"What are you saying? Tune kaha tha tu jitni zaldi ho sake wapas aayega. Aur abhi tu keh raha hai ki tu nahi aayega. Is it some kind of joke?" Said Rishabh with disbelief.

Agastya sighed and said, "Calm down! Maine yeh nahi bola ki main nahi aaunga. Just mera wapas aana postponed ho gaya hai. Marriage Anniversary ke agle hi din main Mumbai wapas aa raha hoon. Even I have booked tickets."

"Postponed karne ki kya zaroorat thi? Tu already itne dino se ghar nahi aaya."

"Yeh bhi toh mera ghar hi hai na? Upar se Sukoon ne aise kaha...."

Rishabh didn't let him finish and said, "Sukoon matlab teri woh nayi dost? Phir toh sahi hai. Accha kiya tune. Bohut pyaar se bola hoga na usne tujhe rukne ke liye?"

"Haan pyaar se....." Agastya suddenly stopped realising that Rishabh was teasing him and asked, "Tu kehna kya chah raha hai?"

"Yeh hi ki tu gaya. Ek baar phir se tu gaya. You have started feeling for her."

"Feeling?" Asked Agastya with disbelief. "What rubbish!"

"Toh aur kya kahu? Aaj kaal teri har baat pe Sukoon ka zikr hota hai, usse chhor ke tu jaa nahi paa raha, uske ek baar kehne pe tu ruk gaya.... Bhai, pehle se hi warn kar raha hoon. Bohut bure tarike se fasne wala hai tu."

"Rishabh ab tera zyada ho raha hai. She is my friend yaar! Maine uske baare mein kabhi waise nahi socha. Aur abhi meri jo condition hai, main kisi ke bhi baare mein waise nahi soch sakta. Pyaar se main dur hi thik hoon."

"Kyu nahi soch sakta? Tujhe kya lagta hai? Saari ladkiyan uss chudhail Rumi jaisi hoti hai? Sukoon bhi waisi hi niklegi?"

"Pagal hai kya? Sukoon Rumi se bohut alag hai. Woh toh kitni bholi, masoom aur dil ki saaf hai. Rumi sirf dusro ko dard dena jaanti hai. Lekin Sukoon....." Agastya smiled after taking her name and said, "Sukoon jaanti hai kaise dusro mein pyaar aur khushiyan baanti jaati hai. Aaj tak maine jitni bhi ladki dekhi hai, sabse alag hai Sukoon."

Rishabh sighed and said, "That's what I was saying. Tu gaya mere Bhai. Jis ladki ke baare mein tu bina ruke itni saari tareefein kar raha hai, main maan hi nahi sakta tere dil mein uske liye koi feelings nahi hai."

Agastya's expression changed hearing that. He said denying, "Mujhe woh acchi lagti hai iska yeh matlab nahi hai ki mere dil mein uske liye koi feelings hai. So just stop speaking nonsense."

"Accha chal abhi nahi hai. Aage bhi nahi ho sakta kya?"

"Nahi." Replied Agastya sternly. "I only loved Rumi. She broke my heart. Now I can't even think of falling in love again."

"Oh God! Agastya life is all about moving on. Aur tune woh gaana nahi suna? Pyaar hota kayi baar hai."

Agastya rolled his eyes and said, "Shut up Rishabh."

"Ok fine. Tujhe abhi meri baatein samajh mein nahi aayegi. Lekin jab apni feelings ke haathon majboor ho jayega na, tab sochega ki tera yeh dost sahi keh raha tha."

Saying that Rishabh hanged up. Agastya sighed and kept his phone aside.

"Kuch bhi bakwas karta hai yeh. Sukoon aur main? It's not even possible. I don't have any feelings for her." He thought convincing himself.

He came out of the room while thinking, "Galat keh raha tha Rishabh. Mujhe kisi se pyaar nahi ho sakta. Aur Sukoon se toh bilkool bhi nahi. Woh meri bohut acchi dost hai bas. Mere dil mein nahi hai koi feelings uske liye. Nahi hai, nahi hai, koi feelings nahi hai."

Agastya was continuously saying that in his mind.

Suddenly Sukoon came there saying "Agastya suno....."

Before she could complete, Agastya looked at her and said, "Maine bola na mere dil mein koi feelings nahi hai."

"Kiske liye?" Asked Sukoon being puzzled.

Agastya realised what he just said and cursed himself.

"Baataiye kiske liye feelings nahi hai." Said Sukoon.

"Kisi ke liye bhi feelings nahi hai." Said Agastya without thinking.

"Kya bol rahe ho tum?" Asked Sukoon as she couldn't make head or tail of what he was saying.

"Umm.... Mujhe bhi nahi paata main kya bol raha hoon. Just leave me alone!" Said Agastya and immediately left from there.

Sukoon made a confused face and said in her mind, "Isse kya ho gaya?"

Later That Day...

Some people including Agastya and Sukoon, gathered in the hall room to discuss about Anand Dadu and Rekha Dadi's 50th wedding anniversary celebration. They were thinking about doing something special for them.

"Hum sab mil ke naach gaana karenge. Kaisa rahega?" Asked Seema Dadi.

"Dadi woh toh hum humesha hi karte hai. Iss baar unki 50th wedding anniversary hai. Kuch toh alag karna padega na...to make them feel special." Said Sukoon.

"Unn dono ka alag se ek dance performance rakhte hai." Suggested Sheela Dadi.

"Aap ko lagta hai woh dono maanenge? Aur agar maan bhi gaye toh dance karenge kam aur sharmayenge zyada." Said Sukoon to which everyone agreed.

"Toh phir kya kar sakte hai?" Asked Seema Dadi.

"Woh hi toh soch rahi hoon...."

Saying that Sukoon looked at Agastya and asked, "Tumhare paas koi idea....."

She suddenly stopped and a huge smile came to her face.

"Idea!! Ek superb idea mila hai!" Said Sukoon excitedly.

"Kya?" Asked Agastya.

"Iss baar humare bich tum maujood ho. Aur tum kaun ho?"

"Agastya Rao." He replied.

"Arrey woh nahi. Tum ek theatre director ho. Tumne bohut saare play banaye hai. Toh iss baar hum ek play kar sakte hai, Rekha Dadi aur Anand Dadu ki love story ke upar."

"Unki love story ke upar play banaya jaa sakta hai?"

"Kyu nahi? Hum unn dono ka 50 saal ka safar iss play mein dikhayenge. And I know everything about their story. Woh dono kaise mile, baat kaise aage badhi aur bhi bohut kuch. Aur play ko direct karne ke liye toh tum ho hi."

Agastya started thinking.

"Waise Sukoon ka idea accha hai. Hum sab ko kuch naya karne ko milega. Hai na?" Said Seema Dadi.

"Sahi kaha. Mujhe bhi lagta hai humein yeh play karna chahiye." Said Sheela Dadi.

Sukoon looked at Agastya hopefully to know his opinion on this.

After thinking much, he said, "Play toh hum kar sakte hai. Lekin iss play ke liye do hi characters lagenge. Jo young Rekha Dadi aur Anand Dadu ke characters play karenge. So we need a hero and a heroine jinki age kam ho."

Everyone again started thinking.

"Waise yaaha agar koi jawan hai toh woh main hi hoon." Said Sheela Dadi thinking that she would be choosen as the heroine.

"Lekin aap yeh role play nahi kar sakti. Mere khayal se Sukoon sahi rahegi iss role ke liye." Said Seema Dadi.

Sheela Dadi became sad but still she said, "Haan thik hai. Mere baad, Sukoon hi iss role ke liye perfect hai."

Everyone insisted Sukoon to become the heroine. And she agreed.

"Thik hai agar sab hi keh rahe hai then.... I'll play this role." Said Sukoon making everyone happy.

"Chalo heroine toh fixed ho gayi. Hero kaha se laayenge?" Said Agastya.

Everyone immediately looked at Agastya and kept staring at him.

Agastya frowned and asked, "Aap sab mujhe aise kyu ghoor rahe ho? Kahi aap....."

He understood their intention and said, "No. I'm not doing this."

"Agastya Beta humare yaaha sabse kam umar teri hi hai. Hero ka role tu nahi karega toh kaun karega?" Said Seema Dadi.

"Upar se teri shakal bhi hai hero wali. Tujhe yeh role suit karega." Said Sheela Dadi.

"Aap sab chahe kuch bhi keh lo. Main hero ka role nahi karne wala." Said Agastya.

"Par kyu?" Asked Sukoon.

"Arrey main director hoon, actor nahi. Maine kabhi kisi play mein act nahi kiya hai."

"Toh humne kaunsa kiya hai? Humara bhi toh first time hi hai. Upar se hum toh theatre ke saath kahi se jude hue nahi hai. Tumne toh phir bhi play direct kiya hai, tumhe knowledge hai yeh sab kaise kiya jaata hai. Please haan kar do. Rekha Dadi aur Anand Dadu ke baare mein socho. Yeh play unki khushi ke liye hai."

"Main unke baare mein soch raha hoon. Ek kam karte hai, hum aas paas ke kisi theatre actor ko laate hai jo hero ka role karega. We will pay him and he will play in our act. Problem solved!"

Sukoon suddenly hold Agastya's hand and said, "Bahar se hero laaoge toh mujhe thoda awkward feel ho sakta hai. Tumhare opposite play karungi toh mujhe bharosa milega. Isliye mere khatir maan jaao. Please!"

Agastya couldn't say no seeing Sukoon's cute face.

He nodded in yes and said, "Ok I.... Will try to play the lead role."

Sukoon smiled being happy.

"Sukoon ne kaha aur maan gaya? Idhar toh alag hi scene ban raha hai." Said Sheela Dadi in a low voice.

"Main woh hi soch rahi thi. Waise dono saath mein lagte toh bohut acche hai. Kyu?" Said Seema Dadi in a low voice and they both laughed silently.

From the next days they started doing reharsal for the play. In one night, Agastya made the whole script and after that they started doing the arrangements for the play and also other arrangements for the wedding anniversary.

During rehearsals, Sukoon and Agastya came closer as they were spending a lot of time together. Also the people of the old age home noticed the chemistry between them and started manifesting them together.

One night, the old group were discussing about Sukoon and Agastya.

"Accha, Agastya aur humari Sukoon ke bich kuch chal raha hai kya? Kaafi dino se dekh raha hoon. Dono har waqt paas paas rehte hai." Said Anand Dadu.

"Dekh toh hum sab rahe hai. Lekin abhi kuch keh nahi sakte." Said Seema Dadi.

"Sahi kaha. Kabhi kabhi dono ko dekh ke lagta hai ki dono sirf dost hai. Aur kabhi kabhi lagta hai yeh dosti se kuch zyada hi hai." Said Rekha Dadi.

"Jo bhi ho. Agastya khayal toh rakhta hai humari Sukoon ka. Aur Sukoon bhi uske aane ke baad se kuch zyada hi khush rehne lagi hai. Agar dono ke bich sach mein kuch ho jaaye, toh maza hi aa jaaye." Said Sheela Dadi.

"Kya ho jaaye?" Asked Sukoon coming there and they got scared at first. But seeing her expression, they understood that she didn't hear the whole conversation.

"Teri shaadi." Said Anand Dadu suddenly. "Hum yeh hi keh rahe the ki bas ek baar teri shaadi ho jaaye, phir hum chain se upar jaa sakenge. Humein teri chinta nahi rahegi."

"Kaisi baatein kar rahe ho Anand Dadu? Aap sab itni zaldi upar nahi jaane wale. Sab ke sab sau saal tak jeeyenge." Said Sukoon sitting between them.

At that very moment, Agastya was passing by there but stopped seeing them talking.

Seema Dadi chuckled and said, "Lekin humein toh ek na ek din jaana hi hai. Uss se pehle hum tera ghar basta hua dekhna chahte hai."

"Aur teri umar bhi toh badh rahi hai. Tera mann nahi hota kya shaadi kar ke settle hone ka?" Asked Sheela Dadi.

"Bilkool nahi." Replied Sukoon nodding her head negatively. "Mere paas toh aap sab ho. Mujhe kya zaroorat hai kisi aur ki?"

"Beta ek life partner toh sab hi ko chahiye hota hai. Koi aisa jo zindagi ke safar mein humara saathi ban sake. Arrey life partner toh chhor tune aaj tak ek boyfriend bhi nahi banaya." Said Rekha Dadi.

"Main ladko se milti kaha hoon jo boyfriend banaungi?" Asked Sukoon.

"Aaj kaal milne ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Phone pe hi mil jaate hai life partners. Uske liye online app wagera hota hai na?" Said Anand Dadu.

"App ki zaroorat nahi hai. Acche se dhundegi toh aas paas bhi mil jayega." Said Seema Dadi indirectly hinting towards Agastya.

"Mujhe interest hi nahi hai. Par aap sab ko itna interest hai toh aap dhund do kisi ko. Main uss hi se shaadi kar lungi." Said Sukoon.

"Thik hai. Hum hi dhund denge tere liye ek accha sa ladka. Tu bas baata tujhe kya kya qualities chahiye apne life partner mein." Said Sheela Dadi.

Agastya started listening with interest. He was curious to know what kind of life partner Sukoon wanted.

Sukoon thought for a while and said, "Umm... Mera life partner hona chahiye.... Tall, dark, handsome, charming, romantic, rich, well educated, talented, genius, extraordinary, calm, less talkative........"

Sukoon kept saying all the qualities she wanted. Even Agastya lost count of the qualities she said.

After she finished, all widened their eyes and asked, "Itne saare qualities ek ladke mein?"

Sukoon laughed hearing that and said, "Main mazak kar rahi thi. Mujhe yeh sab nahi chahiye. I just want only one quality. Jo mera life partner hoga, woh mere saath saath aap sab ko bhi apnayega. Agar aisa koi milta hai toh thik hai, warna main single hi thik hoon."

Saying that Sukoon stood up. All smiled as well as Agastya. Nowadays girls' expections are very high. But Sukoon's expections were nothing in front of them.

"Main abhi sone jaa rahi hoon. Aap sab bhi so jaao. Good night!" Said Sukoon and left from there.

"Yeh jaate jaate bhi Agastya ki hi baat kar gayi." Said Seema Dadi and Agastya's expression changed.

"Agastya hi toh hai jisne kuch hi din mein hum sab ko apna liya hai." Said Anand Dadu.

"Jodiya toh uparwala bana ta hai. Sayad unhone dono ko milaya hi ek hone ke liye hai. Aur dono muh pe chahe kuch bhi kahe, feelings toh dono ke andar hai ek dusre ke liye." Said Rekha Dadi.

Agastya became shocked knowing about what they were thinking.

"Yeh log bhi aisa sochte hai? Uss din Rishabh bhi yeh hi bol raha tha. Kya sach mein mere dil mein feelings hai Sukoon ke liye? Par aisa kaise ho sakta hai? No, this is not the truth. Or is it?" He said in his mind while his heartbeat became faster than usual.
______________________________________

Does Agastya really have feelings for Sukoon?

Or she is just his friend?

Stay tuned...

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