Tere Mere Dil
…
After exploring the mansion Tarika finally entered into Abhijeet's room with him. She looked around the whitely decorated room in amaze.
''White is your favourite colour?'' She asked Abhijeet. Upon receiving no answer from him she looked at her side to find him staring at her with a bored expression.
''Kya hua?'' She asked.
''Agar tumhe pata hota ki main bhi yaha araha hu toh tum nahi ati na?''
''Tum etna assume kyu karte ho? Aunty ne bolaya toh mujhe toh ana hi tha.. weisey bhi Nidhi aur Rakhi hain nahi apartment mein toh main bore hi ho rahi thi…''
''Kyu tumhe study karni thi na…''
''Tumhe mera yaha anaa acha nahi laga kya?'' Tarika asked.
''Maine aisa toh nahi kaha?''
''Toh phir etna sawal kyu kar rahein ho?''
''How can you just behave like this Tarika! Just how? As if everything is fine between us.''
''What's there between us?'' Tarika asked rudely. '' And why do you always bring this topic? Can't we have a normal talk?''
''No Dr Tarika… We can't. May be you are okay with me being in your friendzone but I am not.'' Abhijeet said firmly.
''Don't use this tone with me.''
''I am losing my patient.''
''You are making me losing my patient too.''
''Why don't you just give me a proper answer.''
''Answer for what? I want some time. Etni si baat nahi samajh ati tumhe!''
In frustration Abhijeet jerked his hand and the flower vase on side table fell down.
''Abhijeet!'' Tarika said calmly and shook his head disapprovingly.
''Kya hua? Ye awaz keisa?'' Abhijeet mother ran to there.
''Kuch nahi aunty wo bas galti se ye vase tut gaya..'' said Tarika.
''Oh… main bhejti hu kisi ko saaf karne ke liye. Or tum dono ajao, khana taiyar hain.''
''Ji aunty.''
She looked at her son who refused to look back and then silently left the room.
Abhijeet hit the Almirah with his fist.
''Damn it.''
''Abhijeet… Aunty phir se ajaingi.''
'' Main aisa kya karu Tarika ki tum mujh pe trust karo… tell me.'' Abhijeet begged.
''I trust you Abhijeet.''
''But you don't trust me enough. Sab kuch acha chal raha tha… main one week ke liye Canada kya chala gaya… sab badal gaya… aisa kyu?''
''Abhijeet listen…''
''Mujhe bas batao ki kya hua aisa ki tum etna badal gain..''
''Aisa kuch nahi hain…''
''Apartment ke baat ke liye I am sorry.''
''Wo bhi baat nahi hain..''
''Toh kya baat hain mujhe batao… abhi..''
''I want to tell you…. Isiliye toh waqt chahiye..''
''So you are admitting ki kuch baat hain.'' Abhijeet asked, softly.
Tarika nodded.
''Toh phir mujhe bataya kyu nahi?''
''I need time Abhijeet. Please.''
Abhijeet sighed. Perhaps it was really not easy for her to tell him. He nodded at her.
''Okay, Chalo lunch karte hain then. And I am sorry for…''
''I can understand Abhijeet.''
''Mujhe etna gussa nahi ata kabhi bhi.. wo bas..'' Abhijeet tried to explain himself.
''I know.'' Tarika smiled. Finally he's behaving sweet. Oh, she missed his sweet voice. Oh no, what she had been thinking! She shook her head and followed Abhijeet to the dinning.
.
''Aunty aap bohot acha khana banate hain… matlab awesome. Bara din baad khana khake maza agaya.'' Tarika said.
''Thank you beta. Kisi ne toh tariff ki meri cooking ki.''
''Kyu? Uncle and Abhijeet ko nahi pasand?'' She looked at two of them.
''Kya pata, etna tariff toh kabhi kiya nahi.''
''In dono ko na aap hostel bhej do ek mahine ke liye…. Phir pata chalega.''
''Sahi keh rahi ho…'' Both the lady laughed.
''Abhijeet ko toh khana banana ata hain… toh usey toh koi problem nahi hona chahiye..'' Tarika smirked.
Abhijeet coughed.
''Mujhe khana banana?/''
''Aunty keh rahi thi. Kyu nahi ata?''
''Ataa hain na? sandwitch, Maggie, pasta…'' Abhijeet chewed his words.
'''Arey tune usdin apne apartment mein bana ke khilaya tha… wo kya tha thai dishes…''
''wo iske chef ne banaya tha…'' Mihir said, while eating.
''Kya?/'' Both ladies shouted together.
''Tune mujhse jhut bola? Ruk tujhe abhi batati hu…''
''Arey aunty jane dijiye… isey toh ham dono bad mein dekh lenge…'' Tarika saved Abhijeet.
Both of them smiled at each other. They finished their lunch with chit chats. After the lunch they gone through their photo album. Tarika was having the time of her life. She travelled her childhood with Abhijeet once again. Even she didn't have that much collection of childhood photograph as Abhijeet's parents. Abhijeet hadn't looked at the pictures for years and watching them with Tarika took him back in his memories too. Apart from love he felt another strong emotion of friendship towards Tarika and he suddenly realized he might had hurt the friend in Tarika going behind his love. He only thought about his love feelings where Tarika was still keeping Abhijeet in her heart as her childhood friend. He looked at Tarika meaningfully. Tarika asked with eyes what the matter was. Abhijeet shook his head. Tarika smiled at him and kept looking at the pictures.
''Main coffee banake leke ati hu..'' Abhijeet's mother offered.
''Aunty main banake lati hu..'' Tarika insisted.
''Arey nahi beta…''
''Arey do na usey bananey..'' Mihir said.
Both of the Abhijeet's parents smiled and Tarika left for the kitchen.
Few minutes later Abhijeet stood up too.
''Tu kaha jar aha hain?''
''Maa, main dekhta hu na.. use thori kitchen mein kuch milega…'' Abhijeet sheepishly.
''Haan haan… tujhe bara pata hain konsa chiiz kaha rakha hain..'' she teased her son.
''Main.. main dhun dunga naa…'' Abhijeet blushed.
''Waha help karne ke liye hain servant.''
''Maa… main, main dekhta hu na…'' Abhijeet ran out of the room.
.
He stood at the threshold of the kitchen and kept looking at her as she pour coffee powder to the hot milk on stove. He indicated the servant standing beside her to leave. She left immediately. Tarika looked up to see Abhijeet walking towards her. He stood beside her, keeping decent distance. Tarika smiled. She was in good mood. She was about to pour sugar in pot when Abhijeet spoke,
''Baba ko diabetes hain..''
''Oh.. shit main toh bhul hi gain…''
''Mom bhi sugar free khati hain..''
''Thank you… aur tum?''
''Tum banaogi toh kuch bhi chalega mujhe..''
''Aur jab main nahi banati toh kya chalta hain tumhe?'' Tarika smiled.
''Without sugar.''
''Okay..''
Tarika kept the sugar pot on shelf and took out the sugar free jar.
''Tum?''
''I do not mind sugar free or without sugar. Mujhe sab ki adat hain. Although I prefer without sugar.''
''Like me…''
Tarika smiled.
She prepared the coffee in 4 mugs and took the tray to his parent's room. Before entering into the room Abhijeet took two mugs and walked away to the balcony of first floor.
''Abh-''
But he was gone.
Embarrassed, she took the other two mugs to the room.
''Weisey mujhe diabetes hain ..'' said Mihir.
''Ekdin khaa loge toh kuch nahi hoga.. Tarika ne ketne payar se banaya hain. Keh toh aisey rahein hain ki jeisey khate hi nahi mitha..''
''Sugar free hain..'' Tarika said.
''Mera bhi…''
''haan Abhijeet ne bataya…''
''Chalo… jake kuch help toh ki… hain kaha wo? Aur tumhara mug kaha hain?''
Tarika was feeling embarrassed didn't know why.
Mihir however understood the situation. He diverted his wife's attention towards a pic. Tarika sighed and left the room.
She went to Abhijeet. Abhijeet handed her the mug.
''Tum bhi na… uncle aunty kya sochenge…''
''Meri maa baba modern thoughts ke hain. Kuch nahi sochenge…aur weisey bhi ham aisa kya krenge yaha ki wo galat samjhengey?'' Abhijeet winked.
Tarika hit his shoulder and leaning against the railing she sipped from her mug. Abhijeet leaned beside her with same posture.
''Aaaj bohot acha laga naa.. bachpan ki yaadein taja ho gain…'' Tarika was nostalgic.
''Haan… mujhe toh yaad hi nahi tha yesab yaadein.''
Tarika was silent for a while.
''Pata hain Abhijeet… mujhe aaj bhi yaad hain jab tumlog gai the…. Main ketna din royii thi… wo talaw, wo jharna…. Main ghanto beithey rehti thi… maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki tum mere yadoon se dhundla par jaogey…'' Tarika chuckled.
''Dhundla?''
''faded…'' tarika smiled.
''Faded hi sahi…. Tha toh yadoon mein na…''
Tarika nodded, smilingly.
''Hamesha… bohot bar socha tha ki tumse contact karu….'' She then looked at him, '' par phir laga pata nahi tum pehchanoge ki nahi..''
Abhijeet looked down, smilingly.
''Tumhe main yaad nahi ai?'' tarika asked.
''Thori bohot… ''
''oh..''
''Bura laga jan ke?''
Tarika shook her head. Her eyes were wet.
''Arey tum roo kyu rahi ho?''
''Kuch nahi..'' she wiped the tear away from the corner of her eye. '' bas… yadein…''
''Tarika…''
''Maine tumhe bohot miss kiya tha Abhijeet. Bohot hi jayada.''
''Mere liye yaha se jane ke baad sab kuch bohot mushkil tha…. Sab kuch thik hotey hotey saalo nikal gain….''
''I can understand. Aur main bhi sochti thi sara din ki tum bina ped pe charey.. bina talaw mein kudey keisey din kat te hoge..'' tarika smiled through tears. '' Tum bohot shararati the..''
''Acha.. aur tum nahi thi? Tumne holi mein, Diwali mein har festival mein mere saath prank kiya tha…''
''Tumhe yaad hain?''
''Of course…''
''Acha.. wo baat yaad hain, jab hamne Kishan chaha pe wo colour wala prank kiya tha?/''
''Unka shakal dekhne layak tha..''
They both laughed for a while remembering their childhood. Both of t hem had never thought that their childhood best friends would come to their lives like that.
''Arey coffee toh thandaa ho gaya..'' said Tarika. ''Phir se banau?''
Before Abhijeet could answer his cell phone rang. It was Daya.
''Haan Daya…''
''Boss… bhule toh nahi na..''
''Kya?''
''BOSS!''
''Arey bataiga bhi…''
''Aj club mein get together hain… hamare London ke Indians friends saab..''
''Acha! Kon kon araha hain?''
''sab hi almost. No bahana… ajao.. Tumhara aaj koi special meeting nahi hain… Maine Sara se pata karwaya.''
''yaar..''
''Main tumse kabhi baat nahi karunga…. Soch lo.''
''Thik hain ata hu.''
''Sharp at 7 pm.''
''Yeah..''
He cut the call.
''Daya?'' Asked Tarika.
''Hmm..''
''Daya kaafi cool hain na… he's a good company.''
''haan.. wo toh hain.''
''Kahi jana hain tumhe?''
''Haan.. actually..''
''It's okay… main bhi nikal hi rahi hu.''
''Sure?''
'''Haan baba.. do ye mugs, main rakh deti hu.''
Tarika took the mug and started to walk away. Abhijeet was thinking whether to ask her not and then without analysing it more he called her.
''Tarika..''
''Haan?'' She stopped and turned towards him.
''Tum… tum chalna chahogi mere sath… friends hain mere London ke. Main friends keh kehi intro karwaunga…. Matlab agar tum chaho toh..''
Tarika thought for a while. If it was other time she would have rejected the proposal right away but after the throwback childhood time it was hard to deny him.
''Kaha?''
''Club hain mera…''
''In kapro mein jaa sakti hu?''
''Means, tum aogi?'' Abhijeet became excited.
''Tum bhi toh mere friends se miley the naa…''
''Thank you.. Thank you… Thank you so much.''
''Dress?'' She smiled.
''No problem at all.''
''Nahi.. sab majak urainge naa…''
''Main mu tod dunga unka..''
''Abhijeet! Tum mujhe apartment drop karoge thore der ke liye toh main change kar lungi..''
''Tum comfortable nahi ho toh..''
''Arey I don't mind jeans at all.''
''Okay.. phir abhi nikal na parega…''
''Thik hain chalo.. Uncle Aunty se pehle bol deti hu..''
''Yeah… main change kar leta hu tabtaq..''
Bothe of them smiled at each other. Tarika planned to tell him her problem that night.
AN: Quick update? Yeah, its because of the number of reviews…. Thank u so much. Keep reviewing n supporting.