"NOSTALGIA....after 5 years"

[jivora]

:) “Mujhe badi fikar ho raho hai, beta, yeh sab kaise hoga? Ek to itna lamba safar, aur upar se Punjabi shaadi! Hamain unki reeton ke bare main khuch bhi pata nahin….kuch bhool ho gai to?”, a women was telling his son. Worry was evident from her words as well from the wrinkles of her face.

“Aap bevajah fiker kar rahin hain Ammi, Kapoortala se unke koi parivaar se koi yahaan aane vale hain, hamein sab kuch samjha denge, aur saari taiyarion main madad bhi karenge….”, a tall boy sat by the lady’s knees, eyeing a jhoomka in the great spread of jewellery and garments around him.

“…vaise bhi aapne to is hi ghar mein chaar-chaar shaadiyan karvayi hai. Is baar to sirf barat le ke jaana hai!”, said the boy reaching out to the jhoomka.

“Arre, dekho bhaijaan, aap hum auraton ki kaam main dakhal na do! Vaise bhi, hamari bhabhi ko chod ke aapki choice badi kharab hai…..” one of the seven girls said…making all of them giggle.

“Yaad hai Ammi, aapa ki shaadi main bhaiyaa ne mujhe hare ghagre ke saath kala dupatta pasand karvaya tha….”, said the youngest looking one, smiling.

“Bhaijaan, aur unke raang…..hara ya kala ya fir bhoora…..sara samay apni fauj ki baatein…..aur kuch aata bhi hai kya unko??”, said another, still giggling!
The boy oblivious to all this mazak masti, was staring at the golden jhoomka, with red beeds…….thinking of his beloved, his love……his would-be-wife…..
“Maine agar tere saath freashers ball main aane se inkaar kar diya, to tu mujhe mana nahin sakta tha??”
“Hum bhi kamre main yahi soch rahe the….”

[jivora]

“Par tune aaj miss bahut kuch kiya, sabne itna maza kaiya, itna naache….”
“Aap kise bevkoof bana rahin hain? Yeh hum bhi jante hain aur aap bhi, ke aape to ball main kiya w o h dance nahin tha!”
“To kya tu sikhayega mujhe dance karana……?”
The look in his eyes said it all. He, who had never danced, never beheld a girl other than his sisters, never gone so close to anyone, never felt love……took her hand and lead her to the deserted dancefloor!! And they dance, for what seemed like hours…..without any music with perfect harmony!

“Captain Ali Begh!!”, called a voice from the courtyard!

Ali shot up and rushed to the door….the voice sounded weirdly familier, but Ali couldn’t recongnise it…..

“SURIJI…..aap!!’, yelled Ali

“Badi changi gal hai puttar, tu evahi Pooja se biyah kar lega aur hamein batayega bhi nahin?? Par meri beti apne Suriji ko nahin bhooli, to maine usse kaha….ke pahele us gadhe ki khabar leta hoon, fir teri baraat main naachta aaunga!”, smiled Suriji. “Waie puutarji, sachhi gal e hai, ki main ithhe Kanpur vich apne bhanje de ghar aaya si, aur vahan yeh tere vaalidsaab mil gaye.”

“Hamein to vishvaas hi nahin ho raha hai…..Ammi, apa….ye dekhiye Suriji, aaye hain, Academy se! Main inke bare main aapko apni chitthion main likhta tha na?”,Ali explained!




“Parjaai, laddu motichur ke hi mangvana, shaadi main unke bina ji nazza nahin aata!”

“Nahin bua, mujhe to kheer khaani hai.”

“O puttar, tujhe kya maloom? Saare Kapurthala vich koi byah motichor de bagair hua hai?!”

“Nahi……….mujhe kheeeeeeeeer!”

A boy of about four and an old woman were arguing, sitting in the varandah of a mension-like house surrounded by trees. A Sardar enters with three other men and pulled a stool near the jhoola on which the woman was sitting.

“Dono mangva lenge puttarji, koi gal nahin! Jo bhi hamare chotu ko pasand hai, wohi banega didi ki shaadi vich!”
:)

[jivora]

:) “Tu bhi Surender, bigaad baitha hai in bachhon ko!”, said the old woman wth a smile.

“Inhise to hamari jind vich rang bhar aate hain, biji! Oye sunlo, o khotyo, saadi kudi di shaadi main koi bhi kami nahin rehni chahiye…..O biji, apni jhalli sahelion de naal bazaar gai si, vaapas kab aayegi?”

“Bachchi, waqt ki badi pakki hai, das baje ka keh har gayi thi, ja dekh le, apne kamre main sahelion ke saath gappe maar rahi hogi……”

“Aaho-ji! Yeh armywale yeh cheez badi changi sikhate hain!

“Captaindidi to kad ki aa gai si…..didi…………………….!!”, boy yelled!!

“Oye, Phate dhol, tu phir se chillaya!”, a girl of about 24, tall, pretty and bubbly, rushed out with a stick and ran behind the boy!

“Bachchi, tu us Bandar ke piche mat bhaag. Tu ja, apne dostan de naal….”, and the girl went in……….

“Beep-beep”

Her cell phone flased “1 Message Received”

Her fingers trembled, she smiled…..she knew who this could be…….clicked, “Read”

“Good MorningJ” it read!

No senders name, but she knew it! It was he, who was the sender of all the incoming messages to her heart……Captain Ali Begh!



“Kiska message hai, Poojadi?” and a group of about fifteen giggling girls entered her room.

“Mujhe to ek hi network se incoming aate hain……”, and the girls giggled again!

“Ab to aap pakdi gayi didi, aaj to aapko apni academy waali baatein humain karni hi padegi.”

“Haan, didi, aaj hum aapko nahin jaane dene waale”

“Achha? To theek hai, poorane messages padh hi deti hoon! Bolo kya bataun?”

“Aap ke saath jiju wahin the na? Aur kaun kaun the?”

“Hmmmm…..Ali aur main vahi mile the….main kisike saath baat karti hui gir padi aur who mujhse baat karne gaya, par main behosh ho gayee….”,Captain Pooja Ghai was all-set to venture into her old memories…..but didn’t know where this journey would take her!

“….usse sab ‘usool’ kehte the, aur mujhe ‘panjaban’, dono naam jat ne rakhe the….”

“Jat? Kaun jiji?”

“Arre sada Huda, kamal da banda tha. Hamesha hasta, aur aspas sab ko hasata rehta tha….saari kudiyan paagal thi us jhalle de piche!”

The young ones in the group giggled at the mere imagination of him.

“….aur tha Yudi, w o h chote bachche jaisa tha, ekdam stupid! Par dil da bada changa tha. Kudion da department weak tha uska…….hum uski bahut khichai karte the!…”, Pooja’s eyes were flipping through the pages of Kanchanjunga Military Academy…..

“Aur…………Suriji, humare liye papaji jaise the, kabhi data diya karte the, par saare bachchon ke dil pehchante the, Lolita mam thi, Dr.Shalini thi, w o h teacher kum aur dost zyada thi…. Aur Nair tha, use to maine dim main tare dikha diye….bahut pitai ki maine uski……sabse khatarnaak, BC tha, usse Huda ‘Tau’ kehta tha….usko jhelna ek drill poori karne jaisa tha”

[jivora]

:) “Phir “quaidi” tha, kam bolta tha, par jab bhi bolta sach bolta, theek bolta…..dosti main, aur dushmani main jaan de jaye! Aalekh, kai baar hamein kuch galat karne se roka hai usne….! Admi ko turant hi pehchan jata tha…..bas ek baar hi bhool kar di……”, Pooja’s voice shivered, and then, “Aur kuch, ya itna bas hua?…………..”

“Aur didi, tumhari who best friend, jiske bare main aap ma ko likhti thi….kya naam tha…….haan…..Naina??”

“Naina……?? W o h……………..”, her voice died down………………. “Arre, kudiyon, tumhe, saariyaan nahin chunni kya…..meri shaadi main to ‘only best dressed allowed”, kya?”

The girls giggled and ran away to the next room where all the other ladies were making purchases.

Pooja was left behind….alone…..lost in thoughts……Naina’s name baught tears in her eyes….for a second….. “We have to move on…..all of us…..and she too…..”, she told herself…..and gathered herdelf back to the present…..

“Pooojeeeeeeee………..”

“Aaayeee, ma!”, answered Pooja, and ran to the adjoining room and engrossed herself forcibly into an animated converstion with her sister on whether to wear blue, or yellow for Mahendi ceremony!


“……WHY??”

“Huh?”

“You know well enough what I am asking, WHY didn’t you attend the party??”

“Oh, some important work held me back…….”

“It was our party, you did know that Colonel?? OUR party…..and you were NOT there!”

“I have already explained myself…..”

“Yes….you certainly have….EXPLAINED……”

Silence…….

[jivora]

“Main hi bevkof hoon, jo yeh sab karti rehti hoon……Paanch saal ho gaye shaadi ko…..aur hum dost bhi nahin bas sakein!”

Silence….

“Kuch bhi karu…..aapko kuch na kuch kaam aa hi jata hai…..Simla jana tha, kaam aa gaya…..pichle saal tumhari bahen ki shaadi hui, mujhe bhej diya…..aur ab saare guests ke beech main akeli thi……….aur aap ko phir se KAAM THA!!??”

“Gopal, meri coffee kahan hai?”

“Important kaam……kya hota hai aapke liye yeh main jaanti hoon…..phir se….”

“PLEASE!!”, yelled Colonel Rajveer Singh Shekhavat, at his wife, “….I said I am SORRY!”, his wife, Ritu, was almighty’s one beautiful creation, with all the aesthetic perfections…..draped in an expensive black saari, sparkling jewellery, she looked like a dream……..but the Colonel’s eyes never rested on her….her beauty was all in vain to him. As he looked at her, with a blank expression, his eyes didn’t have a tinge of attraction, admiration, love or even respect.

“We are married, do you realize that Colonel?? MARRIED! You owe me some of your time……..Yeh shaadi nibhaana aapki bhi zimmedaari hai!”, yelled she.

“Haan…..hai na, meri bhi…..zimmedari……Zimmedari hi to hai!”

Ritu stared at him for a minute, as her silently

[jivora]

Ritu stared at him for a minute, as her silently sipped his coffee. Than walked out of the room….

Rajveer stood up….his hands tucked in his pockets, looked up in the sky, and closed his eyes, “I am sorry……Naveen!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The atmosphere grew more festive as cars full of relatives arrived at the Ghai household in Kapoorthala, from all over the country that morning!

Pooja’s face had a glow, which made her shine brighter than her chunky jewellery. She was sitting on the jhoola with Biji, and all her relatives wished her one by one as they came. Every now and than, she kept on looking at her hand, where a golden ring with an engraved “A” shone under the sun, the mere glimpse of this, made her pretty face glow even more!

“Oye Praji, tusi, Amritsar wich Hotel book karai?”, Pooja’s aunt asked her father.

“Yeh tuna achha yaad dilaya.”, answered Surender Ghai, “Kuljeet, oye Kuljeete….”

“Ji Pitaji”,answered Kuljeet, Pooja’s brother.

“Amritsar di koi changi hotel wich ek changa sa kamra dekh ke book karvaade, Pooja de khaad dost aane wale hai…..aur inhe to thik se rakhe nahin, to aspas ke log use pareshaan karne aa jayenge….bhai poora khyal rakhna, hamari khatirdaari main koi kami nahin honi chahiye!”, explained Surender.

“Ji, Pitaji”, said Kuljeer and drove off in his motorbike.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Ali, tere liye phone hai.”

“Ji, Aapa”

Ali walked up to his sister and took the receiver from her hand.

“Helo?”

“Tum samajhte kya ho? Jo man main aayega w o h karoge? Aur main karne doonga? Bro, you are very much mistaken!”, a familiar voice yelled on the other end of the receiver. It took Ali a second to recognize it, and this baught a grin on his otherwise serious face.

“Oh, Yudibhai, hum samaj saktain hain, magar yeh sab itni jaldi…..”

[jivora]

;) “I am terribly angry with you, dude. Aap shaadi kar rahe ho, and what do I get….??? This invitation card…..aur w o h bhi shaadi ke paanch din pahele?”

“Magar, aap aa to rahe hain na?”

“Now he is asking…..Haan, ab teri lovestory ko ham sabne milkar to banaya hai….ab uska success dekhne bhi nahi aayenge kya?”

“To fir der kis baat ki….”

“Anyways, congratulations dude! I will be there in a jiffy. Magar baaki saare bhi aa rahe hain?”

“W o h sab Pooja jaane, usne hi zimmedari li hai!”

“Alright bro…………See you soon!”

‘Zaroor”
The chat ended there….Ali had a smile on his face, his friend, one of the closest….and after such a looong time……He had a feeling of excitement, but he feared….that the past, and long forgotten memories would re-surface……

“Ali, yeh tumhara dost Yudi hi than na, jo party waale din….Madonna….??”, his sisters question baught Ali back to the present.

“Ji Aapa. Pahele yeh bade confused-se hua karte the, magar ab to sahab Captain Yaduvansh Sahani ho gaye hain, aur KMA main Strategy & Communications padhate hain cadets ko! Dhan-daulat aur saari suvidha main palne ke bavajod army ke sakht aur discipline saanche main khudko dhaala hai inhone!”, Ali voice was filled with pride and love for his friend!


Army Headquaters, New Delhi, 1200hrs:

“Saahab ka mood kaisa hai?”,Orderly Mayank Shekhar asked his collegue, holding a coffee mug.

‘Pata nahin, aaj kisiko andar bulaya hi nahin!”

“Aisi koi baat nahin hai, magar zaraa sa darr lagta hai. Saahab waise to hain apni hi umra ka, magar unka jawab nahin….is desh ko un jaise ek do aur mil jaye na, to in sab dushmano ki chhotti kar de!”

“Yaar, fir bhi, zaraa sambhalyo! Kabhi pyaar se dost ki tarah baat kartein hain, aur kabhi aise dekhtein hain ki………”

[jivora]

“…Kuch bhi bol, koi baat hai, saade Major main, pichle saal Diwali pe ghar aaye the, to amma ke pairon ke paas baith gaye aur phir unhi se baatein ki, saari shaam, aur jaate jaate bole, ‘Shekhar, amma ki jaan se laga kar rakhna!’….”

Trembling, Orderly knocked at the door. The door, that beared a very familiar name, but it seemed so much more respectable today, “Major Aalekh Sharma”.

“Aajao, Orderly”, a voice as young as a boy’s called out!

“Coffee, aur daak, Major!”

“Hmmm…”

Orderly departed.

Major Aalekh Sharma fumbled through his post, flipping through what seemed to be a dozen of different envelopes, his hands jerked to a halt holding a golden envelope. He smiled……pushed aside all other posts, and lay back on his chair.
For several minutes, the strict, efficient, perfect, determined Army Officer, Major Aalekh Sharma, became Cadet Aalekh!

“Yeh fookat ki chai, fookat ka kapda….kaam kya hai?”

“Oye, khotya, yeh jail nahin hai, academy hai…..aur tujhe army officer banana hamara jimma hai!”, face of plump Suriji floated in his memories…….

... “Abe oye Quaidi, jail se to nikal gaya, insaan bhi banja, shave kar le, makkhan ki tarah chalega yeh rezor”,he could see several cadets holding him back, and one of them came near and near to him holding a razor.

“Kya tum Mujhe ander le jaoge, handsome??”, Madonna asked him. This one was too much even for the grim Major to resist….and he laughed sitting in his cabin!

‘RING-RING’

“Major Aalekh Sharma…”

“Happy Birthday to you……”, said a girl’s voice. Aalekh’s face gave a never before smile……

“Ek tuich hai, jo mujhe wish karti hai…..saala apun ko hi apun ka birthday pata nahin….”, without even realizing, he spoke in a completely different manner….a manner which he now never used, which was alien to all his collegues.

“Mare liye wahi din tumhara birthday jab hum paheli baar mile the, wahaan…..”, she said. Her voice has miraculous effect on this strong hearted Major, his face softened every minute……

“W o h kya kehtain hai, ‘Thank you’!”, his grin widened….

“Bol, kya gift degi mujhe aaj?”

“Jo tu maange, mere paas ab tere siva kuch bhi nahin bacha…..”

“Maang loonga, fir denaa hi padega….”

“Ab kisi bhi cheez ki kaami nahin hai, koi cheen sake aisa kuch hai hi nahin…..”

“….tera raag nahin sunna mujhe, bol, jobhi apun mangege, milega?”

“Milega, Major…..”

“Apun ko, apunki wohi dost chahiye……pooraniwali…………”

[jivora]

There was a long silence on the oppoite end….and then…..

“Pata hai Aalekh, mujhe kal hi…….”

“Baat ghooma mat!”

And silence followed…..until Major heard a ‘click’ on the other end….

The call was disconnected………………………

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Its about 1930hrs, Colonel Rajveer Singh Shekhavat is standing by the window leaning on the wall, his hands folded in a tight knot, deep in thought. The knot keeps gatting tighter, his expressions become more and more unreadable every minute.

Is it sorrow? Pain? Peace? Laugh? Shame? Or Love?…..noone can tell!

……………”Sirji, kudi dil di badi changi hai…..aur sabse zyaada aap pe bharosa karti hai”…….

----FLASH----

“I know everything….tum usse bhoole hi nahin……bhool na hi nahin chahte….”

“Ritu! PLEASE! Sach to yeh hai ki tum mujhe kabhi kuch bhool ne hi nahin deti!”

----FLASH-----

“Sir, yeh main bhi janti hoon aur aap bhi, ke w o h ladki badi hi lucky hogi!”, an innocent face smiled at him. He gave a smile…though a fril and painful one…as if he was regretting….regretting something……

“Kaun hai who lucky ladki sir?”, she asked her again…..

-----FLASH-----

“Take me out of this safely, Captain…..and she will come to no harm……”, his face strained again….

-----FLASH-----

“Sir…w o h….main…..mujhe pata hi nahin chala…..main kab…..sir….aap….appse….pya….”, the girl in army uniform looked nervous, at a loss of words, but her eyes said it all….even befor she had started…..he found herself enveloped in a hug……and there was no space for words…. “Main samaj gaya…………..tumhare dil ki baat tumhe mujhe kehne ki zaroorat nahin……main……tum to janti ho….hameshase….tumse……”, and nothing else was said and they stood there, holding each other, as if to their hearts….for ever and ever…..her smile….her eyes….her words……

-----FLASH-----

“So Captain, what do u have to say? Her life, her trust, her faith, her future, her career…..uski har ek saans aapke hath main hai…..”, he felt himself go numb, by mere thought of it. He wouldn’t let that happen..…again…...what should he do?

-----FLASH-----

“Hai ek pagli, tun jaanti ho usse….”, he had once told her, and she had smiled….her smile, expression he had failed to wipe out from his mind! And the two had laughed …..as she had behaved as if she was a stranger…..she dinno who he was talking about…. “Achha sir, kaun?”

-----FLASH-----

Major Bhargav’s hysterical laugh, Major Nair’s deceitful glare, Ritu’s blank but cruel expression………her silence, Aalekh’s glare, Naveen’s face…………his helplessness was killing him every second……he had to loose……on both sides…….

[jivora]

Tears flooded, and to hide them……he closed his eyes……

‘Knok-knok”…….knok at the door, and Colonel Shekhavat was back again.

“Come-in”

“Colonel, a message from General Singh, he is likely to call you for an urgent business withing 2minutes”, conveyed Orderly.

“Hmm…”

He walks around the room for about a minute when,

‘RING-RING’

“Colonel Rajveer…..”

“Ahh…Yes. Gen.Singh speaking. Colonel, over last week there has been some tension on the Punjab border, and the intelligence has informed that there is to be some kind of disrupt by the terrorists…….unfortunately, some people have successfully entered out territory.”

“We can send some officials….”

“No, I don’t want people to panic. This will alert them….I want them to continue with their activities and catch them red-handed”, explained General

“Orders for me, Sir!”

“I have a special job for you, Rajveer. You are my best officer and I think I can trust you with the job.”

“Yessire”

“Well, Colonel, there is a wedding in interior Punjab near Amritsar. A baraat will be reaching there within three days from Kanpur. Son of our retired Subedar is getting married, he himself is a Captain. I want you to go to the wedding under disguise, and keep a track of the happenings, silently, and report back. I will explain and instruct the Subedar and Captain with reason.”

“…Sire!”

“I will send you the details of the wedding and your confidinates, by 2300hrs.”

“Yessir!”, and the call was disconnected. Raj was happy….he had something to occupy his thoughts….he tried in vain to push everything out of his mind…..he had his duties….and engrossed himself in other thoughts……

He wanted to leave…..work, fight……….go on the mission as soon as possible….Ritu’s presence in his life was like a mirror that was around him all the time, which reminded him of her all the time….which took him back always…….

‘Khana tabke par hai! I will be late.’, read a note on the fridge. He pulled it….and had a glass of water….

‘Beep-Beep’, his palmtop yelled.

He opened the mail from the General. As he read it, his face grew more and more stern….shadows of pain and sorrow passed his face….

‘…..I have spoken to them, the groom was silent as I spoke, I think he is undergoing a forced wedding….however they say it’s a love marriage….Anyways, I have informed them about your mission and Subedar has promised to help…..Subedar Begh and Captain Ali Begh will be your hosts for the mission. All the best….’

………………. and as he shut and threw thw machine on the sofa, tears rolled from his eyes…. “Why me?

[jivora]

“Oye, Bindu, a hi saadi Pooji da dulha hai?”

“Rab jaane, usko to sirf Pooja, Surenderpaji, ne hi dekha hai…..”

All this and a lot more discussions, gossips, and talk was going on as Pooja’s family and relatives awaited the barat at the railway station. People were really eager to see and meet the Captain Pooja was going to marry…..all really very happy….

The train arrived and all the guests, baratis disembarked…..as all the people were safely out, the youngsters from Pooja’s family got them glasses of Lassi……everyone met the guests graciously……

Pooja’s bhabhi, recognized the groom and approached him with a garland and an aarti ki thaali…..as the ritual took place, Ali’s eyes were evidently looking for……her….!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

At a completely unrecognizable & newly renovated Ghai mension….which was covered by flowers, diyas, rangoli……Pooja’s cold hands trembled as she was dressing up…..all the girls around her giggles as the earing she was wearing fell off her trembling fingers the fifth time….

“Oye kudiyon, meri Pooji ko pareshaan na karo….”, and Pooja’s mother helped her with the earing…..she smiled.

“O ji barat aa gayi…..Dulha Biji ke pair cho raha hai….hai! kitna changa munda hai….”, yelled one of the girls running into her room…………

Distant sounds of approaching barat were adible now…..this gave some unknown strength to Pooja’s trembling legs….and she ran…..to the open tarrace….her dupatta askew……………

…..she tried hard to locate him, but couldn’t find him….he saw everyone…..Pitaji, Ammi, Apa, ****ki, Yudi(who saw her and waved at her, showing off his army I-card….)….but where was he…….?? Why wasn’t he messaging, calling or coming to see her…..she had waited two moths…looking at a picture of her Captain…..thinking of him….talking of him…..talking to him all alone….in space…..

She went back in her room…..

“Bevkoof, ek baar milne nahin aa sakta?? W o h meri ladkiyon ne pakad rakha hoga….Army ka banda dekha nahin, ki unki ‘ha ha….hi hi….’ Shuru! Jiju yeh…jiju w o h….beichara dar gaya hoga…..pagla….”, she was speaking to heself as she sat in her room.

She couldn’t spot him at dinner too…..He had gone as she came…his phone….was out of coverage area…..what was wrong?

Pooja ab chid gayee thi……

Post dinner, as everybody sat in the varandah, singing, dancing, having Firni……as girls pulled her and she danced….she dint enjoy it even for a second…..her eyes were going around the place…..

This was it! Something had to be done…..

She walked upto Ali’s room….quietly…..hiding from her friends…..
…..as she knocked the door….she didn’t know, what will she tell him….yell at him…scold him for not meeting her….what did he think of himself…..she cannot enjoy if he is not around?…..or she will hug him…..forget where they were….and let the emotions flow…..

The door opened…and her smile faded…it was Yudi…..and not Ali…..

“Yes?”, he asked….”Oh, Pooja! Tum ho!”, he said, in an unnaturally loud voice….

“Ali….”

“Had hai! Abh do din main hi to shaadi hai….and I think…..the two of your aren’t supposed to meet? Are you….?”, he asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Yudi, Ali kahan hai? W o h mujhse milne bhi nahin…..”

“W o h to kab ka so gaya….I am his best man, and ma’m I am not going to disturb him!”

“Oye, usse keh to sahi…..”

“Are, ok….ok fine….par tum, yahin rehna…”

And he went inside the room, and returned in a minutes time….

“Usse neend aa rahi hai….aur usne kaha hai ki w o h tumko kal hi mil lega!”

“….”, she wanted to yell and tell him that she is mad at him….but couldn’t find the right words…..her eyes full of tears she ran….ran ….and ran…..till she reached the backyard of her house…..where there was no sound….no giggling cousins…no …..no….Ali…..

..and she cried…. “Kaisa insaan hai? Mujhe uspe talk time kharch hi nahin karna! Uska to network hi kharab hai….uska dil karta hai tab call karta hain varna missed call bhi nahin deta…..main kya sab nahin janti…..ulloo da pathha…..”

[jivora]

:) ….and she went on…..and on…..for what felt like 20mins…..til she felt something on her face….she brushed it away with her dupatta and cried again…..but that thing fell on her again……she opened her eyes and looked around…..


…..whoooosh…………!!!!

……..almost a sac full of rose petals showered all over her from the tree-top…..as she looked up…..

“Hum itne bhi bure nahin hai, Captain!”, said Ali, showering her with some more petals…..smiling……jumped down from the tree….

“Tum yahan…..”

“Shhhhh…..”, and he pulled her closer, and held her face…..

“Aap ki bahot yaad aayi, Pooja”

“Mujhe yeh kehne ki zaroorat nahin……main tumhe bhooli hi nahin, ke yaad karoon…..”, her tears, her anger, everything vanished…..as he slowly removed her earing and replaced it by the golden jhumka he had baught for her,they frgt where they were….and what time was it…and even that he was Ali and she was Pooja….all they felt was….immense love for each other….

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Raj….?”

He walked away as if he hadn’t heard……

She ran after him…..Huda sprang on his feet to follow her, but aalekh held his hand……

She saw him standing by the amar jawan fire in the reception area……sha ran as fast as her feet could carry him…..

“Tumne aisa kyon kiya??”, she yelled at him….. “….main nahin manti ke tum dhoka de sakte ho…..”, she absolutely lost control…….

“Cadet…..”

“KYON KIYA? Aakhri vakh bayan badla…..? bhaiya? Aap bina vajeh aisa kyon?…”

“Cad….”

“…nahin…..aap mujhe vajeh bataiye…..aisi kya majboori……kya hua????? Itna bada jooth??”, she did not understand, endless efforts to prove Ritu guilty….and on the day of trial…….raj……was this a betrayal…..a fraud….no…..she thought….he’d rather die, than be unfaithful to her…….

He walked away without replying to her questions….

An hour later, she reached the door of the faculty quarters…. Raj’s room……she saw it was open….and someone’s voice was coming from inside…….someone was laughing….other five were a few steps behind her….they too wanted an answer…..

….she pushed the door open….her heart beating…..clutching her love, her trust her blind faith tightly…….she stepped in……


…..no, its not true…her heart was screaming…….Raj was on his knees holding hands and proposing to Ritu……for marriage……………………and suddenly her turned….saw Naina….she room went dark in her eyes……she felt herself shrink……

“….”, his lips moved to say something…..but her eyes were enough for him….they told warned him…..of not explaining…..

Silently she turned….and walked away……

[jivora]

:) She could still feel her body torn apart….her soul crushed….her love betrayed….her heart burn……..

“Madam, shot ready hai…..”, baught Naina Singh Alhuwalia back to her senses……




Ali was at ease. Raj left the lodging for till tea to meet the local security officials. Ali wnted to hide this fact from Pooja as long as possible.


Pooja was the prettiest thing around….even her family was surprised….they never knew their strong little girl was soo pretty…..what made her the most beautiful girl was that extra sparkle of her eyes….Ali was familiar to that sparkle….which made Pooja sooo special….

It was about 7.00am, when both the families had assembled around the gardens, and varandah….for breakfast. Kids sitting around Biji, listening to stories, girls crowding their handsome army jijaji….and ladies chichating their jewelry and saaries. The air was thick with joy, happiness, excietement and cheer.

Everyone was stuffing their stomachs, what else can you expect with such a spread as that? Everything starting from various parathas, to toast and butter, from corn flakes to chivda and from mishri and lassi to army special black coffee…..

Pooja was talking to Ali’s sisters, with a kid sitting by her munching the big bar of chocolate he just received from his pretty mami.

Suddenly, the sound for chattering guests doubles with lots of “ooohh…”s and “aaaahh….”s…….

A looooong shining black car stopped by th varandah enterance [people had stopped talking….and merely stared at the splendour of the car…..], merely looking at the car, Ali and Pooja jumped from their respective seats and ran at the top of their speeds towards the car……

The door opened, exhiniting a lavish leather upholstery, and a pretty foot clad in a gleaming silhouette stepped out……

…..before people realized who had emerged from the car, Pooja was hugging the newcomer, and Ali stood beaming next to her.

There she stood, Naina….the International Supermodel…..the look of some of the top noche` brands around the world……one of the prettiest faces of the nation…..clad in a glow white chudidar and flowing kurta, little crystal tops dazzling from her lovely hair…. Naina….just Naina looked all feminity…..not the ruff-it cadet Naina Singh…..but one thing was commen in both….her face radiated confidence, and strength…..

“Hay rabba tu to badi soni lad rahi hai!”, Pooja did the ‘kisiki nazar na lag jaye’ action.

“Arre Naina, hamein yakeen tha aap aayengi…..”, said Ali, as he shook hands with her.

A loud voice echoed from somewhere in the crowd…. “Dude……look at her!! Wooooo Naina…..u pretty thing…..where were you all these days?”, Yudi rushed holding a plate full of paneer paraths, and hugged her!

“Ab sab usko hi dekhte rahoge….Apun bhi itna bura nahin hai…..”

everyonbe looked around….the door on the opposite side had opened and buddy Aalekh stepped out….to ‘almost’ complete the reunion!

“Oyeeeeeeeeee…..”, all of them rushed towards him, leaving Naina in fits of laughter….

“Aalekhbhai, aap aaj aa rahe ho, hamein pata hi nahin tha….”

“Bas kya usool, shaadi banaya to ek phone bhi nai kiya……message to bheja tha apun ne w o h…..orderly….shekhar ke saath…..”

[jivora]

:) “Oye mitti dal us sab pe, oye quaidi, teri to koi khabar hi nahin, tu bhi Naina ki tarah kho gaya kya…?”, Naina’s smile faded for a second, Aalekh noticed that, but she smiled again…..

“Nahin Pooja, yeh sahab to ab aap sab ke senior ho gaye…..Major Aalekh Sharma…..”

“Hay rabba, mujhe vishvas nahin hota…..hum sab….yahan….kapoorthala main….ab bas w o h kameena Nair mil jaye to…..uski main……”

“…..arre naina Pooja, aapne unko kaafi buri tarah se tang kiya….ab to suna hai hai girl cadet se baat karnese bhi darte hai…..”

All of them laughed…..Naina laughed her heart open….after years……Aalekh saw that….satisfied…

“Oye Naina, tere liye to veerji ne Amritsar di hotel vij room book kiya tha na….? To tu wahan nahin gayeee?”

“Naaa re….ab main hotelon se bore ho gayee hoon….aur teri shaadi me main tere naal hi revangi….tenu sajane ke liye….”, Naina tried her best Punjabi accent!

“Pagli….chal….!”, Pooja took all of them inside…..

“Oh my God, mujhe to aaj pet bhar ke khana hai…..yeh sab kahan milta hai roz……”, Naina said looking at the breakfast….. “Oye Pooja, lunch kitne baje hai….”

“Yeh lo, aap itna khayengi to vaapis jaane tak…..aapko gaadi main bithane k tareeke sochne padenge….”

“Naina, tu uske raag sun mat…..aur misri lau kya?”, asked Aalekh, really happy to see Naina in a good mood,

All of them sat and talked till the lunch time, and all of the afternoon….but as the tea time approached, Ali started getting restless, eager to push the girls into their rooms…..

“Arre Pooja, aapko mahendi aur sangeet ke liye tayar nahin hona? Ek mahine se din ke paanch calls kar kar k main kya paheni, hara, ya neel, peela ya lal…..aapne parashaan kar rakhha tha…..aur ab aapko taiyyar nahin hona?”, asked Ali

“Theek hai…..chal Naina, chalte hai….”

“Perfect boys, main Pooji ko taiyyar kar ke fir khud taiyyar houngi….to zyaada time lagega…..”

The girls set off……
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dressed in peacock green dress, with perfect accessories…..Naina looked gorgeous…….everyone looked up and their gazes frooz on her….as she descended from the staircase….Pooja sitting with other girls smiled…..

When Naina was on the last stair, she heard a voice, and she froze……..

“Maine kaha tha Cadet Singh, aap sajne sawarne main badi aachi rahogi. And you have proved that today….You are looking gorgeous!”

Naina was shocked….’Breg.Chandog??????’, she whispered…..

“Oye nahin re Phoolan…..”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



“HUDA????”, Naina exclaimed….and so did all her batchmates….

“Oye, tu yahaan to main aur kahan ho sakta hoon?”, there he stood in perfect sherwani, still looking perfectly dude, and bearing that perfect flirtatious expression….

“Nautanki….ab yahi baaki tha!”, said Aalekh and all the friends rushed towards him….

“Oye Panjaban, tune apna setting to jhat se kar liya…par main to ab bhi is hi janani ke intezaar main hoon…..”, he said, settleing next to Pooja….

“Huda, tu bilkul bhi nahin badla….”

“Oye Phoolan, main to vaise ka vaisa hi hoon, par tujhe to pehchan nahin pa rahaa hoon….oye, quaidi, yeh meri phoolan hi hai na? Ye kangan, bindiya, yeh to jananiyon jaise dhikhti hai… badi sundar hai….”

“Ab aap unko pareshaan mat kijiye”, said Ali laughing, “magar ek baat aapne sach kahi Hudabhai, Naina aaj bahot sundar lag rahi hai…”

Pooja raised her eyebrows and made a face….Naina guestured to Ali, and he followed…

“Magar sabse sundar nahin…..”

Pooja’s eyes dropped….she was too shy to look up….

“Oye hoi, o ji yeh to Hindi film de scene ho gaya….”, and Huda started off the dance by calling all the eager girls and dancing…..everyone else followed, but Aalekh and Naina.

Pooja’s father, came by and, “O puttarji, tussi nahin aaoge? Chal beta, doston de naal bhangda paa le….”, and as he said that, Huda came by and pulled her into the big group of people dancing….Aalekh stood grinning!

The music got more beat, and feet moved faster, Naina stood clapping amidst the group at first but as the music got faster, she let herself go…..after what seemed to be five minutes, everyone coupled out for a “fodadi”[its when two people hold crossed hands and move in circular motion at a great speed…..remember the last shot of Hum Aapke Hain Kaun….just to give u the idea…]

Huda and Naina were going rounds…and as their speed increased she let all her thoughts go….leave her mind…..lighten her heart…..absent her memories…..soothe her wounds….for those few seconds….she was the same old Naina again for some seconds…..Naina who laughed, who loved, who trusted…..

She had the best time over last few years, and so did Aalekh, by seeing Naina’s face grow pink, rather than the usual pale, white one!

Sangeet continued…..girls danced, Huda and Yudi flirted, Aalekh stood by the window talking to Ali, and Pooja and Naina were taken to the center of the hall for mahendi…..the two friends talked….about Pooja’s work, meetings with Ali, the wedding, Naina’s trips abroad, other modeling experiences, cosmetics, jewellery, clothes, future plans……..within what can be called an hours time the mahendi was applied….. the girls had to retain it till it dried, which would be another hour and then brush it off without water……

[jivora]

:) The girls had added some little romantic ritual-like things for themselves…those married and engaged could participate and others would await their prince charming.

During the hour’s time everyone went for dinner, where Pooja’s mother fed her, and Ali’s elder sister helped Naina. After the dinner all the seniors departed as it was quite late, but the youngsters and other women hanged around….as phirni, kheer, kesar-milk was being served.

“Oye yaaro, yeh dekho sada Quaidi Kheer kha raha hai…..”

“Hai la! Aalekh, yeh kya?”

“Aalekhbhai ne sharab chhod di…”

“Kya??????”, Huda and Yudi yelled together.

“Dheere se bol, apun ko marvaoge kya? W o h do saal pahele apne birthday par Naina ne gift ke taur par maang liya…..to paun ne kasam khaya ki sharab ko choega bhi nahin!”

“Hamein naaz hai aap pe! Dosti nibhani to koi Naina se sikhe….aur…..”, Ali stopped….suddenly a tension filled atmosphere fell over the boy’s camp, all of them staring at Naina, who was playing with Ali’s niece, with eyes full of concern…

Pooja’s cousin came up amidst the girls and said in a voice that was audible to even boys…

“Chalo kudiyon, ab jinki bhi mahendi sookh gayee ho w o h mahendi ko aise hi bina paani ke nikal de….paani lagaya to mahendi ka rang dhul jayega…..aur mahendi fiki pad jayegi….aur ladko, apni apni kudi ko madad karo….”

It was just a simple way of having small celebrations, which would enrich every relation with more love, and it certainly seemed to work for Ali and Pooja as they sat brushing dry Mahendi off Pooja’s hands….Ali brushed the sticky parts and made her brush her hands….

Naina looked around at couples, and her memories tortured her again….those days when she …….she ran off from the hall towards the varanda eneterance…towards the little washing area. “whats the point”, she told heself, “I will never have a dark colour, Meri mahendi kabse phiki pad gayee hai….”, tears in her eyes she ran in pitch dark…..untapped the water….and as she brushed her hands in the water….she froze……a pair of hands that touched hers, were familiar, and it seemed that the owner of those hands seemed to recognize her touch….and tried to hush away…..

….but before anyone could move of do something…..

“Naina, idher andhere main…..”, Aalekh came holding a lantern….but what he saw in the light of the lantern, was unbelievable…..he stood rooted…..

Naina turned and saw the familier hands that had toughed her….the hands that had held hers a number of times…..the hands in which she felt soo secured and safe….the hands whose touch made her experience love for the first time and forever….

…..the hands of Colonel Rajveer Singh Shekhavat!




The world swam around Naina….her mind and senses numb….her body paralysed….her heart was beating….and that made her feel that she was alive….was she feeling his touch….or trying to believe that it was him standing there….or she was looking into…and at the same time making a failing effort of not looking into those eyes…..

Aalekh stood rooted….thoughtless….unable to move and speak….it was the last thing he wanted to happen….especially now, when Naina was trying to smile…..he didn’t know the feeling….

But before anyone could speak or move, Pooja’s talkative cousin came in and switched on the light…..

“Main kahoo kithe gayee kudi!!(looking at naina’s dry hands and water running from the tap) Mine ek baat kahee thi, mahendi te paani nahin lagana! Saadi Poojji di mahendi kaisi khil rahi hai…..dekhya tusi?”

Naina’s hands hadn’t touched a grop of water….she attempted to hide her hands, but….

“Dekhuun to,(grabbing naina’s hands) tere haath pe rang kaisa chada hai! Hai rabba inna sona! Inna sona rang to Pooji de haathon par bhi nahi laga kudi! Bilkul dulhan ke haath…. Aur tu Sharma ke ithe andhere vich kyun chali aayi, tere pati da pyaar is rang sa gehra hai tere vaste…”

Naina stood there, expression less…..numb….

Pooja and the others came running, as they heard the commotion!


“Oye Pammi, ki hoya?”, Pooja, Huda, Ali and Yudi came running out…..and they too stopped dead, as they saw the goings on……whatever Pammi was saying wasn’t completely false….but still how weird things were…..there stood naina, somehow looking extremely beautiful, with a face full of pain and torture, her hands with red-dark mahendi…..her hair falling on her face….her eyes with an unreadable expression….fear, anger, sorrow, pain, ridicule, hatered, disgust and at the same time, shyness, longing, questions, trust and love…..Naina did look like a bride! And there he stood in front of her…….the man who changed their fiery little Naina forever…..who broke her trust, who killed her faith, who murdered her love in the bitterest possible way!

Pammi turned to Raj, and said in a very obvious way, “Yeh dekh Poojji, ki kar rahi hai yeh teri sahelli! Ek to mandap chood k ithe ekele chali aaye…..(pointing at Raj)….aur tu, Khotya, inni soni chand si janani nu chad ke, kithe tha tu? Aur dekh, tune zarasa haath hi lagaya….aur kudi da chehra gulabbi ho gaya….”

Naina lost control….but she had long back stopped crying….she couldn’t bolt her emotions anymore…..she let go….couldn’t hold the ground….she fell on her knees…..her expression unchanged……

“….ab theek hai…jo hua”, ignorant of the situation, Pammi continued, “chal oye, ab iski baaki ki mahendi nikalva de…..”

[jivora]

:) A lot of things happened as she said this, within an interwal of 2-3 seconds. Huda, his teeth crenched, tried to step ahead….but Ali held him back, and gave him a ‘don’t-make-a-scene-it-will-b-worse-for-naina’ look. Aalekh tried to say something, but rather took a step towards Naina. Worse happened when,

“No!”, said Naina, finally, slowly, in a low voice…..and her eyes red, and blazing, ran towards the house….all but Aalekh ran after her, one after another.

Aalekh and Rajveer stood there…..both quiet…..Aalekh’s eyes had an army Major’s interrogative look, undecieded whether the subject was innocent or guilty.

With a minute….Raj, feeling that he couldn’t conceal his emotions and outburst anymore…..walked away……but…..Aalekh still stood there……wondering…..

……if it was a tear that he saw was shining on Raj’s face!


Raj was marching up to his room, as fast as his foot would carry him…..

Ladies sitting in the varandah, confused about the suddent outburst, spoke among themselves….

“Ki hoya?”

“Mahendi pe paani lagaya kya kudi ne? Pata hai bada apshagun hota hai!”

“Yeh shaher ki jananiyaan bhi!”

“Naaji, uska pati aaya tha!”

“Dekhya tusi usko?”

“Dono ke beech kuch….”

“O naaji na! Kudi te kinni soni hai-aisa to bolo hi na….”

“Subah main to badi khush thi!”

He had done it, he told himself….why does every pain, every sorrow, every trouble in her life originate from me???????

As he raced towards his lodging, he could see his 4 favourite cadets standing quietly, and looking at a closed door, with eyes full of concern, the door – evidently Naina’s room!

He couldnt take it anymore. He went into his room and banged the door shut!

He always knew, that whatever happened, whatever he did, would pain Naina….would pain her beyond anything…
….but never thought her love was so very deep and mature
….but what he felt today, was worse than anything he had imagined!

Others might feel it was only Naina’s dejected self-respect and broken heart took her miles away from the army….but he knew better, maybe the sole man who could see through her….see through the vivacious supermodel!

Who he saw that night wasn’t Naina….her external transformation, her designer cloths, her perfect figure, her wonderful hair, her exquisite jewllery, her perfect makeup….was all she used to distract herself….to hide herself….to immerce herself….to hold back her emotions her pain from reserfacing…Naina now never listened to or spoke to her beautiful conscious. She had suppressed her hearts voice for soooo long that now it had stopped speaking, stopped reacting, stopped calling.
…..This girl wasn’t Naina……

Then who was she?????

He could have lived with the pain of breaking her heart, of betraying her trust and remain silent forever……but now it seemed impossible to even breath….with the guilt….knowing that he had broken Naina, he had killed the brake, truthful, strong and determined girl…..he had destroyed her capacity to trust, to befriend, to love, to smile…..the warm person in her had gone cold with pain!

…..he suddenly realized that she loved him a lot more, maybe more than he had ever imagined, ever estimated, she ever acknowleged, ever confessed……maybe her love was too much for him to bear!

Raj reached the water-jug – poured himself some in a glass, and sat down on the bed with a thud!

Naina’s laughing, warm, beautiful pink face appeared before his eyes (the one when he had fallen into the mud during mentorship camp)…..and…..then the blazing, unreadable expression of tonight…..he sipped some water into his dry throat….but coulnt swallow……..he felt a shrinking, numbing sensation all over!

‘I have failed….’, he thought, ‘…..miserably, pathetically……failed as a mentor, as a teacher, as a confidenate, as a beloved…….and worst, as a friend!”…..and his mind went blank!

Glass of water n his hand, tears flowing from his eyes, Colonel Rajveer Singh Shekhavat, the pride of the Indian Army, as if lost a battle again……sat on his bed, staring at the dark sky outside….a sky, without any sparkle, any light, any hope – any star…..that was soooo dark…. Spooky…..quiet……hollow…..neverending…….&…cold!
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[jivora]

:) “Pooja, aap andar ja kar dekhiye….”, Pooja was quiet….

“Bro, andar se koi aawaz bhi to nahin aa raha, kahin who kuch….”

“Oye kuchbhi mat bol….apni Phoolan hai w o h!”, Huda appeared at the scene….his eyes red with anger,”Panjaaban, jaa naa dekh na, kya kar rahi hai!”

Pooja slowly moved towards the door, she tapped it slowly & said,

“Naina….”

No reply….

She walked back to the boys….

“Lagta hai apna fon hi off kar ke baithi hai….mujhe lagta hai usse thodi der akela chod dena chahiye….”

“Kya keh rahin hai? Abhi abhi to Aalekhbhai unhe apni bikhri se zindagi se yahaan le aaye….”, Ali clentched his wrist, “Hum unhe fir se toot ne nahin de sakte!”

Pooja’s eyes filled with tears….

“Oye jat, meri himmat nahin padti…..main nahin jaa sakti uske paas…..”, she broke down….

“By the way, yeh Rajveer Sir yahaan kar kya rahe hai? Don’t tell me tumne unhe invite kiya hai…..”

“Hum bevkoof ho sakte hain Yudibhai, magar kameene nahin…..Nain aur Colonel ko saath main yahaan jaanbooj ke bulayenge….????”

“To kar kya raha hai ye fatichhar yahan par?”

“…..w o h usdin General Singh ka Abba ke liye phone tha….Abba ne haan keh di….aur hum kuch nahin kar paaye….waise who ek mission pe hain….”

“….mission…..kopi mission nahin….har baar mission ka mukhauta le kar aate hai……pichli baar bhi…..aur phir….naina ko…agar usse pyaar nahin karte, to uski zindagi ko badtar banane ke liye kyun aajate hain?”

Yudi looks concerned….”Dude, mujhe lagta hai ab kaafi der se andar se koi aawaz nahin aa rahi….jaa ke dekhna chahiye….”

Huda looks thunderstruck…..as if he feared something….

……CRASH………

It was like a glass breaking. Everyone jumped….Huda, frightened rushed to the door….

“Oye phoolan,”, he knocked the door, “tu theek to hai na….? ….phoolan…..??”

No reply….

Teary eyed and red in face Huda turned towards his friends….

His voice cracking,”Kya kar rahi hai Naina? O Panjaban, w o theek to hogi na….?”

Yudi stared at him…..Yudi, who was evidently Huda’s best friend now…..was staring at him…wide eyed….he recognized him…..first time after so many years…the Huda whoda who laughed, made all around him smile, who faught, who yelled his heart out….who hived life king size….the brave, smart, overconfident, sharp-tongued, envious, shrewd and temperamental jat…..


…he saw this Huda today…again….after 5 long years….

The Huda that had left Kanchanjunga Military Academy as a soldier……Lt.Huda who was admired and envied by a lot of collegues….the Huda who seemed like an unattainable glum eye candy to girls around him….was a different man…..

…he was matured….matured enough to bear fear, sorrow, pain, disappointment, and heartache….a complete workoholic – as if he wanted to loose himself in the work….he lived as if life was a mere duty…..no emotions…no jokes….no smiles…and no tears….as if he was trying to share some of his Phoolan’s sorrow….

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Kuch nahin karegi w o h…kuch nahin……kuch nahin hoge usse….”, said a voice and all the friends looked back….

…there stood the man, everyone knew was evidently the sole person who could make Naina open the door today….

“Oye Quaidi….zara dekh na….kuch bol bhi nahin rahi….ab fikra ho rahi hai uske….”, Huda’s eyes filled with worry.

“Humm…”, said Aalekh and slowly walked towards the closed door….

* * * * * * * * * * * *
Naina ran from the varandah…her face hot…her eyes itching….throat burning….ran as if she never wanted to stop…..as if she had lost her way….as if she wanted to run away not only from him, but from the memories….the emotions….and that touch…..she ran into her room…and as if someone was following her…as if all those feelings, memories, sensations she was running from would barge into the room and once again envelope her…..banged the door shut!

[jivora]

:) She sat down….leaning to the door….blank faced….her conscience was silent…too sore to speak….her heart, too hurt, too broken to react….her mind numb with shock….her body…paralyzed…..still feeling the touch…..

Her expression changed from pity, to sorrow, to anger, to hatered..to pain…to ridicule…to disgust…variety of feelings…all negative…all took her away from present…made her venture into avenues she never dared entered over last 5 years….but now she knew…she cant get rid of them…as they were not mere feelings…but they were a part of her existence ..her persona…..that touch….so familiar…so warm…so soothing…still she felt it…but she was disgusted….because all this made one feeling loud and dominant…of all all others…..the feeling of immense and intense LOVE. She hated the thought, she hated herself for feeling it….she hated her conscience for declaring her undying love for him…she hated herself for wanting to hear her name from him…once…once…just once it said…..she felt contaminated….she felt his hold over her till date was evident and stronger than ever…she hated the realization that he was still able to hurt her, most brutually….

She ridiculed the sensations, the emotions that she guarded for so many years….were free….were evident…disclosed….and were stronger….were shattering her….heart…brain…and soul….

Her eyes were dry…she had stopped and forgotten crying long back….her pain has long back surpassed the boundaries of emotional outbursts….of crying….of weeping….of yelling, and of speaking……

All that her ears could hear…her heart could witness was a blood curdling scream from her destroyed soul….

She looked up….and said just one word, blankly…slowly….pleadingly…..

“Bhaiyya…..”




It was almost midnight….

[we can only hear one side of the conversation]

“hello”

“can u make it here….mow…its urgent….

“hmm…”

“kapoorthala….take down the address….”

“do me a favour….”

“no questions….please.”

“yes”

“thanks”

“hmmm..”

the call ends…and the cell phone is slammed on the sofa….

“DAMN!!!!”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Naina….”, Aalekh went close to the door, and called out gently.

No reply….

“…Naina….??”. he called out again….

No sounds of movement…no reply….

“Naina…!”, his voice became more stern…

“…Oye phoolan….oye ph…”

Aalekh raised his hand with a “Majoe-like” sternness….Huda quietened.
“Naina darvaza khol!”, it sounded like an order….

….no reactions….

“Nai….”

The door opened….out came a girl….who npone knew, although she resembled Naina….but she cant be…no…Naina….

Aalekh took a minute surveying her….and maintaining the same expression,

“Chal andar”

“Naina. Honestly…take…”, Aalekh’s hand flew up to silenmt Yudi…

The Major was at work….

He followed her…and Naina and Aalekh went in….and the door closed behind them…..


[INSIDE]

Aalekh stood by the door….and Naina walked in….He was looking at her carefully,…..observing her body language, her swift movements, her expressions…..

Naina attempted to remove her jewellery….not knowing what she was doing…..as an attempt to behave prentand normal….

Aalekh quietly walked to her and removed the ring that cut her finger as she was pulling it the wrong way…..

She pulled her hand away….

….he seized it and pulled it back….this time she let him remove the ring, as the ornament had hurt her finger which was now bleeding….

“Major….”, she said….loosing her voice….

Aalekh maintained silence and continued to remove her ring….

“Aalekh….main….main nahin tuti….”, she looked up at him….her eyes – fiery red….as is restraining all the pain, all the grief, all the tears within them…..

Aalekh looked at her….she looked sooo….soo brave!! His Naina…..whay does this always happen to her…..why does lighteneing strikes on her again even before she recovers from one blow??….why?
….he couldn’t find words to reply her….the look of her eyes had shaken the strict, brave, ruff and at times ruthless Major from head to toe….
….he always knew she was brave….but this was beyond anything he had expected….beyond anything he ad ever witnessed….she was, in true terms, a warrior….

He let her hand go…and gae her a tight brotherly hug!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

[jivora]

:) :) 2hrs later Major Aalekh Sharma walked out of Naina’s room….all his senses shaken, his heart sore, his restrained anger, pain and complete helplessness killing him like never before…..he never felt so weak…..!

All others stood there…waiting….

“Aalekh?!”, asked Pooja….Huda had lost all the courage to ask….he looked up….eyes still red with tears….

‘Theek hai….”

“Aap…aap to theek ho?”

Alekh walked straight to Huda, put his hand on his shoulder….

“Sula kar aaya hoon, ek neend ki goli de di hai….warna jagti…aur sochti….aur….”

Aalekh’s and Huda’s firsts tighteneing every second…..both holding back their pain….

“Main ekbar….”

Aalekh took him near the door, and pulled it to give him a glimps of Naina…..
….there she slept….looking like a dream…as moon light fell on her face….her face full of pain….her hair spread over the pillow and on her shoulder and and her face….he face, full of pain…made her look prettier than ever….

“Phoolan…”, Huda whispered.

Once again, Captain Amardeep Huda felt all his courage, all this strength, all his confidence draining from him….he lost himself once again….



Early in the morning, when only a few senior members of the Kapoorthala house are up….

…..an army jeep screeches to a halt by its back gates……

…and someone is lead to the “barati’s” accommodation area………..

…………a door opens…………

……….the newcomer enters the room…….sees the folded bedsheets, unused bed, shattered pieces of glass…a slight grin flickers on the face….

“I am here……”

“Hmm….thanks”

“Bahut short notice pe bula liya….kuch khaas ho raha hai?”, said with a special stress on the word ‘khaas’.

“….pata chal hi jayega….go ahea….”, his lines stopped abruptly….as he stared at the companion of the newcomer, running towards him, from the door…..

“BHAAAAI….!!”

“MAYA????”

The cutest girl of about 22, stumped Colonel Rajveer by her unexpected arrival, to this unexpected place, full of his painful secrets, with his wife Ritu.

“Aap ko kya laga, aap mujhse baat nahin karenge…..to main aapko aise hi chhod doongi?”, she exclaimed, surveying her brother, “Aap to ekdam…..kuch hua hai kya bhai…..do saal ho gaye aapse mile hue…..”

She hugged her brother….who seemed to feel better by having someone who loved him so much….but Maya…..she cant linger around here so much….she might find out…….

“Meethi, par tu yahaan….”

“W o h, main hostel se thaan kar hi nikli thi ke aapse milkar hi ma ke paas jaongi….wahan gayi to Rituji ne bataya, ki aap yahaan ho….to main bhi saath chal di…..waise bhi yahaan aapse theek se baatein to hogi…..”

[jivora]

:) “…..achha…”

“Kya hua bhai, mujhe yaahan nahin aana chahiye tha?”

“Aisi koi baat nahin hai Meethi…..(he hugs her again, and then smiles at her…)….bachhe, tu jaa ke aaram kar…thak gayee hogi!”

“Ji bhai…”,and Meethi packs off to her room, wondering on her brother’s behaviour.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

As the door closed behind her….

“Yeh Meethi…..”

“Maine samjhane ki koshish ki…”, replied Ritu in an annoyingly uninterested and teasing tone, “….par kal shaam se bhai-bhai kar rahi thi…..aur zid kar rahi thi….”

“Usse yahaan nahin lana chahiye tha…..”

“Usne zid ki…….sawal pe sawal kiye jaa rahi thi….bhai kahan hai? Ghar kyun nahin aate? Fon pr ukhde se kyun kote hain?…(she unpacks her bag)….Chitthion aur emails ke jawab kyon nahin dete?….Ma se milne bhi nahin gaye…………(she lied down on the bed)……ab usse kaise, kitna….aur kya bataun….aapke PROBLEM ke bare main….”

“RIT…..”, he got annoyed and turned….but she had put the bedsheet over her, and was asleep…….

Colonel Rajveer Singh Shekhavat…..was all alone amidst of so many relations……his pain and heartache and now fear for Maya…..was beyond any help of tranquilizers……….he couldn’t gt sleep……..

……….he stared into the sky…….an innocent fface smiled at him……..

“Sir, mujhe dar tha…….ki main……bhaiyya ki tarah…….aapko bhi kho doongi!”

* * * * * * * * * * * *



The day dawns with full brightness and joy on the Ghai Mension, as if to join te celebrations of the couple – Ali and Pooja.

…..unknown, unaffected by the trauma of the previous night…..

….for those who suffered…every bright ray of sun itched in their eyes……

….every cold breez burnt their skin……….

……..every frash flower….saddened their hearts………….

……….every smiling face made them more and more aware of their pain….their sorrow….their incompleteness…..


The Ghai family was preparing for the “Ganesh Pooja” and some other rituals. The whole morning was going to be spent for poojas and rasams.

Aalekh did not want Naina to come down….he knew her her heart was too sore to be hurt again…..her wounds to fresh to be left open…..so he asked her to rest for sometime after their quiet breakfastin her room…..

I now throw light upon two people………………

…….by morning, Ritu Singh Shekhawat had precisely understood the reason why Rajveer had called her on such a short notice…why did she feel, after so many years, the same plea, the same helplessness, the same nervousness, and fear in his voice, when they spoke over the telephone…..she had seen Pooja and Ali from their room’s window, in the varandah……and she understood everything…..

But there was someone else, who had nearly turned into a family member to the hosts, hopping around the house like a pretty butterfly…..

….Mithi….within a few hours of the morning, she went to the market to get makkhan with Pooja’s Veerji on his bike, and helped Pooja’s mom in making lassi, helped Pooja wear a saari….constantly cursing how clumsy and colourless she thought all armypeople are….don’t know anything about colours, cloths, saaris…..

….within no time she found sooo many new relations, soo many new names…. she was Pooj’s friend, Ali’s little bahen, Mrs.Ghai’s right hand, Biji’s soni kudi, Mr.Ghai’s puttarji, Yudi’s cute little thing, and Huda adored her and was flaunting his new friend – Chotti, to all…..

“Biji, yeh rangoli to hai badi changi, par yahaan, peele se hara zayada changa lagega….”

“Oye nahi Kudi…yahi theek hai…”

“Na Biji….hara hi achha lagega!!”

[jivora]

:) “Oye theek hai kudi, tujhse bahes nahin karni…..”, Biji smiled and changed the colour, “…vaise hara lag to changa raha hai…..”

Pooja’s father passed by carrying a big tray full of about 15 glasses full of Lassi, and at the same time seemed to be instructing his son to catch hold of Panditji, otherwise he would be late……

“Oh Uncleji, yeh lassi tusi kithe le jaa rahe ho?”, Mithi used cool Panjabi accent to make others feel homely and friendly.

“w o h kuch mehmaan w oh pichewala varande vich hai….aur kuch us beechwale kamron main….”

“…Lo kar lo baat….main kis marz ki dava hoon Uncleji? Hum bachhe hote kis liye hain….aap jao Panditji nu dhondo….main yeh nipta doongi…..”, and she takes the tray from him, she feels the weight, but manages it….

“Kinna changa puttar hai….”

“Oye Uncleji…..”

“Bolo Bachhe…”

“Ithe aao, aur in main se ek glass utha lo….”, she says in a ordering tone.

He takes a glass from the tray, and looks at her….

“Ab mere samne avahi khade rahoge…..peelon na Uncleji…..”

“Are Puttar, w o h andar 15 log hai….to ek kam pad jayega….”

“Koi gal nahin….aap pahele pi lo….”

And she ,akes him drink the Lassi.

“Yeh lo!”

“Yeh hui na baat…..ab aap jao….yah sab main sambhal loongi….”

Off she went balancing the 14 big Lassi glasses on an already heavy tray………….

She walked through the rooms….but almost everyone had dressed and had gone out for the first Pooja.

“Yeh Uncleji bhi na……ajeeb hain….yahan to ek bhi banda nahin hai…..”

Sha was about to turn back….when her foor collided hard with a table, and she twisted her ankle…..she winced in pain……….

“Ouch!”

Her eyes watered in pain…and she was fidgeting with the tray….she wanted to rest it somewhere……and massage her foot…….when…..

When she saw him standing by the window in that room….biting an apple…..lost in his own thoughts……

[jivora]

hi, this fic starts with 0 and ends in 21.........and i will continue to update if u all like it..............

i dedicate the first 21 parts to my pal "glam_ankita"............thanks for liking the fic!!!!

awaiting ur responses!

cheers,
jivora

[glam_ankita]

hi, this fic starts with 0 and ends in 21.........and i will continue to update if u all like it..............

i dedicate the first 21 parts to my pal "glam_ankita"............thanks for liking the fic!!!!

awaiting ur responses!

cheers,
jivora

Your Fanfic was Gr8 Jivora!I give you five out of five!I cant believe that you dedicated your first 21 parts of your fanfic to me!!!Thank you soooo Much!!!

[ams]

its superbbbbbbb....keep it going......
nice fanfic..........

[ksluvs_1408]

its superbbbbbbb....keep it going......
nice fanfic..........
Superb fanfics.Keep it up but plz next time write these in Lrl fanfics thread.That's my request.

[ams]

when will be ur next post Jivora .i cant just wait any more

[jivora]

:) :) :) …absent mindedly looking at the table…..

“Yeh ghur ghur je sekh kya rahe ho? Yeh tray pakad ke meri madad nahin kar sakte kya?”

“Huh….?”, he came back.

“TUM-SE keh rahi hoon….”

Aalekh had never seen someone like her…..Meethi’s round face….big dark and deep eyes….with a mischivious sparkle….her complexion…clear flawless….he nose, that she held high with attitude…..her air….as if no pain and sorrow ever touched her….Meethi was evidently not one of the most beautiful women Aalekh had ever set his eyes on….but her persona was a perfect mix of cuteness, innocence, masti and beauty…….

He walked towards her….

“Toh aap apna yeh kaam mujhse karvana chahti hain?”, he asked, full of the typical Aalekh-like arrogance, and attitude…..(what happened to his “bhai” accent, suddenly??)

Her eyes widened…..she was not accustomed to such rudeness…..her eyebrows shot up!

“….nahin….”

“Mujhe laga aap madad maang rahi thi…”

……….Meethi bit her lip in pain….getting uneasy….pain flashing in her ankle…..

….Aalekh tried to take he trey from her hands….but she pulled it back…..with equal strength….

“Mian apna kaam khud karti hoon!”

and she took a step ahead with her nose held high and air full of arrogance….

“Oh….maaa…..”, she squealed….

He tried to pull the tray again…..but she held it firm…now red in face….

“Main…Apna…Kaam….Khudd….Karti….Hoon…!!”

……….and she took another step……..her ankle gave way….it bent…..over her high heels….

This time…..tears flooded from her eyes….she but her lips….she took a quick deep breath in pain….and as she picked her foot again to walk further…..she felt herself lifted….

Aalekh had picked her up…..along with her tray….

…………..she stared at him, wide-eyed…..awestruck………

………..she landed on a couch and Aalekh bent down besides her on the floor….and softly caressed her foot for a moment….

………but before she could recover from the previous shock…..she got another one…..

CRACK!!!!!

“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee……….”, she yelled as he had suddenly moved her ankle in a weird direction.

Red in face, with pain and anger, she yelled, “Tum pagal ho gaye ho….??”

He got up and picked up a glass of lassi from the tray…shot her a super-intense at the same time amused look, and left the room…….(Aalekh??? Lassi?????)

“Kya aadmi hai….yeh mera pair…..oh…maa….paagal…. ab kaise chalongi….madad karne ko kahi….to akad dikh raha tha…..khud ko kahin ka badshah samajhta hai………ek baar milne de usse…..phir dekhti hoon, Meethi se kase bachta hai…..aisi class loongi uski…..khoonsat…..hai! mera pair……..tod hi diya lagta hai…….khadoos kahinka!……abhi to mujhe shaam ko naachna tha………..”

She went on…..and …on…..speaking…..cursing him…..and engrossed in her own talkative world….she got up….ad walked out of the room……

….suddenly…..she halted…..and her face broke into the widest grin ever….

….the pain had gone!! Her ankle was perfectly alrite…..the khadoos had done his job………..

[glam_ankita]

Another Gr8 Fanfic Jivora!

[ams]

keep it up............

[jivora]

:) ;) UPDATE
The Great Hall of Ghai Mension, Kapurthala, was full of guests….clad in all kind of fineries. Sangeet was about to begin, and everybody was busy mingling among friends and relatives….Lassi, Jaljeera, Thandai, Kokam, and other cold drinks went around the hall…..

Huda and Yudi had arranged for an orchestra(“kuch kar yaar, warna saari parjaaiyaan dholak le ke baith jaayengi!”)……but they were still assembling their instruments.

Pooja looked pretty in her pink Lahenga, surrounded by her cousins and giggling friends….teasing and chatting with her….

Ali stood with Pooja’s brother, Huda and Aalekh……while Yudi was out in the Varandah, busy on an important call from the academy(??).

Subedar Begh had forcibly dragged the very unwilling Colonial into the function…..showing him off to all his guests. And he stood in his usual charming formals, talking to Subedar Begh, with bubbly Meethi by his side….

The usual Punjabi wedding songs with Dholak were going on….ki bhangda te sajda, jab nache kudi da pra……the elderly women singing and girls dancing….

Aalekh’s gaze kept shooting up on the staircase….he had already spotted Rajveer and was anxious for Naina….

It was when Aalekh looked on the staircase, he saw a face which made his heart miss a beat(in a negative sense)…..he wanted to run and stop Naina from coming out of her room….this was too much for her….he felt like throwing something…..Pooja pushed the candle stand near her with a “CLANG”!

Dr.Ritu Singh Shekhawat was standing at the top of the stairs….an now descending with a decieteful smirk on her face….in an exquisite blue saari and a halter blouse….she looked everything beautiful and glamorous….everyone in the hall looked up, surprised at the new arrival…Huda’s fist tightened…..Ali looked down helplessly….surprised…..everyone….everyone…..helpl ess…..except Aalekh….

The appearance of Dr.Ritu made his eyes shoot a look at Rajveer….he had his suspisions…..he saw that Rajveer continued chatting animatedly with Subedar Begh….completely unaffected by her arrival. After a while, he saw Pooja approaching towards then, taking to Meethi’s …..Aalekh started walking away.

“Do musibat saathme…..apun nahin jhel sakta….”, Aalekh tried to change the mood.

Pooja stopped him.

“Oye ruk Quaidi, Yeh kab se mujhe tum sab se theek se intro karvaane ko keh rahi hai….”

“Main janti thi Poojadi Army se hai….aur mera parivaar bhi…to mujhe laga shayad mujhe kuch naye dost mil jaye….”, she looked at Aalekh.

“Sure thing girlie!”, said Yudi.

“Yeh hai Yudi….”, said Pooja, and Yudi raised his eyebrows… “…oops…Captain Yaduvansh Sahani….yeh KMA main padhate hai…..”

“KMA….”, Meethi seemed to be recollecting the name…

“Oye saadi Academy….Kanchanjunga Military Academy…”

“AH…”, Meethi was about to say something, but Pooja continued…..

“…Aur yeh saada Jat….”

“…Oye Panjaban, apna intro, main kudiyon ko khud detaa hoon…..Main Captain Amardeep Huda….is waqt Gujarat border pe posted hoon…..aur aap mujhe dekh kar bahot khush hui….mujhe pata hai….Huda ko dekh kar kudiyaan aksar baukhlaa si jaati hai….ab..main kya karoon….personality hi kuch aisi hai Huda ki…”

All the others are are suppressing a laugh…but Meethi knew better of him….

“Shuru ho gaya……Nautanki….”, Aalekh rolled his eyes, and made a bored face….and started walking away….

Meethi looked annyed seeing him going away….she had never met someone who was so rude like him…but she had never met someone like him too…..

“…aur yeh….?”, she called out to Pooja.

“….aur yeh hain….Ma-”, Pooja started…

“MAJOR AALEKH SHARMA!”, said a voice from the top of the staircase….
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[jivora]

;) :) Meethi and all the others looked up….

…..and they weren’t the only ones….mesmerised……..all the guests had their gazes at the top of the staircase….

………the hall went silent within seconds………as all of them looked up at the perfect reflection of ‘beauty’…………

……..there stood Miss Naina Singh Ahluwalia…..looking like a goddess…..beautiful…….in her peacock green lahenga…….with perfect earings dangling-sparkling from her silky hair –tied in a bun…….and a perfectly done up face……if not properly introduced, people would not recognize this woman as their angry, fiery Naina Singh!

………two men in the hall looked down….they dint like it when Naina dressed up…..so magnificiently……

…. The audience froze in their positions as she slowly descended from the satirs, deciededly looking at her friends….although aware of a pair of eyes………set on her……

………..and she felt it again…..she hated herself for feeling it….enjoying it….liking it………she felt it again…………the same……passion……..the same mischief……….the same intensity…………all over again…….she failed to ignore it……she felt herself complete…..and at the same time a part of him……….she felt special……she felt beautiful……….she felt conscious……….she felt him……….

………. ………face of the nation……….after a number of assignments in Milan, Paris, London, Tokyo, and NewYork……..confident endorser………..flattering actress……stylish on ramp………and glamorous on camera……. the supermodel Naina Singh Ahluwalia………blushed………..fely conscious……..

She waled upto her friends………determined to ignore the existence of the man, who meant courage….faith…..trust…….truth………friendship……….lov e………to her……

Meeti gasped at the look of such a pretty woman……………but her mind struggled with something else .……………and others faces broke into wide grins…..

Meethi soon recovered….. “Major………?

“Haan Major….Major Aalekh Sharma…..sada Qu…Aalekh…..sabse vadda afsar ban gaya…..”

“Aur sabse pyaara dost bhi…….”, said Naina, putting her hand on Aalekh’s shoulder.

“…..aur yeh hai meri Phoolan…”, said Huda patting Naina affectionaltely.

“Phoolan……?”

“Oye haan………Yeh had saadi Naina…..Naina Singh Ahluwalia….[Meethi’s expression varied a little by the mention of the name]….hamare saath KMA main thi…..ab vaddi model ban gayee hai…..aur bahot soni bhi….par mere liye to ab bhi ‘phoolan’ hi hai……….[taking Naina’s perfectly manicured hand]…….vaise ab isme who ‘phoolan’ waali baat rahi nahin…[Huda tried to kiss her hand…..with an absolute mischievious and flirtatious expression….but Naina was too quick for him….who Huda ka haath zor se marodti hai]….OUCH!!!!…….Oye…….hai yaar…..is kudi ne to saalon ki saari takat jamaa kar ke rakhi hai……..”, yelled Huda, massaging his hand….

“Huda, bina takat ka dil aur haath ki zindagee main koi zaroorat nahin hoti….”, Naina unconsciously chanted Raj’s words.

“Arre…..”, Maya jumped, “…..yeh to bhai kehtain hain…….”, she said innocently.

“B-Bhai….?”, Naina’s eyes sharpened, and her heart sank…..

“Are apne bare main to maine aapko kuch bhi bataya hi nahin….Main Meethi….ah – nahin…..Maya…..Maya Singh Shekhawat (hearing this…..Naina closed her eyes….she knew what was coming)….par mujhe koi Maya kehta hi nahi…..Aur mere Bhai (she said with extremem pride…her face glowed with it)….Colonel Rajveer Singh Shekhawat!!”, she smiled, her face full of pride.

Naina stood there…not daring to open her eyes…..shocked…..and so did all the others…..as they stood staring at her….

….after a few tensed moments…..

“Maya…….”, called a voice, and Meethi’s expression altered!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[jivora]

Updated...at last!
Meethi looked back….they saw Ritu clutching Rajveer’s arm with a trinmphiant expression…..

It was only Ritu that called her Maya…..all her close friends and relatives…..all those who loved her……called her ‘Meethi’….and Meethi never found her like her ‘Bhabhi’…..so never called her so! Their relation was formal…..she spoke to Ritu merely because of her brother….but she always wondered why and how did her brother choose such a wife?

…..maybe deep in her heart….whenever she thought……..she felt the absence of love, respect, and even friendship between them……

Everyone saw the couple, a handsome Colonel & his gorgeous wife…..standing and holding hands….but only a few saw through it…..but only Aalekh, and maybe Meethi saw the Colonel’s vacant and blank expression, his uninterested approach, and indifference towards her…..it was she who was clutching his hand……they saw the force in her grip …….

Before they cold react……

“Oye Bachhon, tum sab yun gumsum kyon baithe ho? Sangeet da din hai, shadi da ghar hai……koi gana shana shuru karo……”, Biji yelled from a corner.

“Aho Puttarji, ab saanu bada bore ho raha hai…..”

Huda turned towards the gang….and looking at Naina who forcibly smiled at him…..

“Kya kehte ho……..?”

“Oye Jat…….shuru hoja…..”

“Oye Chak-de-phatte!!”, yelled Huda as he signaled the orchestra to start playing……he grabbed Meethi’s hand and ran to the center of the floor…..

Bhangda music was in full swing…..Huda dance, Yudi followed…..Ali and Pooja were pulled in…..Naina and Aalekh stood smiling in a corner…..

Mr.Ghai after chatting with Colonel, asked them to join the danced floor…..which now was playing slow music…old bollywood songs….all the youngsters and family members danced…..a sort of Ballroom dance…..

Rajveer staright away denied……

“I don’t dance, bahot bura dancer hoon….waise bhi…..Maine dance chod diya hai…..”, he said, as by now he had a clear idea of Ritu’s intentions and her target….and he was scared……of himself…..

Somehow, Subedar Begh, and Mr.Ghai pulled him into the dance floor…..He stood there……….feeling like a culprit….or a victim……Ritu looked at him…..her eyes full of malice…..

Naina standing right in front of them….decidedly ignored the couple….however….it couldn’t escape Aalekh, that he grip on her glass tightened…..making her fingers red……

Slowly Ritu surfaced Raj as if she wanted to show Naina how happy they were together…..she held him close……tried to look into his eyes….and he deciededly looked away…..

Aalekh suddenly felt Naina’s hand on his……before he could react, she pulled him to the floor….

“Naina….Yeh kya mazak hai?”

“Mazak?”

“Tu janti hai……mujhe yeh sab nahin aata….main Huda nahin hoon…..”

“Main kis liye hoon?”, she mumbled….

“Tera pair toot jayega…..”

“Shhhh…….”

She made his hold her hand, and take her waist……surprisingly, after sooooo many army balls, none in which Aalekh had danced…….Aalekh Sharma had improved his moves……

Naina put forward the wrong foot as always…..and this baught an instant smile to someone’s face….[“Galat….Cadet Singh!”, he told himself.] Raj couldn’t comprehend his feelings……….he wasnt jealous……..because it was Aalekh she was dancing with……but whatever it was, saddened him……

Aalekh and Naina danced with quite some ease……

…..And the song played…. “Yaadon ki baarat nikli hai……”

And suddenly, the round of switching the partners began…..but Aalekh tried to be safe….and they danced on…..

….Naina danced with Pooja’s brother…..Pooja’s cousin danced with Aalkeh….Aalekh suddenly started dancing like in KMA….stepping on her foot constantly……

----SWITCH----

….Now Naina danced with Yudi…..and Aalekh danced with Ali’s elder sister…..Naina laughed through the song….chatting animatedly with Yudi about Dr.Shalini and Simran……

----SWITCH----

……Naina took a turn and Huda caught her hand….she looked at him……

“Tujhe yahin aana tha Phoolan…..faltu main us Quaidi ke saath timewaste kar rahi thi…..”

“….Aalekh bahot accha dance karta hai…..”

“Ab theek hai….nahin bolta mian tere ‘Major’ ko kuch……par hum bhi to tere hi dost hain…..”

“…..Naa hi main Aalekh ke bare main kuch sunungi….aur naa tere bare main…..”

Huda winked at her….

“Waise Naina, tu Academy main thee kahan….hamaesha left right left kiya karti ti….ab tabhi agar itni sundar dikhti….to Republic Day ko hi, phere le leta….tere naal…..aur….tab to meri har waqt class liya karti thi…..ab dekh….kaise pyaar se baat kar rahi hai……”

Naina smiled and danced on…..

-----SWITCH-----

Pooja danced with Aalekh….constantly praising his dance…..and Ali and Niana daced elegantly…..

------SWITCH-----

Aalekh and Naina…..stopped dancing…..as they faced their new partners….






---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[jivora]

Hey Guys,

I am awfully sorry for delaying this update sooo much....however late, but I am updating this fic on Sunday.....as promised!

Well, I am going slow, as this fic unlike the previous one, is quite serious, quite emotional.....Well, this switch thing is pretty filmy...but its leading to a very emotional moment.......

Do tell me if its becoming tooooo dragg....or tooooooo sloooow.....or tooo filmy........or tooooo daily ekta soap-ish......!!!!

I like it when u all tell me what you thing of it....it makes me write a better fic.....

Cheers,
JIV

[ams]

hey Jivora,cool 1 keep going

[taniay2k]

hi jivaro
keep goin yaar
dis is too good it's just marvellous
i liked it very much. it is a really touching story
keep posting ur updates n do it soon
i just cant wait

take care bye.:)

[glam_ankita]

Gr8 Fanfic Jivora!!!!

[lrl_pooja]

good good......jivora
ur doing marvelous......
keep it up...
but as i said i can not read too much i just read the first
chapter....really sorry i hv got specs too.
i cant read to much....
but it is good....
keep it up

[jivora]

.....Aalekh felt a lurch in his stomach.....Major Sharma was conscious.....and confused.....why was he fearing her company? why didnt he want to come anywhere near her? how could she easily access the emotions he had concealed for so many years.....those which he never expressed?......he stood there....and within the second while the song changed, Meethi came near him....quite confidantly, and gestured him to dance!

Naina.......faced him! She never wanted that to happen....the mere brushing of his fingers last night had reawakened all the quiet feelings and they were roaring in her heart.....she couldnt imaging being held by him.....dancing with him.....doing something that had so many memories attached to it......doing something they loved doing.....doing something that bought them tog.......

......Naina gathered up.....she told herself....she wont fall apart.....it was her right to be offended.....it was her right to question him.....it was him who should be bowing his head.......she wont let this ruin her already tasteless life again.....no....never.....

.....her eyes reddening.....her hand trembling....she pushed it forward to a thunderstruck and victim-like Rajveer.....

"May I....."

Rajveer realised what had happened......Naina......he was facing her....once agian.....his memories and his deeds tormenting him.....killing him....distroying him.......

He took her hand....and then waist......they dint know when they drew nearer....when Rajveer pulled her close.....when she put her correct foot forward......

The song started....and they swayed......

[LISTEN TO THIS SONG: PLEASE!!!! ITS THE SOUL OF THE EPISODE!:http://www.zshare.net/download/track08-cda-m1x.html OR http://www.zshare.net/download/track08-cda-zvq.html OR http://www.badongo.com/file/2843150">http://www.zshare.net/download/track08-cda-m1x.html

[B]"Beeti baathon ka kuch khayal karo,
kuch toh bolo kuch humse baat karo,
Raaz-e-dil main tumhe bata doongi....
main tumhari hoon maan jaoge....

Tum mujhe yun bhula na paaoge,
Jab kabhi bhi sunohe geet mere....
sang sang tum bhi gungunaoge....

Tum mujhe yun...."

Naina is looking straight into his eyes....and he is trying to avoit her impossible gaze.....her eyes are full of accusations and full of unanswered question....getting redder every second!

"Meri khamoshiyon ko samjho tum,
Zindagi yaad main guzari hai,
Main miti hoon tumhari chahat main.....
Aur kitna mujhe mitaoge....

Tum mujhe yun..."

The song has the worst lyrics that can be chosen for the occasion.....it was like Naina asking....and he couldnt bear it.....everyone danced.....but Aalekh was glanceing sideways....careful not to let Meethi get suspicious......Rajveer trying to look away and Naina constantly looking at him.....as if demanding answers.....

....this was unbearable for all three of them....Raj, as he was killing himself....feeling guilty and cursing his every breath.....Naina, as she suffered acute pain, felt hatered and immense love for the same man at the same time.....and Aalekh, as he was feeling extremely helpless.....

the song went on.....

"Dil hi dil main tumhi se pyaar kiya,
Apne jeevan ko bhi nisaar kiya,
Kaun tadpa tumhari raahon main,
Jab yeh sochoge, jaan jaoge.....

Tum mujhe yun bhula na paaoge,
Jab kabhi bhi sunoge geet mere,
Sang sang tum bhi gun gunaoge.....

Tum mujhe yun....."

....Naina suddenly felt somone placing a hand on her shoulder....she felt where she was....came back from a whirlpool of memories....good...bad....painful....

"Huh?", She looked back.....

************************************************** ********** ************************************************** ********** ******************http://www.zshare.net/download/track08-cda-m1x.html OR http://www.zshare.net/download/track08-cda-zvq.html OR http://www.badongo.com/file/2843150"

[jivora]

:) :) Well guys,

Here's another part of my super emotional fic.....I feel every word I write and that is why I write soo much about the goings on in their hearts.....

....well, I strongly believe that our life is lead by emotions....some accept that, and call themselves 'emotional' people, and others dont, and insist on being called 'practical'.....but none on this planet survive one breath.....in the absence of strong and overpowering emotions!!!!

so, how was this part of my fic.....and how was my philisophy??

Well, one most imp thing, this song, sung by Lata Mangeshkar is one of my few favorites.....it will be more fun if u listen to the song and then....or simultaneously read the fic - it will help you visualise.....!!!!!

Lat but not the least, DONT FORGET TO LEAVE A TAG FOR ME!!! to keep me going!!!!!

Cheers,
JIV

[glam_ankita]

:) :) Well guys,

Here's another part of my super emotional fic.....I feel every word I write and that is why I write soo much about the goings on in their hearts.....

....well, I strongly believe that our life is lead by emotions....some accept that, and call themselves 'emotional' people, and others dont, and insist on being called 'practical'.....but none on this planet survive one breath.....in the absence of strong and overpowering emotions!!!!

so, how was this part of my fic.....and how was my philisophy??

Well, one most imp thing, this song, sung by Lata Mangeshkar is one of my few favorites.....it will be more fun if u listen to the song and then....or simultaneously read the fic - it will help you visualise.....!!!!!

Lat but not the least, DONT FORGET TO LEAVE A TAG FOR ME!!! to keep me going!!!!!

Cheers,
JIV

It was another amazing Fanfic jivora!!!!!!!!!but next time try to focus on all the other characters other than naina and rajveer!!!!!!!Mind maat karna!!!!okk???

[ams]

ya another gr8 1 !!!!!!!!!!!
.agree with u ankita. there r other couples too ,to focus.........

luv
Amruta:cool:

[ANJANA_ANGEL]

Hey Common Continue It's Going Really Good