After their flight landed Mumbai, they went to Neil's apartment.
Entering the flat,
Neil: (To Bonavi) Tum dono niche ke rooms me ruk jao.... hum upar ruk jayenge..... Make yourself comfortable and kitchen upar hai just after the stairs.... Ek pair of keys yaha hai to kahin bahar jaana ho to yeh lekar jaana... aur dusri mere paas already hai... to tension mat lena agar kho bhi jaaye to...
They nodded. Vaishnavi was feeling pain in her lower abdomen like it happened usually everyday so she took a pain killer and slept.
Mineil went to the upper floor and there was a single room adjacent to the kitchen and dining area and other that that it was terrace area separated by the glass panels of the room, curtained halfway. Neil kept their luggage there.
After freshening up, Mini opened the glass panel and walked till the parapet of the terrace. Beach was visible from there. The sun still had time to set but was red enhancing the beauty of the view.
A cool breeze entered and Mini spread her arms wide feeling the fresh air.
Neil smiled at her and backhugged her from behind.
Mini raised her head and looking at him, wrapped her arm around his neck, leaning her back on him.
Mini: Kitna peaceful lagta hai na aise...
Neil: Hmm...
Mini: Kahin baahar chalein?... Pls?
Neil: Tum thaki nahi ho?
Mini: Flight me to so hi rahi thi na main... I don't even know ki flight ne take off kab kiya and land kab hui... chalo na... I swear I am really fine...
Neil: Ok... Chalte hai.
Mini smiled excitedly.
Neil: Par aise nahi... (she frowned and Neil chuckled) Mera matlab tha.... kuch comfortable pehen lo... beach pe chalte hai...
Mini: Cool!...
She changed into a knee length full sleeve frock and came out of the bathroom when Neil went inside to change.
She was combing her hair into a bun but seeing herself in the mirror, she was able to see the slit scars on her calves. As the frock had deep back, the deeper scratch scars and the bruise scar was also visible on her back. Her smile faded a little but she took a deep breath as Neil had said to try to overcome.
Neil came out of the bathroom wearing a half pant and a loose beach shirt. He saw Mini getting conscious about her appearance.
Mini didn't made her bun but let her hair loose, covering her back and tugged the hair strands from the front into the pin making a puff.
Neil: (backhugging her) You are looking beautiful.... (pecked on her cheek) Mini Madam.
Mini smiled at him. Neil picked his phone and metal wallet and they came down from the building.
Neil went to the watchman and took a key from him.
Neil holding her hand took her to a car and opened the door for her. Mini was confused.
Mini: Yeh car?
Neil: Baitho na.... rent pe li hai 3 din ke liye.... agency ko bola tha watchman ko keys dene ke liye.
Mini: Nice.
Neil drove till Juhu beach.
Neil: Take off your shoes and then step out. Relax karne ka try karna.... bahot maza aayega...
Mini took off her shoes and saw Neil too did so.
They walked on the wet and cool sand barefoot with the tides touching their feet and the smell of the beach, not only the water but also the different food items being cooked on the beachside stalls were all so serene and relaxing.
The couple of hours remaining in the sunset with the cloudy weather was making the scene more beautiful than ever.
Mineil with their one arm wrapped together, while strolling on the beach.
Mini: Maine nahi socha tha aisa different experience hoga beach ka yaha... Australia me beach pe kabhi aisa nahi laga... Sab kuch kitna dreamy sa hai na Mumbai me?
Neil: Isiliye hi to yeh sapno ka sheher hai.... You know what... Jab main yaha naya naya aaya tha na.. 8th class me... tab jisko bhi batao ki main yaha kuch hi dino pehle aaya hu.... sab yahi puchte the ki tumhara kya sapna hai jo pura karne aaye ho?
Mini: Phir?... Tum unko bhi chef ke artist hone ka lecture de dete the?
Neil: Tab tak thodi na realise kiya tha maine ki I want to be a chef.... Vo to bahot baad me realise kiya tha maine... 11th me commerce lekar 6 mahina padhne ke baad ek din pareshaan ho gaya tha main... yeh sochte sochte ki aakhir life me passion kya hai mera....
Mini: Then?
Neil: Yahi beach pe baithe baithe..... ek din ek budhe uncle mile the shayad 70-75 years ke... mujhe pareshaan dekhkar mere paas aake baith gaye the...
FLASHBACK
Neil saw the Uncle sat beside him and felt weird as he was a complete stranger for him then after he sat beside him.
Uncle: Kya hua bacche bahot pareshaan lag rahe ho?
Neil: Nahi kuch nahi...
Uncle: Kaha rehte ho?
Neil: Bombay international school ka student hu.... hostel me rehta hu...
Uncle: School Student ho... nice.... Kya banna chahte ho?
Neil: Pata nahi... Mom Dad... teachers... sab bolte hai jo tumhara sapna ho vo banna... par samajh hi nahi aata... kya chahta hu main...
Uncle: Jo kaam karte waqt tumhe maza aaye aur kitna bhi vo kaam kar lo lekin bore na ho vo karna.... Jo kaam karne se tumhe yaha.... (pointing to his heart) Yaha sukoon mile... vo kaam karo....
Neil: Aur main pata karna chahu ki mujhe kis cheez me aisa feel hota hai to uske liye kya karu?
Uncle: Try karo... everything is worth a try... right?
Neil: Hmm...
FLASHBACK ENDS.
Mini was listening to him while he was speaking nostalgically looking at the sea tides.
Neil: Kuch mahino baad tak bahot cheeze explore ki thi maine.... (turning to her) tumhe yaad hai maine tumhe ek sketch gift kiya tha tumhari birthday pe?
Mini nodded.
Neil: Sketching bhi un koshishon me se ek tha... par main bore ho gaya to phir usko bhi chod diya... after 11th tak bhi mujhe aisa kuch nahi mila tha jisko main apna passion keh saku... Phir holidays me jab ghar gaya na to Mom ek din bahar thi aur mujhe bhook lag rahi thi to I was cooking pasta for myself while enjoying music... tab realise kiya maine ki it was cooking which had this flow in me... kyunki jab bhi main zyada khush ho jau ya kabhi bore ho jau I really enjoyed cooking.... Main Mom ki help bhi kiya karta tha jab koi feast wagera hoti thi tab.... to after thinking and contemplating while eating the pasta I decided to be a chef....
Mini: Hmm....
They reached near the food stalls.
Neil took her to a pav bhaji stall and ordered a single plate.
The vendor forwarded a paper plate with grilled pav and hot bhaji on it. Neil held it in his hand.
Mini: Are garam hai... dhyaan se...
Neil: Zyada nahi hai... Don't worry...
He took her again to the beach side and both sat on the sand.
Neil forwarded a morsel of pav bhaji to Mini and fed her.
Mini: Too good.... Amazing it is.
Neil: I know... Speciality hai na yaha ki... (dramatically) Juhu aakar agar pav bhaji nahi khaayi to Mumbai aane ka koi matlab nahi hai... Bombay ki Pav Bhaji and Vada Pav are not dishes... they are emotions of every Mumbaikar.
Mini chuckled and forwarded a morsel to him.
Both enjoyed the pav bhaji together.
Mini: Aur kya kya famous hai yaha ka?
Neil: You will eat more?
Mini: Ha... Half plate se kya hoga?... Tumhe bhook nahi lagi hai kya?
Neil: Tum kaafi dino se kam hi kha rahi thi na... isiliye ek hi mangwayi thi..
Mini: Dekh nahi rahe ho kya?.... Kitni patli aur chuimui si lag rahi hu main.... Weight measure kiya tha maine kal... It was just 47.... I lost 8 kgs yaar just in 10 days.... Aise thodi na chalega.... Punjaban kudi hu... Itna to fit hona hi chahiye na ki ek haath hi pad jaaye to saamne wala gire to sahi....
Neil chuckled.
Neil: Tumhe weight gain bhi isiliye karna hai ki tum kisi ko peet sako?
Mini: Aur kya?.... Bahot faltu ka dimaag chala liya hai maine.... ab bekaar ki baatein sochkar khud ko weak karne ka kya matlab hai?.... Aakhir aise airi gairi baaton ko kab tak affect karne dungi.... (proudly) Sherni hu main mere Neil Oberoi ki.... Haarne waalon me se nahi hu....
Neil smiled brightly seeing Mini motivated and aspiring once again.
Looking at the sea, Mini smiled.
Mini: Ab zindagi humko dobara mauka thodi na degi jeene ka.... Jis pal me jo mauka mile... Memories me badal lena chahiye moments ko... (wrapping her arms around Neil's neck, pecked on his cheek) Har pal ko thoda aur jee lo bas... yeh safar khud khoobsurat ho jayega... I want to make every moment a beautiful memory to cherish it when we grow old together.... See there... (Neil followed her pointing finger and saw an old couple sitting on the beach edge and laughing together) Isi tarah kisi din hum bhi kahin baithe honge... Aur yahi din yaad karke isi tarah has rahe honge....
Neil pecked on her cheek.
Neil: Absolutely...... Chalo kuch aur khaane ke liye dekhte hai phir...
They walked further and stopped at a further stall.
Neil: (taking a bowl from the vendor, turned to Mini) Yeh ragda pattice hai... similar to alootikki with a marathi tinge.
Mini: (having a bite) Nice.
They savoured the second dish together.
Neil: Wanna have more?
Mini nodded with excitement.
The street food had small servings and they were having half so it wasn't enough.
They walked further and enjoyed a plate of Paneer Chilli Momos. It was a lot spicy but they had fun having it.
Mini was feeling spicy even after having water.
Neil took her further to a gola stall.
Neil: Kaunsa flavour logi?
Mini: Rose.
Neil: Perfect.... (to vendor) Bhaiya.... ek rose aur ek kala khatta.
Vendor gave them their gola.
Both enjoyed theirs and each other's gola together.
They strolled together and came across a violin player who was showcasing his talent. Being far from the violin player too, they were able to hear his violin tune.
Tides were hitting their knees and they stood there, hand in hand with their fingers intervened seeing the red beautiful sun.
Neil sang adoring her and Mini smiled at him.
Baatein Zaruri Hain
Tera Milna Bhi Zaruri
Maine Mita Deni
Ye Jo Teri Meri Doori (x2)
Mini bent a little and touching the waves by her hand, splashed some water on Neil, laughing aloud.
Neil frowned dramatically and did the same to her, chuckling.
Jhuthi Hai Wo Raahe Saari Duniya Ki
Ishq Jaha Naa Chale
Tera Hona Mera Hona Kya Hona
Agar Na Dono Mile
Tu Pehla Pehla Pyar Hai Mera (x4)
Both played in the waves like small kids.
Neil smiled mischievously and bending a little splashed some water on her face.
Mini frowningly cupped some water and threw it on his face, escaping while walking backwards.
Neil walked towards hers and she turned to the other side, running swiftly, on the wet sand beneath the waves.
Both were laughing. Neil held her hand and twirling her, wrapped his arms around her waist softly and her hands landed on his shoulders but coincidentally a huge wave came and both disbalanced.
Closing their eyes, they felt the wave engulfing them and as the tide retreated back, they opened their eyes. Neil was sitting on the wet sand with Mini in his lap.
They were underwater till their shoulders as the water was already knee deep when they were standing. Neil's arm were wrapped around Mini's waist and Mini's arms were around his neck.
Tugging Mini's wet hair strand behind her ear, he curled his fingers around her neck, singing further with his gaze fixed on her.
Wo Shehar Bade Honge Boriyat Bhare
Rehta Nahi Jinme Tu Sang Mere
Khabar Tujhe Bhi Hai Ye
Raunake Sabhi Hoti Tere Hone Se
Tere Bina Tanha Koyi Kya Kare
Mini's breaths got deeper and her body shrunk while she blushed hard feeling Neil's fingers drumming on her nape.
Aise Sabhi Sheharo Pe Mujhko
Taras Hai Aata Bada Haan
Tere Liye Main Na Jaha Khada Ooo
Both stood up as the next wave came closer, now they were drenched but who cared in the beautiful and serene atmosphere of the beach.
Milo Ka Ho Saalo Ka Ho Jaaye Wo
Safar Ki Parwah Nahi
Tu Hai Jaha Maine Waha Hona Hai
Pahuch Hai Jaana Wahi
Tu Pehla Pehla Pyar Hai Mera (x4)
Neil smiled seeing her blush getting darker and both looking in each other's eyes, lost in their own world, adored each other, circling together with their fingers intervened.
Jeete Jee To Jeetega Na
Ye Fansla Hai Pata
Saanse Chale Teri Taraf
Jaise Chale Raasta
Mera Hai Tu, Tu Hai Khalish
Ya Hai Khushi Ya Khata
Tere Siva Mera Jaha Se Na Koyi Wasta
Neil lifted Mini by wrapping his arms around her mid back, letting her face be in level with him and their forehead met and he swirled with her with the flow of the wave.