Chapter 21: The Beautiful Evening.
As the nightfall they made their stop to a village of Maharashtra. The village people kindly welcomed them with open heart providing them food and cots to rest.
They all get fresh & up there and sit out under the open sky on the cots around a bonfire.
TARIKA and RAJAT sat in one cot, ABHIJEET and DAYA shared one, PURVI and SHREYA in one and SACHIN had the whole cot for himself.
The family kindly served them food and the group was overwhelmed by the hospitality of sweet and simple village peoples. The villagers leave them by themselves to have dinner peacefully.
While having the village meal, SHREYA spoke up: Wow, the sky looks so beautiful.
All looked up at the sky as SHREYA continued: Our mind and body are so occupied with our work that we even didn't realize how the air feels when it touches our body. Everything around us is so beautiful and yet we don't know about it. In last two days I learnt World is beautiful.
SHREYA turned at DAYA and he said: I learnt Life is beautiful.
SACHIN added his, thinking about KAJAL: Love is beautiful.
PURVI remembering her time with RAJAT said: Journeys are beautiful.
They looked at RAJAT and he answered thinking about all the nice people touched their hearts and said: Peoples are beautiful.
It was TARIKA's turn and she answered looking at the group: Having Family is beautiful.
Finally they looked at ABHIJEET and he answered: This moment is beautiful.
DAYA: I think we should do this more and explore the beauties of life.
All of them agreed and soon they started to talk about their holiday fun and adventures.
There SACHIN shared how he met KAJAL first time...
'He was on a DELHI trip for work and met KAJAL there and eventually got to know that they both are CID officers and come to DELHI for work.
They spend a good time together and fell for each other by the evening. From there their love story begun.'
SHREYA noticed TARIKA and RAJAT are the only silent people there and diverted the topic asking TARIKA: By the way ma'm, I wanted to ask you one thing from long time.'
TARIKA looked up at her as she asked: How did you turn to CID officer from forensic expert?'
PURVI excitedly: Yeah, even I want to know this. I heard so much about your forensic work and was surprised to see you as a CID officer.'
Now even RAJAT who was busy with his food looked curious at his sister.
Seeing all the eyes on her TARIKA narrated her story...
'3 years before she joined CID Bangalore as forensic expert and one day she was returning to the forensic with the dead body in ambulance while her team mates were investigating the murder scene.
On the way she was attacked by a group who wanted to steal the dead body to prevent it from postmortem.
As soon her team get to know about the attack they rush to the spot for her rescue but when they arrived at the scene, they were surprised to see the sight in front of them.
The dead body was unharmed, TARIKA was unscathed and the group of attackers was tied down to the ground in front of the ambulance.
The thing attackers didn't know TARIKA was a good fighter with martial art skills from childhood.'
TARIKA: After that incidents, few times I came good help to my team on field and our superior got impressed by it and appointed me as a full time CID officer in the team. From last one year I kept my title intact with my work.
RAJAT smiled, two girls admired her, DAYA and SACHIN looked impressed, and ABHIJEET remained amazed by her not realizing his phone was ringing.
DAYA nudged him and he took out his phone to see a video call from NIKHIL. He picked up the call and NIKHIL said hello to him.
ABHIJEET: NIKHIL, why did you call at this time? Is there an emergency case?
All looked alert at him.
NIKHIL on phone: No Sir, there is no case, but a good news I wanted to share.
DAYA looking at the screen asked: What good news?
NIKHIL: Sir, you two are together?
DAYA took the phone from ABHIJEET and moved it around showing everyone there: We all are here.
NIKHIL: Why are you all together, sir?
DAYA: We will tell you later. First tell us what the news is?
NIKHIL shyly: Sir today is my engagement.
SHREYA teased: That's why you were so desperate to leave to your sister's place, right?
NIKHIL looked shy while PURVI asked: By the way, where is your fiancé?
NIKHIL pulled the girl beside him into the frame and said: This is DIVYA, my fiancé.
DIVYA said hello to them getting compliments from SHREYA and PURVI for her looking beautiful and one by one all of them congratulated the couple adding to their happiness.
After the dinner all get scattered.
They were running late by their schedule but there is no urgency than spending a happy time with your loved ones.
From tomorrow, they will again get busy with their work, making excuses, breaking promises, postponing and finally canceling their plans with their family.
But right now, this is the moment to live, live with your dear ones whose one smile is enough to make your heart happy than anything.
As ABHIJEET turned around to see the smiles of his family, the people he works with and lives for.
Sham bhi koi jaise hai nadi
Lehar lehar jaise beh rahi hai
Koi unkahi, koi unsuni
Baat dheeme dheeme keh rahi hai
Kahin na kahin jaagi hui hai koi aarzoo
DAYA and SHREYA were cuddled to each other sitting on the cot lovingly talking to each other in front of the bonfire.
SACHIN had a smile on his face watching the photos of him and KAJAL in his phone they took recently and RAJAT & PURVI stood either side of him ready to tease him.
And PURVI snatched the phone from him tossing it to RAJAT as he chased PURVI and RAJAT running around.
Kahin na kahin khoye hue se hain main aur tu
Ke boom boom boom para para
Hai khaamosh dono
Ke boom boom boom para para
Hai madhosh dono
Jo gummsum gummsum hai yeh fizayein
Jo kehti sunti hai yeh nigahein
Gummsum gummsum hai yeh fizayein hai na
And finally there she was sitting alone watching all this with the same smile on her face must be wondering the same thoughts as him.
At the same time TARIKA turned toward him to see him watching her with the same smile. They felt a bit uncomfortable at the sudden encounter.
Suhani suhani hai yeh kahani
Jo khamoshi sunaati hai
Jise tune chaha hoga woh tera
Mujhe woh yeh batati hai
Main magan hoon par na jaanu
Kab aane wala hai woh pal
Other side SACHIN succeeded snatching his phone from the two and turned around walking to the bonfire happily looking at his phone without noticing that in their tug of snatch RAJAT tripped and fell with PURVI over him who lost her balanced at the same time falling along with him.
Jab haule haule dheere dheere
Khilega dil ka yeh kamal
Ke boom boom boom para para
Hai khaamosh dono
Ke boom boom boom para para
Hai madhosh dono
Jo gummsum gummsum hai yeh fizayein
Jo kehti sunti hai yeh nigahein
Gummsum gummsum hai yeh fizayein hai na
Both of their eyes were closed and they could feel each other's breath with their heartbeats.
Finally the two open their eyes at a time remaining like that for a moment before RAJAT asked: Would you?'
PURVI asked clueless: Huh?'
RAJAT: Would you get off me so I can breathe?'
PURVI: Do you mean I am that heavy that you can't breathe?'
RAJAT genuinely nodded yes. PURVI gave him a look and gets off him sitting beside him. RAJAT sits up dusting off his hands and sleeves.
PURVI kept her palm on his forehead as he asked surprised holding her hand: What are you doing?'
PURVI: Are you all right?'
RAJAT: I am all right. What's wrong with you?'
PURVI: What was wrong with you earlier at the abandoned railway station? You were hysterical there.'
RAJAT: Hey, that was hallucination. I saw someone stabbed you and it felt so real. I got so scared there. I must have lost my mind then staying a night in that dark closed truck.'
Thinking a second he continued: I didn't tell you then but even I had a feeling of déjà vu.'
PURVI excitedly: That means we have really met each-other before also.'
RAJAT giving her a look: No, I didn't have that déjà vu feeling.'
PURVI: But I have.'
RAJAT asked doubting: What?'
PURVI: My brother says, Jo ek baar hota hai wo dusri baar nahi hota. Aur agar dusri ho jaye to teesri baar bhi jaroor hota hai.'
RAJAT: Who says such things to you and your brother?'
PURVI: AJJI.'
RAJAT: Now I remember, I have something to ask your brother how he knows the exact words my sister said to me.'
Just then SHREYA arrives there asking the two: Are you two all right? You must have gone through a lot from yesterday.'
Both flashed there most affectionate smile to her.
SHREYA: Why are you two smiling like that?'
PURVI: you are so nice. Everyone is scolding us from morning.'
RAJAT: But you are the first person to ask if we are all right.'
SHREYA smiled and gave her hand to them: They scold you because they care for you. We are leaving. Let's go!'
Both got up and followed her near the bonfire.
The group bid bye to the villagers showing gratitude for the villagers selfless kindness and walked near to their vehicles.
DAYA said: There will be cold breeze at night. RAJAT and PURVI get in the car.'
Tired RAJVI obediently gets in the car.
ABHIJEET said to DAYA: You go ahead, we will follow you.'
DAYA nodded and drove away in car with SHREYA and RAJVI.
ABHIJEET said to TARIKA: You must be tired driving all day, I will drive from here.'
TARIKA without any argument gave the key to ABHIJEET and sits to the passenger seat.
SACHIN without any choice walked to the jeep settling himself at the backseat and ABHIJEET drove with TARIKA next to him.
On the way: DAREYA car -
SHREYA asked: Doesn't they look good together?'
DAYA looked at the rearview mirror to see RAJAT and PURVI fallen asleep at the backseat leaning to each other.
DAYA: Why?'
SHREYA: They came so close to each other in a short time.
DAYA: What do you mean?
SHREYA: Have you ever seen PURVI this lively before meeting RAJAT? She was always calm, composed and immersed in her studies.'
DAYA looked at her in shock: You mean to say?
SHREYA: She has changed so much for good after meeting RAJAT. Don't you think the two have some kind of connection with each other?'
DAYA unbelievingly: I thought its just ABHIJEET.
SHREYA: What about ABHIJEET?
DAYA: Then it wasn't a coincidence SHREYA, it must be fate that brings this four together again and again.'
SHREYA asked: What are you talking about?'
DAYA: It was not only PURVI who has changed. Four of them have changed.'
SHREYA: You mean ABHIJEET ? DAYA smiled: I will be happy if he finally finds a partner of his heart.
SHREYA smiled: So... lots of good things are on its way. DAYA: let s see... How they realizes it.'
Yeh kaisa samay hai, kaisa sama hai
Ke shaam hai pighal rahi
Yeh sab kuch haseen hai, sab kuch jawan hai
Hai zindagi machal rahi, jagmagati jilmilati
They smiled at each other as SHREYA lock her hand in his resting her head on his shoulder as he drove.
Palak palak pe khwaab hai
Sun yeh hawayein gungunaye
Jo geet lajawab hai
Ke boom boom boom para para
Hai khaamosh dono
Ke boom boom boom para para
Hai madhosh dono
Jo gummsum gummsum hai yeh fizayein
Jo kehti sunti hai yeh nigahein
Gummsum gummsum hai yeh fizayein hai na
ABHIJEET glanced at sleeping TARIKA and smiled as he drive through the way.
NOTE:
Song name: 'Sham' from Aisha movie.
The Dialogue: Jo ek baar hota hai from Telugu movie Chal Mohan Ranga.
I know the story is half way to end and the main course of the story hasn't started yet. Actually when I started to write the story I didn't thought it will take this long just to reach here.
Finally, the trip is over and from next chapter I will try to move the pace of the story.
Thank you so much everyone.
And...
Happy Dhanteras to All!