devotees. Some devotees were offering milk on the ShivLing. I too set my thaali down and offered milk on the ShivLing.

Then looking around making sure that the space around me a bit deserted, I spoke softly.
'Bhole Baba! Kehte hain ki rishte to saare aasman mein tay hote hain. Lekin saara shrey aap nahi le sakte. Munda to maine chuna hai na! Thoda shrey to mainu vi milna chaiye na!
Kinne meethe hain Randheer. Kinne pyaare hain! Kinne sohne hain! Kitna pyaar karte hain mere naal.', I said meekly, turning scarlet. 'Maine jitna bhi apne khayaalon mein socha tha, usse bhi kayi zyaada khoobsurat insaan hai vo! Mainu pata hai ki ae sab maine pehle bhi kinni baar kaha hai par... changa lagta hai mainu baar baar kehna. Tussi khayal rakhna ki vo humesha muskuraate rahe! Rakhoge na khayal ?', I said, looking on expectantly.

'Maine bas vyaah se pehle ik baar dekhne ki ardaas ki thi aapse, aur aapne to mainu ohde naal inna saara waqt de diya! Aap bade ache ho!', I said with a pleased smile. 'Bas vyaah se pehle aur koi gadbad nahi ho iska dhyaan rakhna Bhagwaanji! Bas aur kuch nai chahida mainu', I pleaded.

Picking up my thaali, I bowed my head reverently and turned to go.

As I went back down the stairs, I found my juttis missing. Aisa pehle to kade nai hua! Itthe hi toh kholi thi maine! Kitthe gayi ? I searched around the entire place but couldn't find them. Just then I noticed a white-horsed taanga come to a halt in front of me.

'Aji aapko college chhod dein?', said a familiar paan-chewing-accented voice.
As I looked up I realized it was Randheer seated on the front in a sweater-upon-kurta with a muffler around his neck and monkey cap covering his face.
I looked at him with a surprised smile.
'Aapko bada pata hai ki mainu kahan jaana hai! Aise kudiyon ki khabar rakhna achi baat nahi hoti!', I said whimsically.
'Ek hi kudi khabar rakhna... isme to koi buri baat nahi hoti na ji!'
A soft blush came up on my cheeks.
'Mainu nahi pata!', I replied meekly.

I started to board the tanga when he blocked my way with his hand.
'Uh huh huh! Aise nange pao chadhengi aap ? Hum to nahi chadhenge aise!', he said with crossed arms.
'Par meri jootiyaan nahi mil rahi! Kahin gum ho gayi hai!', I said with a frown.
'Kahin... ye to nahi ?', he said revealing up my juttis from near his seat.

'Ye aapke paas kaise aayi ?! Laaiye dijiye!', I said forwarding my hand.
'Ek shart pe!', he said hiding them behind himself. 'Aap hume ye aapko pehnaane dengi! Warna bhool jaiye inko!'

I looked at him and then nodded with a smile.
With probably a grin, he jumped from the tanga. He knelt down, holding out one jutti. With a smile, I placed my feet one by one in them. How could he be so lovable all the time?!

'Ab kya aapke taange mein mainu sawaari karne ki manzoori hai?', I asked expectantly.
'Ji ji aaiye aaiye!' he said extending his hand out. Though it was absolutely unnecessary, I still held his hand and got on the taanga. And he stepped up and sat on his seat.

Just then I saw Mukund Jijaji getting down from his car at a distance.

'Randheer tanga ghumaiye!', I said urgently.
He turned and looked at me with raised eyebrows.
'Acha acha! Taangewale, taanga ghumaiye jaldi!!', hiding inside the taanga, hoping he would not see me. I did not trust his over-observant mind one bit.
'Acha ji ghumaate hain ghumaate hai. Bataiye to hua kya hai? Aap hume bhi dara rahi hai!', he said steering the taanga to the other direction.
'Mukund Jijaji!', I exclaimed.
'Haan toh thik hai na! Aap to bas taange mein baith kar jaa rahin hai. Ismein use kya dikkat hogi!'
'Hogi dikkat! Tussi baat maaano meri!', I said peeking out, where I had seen Jijaji's car. It wasn't there now. Where did it go ?

That's when out of nowhere Jijaji stopped his car infront of our taanga and got down.
'Good Morning Juliet! Main yahin paas mein tha, meri nazar pad gayi tumpe.', he said with a smile.
'Good Morning!', I said with a forced smile.
'Savaari college jaa rahi hai tumhaari? Aao main tumhe chhod doon.'
Randheer turned towards me and I gave him a 'now-you-know' look.
'Nai jijaji main chali jaungi! Tussi jao. Tuhaanu der ho rahi hogi!', I said, acting casually.
'Arey koi der ver nahi ho rahi. Chalo chalo. Main bhi us taraf jaa raha hoon. Kha-ma-kha taange mein kyun jaogi!'
'Par jijaji maine taange ka bhaada pehle hi de diya hai! Aap rehne do. Main chali jaungi!', I insisted.
'Kyun bhai taangewaale!', he turned to Randheer. 'Sawaari baithaayi nahi aur bhaada pehle hi le liya! Ye kahan ki baat hui! Amrit is taange mein to jaana hi nahi hai tumhe! Chalo ao!', he said adamantly.

'Arey theheriye theheriye janaab. Aisi kya bhool ho gayi humse jo aap yoon baras pade? Hum yahan chup chaap baithke sun rahe hai to aap humaari sawaari aise apne saath le jayenge! Nahi ji! Hum nahi le jaane denge!', my taangewala intervened.

'Kyun! Kya karenge aap!', Jijaji asked with crossed arms.
Randheer got down and whispered something in Jijaji. Jijaji gave him a sly smile and said, 'Jaa leja apni sawaari nu! Tu bhi kya yaad rakhega!'

With a smirk, he walked back, got into his car and drove away. And I looked at Randheer in surprise.
'Vo pehchaan gaye tuhaanu?'
Randheer nodded, getting on the taanga. 'Pehle mujhe pehchaana ya nahi ye toh main nahi jaanta lekin ab toh pehchaan hi liya.'

'Aur vo aise chup chaap bina chidaaye, bina kuch bole bas chale gaye?!', I exclaimed in disbelief.
'Ab azeez dost to kuch fayde bhi hote hai! Itna bhi bura nahi mera dost!', he said with a twinkle in his eyes. 'Chaliye ab jaldi chalte hain, warna aapko der ho jayegi.', he said, taking the reins in his hands. 'Chaliye Toofan miyan! Ab hawa se baatein karte hue inhe college pohoncha dein!'
Toofan, the horse neighed and started off.

'Bada 'toofaani' naam hai inka!', I remarked with a chuckle.
'Ji vo darasal bade hi aatish mizaj hai ye! Zara si baat pe tunak jaate hai! Aur jo tunak gaye to bas fir toofaan se kam bhi nahi! Zara samhal ke baat kijiyega aap inse!', he said dramatically.
I nodded with an amused smile.
'Toofaan miyan!', he said fondling the horse. 'Inse miliye! Ye hain Lahore ki mashhoor funkara! Raanjhan! Ab Dilli mein inka bol-baala hai!'
'Hmm... akhirkar aapko Raanjhan mil hi gayi!', I said with a sparkle in my eye.
'Hume to Raanjhan ka pata mil hi gaya! Aapko 'aapke Randheer Raizada' mile ya nahi ?'
'Ji mil hi gaye! Aapne dua jo ki thi!', I said softly. 'Waise jawaan to aap bhi bade baanke hai ? Aapka vyaah nahi hua abtak ?'
'Bas kuch chand din reh gaye hai humaari azaadi ke. Fir nazar nahi aayenge hum!', he said whimsically.
'Kyun kyun ? Vyaah ke baad tussi kaunsa kaid ho jaane waale ho!', I said with furrowed eyebrows.
Gently he replied, 'Ji kisiki aankon ne to kabse kaid kar rakha hai hume. Ab to bas unke paas umar kaid ka hi intezaar kar rahe hai!'
Can he ever not make go pink every other moment?!

'Waise aap ye topi din-bhar lagaakar rakhte hain ?', I said playing with the tiny fuzzy ball atop his cap. 'Thand hai hi nahi! Innu utar do!'
'Arey arey! Madamji ye to pehchaan hai humaari. Isse nahi utaar sakte hum! Nahi nahi!', he said waving his hand.
'Acha thik hai', I said with a frown.

'Waise tussi mainu college pohocha toh doge na ? Tuhaanu raasta pata hai ?', I asked teasingly.
'Aaj Dilli ki galiyon mein kho bhi gaye to kya baat hai!', he said dreamily. I looked down and smiled bashfully.
'Par jisse aapne taanga churaaya hai unhe toh lauta dijiyega taanga!', I remarked.
'Arey mohotarma! Hum aapko ko chor dikhayi dete hai?!', he exclaimed.
'Aapne chehra dikhaaya hi kahan? To mainu kive pata tussi chor lagte ho ki nahi!', I said with a shrug.
'Sun rahe hai aap Toofan miyan!', he said leaning towards the horse. 'Inhe hum chor dikhaayi dete hain!'
The horse neighed in response.
'Kya kaha Toofan miyan ne?', I asked with an amused smile.
'Inhone hume aagah kiya hai! Ki aap-pe bharosa na kare hum. Aur apni topi bhi na utaare!', he replied pretentiously.
'Haan haan! Toh thik hai! Maan lijiye Toofan miyan ki baat!', I said with a huff.
'Waise kuch rakha hai wahan, aapke pairon ke paas.', he said, half turning towards me.
I bent down to find a bunch of orange chrysanthemums. I straightened up with a bright smile yet again.
That miffiness had not even stayed for a few seconds on my face.
'Pasand aaye aapko?', he asked.
'Bohot zyaada!', I replied timidly.

'Waise agar aapko Janaab Randheer se koi shikayat-wikayat hai to aap hume bata sakti hai! Hum bataenge nahi ki aapne kahi hai!', he said pretentiously.
'Hmm... ek shikayat hai mainu.', I said thoughtfully.
He stopped the tanga abruptly, turned around in a flash and asked urgently, 'Kya?!'
I started to laugh. 'Tussi kha-ma-kha darr gaye! Main to thitholi kar rahi thi!'
'Amrit! Aap bhi na!', he said turning forward again and taking the reins.
'Aapko waakayi koi shikayat nahi hai?', he asked yet again.
'Nahi!'

Thus and so, the ride continued with Randheer conversing with Toofan miyan and me, accompanied by Toofan miyan's occasional neighs. We zoomed through the streets of Delhi, took some unnecessary turns and none of us noted that the time passed by swiftly.

When we reached Stephen's, we saw the gates closed. Randheer looked at me and then at his watch.
He panicked, 'Amrit mujhe maaf kar dijiye, nau baj gaye! Aapko to ek ghante pehle yahan pohonch jaana chahiye tha!'
'Randheer', I said softly.
'Mera yakeen maaniye, main sach mein aapko sahi samay pe pohonchaana chahta tha. Waqt ka dhyaan hi nahi raha mujhe. Maaf kar dijiye.'
'Ab darwaaza band ho gaya hai to kya karein!', I said with a shrug. 'Chaliye kahin aur chalte hai!', I said timidly, with a glint in my eyes.
I had never been so careless in life, but even more bizarre was that I was thoroughly enjoying being careless these days, I was loving this carelessness.

Randheer looked at me with a surprised look. 'Amrit ?!'
'Ab humne jaan mooch ke to kuch nahi kiya? Bas waqt par nahi pohonch paaye. Ab toh kuch nahi ho sakta na.', I said in matter-of-factly tone.
'Oh!', he too nodded matter-of-factly. 'To kahan chalein?'
'Kahin nahi!', I said with a bright smile.
'Ji?!'
I pointed towards the pathway adjoining the college boundary wall. It was a long stretch of open road, lined with trees.
'Kuch der chahalkadmi fir main daftar hi chali jawaangi!', I said with a bright smile.
'Jaisa aap kahein!', he replied with a smile.
I kept the chrysanthemums carefully near the seat on the tanga and got down. Thereafter, Randheer pulled up the taanga near the college gate.

'Ab to tussi ae topi-muffler utaar do!', I requested.
'Ji ji utaar raha hoon!', he said with a chuckle.

He was wearing a light yellow pathaani suit. Now finally he took off the sweater, muffler and monkey cap and ruffled his hair a bit. And I drooled over him for a minute before he turned and walked down to me.
'Chalein ?', he asked gesturing towards the road.
I nodded timidly.

'Waise aapne us waqt sach kaha tha? Ya sirf baat taal di thi? Aapko wakayi koi shikayat nahi hai mujhse?', he asked seriously.
'Aap abhi bhi uske bare mein soch rahe hain?'
'Bataiye ye Amrit!', he urged.
'Umm ek shikayat hai mainu.'
'Kya ?', he asked as he stopped walking.
'Tussi mere naal kade roothte hi nahi!', I answered softly.
'Ji?!', he exclaimed with an amused smile. 'Aap chaahti hain main aapse rootthu?'
'Vo Mummyji kehti thi ki roothne manaane se pyaar badhta hai! Ab tussi mere naal roothoge nahi to humaara pyaar to utna hi reh jaana hai na!', I said meekly, looking at him.
He started to say something but wasn't able to get a word out. He just smiled. After a while he replied with an endearing smile, 'Amrit aapki to surat itni pyaari hai, main kya roothu aapse, aur kyun? Aapko to aise hi saat khoon maaf ho jaane chahiye!'
'Aap bhi na Randheer! Aur aapko sacchi lagta hai ki main khoon kar sakti hoon!'
Bending a bit a bit towards me, he said softly,
'Ji humari to aap poochhiye hi mat! Roz katal-e-aam hota hai humaara fir bhi sarfire hai jo dobaara chale aate hain!'
A deep blush came to my cheeks. Was it necessary for him to make me tongue-tied all the time?!

'Waise kuch laaya tha main aapke liye', he said with a twinkle in his eyes. He took out a wristlet made of harshringaar flowers, from his pocket.
'Ye kitna sundar hai Randheer!', I exclaimed.
'Ye maine banaya hai.', he said timidly, stroking the back of his neck.
'Sach mein ?!', I asked with an astonished smile.
'Ji. Kal aap in phoolon ko dekh kar itni khush ho gayi thi isilye!'
'Par aapko ye banana aata hai?'
'Nahi. Mujhe nahi aata tha. Vashma ne mujhe sikhaaya. Ek sauda hua humaare beech. Darasal main kayi saare phool le gaya tha. Maine unse kaha ki aadhe phool vo rakhlein aur apne liye goothte hue vo mujhe bhi phool goonthna sikha dein', he replied with a grin.
'Aur isse goothte waqt aaapko sui bhi chubhi hogi?', I asked with a frown.
'Bas ek baar! Sach mein!', he said assuring me.
'Bade kacche vyaapaari hain aap. Ghaate ka sauda kiya aapne!', I said glumly.
'Agar aap isse mere haath se pehenlengi to das guna fayde ka sauda ho jayega!', he said with a bright smile.
I looked up and slowly changed that frown into a smile. We stopped walking. I extended my hand and he gently tied it around my wrist. I carassed it and gave him a pleased smile. We continued our stroll.

I looked around. The road was deserted. I looked at him for a while and then moving closer, I held his arm with both my hands.
He turned towards me with a charming smile. Keeping his other hand mine, he said with a sparkle in his eyes,
'Yoon bhi dil kahan raha tha humaare paas
Aapne baanh pakadli aur hum ek hi saans pe bik gaye!'
'Haaye Rabba!', I muttered under my breath, hiding my face behind those hands.

Kyon naa hum-tum
Chale tedhe-medhe se raston pe nange paanv re
Chal bhatak le na baawre!

Kyun na hum tum
Phire jaake almast pehchaani raahon ke pare
Chal bhatak le na baawre!

Inn timtimati nigaahon mein
Inn chamchamati adaaon mein
Luke huey, chhupe huey
Hain kya khayaal baawre?

Kyun naa hum-tum
Chale zindagi ke nashe mein hi dhut sarphire
Chal bhatak le na baawre!

Kyun na hum tum
Talashein bageechon mein fursat bhari chhanv re
Chal bhatak le na baawre!

Inn gungunati fizaaon mein
Inn sarsarati hawaaon mein
Tukur-tukur yun dekhe kya
Kya tera haal baawre ?