It's late at night. Purvi is waiting to say sorry to Rajat. He walks inside after midnight.
Purvi (small voice): Rajat..I am..sorryy..
Rajat (not paying attention):maine pehle hi kaha tha..mujhe tumhari maafi me koi dilchaspi nahi hai..
Purvi (blocking his way, tears): Rajat please..I…I am really sorry..mujhe aise tumhe dhoke se wahan nahi le jaana chahiye tha…magar mere paas doosra koi raasta bhi nahi thaa..woh tests..woh tests bahut zaroori the mere liye…isliye mujhe jo samajh me aaya maine woh kiya.
Rajat (turning his face away): dekho Purvi…mujhe bilkul pasand nahi hai koi mere life me zabardasti aaye, mere lifestyle ko change kare aur mere feelings ke saath khele..but…
She looks up. Rajat faces her..
Rajat: But..ab hum dono issme phass gaye hai..isliye..behtar hoga ki yeh job hi karna hai..jaldi ho jaaye..aur tum..yahan se chali jaoo…phir tum apni life apne tarike se jeeyo..aur main apne tarike se..rat bahut ho chuki hai..so jaoo..good night..
Purvi cannot believe what she just heard. She is not sure, she heard it right. She runs to his room and opens the door. Rajat is changing his t-shirt.
Rajat (hastily): yeh kya badtameezi hai?
Purvi (covering eyes): Sorry..sorryyy..maine..maine kuch dekha nahi..she opens her one eye and glances at him. Rajat sees this and turns his body and wears his tshirt.
Rajat (angrily): aainda mere room me bina permission ke mat aana…samjhi tum? Purvi nods her head.
Purvi: woh..baahar jo tumne kaha..kya woh sach hai?
Rajat: haan
Purvi (happy): Iska matlab tumne mujhe maaf kiya?
Rajat: haan
Purvi (jumping): wow!...iska matlab tumhe main who saari dawaaiyan, exercise, khaana bina koi chalaaki ke khilaa sakti hoon?
Rajat (irritated):Haaaaannnnn..
Purvi (excited): ek ..ek last question…tum aage se jab bhi tests karne ho…bina meri overacting ke haan kahoge naa?...she looks at him eagerly..
Rajat: ab likhke doon kya?
Purvi: haaaan…
Rajat (taken aback): what?
Purvi (slapping her head): arre nahi…mera matlab..Thank you Rajat…she sobers down..tum nahi jaante tumhari iss haan ka kya matlab hai mere liye..It means..It means the world to me..
She looks at him with genuine concern. Rajat stares into her eyes. they appear so kind, full of love and hope.
Purvi: Rajattt..Rajattt..she calls his name. he realizes he was staring into her eyes.
Rajat: its okay…Good night..he shuts the door and rests against it.
Rajat (mind): pata nahi kyun..kahin naa kahin main Purvi ki thodi fikar karne laga hoon..he sits on his bed..mujhe yeh sab jald se jald khatam karna hoga…mujhe Nisha ke paas jaana hai…magar usse pehle Purvi ko apni zindagi se nikaalna hai..aur yeh tabhi hoga jab usse mera woh sample mil jaaye..main jitni der usse ladoonga..utna zyaada who meri zindagi me rahegi…he nods his head as noooo..nahi…mujhe yeh sab jaldi niptaana hai…
Purvi on phone
Purvi (happy):Arre tarikaaa..tarikkaaaaa..kya boloon main..aaj toh chamatkaar ho gaya…apna kadvaa karela hai naa…pata hai usne abhi kya kahaa? She narrates the entire incident
Tarika: oh my godddd..yeh toh bahut badi news hai Purviiii.. I am so happy…lekin yeh sab hua kaise?
Purvi (proud): of course..meri kamaal ki acting ke wajah se…itni realistic death scene kii maine aaj..ki Rajat andar se hillll gaya ekdum..aankhon me aasoo aa gaye uske..
Tarika: drama queen..chal tera yeh talent kaam toh aaya..
Purvi (softly): haan Tarikaa…kaam toh ayaa…pata hai..aaj maine pehli baar Rajat ko meri sach me fikar karte huye dekha…who dil ka bahut acha hai Tarika..
Tarika (agreeing):Haan Purvi..Rajat sach me bahut acha hai..magar who kahin jeena bhool gaya hai…
Purvi (firm belief): ab main aa gayi hoon naa uski life me..dekhna dheere dheere ekdum badal ke rakh doongi...
Next day morning
Rajat wakes up on time, finishes his exercise and comes back. He is surprised to see Purvi standing on a stool in front of him. She is trying to place something on the door.
Rajat: yeh darwaaze pe kya kar rahi ho?
Purvi (trying to fix something): arre..maine aaj ghar ki saaf safaai ki..toh bass yeh toran lagaa rahi hoon..she gets down and faces him smiling.
Purvi (smile): aise kya dekh rahe ho? Darwaaze pe toran lagaana bahut shubh hota hai….good luck charm..she pats his arm. He looks at his arm and then her face.
Purvi (sorry): oops..sorryy…
Rajat: hatto…mujhe andar jaana hai..
Purvi (turns to pick up rangoli powders): haan..haan..chale jaana..bass yeh rangoli sambhaalke…Ouchhh…she slips on the powder and falls on Rajat. He holds her by her waist. Purvi leans on to him and howls in pain.
Rajat (no emotions): Kya hua?
Purvi (holding her feet): lagta hai moch aa gayi…owwww….khade khade mera mooh kya dekh rahe ho..help me..she outstretches her hand.
Rajat sighs and holds her hand gently, not wanting to touch her. Purvi grabs his hand tight and walks slowly. They both step inside keeping their right foot first.
Chachi: arre waah…tum dono ne ghar pravesh bhi kar liya….she smiles..
Purvi: Ji haan chachiji…aaj Dussehra hai naa..toh socha isse acha din kya hoga..hai naa Rajat..she smiles sweetly.
Chachi: bahut acha kiya beti..bhagwaan tum dono ki Jodi ko hamesha banaaye rakhe..she touches their cheeks and goes away after blessing them.
Rajat removes his hand, Purvi slips and falls.
Purvi: owwwwwww…..mujhe neeche gira diyaaa…ab haath do uthne ke liye..
Rajat (irritated): Stop this nonsense…yeh sab kya hai? Ghar pravesh? Nonsense..
Purvi: shhhh…dheere bolo…unhe lagega aaj ke itne ache din pe hum dono ladd rahe hai..
Rajat:Dekho tum yeh sab bandh karo..warnaaa..he steps closer angrily..Purvi steps back…
Purvi(hands on hips): warna? Warna kyaaa? Main…main nahi darti tumse..
Rajat (shutting the door, coming closer): achaaa…ab bhi nahi darti..he takes another step..they are very close..Purvi swallows and her legs hit the sofa, she falls down on the sofa.
Rajat (coming close): maine darwaaza bandh kar diya hai..ab unhe kya lagega? He tries to scare her, so that she doesn't think of using the tactic of husband-wife with neighbours.
Purvi has a scared look on her face, Rajat is happy. He starts to step back. He suddenly finds Purvi's arms on his neck.
Purvi (winking): acha kiya 'Meri Jaan'….unhe jo lagna hai lagne dooo…kya kehte ho?
Rajat jerks her hands away and starts to go back.
Rajat (stammer): doooo…door raho..samjhi….main…main darta nahi hoon haan…jaoo maine maaf kiya tumhe..he quickly bolts his room from inside.
Purvi (laughing): Ohhhh..mere kadve kareleeee….
Some days pass like this and they both get little friendly. One day he returns from bureau and finds his drawing room in complete mess. Purvi is sitting in between various colored chart papers, scissors, glue etc. she appears to be making some decorations.
Rajat (removing shoes): yeh..sab kya hai?
Purvi: kal woh Rinku ka bday hai..toh uski party plan kar rahi hoon..
Rajat: kaun Rinku?
Purvi: woh hamare building me jo bai hai naa..Kamla baai..unki ladki hai..7 saal ki…kal uska birthday hai…usne kabhi birthday party manaayi nahi hai..toh isliye party plan kar rahi hoon..bass usike decorations hai…main kal ek cake bhi banaane waali hoon..she looks very happy.
She yawns and takes some rest against the sofa. Her eyes close for a moment.
Rajat: so jaoo Purvi..raat bahut ho gayi hai..
Purvi (getting up): kya? Nahi..abhi 50 aur paper flowers banaane hai mujhe…tum jaoo..so jaoo..main bass aadhe ghante me khatam kar doongi yeh kaam..
Rajat changes his clothes and comes to the kitchen to get some water. He stops at his tracks. Purvi is asleep on the floor among the colored flowers. He drinks his water and comes to wake her up.
Rajat: Purviiii…he calls out..she doesn't move, she breathes deeply and continues to sleep. Rajat realizes she is exhausted. He smiles at her. These days he doesn't seem to yell at her or get angry. Maybe he is getting used to her presence in his house now. She is cheerful, she works in a NGO. She cannot do any heavy duty work or travelling owing to her heart condition. Yet she eats all her medicines without any complaints, never flinches due to the daily dose of injections – all because she has a strong will to live.
Rajat now understands her a bit. They both are alike and different at the same time. They both have a strong will – Purvi wants to live, Rajat wants to die…
Purvi (murmur): Rinku ki party…decorations, paper plates, samosa…she narrates the party list in sleep.
Rajat takes pity and lifts her to place her comfortably on the bed. He covers her with blanket. She smiles in her sleep.
Next day morning
Purvi wakes up and finds herself on Rajat's bed. She is shocked!
Purvi (shock): main…main yahan kaise?
DOINGGGGGGGG…she hears the sound of mixie. She rushes to the kitchen. Rajat is busy making his daily dose of juice. He is in his track pants..which means he just came from his exercise.
Rajat : Good morning…maine apni exercise kar li…main bass juice peene ke baad jaa raha hoon..
Purvi (scared): Rajatt..main kal tumhare bed pe? Kya hua kal raat?
Rajat: kal raat? He comes closer..kal raat wahi hua jo Simran ke saath hua thaa…wahi jo Raaj ne kiya tha…he places a hand on her cheek lightly.
Purvi (shock): Simran? Raaj? Kaun..kaun hai yeh log? Aurr Raaj ne kya kiya Simran ke saath?
Rajat (surprise): arre…itni filmy ho..baat baat pe filmo ke gaane gaati ho…itna bhi nahi samajhti? Purvi nods her head as No..koi baat nahi…bade bade desho me aisi choti choti baaten hoti rehti hai senoritaa…he imitates Shahrukh Khan..
Purvi (realizing): Ohhhhhh…DDLJ….hahahaah…matlab kal raat aisa waisa kuch nahi hua…
Rajat (rare smile): tum hamesha mujhe daraati ho…tang karti ho..socha aaj thoda tit for tat kar doon…tum darr gayi naa?
Purvi (sitting on counter): main? Aur darr? Bilkul nahi..mujhe poora confidence hai tumpe..aur waise bhi…she strikes a pose..mujhe karate aati hai..
Rajat (confused): Karate?
Purvi: haan..karaate..toh kal agar tum kuch try bhi karte toh bhi kuch ho nahi paata…
Rajat:mujhe kuch karna hi nahi thaa..
Purvi: Tum kuch kar bhi nahi paate..
Rajat (irritated): yeh kya bakwaas ho raha hai..I am serious..kal raat maine tumhe bass apne bed pe uthaa ke rakha..bass…isse zyaada kuch nahi huaa..
Purvi (slapping her head): areee yaar..poora kabaadaa kar diya…tumhara dialogue thaa..tum mujhe uksaa rahi ho kya?
Rajat: what? Dialogue
Purvi: haan…Jab we met picture nahi dekhi kya?
Rajat: ohhh..haan dekhi thi naa..Nisha ka favorite hero hai Shahid kapoor…the mention of Nisha sobers Rajat down. He takes his juice and goes out of the room silently. The whole house is silent.
Purvi: Rajatt…I am sorry..anjaane me woh..jab we met..Shaahid kapoor…
Rajat: Its okay Purvi..woh toh pata nahi main bhi kaise mood me aa gaya…main..main nahaa leta hoon..
Purvi nods her head. she prepares to go to the kitchen to make her breakfast.
Rajat (thinking):Purviii..
Purvi: haan..
Rajat (awkwardly): ahh..Thank…Thank you..
Purvi: kisliye?
Rajat: bass aise hi..acha..acha laga tumse aise baat karke..
He leaves for the bureau, smiling and everyone in his building is surprised.
Chachi: beti…yeh kaisa chamatkaar hai?…5 saal me pehli baar bitwaa ko haste dekha…she kisses her forehead..jug jug jiyooo…
Purvi (happy): aapne..aapne meri lambi umar ki prarthna ki abhi? Thank you chachi…she hugs her.
Rajat in car
He is driving in the traffic. Normally he has a serious look always on his face, he honks crazily. Today he feels light, refreshed. For a change he switches the radio on and drives happily, occasionally humming songs.
He reaches the bureau and walks up the stairs, wishing the surprised guard.
Rajat (cheerful): Good morning everybody….
Everyone (shock): Good morning..Rajatttt….
Pankaj: chaliye sir..chai ho jaaye…they all leave to the cafeteria.
Pankaj: 6 chai….he orders..
Rajat: 7 chaai…meri waali me adrak zyaada..
Everyone looks at him open mouthed. In the last 5 years every morning when all would gather to have tea, Rajat would go to the balcony to smoke his cigarettes all alone.
Rajat (surprise):Aise kya dekh rahe hai sab log mujhe?
Abhijit (shocked): nahi..woh..aisi…aisi koi baat nahi..woh bass…tum aaj chaai ke baad cigarette peene waale ho kya?
Rajat (smile): Main cigarette kam karni ki koshish kar raha hoon.. he smiles as he sips the tea.
Rajat house
Purvi is having a bath and steps out of the shower to grab a towel. She sees Rajat's towel on the stand. She smiles and picks up his towel and uses it to wrap it around her. She looks into the mirror and is shocked!
The mirror shows Rajat wrapping his arms around her. She can feel his scent and warm body. She shivers at the thought. She smiles and quickly dresses up. She is blow drying her hairs, when she looks at her palm. The love line and life line..
Tarikaa..jiss ladke ke haath me yeh same lines hongi..wohi mera life partner hoga..uske pyaar ki wajah se main aur jee paaongi…
She kisses her palm.
Mujhe naa ekdum fairytale waala prince jaisa koi chaahiye…tall, dark and handsome…muchoo waala..
Rajat's face flashes in front of her. She falls on the bed and grabs a pillow.
Purvi (mind): yeh kya ho raha hai mujhe? she blushes..kyun baar baar sharmaa rahi hoon main..she spots Rajat's picture on the desk. He is smiling in that.
Purvi (keeping the picture beside her): hey mere kadve karele…..yeh kya kar diya tumne? Kahin iss strawberry ko apne rang me toh nahi rang liya? She sings…Kya yehi pyaar hai? Haan yehi pyaar haiii…she hugs his picture to herself…
Haaaaan….yehi pyaar hai ! Hai naa…
So Rajat and Purvi are falling in love.. but time is running out...will they be able to confess it...Will it be all good..what surprise do they have next in life? Too many questions..but please wait patiently as one by one they will get answered.
oopsss...I had wriiten that there will be a jhagdaa in this chapter..sorry….but the jhagda is postponed a bit :) I hope you guys like this chapter also. please let me know your comments in my review :)
keep reading :) keep loving :)