The road adjacent to the St. Stephen's encircled the entire campus.
As we reached the Gates of St. Stephen's from the other side, we saw Vashma conversing with Darbanji at the gate, with a steel tiffin in her hand.
As she saw us, she walked down to us.
'Amrit! Hadd ho gayi aaj toh. College nahi aake to yahan ghoom rahi hai?!'
'Main aa rahi thi sacchi! Par hum jab tak pohonche tab tak Gate band ho chuka tha!', I tried to clarify.
'Aur aap dono ne raaste mein ghadi nahi dekhi? Pata nahi tha ki Gate kitne baje baje band hota hai ?!', she asked crossly.
I and Randheer looked at each other guiltily.
That's when Randheer spoke up politely, 'Isme inki koi galti nahi hai! Maine hi dhyaan nahi diya ghadi par.'
'Nai nai.', I chimed in. 'Mujhe hi dhyaan rakhna chaiye tha. Meri galti hai!'
'Galti aap dono ki hai! Ek toh Amrit ne khaaya bhi nahi hai kuch subah se. Aur kyunki aap bhi subah subah iske peeche aa gaye the, mujhe to lagta hai aapne bhi kuch nahi khaaya hoga Randheer.'
He nodded with with a sheepish smile.
'Ab aap dono suniye meri baat. Is dibbe mein paraathe hai dono ke liye. Dono andar chalo aur jaldi se khaalo. Bas 10 minute hai agla lecture shuru hone mein. Main nikal paayi class se kyunki Professor Malik aaj aaye nahi hai . Do lecture bache hue hai abhi. Amrit tu mere saath andar chal rahi hai. Thik hai ?!'
She was asking as if I had an option to say no! I nodded a yes obviously.

Going inside, we sat down on a bench and finished off the parathas quickly. I and Randheer bid each other goodbye. Just then I recalled something.
'Randheer!', I said as he was about to turn.
'Ji ?', he replied, all ears.
'Voh... mera guldasta ?' I asked softly.
'Aapke cabin tak pohonch jayega!', he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

I nodded with a bright smile and went towards the college building with Vashma.

***

I was in office for three hours now. I had already sent the story for tomorrow's edition and had begun with an article too. Neither did he come up nor the flowers, nor did any note. Ordinarily he would have arrived about half-an-hour ago. What was happening? I decided to go downstairs to know what the matter was.
He was not in his cabin either. That is odd!
'Manoj ji.' I stopped Manoj ji who was just passing by. 'Randheer aaj daftar nahi aaye hai?'

'Tumhe nahi pata?', he asked with a confused look.
I shook my head uncertainly.
'Randheer to Chaudhary Sahab ke saath Ambala ke liye rawana ho gaye kuch der pehle!'
Taken aback, I asked, 'Ji?! Ambala ?! Par yoon achanak?'
'Haan voh pehle Ravi Sahab jaane waale the Chaudhary Sahab ke saath par unhe kuch kaam aan paada isiliye vo nahi jaa paaye. Kisiko to jaana tha Chaudhary Sahab ke saath. Aur Chaudhary Sahab ko Randheer ke pesh aane ka tareeka, unka kaam, unke khayaal- sab bohot pasand aaye the to unhone Randheer ko hi apne saath le jaane ka tay kiya. Randheer ke ghar hi telephone karwa diya tha. Do-teen din mein laut aayenge vo dono!'

I stood stunned for a few moments. An old fear clasped my heart yet again. I feared someone would just come to me now and say that last week was all a dream. Randheer had never returned and I had imagined it all.
First I felt for the crescent moon pendant. It was there around my neck. Thank Goodness! I closed my eyes and with a sigh of relief, I thanked God a million times.
Giving Manoj ji a weak smile, I went back to my cabin upstairs.

Ravi Sahab nu vi aaj hi dikkat aani thi!

I crossed my arms on the table and set my head down.
Do-teen din! Uddon tak main ki karaangi!

That's when he appeared and sat on the chair opposite to mine. Setting his head down across mine, he took my hand gently and kissed my knuckles. Softly pulling his hand across the table towards myself, I kissed his knuckles. With a smile, he vanished into thin air and I sighed.
Can he come back already?

***

I walked into Prem Niwaas, absorbed in thoughts. Mainu kisi ne bataya bhi nai unhaanu jaana hai! Suvere to milya vi nai. Phone te vi gal nai hoyi. Distractedly, I sat down on the takht and slid the bag down my shoulder. Vashma and Radha Chachi came to me and stood there. I looked up at them and gave them weak smiles.
'Aap kab aayi ?', I asked Radha Chachi.
'Dopahar ko!', she replied happily.
'Acha!', I said indistinctly.
'Amrit!'
'Ji ?'
'Mainu mera kamre mein rehne ka mann nahi hai is vaari. Main tuhaada kamra le lu ?', she asked mischievously.
I nodded unmindfully.

They exchanged looks with each other and then with a mischievous smile, they started singing – one line each.

'Chan maahi je turiyo'
'chan maahi je turiyo Ambaale'
'goriyaan ranaa ni oye'
'goriyaan ranaa te gabru kaale'
'otthe likhne ni paye... '
'otthe likhne ni paye mukaale'

'ik pal bai jaana!'
'ik pal bai jaana mere kol!'
'tere mithne ni oye !'
'tere mithne ni lagde ne bol!'
'ik pal bai jaana hoo...'

I turned crimson! I hid my face with my palms. Then sitting on my either sides, they teasingly sang together, nudging me one by one.

ik pal bai jaana chan manda
Vichhoda haaye sajna da
Vichhoda haaye sajna da manda
ki ik pal bai jaana hoo
ik pal bai jaana!
ik pal bai jaana hoo
ik pal bai jaana!'

[My moon-like beloved has travelled to Ambala
The women there, are beautiful
and the men are tall, dark and handsome
He can't even write to me about his well-being
Just sit by me for a while
I find your words very sweet
Just sit by me for a while

Separation of beloved is tough
Just sit by me for a while]

'Haaye Rabba', I said, turning red.
'Dekho to kaise laal ho rahi hai! Hum ne to bas tere mann ki baat tere hi saamne rakhdi!', Vashma said with a teasing smile.
'Bas karo na tussi dono!', I requested, utterly embarrassed.
Just then Radha Chachi got up with a start, sniffing hard. 'Haaye Raam. Oh ji lagta hai main chulha jalta hua hi chod aayi! Tussi dono gallan karo! Main bas hune aayi!', she said and hurried towards the kitchen.


'Vashmaa!', I said turning towards her.
'Hmm'
'Main ....ohnu chitthi likhu ?', I exclaimed turning towards Vashma.
'Haan haan likh na! Teri chitthi jab tak pohonchegi tab tak yahan wapas aa chuke honge Randheer!', she replied.
'Haan! Baat toh teri sahi hai!', I said looking down. 'Toh... telegraph?!', I again exclaimed looking at her expectantly.
'Vo jahan ruke hai uska pata hai tere paas?', she asked in a matter-of-factly tone.
'Nahi', I said glumly.
'Uh... telephone...?', I further said wide-eyed.
'Telephone ka number....!' she said, mimicking my tone.
I made a face and looked away.
'Unka khud hi phone aa jayega Amrit', she said encircling her arms around me.
'Hmm', I said gloomily.

Just then Neero Bhaiya came running in through the main door.
'Babyji Babyji Jaldi chaliye! Randheer baba ka trunk call aaya hai! Jaldi chaliye'
'Acha?!', Vashma and I stood up eagerly. 'Chalo chalo chalo!', I exclaimed and rushed with him.

As we entered Raizada Sadan, I saw Mummyji and Bauji was huddled around the telephone. Bauji had the receiver in his hand and he was speaking loudly. 'Puttar awaaz aa rahi hai meri puttar ?'
Mummyji requested, 'Thodi jaldi baat karlo tussi. Main bhi ruki hui hoon'
'Haan haan main kar raha hoon', he said assuring Mummyji.


Itthe beech main nahi keh paungi ki mainu vi baat karni hai. Aur mainu kehna vi nai hai.
Mummyji-Bauji kinne ache hai jo mainu bulwa liya. Par vo do minute baat karenge utne mein trunk call ka samay hi khatam ho jaana hai! Nai nai nai. Unhanu ikminaan toh baat karni chaiye.
I gestured Neero Bhaiya to come outside with me.
As we came out, I turned to him, 'Neero Bhaiya, tussi Mummyji Bauji nu keh dena ki main so gayi thi- tuhaanu mili hi nai'
Alarmed he said, 'Par babyji –!'
I requested, 'Tussi meri baat maano. Unhone bhi savere to baat nahi ki hai na Randheer de naal. Unhe ache se baat kar lene do. Main kal baat kar lungi!', I said with a smile.
'Lekin ...', he said with frown.
'Neero bhaiya! Ek telephone ki baat hai! Acha abhi aap jaiye. Mummyji-Bauji aapki raah dekhte honge! Jaiye jaiye!', I said, not giving him an opportunity to protest.

As he reluctantly went inside, I walked back to Prem Niwas with a faint smile. Atleast Mummyji-Bauji were able to talk to him.

Inside, Radha jiji rushed to me and asked, 'Baat ho gayi ?'
'Haan ho gayi!', I lied with the brightest smile I could muster.
'Chalo fir khaana kha lein. Hum saare tuhaada hi intezaar kar rahe the.'
'Mann nahi hai jiji. Thak gayi hoon', I replied softly . 'Aaplog khaa lo.'
'Nahi Amrit. Bina khaaye sona nahi hai katayi! Tussi chalo mere naal! Thoda bohot jitna khaana hai tussi kha lo. Fir so jaana!', she said affectionately.
I nodded with a smile.

It was a quick dinner. I did not even register what conversation Veerji, Vashma and Radha Chachi were engaged in. After dinner I retired to my room earlier than the rest of them.

On my bed were the orange chrysanthemums Randheer had brought me in the morning and an envelope. I rushed and picking up the envelope, I tore it off. It had a letter. I unfolded it quickly.

It read –

"Meri pyaari Amrit,
Maafi chaahta hoon ki aise achaanak yoon aapko bina bataaye Ambala jaana pada mujhe. Mujhe bhi ghar lautne ke baad hi pata chala. Barah baje ki train thi isiliye aapse mil bhi nahi saka. Maine aapke college phone kiya par aapse baat nahi ho paayi. Bas ye khat likhna hi ban pada.
Mauka milte hi phone karunga aur jald laut aunga.

Khyaal rakhiye
Aapka Randheer"

I lay face down on the bed with a frown, chin resting on my knuckles. This was the only piece of direct communication for the entire day. Mann nahi lag raha mera! Ki karaan ?!