Raat Akeli Hai

XXXII. war with oneself

New York City.
Night Club.

sumedh :

The lights inside were blinding.
Either too flashy or too dark.
I wouldn't lie, I did not like it, but well - family bonding activities needed some sacrifice.

Yeah, I was trying to bond with my obnoxious siblings.
At this point, how are these people my siblings at all? Such self centred narcissists. Toshu had a criminal instinct and Pakhi looked like she was out of a mental hospital.
Oh, to top it off, Dimple's boyfriend Tapish was here for some programme.

Not that I cared, but he was just too good to be true.
So good that I had started to feel sick of all the goodness.
Waited for 5 years and all - bro I waited for 15 years only to realise I was in love with the wrong girl.
Could have had any other woman but I was still carrying along that stupid bracelet Kinjal had given me years back for the sake of it.
You can't beat that.

I sat by the bar watching people groove to the beats of English music. Toshu and Pakhi looked like they were having the time of their life.
Pakhi's kid was with her ex husband in India. And she seriously couldn't care less.
Toshu was happily dancing with Kinjal, so happy.

And Dimple was dancing with Tapish, awkwardly.
He was quite happy but she didn't look too glad.
Or maybe I wanted to see it that way.

I sipped on my diet coke.

"Koi jal raha hai.", Diwan said sitting by me and sipping on whiskey.
"Ha, lights jal rahi hai.", I said, my gaze fixed on Dimple.
"Woh kisi aur ki hai Summu. Dusron ki cheezon pe nazar nehi daalte.", Diwan said grinning.
I smiled.
"Hero hu kya jo aacha banne ka pressure hai mujhpe. Villain hu, villain wale kaam kar raha hu. Enjoy karne de.", I said plainly.

"Lekin kabhi yeh villain bhi toh hero tha.", Diwan said dramatically.
I looked at him with a raised brow as he pursed his lips to not let the smile escape.
Dimple walked down to us while Pakhi decided to shake a leg with Tapish.

"Ho gaya dance? Kuch der aur kar leti. Bechara tanha ho gaya.", I said abruptly as she stood beside me.
She glanced at me, unimpressed.
She was about to open her mouth when I said,

"Jaanta hu.. tum ghumo phiro nacho gao.. bahar jao, akeli jao, kisi aur ke saath jao, jahan jao, jaisi jao.. jiske bhi saath jao.. mujhe kya.. I know. Thank you.", I said immediately.
She paused, a little taken aback.
"Aapko kaise pata chala ki mai mummy wala aapko kya dialogue chipkaungi aapko?", She asked.

"Bas, samajhne laga hu tumko.", I said grinning.
She turned and glanced at Tapish.
"Toh phir haarne wali baazi khel kyu rahe hai?", She asked.

"Saari duniya se jeekar aaya hu.. phir bhi tumhare saamne haar Raha hu. Koi gehri wajah toh zaroor hogi.", I said honestly.
"Dhundiye.. gehri wajah.", Dimple said smiling.

•

vanraj :

I woke up to the scent of dhoop. I heard someone remove the curtains over the window.
I felt bright sunlight on my face.
It took me a moment to finally sit up on the bed.
"Subah ho gayi hai aur aap toh aise soo rahe hai jaise barson baad neend aayi ho.", I heard her.

My heart skipped a beat.
I looked up to find Anupamaa, looking etheral.
Like she was some angel down on earth.

Wet hair open, falling down to her waist, the dhoop dani in her hand as she gently spread the scented smoke around the house.
She wore an ordinary cotton saree, no make up at all. I noticed a few greys in her hair, but somehow that did not marr her beauty at all.
It just complemented her.
Maybe it was for the first time, but I noticed she had a powerful aura of confidence as she walked around the room.
As if she owned this house.
The confidence of a "malkin".