Present time

A pleasant dawn. Abhishek just woke up but still laying on bed. The window beside bed is wide opened, the first ray of Sun slightly coming in the room. Abhi's eyes are a little wet because he just has a dream ---- a 17 years old boy telling him — "Wo sab jhut tha Abhi, mei tujhse hi pyaar karta hu. Mera pyaar nahi balki meri last words jhuthi thi....." Then embracing him, filling his full face with kisses....... 

Deep sigh! All are illusory. Abhi dreams that vision almost everyday since eight years, it's habitual now. He got up from bed and went to bathroom. Took off the clothes one by one and on the shower. Drizzle of cold water fell on his slim body. Abhi shivered. Still now he can feel Mayank's touches on his body. Some are real and some he imagined....... thousand baths cannot wipe them.

Mayank, son of a factory owner, once made him dream of bliss. Later told that were jokes but Abhi couldn't believe. The first touch of Mayank's lips can't be a joke, or he took extravagant person's flirt seriously. Whatever, Mayank is his first love, teenage love. Abhi was traumatic after Mayank's departure. His mom and didi convinced him that which he considering as love is just childhood's attraction. The upper class people just uses the middle class as plaything, Mayank will not be an exception --- and their words came true.

Abhi came downstairs after dressing up, touched his mom's feet -- "Chalta hu mom"

"Arey beta breakfast to karke jaa"

"Jaake kar lunga kahin"

Abhi almost reached near the main door his didi grabbed him;

"Abhi, why your eyes are reddish ? Tu phirse nahi soya theek se ?"

"Aisi baat nahi hai didi, vo thoda jaldi neend toot gayi....."

"Jhut mat bol, sab samajhti hu mai. Usko bhula nahi paya na ?"

"Didiiiii...."

"Chal it's ok. But breakfast kiye bina kahin nahi jayega tu. Laa mai khila deti hu"

.

.

.

Abhi couldn't step outside without breakfast. Didi and mom are his little world now. They care him a lot but too some emptiness chases him always.

He reached in market by foot. Opened the shtter of his flower shop, sprinkle water in the front yard. He's running this shop from two years to help his family economically. Various types of flowers he sales here. The business helps him to distract from heartache. His shop's name is "Amaryllis".

  A truck came soon to deliver him fresh flowers and saplings. Abhi took his goods -- Orchids, Tulips, Marigolds and the most special Amaryllis.

Time runs, the crowd being increased in the market. Abhi too was busy with customers, suddenly his eyes stuck in opposite side of footpath.

.

.

A handsome, stylish guy standing there. Abhi couldn't recognise him first but his mind said you know him.... He was wearing sunglasses but Abhi realises he's staring at Abhi's shop. The guy crossed the road, hesitantly came to the shop. Abhi too saw him closely and noticed the neck mole....... It was totally an improbable moment for Abhi, he became more sure when the guy took off the sunglasses. Those eyes! Those thick eyebrows, that peach coloured lips which are trembling now. Abhi's had a gap too between his lips, eyelids forgot to blink. So, after eight long years, he came finally.....

.

.

.

"Abhi....." Mayank said gulping his tears "Kaise ho ?" and tried to smile but failed.

"Badiya, bohot badiya" Abhi replied sarcastically after a few seconds. He couldn't move his eyes from Mayank. Many changes occured in his look, the skinny body became mascular, beard covered the jaws, he became more attractive and handsome.

Anyhow Abhi controlled his thoughts and said again --- "Hope you too are bindass" and acted of being busy in nurturing the flowers.

Mayank smiled finally with a heavy burden in heart --- "Bade ho gaye ho ?"

"Hmm, aur mature bhi. Majak ko majak se lena sikh gaya hu"

His tease pinched Mayank's heart again. He continued to see Abhi controlling tears.

"Zindagi humare sath majak karta hai Abhi, aur hum ek dusre ko blame karte hain"

"Haan, jaise aat saal pehle zindagi mujhse majak kiya tha. Whatever, let it go. Bohot dino baad aaye ho, suna hai apna business bhi chalu kiye wahan, settle ho gaye ho to Shaadi ki invitation kab milenge ?" Abhi lifted an eyebrow making Mayank laugh.

"Kabhi shaadi hogi to jarur mil jayenge"

Some customers interrupted their meeting. Mayank stood aside, when the customers gone he came again.

"Abhi, privacy me baat ho sakta hai ?"

"Mujhse ab konsi baat reh gya tumhara ?"

"Hai kuch. I know I don't deserve, but believe me, I came back only to expiate for past and healing the wounds. Please...."

"I'm not gonna let someone play with me again! Jo bolna hai yahin bolo" Abhi glared at Mayank.

"Sorry Abhi, yaha nahi bol sakta. And I've no intention to hurt you again, it's really some necessary matters you should know..."

"Mere pas tum logon jaise aleshani aur timepass ka waqt nahi hai Mayank! Ghar chalane ki liye ek chhotasa business hai mera jispe din bhar busy rehta hu mai" Abhi yelled.

"Tumne mere liye apna bohot kuch barbaad kiya hai Abhi, for the last time, thoda aur kar lo. Phir mei wapas chala jayunga USA, kabhi nahi aayunga pareshan karne ki liye..." 

At this moment Mayank couldn't control weeping. But soon he managed himself when he saw Abhi too is being emotional.

"Aah...your shop is so beautiful" Mayank forcefully smiled.

Abhi replied with teary eyes, "Kuch loge tum ?"

Mayank already saw the shop's name and the special red amaryllises. He pressed his lips and indicated on them, then again stared at Abhi with that eight-years old noughty lover's eyes.

Abhi took a bunch of Amaryllises, tied them and raised to Mayank.

"How much ?" Mayank asked holding the bunch and Abhi's fingers too.

"No need to pay"

"It's not fair Abhi, first time I came in your shop"

"Suppose I'm greeting you with them for your settlement"

Abhi didn't smile with lips, but a genuine smile glittered in his eyes. Once again Mayank hit him with his Romeo smile and went away.

Customers again gathered in the shop making Abhi busy. He couldn't get time to shuffle the sudden meeting in his mind. Among the crowd of people it seems like a dream, like hallucination. May be Mayank never came, Abhi was just imagining, as he imagines all time.

But that myth broken down when he discovered a folded chit under the glass jar of Amaryllis.

•

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Adiraj_B don't cry. Tomoshar seshe bhorer aalo futbe. Tarpor sudhui romance ar delulu. I've planned special something for you in next chapters.