Forever yours

Isstriwale Jija

Part 22

At the Agarwal house in Sameer's absence
Sameer had given her 2 cassettes to record her story. One was opened and one was sealed. She decided to use the open one first. But before recording, due to her meticulous nature, she decided to check both sides of the open one. Thus, she placed it in the tape recorder and started playing it. After a few fast forward and pauses, she heard Sameer's voice, reading a poem. She went back and rewinded and started to listen from beginning.

(This is Sameer's sorry poem for Naina...Sorry guys can't find the exact words... if someone does, please send me the link, I will paste it here. Meanwhile, this is from memory).

Kaho tou ek baar fir chaand sitaare paas le aoon
Kaho tou ek baar fir chaand sitaare paas le aoon
Ugte suraj ki halki si aag le aaon
Buss tu muskura de
Aakhon se wahi pyar chalka de
Bahut dil dukhaya hai
Bahut dil dukhaya hai yeh maana maine
Par dard par marham lagane ka ek mauka de
Ab tab itna kuch padhaya hai
Buss ek baar fir se iss rishte ka hisaab kar do na
Buss ek baar fir se iss rishte ka hisaab kar do na
Naina, mujhe maaf kar do na!

Sameer had recorded this poem when he had first decided to ask for forgiveness from Naina and always carried with him, but could never give it to her, sometimes as he couldn't muster enough courage, thinking that she might reject him and sometimes the unexpected turn of events prevented it. But, today in his haste to meet Nanaji, he had inadvertently given it to her.

She rewinded and listened to it a couple of more times and her misty eyes teared each time.

When Preeti came to the room, she was worried looking at Naina's pale face.
"Kya hua Naina? Tu ro kyon rahi hai?"

Naina hugged her with one arm and cried her heart out on her shoulder. Preeti knew something very emotional and definitely related to Sameer had taken over her sister's heart, so she let her cry and feel relieved.

After her sobs subsided, Naina, played the cassette again and Preeti heard the heartfelt apology. "Dekh Naina...Jijaji kitna pachta rahe hai apni galatiyon par. Aur fir tune hi kaha tha na ki unhone mandir mein tera haath pakad ke vachan diye the. Naina soch...apna topper dimaag laga, kya koi bhi ladka, kisi bhi mamooli faltu si shart ke liye, kisi ladki ko shaadi jaisa bada vachan dega? Fir wahi jeeti hui shart jaan bujkar haar jaayega? Arjun bhaiyaa ka sach jankar bhi wo chup hai, apna naam clear karne ke bajay, unka naam bacha raha hai! Aur maan le sab jhooth hai, toh fir unhe yahan aane ki kya zaroorat thi, tere Papa ke itne taane sunne ki maar khane ki kya zaroorat hai? Agar unhe school se nikal bhi diya toh kya fark padega? Iss desh mein itne saare school hain. Unke Nanaji ke naam aur paison ki wajah se unhe kisi bhi achche bade English school mein admission mil sakta hai. Unhe yahan, hamare ghar mein hall mein, deewan pe sone ki kya zaroorat hai? Soch Naina... yeh sab sirf tere liye, tere pyar ke liye....maaf kar de Naina, aur unka pyaar apna le".

"Preeti, maaf toh kar bhi doon, par pyar....pyar kaise karoon? Bharosa kaise karoon? Agar fir dhokha diya toh? Ek baar toh sambhal gayi, fir se aisa kuch hua toh?"

"Dekh behen, zindagi ki guarantee toh Bhagawan bhi nahi dete....rahi pyar ki baat, toh tu chahe kuch bhi kahe, teri aakhon mein pyar dikhta hai Sameer ke liye aur chahe jo ho jaaye, tu usse pyar karna chod nahi sakti...dekha hai maine, tujhe aisi haalat mein bhi, apne dard se upar uski taqleef mehsoos hoti hai".

"Nahi Preeti...maine apna mann bana liya hai, yeh competition khatm hote hi, main usse saare rishte khatm kar doongi....".

Naina tried to sound determined before leaving the room but who better than Preeti could read her sister's averted gaze. She couldn't meet her eyes and make this statement...she was too far ahead in love to come back and she didn't wish for her to come back. They were meant to be.
"Aur haan...yahan hamari jo bhi baat hui, tu Sameeer ko kuch nahi batayegi, tujhe meri kasam hai"...Naina came back to cement her resolve.