Tere Mere Dil
….
Tarika was talking over phone while brushing her teeth.
''Tum etna fresh keisey sound kar rahe ho? Jeisey ki 8 hours sleep ke baad uthe ho. I am feeling so sleepy.''
Abhirika talked over phone for a long time last night. By the time they hung up it was 3.00 am at morning. It'd been three weeks now since they started going out. Mostly they met on breakfast and talked over phone. Tarika never knew her day would feel incomplete without a good morning message from a certain person. It was so unusual of herself.
''I am habituated. And I had a strong cup of black coffee before coming to the office that's helping me out to deal with office stuff.''
''You are already in office?''
''For more than half an hour.''
''Áre you a machine or what?''
''Umm..''
''Okay, I need to rush for a shower. I am getting late. Bye.''
''Tarika…''
But she had already hanged up. Abhijeet smiled to himself. He had completely lost himself to the lady. He smiled on his thought. He messaged her.
*Have a good day.*
..
Tarika finished her morning round and crushed into her chair. She noticed a cup filled with hot black coffee on her table. There's a note with it.
'It helps.'
Tarika smiled and called Abhijeet. He picked up after second ring.
''Tumhe keisey pata mera round abhi khatam hoga? Its still hot… and..''
''I have my ways Dr Tarika.'' Abhijeet whispered from the opposite side.
''In a meeting?''
''Hmm..''
''Sorry,'' she said babyishly.
''Will call you later.''
''Bye.''
Tarika slapped her head and took a sip from the one time plastic coffee cup. It actually helped.
…
So like this, with small talks and frequent meetings one month passed. Neither of them tried to take their relationship to a different level. Abhijeet never tried to be intimated with her and neither did Tarika acknowledge that she had to really give him hints about what she thought. Was she even thinking anything? She didn't know. They had become an important part of each other's daily routine.
..
''Dr Tarika, you have a visitor.'' Tarika was informed.
''Who?''
''A lady. She's waiting for you in your room.''
''Thank you nurse Bose.'' Tarika smiled.
She entered into her room and found Mrs Mohini Kapoor waiting for her.
''Aunty aap yaha?'' She took blessing from her.
''Jiti raho beta…''She hugged her.
''Aunty aiye na.. bethiye.''
They both took their seats opposite to each other.
''Bataiye, yaha keisey ana hua?''
''Ab tum toh milne ati hi nahi toh mmujhe hi ana para… Abhijeet ko bhi maine ketne baaar kaha ki tumhe apne sath kabhi le ai ghar… par nahi, janab ko toh time hi nahi hain.''
''Actually aunty… schedule etna tight hain ki…''
''waqt nikalna parta hain beta… weisey hi jeisey Abhijeet ke liye nikalti ho..''
Tarika blushed and looked down.
''Waqt Abhijeet hi nikal ta hain Aunty… main toh bas…''
Mohini raised her one eyebrow.
''I am sorry Aunty… actually mujhe sach mein jana chahiye tha apse or uncle se milne…''
Tarika wasn't lying afterall. She did think to go and meet them a couple of time but she couldn't understand how she should behave with them. She wasn't with Abhijeet entirely. They were just seeing each other and didn't even know if they would marry or not. She was still not clear about Abhijeet's feelings towards her. She wasn't sure if it was just an attraction or something more than that. And, on the top, she wasn't sure about her feelings either.
''Abhijeet ne mujhe bataya… ki you two are trying to know each other.. hala ki mujhe aisa lagta nahi. I think, mera beta tumhe bohot hi jayada pasand karta hain. Par tumhari pasand bhi mere liye otna hi maine rakhta hain jetna Abhijeet ka. Or tum ye kabhi mat sochna ki agar Abhijeet ke sath tumhara rishta na jura toh mera or Mihir ka tumse rihsta tut jaiga… tum Mahesh bhaisab ki beti ho.. or hamari bhi.''
Tarika felt emotional.
''thank you aunty.''
''Toh clear/''
''yeah..'' Tarika nodded.
''Toh is weekend free ho?''
''I will free my schedule.''
''Okay… toh dinner ke liye thik rahega?/''
''Ji aunty.'' Tarika brimmed in happiness.
''Main Abhijeet ko bhi bata dungi… ''
''Thank you aunty. I know, mujhe hi apse..''
''tarika beta.. its okay. Ab main chalti hu.'' Mohini stood up.
''Aiye main apko bahar taq chor ati hu.'' Tarika stood up too.
''Nahi its okay. Tumhe kam hoga. You carry on. I will manage.''
Mohini left giving her a smile….
/
''Abhijeet, Mihini aunty ne mujhe is weekend ghar pe bolaya hain.'' Tarika said To Abhijeet over phone that night.
''Kya?''
''Tum etna chouk kyu rahe ho? Aunty ne tumhe bataya nahi?''
''Maa ne phone toh kiya tha bohot bar par main busy tha…''
''Toh phir unhe phone karna tha na free hoke..''
''Tumse baat karke karnehi wala tha..''
''Tum ho kaha? Apne apartment mein? Aj bhi ghar nahi gain?''
''Ghar mere office se bohot door parta hain Tarika. Traffic mein bohot time chala jata hain.''
''Bahane..'' Tarika rolled her eyes.
''Jab hamari shadi hogi toh main pakka ghar se hi office aya karunga roz.''
''k.. kya.. shadi..''
''Relax Tarika.. main toh bas yuhi keh raha tha… tum toh aise react karne lagi jeisey ki main abhi shadi kar raha hu tumse.''
''wo..'' Tarika thought to divert the topic. '' Toh iss Saturday dinner tumhare ghar pe right? Tumhe koi problem toh nahi hain na?''
''Mujhe kyu koi problem hogi? Main toh maa ko tal raha tha ye soch ke ki pata nahi tum keisey react karogi… par Maa ne khud se phone kar liya..''
''Unhone phone pe invite nahi kiya..''
''Toh?''
''Wo mujhse milne hospital ain thi.''
''What? Maa bhi na..''
''Mujhe bohot bura laga ki maine unse kisi bhi tarah ki contact karne ki koshish nahi ki..''
''Tarika its okay. They understand. Trust me.''
''You sure?''
''100 percent.''
''Phir thik hain..'' Tarika smiled.
''Bed time?''
''Yeah… I should go to bed.''
''Study?''
''Will do at morning.''
''Okay..''
''Abhijeet..''
''Haan..''
''Wo….''
''Haan kaho Tarika..''
''Nahi, bas puch rahi thi ki… tumhara ghar ka address..''
''I will pick you up..''
''Sure? Tum late ho gain toh? I wanna be early…''
''Umm.. I will send you a car then. You okay with it?''
''I will be thankful. I don't wanna be lost.''
''Tarika.. what was it? Kya kehna chah rahi thi?''
''Kuch nahi Abhijeet…''
''Toh phir main ek baat puchu?''
''Yeah, sure.''
''Are we okay?''
We. Us. Tarika stopped in her track. How afraid he was to lose her.
'' Why do you ask?''
''You sound distant.''
''I am not.''
''Then, say it. Say, we are fine.''
''we are Abhijeet.''
''Tarika I L… '' Abhijeet stopped, thinking its too soon to declare.
''You what?'' Tarika couldn't help but felt butterflies in her stomach.
''Are you ready to hear?'' Abhijeet whispered.
''Umm.. I..''
''I know you aren't. What are you scared of Tarika?''
''You seem almost perfect. And no one is perfect.''
''I am not. And even you used an 'álmost'."
''Abhijeet..'' Tarika urged him, requesting.
'' I understand.''
''Abhijeet don't be sad.''
''Does it make you worried? Me being sad?''
''Yes.''
''You mean it?''
''Abhijeet, why are you sounding so different today?'' Tarika tried to make the moment light.
''Oh nothing. Its just… well, you should sleep.''
''Abhijeet..''
''I am fine.''
''You sure right?''
''If I am not, will you visit me in my apartment?'' Abhijeet smirked.
''No.. I will call Sarah and make sure you are fine.''
''Then I am fine. Dont bother.''
''Now you are sounding your usual self.'' Tarika smiled.
''Dr Tarika..'' Abhijeet just started when tarika interrupted him sensing his flirtatious voice.
''Abhijeet.. Good night.''
''Hey, wait..''
''Now what?''
''Daya wants to meet you.''
''Your lawyer friend?''
''Yes… when you are free?''
''Not before this weekend.''
''Hmm.. okay, I will invite him in dinner as well then.''
''Okay… Now, bye?''
''Okay.. bye.'' Abhijeet smiled.
''Bye.''
Tarika hung up.
..
..
The rest of the week passed very fast and Saturday arrived. Tarika was very busy till afternoon to free herself for the weekend. When she got freed and checked her phone there's a couple of missed calls from Abhijeet. He never calls more than twice knowing Tarika would be busy in hospital stuff. She hurriedly called him back but his phone was switched off. She thought to call Sarah but then thought to go meet him in his office. She called a taxi and got in.
She reached his office complex and got down. After paying the driver she entered into the office. The receptionist smiled at her. Tarika smiled back. Suddenly a man from behind got bumped onto her.
''I am sorry miss..'' said the tall much man.
''Dekh ke nahi chal saktey aap?'' Tarika yelled.
''I am sorry.. wo main phone pe… I am really sorry.''
Tarika controlled her anger and looked away. The man left mumbling sorry again and again.
''Mita, can I meet Abhijeet?'' Tarika asked the receptionist. ''If he is not busy,'' she added.
''Mam, Abhijeet sir is not in the office. He had left for Delhi this morning.''
''Oh, when will he return?''
''I don't know mam… Sarah mam is in his cabin. You can ask her.''
''umm.. okay.'' Tarika headed towards Abhijeet's cabin.
Tarika opened Abhijeet's cabin and saw Sarah laughing with that man she bumped earlier on. Sarah became alerted seeing Tarika. Tarika entered slowly.
''Mam, please come.'' Sarah welcomed her.
''Mam?'' Daya mocked Sarah. Sarah warned him with eyes.
''When will Abhijeet return from Delhi?'' Tarika asked Sarah.
''Abhijeet Delhi gaya hain? Tum toh keh rahi thi Canada gaya hain?'' The man asked Sarah.
''Canada?'' Tarika asked, surprised.
''Who are you btw?'' The man asked Tarika.
''Daya, its Tarika. Tarika, Daya.'' Sarah introduced them to each other.
''Oh.. I am so sorry Bhabi.. I mean sorry, Tarika. Maine apko pehchana nahi..'' Daya apologized.
''Its okay.. maine bhi apko … I am sorry..''
''Call me tum please… and Only Daya.. Aap hamari bhabi ji lagti hain..''
''Daya..'' Sarah warned him.
''What? Galat kaha kya kuch?''
''Daya, call me Tarika… please.'' Tarika insisted.
''Daya toh bas majak kar rahein hain mam..'' Sarah said.
''Abhijeet Canada gaya hain?''
''Actually mam wo subha Delhi hi gain the… phir unhe urgently Canada jana para.. Unke Delhi branch ke head Mr Patnakar ko jana tha, but kuch jayadahi problem ho gain so Abhijeet sir ko jana para… unhone apko call bhi kiya tha… phir mujhe kaha ki apko msg de du.. I was just about to call you.''
Tarika's face fell down. She was so excited about the whole dinner.
''Arey don't worry Tarika… ajka weekend tum mere sath spend kar lo… Main tumhe Abhijeet ke bare mein sab kuch A to Z bata sakta hu..'' Daya tried to make her mood light.
''Aisa nahi hain.. wo bas dinner..''
''Haan main dinner ki baat kar raha hu… Kapoor mansion mein. Us idiot ke liye dinner plan kyu cancel karna…''
''Ab mera maan nahi hain.''
''Aunty ko bura lagega yaar.''
''Umm/''
''Please…''
''Thik hain…par mujhe apartment mein jake pehle change karna hain… phir..''
''Yeah, okay.. chalo… main free hi hu..''
''Its okay main..''
''Tarika… c'mon..''
''Okay..'' Tarika smiled. She liked this man, she concluded. He's so cool and friendly.
''Sarah tum bhi chalao hamare sath?'' Tarika said.
''Nahi mam.. wo..''
''Arey Tarika ise choro… iske kharus boss ne isee duniya bhar ka kaam dekar rakha hoga..'' Daya teased.
Sarah smiled.. ''other time.''
Tarika smiled. Daya and Tarika left.
.
.AN: Hey guys. How are you? I know I am very much late. Sorry about that. Please review and support.