Happy Navratri to all of you!
Really sorry for delay, was stuck in some important things.

Happy Reading!

"Achha Aditya" Naina started and he raised brows at Naina

"Sorry Sorry, Adi,...tum bhi yaha naye ho?" The girls with Aditya were sitting in the Canteen after attending long lectures today.

"Haan matlab, admission session ke starting se hi ho gaya tha but meri dadi ki tabiyat kharab thi na kuch mahino se to hum sab Agra mein reh rahe the" answered Aditya sipping into his 'Thril'

"Hum sab matlab?"

"Wo aur uske Mummy Papa yaha rehte hai aur uski dadi aur baki relatives Agra mein" this time Khushi was the one to answer.

While Aditya was grinning ear to ear, Naina was having a teasing smile on her face,"Tujhe bada pata hai Adi ke baare main sab..hmm"

Khushi who was busy munching Samosa moved her head upwards and realised her mistake.

"Wo...mujhe pata hai bas...us..usme kya hai...sabko pata tha jo jo humare class main padhta tha" She shrugged her shoulders without meeting eyes with them.

Seeing her reaction, Naina and Aditya couldn't control her laugh.

"Haan, tu to iska saath degi na, tera saga jo hai" Khushi hollered at Naina.

"Acha sorry" Naina held her ears with a innocent face smiling cutely "Maaf karo, Insaaf karo"

Khushi pulled her cheeks and took her in a hug.

"Naina, tu Ahmedabad se hai na?" Khushi asked.

"Haan, kyu?"

"Maine suna hai waha bahut achhe Samose milte hai" Khushi couldn't control her excitement.

"Haan Naina, Khushi ko samose bahut pasand hai to tum jab bhi Ahmedabad jaogi to iske liye le aana" Informed Aditya with an excitement more than Khushi.

"Tumse kisi ne Pucha?" Glared Khushi

"Haan Haan le aaungi Khushi ke liye...balki Khushi ko hi le jaungi apne saath Ahmedabad phir tumhe pura sheher dikhaungi..." Both did a hi-fi. "Aur Aditya Agra se hai to hume Taj Mahal dikhayega.. " this time Aditya was one to raise his hand in front of Naina for a hi-fi but controlled immediately and put his hands down as he was now well aware about her.

Naina smiled gratefully and when she saw Aditya was busy eating Samosa, whispered to Khushi "Kitna achha ladka hai na Adi...tu isko ignore kaise kar sakti hai?"

Khushi gaved a shocking reaction to her as Naina praising a boy was not a normal thing.

At the same time, Aditya stood up to go to the washroom.

As they were discussing about the upcoming exams, Aditya interrupted them "Guys, mujhe kuch urgent kaam hai toh main jaata hu, you enjoy your gossips"

"Gossips karte hoge tum, humare paas itna faltu waqt nahi rehta" Khushi flared.

"Tum gussa karte waqt kitni cute lagti ho!" He winked and vanished before Khushi could stand up from her chair.

She was clearly pissed "Itna hi achhhaaa ladka hai toh tu bhaav dede na." Khushi smiled fakely at Naina.

Naina immediately realised what Khushi meant by her words.
"Hawaa aane de...Pa...Pagal hai kya? Kya bole ja rahi hai? Kuch toh soch samajhkar bola kar! "

She couldn't even dream about thinking like this for any boy except Sameer. Appreciation for Aditya by her was genuine and was about how he respects girls. And she wanted the same to be realised by Khushi.

Khushi laughed slightly, "Chill Naina, I was just joking. Mujhe laga tu usse..."

"Aisa bilkul nahi hai okay? Main usse sirf ek friend ki nazar se dekhti hu, tu...tu aisa soch bhi kaise sakti hai?" Naina was clearly upset is what Khushi can see. But she was confused, it was not a big deal to be so stressed about. Why is Naina behaving like that?

"Naina? Kya hua tujhe?" Khushi was concerned.

"Kuch Nahi. Achha main chalti hu...aaj ka bohot saara homework bhi karna hai na...aur dusre bhi kuch kaam hai" She (Naina) was not meeting her (Khushi) eyes.

"Haan...but...okay! Dhyan rakh apna." Khushi smiled.

Naina got up, picked her bags and was about to turn when she stopped and apologised, "Sorry Khushi...mera tujh par chillane ka irada nahi tha...wo bas mujhe ye sab nahi pasand.."

"It's okay Naina, koi problem nahi hai baba." Khushi hugged her and whispered "Aaj shaam, 5 baje, college gate"

Naina was confused and before she could ask anything Khushi bid her bye and was gone.

In the hostel room, Sameer was again dominating her thoughts. She just can't stop loving him. How could she? To unlove him didn't seem as easy as loving him.

She moved towards her study table where a photo of Lord Krishna was kept. "Kanha tum toh samjhte ho na, aur sab jante bhi ho, jab kuch hona hi nahi tha, toh usse milwaya kyu? Pyaar kyun hone diya? Tum to pyaar ke devta ho, na jaane kya kya kiya tha tumne apne pyar, apni radha ke liye. Mere liye bhi kuch rasta nikal do na, please kanha" She joined her hands in front of him, closed her eyes and prayed. She could say anything to her friend Kanha and the only thing she should know is that he never disappoints his true devotees.

Exactly above the floor, Khushi was folding her clothes and keeping them in her cupboard. When her telephone started to ring.

She picked up the telephone, when she was greeted with a hello from other side.

"Hello, Khushi?"

"Aap kaun?"

"Khushi main Aditya..."

"Tum? Tumhari jurrat kaise hui mujhe phone karne ki?" She was angry by now.

"Khushi..please daant baad mein lena..abhi meri baat suno..." His tone represented urgency.

"Kya kaam hai tumhe mujhse?" She sat on the chair beside because she knew this would take long.

He explained his problem "Wo actually mujhe papa ke office main urgently jana tha toh papa ne hi mujhe college se pick kar liya tha, toh meri gaadi wahi college mein hai, aur chabi maine ek ladki ko di hai, jo tumhare hi floor par rehti hai..uska naam hai Anjali, room number 305...toh kya tum please use chabi lekar apne paas rakhkar, gaadi ka thoda dhyan rakh sakti ho? Only if you don't have any problem..."

"Gaadi matlab?"

"Gaadi matlab...gaadi...vehicle.." He laughed at the other end

"Idiot. Wo mujhe bhi pata hai. Meaning nahi pucha tumse maine..."

"Toh??"

"Gaadi matlab...kaisi gaadi? Scooter, bike, kya hai?" She needed details to do what he said.

"Motorcycle, Black wali, Royal Enfield hai aur.." He tried to explain when she cut him short "Royal Enfield? Woww...I mean How? tumhare paas toh Hero thi na?"

"Tumhe bada yaad hai kaunsi thi? I am flattered, itna notice kiya hai matlab tumne mujhe?"

"O please, Shut up. Main ladko ko nahi, unki bikes ko notice karti thi" She clarified.

"Mat maano, mujhe kya?" He shrugged at the other end.

"Tum baat mat badhao aur number bolo gaadi ka..."

"Khushi, I know you can ride bikes. So if possible can you just start my bike and take a round in it, so that it doesn't get jammed overnight"

Khushi was sceptical but she can never deny someone who needs her help.

Aditya knew how Khushi loved motorbikes and how much she enjoyed riding them. Therefore he indirectly told her to ride it, because she would have never done it if he had said it directly.

"Ab number batane ka kasht karenge aap?" She was acting frustrated

"1012" And before she could run her horses Aditya added, "Bye Khushi, Thank you so much" He knew, one more minute can be very dangerous for him.

Khushi realised exactly ten minutes after hanging up the phone that it was her birthdate and decided to teach him a lesson the next day.

***

The sound of the bike's engine fell into his ears and he walked to the entrance where Sameer was parking his bike.

Sameer put on the stand of the bike and looked up only to see his Nanu admiring him. He ran to him and hugged him.

"Kya soch rahe the nanu?" He asked when they walked inside the house.

"Kuch nahi, bas soch raha tha ki tu kitna bada ho gaya hai bas ab kuch saalo main shaadi karani padegi teri" Nanu laughed.

"Kya nanu! Shaadi? Seriously? Mujhe nahi karni koi shaadi wagera, main akela hi theek hu" He sat on the sofa by keeping his school bad aside.

"Shaadi toh sabko karni padti hai! Mujhe bhi toh apna budhapa sukh se guzarna hai apne pote-potiyo ke saath" Suddenly he was excited and already started imagining about his grandchildren.

"Wo sab badme dekhenge Nanu. Abhi aapne khana khaya?"

"Nahi, main tera hi wait kar raha tha."

"Aap baitho dining table par main khana lagwata hu'' He got up to go to the kitchen to ask Ramdhari to bring lunch.

After they were done with the lunch he went to the room to study. Today was a very hectic day for him. Apart from all the periods in school, he did a non-stop cricket practise with his team in addition to this he did a solo practise session when everyone departed after the team practise.

As he was about to sit at the table for studying, a knock on the door made him look up when he saw Nanu standing there.

"Aao na Nanu! Kuch kaam tha?"

"Nahi kuch kaam toh nahi" Nanu entered the room and went to the corner of the room only to bring his guitar. "Ye pakad.."

"Nanu? Abhi? Par abhi mujhe padhna..." He was skeptical.

"Padhai wagera to hoti rahegi, tujhe abhi iski jarurat hai, aaj bahut thaka hua sa lag raha hai" He patted his head.

Sameer smiled and sat on the chair in front of Nanu.

"Kaunsa sunoge?" He adjusted the strings of the guitar.

"Wahi, jo mera aur teri dadi ka favourite hai '' He had a look of reminiscence in his eyes. "Aur puch toh aise raha hai jaise tujhe sare hindi gaane aate hai, sirf ek hi toh seekha hai tu mere liye, angrez ki aulad" Nanu smacked his head playfully.

Sameer laughed and when he was done with his necessary adjustments in his guitar, he started playing and matched his words with the tune.

पास आइये कि हम नहीं आएंगे बार-बार
बाहें गले में डाल के हम रो लें ज़ार-ज़ार
आँखों से फिर ये प्यार कि बरसात हो न हो
शायद फिर इस जनम में मुलाक़ात हो न हो

लग जा गले कि फिर ये हसीं रात हो न हो
शायद फिर इस जनम में मुलाक़ात हो न हो
लग जा गले से ...

There were tears in Nanu's eyes when he stopped. Nanu hugged him tightly and patted his back, "Wah mere sher, dil khush kar diya tune aaj mera!"

From childhood he had seen his grandfather's love for his grandmother. He had not seen her, because she passed away before his birth but he always imagined him through his Nanu's words. This was their favourite song as Nanu told him and used to listen or sing oftenly whenever he used to miss his wife. Therefore, he learned this only hindi song and surprised him on his birthday by singing this whole song and Nanu had always said that this was his best birthday gift he ever got.

Sameer was very happy to see his grandfather like this. It was just a song, but he could do anything just to see this happiness in his eyes.

***

It was 4.55 pm when Naina got out of her room and waited for Khushi at the college entrance.

The college entrance has a huge black gate, from where a large section of parking started which was surrounded by all the buildings including hostel blocks.

After a minute or so, she saw Khushi coming towards her but got confused when she moved to the left towards the parking section of two wheelers.

Naina got towards her and asked when she saw Khushi kicking a bike to start it, "Ye kya kar rahi hai tu?" Actually she was enthralled to see a girl riding a bike because this was not at all normal in her city. She had never seen a woman riding a bike and by watching Khushi, she was very proud to be her friend.

"Bike Ride!! Tere saath!" Khushi winked.

Naina started to jump like a monkey and hugged Khushi which messed her balance but Khushi handled it.

"Pagal hai kya Naina, gir jate abhi hum, Idiot." Khushi was scolding her. "Kabhi koi ladki ko bike chalate nahi dekha kya?"

"Nahi" Naina nodded her head in a way of no.

"Aww, abhi dekh liya na" Khushi pulled her cheek.

"But tujhe ye bike mili kaha se? Aur hum chal kahan rahe hai?" Naina questioned.

"Arre wo sab badme batati hu, tu pehle baith"

Naina sat one-sidedly on the bike when Khushi asked her to sit normally with her legs on either side, which Naina followed after some reluctance.

Khushi put on the helmet, kicked the bike and started it. As the ride started, they both were feeling out of the world. It was a very new and exciting experience for Naina, but for Khushi it was like a dream, riding a Royal-Enfield.

After some twenty minutes they reached their destination - Tal Katora Lake, where Water, Landscape, Heritage and Recreation comes together to form a public place. It's an artificial lake created in the middle of a walled city to store rainwater. It is the best location for evening walks as known to Khushi and a good view of Badal Mahal Palace from here was a great delight according to her. Every year, Teej and Gangaur festivals take place in these walls in a very grand way.

They both got off the bike and entered the place. Naina was so blissful seeing the amazing view in front of her. The grand and beautiful walls of the palaces. Khushi took Naina inside the palace where the actual lake was present. Khushi told her all about the place and Naina couldn't thank her enough for bringing her there.

"Khushi, yaar tu best hai!" She hugged Khushi out of excitement and Khushi reciprocated. "Achha ye to bata, hum yaha kyu aaye hai aur wo bike kaha se mili tujhe? Aur tujhe bike chalani aati hai?" Naina was bombering questions at her continuously when Khushi interrupted laughingly "Sab batati hu Naina Devi, shant ho ja, chal yaha walk karte karte baat karte hai" Khushi took her with herself and they started walking.

Khushi told her how she got the bike, when she was thinking of something to travel to this place, at the same time Aditya called him to take care of his bike and asked her to ride it so that it didn't get jammed. Naina did an oh and asked why she wanted us to come here when Khushi explained, "Kuch baatein karni thi tujhse, aur tu nayi bhi hai yaha toh socha thoda ghuma lau, aur mere dimag main isse better place nahi aayi"

Naina smiled and asked, "But Adi ko kaise pata chala ki humein kahi jana hai, exact time par call, wao"

"It was just a coincidence, okay?"

"Okay, Coincidence. Ab bata toh sahi kya baat karni hai" They were still walking around the lake.

"Naina, ab tak main tujhe jitna jaani hu na usse mujhe ye pata chalta hai ki tu bahut achhi hai. Aur is liye maine tere saath kabhi mazak karne se hichkichaya nahi..." Naina was confused, when Khushi continued, "But aaj jab maine tere saath mazak kiya, tu wo thi hi nahi jise main janti thi, tu har mazak par haskar ya mujhe markar dam leti thi...aaj to baapre Naina devi ne alag hi darshan de diye mujhe'' She laughed.

"Khushi...I am sorry...wo.."

"Pagal hai kya Naina, tujhe sorry bolne ki koi jarurat nahi hai. Mujhe bilkul bura nahi laga sachme. Dost toh hote hi isliye hai. Bas mujhe ek baat pata chali...aaj tu gussa nahi thi...kuch aur tha teri aankhon mein...ek deniance...ek narazgi...jo bhi samjhe ab tu..."

Naina instantly looked at her and stuttered "Nahi...aisa kuch bhi nahi hai...tujhe galatfehmi hui hai..."

"Main logo ko padhne aur parakhne mein kabhi galat ho hi nahi sakti...khaaskar tab jab wo mere dost ho...toh chup chap bata kis baat se tujhe itna bura laga tha?"

She was about to deny again when Khushi declared, "Nahi batana hai tujhe to theek hai.." Naina finally got relieved when Khushi threw the most powerful weapon "Phir main samajh jaungi ki main teri wo dost ban hi nahi payi jise tu sab bata sake".

Naina was in a dilemma. Her love was a secret of hers, only to herself. The only reason why she was upset was Sameer. And she couldn't even think of any other boy. But this was the thing she couldn't tell anybody about, not even Preet and Swati, who were closest to her. But what would she have told them? That She loved Sameer and Sameer didn't even pay attention to her?

She looked at Khushi and saw her waiting for her story. She knew that Khushi already had an idea and now she has no option but to tell her.

Next update in few days.