Night approached rapidly...Shreya was lying on her bed with a lifeless face and since long she was trying to have a sleep but all her efforts wasted as she found herself every time tossing and turning with a restlessness, thinking about the words of Siddharth...He hadn't spoken before about throwing such a party for her colleagues..Did he want to gift her this party as a surprise? Yes, that could be possible...because he seemed to be much romantic...A faint smile of satisfaction hovered at Shreya's lips and she continued cogitating-he has been giving so much importance to my colleagues...If my colleagues are so important for him...then...how much he would care for me...He is such a nice guy...' A blushing smile came over her face and she tried to console herself..." pata nahi...kyu main ye chhoti si baat ke liye itni pareshan ho rahi hun...Siddharth ko mera har jajbaat ka parwa hai...isliye hi...woh...ye party rakh raha hai...Main kitna insensitive hun...mere liye un ka pyar ko mehsus karne me itna waqt le rahi hun...mujhe so jana chaiye...kal phir party bhi to hai...'

Daya, on the other hand, lying on his bed, staring straight at the ceiling, musing about the incidents of the whole day...and instantly, Siddharth's last words were drumming at the back of his mind...He kept musing with puckered brows," kyu siddharth phir se ye party rakh raha hai? agar bas jan pehchan ka baat hota tab to...adha jan pehchan uske sath humara ho chuka hai...jitna huyi nahi...uske liye ek raat ka party kaffi nahi lagta hai...woh bureau me asakta tha ...Is ke baad to...kabhi bhi woh bureau askata hai Shreya ke sath...magar..." some lines of worry printed over his forehead.." aur phir Shreya ko dekh ke bhi aisa laga...jaise ki...Siddharth ka is announcement ke liye...woh taiyar nahi thi...chahkar bhi woh apna surprise ko chhupa nahi pa rahi thi...Kya...Siddharth ko...koi shaq ho gaya hai? ya phir mann ka shaq zada majboot ho gaya hai? kahi woh Shreya ko koi dukh to na dega? kya kal mujhe waha pe jana chaiye? Na jau...tab to aur bhi zada shaq ho sakta hai use..." Daya's face contorted with an affliction, remaining within a dilemma until he closed his eyes and sunk into a deepened thought which brought him the much needed sleep...

Next day,Pipli bunglow, 7.45 p.m

Daya entered into the green lawn through the tiny gate, looking around himself. The bunglow was ablazed with lights and even the trees too were adorned artificially with the lights...Daya was hesitant as he came well advance before the scheduled time and just when he thought to call Shreya, Siddharth came out, seeing him with a courteous smile,:'Dayaa...aao...andar aao...'

Daya with a coy smile, spluttered,:'nahi Siddharth...actually...mera kuchh bohut jaroori kaam tha...jis ke wajah se...main party me...aa nahi paunga...is liye...' he stopped as shreya appeared at the main door of the bunglow and seeing daya she advanced towards them...

Siddharth, feeling shreya's presence, said delightfully,:'are dekho Shreya...Daya aya hai...keh raha hai ki party me nahi asakta hai...tum hi zara kaho un ko party me rehne ke liye...'

Shreya a little astoundingly looked at Siddharth while Daya was quick to respond,:'nnahi Siddharth...main nahi reh sakta hun...woh to main...ttum...logo ko...kuchh kehne aya tha...' he smiled with discomfort and added,:'baat...jaroori hai...is liye...ana bhi jaroori tha...' he now took out something from his side bag and handed over to Siddharth...

:'kya hai ye?' exclaimed Siddharth...

:'card...' clipped daya...

:'card? ' Siddharth hadn't opened the envelop yet and preferred to listen to daya...

:'haa...mera shaadi ka...' divulged daya, forcing a smile..

For a couple of second, it seemed everything had been numbed as a thunder struck the atmosphere...

very slowly Siddharth's face was beamed with a smile,:'kkya? tumhara shaadi hai? kaab? '

A faint smile hovered in the corner of daya's lips as he perceived how much relief he brought to Siddharth,:'haa...2nd October...bas do hi din bacha huya hai...' he announced with a feigned smile...

:'ohhh God...this is unbelievable...' siddharth yelled joyfully,:'to akhir tum...apni mallika ko dil ki baat keh hi diya?' he asked being overjoyed and a little garrulous...

Daya looked now at shreya and perceived quickly that a darkened layer pervaded her face; utter surprise glowed within her eyes as she stared at him incredulously...He stated now, trying to be stout,:'haa...bata diya...' Shreya averted her glance and her face reflected a cyclonic shock that she just received...

:'aur woh? woh bhi kya tumhe bata diya apni dil ki baat?' Siddharth asked inquisitively...

Daya,once again chuckled,replying,:'agar nahi kehti...to kaise fix hota shaadi?' daya's querry impelled Siddharth to be conscious about his over curiousity and an air of discomfiture touched his face and to get rid off that he demanded,:'magar Shreya to kuchh kaha nahi...'

Daya keeping the gentle smile intact, answered,:'Shreya ka koi kasoor nahi hai...woh...main hi kisi ko na bataya tha...aur ekdam final hone ki baad hi bata paya...'

Siddharth shrugged trying to hide the unexpected bubbling happiness inside him while shreya remained silent turning her face aside...

Daya tried to dismiss the stifling uneasiness with his own effort,:'main chahta hun Siddharth ki tum aur Shreya...us din aao...'

:'jaroor' Siddharth was prompt now, alleviating his curiosity,:'hum to jaroor jayenge...kyu Shreya?' Shreya jabbered, trying desperately to be calm,:'hha...hha...kyu nahi...' but her voice trailed away as she was failing to be at the equillibrium...beads of sweat stood over her forehead as she buried abruptly ignited agony into her fists...

Daya with a humble face, stated,:'ab main chalta hun...samajh rahe ho na ki bohut sara kaam hai aur waqt bohut hi kam hai...'

Siddharth said with a relieved smile,:'haa daya...abhi tumhe rok nahi paunga...take care...'

daya with a courteous grin turned back and advanced towards the tiny gate at the hedge...

Siddharth, clasping shreya's hand, murmured,:'chalo...' both turned back towards bunglow but shreya felt like shivering inside vigorously...She started feeling giddy for a little and when accidentally her glance turned towards the hedge, she saw, daya was staring at them standing outside the hedge...She grasped the hand of Siddharth for the support and at last entered into the bunglow...