Tere Mere Dil
...As Tarika slipped the ring in his finger and the hall room of big Kapoor's mansion filled out with applause for the second time in that evening she felt being tied with the man owning the ring now more than before. If only single ring could harvour this type of feelings in her, she wonder how it would feel when they would tie the knot. She felt devoted towards him with all her wills, with all her passions. She couldn't help but wondered if Abhijeet had been feeling the same. Would this engagement also matter to him this earnestly?
She looked up at him. He was smiling at the cameras. Tarika could feel his smile wasn't reaching his eyes. He had been acting distant since morning. Previously it wouldn't have hurt her but now things were different. Now she want to know every minute details of his happiness, of his worries, of his sadness.
Thinking about this and that she didn't realize she had been staring him for more than it intended to until Abhijeet looked at her with a smile and raised his one eyebrow. Tarika shook her head immediately and faced the camera herself. She consoled herself saying she had been acting very possessive. Its her who had changed not him. He's just the same, carefree and happy. Only Tarika's world had changed.
The photo session took long. Finally the couple was called on dance floor. Blushing, Tarika accepted Abhijeet's awaiting hand and being leaded towards the dance floor.
Dewanee hoke ham, milne lage sanam
jab se jure hain silsiley,
akhon se ruth kar nind e chli gayi
jab se mitey hain fasle...
The romantic song and dim lights created a fairytale like atmosphere around them. Tarika had danced with him before but that time she didn't feel a thing. She was surprised how within this short gap her feelings for this man took a total 360 degree turn. Only one thing was common in both dances. She still couldn't look into his eyes.
Abhijeet's hand went from her hip to her bare lower back and rested there as he stepped closer to her. Tarika's hand shifted from his chest to his shoulder as she filled the gap between them. Their other hands were entangled with each other as they swayed with music.
Tarika was wearing light purple collour lehenga. her curls were tied in a bun and some of her strands were teasing her tempels and cheeks. She was looking heavenly with those perfect shades of makeups. Abhijeet on the other hand chose to wear formals. Black pants and prince coat with matching light purple shirt with Tarika.
"You are looking very beautiful Tarika." Abhijeet spoke finally.
"Thanks." Tarika murmured.
"Mere taraf bhi dekh lo thora. Dekho sab hame hi dekh rahe hain.. aur tum aise nazre jhukai ho. Sab ko lagega main tumhe pasand nahi hu." He joked.
"Tab se toh dekh hi rahi thi tumhe. Aur ketna dekhu? " Tarika looked at him, with a smile.
"Jab taq pass ho tab taq dekhti hi raho. Kya pata kal sath ho na ho." Abhijeet smirked.
"Main, tumhare sath hamesha rahungi. Aaaj, Kal, parso, hamesha." Tarika said with a strict voice. "Abhi sagai hui hai bas aur abhi se dur hone ka soch rahe ho?? Tum sach mein mujhse payar karte bhi ho ya.."
"Tumhe ab bhi mere payar pe shaq hain?" Abhijeet teased.
"Nahi... ekdam nahi. Main toh bas majak mein keh rahi thi..."
"Main bhi majak hi kar raha tha.. chill." He smiled.
"Weisey Abhijeet, ek baat puchu tumse?"
"Hmm..."
"Subha se kuch pareshan se lag rahe ho..."
"Tumne notice kiya?" Abhijeet was glad.
Tarika nodded.
"Good to know." Abhijeet said.
"Baat kya hain Abhijeet?"
"Tumne mujhse ek baat chupai hai na Tarika?" Abhijeet asked, his voice hurt.
"Abh-..."
She couldn't complete as the dance came to an end and they had to leave the dance floor. They had to meet the guests. And then they attended the media conference. Abhijeet was the one answering almost all the questions. Tarika only answered when asked specifically. She wasn't nervous that time. She prepared a lot for this conference in her free time. She didn't want to make a joke of them in front of the media. At the back of the mind Tarika kept thinkng about Abhijeet's question of her hiding something from him. Didn't he know she belongs to him souly now and if there's something she hadn't told him yet its because she didn't get time to say it.
"So when's the marriage date?" Asked one of the journalist.
"We will let you know." Abhijeet said.
"Still, in a month, in a year or more than that?" Asked another one.
"We are not in hurry actually." Abhijeet said. "We will let you know as soon as it gets fixed."
Tarika looked at him with a jerk. Not in hurry! What did he mean by that? Why was he keeping her in dark? How could he just decide this by his own?
She wanted to asked this right there but she controlled. Soon the conference ended.
Tarika was taken by her aunty to meet some guests while Abhijeet joined Daya at the drink counter.
"Congratulations mate." Daya welcomed him with a bear.
"No thanks."
"You are saying no to bear. Come on its celebration time."
"Yeah. I will drink later."
"Hoping for a kiss?" Daya winked
"You never know you know." Abhijeet winked back.
Abhijeet's expression changed after few seconds.
"Baat ki ussey?" Daya asked.
"Nahi.. abhitaq toh nahi. This is going to turn into a disaster I know." Abhijeet sounded worried.
"Don't rush. Just give her sometimes. She will understand."
Abhijeet nodded.
"Talking about time, hows everything with Sarah? I saw you guys were looking happier than before with each other."
"That time tricks worked actually. Sarah seemed co operative now when she knows I am going to wait for her. Mujhe lagta hain use laga hoga main bas harbari mein usse shadi karna chah raha tha kyuki mujhe apne Dad ne dost ke beti se shadi nahi karni thi. Thanks to you."
"It was actually Tarika's thought."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"She's amazing, isn't she?"
"Yeah, she is." Abhijeet accepted as his eyes wandered around the hall room to have a glimpse of her. But she was nowhere.
A kid came there calling for Abhijeet.
"Abhijeet bhaiya, Tarika didi apko bola rahi hain."
"Tarika? Kaha?"
"Wo first floor ke corridor ke end pe."
"Acha thik hain..."
Thee kid ran away.
Abhijeet turned to Daya and he nodded, indicating him to go and meet his fiance. Abhijeet left, smiling.
When Abhijeet reached there he found Tarika already waiting for him. He was facing her back. Instead of calling her he walked round her and stood in front of her making her coming out of her trance.
"Yaha bolaya?" Abhijeet looked around the deserted corridor.
"Tum kya keh rahein the, maine tumse kya chupaya?" Tarika asked directly. "Aur press pe shadi ki baat ko aise tala kyu?"
"Tarika tum etna aggressive kyu ho rahi ho?" Abhijeet asked calmly. "Yes, we need to talk but the guests still have to leave. Can we talk later?"
"Guests are gone almost Abhijeet. Mihir uncle ne hi mujhe kamre mein jane ko kaha. Don't you want to talk?" Tarika explained.
Abhijeet sighed.
"Yes I do. But I want you to calm down and listen to me patiently."
"I always listen to you patiently."
"You are not right now." Abhijeet said strictly.
Tarika looked away making Abhijeet sighed again.
"Tarika... If you think I am mad on you for not telling me about your scholarship than you are wrong. I am not mad. I am hurt." Abhijeet said slowly, choosing his words carefully. His voice was soft.
"Abhijeet... " Tarika tried to protest.
"Ye baat tumhe aaj subha hi pata chala yahi na?" Abhijeet asked.
Tarika nodded.
Abhijeet took out an envelope from his coat's pocket and gave it to Tarika.
"Remember, maine tumhe ek organization ka bataya tha scholarship ke liye. Tumne toh apply kiya nahi tha... maine kar diya tha Nidhi ke help se. Ye mujhe tin din pehle mila. Your scholarship is granted. Main tumhe hamare sagai pe yahi gift dene wala tha. Ye mian tumhe etna explain isliye kar raha hu taki tumhe ye na lage ki maine ye decision aj subha tumhe jo scholarship ka notice aya hain uspe based karke liya hain." Abhijeet looked away for a while and then again looked at Tarika. "Khair. Mujhe khushi hai ki tumhe dusre source se scholarship mila. I was bit tensed if you would accept this scholarship or not." Abhijeet smiled.
Tarika was silent for a while.
"Tumne ye decision khud se keisey le liya Abhijeet?" Tarika asked, hurt. "Mujhse puche bina?"
"Tumne ye na jane ka decision keisey le liya Tarika khud se?" Abhijeet's voice matched Tarika's.
"Kyuki ye meri zindagi hain Abhijeet. Maine bohot kuch soch samajh ke hi ye decision liya hain. Baba ka, tumhara, khud ka! Aj subha taq main confused thi ki kya main sach mein ye kurbani dekhe khush hu?? Par sagai ke bad se hi mujhe ye khayal bhi nahi araha. Abhijeet... Tum... samajhte kyu nahi!"
"What's wrong with you Tarika? Tunhara wo passion wo professionalism kaha gaya? Tumhe etna pasand karne ka piche ye bhi ek reason tha mera Tarika. I dont want you to give up so easily "
"I am not giving up. I am just delaying "
"Which you shouldn't damn it." Abhijeet said with a high pitch.
Tarika stopped arguing on a sudden. Taking few deep breathes Abhijeet calm down himself.
"Tarika, listen to me." He held her by her shoulders. "Do you know how much I love you? I love you so so much that no distance mattes to me."
"Its not about your love." Tarika said, calmly this time.
"Your family? My family? We will deal with it. Tarika, I am okay to deal with the families. I would understand if they pressurise us but you Tarika, I dont want to do this with you. In fact you should have come to me with the proposal at the first place. And hence I am hurt that You don't consider me worth enough to relay on me upon this matter "
Tarika kept looking at him without uttering anything. To her he was sounding unreasonable. She just couldn't go away without marrying him. Its not a matter of months. Its a matter of years. How could he just say this only a few hours from their engagement.
"You want me to go?" Tarika asked, stiffly.
"Yes." Abhijeet said, firmly.
"The flight is due next week. I have received the Visa and tickets as well." Tarika said and turned around to leave.
"Tarika..." she stopped.
"Mera gift?"
Tarika looked at him blank.
"Tum gift dene wali thi na mujhe?"
"Mera gift kuch matter nahi karega ab Abhijeet... as usual tumhe ye out of greatfulness lagega. So, leave it."
Tarika walked away.
"Tarika.. Tarika... Tari..." But she was gone.
Abhijeet tried to talk to Tarika few more times but she just ignored him. Abhijeet was confused where did he just go wrong? Should he be more cautious while talking to her? He didn't understand. He decided to talk to her the next day and went to sleep.
In his room he found a card on his bed. He looked around and took that in his hand. He opened it and his face lit up guessing the sender.
" Abhijeet, mujhe nahi pata main tumse keh payi ya nahi... kehna asan nahi hota hain na.. isliye ye card yaha rakh diya hain pehle sehi. Mujhe tumse kehna hain ki... 'I love you '
Kab aur kaha.. kis tarah se ye feelings mujh mein aya main nahi janti bas etna janti hu ki.. Tumhara elaba kisi aur ke sath main apni zindagi soch bhi nahi sakti.
- Tarika"
Abhijeet read the letter few more times and then kept it inside his cupboard. He sat on his bed and sighed. Of course he's happy that Tarika loved him. But he didn't even allow her to say it. He didn't even allow her to say about the scholarship thing. Now when he summarize the events in his brain he felt like things could have been done differently. But he was so hurt and worried about what she wanted. He felt like Tarika wanted to go in reality. He thought she's sacrificing because of their families. But she's doing it for him also. Somewhere he cherished the feelings but a bigger part of him told him how selfish he was. He couldn't sleep well that night.
Early morning, Tarika knocked at Abhijeet's door with cups of tea. Abhijeet opened the door in his track pants and T shirt with messy hair and continuos yawns. Seeing Tarika at his doorstep he thought he was dreaming first but then realized it's reality. It's Tarika standing on his threshold in her sky blue salwar suit.
"Tarika tum.."
"Haan.. wo ye chai.. "
"Main... bina fresh huye kuch nhai pita..."
"Acha? Mujhe pata nahi tha... mujhe laga chai pite pite baat kar lenge."
"Kya baat?"
"Abhijeet yahi khade rakhoge?"
"Ander keisey bolau? Tumhare chachu ne dekh liya toh?"
"Main Mohini Aunty se puch ke hi ai hu.."
"Maa se?"
"Haan.. ab toh ane do "
"Haan sure " He welcomed her in. "Tum bas do minutes ruko main brush karke ata hu."
Tarika nodded.
She kept the tray on table and started arranging his bed. Abhijeet returned within few minutes and found her setting the pillows
"Arey Tarika kya kar rahi ho? rehne do..."
Tarika turned towards him.
"Aunty ne kaha hain ki ab ye ghar mera hi hain. Ab ghar mera toh ye room bhi mera hi hain. Hain na?" Tarika winked
"Kya?"
"Haan... wo toh mujhe unhe Maa bhi bolane ko keh rahi thi... wo toh maine hi kaha ki I need thora sa time. Aise hi keisey... Toh unhone kaha thik hain." She smiled.
"Mujhe laga tum gussa hogi mujh pe "
"Wo toh hu... matlab otna nahi.. par hu main gussa."
"Acha... koi baat nahi. Tumne socha kal jo maine kaha us bare mein?"
"Maine Nidhi se baat ki " Tarika said slowly.
"Tumhare dimag mein baat gayi?"
"Abhijeet, main tumhe batati hi scholarship wali baat. Sach mein."
"I'm sorry. I know bohot harsh behave kiya maine."
"Its okay I can understand." Tarika looked down. " Abhijeet Baba ko samjhana... aur phir chachu ko... phir jab main chali jaungi toh pata nahi kya kya sunna pare Baba ko."
Abhijeet held her by her shoulders.
"Meri taraf dekho."
Tarika obeyed him.
"Yaha ka sab main dekh lunga. I promise."
"You are not supposed to do that."
"Yes I am. I am your fiance Tarika."
"It will take minimum 5 years Abhijeet. Tum mere liye etna din wait karo main ye nahi chahti... "
"Toh phir tumhe shadi karna hai is week ke ander?" Abhijeet asked, seriously
"kya keh rahe ho tum? Ek sagai se hi tumse dur nahi ja pa rahi aur shadi ki baat kar rahe ho?"
"Toh phir?"
"Abhijeet tum... I mean ye sagai tor de?" Tarika said closing her eyes, a drop of tear slipped down her right cheek and Abhijeet left her shoulders automatically.
"Tarika! " He whispered. "Tumne yesab ka matlab bohot galaat nikal liya yaar."
Tarika sobbed.
"Agar tumhe kisi aur se payar ho gaya toh?" Tarika finally blurted out her insecurites. "Tum etna wait nahi kar pai mere liye toh?"
"Tarika... payar roz roz nahi hota logo ko. Aur tum meri fiance ho. Tumhe kya lagta hain maine ye engagement kyu hone di jab ki main hamehsa se hi chahta tha ki tum London jao. Ye isliye Tarika kyuki main tumhe khud se bandh na chahta tha. Ek ring pehnane se sirf tumhare dil mein nayi feelings grow nahi hua hain. Mere dil mein bhi hua hain."
"Par.. ye galat hain Abhijeet. Matlab.. agar tumhe koi pasand...".
"Agar tumhe ya mujhe koi pasand ahi gaya toh ham ek dusre ko batainge."
"Mujhe nahi aiga.."
"Kyu? Tumhare pass dil nahi hain?"
Tarika shook her head
"Kaha gaya tunhara dil?" Abhijeet asked, irritated a bit.
"Tumhare pass." She said cutely with a smile.
Abhijeet smiled broadly.
He hugged her. Tarika hugged him back.
"I love you Tarika."
But Tarika didn't said back
Abhijeet broke the hug
"Tumne nahi bola!"
"Card mein likha toh tha..."
"oh come on Tarika. Please "
"I love you." Tarika said clearly.
Abhijeet didn't think she would say it this easily.
"Kya? Phir se bolo."
"Ji nahi... "
"Tarika..."
"Arey chai thandi ho gayi..." Tarika took the tray in her hands, "main chalti hu tum ajao niche."
"Acha. Tarika, jab main niche baat karu gharwalo se tab tum meri side logi. Okay?"
"Abhijeet... Baba..."
"Kuch nahi hoga Tarika. Trust me."
She nodded
"Ab tum jao. Main ata hu thore der mein.
KK: So, what do you think the families would let Tarika go? Or they would marry them off? 5 years a long time gap. You think they would make through it? What if one of them found someone else? Would a simple ring be enough to hold them together?.
Next chapter would be the last chapter.
In last chapter i used 'You don't kiss like that.' It meant in general people don't kiss like that. I wasnt referring about the drank night. What happened in that night I will let you know in next chapter