I entered the house with Keerti, behind me. She was extremely anxious.
'Itna kyun ghabra rahi ho? Sab acha hi hoga!', I said, reassuring her.
'Pata nahi bhaiya', she said nervously. 'Yoon toh jo bhi ichha hoti hai, voh bina maange hi poori ho jaati hai. Aur aaj main yoon itni badi baat Mummy-Bauji se kehne jaa rahi hoon. Voh bhi aisi baat jise sunkar vo naraaz hi honge mujhpar, main jaanti hoon. Bohot darr lag raha hai bhaiya!'
'Tumhe pata hai mujhe bhi ek bohot ghabrahat hui thi, jab maine Bauji se kaha ki main apni zindagi mein kuch alag karna chaahta hoon. Unke karobaar ke alawa apni ek alag pehchaan banana chaahta hoon. Mujhe laga tha jaise main unhe niraash kar raha hoon. Lag raha tha jaise koi gunaah karne jaa raha hoon. Par dil mein kahin yakeen bhi tha ki agar unhe bura laga toh poori jad-o-jahad se unhe dubaara mana lunga, kyunki mera maqsad unhe dukh pohonchaana toh nahi hai. Haalaanki jab maine Mummyji-Bauji ke saamne ye baat rakhi thi tab vo toh jaise turant hi maan gaye the!
Tum bhi ye baat yaad rakho ki tum Mamaji-Mamiji ko dukh pahunchaane ke liye kuch nahi kar rahi ho. Apne liye baat karna, apne liye faisle lena har kisi ka haq hona chahiye hai Keerti', I explained to her softly. Though the magnitude of both these incidents was quite different but the thought, the feeling was similar and she needed to understand that.
Glumly she said, 'Aap ki baat aur hai bhaiya! –'
'Kaise aur hai?!', I asked with raised eyebrows, 'Kya mere Maa-Bauji mujhse jitna pyaar karte hain, tumhare Maa-Bauji tumse utna pyaar nahi karte!'
'Nahi aisi baat nahi hai!', she said promptly.
'Toh bas fir! Tum ache se samjhaaogi, toh vo zaroor maan jaayenge!', I said reassuring her.

She gave me a weak smile and we proceeded towards the guest room. She stood at the door and I waited behind her. Craning forward, I saw Mamaji and Mamiji engaged in some deep conversation. Keerti just stood like a statue at the door. I gestured her to go inside. She looked at me pleadingly. With a sigh, I gently pushed her inside. As she staggered in, Mamaji-Mamiji noticed her.
'Keerti? Kuch kaam hai puttar?', Mamaji asked her fondly.
'Uh nai Bauji kuch nahi. Main aati hoon', she turned around to leave. I looked at her firmly, cross-armed and shook my head.
Fidgeting with her fingers, she slowly towards them again.
'Uh... Mummyji ...Bauji. Mujhe aap dono se ek baat kehni thi...', she stammered.
'Ki hoya puttar? Ki gal hai?', Mamiji asked.

Meanwhile I turned to look outside and found Yash-Gautam coming down the stairs. They noted me standing there. I gestured them to be silent with a finger on my lips as they came up to me. I quickly filled them in with everything.
Gautam looked bewildered because he had no idea about any of this. Yash apologized to him and I asked both of them to have this discussion later.

Inside, Keerti had still not said a word.
'Bata bhi puttar! Ki hoya!' Mamiji asked apprehensively.
'Voh mujhe ...aa..ge BA ki padhaayi nahi karni...', she said.
'Kyun puttar?', Mamiji said worriedly, nearing her. 'Tera toh vadhiya se padhaayi-ich mann lagda hai, pher padhaayi kyun nahi karni?? Aise aadhe mein padhaayi nahi chhodni puttar!'
'Nahi nahi Mummyji! Mera matlab hai mujhe... mujhe doctor banna hai', she said taking in a deep breath.
Both of them looked at her gravely
After a moment's thought, Mamiji said, 'Keerti! Dekh hume pata hai tu aur Yash bohot kareeb hai. Tu bohot yaad karegi use par iska matlab yeh toh nahi –'
'Mummyji woh wajah nahi hai', she said wearily.
'Keerti beta dekh, ye hasi thitholi ki baat nahi hai. Ye achanak doctori ka bhoot kaise sawaar hua tujhpar. BA toh kitni achi degree hai –', she went on.
'Baat degree ki nahi hai Mummyji. Mujhe sirf padhaayi nahi karni. Doctor banna hai! Logon ka ilaaj karna hai! Apna ek naam banana hai, pehchaan banaani hai', she said, slowly picking up confidence.

'Par uski kya zaroorat hai? Saal do saal mein toh tumhaare vyaah ki umar ki ho jaayegi. Phir kya?'

'Par Doctory mera sapna hai, main poore dil se mehnat karna chaahti hoon, kaam karna chaahti hoon. Vyaah toh kuch saal baad bhi ho sakta hai na?', she asked nervously.
'Mujhe toh teri baatein palle nahi pad rahi! Aap hi samjhaaiye isse. Na jaane kisne kya keh diya ise!', Mamiji said with a huff.

Mamaji was considering her thoughtfully all this while.
'Bauji...?', she said weakly. 'Aap kuch nahi kahenge?'
He silently placed a hand on her head, 'Main soch raha hoon ki itne din kaise laga diye tune ye baat mainu kehne waaste?'
Baffled, she looked at him. Mamiji too turned, stunned.
'Aapko... pata tha?', Keerti asked nervously.
'Yoon toh koi baat tu merese kahe bina reh nahi paati. Inni waddi baat kaise chhupaali puttar?', he asked again. 'Ye baat sabse pehle tainu mujhe bataani chaahiye thi na?'
'Woh ... main ....', Keerti faltered.

Mamiji interjected, 'Ohji tussi ki keh rahe ho?! Kade kisi kudinu doctor bane hue dekhya hai??'
'Anandibai Joshi!', Yash spoke up behind me. All eyes turned to him. He walked in self-assuredly. 'Kadambini Ganguly, Rukhmabai Raut, Haimabati Sen, Mutthulakshmi Reddy..'
'Kaun hain ye sab?', Mamiji asked irritably.
'Doctors jo auratein. Aur aaj saari duniya inki kaabiliyat aur jazbe ki daad deta hai. Inke kaam ka shukrguzaar hai. Main chaahta hoon ki meri behen ka naam bhi jude ismein.', he added with determination, holding Keerti's hand.

Mamaji looked at him with an impressed smile. I was so proud of both of them.
'Dekh puttar. Mainu tere doctory padhne pe koi aitraaz nahi hai na teri aage chalke doctory practice karne par.'
Stunned, Maamiji tried to intervene but he hand up his hand.
'Main toh khush howaanga ki mere ghar toh do honhaar doctor niklein. Haan par ae zaroor ek badi dikkat ki baat hai ki Ludiaane wich koi medical college nahi hai. Jekar maine tainu doctor banauna hai, te tainu bahaar bejna pawega.
Jawaan beti nu shehar toh baahar akele kiwein bhejaan?'

'Par Mamaji, Yash ko bhi bhej hi rahe hain aap!', I said, walking in.

'Tum sab ki na matt maari gayi hai!', Mamiji exclaimed. Turning to Mamaji said, 'Aap in bacchon ki baaton pe gaur bhi kar rahe ho ji? Ohji kaun apni kudi nu mundon ke beech padhne bhejta hai??'

'Padma! Is duniya mein kya sirf kudiyaan hai? Jab duniyaa mein rehna munde kudiyan dono ke saath hai toh saath padhne mein ki harj hai?', Mamaji argued.
'Par in medical college'on mein koi kudi nahi milni tuhaanu!', she exclaimed, holding up her hand. 'Na is peshe mein!'
'Maamiji par yoon toh aapko kisi bhi peshe mein mardon ke muqable ladkiyaan kam hi milengi! Agar sab issi tarah sochne lage to baraabari toh kabhi hogi hi nahi! Humesha sau ladko mein ek hi ladki rahegi!',
'Chaahe kitni daleelein dede puttar, main nahi maan-ne waali. Maine apni kudi nu kithhon nahi vhejna!', she said firmly.
'Padma! Humaari beti ne apne liye pehli baar koi faisla kiya hai – voh bhi aisa mushkil faisla. humra Farz banta hai ki hum uska saath dein, usse samjhein! Uski himmat banein, na ki bas aise inkaar kardein!' Turning to us, he said 'Par baat abhi bhi wahi hai. Main isnu bahaar kivein vhejaan?'
That's when Gautam spoke up, 'Agar Calcutta Medical College mein iska admission ho gaya, toh yeh bhi Maasiji ke yahaan reh sakti hai! Isme kya pareshaani hogi Bauji?'
Yash to added, 'Haan Bauji hum saath saath reh lenge! Ek doosre ka khayaal bhi rakhenge! Padhai bhi ache se karenge! Maan jaaiye na!'
We argued for quite some time. He was worried. All four of us tried convincing him. 
I sighed. There should come a day, when sending girls away for higher studies would be as ordinary as sending a boy away.
Keerti took a step towards Bauji and softly said, 'Main aapko shikayat ka mauka nahi dungi Bauji. Poori lagan se padhungi. Main bhi aapka naam uncha karungi Bauji. Mujhe ek mauka de dijiye!'

Mamaji took her hand into his, 'Puttar. Ae raasta asaan nahi hona hai. Pal pal tere saamne sawaal khade honge, tere faisle to azmaayenge, teri himmat ko todne ki koshish karenge. Yash ka safar jaisa bhi hoga, tera safar usse sau guna zyaada mushkil hona hai. Ae gal achi tarah mann mein bitha le. Baar baar aise pareshaaniyaan aayengi jo tujhe sochne pe mujboor karengi ki tere ye faisla sahi tha ya galat. Ye koi josh mein lene ka faisla nahi hai puttar. Ye poore hosh mein, soch samajh ke lene ka faisla hai. Agar tu insab chunautiyon ko apnaane ko taiyaar hai toh main is baare mein vichaar karunga. Agar nahi, toh abhi peechhe hatt ja. Mauka hai tere paas.'

She took a deep breath in and said, 'Aapki beti hoon Bauji, peechhe nahi hatungi!'
He gave a very small smile.
'Main soch ke bataata hoon.'
All of us exchanged eager but suppressed smiles. This almost meant a yes!
Mamiji turned her face away. Guilty, Keerti was about to kneel before her but Mamaji stopped and gestured that he would handle her. 

We turned to leave. When we were a bit distant from the room, Keerti embraced Yash.
I and Gautam looked at each other and smiled, stroking their heads.
'Bas bas! Haan nahi hui hai abhi!', Yash replied with a chuckle. 
'Haan toh zaroor hogi!', I reassured them. 'Bas himmat kabhi nahi haarni hai! Na ab, na aage!'
They nodded with a hopeful smile. 

*

I walked into Dainik Bhaskar office, full of whim and vigor.
Ravi Sahab, Imraan, Ali Sahab, I could see them all busy in their respective tasks, outside. I gave them all a smile, which they returned. I went and met Manoj and Preetikaji in their cabins and further proceeded to my cabin. It felt so good to be back at work!

Inside I found a familiar pile of articles on my desk, ready to be edited. And as usual, Amrit's story right on top. No note was clipped to it today. I was about to start working when Amrit's eager voice came from the door. 'Ghar pe kuch baat hui ?'
She hastened in, placing her hands my desk.
'Bas haan ho hi gayi, samajh lijiye!', I replied with a smile.
'Baat Keerti ne ki na? Kya Mamaji naraaz hue ? Mamiji ne kya kaha? Bohot naraaz hue the sab? Keerti ko zyaada daant toh nahi padi na? Ghar par mahaul thik hai?', she rambled on anxiously.
'Amrit! Amrit shaant ho jaaiye!', I said softly, gesturing with my hands. 'Haan baat Keerti ne hi ki. Aur Mamaji naraaz nahi hai. Unhe Keerti ke is faisle par koi aitraaz nahi hai. Use bahar bhejne ke khyaal par vo thoda aur soch-vichaar karna chaahte hain. Mamiji ko ye saari baatein zara bhi pasand nahi aayi. Voh naraaz hai, par - par Mamaji ne kaha hai ki voh unhe samjhaayenge! Toh haan! Ghar par sab thik hai!'
'Mainu bhi manaane mein madad karni thi!!', she fretted, nose all cute and wrinkled.
Leaning a bit forward I said, 'Ab ek waqt pe toh ek insaan ek hi jagah ho sakta hai na!', I said in a matter-of-factly tone.
'Phir bhii!', she grumbled sitting down on the chair before me.
'Oh ji! Is baat ki naa fikr mat kijiye aap! Aage bohot aise mauke aayenge!'
She looked up at me with brows still puckered. 'Voh toh... hai'
'Toh bas fir! Apne maathe ki ye shikan hataiye aur muskura dijiye! Keerti ki padhaayi ke liye haan ho hi gayi hai samjhajhiye!'
Slowly she widened her smile and then the next instant she got up, 'Acha chaliye aap kaam kijiye! Mainu bhi mera article khatam karna hai!'
'Ji thik hai!', I nodded and she turned to leave.
'Uh Amrit!'
'Ji ?', she stopped and turned again.
'Aapne aaj note nahi bheja ?', I asked unsurely.
She reflected for a second, and then shrugged with a queer smile before leaving.
And for the first time, I didn't know what that smile meant.

*

It was early in the evening. I was editing the last article of the day. A few crosses here, a few corrections there and yes! They were good to go!
As I picked it up to put it with the other edited articles, a note clipped or rather hidden behind it, fell down. Surprised, I bent down, picking it up.
It read,
'Har dil gaaye ek geet, adhura
jo meet mile toh geet woh
poora ho hi jaata hai

dilbar ke chhoone par
tamanna raqs karti hai
mann bheeg hi jaata hai'

I reclined back on my chair with a sigh, reading it over and over again. I could feel my heart beating so much faster. Oh Amrit! I couldn't even express what this was doing to my heart. 
Drawing a breath, it shut my eyes and held the note against my face.
Ah roses... I sighed. Just a second? Roses!? I straightened up and sniffed on the note. Oh Good Lord! This note was written in scented ink – rose scented ink. After giving me a mini heart attack, she was planning to give me a real one it seemed.
How was I expected to work now?! How was I supposed to do anything now?
All I wanted was to drool over it.
Another thought crossed my mind and I quickly opened the middle drawer and pulled out the metal box where I had saved all the other notes written by her.
As I opened it, a faint rose like scent wafted around me. Normally I opened the box in the drawer itself and put the note in it. And if ever I noticed a scent, I thought it was her scent which I was dreaming over. I sniffed on each of them. All of them had this rose-like smell. I smelt the paper on which her story was written – no smell there.
I had been such a dumbhead?! 
For a while, I couldn't think clearly. 

I looked over towards the wall beside the staircase. Numerous times I had noticed her peeking from behind there. A both-sided advantage of having a partial glass door in an otherwise closed cabin. But she probably doesn't know that I know it's her spot. Maybe she'd no more stop there if I tell her. Ignorance is bliss.
At that moment, she wasn't there. Great! Now she had left me here to dwell over this. This was not done!

Should I go upstairs? I stood up. No, no. She'd come around. I had a feeling she would. But maybe she'd be expecting me to come upstairs. I was starting to get up yet again. Just then I spotted Amrit at the foot of the stairs. I was right. She indeed was here. Good! I promptly took a seat again, took my pen back in my hand and fiddling with it, trying to wipe that silly smile off my face.

After a few minutes of conversing with Imraan, she turned towards my cabin. I lowered my eyes to sheets in front of me, pretending to arrange them.
Entering the cabin, she closed the door behind her.
'Ye aakhri article', she said with an as-if-nothing-happened smile, handing out the sheet of paper in her hand to me.
'Oh!... Thik hai!', I said, 'Main sun leta hoon ...uh mera matlab hai main padh leta hoon', I said, fumbling a bit.
'Thik hai! Main chalti hoon!', she said casually and turned to leave. I grasped her wrist right on time. She didn't turn for a while. I stood up and crossed over the desk to her. 'Yoon mere dil ka chain chheen kar ka...han chali aap?', I said, breathing a bit heavily.
Freeing her wrist from my hold, she placed both her arms around my neck, rendering me speechless.
'Aapka dil toh mera hai. Main chaahe jo karu uske saath', she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
And she had that assertive smile which I quite rarely saw on her face. I looked at her blankly, not knowing what to say.

And before I knew it, standing on her toes, she brushed her lips over mine.
I –
I was floored. Mercifully I didn't just faint right there (mentally I did).
Totally crimson she was, but that didn't stop her from smirking, did it?! And a stupefied me just looked on.

After a few moments, there was an impatient knock on the door followed by an unsuccessful turn of the knob. 'Randheer Sahab?!'
I turned towards the door and then back to Amrit who had a sly smile on her face. So she had pressed the door-lock too! My wife is much smarter than me I see.
Withdrawing her arms (uh sad!), she went to open the door. I propped up my arm against the desk for a while, befuddled.
Imraan stood there with a sheaf of papers in his hand.
'Uh Imraan Bhaijaan! Aiye baithiye. Randheer aap hi ka intezaar kar rahe the!', she said, trying to suppress her blush and chuckle. I looked down, considered for a while and looked at them in confusion.
'Main?-'
'Haan! Aap!', she said
'Ye darwaza?-', Imraan asked in confusion.
'-Atak gaya tha!', Amrit said promptly. 'Darwaza - atak gaya tha'
Imraan just looked at both our red faces one after the other dubiously. If it were Preetika or Manoj, they wouldn't have taken a second to guess what had transpired in here. Imraan was evidently too naïve.
Before he could say another word, Amrit said, 'Achi tussi dono kaam karo! Main chalti hoon!' Still confused, Imraan made way for her and took a seat on the chair opposite to mine.
Before going out Amrit winked at me and hastened away, before I could react.
I stared at spot where she was a while ago, absolutely still. With a slight jolt, I brushed the hair at the back of my head with a hand and brought it down my face with an abashed smile.
I looked up to find Imraan staring at me with a peculiar look on his face.

I looked back blankly for a while and then quickly moved back to my seat.
'Ch-chai piyenge aap?', I faltered a bit, sitting down.
'Nahi nahi. Aap ye kaagaz dekh lijiye! Aapki madad chahiye thi!', he said courteously, handing the papers to me.
I adjusted my seat and reclined a bit back but then straightened up. Picking up a pen, I began tapping it on the table. Amrit had picked a very wrong time and place to sweep me off my feet.

*

It was evening. We were in the meeting room, discussing the final copies to go in printing. Manoj Sahab and Preetika were engaged in an important discussion about the changes in the Minimum Wages Act.
I was proof-reading the documents silently. I certainly was not in the right headspace to for an intellectual discussion.
'Ye bol badalne padenge Jayant', Preetikaji said. 'Inse saaf yahi dhaarna banti hai ki article ka rujhaan kendra sarkaar ke taraf hai'
'Par doosri tarah se isse likhein toh aisa lagega jaise hum rajya sarkaar ki agwaayi kar rahe hain!', Manoj noted.
'Magar rajya sarkaaron ki baat sahi hai toh isme harz hi kya hai?', Jayant asked. He was an apprentice here, still learning.
'Baat sahi galat ki nahi hai Jayant!', Harbirji explained to him. 'Hume nishpaksh sirf khabar deni hai. Dono ka hi paksh rakhna hai.'
I nodded in agreement.
As I looked up, I saw Amrit snooping in from one of the windows across me, stealthily. I buried myself in the papers. I couldn't afford to lose my already wavered attention to any further extent. 
But hardly able to bear it, I looked up after a second. She held my gaze for a second and disappeared. And I was biding my time to bring the day to a close.

*

I was in a taxi, on my way home. Amrit didn't meet me before leaving. I was about to be upset about it but then I recalled we lived in the same house. And we were married. Bingo!

I got out of the taxi, looking up at the balcony. I just spotted Amrit standing there. As soon as she saw me, she ran inside with a grin.
Paying the driver, I too darted inside. I removed my shoes noiselessly, looking around. The house was still. Everyone must be asleep by now. Removing my waistcoat, I sped upstairs, breath uneven, making as little noise as possible.

I peered into our room. 'Amrit?'
She wasn't here. After a fold I laid the waistcoat on the jhula and hastened towards the study. The lights were on. She was probably here.
'Amrit?!', I called out, panting. I looked on the other side the writing table, which stood to the left of the door. I moved further inside, moving towards the back of the sofa.
Just then Amrit stood up leapt to her feet from behind there with a chuckle, flung a cushion at me and ran towards the door. Startled, I tossed the cushion aside and raced behind her, laughing, her hair spilling behind her back.

I followed her right into our room. She ran to other side of the swing, and stopped for a while. I too stopped before the jhula, both of us holding the chains on opposite sides. I chased her around the swing for a round, but she ran out of my reach, laughing.
She climbed the alcove and I almost caught her but she sent the curtain flying at me and escaped yet again.

She stood on the other side of the room, giggling. Moving the curtain aside, I walked ahead slowly as she walked backward, short of breath, looking behind every now and then. I broke into a run abruptly, making her do the same. However I closed in on her in front of the armoire, our eyes twinkling, our breath heavy.
'Kya sitam dhaa rahi ho sanam?
Romaani is dil ko aazma rahi ho?
Jaan halak par liye chal raha hoon kabse
Tum yoon muflis ke haal ka lutf utha rahi ho?'

She looked into my eyes and nervously said, 'Mohabbat mein bhi kabhi kabhi... inteqaam lene padte hai'
I pulled her with a slight jerk, my arms around her waist, hers on my chest. She caught her breath, lowering her gaze.
'Saza honi chahiye aapko...', I whispered.
She lifted her gaze to mine, hers so soft, a smile curving the edges of her mouth.
'Kya saza denge aap?', she asked almost inaudibly.

For a moment there was a hush. I registered a slight movement in the air between us. Letting go of her waist, I held her face and kissed her softly, like the rare and tender thing she was.
Withdrawing, I rested my forehead on hers, listening to our pounding hearts.
My hands swept behind her back, pulling her in closer.
Warmth spilled in my chest as I kissed her temple, her cheek and her jaw. Amrit sank her fingers into my back, shutting her eyes. 'I love you Randheer...', she mumbled, her breath hitched, hot against my face.
I lifted her chin up, making her look at me. She held my gaze for some time, her eyes shining. A tremor ran down her spine.
One staggering step behind and thud! – we fell on the bed, Amrit upon me. Her sari sunk down her shoulders. I brushed aside the hair which fell upon her face and held her face.
My heart was thumping, her breath was racing.

Pashmina dhaagon ke sang
Koi aaj bune khwaab aise kaise
Waadi mein goonje kahin naye saaz
Ye rawaab aise kaise
Pashmina dhaagon ke sang

I gently overturned her onto the bed. She was all gooseflesh.

Kaliyon ne badle abhi ye mizaaj
Ehsaas aise kaise
Palkon ne khole abhi naye raaz
Jazbaat aise kaise
Pashmina dhaagon ke sang
Koi aaj bune khwaab aise kaise

I tilted her chin up and dipped to kiss her throat. She slumped against the bed gasping and intertwined her fingers tightly into mine. I withdrew slowly and pulled the curtain string, bringing down the canopy on all sides.

Kacchi hawa, kaccha dhuaan ghul raha
Kaccha sa dil lamhe naye chun raha
Kacchi si dhoop, kacchi dagar phisal rahi
Koi khada chupke se keh raha
Main saaya banun, tere piche chalun
Chalta rahoon...
Pashmina dhaagon ke sang
Koi aaj bune khwaab aise kaise...

My thumb roved her bottom lip, as I beheld her. She looked at me for a second, looked away and beheld me gaze yet again. I took her lips in a deep kiss.