Part - 54
Mini was smiling continuously.
Mini: Tumhe yaad hai, I once told you that he asked me out? Tab toh bahot cool ban rahe the tum! Kya kaha tha tumne? (Mimicks him) Tum kyun itna soch rahi ho? It's okay. Usne tumse pucha, you refused and he accepted it. So everything is fine. Ab kya hua?
Neil: Tab main mila nahi na tha usse!
Mini: Par tum mujhse kyun naraz ho rahe the? What can I do if he likes me? Ab aise ladke toh mere aage peeche ghumte hi rahete hain, Neil Oberoi! Waise kisi ne mujhse kaha bhi tha ki mere chahne walo ki list bahot lambi hai.
He slowly smiled and they both shared a good laugh together.
2 days later...
Neil was packing his stuff when Mini came there.
Mini: Yeh kya kar rahe ho?
Neil turned towards her.
Neil: Tum bhool gayi naa?
Mini: Kya?
Neil: Kal ki flight hai meri. Back to Patiala!
And the reality hit her hard.
Mini: Oh! Haan...main...main bhool gayi. Ek hafta pata hi nahi chala.
He smiled and started packing again. She just stood there looking at him blankly. She recalled the day he came there, specially for her birthday and how he made her special day even more special for her by his mere presence. She remembered the way he supported her when she wanted to talk to her father. Her eyes became moist but her lips smiled. She went near him and hugged him from back. He smiled and kept his hands on her hands which were covering his chest. He slowly turned towards her.
Neil: Yeh kis liye?
Mini: Bas yun hi.
Tears started flowing from her eyes but she still had the same smile on her face. He wiped her tears.
Neil: Aur yeh jo aansu hain, yeh tumhari family problem hai?
Mini: (chuckled) Haan. Babes ka asar hai.
They smiled at each other. Later in the evening, Mini was sitting near the window in her room with the family portrait that Arya had made for her. Neil entered the room. The room was dim with only a side table's lamp that was on. He went towards her and kept his hand on her shoulder, breaking her chain of thoughts.
Mini: Neil tum?
Neil: So this is your favourite place of the house?
Mini: Haan, keh sakte ho. Par meri favourite jagah ghar ki balcony hai. I miss that place.
Neil just smiled. His gaze fell on the portrait which she was holding.
Neil: Yeh toh wohi sketch hai naa jo Arya ne banaya tha? Isko frame kab kia tumne?
Mini: Yahan aane se pehle😊
He took it from her hands looking at it lovingly.
Neil: This is so cute!
Mini: Tumhe bhi same dia tha naa Arya ne?
Neil: (still looking at it) Yeah, I have it!
While Neil was looking at the sketch lovingly, Mini was adoring him.
Tum in sab ko chhod ke kaise kal subah jaaoge
Mere saath inhe bhi to tum yaad bahot aaoge
Tum in sab ko chhod ke kaise kal subah jaaoge
Mere saath inhe bhi to tum yaad bahot aaoge
Bade achhe lagte hain
Yeh dharti, yeh nadiyaa, yeh rainaa
Aur tum..
Neil: Mini! Sometimes I feel I have been so lucky. Itne kam time mein tum sab ne mujhe apni family ka member bana lia. Family kya hoti hai yeh mujhe uss ghar mein rhey kar pata chala. Itna pyar, itna apnapan, maine yeh sab last shayad tabhi mehsoos kia tha jab mom dad the. Itne time se family ke pyar ke liye tarsa hoon main, Mini. And now look at this. This frame! Hum sab chahe reality mein iss sketch jaise nahi dikhte but this is more dear to me than any other clicked picture. You know why? Kyunki...
Mini: Kyuki isme Arya ka pyar hai. I know! Ab bahot ho gayi yeh senti baatein (She wiped his tears) Waise, yeh Arya ki creativity toh dekho (chuckled) Look at your nose, Neil Oberoi😂. Bilkul perfect draw ki hai Arya ne, sach mein aise hi dikhta hai tumhara nose.
Neil: Achha? Apne cheeks dekhe hai tumne? Kitne mote hain!
Mini: Oh hello, what do you mean?
Neil: I mean exactly what I'm saying.
They continued finding flaws in each other's picture and laughing on it.
Hum tum kitne paas hain
kitne dur hain chaand sitaare
Sach poochho to mann ko jhoothe lagte hain yeh saare
Hum tum kitne paas hai
kitne dur hain chaand sitaare
Sach poochho to maan ko jhoothe lagte hain yeh saare
Magar sachhe lagte hain
Yeh dharti, yeh nadiya, yeh rainaa
Aur tum
Next day, Mini clicked some pictures with her camera and they created some beautiful memories. In the evening, they left for the airport. Arya had slept in the car as she had been playing with Neil all day and was now tired. Neil looked worried for some reason. Mini had a contended smile on her face till she turned her face to Neil. She kept her hands on his shoulder.
Mini: All okay?
Neil held her hands.
Neil: Mini! Apna khyal rakhna.
Mini: Ab tak Sameer ke bare mein soch rahe ho?
Neil: Mini! Kuch ajeeb sa lag raha hai. I feel there is something else too, to his character. Kuch hai jo humse miss ho raha hai. Mujhe aisa lagta hai, jaise woh khud ko dikhata hai waisa hai nahi.
Mini: Itna mat socho! And don't worry. Waise bhi woh do din se office nahi aaya hai.
Neil: Kyun?
Mini: I don't know!
Neil: Jo bhi ho. You just be careful!
Mini: Yes Neil Oberoi! Don't worry. Waise bhi kya kar lega woh aisa? Mujhse pange woh waise bhi nahi le sakta. Usey abhi pata nahi hai ki karate black belt hu main. Kuch bhi aisa waisa karne ki koshish ki naa toh chhodna nahi hai maine usey.
She was trying to cheer him up. He just smiled slightly. He knew that Mini was capable enough to take care of herself but still he was worried for her safety. Soon they reached the airport. Arya was still sleeping. Neil took her in his arms. They were standing outside the airport, just looking at each other without uttering a single word. After a short pause...
Neil: I think I should leave. Take care Mini.
She just smiled and blinked her eyes. He started moving towards the airport.
Mini: Neil!
He turned towards her.
Mini: Call me once you reach home😊
Neil: 😊
She went towards him and kissed Arya's hands. Neil and Mini shared a short eye lock. Their eyes became moist and the moments of this one week came in front of their eyes.
Mini: Ab jao tum! (She said with wet eyes and a beautiful smile)
The scene freezes on Neil's smiling face.
Is Neil just overthinking or will Mini land in some problem? Will wrap up this Sameer drama in next few parts.