Kavin drives to the parking lot of their apartment with a throbbing headache, puffing away furiously at his cigarette. He switches the engine off and sits back, eyes closed for 5 min. He hears a gentle knock on his window, he looks out and can see through the dark haze the form of Purvi.
He immediately lowers the window – her face is clearer now. He takes one look and wishes he had not opened the window – her face is tear stricken, he scrunches his face – pained to see her dull face.
Kavin (small voice): You still here?
Purvi: hmm…I was just here…thinking..Kavin…she takes a deep breath – he looks at her with fear !
Purvi: I..we..we need to talk Kavin..Please…she requests.. she steps back and starts walking ahead. Kavin takes a deep breath and steps out – it feels good be out in the open – the car was claustrophobic for him !
Kavin watches Purvi walking ahead – something doesn't feel right. She turns..
Purvi: Kavin….
Kavin nods and walks ahead to join her. Now they both walk together, close but still apart. Kavin realizes what was wrong before – she was walking alone. Now as he is alongside her, he has to match her speed and this brings calmness in his limbs – he walks at a steady pace.
He doesn't ask anything or talk anything, just walks besides her looking down – he looks at their feet falling ahead together – left, right, left…he is mesmerized. Suddenly just his one foot falls ahead. He looks behind- Purvi has stopped walking. He looks around – they are at the promenade overlooking a calm, flowing river.
Purvi sits on a bench looking ahead at the river. Kavin sits beside her carefully maintaining a distance.
Purvi: Kavin…she looks into his eyes ….Main tumhari kya hoon?
Kavin (shuts his eyes): Purvi…he doesn't know what to reply. He himself is having a tough time figuring this out.
Purvi: Meri taraf dekho Kavin…main tumhari kya hoon? Tumhari life me meri kya jagah hai? Hum dono ke beech kya rishta hai? She speaks in a heavy voice…aaj mera dil bahut dukhaa hai Kavin..You are my….she looks at him…tum you are my kehke rukh gaye…..main maanti hoon mujhe pata nahi mere mann me tumhare liye jo feelings hai who pyaar hi hai…magar aaj bhi main tumhare haan ka intezaar kar rahi hoon, main tumhare saath jeena chahti hoon..toh yeh pyaar hi hai….aur kahin naa kahin mera dil kehta hai..ki..she wipes the one tear that rolls down her eye…mera dil kehta hai..she looks into his soul through his eyes….Mera Dil kehta hai…Tum bhi mujhse pyaar karte ho…..
Kavin (shocked): What?
Purvi (coming closer, edgy behavior): Yeh pyaar nahi toh kya hai Kavin….tum mera itna khayal rakhte ho..tumhe meri har choti badi aadaton ke baare me pata hai…..tumhe yaad hai woh overnight beach picnic…maine toh pehle hi naa kehdi thi…tumne mere liye dada se baat ki..unhe manaaya..kyun Kavin? Kyunki tum chahte the naa..main tumhare saath aaoon..bolo..chahte the naa…
Kavin cannot speak anything –he just stares at her..
Purvi (holding his face): Agar tumhe mujhse pyaar nahi hai..toh kyun uss din 2 mile chalkar gaye..sirf ek can Fanta kharidne? Haan?...jab maine tumhe Joyce ke saath dekha toh uss raat kyun mujhe explain karne aaye tum? Ki uske saath koi relation nahi hai …kyun Kavin? Kyunki tumhe laga mujhe jalan huyi..hai naa? Toh usse tumhe kyun farak pada? Mere jalne se tumhe kyun farak pada Kavin? Her questions are getting tougher for Kavin !
Purvi (crying now): tumhe kya zaroorat thi mujhe date pe le jaane ki….uss raat mujhe khush karne ke liye kya kuch nahi kiya tumne…tumne mujhe who teddy kyun gift ki ?– jisme I love you likha tha? jab main chal nahi paayi toh mujhe apni god me kyun uthaa liya? Kyun meri gudiyaa ka naam rakha tumne? Tum kya ho mere? Haan..kiss haq se uska naam rakha?
Purvi (coming really close to his lips now, soft voice): Tumne mujhe uss din kiss kyun kiya Kavin…haan..tum mujhe pyaar nahi karte ho naa..toh..phir kyun…
She closes the distance between them and kisses him. Kavin holds her tight and they both continue from where they had stopped that day !
Kavin gently caresses her hairs and Purvi moves in closer to him. The rolling tears of her eyes land on her lips – the salty taste of her tears brings Kavin back to his senses. He realizes with a shock – he is kissing Purvi ! he stands back trying to increase distance between them..
Purvi feels cold and opens her eyes – Kavin is standing apart from her and his face has an expression of shock and denial…
Purvi (holding his collars): ab bhi tum kahoge..tum mujhse pyaar nahi karte…hamare beech kuch nahi hai? BOLOOOO….KUCH TOH BOLOOOO KAAVINNN…
Kavin looks on at her stunned..still no words come out of his mouth – his tongue is frozen!
Purvi (leaving his collars, sitting back defeatedly): main thakk gayi hoon Kavin…she sits and sobs…kya main itni buri hoon…kya mujhe yeh jaanne ka bhi haq nahi hai ki mujhe manaa karne ki wajah kya hai…Suyash ne mujhe bina kuch bataaye chodd diyaa…aur tum...
She looks at him, he just stares back..
Purvi (very sad): I am sorry Kavin….maine pata nahi kaise kaise sapne dekh liye…pata nahi apne aap ko kya samajh liyaa….shayad main pyaar ke kaabil hoon hi nahi….main tumhe aur pareshaan nahi karoongi….Goodbye Kavin..
She runs away from that place, dejected at the humiliation she has faced today. She wishes to end her life, escape this harsh punishment – she feels unloved, unattractive, unworthy!
Teena is surprised and scared to see a profusely crying Purvi rush inside the apartment.
Teena (scared): Purviii…whats wrong? Tell me….stop crying
Purvi (crying): Teena..I want to go away from here…right now…main Dada ke paas jaana chahti hoon..
Teena (hugging her): Calm down..calm down first…..here sip some water..she gives her a glass of water. Purvi drinks it slowly..
Teena (stroking her back): Are you feeling better..whats the matter? Are you nervous about your submission? Don't worry…things will work out just fine..shhhhh….
Purvi calms down and after some time goes to sleep. Teena sighs and places a blanket over her. She comes out to the drawing room and is shocked to see Kavin smoking away inside the apartment!
Teena (angry): Are you freaking out of your mind? Smoking inside the apartment..put it out right now…the fire alarm will go off..
Kavin looks at her angrily and defiantly puffs away. He cannot think straight now..
Teena (pulling him to the patio): Fine…you wanna smoke…Smoke here… She leaves, when he calls.
Kavin (tired voice): Teena..please stay..
Teena senses he is very disturbed. She steps back inside and stands next to him. Kavin continues to blow smoke. He tries to talk but Teena can make out words are getting stuck in his throat. Finally she gives him a bear hug. Kavin starts to cry in that hug. She pats his back..
Teena: shhhh…its okay Kavin…
He comes out of that friendly hug, turns his face and wipes his tears..
Teena: Oh You Big Guy….i just saw you cry…so stop acting brave and tell me whats the matter..
Kavin : I…I..broke someone's heart Teena..and I feel terrible..he starts to cry again..
Teena: Kavin…..
Kavin: Main bahut buraa hoon Teena…maine…galti se shayad usse sapne dikhaaye…aur..maine hi who saare sapne todd diye..
Teena: Kavin…you have had your share of breakups..kitni ladkiyan aayi aur gayi…you became fine..chill..you will get over this one too..
Kavin: yehi baat mere samajh me nahi aa rahi…maine kabhi itna buraa feel nahi kiya apne life me..i have not felt this crushed before..and Teena…this wasn't..this wasn't even a break up..
Teena: What?
Kavin: She said she loves me…and I..I…
Teena: you what?
Kavin (running fingers through hairs): Leave it Teena…I have a headache…I am going to sleep..she watches as he staggers out to his room.
Teena (softly): huhh..You are in love Kavin…boy! You are madly in love…huhh..I wonder who that lucky girl is..
Purvi room
Purvi (on phone): Mrs Rai..aap? dada hai kya?
PurviM: Nahi…who dono Taru ke ghar gaye hai…
Purvi (low voice:Theekh hai..main baadme phone karti hoon..
PurviM (soft voice): Purvi….tu bahut pareshaan hai kya? Apni Maa se nahi share karegi..
Purvi (tears flowing, trembling voice): Main…main..pareshaan nahi hoon..samjhi aap..
PurviM (crying): Betaaa…main tujhse haath jodke maafi maangti hoon…I am sorry..maine shayad jaane anjaane tumhaari zindagi barbaad kar di…main bahut guilty feel karti hoon..iss umar me tujhe kitna khush hona chahiye…aur tu aise ekdum udaas, nirass zindagi jee rahi hai….I am sorry betuuu…oh sorry…yeh haq toh sirf tere babuuu ka tha naa..
Purvi (heart melting): Maaa…Maaa…please aap mat royiye..jo hua usme aapki koi galti nahi hai..meri..meri kismat hi shayad..please Maa…
They both cry on the phone for a long time.
PurviM: acha..ab ronaa bandh kar….bol..tujhe kya pareshaani hai?
Purvi (crying): Maa…mujhe waapas aana hai…aap logon ke paas…please…
Kavin room
He is sitting with his back on a wall and playing catch with a ball. Its just a throw and catch, finally he flings the ball away. His phone chimes and he checks his email.
He thinks for some time and then gets up with a new determination and pulls out a bag. He starts throwing some clothes inside. Once he is satisfied, he drifts to a disturbed sleep.
Purvi room
Purvi feels light hearted after talking to her mother. She grabs the photo frame (pic with her father) and hugs it to sleep….
Some hours later – the rising sun floods Purvi and Kavin's room with sunlight – a new day has dawned !
Thank you to all my readers and reviewers! Meri Jaan hai woh is now my most reviewed story with 427 reviews (still counting!)...I can only say a big thank you for loving this story...keep loving it...
I was discussing this the other day with a ff friend of mine -Adi..what is the one thing that you all like about this story? I would love to hear this from you..please include a line or two in your reviews..it would just help me improvise...
Yes...yes..Kavin will realise his love..the only worry is will he realise in time? kahin der naa ho jaaye !