Guddan and Akshat - Lockdown Story

The Lockdown - Part 1

Guddan and Akshat are stuck at different places - Guddan is stuck in Mumbai, where she had gone for shooting a short film and Akshat is stuck in Delhi, where he had gone for a merger deal. They haven't met in person for about half a month, their only respite being regular video calls and messages. One fine morning, when Akshat calls Guddan, he notices her irritation.

Guddan (angrily) - Hum na Lord Krishna pe bahut gussa hain, bahut bahut bahut gussa. Kitni achi khasi mast zindagi chal rahi thhi, aur ab kya ho gaya hai yeh. Pura din ghar mein akele baithe raho, kahin bahar bhi nahin jaa sakte. Aur ghar mein rehna bhi thik thha agar parivaar ke saath hote, na aap hain, na Maaji, na............

Akshat (calm voice) - Haan Guddan. Par har baat zindagi mein yun hi nahi hoti.........

Guddan (irritatedly) - Aap toh rehne dijiye. Yeh sab badi badi baatein bas kehne ke liye thik hai. Par jispe guzarti hai na, wahi jaanta hai haan.

Akshat (slightly louder voice) - Acha toh yeh sab bas tumpe guzar rahi hai. Main bhi toh akela phasa hun yahan Delhi mein, mere paas kaun hai yahan, batao. Main kehta nahin iska matlab yeh nahi ki mujhe badaa mazaa aa raha hai yun akele din bhar ghar mein rehna.

Guddan (calming down, child-like face) - Han toh humne kab kaha ki aap mazey mein hain. Par kyun ho raha hai yeh sab? Kitna toh mast thha sabkuch. Aur ab.........

Akshat (smiling) - Ab kya? Aare maana ki main wahan tumhaare paas nahin baitha hun, par tumhaare aankhon ke saamne toh hun. Roz toh ghanton video call pe baatein karte hain. Hai na? (Guddan nods) Yaad hai Maa kya kehti hain ki jo bhi humaari zindagi mein hota hai, kisi na kisi wajah se hota hai. Bhale hi uss waqt humein uss wajah ka pataa na chale, bhale hi uss waqt hum hazaar baar bhagwaan ko koste rahein ki aisa kyun ho raha hai humaare saath, par aage chalke kabhi na kabhi, humein samajh aa jata hai ki jo hua woh kyun hua.

Guddan (curiously looking closely into the phone screen) - Acha? Aap toh kabhi Maaji ki baaton ko kabhi itna seriously nahi lete thhe. Aaj achanak kya ho gaya, jo aap unhi ke sur mein sur mila rahe hain.

Akshat (smiling) - Haan pehle toh nahin maanta tha, par phir maanne laga, kyunki phir tum aa gayi na meri zindagi mein.

Guddan - Acha ji? Toh ab maska bhi lagaya jaa raha hai?

Akshat (serious face with a slight smile) - Maska nahin laga raha, sach keh raha hun. Yaad hai humaari pehli mulakat. (Guddan giggles) Pura ka pura cake mere munh pe maar diya thha. Woh bhi sabke saamne aur mere hi birthday party mein.

Guddan (flustered face) - Haan........... Kiya thha........... Par aapne bhi toh bina soche samjhe aisi baat kahi thi. Gussa aa gaya humein..........

Akshat (chuckling) - Hmm........ Aur log mujhe gussail kehte hain...........

Guddan - Ab aap na humaari taang khinchna bandd kijiye, aur apni baat poori kijiye jo keh rahe thhe.

Akshat - Haan, toh main yeh keh raha thha ki uss din jab hum pehli baar mile thhe, hum dono ne hi kismat ko bahut kosa thha ki kaise insaan se mila diya, jise ek pal ke liye bardaast karna naamumkin hai. Hai na? Par socho agar woh din humaari zindagi mein naa aaya hota toh?

Guddan (making a sad face) - Aisa mat kahiye, hum toh aisa sochna bhi nahi chahte.

Akshat - Wahi toh main keh raha hun Guddan, ki chahe aaj humein kitna hi bura lage ki aisa kyun ho raha hai, par kuch saalon baad hum aaj hi ki baatein sochke yeh kahenge ki, accha hua woh din humaari zindagi mein aaya.

Guddan - Hmm. Shayad aap thik keh rahe hain. Matlab sab shaant sa ho gaya hai na, charon taraf. Na woh bhaag-daud, na humari shooting, na apki meetings. Time hi time hai bas. (confused look) Par kuch zyada hi time nahi hai abhi?