His eyes red, tears fell out of them. He didn't bother wiping those tears.
He just squeezed his eyes shut, allowing some more droplets to fall.
…
…
Tarika's home, neutral point of view:
Wishing her all the best for her future endeavours, everyone left the party.
He was still not there. As she closed the door, the little hope that was in her, died.
Yet, she found herself dialling his number. Strange were the emotions that overpowered her sanity when she called him, despite knowing that his phone was switched off.
Sighing, she kept her phone in the living room and went to change into her night wear. No sooner was she done, than she heard the doorbell ring.
A part of her was thrilled, thinking that it would be him. But the more dominant part of her asked her to keep the expectations low, lest she should be disappointed.
The doorbell rang once again, before she answered it.
"Toh tum aa hi gaye."
Her voice was calm and gentle. No one could tell from its tone that she was or had been upset. Abhijeet was not surprised. She had mastered the art of concealing her emotions.
Abhijeet nodded his head, slightly embarrassed because he couldn't be there earlier. He opened his mouth to provide some stupid explanation that he knew would be completely useless. But then he stopped, when he found her looking at his hands and then over his shoulder. He raised his eyebrows, asking her what she was up to.
"Mera gift?" she said, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
"Wo…mein…"
"Huh! Ek toh late aaye ho …. Upar se gift bhi nahi laye."
She pouted, with a slight smile on her face.
A slight smile appeared on his face too. He couldn't help it. Her smile was infectious.
"Sorry wo –"
"Sorry se kaam nahi chalega…no gift – no entry."
"Toh mein chala jaata hu," he turned around.
"Uff Abhijeet," she held his wrist, "You're such a spoil sport!"
"Nahi meine socha ki kuch khareed ke wapas aa jaunga," he smirked.
"Koi zaroorat nahi hai."
"Par rules toh rules hain – no gifts, no entry."
He couldn't believe himself. He was playing a game of wits with her at this moment!
"A smile is the best gift you can give someone. Aur jab tum aaye, there was an instant smile on my face."
She winked at him, pulling him in.
Damn, she outwitted him yet again.
Was he never to win?
He then looked at her. She was smiling. She had already made him feel better… it no longer felt like something terrible was happening.
He didn't know how she did it, how she made the worst of things better.
And then he realised that it was not just her that needed him when she was leaving. He needed her too. Being with her at a time like this – when he knew that she would be gone was hard. But staying away was harder.
He realised that his peace lay with her. There was a strange peace, even in mourning, when it was with her. Maybe that was why they called lovers life partners. Not because they magically made all pain disappear but because they made it a little more bearable, not because they kissed away your scars but because they didn't run away seeing them, not because they had the power to snap their fingers and solve all problems but because they had the power to make you believe that there was light on the other end of darkness.
She was able to do all of this. And she did it beautifully.
She was his lover, his life partner.
Yes, life partner.
"Tarika."
She looked at him for just over a second, her smile disappearing.
He understood that she understood.
He waited… for her to say something. Something inside him felt strange. Every time he tried to propose her or talk about marriage, she smiled and encouraged him. But this time she was quiet, nonchalant even.
"Tarika mein tumhare transfer ke baare mein soch raha tha…"
"Aur phir mere dimang mein achanak se government job ke laws aayein," he continued after a brief pause, "Shayad tum bhi jaanti ho ki mein kya kehne ki koshish kar raha hu."
She nodded, choosing to neither meet his eyes nor utter a word.
"Toh….k-kya khayal hai tumhara? Sh…shaadi… shaadi ka?"
Tarika looked at him, helpless.
"Bahot der kar di tumne Abhijeet."
"M-matlab?"
She slipped her hand into his and their fingers entwined.
"Baitho," she pulled him into the sofa.
"Bolo," he sat down.
"Kaash tumne ye itne saalo mein ek baar bola hota."
"Saaf saaf bolo," he was irritated now, "Ye ghumakar baat karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai."
"Ab cheezein badal gayi hain."
"Kya badal gaya hai? Kya ab tum iss rishte se – "
"Kaisi baat kar rahe ho… humara rishta mere liye humesha important tha aur aage bhi rahega. Par mein iss waqt baat ko aage nahi badhana chahti. Transfer order aane se pehle agar tum – "
"Transfer order aane ke baad aisa kya badal gaya hai Tarika?"
"Circumstances Abhijeet. Mein nahi chahti ki tum shaadi ka decision majboori mein lo."
"Majboori mein! Kaisi baatein kar rahi ho Tarika – tum toh jaanti ho ki mein kabse kehne ki koshish –"
"Lekin kabhi kaha toh nahi tumne."
"Tarika jaanti bhi ho kitni mushkil se m-"
"Sab samajhti hu mein… but I want it to be your choice, not your compulsion."
"Yaar kabhi kabhi circumstances create a small push towards the right decision…toh usme burayi kya hai?"
Tarika took a deep breath.
"Koi burai nahi hai – agar ye decision emotional hokar na liya jaye, dur hone ke dar se na liya jaye. Abhijeet…. Life is not one dimensional. Tumhari zindagi mein sirf mein hi sab kuch nahi hu – tumhara career hai, tumhari duty hai jo tumhe jaan se pyaari hai, dost hain…. Aur mein kisi bhi tarah se tumhare liye rukawat nahi ban'na chahti."
Abhijeet just stared at her. He didn't know what to say.
"Mein coffee lekar aati hu," she left for the kitchen.
Abhijeet took his phone out and texted a hotel manager.
"Manager sahab, booking cancel kar dijiye…cake aur baaki saare arrangements bhi."
Abhijeet's Pov:
Kitni asaani se tumne keh diya ki tum rukawat nahi ban'na chahti….sab ke baare mein soch liya –Team ke baare mein, Daya ke baare mein, mere career ke baare mein – lekin apne baare mein sochna kabhi nahi seekhogi na tum? Mujhe samajh nahi aata ki iss baat pe mein naraaz ho jau ki tumhe seene se laga lu
Ye toh soch liya ki mujhe gussa dilakar, behlakar chali jaogi par ye nahi socha ki tum akele kaise rahogi… bahot selfless ho tum Tarika…
Par mein…mein nahi hu tumhari tarah – at least not when it comes to you.
A/N : A really quick update because some people were… ahem ahem complaining : P
Review separately, please?