Who Kissed Me in the Dark?
"Dare yaad hai na tumhe?" Purvi asked as she was clearing her desk.
"Dare?" Shreya looked up at her, looking confused.
"Bhool bhi gayi? Wo kiss wali dare jisme tujhe Daya sir ko-"
"Shhh...shhh" Shreya said urgently. "Koi sunn lega toh problem ho jayegi"
"Koi dikhai de bhi raha hai tujhe bureau me? Hum dono hi toh hai. Darpok" said Purvi.
"Chup kar. Deewaro ko ke kaann hote hai" said Shreya.
"Achha baba thik hai. Anyway tujhe sab kuch theek se yaad hai na, ki kya karna hai? Aur yaad rahe agar tumne humse jhooth bola toh tumhari khair nahi. Chal bata thik se kya kya karna hai?" said Purvi.
Shreya looked around cautiously and then said in an undertone to Purvi, "Cinema hall me Daya sir ke paas me baithna hai mujhe aur phir unhe kiss karna-"
"Kisse kiss karne wali ho tum Shreya?" came Daya voice.
Shreya jumped violently and Purvi gave a yelp of surprise. They hadn't heard or seen Daya coming.
Shreya's heart was thudding loudly. Had he heard it? Shit!
"K..kya? Kiss? Nahi toh" said Shreya when she had found her voice.
"Abhi abhi toh tumne kaha ki tum kisi ko kiss karne wali ho" said Daya.
"Nahi nahi sir aapne kuch galat suna shayad" said Shreya.
"Jhooth mat bolo Shreya, mujhe pata hai maine kya suna" said Daya.
"Are yaar Shreya jhooth kyu bol rahi hai bata de na sir ko saaf saaf-"
"Purvi tu kya bol rahi hai -"
"BATAA DE SIR KO KI TU FILM KE BAARE ME BAAT KAR RAHI THI" said Purvi in a loud voice.
"Ky- oh, haan right" said Shreya looking sheepish.
"Film?" said Daya now looking at Purvi.
"Haan sir wo film ke hero ke baare me baat kar rahi thi. Wo kya hai na ki aaj hum log jo film dekhne jaa rahe hai uss film me koi kissing scene hai uske baare me Shreya bata rahi thi mujhe" said Purvi.
"I see" said Daya.
"Sir aap yaha kyu aaye the?" asked Purvi.
"Ye file dene" he said and handed Purvi a case file. "Kal tumhe ye case ki report banani hai. Iss file me saare details hai" said Daya.
"Accha. Okay sir main kar dungi" said Purvi.
"Waise tum logon ko nikalna nai hai kya? Sab log already neech chale gaye. Late hua to tumhare kissing scene miss ho jayega" said Daya looking at Shreya. She thought she saw him smile a little.
Shreya gulped. "Yes sir. Chaliye"
Purvi and Shreya walked behind Daya as he led them out of CID bureau.
After making sure they were alone, both of them heaved a sigh.
"Mujhe toh laga Daya sir ne sunn liya" said Shreya.
"Han, actually main bhi thodi darr gayi thi par ab sab theek hai. I am sure unhe koi shak nahi hai" said Purvi.
"Purvi, yaar main ye nahi kar paungi" said Shreya biting her lip.
"Kya nahi kar paungi? Kaunse tujhe smooch karne ki dare di hai humne? Sirf gaal pe hi to ek choti si kiss karni hai wo bhi andhere me aur aise insan ko jisse tu bohot pyar karti hai" said Purvi.
"Tumhare liye ye sab bolna to bada aasan hai. Karna toh mujhe hai na! Aur agar kuch gadbad ho gayi toh? Unhe pata chal gaya to?" said Shreya.
"Kaise pata chalega? Bollywood action film hai. Bohot saara shor sharaba hoga. Chance pe dance kar le" said Purvi grinning.
"Chup kar, batameez kahi ki. Par yaar phir bhi Purvi. I have a bad feeling about this. Mujhe nahi lagta main ye kar paungi. Bohot darr lag raha hai yaar. Tum log na mujhe koi aur dare bol dena" said Shreya.
"What?! Nahi, nahi ye cheating hai. Ab koi change nahi hoga. Dare wahi rahegi aur tumhe wo karni hi hogi. Kisiko kuch bhi pata nahi chalega. Trust me" said Purvi.
"Girls kya khusur pusur kar rahe ho tum log? Chalo na jaldi, hum late ho jayenge." said Tarika joining them.
"Ye madam dare complete karne se darr rahi hai. Bol rahi hai ki Daya sir ko ye sab pata chal gaya to kya karenge" said Purvi.
"Arre yaar Shreya, jyada se jyada kya hoga agar pata chal bhi gaya toh? Daya ko pata chalega ki tum usse kitna pasand karti ho. Ye to accha hi nai na tumhare liye sone pe suhaga!" said Tarika merrily.
"Yaar par..."
"Dekh Shreya rona band kar aur chal ab. Tu itne saare khatarnak criminals ko face kar sakti hai par itni si dare nahi ho pati tujhse? Huh, tujhse ye ummeed nahi thi mujhe" said Tarika.
"Purvi! Tum teeno ko film nahi dekhni toh hum jaa rahe hai" Pankaj called.
"Arre nahi nahi ruko!" Purvi yelled back and the three of them hurried into the car.
During the entire journey Shreya maintained silence. She kept wringing her fingers nervously. Fortunately nobody noticed this as all of them were too happy and excited that they had got a much deserved break after a long time and they were going for a movie.
Everything which Tarika and Purvi had said was going on and on in her head. She looked up when Purvi shook her shoulder slightly. "Chal, movie theatre aa gaya"
After buying popcorn and coffee, they entered the cinema hall and took their seats. Purvi had made sure that Daya and Shreya sat next to each other.
Shreya smiled nervously at Daya as she took her seat beside him.
After thinking about it during the entire journey, she had reached on a decision - she was not going to do it. So what if she loved him and she had to do it in the dark and she had to kiss him on the cheek only? It was too much of a risk. And it was just a stupid dare anyway. How long would Tarika and Purvi pester her over it? One week? One month, maybe? They would eventually forget all about it. She had accepted the fact that she didn't have guts to so it. And besides that, she was feeling too shy even thinking about it, forget actually doing it.
So no, the kiss was not going to happen tonight. She obviously had not told Tarika and Purvi now. She would tell them later, after the film.
Minutes later, the lights dimmed. The movie had began. Shreya relaxed into her chain munching popcorn. Now, she could watch the movie in peace. She looked sideways and saw Daya talking a group of rather silly looking giggly girls who were seated on his left.
She was going to tell them to stop talking, (The movie had started! Didn't they have any manners, at all?) but at that moment Purvi called her who was sitting on her right.
"What?" Shreya asked.
"All the best" Purvi mouthed, her eyes glinting with mischief. Next to her, Tarika was giving her a thumbs - up, grinning widely.
"Yeah, yeah" Shreya brushed her off and turned her attention back to the screen, going red in face.
The movie had no interval and it was almost three hour long. Shreya enjoyed it immensely. She had seen an entertainer after a long, long time.
Daya and Shreya were farthest from exit and it took them almost twenty minutes to reach the parking.
"Maza aaya sir, kya action scenes the" she heard Pankaj say.
"Aur wo hero kitna handsome tha" said Tarika dreamily.
"Aur songs! Mujhe to lagta hai best music album ka award iss film ko hi milega" said Purvi.
Everyone turned as Shreya and Daya joined them.
As soon as Shreya came, Purvi and and Tarika rushed to her side.
"Ho gaya?" Tarika asked, her voice quavering with excitement.
Purvi too looked at her with bated breath.
Before, Shreya could reply however, Abhijeet said, "Daya ye tumhare gaal pe kya laga hai?"
"Kya?" said Daya wiping his cheek.
"Daya, ye to lipstick mark hai! Kisi ladki ka!" said Abhijeet.
Stunned, Shreya turned to look at him.
"Oh my god!" Tarika slapped her hand over her mouth while the juniors turned away trying to hide their giggles.
"Ye kya Daya? Andhere me romance huh, acha hai acha hai" said Abhijeet looking gleeful.
"Yaar ye kya bol rahe ho tum, mujhe nahi pata ye lipstick mark mere gaal pe kaise aaya" said Daya looking scandalised.
"Kya baat kar rahe ho yaar, tumhe nahi pata toh aur kise pata hoga hein?" Abhijeet said, laughing out loud.
"Chup kar yaar Abhijeet" said Daya looking irritable and wiping off his cheek roughly with a handkerchief.
"Muje ek baat samaj nahi aayi, ye kiya kisne hoga?" said Abhijeet. He turned to look at Shreya.
Shreya heart was thudding so loudly. "Sir... a...aap meri taraf kyu? M- maine kuch nahi kiya" she stammered.
Purvi couldn't suppress her giggles anymore and she let out a snort of laughter. Now Pankaj and Freddy giggled too. Daya paid them no attention. He was busy wiping off his cheek.
"Maine kab kaha ki tumne kuch kiya hai? Par kaam to kisi ladki ka hi hai na" said Abhijeet.
"Kaun ho sakta hai sir?" said Pankaj.
"Ye to ab Daya hi bata sakta hai par ab wo kuch nahi bol raha to hume hi pata karna padega. Kyu Tarikajee?" said Abhijeet.
"Mere taraf to dekho bhi mat." Tarika snapped. Main aur Purvi to Daya ke side me baithe bhi nahi the"
"Daya tumhare left side main kaun tha jara yaad karo to-"
"Abhijeet yaar ye faltu ki baatein band karo" said Daya angrily.
"Faltu ki baatein? Ye faltu baat nahi hai Daya! Kisine tumhe kiss kiya. Koi chahta hai tumhe... aur main dost hu tumhara. Mujhe to pata hona hi chaiye na"
"Nahi pata mujhe maine kaha na-"
"Par jaana to padega na"
"Abhijeet, main jaa raha hu. Bye"
"Daya! Arre Daya tum ko gussa ho gaye yaar!" Abhijeet followed him.
As soon as Daya and Abhijeet walked away, Purvi and Tarika pulled Shreya aside.
"Jaha panah tussi great ho, taufa kabool karo" said Purvi.
"Kya baat hai Shreya! Tune ki sixer maar li" said Tarika.
"Ek minute, guys kuch misunderstanding ho rahi hai tum logo ki. Maine nahi kiya Daya sir ko kiss" said Shreya looking grave.
"Misunderstanding? Ha-ha. Shreya kitna jhooth bologi" said Purvi laughing.
"Jhoothi kahi ki" said Tarika. "Don't worry hum log tujhe koi personal details nahi puchne wale."
"Chup kar yaar, main sach bol rahi hu. Trust me" said Shreya.
"Tum kitna bhi jhooth bolo hum nahi maanne wale. Lekin Shreya aaj maan liya yaar tujhe. Great. Simply great." said Tarika.
"Chalo ghar chalte hai. Late ho raha hai. Kal jaldi office jana hai" said Purvi.
"Kitna maza aanewala hai Purvi. Abhijeet Daya ko chodega nahi. Wo sach pata karke hi rahega" said Tarika.
"Aur hum Shreya ko nahi chodenge" said Purvi and both of them burst out laughing.
"Shreya chal." said Tarika.
"Han, main aati hu bas do minute. Mujhe kisi ka call aa raha hai" Shreya lied.
"Ohho, kahi Daya ka toh nahi?" Purvi said.
"Shut up, jao tum log main bas abhi aayi" said Shreya.
She pretended to talk on the phone till Tarika and Purvi distanced themselves from her.
Then she slipped her cellphone into her jeans pocket. Her heart was still pounding loudly. She felt dizzy. She knew she had not done it. But then if not her, who had kissed him? Did Daya have some secret admirer? And did he love her too?
A/N - Any guesses who might have kissed Daya in the dark? :p Anyway, the idea for this two shot sprung up after reading a short story by Ruskin Bond of the same name. Next and last chapter will be posted soon. Till then keep up the guesswork and please review!