So here is the second last or rather last chapter of Blank as next chapter will be more of epilogue. I hope you all enjoy it. :)
BLANK::Kartik/Aman
Chapter VIII: Yeh Tere Intizaar Ki Haadh Thi
They sit there from dusk until dawn as Aman takes Kartik through their journey. Kartik listens to Aman patiently but every now and then he will ask questions, he will be astonished at some of the things they went through. From strangers to flatmates, then from colleagues to best friends, then from boyfriends to finally husbands - lifeline of each other. Aman is reluctant when he tells Kartik how their family found out about them or rather their father caught them kissing. To Aman's surprise or he shouldn't have been, Kartik starts laughing it takes him few minutes to calm down.
"Train mein kissing... woh bhi jab sab saath..." Kartik keeps on laughing and the sight makes Aman heart melt and he doesn't know how to proceed from there. Then Aman tells him what comes after and that sobers up Kartik until he gets to Goggle's wedding and Kartik loses it. (Kissing in train... with everyone around...)
"So wait... tumne sabke saamne Goggle ki shaadi pe... I mean... what? How? Dimaag mein kya chal raha tha?" Kartik's questions shows he invested he is in their story and Aman smiles. (So wait... you did that in front of everyone at Goggle's wedding? I mean... what? How? What were you thinking?)
"Us waqt sirf yeh chal raha tha ke tu kya hot lag raha tha sherwani mein." Kartik gapes and Aman laughs at his expressions as it dials down he smiles before continuing. "Koi teri insult kare, tujhe kuch bhi kae, main bardaasht nahi kar sakta phir chahe woh mere Papa kyun na hon, yaan poora parviaar hi kyun na ho." Aman's eyes are shining with love for him. Then he continues with the story; as the story progresses he can see Aman's smile turning into a frown,regret and pain visible in his eyes as he talks about Kusum, Aman's punar janam, Kartik's re-entry, the beating, his almost marriage with Kusum and then finally their marriage. (At that time I was thinking about how hot you are looking in sherwani.) (I can't tolerate someone insulting you, it doesn't matter whether it's Papa or the entire family.)
Kartik is silent for sometime comprehending everything that Aman has told him. He is taken aback by the fact at how much length he went for Aman and deep down his heart knows he would have done everything for this man but he doesn't remember doing it. He looks at Aman curiously.
"Kya?" (What?)
"Agar family ka aisa reaction tha toh ab sab kaise?" Aman can understand Kartik's confusion. Aman tells him when Shankar dropped them off at train station and their interaction. (If family reacted like this then how are they like this now?)
"Waqt laga par tumne toh pehle se sabke dil mein jagah bana li thi, bas un sab ko woh accept karne mein time laga. Ab toh tum es ghar ke ladle ho, mujhse pehle toh tumhari baat sar ankhon pe hoti hai." Kartik gets embarrassed but Aman places has hand on his cheek. (It took time but you had already your way into everyone's heart but they needed time to accept that fact. Now you are the favourite of the family, you come before me, you are the apple of everyone's eye.)
"Arre nahi pagle, shikayaat nahi kar raha bakle tumhe bata raha hon ke sirf main hi nahi hum sab tumse behadh pyaar karte hain." Aman's smile and words are so genuine and Kartik badly wants to believe that. He lowers his head, a lone tear escapes his eye. (Oh no, my crazy love, I am not complaining but just letting you know how much everyone loves you.)
"Kartik?" Soon river is flowing from his eyes as he breaks down cursing himself.
"Mujhe yeh sab bilkul yaad nahi hai. Main itni koshish kar raha hon phir bhi yaad nahi araha." Aman tries to calm him down but fails. "Kaise? Main kaise nahi yaad kar paa raha yeh safar? Kyun yeh sab mere saath hi howa?" (I don't remember all of this. I am trying so hard but keep failing to remember.) (How? How I am not able to remember our journey? Why did this happen to me?)
"Kartik... shhh... calm down." Aman takes his face in his palm wiping away his tears. Kartik looks at Aman in complete fear causing.
"Kartik?"
"Agar mujhe kabhi bhi kuch bhi yaad nahi aya toh? Aman? Tab kya hoga?" The fear reflects in his eyes, in his voice and he can see Kartik shaking. (What if I don't remember anything at all, ever? Aman? Then what?)
"Yeh sab, humari zindagi, humari yaadein, kuch yaad nahi hai mujhe." Kartik cries at the loss of his memories, truly sinking in what he has lost. Aman makes Kartik look at him. (All this, our life, our memories; I don't remember anything.)
"Toh hum naayi yaadein banayeinge. Tum bhi yahin hon, main bhi yahin hon, sab toh hain na paas. Humara pyaar wohi hai, tumhara dil jaanta hai, pehchanta hai. Yaadein nahi toh kya howa... hum phirse apni duniya banayeinge, naayi yaadon ke saath." Kartik looks at Aman in hope and is not disappointed when Aman's gaze holds the love and determination, he believes every word he has said. Kartik smiles through his tears and hugs Aman tightly who returns the hug and kisses his forehead. (Then we will create new memories. You are here, I am here, everyone is here with us. Our love is the same and your heart knows that, recognises it. So what if you don't have the memories... we will create new ones, we will rebuilt our life with new memories.)
"Everything will work out, just have faith." Aman whispers to Kartik. They stay like this until Kartik is calm, then instead of going back to their room, they lie there on that charpai, gazing the sky watching dusk turn into dawn. Kartik's head is resting on Aman's chest whose fingers are playing with Kartik's hair.
Early in the morning when Shankar climbs up to check up on his plants he find his boys cuddled together, deep in sleep even the sun's light unable to disturb their peaceful sleep. He notices blanket fallen off them so he carefully covers them with blanket once more and adds a sheet on clothing wire so it'll protect them from sunlight and not to disturb their sleep. Seeing peace of both of them finally fills his heart with hope that maybe things will be better one day.
When Aman wakes up it is because he can feel someone is standing by his side, opening his eyes he finds his arms filled with Kartik who is sleeping without a worry with his head resting on his heart. Aman smiles at the sight but the moment is broken by someone clearing their throat. He turns and almost jumps up causing Kartik to almost wake up.
"Tum?" He comes face to face with Kusum who is standing by his pillow smiling down at them. (You?)
"Hi, Aman."?
"Kusum.. tum yahan?" Kartik fidgets to get comfortable, Aman carefully forces himself away by Kartik's side gesturing Kusum to follow him. They get bit further away from where Kartik is sleeping. (Kusum, you here?)
"Kya howa tum yahan kaise?"(What happened, why are you where?)
"Woh ghar ayi thi toh pata chala Kartik ke baare mein toh esi liye ayi thi." Kusum replies looking over Aman's shoulder to see Kartik. "Usay sachme kuch yaad nahi hai." Aman shakes his head and Kusum doesn't know what else to say. (I came back home and found out what happened with Kartik so I came to see you.) (He really doesn't remember anything at all?)
"Bas tum dono ko dekhne ayi thi." Aman looks at her. "Maine usay sab bataya kal raat." Kusum gets shocked at this. (I just came to see you two.) (I told him everything last night.)
"Aur?" (And?)
"Aur kuch nahi. Ab sab jaanta hai bas yaad nahi. Lekin feelings woh wahin hain." (And nothing. He knows everything now but doesn't remember. But his feelings are still there.)
"Sab theek hojayega." Aman gives her a curious look. "Sach me, Kartik tumhare liye saari duniya se ladh gaya toh phir..." (Everything will be alright.)(Trust me, Kartik found for you with the rest of world so this...)
"Haan lekin es bar uski ladai aapne aap se hai." (Yes, but this time his fight is with himself.)
"Mujhe bharosa hai woh yeh ladai bhi jeet jayega." She smiles and it feels genuine. Suddenly something appears on her face, an emotion or something but it's gone before man could fully grasp it. "Acha main chalti hon." She suddenly announces and before Aman could react she comes closer and gives him peck on cheeks before running away and Aman stands there confused. (I have faith that he will win this fight.)
"Yeh koun thi?" 'Oh God, I'll kill her.' Is the first thought runs through his mind as he hears Kartik behind him. Turning around he finds Kartik who is looking at Aman with confusion and irritation. (Who was this?)
"Kusum." It slips out and he knows its a mistake when it dawns on Kartik who Kusum is.
"Oh toh yeh Kaniya Kumari thi jisse tum shaadi karne wale thay?" (Oh so this is Kaniya Kumari who you were going to marry?)
"Kusum hai uska naam aur shaadi nahi hoyi na." (Her name is Kusum and we didn't get married.)
"Toh phir yeh Sunita kyun ayi yahan?" (Then why Sunita was here?)
"Kusum hai uska naam aur woh baas haal poochne ayi thi." (Her name is Kusum and she just wanted to check up on us.)
"Acha toh Sangeeta aise haal poochti hai?" (So Sangeeta was here to see how we were doing?)
"Kusum hai uska naam." Before he can continue he hears Champa coming towards them. (Her name is Kusum.)
"Meri ankhon ko dhoka howa yaan woh pagal larki yahan pe thi abhi?" (Did my eyes betray me or was that mad girl just here?)
"Kusum hai uska naam!" Kartik shouts in irritation causing Champa and Aman to freeze on their spot. Kartik unaware of that continues to rant. (Her name is Kusum!)
"Bas agayi phirse dorre daalne." Champa quietly walks away leaving Aman to deal with this and when Kartik turns to look back at Aman finds other man grinning like an idiot. (yea, she just came to flirt again.)
"Kya hai?" He asks irritatingly and Aman laughs, he comes closer and takes Kartik's hands in his and looks at him. (What is it?)
"Aaise kuch nahi hai aur waise bhi, main sirf aur sirf tumse hi pyaar karta hon. Shaadi bhi tumse hi ki hai. I love you, Kartik." Kartik can't stop his cheeks from colouring bright red and his heart pounding at this confession. (It's nothing like this, I love you and only you. I got married to you only. I love you, Kartik.)
"Pata nahi maine aise kyun react kiya... utha toh usay dekha aur woh phir jis tarhan se tumhe kiss karke..." Kartik looks away in embarrassment but Aman completely understands what Kartik felt was a momentarily jealousy which he had also felt when this happened first time round. He doesn't know whether to Thank Kusum or kill her for this stunt but it just helped Kartik in a way. He didn't tell Kartik exactly what had happened when he told him about his decision because it was too much for him but he gave him highlights of it. (I don't know why I reacted like this... I woke up and saw her and then the way she kissed you...)
"Woh toh aise hi pagal hai." Kartik huffs but irritation leaving his body, Aman knows it's a risk but decides to take the risk. "Toh aik kaam karte hain esko erase kardete hain." (She is just crazy like this.) (Then let's do one thing and erase this moment.)
"Kaise?" (How?)
"Tum mujhe kiss kardo." Aman says casually but his heart is ready to burst either from excitement or fear he can't say. When Kartik stands there deer caught in headlight, Aman swallows and puts on a smile. (You kiss me.)
"Main mazaq kar raha hon itne serious mat ho." With this Aman turns away but Kartik doesn't let go of his hand instead presses it stopping Aman on his tracks. Aman slowly turns around and stares at Kartik who is observing him, Aman lets him. (I was just joking don't take it seriously.)
Kartik who finally was able to free himself from agony, pain and guilt of forgetting Aman and their life when Aman vowed to make new memories with him, to be always there for him and love him no matter what. Finally, his heart was at peace and he was not pushed down by the burden of fear of Aman abandoning him. He heard everything from Aman and still was not able to connect himself to it but when he looks at Aman the way his entire body reacts to this man he knows Aman is telling the truth he can feel every ounce of him filled with love for this man. So finally, he leaves his fear behind with the night as dawn spreads across the sky and he embraces their love, embraces this man and decides to start a new beginning like the new dawn.
Aman watches several emotions flickering through Karitk's eyes but waits patiently for Kartik to get back to him. He can see in Kartik's eyes the exact moment he comes back to Aman. Without saying another word they lean closer; closing the gap between them Kartik places a small peck on Aman's cheeks and let his lips rest there for few seconds before finally moving away.
"I love you, Kartik." Aman says before Kartik fully moves away causing Kartik to blush at this. He gives Aman his true smile but doesn't say the words back but it doesn't matter because they both know that Kartik loves him back; his eyes, his actions are living proof of that. He feels Kartik's fingers locking with his and Aman knows they will be okay.
Okay guys... so it's almost the end, only epilogue is left. I hope you'll enjoyed it. :)