It was about nine at night. I was standing in front of the mirror, grooming my curls. Vashma had picked out a dark red-violet organza with a pink blouse for me. It had tiny specks of flowers embroidered here and there. It was such a gorgeous saree but why today?! And where were we going?
Three days and only 2 one-minute-phonecalls – this was not done. I fretted as I brushed my hair.
'Beautiful!', I heard Randheer say and then heard the shutter of the camera click.
Startled, I turned around slowly.
There he was, dressed in a black pullover, purple muffler and dark green trousers, standing, with his camera in his hands. I looked at him wide-eyed and mouth slightly open. Randheer wapas aa gaye?! Sacchi?!
I was about to rush to him when he raised his hand and gestured me to stop. Now what?!
He pushed the shutter to make another click. 'Perfect!'
As soon as I heard the shutter, I rushed to him. He too dashed towards me. For a split second we stopped and looked at each other and then took each other in a tight embrace.
'Aapne savere jhoot kaha tha mujhse ?', I asked with furrowed eyebrows.
'Ji!', he replied. 'Agar bata deta toh aapki ye hairaani kaise dekh paata?'
I nodded meekly.
'Amrit mujhe yaad hai ki aapne mujhse waada liya tha ki main jahaan bhi jaunga, aapko saath lekar jaunga, par aap jaanti hai is baar ye mumkin nahi tha.'
'Mainu pata hai Randheer', I replied. 'Par agli baar toh aisa nahi hoga na!'
'Par agar dubara kabhi aisa hua aur aap college mein rahi toh ?', he questioned earnestly.
'Toh aap college aake hakk se mainu apne saath le jaana, par jaana nahi!', I replied, tightening the embrace.
'Jaisa aap chahein!', he said gently. 'Aapko yaad aayi meri?'
'Bohot zyaada!', I said.
'Par mujhse zyaada nahi!', he said tenderly.
'Hmmm'
'Aap is baat par ladengi nahi mujhse?',
'Chhoti chhoti gallan te ladayi nahi hogi humaari!', I replied softly.
'Ohh', he said pretentiously. 'Toh... badi badi baaton pe ladaayi hogi ?'
'Nahi Randheer, ladaayi hi nahi hogi!', I replied whimsically.
'Par aap hi toh keh rahin thi ki aap chaahti hai ki main roothu aapse. Aur ab aap keh rahi hai ki ladaayi hi nahi hogi?', he asked leaning back a bit and looking at me.
'Uh... haan main chaahti hoon na ki aap rootho mujhse aur main manau aapko, par mainu ladaayi nahi karni! Kade vi nai!', I replied. 'Aur aap bhi ladaayi ki baatein na karo!', I said with furrowed eyebrows.
'Acha acha thik hai. Maaf kar dijiye!'
Then withdrawing he raised a finger and said, 'Ek minute'.

He revealed a very small round hinged silver container from his pocket.
'Kajal ki kajloti?!', I said with a sparkle in my eyes. 'Chaandi ki ?'
'Jis aaine ne apna aks dekhte hai
bas... usiko sajaane ka saaman le aaye'
I lowered my eyes, my cheeks reddening.

He gently lifted my chin and said, 'Rukhsaar ki is laali ko behad yaad kiya humne!'
My blush deepened.

We sat side by side on the bed. As I looked at him, he gently took my right hand and began stroking my palm with his thumb. I inclined forward, leaning against his shoulder. He withdraw left hand from the middle and brought it around me, making me snuggle a bit more comfortably into him.

Dum dara dum dara chashm-chashm nam
Dum dara dum dara chashm-chashm nam

Sun mere humdum... humesha ishq mein hi jeena

Dum dara dum dara chashm-chashm nam
Dum dara dum dara chashm-chashm nam

Sun mere humdum... humesha ishq mein hi jeena

Aye hairathe Aashiqui jagaa... mat
pairon se zameen-zameen... laga mat
Aye hairathe Aashiqui jagaa.... mat
pairon se zameen-zameen... laga mat
Aye hairathe Aashiqui...
Aye hairathe Aashiqui... Aye hairathe Aashiqui

Dum dara dum dara chashm-chashm nam
Dum dara dum dara chashm-chashm nam

Sun mere humdum humesha ishq mein hi jeena

Just then there was a knock on the door. Unwillingly, we straightened up and turned around.
'Andar aa jaayen hum?', Jijaji called out.
We looked at each other and then looked down with an embarassed grin. We walked over to the door ourselves. Radha jiji and Jijaji, both were standing at the door.
'Sach kahu toh itni tehzeeb ki umeed maine tujhse nahi ki thi!', Randheer remarked with an amused smile.
'Bacchon!', Jijaji said dramatically. 'Tumhari shaadi hui nahi hai abhi tak! Par mere vyaah ko
hone ko aaye teen saal.'
Then pulling Radha Jiji slightly by her arm, he said, 'Aur koi aake toh dikhaaye humaare kamre mein, bina darwaaza khat-khataaye!'

Radha jiji turned red and freeing her arm she muttered, 'Ohji! Chhado mainu! Ki kar rahe ho tussi!'
I and Randheer looked at each other awkwardly.

'Mukund ...uh kuch kaam tha?', Randheer asked uncertainly.
'Kyun? Bhagaana hai hume?', Jijaji asked, with raised eyebrows.
'N..nahi', Randheer replied uneasily. A soft blush came up on my cheeks.
'Achi baat hai. Chalo ice-cream parlour chalna hai!', he exclaimed.
'Ice-cream?', we asked together.

'Haan aaj bada mann hai mera! Ab chori chhupe ice-cream khaaane ke din toh kabke gaye, sabke saath ice-cream ke maze liye jaaye!', he said, exchanging a look with Randheer.

'Mainu bhi batao, ki gal hai?!, I asked with a curious smile.
'Amrit, darasal hum kabhi kabhi raat ko apni dormitory se bhaag ke jaate the, Hussain uncle ke yahan ice-cream khaane!', Randheer replied with a guilty smile.
'School se bhaag ke?', I looked at him with astonishment.
'Ji!', he said, stroking the back of his neck.
'Juliet isme iski koi galti nahi hai! Ab mera dost hai... to itna bhi shareef nahi rehne de sakta main ise!', he said haughtily. 'Yeh meri shaan ke khilaaf hua!'
'Oh!', I said, nodding in a matter-of-factly manner.
'Ohji! Par bhaag ke kyun?', Radha jiji asked with furrowed eyebrows.
'Voh is liye kyunki janaab ko icecream kuch zyaada hi pasand thi! ', Jijaji elaborated. 'Aur school ke taraf se saaf manaayi. Ab maine koshish ki ek do baar ki main akele hi jaake le aau iske liye! Par cycle chalaakar dormitory tak aate aate saari ice-cream pighal jaati! Issi liye hum aadhi raat ko jaate the, chhup chhupaake!'
'Aur aadhi raat ko aapko... icecream mil jaati thi?', I asked with an amused smile.
He gestured me to come a bit forward. When I did, he whispered, 'Hussain uncle ki beti ko pata liya tha maine!', he said mischievously. 'Haan par use maine sirf ice-cream ke liye pataya tha! Bhai mere yaar ke liye kuch bhi!'
As I sniffed a giggle and straightened, I saw Randheer and jiji looking at us peculiarly.
Jijiaji really was impossible!

'Acha ab bohot hue sawaal jawaab. Chalo tum dono neeche!', he said ushering us all downstairs with him.

Downstairs, Kabir was sitting on a takht and struggling with his shoe laces.
Before I could go near him, Randheer rushed to his side and knelt beside.
Kabir looked up cutely and said, 'Bauji ne kaha vo bas aake mainu joote pehna denge, par maine socha ki ik baari main hi koshish karu. Par ye feete hai ki seedhe hi nahi reh rahe!', he said glumly. 'Main ghum jaa raha hoon inmein!'
'Main pehna doon ?', Randheer asked cutely.
Kabir looked at him for a second and then extended the laces towards him. Eagerly, Randheer took the laces and tied them properly. Kabir gave him a pleased smile and Randheer brushed his hair fondly. And I stood there adoring them. So my hard-to-please Kabir was bonding with Randheer! Nice!

Jijaji walked over to Randheer and said, 'Chal gaddi nikaal laen'
'Masarji mainu bhi le chalo. Tussi mainu gaddi chalaana sikhaana!', he exclaimed excitedly.
Randheer and Jijaji looked at each other with amused smiles.
'Chalo, tainu gaddi chaalana sikhaayein!', Jijaji said pretentiously, lifting him up in his arms.
They walked out of Prem Nivas.
Suddenly we heard a thud. Alarmed, I and Radha Chachi looked at each other and rushed upstairs. There in the hallway, Veerji was swiveling around with Vashma in his arms. Both of them were laughing heartily. Apparently they had knocked over a vase in this pursuit.
Seeing us Veerji halted abruptly, almost letting Vashma fall, but thankfully she regained her balance. 'Oye?!', she exclaimed.
Radha Chachi chimed in teasingly, 'Puttarji? Vashma achaanak bhaari ho gayi tuhaade vaaste?'
That's when she noticed us. Both of them turned scarlet.
Without a word, Veerji hastened downstairs, avoiding our eyes.
'Kuch zyaada ki der laga di tum dono ne!', I said. 'Hum kinni der se neeche intezaar kar rahe the!'
'Jhooth mat bol! Maine dekha tha bas abhi abhi neeche gaye the tum sab! Hum bhi bas aa hi rahe the!', Vashma defended.
I and Jiji nodded with a teasing smile.

As I walked out of our house, happily chatting with Radha Chachi and Vashma, Jijaji and Randheer pulled up the cars, one after the other, in front of us. Kabir was seated in the back seat of Jijaji's car.

Here Radha jiji habitually proceeded and sat beside Jjiaji on the front seat. With a similar plan I too turned towards Randheer's car behind us but I saw Veerji casually go and settle down on the front seat. Randheer was bent down near his seat. As he straightened up, he saw Veerji sitting beside him. With a lost expression, he looked ahead towards me and with a similiar look, I shrugged slightly.

Nevertheless I and Vashma were about to go and sit in Randheer's car when Kabir called out, 'Ammi, Mummy idhar aao na!', peeking out of the car window. We exchanged a look with each other and resolved that Vashma would go with him. Meanwhile I walked down towards Randheer's car.
Randheer came out and opened the car door for me. We exchanged a dejected smile and I settled down in the back seat.

'Randheer Sahab aapka safar acha raha?', Veerji asked as Randheer got in the car.
'Haan Uday. Sab ho gaya ache se!', he replied, starting the car.
'Iska toh bada bura haal ho gaya tha yahan!', Veerji said, half-turning towards me. I flustered red. Why Veerji?!
'Acha?', Randheer said, glancing at me from the rear-view mirror.
'Poochhiye to isse! Do bol bole hai isne muskuraake ?', Veerji complained.
Extremely embarrassed, I started looking out of the window.
'Aapki shikaayat aayi hai mere paas! Kya kiya jaaye?!', Randheer asked. I did not turn towards them yet.

'Ab pooch ke bhi koi sazaa di jaati hai kya! Maine toh kaan kheechne hai iske!', Veerji exclaimed. 'Bas thoda laad aa gaya isilye jaane diya ise!'
'Tum kaan kheech nahi paaye aur sazaa mujhse dilwaani hai?', Randheer remarked.
'Waise jo do din iska mann bechain raha uske vaaste sazaa to tuhaanu bhi milni chaiye.', Veerji said.
I was well pleased that Veerji had said this, but I hope this was not showing on my face.
'Jo sazaa ye dena chaahein, gustaakh ko manzoor hai', he said softly.
I cautiously tried to steal a glance at him from the mirror, but unfortunately caught his eye. He raised his eyebrows and I shook my head with a tiny smile.

'Yahan se daaye', Veerji guided, bringing our wordless exchange to a halt. Then he said, 'Amru! Tu mainu shakkar-paare khila dena. Inne muafse se mera kaam bann jaana hai!'
'Ji Veerji!', I replied with a chuckle.
'Aur mere liye koi hukum?', Randheer asked. 
'Umm.. tussi mainu chachiji ke haath ke laddu khila dena! Bas!', Veerji exclaimed.
'Zaroor zaroor. Hum dono saath baithke kal ladduon ki daawat udaaeinge!', Randheer replied happily. 

We reached Kwality ice-cream parlor in Connaught place. Parking the cars, all of us went inside. Amongst us Randheer and Kabir were the most excited ones. The ice-cream parlor had glass windows with big painted ice-cream cut-outs stuck on them. All the walls inside were painted in blue and white stripes with the familiar Kwality logo pasted on top. The ice-cream counter was against the wall. The customers either sat on the small round seats, lined in front of the counter or they stood around the store and enjoyed their ice-creams.

 'Hume Cassata chahiye!', Vashma and Radha Chachi said together. 'Mainu pineapple', I added.
'Mere liye Cherry coconut!', said Jijaji.
Veerji noted, 'Acha, do cassata, ek cherry coconut, ek pineapple, meri ek mango, Kabir ki butterscotch. Aur aap Rai Sahab?'
Randheer bent over towards Kabir and asked, 'Aapko bhi butterscotch pasand hai?' Kabir nodded gleefully. Lifting him up, Randheer turned towards Veerji. 'Aaj inki butterscotch rehne do'
'Par kyun!', Kabir exclaimed noisily.
'Kyunki aaj aap mere saath ek nayi flavor aazmayenge. Aur kyunki butterscotch mujhe bhi sabse zyada pasand hai, ye naya flavor bhi aapko zaroor pasand aayega! Thik hai?'
After thinking for a while, he nodded.
Elated, Randheer turned to Veerji again and said, 'Humare liye do Butter Pecan'
'Aajtak butterscotch ke alawa koi ice-cream raas nahi aayi hai ise! Dekhte hain humare sahabzaade aaj khush hote hain ya nahi!', Veerji remarked and turned to order.

Once the ice-creams arrived, one should have seen Kabir and Randheer's faces. Basically - a 3 feet tall kid in the arms of a 6 feet tall child. We too were relishing our ice-creams but the joy on their faces was something else. And Kabir was clearly loving this new flavor as well as Randheer's company. They were half-eating and half smearing each other's mouths with ice-cream. I took my handkerchief to wipe their faces. Hesitantly I raised it towards Randheer's face first, but Kabir tugged it towards himself .With a chuckle I cleaned his face first. Consequently I wiped Randheer's face.

We all chatted for quite some time there. Soon Kabir fell asleep, his hands encircled around Randheer's neck.

'Aap sab mujhe yeh toh bataiye, vyaah mein aap sab mein se meri taraf se kaun kaun hai?', Randheer suddenly asked.
'Hume to bhool hi jaaiye aap!', Vashma and Veerji said together and then looked at each other and burst out laughing.
'Dekho mere toh dono haathon mein laddu hai! Yahaan saali ko vida karunga, wahaan Bhabhi ka swagat! Par jab tak vidaayi nahi ho jaati, hum toh bhai Gharaati hain!', Jijaji said raising his hands.
'Yeh toh koi baat nahi hui! Aap sab inhi ke taraf ho gaye!', Randheer complained.
Radha jiji chirpily said, 'Ohji tussi fikar kyun karte ho. Main hoon na! In sabko Amrit ki taraf hone do! Main tuhaadi taraf hoon!'
All of us looked at each other in surprise. While Randheer added haughtily, 'Dekha aap sabne! Meri Bhabhi hai mere saath! Ho jaaiye aapsab ek tarah! Hum kaafi hain!' as Radha jiji walked over and stood by his side.
'Channa! Ab tussi mainu uljhan mein daal rahe ho!', Jijaji exclaimed.
'Ab bhi der nahi hui!', Randheer remarked.
'Ab toh faisla ho gaya hai!', Jijaji said, coming over to my side. 'Main nahi peeche hatne waala!'
'Thik hai! Hume bhi waise zarooorat nahi hai teri!', Randheer said brushing him off.
Jijaji clearly was in two minds but then he said, 'Haan haan thik hai thik hai! Dekh lenge'

We were walking back to the parking, Randheer beside me. Veerji came to us, 'Randheer sahab. Ab Kabir nu mainu dedo. Tussi kabse isnu uthake ghoom rahe ho'
'Isse mere paas hi rehne do Uday', he replied gently and instead took out the car keys from his pocket and handed them to Veerji. 'Ye lo gaadi tum chala lo'
'Ohji aapke haath dukhne lagenge!', Veerji said urgently.
Randheer kept a hand on his shoulder and shook his head, reassuring him. Veerji nodded slightly and went away towards the parking.

*

As I entered the car, Randheer too got it from the other side and took a seat beside me. I gave him a pleased smile.

Veerji drove home silently. Everyone was tired. Even Vashma was in the other car, so no chitter-chatter. Throughout the drive, Randheer held my hand and we kept looking at each other, every now and then and smiling.

As we reached home, everyone went inside rather quickly. Veerji too took sleeping Kabir from Randheer and left. I was leaving as well when Randheer called out, 'Uh.. Amrit!'
'Ji!', I turned back towards him quickly. Give me a reason- I'd stay.
'Ek second!', he said and went to open the car boot.

He took out a big bunch of big baby's breath flowers from it. 'Aap inhe bhool rahi thi!', he said, presenting them to me.
I took them with a blushing smile. 'Shukriya'
As I turned again, he took my hand, and I stopped yet again. He looked at me longingly for a while and then exhaled a bit, looking up at the sky.

'Good Night Amrit', he said walking backwards with a sigh and then turned around to go into Raizada Sadan.