M - "Koyi na bachu Tum dono ki baari bhi aayegi"
S - "Tab ka tab dekhen ge, abhi toh full on mazze"
She stared at us for a while before bursting into a laugh along with us. Like always trying her best to rub some into the two of us. I grimaced feeling the cold material rubbed against my face. She chuckled as I did the same to Baaz who further carried in the cycle causing a while reckless throughout the hall. I laughed racing out of the area immediately clashing into a toned chest. "Hye sorry Woh maine dekha nhi," I mumble before moving away hearing Baaz somewhere behind me. It took me a second glance to see it was Sidharth. The haldi from my cheek had rubbed against his probably as I'd looked around for Baaz. I ignore it running upstairs the next instant. To my dismay he stood in front of one of the mirrors smiling at the soft mark left against his cheek.
Si - "Mere lgaya toh mujhe bhi right hai tumhe lgane ka right?"
He questions breaking my daze. I roll my eyes trying to walk away. Of course.. impossible. He caught my wrist turning me around, "main tang nhi karunga lekin at least baaki sab ki tarah toh treat kr skti ho mujhe? Sab lga rahe hai aur main pehle hi aagya tha toh mauka nhi mila isiliye pucha.."
I was stunned into place by how close he was. Not daring to lift my eyes, knowing his would be right there. He takes the moment for himself leaning forward and putting the stain on his cheek in my other one. My mind was blaring danger sounds and yet I stood, not pushing him off. I hated the effect he still had over me. My bangles clunk as he lets my hand go running his over my back, I look up at him in shock not knowing wth he was thinking. The jingles rung as he touched the now untied dori. I sigh figuring out the reason behind why he did all of this. He moved off after tying up the dori giving me a soft smile before descending down the stairs.i couldn't help but think about the gesture over and over again. Last night he'd shocked me by his sudden authoritarian voice and now...
K - "Yeh sab kya hai Shehnaaz?"
I look at him bewildered as to where he'd come from. "Mtlb? Main toh bas room mei-"
K - "Dekh liya maine. Ye room toh nhi hai tumhara, I'm sure"
S - "Tujhe kal se ho kya gya hai? Itne gande tareeke se kyun baat kr raga hai mujhse?"
"Gande tareeke se main baat kr raha hu? Aur yeh question mujhe puchna chahiye. Kal toh keh rahi thi ki vaapis nhi jaayegi aur aaj subah se... chhod. Subah ka rehne deta hu, maan liya ki mere se ache se jaanta hai tujhe, Pr uske baad woh aakhon aakhon mein baatein, mehndi laane usse lekar jaana jab ki main wahin pe tha but of course tujhe kbhi nazar nhi aaunga aur ab haldi? Maahi k baad usne haldi lgayi aur woh bhi aise aur tune lgane di? Muskara rahi hai uske jaane k baad? Kisi aur ka haq nhi chahiye lekin mera haq toh mujhe de? Haldi tujhe mere lgane chahiye thi jaise tune usse lgayi. Har baar uski baahon mein kaise girti ho?" He whispered, his voice hissing as his teeth gritted. I couldn't believe I'd ever thought he was better than- why in the world am I constantly comparing the two?! I turn to move towards my room when Khushal and Jai step into the scene along with Baaz. Completely drenched in water, remnants of haldi still lingering against their skin.
Sb - "Meri behen se aise baat krne ki dubara himmat bhi mat krna. Kaisa haq chahiye tujhe? Huh?! Fizul mein chilaake haq nhi liya jaata. Uski marzi hai. Abhi tu uska kuch bhi nhi hai samjha? Friend hai toh woh hi bnn ke reh. Jisse mrzi haldi lgaye woh, aur to be clear Maahi kr baad maine lgayi thi. Yeh apne pagalpan ke ilzaam uspe mat lga. School mein bhi bohut baar jhela, lga ki ab sudhar gya hoga lekin nhi. Abhi bhi muh se sirf gandh hi nikalta hai. "
I ran off not being able to beat another second of the blunder just created. Why did it always have to happen with me?! I as smiling, happily, genuinely for whatever reason it maybe but I felt at ease. Relaxed. I let the tears stride down my cheeks wiping the haldi off, sitting myself atop the bed. Why was my happiness always bound to a cost? Khushal entered giving me the exact look I didn't want. "Mujhe nhi baat krni hai" I say pulling my knees up to my chest.
Kh - "Sidharth bhi 5 saal se aisa hi hai. Mnna kiya usne bolne ko lekin tujhe aise dekh ke raha nhi jaata. Tum dono ki khushi saath mein hi hai. Mujhe meri woh wali sanu to mili hi nhi abhi tak jiss par hum sabko Automatically pyaar aata tha. Sab ldke maarte the tere liye. Abhi bhi krte hai, ye Pagal k piche rone ki zaroorat nhi hai"
S - "Par woh kbhi aisa nhi tha 4 saal se. Itna acha rehta tha mere saath. Usse pta hai main Sidharth ko- mtlb sab pta hai usse Pr fir bhi. Aur woh galat bhi nhi hai. Humari shaadi hone wali hai. Aisa sab karungi toh kaise chalega? Sidharth khud bhi aise mein mujhse gussa hota, bolta bohut kuch"
Kh - "Par woh baad mein sorry bhi bolta. Woh kbhi gusse mein kahi baatein mean nhi krta. Tu bhi toh bolti hi hai. Lekin yeh jo hua abhi woh gussa nhi tha. Over possessiveness thi. Theek hai nhi acha lga toh gussa ho, bta de lekin aise suddenly apni poori personality change kr dena? That's not right."
S - "Hmm"
Kh - "Dekh mujhe nhi pta ki tujhe yeh sab se farak padega ya nhi but, shayad tum baat hi kryo usse. Yaha aane se ek din pehle, jab usse pta chala k tu hogi toh woh poora din ghar mein band raha. Maasi se bhi daant padi tera naam lene k baad. Kyunki unhone tujhe uski wajah se Kho diya. Poori raat roya hai woh sab yaad kr kr. Dikhata nhi hai Pr dard toh usse bhi hai na? Baat krlo aur solve kro. Khud nhi jaana toh mat jaa lekin jab woh aaye toh at least aane toh de? Aaj tak baarish mein bheegta hai woh, every single time kyunki tujhe pasand thi. I remember how you used to pull him under the water with all authority aur woh bas aa jata tha. Because it was for you. Ek baar kasam deke dekh aaj bhi vaise hi bhaga aayega poori krne."
I give him a slight nod as he leaves shutting the door behind him. The tears had stopped. Why? I don't know. My mind was playing a movie from the past. Trips, camping, field trips, sleepovers, lunches, any given time it rained I always pulled him out along with myself. And he came. Without a question. Following my lead after the first time I'd explained my whole theory behind it. On day's I was sad, gloomy he'd pull me out drenching me with water from water guns or hoses or even rain depending on how the weather was. When it's snow we'd visit the mountains. Every single year. Hiking, sledding, skiing, snow boarding, building snowmen, or simply walking as the glistening snow fell upon us. Lost in our old world. Songs always playing in my head. My favourite being Perfect. I hummed it every time we danced beneath the sheet of rain. His favourite lines rang in my head again and again, the last few lines of the song.
"Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, we're listenin' to our favorite song
I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
And she looks perfect
No, I don't deserve this
You look perfect tonight"
Chapter 6
Start from the beginning
