Mumbai - Pune Flight

Daksh was in the flight and was lost in his thoughts. He isn't fool to not know what Vineet was trying to do in hospital, he purposely threw tantrums to grab Ruhana's attention. But why is he doing all this? What is the purpose behind the drama? What will he get doing such things or behavior before Ruhana ?

'kyun tu aise kar raha hai Vineet, kyun? Main sab samajhta hoon kyun tune ek baar mei Ruhana ki baat maan li. Tu pehle se hi ye chahta tha ki main Ruhana ka naam loon.'' He let out a deep sigh. ''Kuch nahi milega tujhe kuch bhi karke. Kyun cheezo ko aur uljha raha hai tu.'' He again sighed.. Shayad tu sab thik karna chahta hai, jaisa tha waisa karna chahta hai, par sab bigada bhi toh tune tha. Jo bigad gaya aab wo wapas nahi aane wala. Kash tu jald thik ho jaaye fir jo sawal hai un sab ke jawab bhi mil jayenge. Bhale hi mere aur Ruhana ke bich wo rishta na rahe jo kabhi tha par kam se kam usse itna toh vishwas ho jayega ki meine sirf uss se pyar kiya hai, kiya tha aur hamesha karta rahunga. Meine kabhi usse dhokha nahi diya!" Tears rolled down his eyes to find himself still accused of cheating the love of his life when in reality he never did any sort of such thing. He always loved her and he will never give that place to anyone, never in his life!

He took out his wallet from his trouser and opened it, he caressed the photo inside, it was Ruhana's and his college time photo, they both were smiling in the picture. He stared at it lovingly, with a painful smile,''tum toh aage badh gayi, kaash mujh mei bhi itni himmat hoti ki tumhe bhula ke kissi aur ke saath aage badh pata.. Kash wo din laut aate jo humne saath bitaye the, Kash!!” He rested his back on the backrest and closed his eyes, reminiscing the good old memories, trying to live them again.

Flashback..

IGM Medical college

It's the first day of college, students are running here and there to find their classroom as they are new on the campus and finding their room is their first task. The college was fully crowded. From among the crowd a guy of around 18 was almost running towards his class room. He was checking his watch every now and then, tension lines were visible on his head. He increased his speed to a certain direction when he by mistake dashed to a girl.

Her books fall down on the floor and she almost loses her control but composes herself.

''Oh no!' she uttered and bent down to pick up her books, murmuring. The guy too bent down to help her, after all it was his mistake.

He collected some books and forwarded them to her when his eyes fell on her tensed face and he's lost in her at the moment. Her tensed face and moving lips in tension and her blinking uneven eyes attracted him. His eyes were fixed on her, he fell in love with her for the first time itself. Maybe it's too early to call it love but he surely likes her.

She felt his gaze on her, she shot him a deadly glare and snatched the books from his hand. It dropped him in reality as he came out of his dreamland.

'I'm sorry!' He apologies, looking away.

'Sorry! Kisliye books girane ke liye ya iss tarah aankhe phar ke dekhne ke liye?" Angrily asked the other girl who was along with her.

''Main sirf books de raha tha aur kuch nahi!" He replied, defending himself and they stood up on their feet.

''Haan Haan aache se jante hai hum tum jaiso ko, pehle aa ke takrate hai, fir sorry bol ke dosti karenge aur fir do din badh sidha I Love you, jyada smart banne ki koshish maat karo tum.'' The other girl shouts over him.

' Dekho aap galat samajh rahi ho, meine jaan bujh ke dhaka nahi diya tha. Main toh class dhundh raha tha aur galti se takra gaya aap logon se!'' He kept his point but the other was not ready to take any excuse though her friend was trying to stop her.

''Oho ho, dekho kitne masum ban rahe hai!" She rolled her eyes.

'Bas kar Maya, wo bol raha hai galti se hua toh ho gaya na, itna crowd hai yahan toh aisa ho sakta hai na, let it be!" The first girl tries to convince her friend whose name is Maya.

'Come on Ruhana, saaf saaf dikh raha hai ye iss loffer ne jaan bujh ke kiya hai!' Maya spoke, eyeing him.

Oh! So her name is Ruhana!

'Main kyun aisa karunga? Main toh apne class mei jaa raha tha aur achanak takra gaya, still I'm sorry for that.'' He again apologizes to them.

'No no, sorry bolne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. In Fact i'm sorry, isne itna kuch bol diya.' Ruhana apologies, flashing her cute smile.

Okay, he finds it cute!

''It's okay!' He returned the gesture.

At the same time the bell rings and he runs to his class leaving the girl. Ruhana and Maya too headed towards their classroom.

'kya yaar, itna aacha mauka mila tha.. Tu thori der chup reh jati toh aaj ki party ka kharcha ussi se nikalwa lete the!' Maya makes a face, she seems to have some plans.

'Jab hum apni party ka bill khud bhar sakte hai fir kyun kissi aur ko pareshan karna aur uss se bhi important baat kyun bewazah kissi pe galat ilzam lagana. Kya pata humara mazak serious matter ban jaye toh uski toh life spoil ho jati!"  Ruhana exclaims as in college ragging and teasing is common but sometimes it turns out to be serious.

'kuch jyada chinta naa ho rahi tujhe uski?' Maya asked, eyeing her friend.

'Banda tha hi itna handsome ki kya karu!' Ruhana jokes and laughs at her own words.

'Bas bas, handsome bande ke baare mei badh mei baat karenge abhi class mei chal!' Maya states and they rush towards the class.

....

Ruhana and Maya were in the class and the teacher was giving a lecture when the Principal entered with a guy. Maya and Ruhana recognize him in an instant as he's the same guy who bumped into them in the morning, before the class.

'Dekh Roo, lagta hai ye sach mei loofer hai, Principal khud isse le ke class mei ghussa, lagta hai isko rusticate karne wale hai isse.' Maya whispered in Ruhana's ears.

'chup kar, kuch bhi bolti hai. Rusticate karne ke liye kaun class mei laata hai? Wo apne office mei na kar dete? Chup chap baith ke sun wo kya bol rahe, fir pata chal jayega kyun laaye hai usko.' Ruhana scolded her for jumping over a conclusion, Maya made a face but nodded and they turned their faces.

''My dear students, as you all know, iss sal jisne entrance exam top kiya hai usne saare records break kar diye hai. Hamare college ki history mei aisa pehli baar hua hai ki kissi ne 98%  se entrance top kiya. And I'm happy to introduce you to all the topper of our college - - Daksh Shergill. Round of applause for him!'' The Principal announced and clapped followed by the teachers and the students.. Ruhana and Maya's jaws dropped while a smile crept on Daksh's face..

"I did it Papa, I did it!!" Daksh felt proud to be able to fulfill his father's dreams who wanted to see him as a successful doctor.

Principal left the class with him. And again the bell rings, the teacher moves out as his time to take class is over.

A student came and informed others that the subject teacher is absent so they will not have any class. Everyone left the class, only Ruhana and Maya were left in the class. Ruhana opened up her book to read when
Maya shook Ruhana, Ruhana looked at her and Maya made a crying face.

' kya hua?? Ruhana asked her.

'mere saath hi aisa kyun hota hai?' Maya questions sadly.

'hua kya hai?' Ruhana asked confusedly.

'socha tha topper ko patayungi but yahan toh pehle hi uss se jhagda kar liya meine!' Maya hit her own head as her plan was ruined and she herself did it.

'hahaha, issiliye kehte hai soch samajh ke kaam karna chahiye. Aab toh jhagda kar liya, aab bhugat!' Ruhana replied laughing to which Maya glared at her.

'Main yahan sad hoon aur tu hans rahi hai.'' She held her hand. ''Kuch soch na yaar hum kaise iss se friendship karenge? Hum ne toh loffer bhi keh diya tha usse!' Maya said looking at Ruhana, a tension line formed on her forehead.

'Darling, jhagda tu ne kiya tha, loffer bhi tune hi bola. Meine toh kuch bola hi nahi, Infact meine toh teri taraf se sorry bola tha, apna toh daman aur rasta dono saaf hai.'' Ruhana winked at her, Maya's jaw dropped.

'haww, tu mere bina usko patayegi?' Maya asked, causing Ruhana to laugh.

'ye patane watane ka kaam tumhe hi mubarak, mujhe interest nahi.'' Ruhana declares.

'Matlab tu itne handsome bande ko hath se jaane degi?" Maya asked, looking at her who nodded her head.

'Madam bande aate jaate rahenge padhai nahi. Mere liye pehle studies aur fir kuch aur, after all yahan padhne hi aayi hoon!" Ruhana exclaims and shifts her concentration to her book.

'haan haan thik hai! Meri hi help kar de usse patane mei!" Maya requested.

Ruhana cast a look at her,
'ismei help ki kya zaroorat hai? Usne itne aache marks laaye tu bhi le aa, after all topper hai ussi level ki kissi ko pasand karega..' Ruhana gave her an idea which only discouraged Maya.

'Fir toh patt gaya wo mujh se, rehne de!' Maya makes a face and opens her book. Ruhana too concentrated on her book.

...

Evening

Again the whole campus was crowded as it was the time to return. Ruhana and Maya were also a part of the crowd, a silence prevailing between them.

Ruhana looked at her and asked,''yaar tu kyun itna sad ho rahi hai. Uss se dosti karke kya milna hai tujhe kaun sa wo tere paper likh dega?" Ruhana makes a point which Maya agrees but still she wants to be friends with him.

'paper toh nahi hi likhega, fir bhi mujhe friendship karni thi uss se aur kuch nahi. But yahan toh dushmani mol le li meine.'' Maya states, making a sad face.

'dushmani kis baat ki jo tha wahi khatam ho gaya naa, teri taraf se sorry bol toh diya tha meine agar usse problem hoti toh tab hi kuch bolta. Par nahi bola na matlab koi problem nahi. Dekh uss se friendship hi karni hai na toh kya problem hai ja baat kar aur friendship kar le.'' Ruhana suggested.

Maya stares at her for a moment and says' dosti karega wo mujh se, kahan wo topper kahan mei. Chor yaar, chal ghar chalte hai.'' She sighs deeply.

'Wo topper hai toh kya, tujhe friendship karni hai na chal mei karwati hoon!" Ruhana held her hand and started searching for Daksh, Maya tried to convince her to let it go as she was sure that after the morning incident the guy would not even look at her, but Ruhana was adamant at her decision.

After a struggle of 30 minutes they succeed to find him. They moved towards him, he was busy reading something written on the notice board.

Daksh turns with the voice of Ruhana, as he turns to look at her their eyes meet, they share an eye lock. Her gaze was fixed on him and so was his. Maya nudged Ruhana a little and with this she came out of her trance. Daksh too look away

'baat kar naa!" Maya chidded her.

'haan haan, karti hoon naa, thora patient rakh!' Ruhana replied and again looked at him, he was still looking at the other side, trying to avoid her.

'Hii!' Ruhana waved her hand.

'Hii!" He replied, smiling awkwardly.

'wo..actually!! Main..wo!!'' She stammered, suddenly feeling short of words and stopped. Daksh patiently waits for her to complete.

Finding him standing in a calm pose and gazing at her, Ruhana finds it more difficult to speak.

''Congratulations!' She spoke hurriedly and stretched out her hand, though he didn't really catch what she said but shook hand with her and said thank you.

They again lost in each other's eyes holding hands, shaking it.

Maya stares at them and thanks, 'ye mere se dosti nahi karne wala.' She already knows it

'Rooooooo!' Maya shouts.

They came out of their trance and pulled back their hands and smiled awkwardly.

Ruhana held Maya's hand and rushed out from there. Walking a distance she turned back and found him still standing there smiling, she smiled at him and turned away. In a moment, she left the campus.

Here Daksh was still smiling and blushing, he ruffled his hair, and turned when his eyes fell on an anklet lying on the floor. He picks it up and smiles as it was her anklet. He saw it in her ankle in the morning when he was picking the books.

He kept it in his pocket and left the college.
He directly heads to his hostel room and upon reaching, first he gets changed and  secures his seat on the bed and video calls Vineet.

Vineet receives the call in the first ring itself, they smile seeing each other..

'Itni jaldi call utha liya, hath mei hi leke baitha tha kya?' Daksh asked.

'Haan, main intezar kar raha tha tere call ka' Vineet replied, flashing his smile.

'Aacha.. Ye bata sab aache se ho gaya na wahan koi problem toh nahi hui?' Daksh questions in concern.

'nahi koi problem nahi hai sab aache se ho gaya!' Vineet replied, it's when he notices a constant smile and slight blush on Daksh's face.

'kya baat hai koi bada khush laag raha hai?"  Vineet question naughtily.

Daksh runs his fingers in his hair and smiles shyly..

'ooho, bata bata, Koi mili kya?" Vineet asks, a little impatient.

'Nahi nahi aisa kuch nahi hai!' Daksh tries to cover up as he doesn't want to rush things.

' toh kaisa hai?' Vineet teased him

' aaj hi toh milla hoon main us se, aur tu abhi se hi!!” Daksh hides his face in the pillow, feeling his cheek burning.

'Arey jiski ek mulakat itna affect kar sakti hai tujhe wo toh koi khub hi hogi. Bata naa kya naam hai uska, teri dost kaise bani wo?" Vineet started to inquire.

'Chup ho jaa bhai, filhal toh kuch nahi pata mujhe uske baare mei. Na naam, na pata aur na hi wo meri dost hai. Bas subha galti se takra gaya tha uss se, wo bhi uski dost laddi hi mujh se. Aur abhi ek chhoti si mulaqat!' Daksh tells him as he lays down and stares at the anklet.

' oye hoye koi toh ghayal ho gaya. Wo toh apni nishani bhi chor gayi bhai!!'' Vineet teased him more,finding him with the anklet.

Daksh just smiles.

'Ye toh bata dikhti kaisi hai?' Vineet inquiry.

Daksh gazed at him,''Kabhi aur bataunga kaisi dikhti gai!!" Daksh simply replies as he doesn't want to say any description just after the first meeting as for him what is more important is heart and not appearance.

'Nahi, mujhe abhi jaan na hai!!" Vineet said stubbornly.

Daksh just smiles shyly, remembering their second meeting.

"Haaye! Koi toh puri tarah ghayal hai. Aab toh main mom ko call kar raha hoon, unki ek bahu mil gayi.. Yayyyyyy!' Vineet started dancing.

'Nahi nahi Vinu , aisa mat karna. Mere dil main bhale hi feelings ho par uska mujhe nahi pata. Agar uski life mein koi aur hua toh? Please abhi mom ko mat batana!' Daksh requested.

' thik hai nahi bataunga! Lekin tu details nikalwa le aur jo agar koi boyfriend hai toh usko jhappad wappad maar ke raste se bhaga. Dekh tera nahi pata par meine decide kar liya hai, meri bhabhi wahi banegi, uske siwa main teri shadi kissi aur se hone nahi dunga!' Vineet declares causing Daksh to laughed at his statement.

'Dekhenge dekhenge, abhi bahut waqt hai usmei. Chal call rakhta hoon, jaa padhai kar  main bhi jaata hoon!!' Daksh exclaims.

'Haan haan! Pehle wo payal side mei rakh dena, nahi toh pata chale tu koi aur course karne lagta!!" Vineet teases him and they both laugh at the statement.

He then ended the call.

Daksh laid on his stomach, staring at the anklet with a shy smile on his face praying to god to shower him with some good luck.

....
....

To be continued..