Meera and Madhav came back to home. Aarushi was with them. Amit's rejection was almost expected but still they were very sad.
"Aaisaheb.. Koi na koi aata hi hoga.. Rona band kijiye.." Aarushi said.
Meera nodded.
"Baba... Aap dono jake aaram kijiye.. Main wapis clg jaungi.. Mujhe kaam hai.. Aur Amit se bhi milna hoga.." Aarushi told.
"Haan.. Ho sake toh bolna ki hamse shanti se ek baar mile.." Her father said.
Aarushi nodded.
******
"Sabse pehle Ishastavan (prayer offered to lord ganesha before starting any program.. Typically in form of a song or a dance) hoga.. Uske baad baki ka.. Toh jo group wo dance kar raha hai unko bol ke rakho ki late nai hona hai.." Sameeksha was busy.
"Aur kuch madam?" Nivi asked sarcastically.
"Haan.. Tum kahi shant jake baith jao.. Mera dimag mat khao.." Sameeksha smiled.
Nivi rolled her eyes.
"Main jati hoon.. Amit ko dekh ke aati hoon.." She said and started walking.
"Nivi.. Amit dada ko dekha kya?" Aarushi came there.
"Usiko dhoondne ja rahi hoon.." Nivi replied.
"Suno.. Tumhari bate sunta hai wo.. Janti hoon main.. Usko manao na.. Ki ek baar wo Aai Baba se mil le" Aarushi said.
"See I knw tum chahti ho ki Amit unse mil le.. Par sab itna aasan nai hai.." Nivi said.
"Janti hoon.. Par hum mil ke isko possible bana dete hai.. Plz." Aarushi said.
"Dekhti hoon main usse baat kar ke.. Par promise nai kar sakti.." Nivi agreed to help.
Aarushi became happy. She headed towards Sameeksha.
"All okay here?" She asked.
"Yes Mam.." Sameeksha replied as she saw Co-Ordinator I-card on Aarushi's waist.
Aarushi laughed.
"Bas Nivi jaise assistant hai toh.." Sameeksha said.
"Usko kuch mat bolo.. Usko kuch alag kaam diya hai maine.. Log kam pad rahe hai idhar toh main aur bhej doongi..Okay? " Aarushi said.
Sameeksha nodded. Aarushi's phone ranged.
"Haan Randhir.." She answered.
"Aarushi Amit se kehna padega ki security aur tight karne ki jaroorat hai.." Randhir said.
"Par wo toh tumhare under aata hai.." Aarushi said. "Waha decisions tumhare hai.."
"Nai.. President Amit Even Head hai.. Hum Co-ordinators hai.. Aur baki ke juniors sare volunteers.. Decision sirf wo le sakta hai aise.." Randhir cleard her doubt.
"Are yr.. Usko sab dhoond rahe hai pata nai kaha hai.." Aarushi was irritated now.
"See bahot se log aayenge.. Back stage se thode log hata ke Abhishek ke pas Discipline me bhejo.." Randhir told.
"Nahi kar sakti.. Backstage pe bhi bahot kaam hota hai Randhir.. Sameeksha pehle se bhadki hui hai.. Aur abhi proggramm shuru nai hua hai.. Abhishek ke pas logoki jaroorat nai hai.." Aarushi said.
"Toh ek hi option hai.. Tumhara bada bhai jo Bandana ke picche busy hai usko bhejo bahar security ke liye." Randhir chuckled.
"Are yr.. Sab mujhse karwao.. Bali ka bakra hamesha main hi banu hai na.." Aarushi made a face.
"Are jao yr.. Dhoonde kisi ek bhai ko tumhare." Randhir said.
"Thike jati hoon.. Bye." Aarushi hung up.
*******
"Excellent.. " Bandana exclaimed as she clicked photo of a poster made by a student on issue of female infanticide.
There were so many posters made by students on various social issues.
"Inka competition hota hai.. Poster making ka.." Digvijay told.
"Kab hoga.?" She asked.
"Thodi der baad.. Judges aayenge.. Shayad Amit unhi ko receive karne gaya hai.." Digvijay answered.
"Iss poster ki kitni jaroorat thi yaha.." Bandana said whilst looking at a poster made on anti ragging theme.
Digvijay looked towards her for a second. She tried controlling her laughter.
"You mean hamare institutes me Ragging hota hai..?" He questioned.
"I was kidding" She laughed. "You guys are really good with your juniors."
"Thank you." Digvijay rolled his eyes.
"Ab iske baad hum kaha ja rahe hai?" She asked.
"Mandir.. Shadi karne.." Digvijay suddenly replied.
Bandana dropped her jaw and stopped walking.
"I was kidding.."Digvijay said with bright eyes.
It was now Bandana's turn to roll eyes.
" Chalte hai yaha se.. Tumhe aur kuch kaam nai hai kya.? " She asked.
" Nai.. Special duty hai meri tumhare sath.. "He replied." And I am not kidding.. Sahi me hai. "
Bandana was feeling on cloud nine and so was Digvijay. For the first he understood how it feels to be with a person who is equally with you.
" Bahot waqt ho gaya hum sath me hai.. Nivi ka phone nai aya abhi tak.. Galat lag raha hai.. " Bandana taunted.
Digvijay chuckled.
"Wo Amit ke sath hogi na.. Toh usko kya jaroorat padegi mujhe phone karne ki.." He said.
And next second his phone ranged. Bandana cleared her throat.
Digvijay wanted to shoot Nivi for calling but when he took phone in his hand he saw Randhir's name flashing on screen.
" Oh.. Randhir phone kar raha hai.. "Digvijay sighed and answered the call." Haan.. Bolo. "
" Jaha ho waha se security check post pe aao.. "Randhir ordered.
" Excuse me..? " Digvijay cocked his eyebrow.
" Jyada natak mat karo.. Tum assistant ho mere.. Main Co ordinator hoon.. " Randhir said with pride.
" Aur main Institute ke student Council ka Vice president hoon.. "Digvijay retorted.
" Koi farak nai padta.. Tumhara Bandana wala kaam khatam karo.. Waise bhi thode der me wo faltu poster making competition ke baad students cultural programmes ke liye aana shuru ho jayenge.. "Randhir replied.
" Thik hai.. " Digvijay irritatingly hung up. Bandana understood what just happened.
" Agar jana hai toh thik hai.. Main yeh poster Competition cover kar ke auditorium me aa jaungi.. " Bandana said.
" Thank you so much.. Kya hai na.. Randhir junior hai.. Sab akele se karne me dar lagta hai use.. "Digvijay chuckled in nervousness.
Bandana laughed seeing him nervous.
The long empty road of campus shone in orange light of setting sun. Both felt the same awkward silence in air.
" Toh main chalta hoon.. " He said.
She looked down and nodded. He took a deep breath and took few steps back. Suddenly he again walked to towards her.
"Rasta dhoond logi na? Ya main chhod ke aau?" He asked.
"Nai.. I mean.. Main chali jaungi." She replied.
"Okay." He said.
That awkwardness was now unbearable. Bandana wanted him to go away as far as possible or just hold him in arms as close as possible. She was in total confusion. All the feelings she had for him started gathering in her heart.
Digvijay was also in same confusion. He wasn't willing to go away but was too awkward to stay back, as he knew that staying back now means something else.
'Why am I so scared to express my feelings ' Bandana thought.
'Why am I so scared to accept my feelings' Digvijay thought.
'You should say it Bandana.. Now.. It's now or never moment.. "Her heart said to her.
' Accept the fact Digvijay.. You liked her from the day one.. From the moment you saw her in that lake. ' His heart shouted.
" Digvijay.. " Bandana suddenly called him. He turned back.
Bandana walked towards him with confidence. Digvijay looked in her eyes.
"Main nai janti tum kya feel karte ho.. Par meri feelings aisi hi mere andar rakh ke iss baat ka wait karna ki tum pehle bologe yeh bewakoofi hai.." Bandana said in one go.
Digvijay dropped his jaw as this wasn't expected. He prepared himself to accept and confess his feelings too.
" Tumne shuru kar hi diya hai toh mujhe pehle bolne me koi dikkat nai hai.. " He said.
Bandana gasped.
" Main yeh baat accept karne se dar raha tha.. Pata nai kyu.. Par ab karna chahta hoon.. Ek baar Randhir ne bola tha mujhe.. Ki main jab tumhare sath hota hoon tab sabse jyada khush hota hoon.. Aur yeh baat sach hai yeh samajhne me mujhe bahot waqt laga.. Main galat kiya tumhare sath.. Par main khush rehna chahta hoon.. Tumhare sath rehna chahta hoon.. I love you Bandana.. " Digvijay confessed.
Bandana was too emotional to say anything. She just nodded her head." Yes.. I love you too.. I love you too Digvijay.. "
Digvijay hugged her. Both were in tears.
" I am so sorry for hurting you.. " Digvijay apologised.
" After all this.. You are here with me.. That's all that matters for me.." She said.
Digvijay looked in her eyes for a second and then he caught her lips. She closed her eyes and responded him gently. They pulled out of the soft kiss and again looked towards each other.
" Jana hai na tumhe.. Warna Randhir idhar aa jayega tumhe dhoondte dhoondte.." She said while trying to hide her blush.
Digvijay suddenly understood his mistake of kissing her in between a campus road. He looked everywhere to examine if someone saw them. But the road was empty. Digvijay took a sigh after he remembered that his 'Vice president post' and his reputation was in danger.
"Main nikalta hoon.. Bye.. I will see at auditorium."He smiled.
" Bye" She smiled back.