14.2.2021

Meeting someone during the journey of our life isn't some chance encounter. Each person we meet holds a significant role in shaping our life. Sometimes a relation that begins smoothly ends up tangling all our emotions in a way that it needs months; sometimes even years to untangle and heal ourselves. Then there on the other hand are also times when a relationship gets commenced with bitterness; petty quarrels, magically or rather unconsciously takes a beautiful turn and converts that bitter relationship into a bond that not only lasts forever but also makes us feel alive each day in this otherwise monotonous and chaotic life. That relationship soon becomes the center of attraction for us. The relationship that feels like home where love and warmth stay forever and develop throughout.

What role would one complete stranger end up playing in our life and how he or she would help us in shaping our life in a way that we never imagined, we have no idea about it! It is as much a mystery as the universe itself is and all we can do is wait patiently to get it unraveled.

Two such strangers are Sujal and Kashish who before attending the wedding functions of their respective parents' friend's son – Pratham, didn't have the slightest idea that this alliance of the bride and the bridegroom would become a cue for bringing these two strangers together and bind them in a forever relationship.

Universe plays a significant role in bringing together the soul mates. Everything itself falls in correct place at that moment. And nothing, nothing could stop the energies of those two beings to flow into each other and get tangled to each other forever. They blend together with such ease that there seems nothing that could drag them apart.

Each person sent by the universe into our life has a certain period of their existence in our life. But there are also amongst them persons who are sent to stay in our life until death do us apart! Each person is like a chapter of the book of our life. How lengthy or short the chapter would be, it remains decided already and unfolds in front of us gradually. Sometimes leaving us amazed by the length of the period and sometimes taking us by shock by the brief chapters.

"Mumma, maine aapse kaha tha ke mujhse ye functions attend nahi hote, phir bhi aapne zabardasti bhej diya mujhe.",

scowls Sujal, talking to his mother over the phone, standing around the entrance of the venue where Pratham and Anjali are about to get married.

"Beta Pratham tera dost hai aur uske Papa tere Papa ke business partner, acha lagta hai kya agar hum mein se koi unke bete ki shadi attend karne na jaye?",

Veena tries to explain Sujal.

"To aap bhi aa jate na Mumma. Kam se kam main yahan inn subke beech awkward to feel nahi karta.",

says Sujal.

"Phir tumhare Papa ka dhyan kon rakhta?",

smiles Veena.

"Haan aap wahan hain hi kis liye aur apne pati ke zarooraton ka dhyan rakhne ke liye.",

taunts Sujal, looking towards the crowd unconsciously.

"Sujal!",

scolds Veena.

Sujal shakes his head knowing that now they would repeat the age old conversation all over again where Veena would defend her husband but Sujal wouldn't accept her thoughts at all.

•••••

The chiming of anklets hits Sujal's eardrums and succeeds in vibrating the strings of his heart. For that brief moment his subconscious turns hyperactive and his every sense gets dragged towards the source of the sound. And when he finally chooses to turn, it feels as if his heart has skipped beating for a brief moment, such is the effect of the ethereal beauty in front of his eyes.

Quickly bringing the conversation with his mother to an end Sujal walks towards her, his eyes glued to her. Never before this moment had Sujal behaved in a manner that to any of his onlooker would look inappropriate. Sujal could plead for forgiveness later, if need arrives, but at the moment nothing seems to have the ability to stop him from being pulled towards the beauty in front of his eyes.

With a little smile on his face and eyes not blinked since the moment they get hold of the ethereal beauty in front of them, Sujal walks towards her, spellbound!

This is so not him! Sujal never gets attracted towards woman; it is rather the other way round.

Sujal has always been a reserved person ever since his school days. With knowledge par excellence and his reserved nature he has set an aura around himself which others – especially girls has hesitated to trespass and reach him easily. Despite his this nature and aura he fails to understand how his appeal to girls would be alluring and worth devoting their time and interest to. They would discuss him in his absence and re-discuss him secretly in his presence right in front of their eyes. But Sujal, he would hardly get affected by these attention that he would get. Rather the more attention he would get from a woman, the more he would lose interest in her and the more a woman resists him, the more would he get bind to her with an intention to learn the depth of her and the reason of her ignorance towards him.

How hard might he try to settle this issue of his but he could do nothing about his this nature. The moment he gets the attention of a woman, which he normally gets easily, he begins to lose interest in her.

Sujal follows her, staring her throughout, smiling throughout. Her baby pink full sleeved suit with silver embroidery neatly done on it adds into her beauty. Her curled hair left lose twirls as she turns to look towards her friends, laughing at some joke best known to them. Her turning towards her friends briefly whilst enjoying the chatter helps Sujal to get frequent glimpse of the one whom he fails to drag his eyes from.

•••••

As Sujal strands leisurely at the open ground the final decoration of which is still in the process, he happens to stop abruptly as his right foot rests in front of an anklet. Getting down on his feet, Sujal picks up the anklet and observes it carefully. He gets taken by surprise when a left foot gets placed in front him, as if demanding him to adorn her ankle with the anklet that he is holding in his hand. Observing the same posture, Sujal looks up such that his forehead gets creased.

Sujal and Kashish stare each other never blinking their eyes.

The clarinet gets blown to attract the aura of wedding and celebration.

The softly blowing breeze as Sujal and Kashish inhale it, smells that of rose. Rose - the mascot of love. And in that brief moment when their eyes remain locked; the clarinet continues blowing and the fragrance of rose continues filling the air, all of it collectively makes Sujal and Kashish feel a sensation that they have stayed unfamiliar to till date.

It feels as if their respective body has come to a standstill position and their spirits are leaving their respective body with an intention to quench the thirst of uniting with each other. Kashish smiles a little, staring Sujal throughout. Sujal unwillingly tears his gaze from Kashish to look towards her bare ankle. Smile stretches on his lips as he realizes that it is in his hands to adorn her ankle with the anklet that he possess at the moment. Kashish pulls her lehenga a little to give him access to her ankle.

"Meri amanat aapke paas hai.",

says Kashish, smiling, staring Sujal.

Sujal smiles back at her and whilst putting her anklet around her ankle, Sujal says,

"Zara sambhal kar rakhiyega ayenda apni amanat ko; mere haath lag gayi to shayad dobara wapas dene ka mera irada na ho."

Staring up at her throughout, Sujal gives her a teasing smile.

Kashish smiles back at him. Something about his look and his aura make it impossible for Kashish to react in any other way, that might hurt Sujal.

"Ek to main apni amanat kisi ke paas chorhti nahi, bhool se bhi. Aur agar chorh bhi doon to wapas lena mujhe bakhoobi aata hai.",

smiles Kashish, challenging Sujal.

Sujal could feel adrenaline rush hearing her.

Standing up, staring her throughout, tilting his head a little towards left, Sujal keeps smiling at her.

His silence disturbs Kashish. This was not something that she had expected. Something about Sujal's persona tells Kashish that he is not someone who would stay quiet in situation such as this one, but this is exactly what he is in front of her - quiet! She mentally fights with her thought about Sujal and what she is receiving from him - the exact opposite! It frustrates her.

The frustration when Sujal receives from other girls, deep down gives him immense satisfaction. But he doesn't understand why when the lines of frustration appear on Kashish's forehead, it turns Sujal restless!

Frustrated by his silent reaction Kashish walks past him, staring him one last time. And in that brief moment she could feel her breath caught at her throat such is the effect of Sujal on her, which she denies to accept even to herself.

•••••

Kashish stops a waiter and picks up a glass of cold drink.

"Har jagah dhoondh liya aapko aur aap yahan hain?"

Sujal's voice succeeds in skipping Kashish's heartbeat. She turns to look towards him.

Knitting her brows, she asks him,

"Aap mujhe kyun dhoondh rahe the?"

Shaking his head, staring her with his eyes filled with naughtiness and challenge, Sujal replies,

"Ahan! Main nahi, aap mujhe dhoondh rahi theen!",

and gives her his dazzling smile that churns Kashish's insides and forces her to cascade her eyes.

"Ye to maine aapki soch ko zubaan di!",

smiles Sujal, confidently.

Kashish could feel her cheeks warming up hearing him. She realises that he indeed has worded her thoughts. Why is it getting impossible for her to keep something secret from him?

"Main aapke barey mein kyun sochungi?",

asks Kashish, looking anywhere but towards Sujal.

Smiling at her innocent question, Sujal says,

"Ye aap mujhse tab pooch rahi hain jab aap ek pal ke liye bhi mujhe apne dimag se nikal nahi pa raheen?!"

Kashish could feel his confident words sucking the air out of her lungs. She stares him dumbstruck!

Unable to tolerate the change in her breathing rate and rate of her heartbeat which is the result of Sujal's presence in front of her, Kashish, cascading her eyes turns to leave when she gets arrested at her place by Sujal's next and desperate words,

"Kya mujhse durr bhaagna zaroori hai? Jab tum aur main, dono hi ye jante hain ke hum ek dusre se baat karna chahte hain; ek dusre ke saath kuch waqt guzarna chahte hain."

Kashish could feel her every nerve ending standing erect hearing Sujal. The confidence about her thoughts and feelings in his words succeeds in sending shivers to run down Kashish's spine.

Slowly she turns to look towards Sujal. Sujal stares her back, smiling slowly at her.

•••••

They walk together. Sujal whilst picking up a flower from a plate filled with flowers to be woven into a garland, asks Kashish,

"So, kahan se baat shuru karein? Formal introduction se?",

smiling, he looks towards Kashish.

Kashish looks towards Sujal, reading him. She smiles sweetly at him.

"Chaliye kam se kam aap hansi to.",

he says, smiling.

"Kashish! I am Kashish Sinha. Pratham ke parents aur mere parents, they are friends.",

smiles Kashish, looking towards Sujal.

Sujal nods his head in understanding.

"Aur aap?",

asks Kashish.

"Sujal Garewal! Pratham mera eklauta dost hai iss duniya mein.",

Sujal smiles coyly.

Kashish smiles and tilts her head a little towards her left, staring Sujal lovingly, she asks him,

"Kyun? Koi aapse dosti nahi karta ya kisi se dosti karna aapko pasand nahi?"

Hiding her amusement, she quickly adds,

"Waise second case to I doubt!",

she purses her lips.

Sujal raises his brows on getting teased by Kashish. Smiling wider.

Kashish laughs secretly gauging his reaction.

Looking towards her Sujal asks her,

"To apko lagta hai main yun shadiyan attend karta hoon aur mauke dhoondhta hoon ladkiyon se dosti karne ke?"

Kashish, ignoring to look towards him, raises her shoulders and brows, as if saying - 'who knows'!

That attitude of hers makes the adrenaline to rush through Sujal's veins. But nothing about it irks him; it rather gives him a sense of joy. Weird it might sound, but currently this is the fact of his life - this girl who is walking next to him, even through her negative thoughts about Sujal has the power to attract and bind him to herself. If that smile that is adorning her face costs his getting teased by her, then even that is acceptable to Sujal.

"Na ladkiyon ko tang karna meri aadat hai; aur na hi ladkiyon ke peeche ghoomne mein main apna waqt barbaad karta hoon Kashish.",

Sujal states it clearly.

The sudden change in his tone, though not rude but strict, catches Kashish's attention and turns her serious. She stares him deep into his eyes and discovers nothing but honesty in them. The honesty succeeds in attracting her towards him.

"Magar najane kyun tumse khudko durr kar nahi pa raha.",

says Sujal, serious, knitting his brows tight. His eyes stare Kashish in a way as if he is trying to search the reason - why he is unable to pull himself away from her.

Nothing about his words to Kashish sounds fake! Her heart clenches as she finds resemblance in his and her own feelings about their current situation.

Can two people think exactly the same about their current situation? Stay equally confused about what is brewing up between them? Or is it that they are scared to accept consciously something that they unconsciously already know - the truth about their relationship!

"Main bhi!",

says Kashish, effortlessly.

And the moment she utters those words, she could feel a sensation as if a weight got uplifted from her heart. She could breath easily now.

Sujal, upon hearing her, for a brief moment goes numb, as if this is all a part of his imagination. Did she really say that? And so easily?

•••••

Kashish realises that she shouldn't have said that. She could feel a sudden tension running down her nerves; her breath turns shallow.

Casting her eyes downwards out of hesitation, she begins to explain,

"Ahmm... mera... mera matlab..."

Sujal smiles discovering her feeling shy and awkward.

He takes a deep breath. Smiling, looking towards Kashish he says,

"Relax!"

Kashish slowly looks towards him. His comforting her affects her and little smile comes on her face.

Walking forth they pass by a group of girls practicing their dance performance.

"Tum perform nahi kar rahi?",

asks Sujal, smiling, knitting his brows lightly.

Kashish looks towards the girls, smiling she says,

"Nahi."

Looking towards Sujal she says,

"Waise abhi kuch pata nahi sub force to kar rahe the phone par.",

smiling, Kashish shakes her head.

Sujal smiles too looking towards Kashish.

"Karlo! Iss bahane main bhi dekh lunga tumhara dance.",

smiles Sujal.

Kashish smiles and blushes hearing him.

•••••

Together they sit on a bench placed at a corner.

Sujal presses his forehead lightly, starting from the centre, moving towards the left corner.

Kashish looks towards him and asks in concern,

"Kya hua?"

"Hmmm...?",

says Sujal turning to look towards Kashish.

"Kuch nahi aise hi thoda sir dard tha.",

says Sujal and smiles politely.

"Kuch der aaram karlo.",

suggest Kashish out of concern.

Sujal smiles and teases her,

"Taaki tumhe mujhse durr rehne ka bahana mil jaye?",

he arches his right brow to tease her further.

That comes as a surprise for Kashish. She surely didn't mean that.

"Mera... mera wo matlab nahi tha Sujal.",

she quickly clears the doubt.

Sujal laughs.

"Arey tum nervous kyun ho rahi ho? Main to mazak kar raha tha.",

says Sujal, whilst the laughter fades.

Kashish could feel her cheeks turning warm.

"Hmm... matlab Madam mujhse durr jana nahi chahteen?",

teases Sujal, narrowing his eyes on Kashish.

Kashish looks towards Sujal, smiling in shyness.

"Pehli mulakat mein hi mujhe itna judge kar lena... aap mujhe lekar over confident nahi ho rahe? Ya shayad aapko apne barey mein ye galatfehmi hai ke aapki taraf koi bhi ladki aasani se attract ho sakti hai?",

asks Kashish, teasing him, smiling.

Laughing a little, Sujal asks,

"Auron ki chorho, tum apne barey mein batao Kashish!"

And with those words his stare turns dark and possessive on Kashish.

"Tum kya sochti ho mere barey mein?",
asks Sujal.

The little smile on his face and his twinkling eyes speak about his confidence about his positive impression on her.

Something about the confidence in him attracts Kashish to Sujal.

Something about the softening of her eyes after being attracted towards him attracts Sujal to Kashish all the more. She at least is not resisting herself from being attracted towards him. She is willing to give him a chance; willing to give themselves a chance.

"Main pehli mulakat mein hi kisi ko judge nahi kar leti.",

says Kashish, softly, staring Sujal throughout.

"Aur rahi baat attract hone ki...."

Their stare slowly turns intimate.

Kashish suddenly realises that she is staring him. Quickly looking away, taking a deep breath, clearing her mind she states clearly,

"To mujhe nahi lagta aap mein aisa kuch bhi hai jo mujhe aapki taraf kheench sakta hai.",

and gives him a teasing smile, avoiding to look towards him.

Sujal nods his head into affirmative, smiling, staring her.

"Chalo theek hai ye sub na sahi par hum dost to bann sakte hain na?",

and he forwards his hand towards her, smiling.

Kashish looks towards his extended hand, perplexed.

"Come on Kashish, ab itna bhi kuch nahi mang raha tumse ke tumhe itna sochna parhe.",

Sujal smiles sweetly at her.

Kashish accepts his friendship. They stare each other. The friendly stare that Sujal gives to her increases her confidence in him manifolds. She could sense that there is nothing evil attached to his gesture of friendship towards her. She smiles back at him.

•••••

After few hours Kashish searches for Sujal desperately.

"Abhi kuch der pehle to yahin tha. Pata nahi kahan gayab ho gaya. Samjh hi nahi aata ek pal mere ankhon ke saamne hota hai aur ek pal....",

she stops abruptly when her eyes rest on Sujal who is laughing sitting at a corner encircled by few girls; fewer ladies and fewest gentlemen.

His having a gala time with the girls leaving her behind irks Kashish. She could feel her cheeks emitting heat witnessing Sujal and his deed.

Walking to him, holding her waist from both sides, Kashish couldn't help herself from shouting at him,

"Sujal!"

Her tone succeeds in skipping Sujal's heartbeat and drags his attention. He looks towards her, widening his eyes.

"Kya hua Kashish?",

asks Sujal, stunned.

The way all of his companions stare her with questioning looks on their faces makes Kashish to realise that she must have sounded impolite. She cascades her eyes for a brief moment out of hesitation. Mustering her courage she shoots glance towards Sujal and in a tone that conveys to Sujal that she is in no mood to drag this discussion unnecessarily, she says,

"Humein dance practice ke liye jana hai. Chalo!"

She turns to leave without even caring to listen to his decision.

Smiling, arching his brows in surprise, he repeats her word,

"Chalo!?"

"Tumhe nahi lagta tumhe thoda polite hona chahiye? And 'chalo!' na bolkar 'chalein?' puchna chahiye?",

says Sujal, with an intention to tease Kashish.

Kashish looks heavenwards and takes a deep breath, tolerating his words.

Turning, plastering a smile on her face, Kashish, acting to be extra sweet and polite, asks him,

"Chalein Sujal?"

Sujal laughs secretly, realising her state.

The girls leave.

Sujal extends his hand towards Kashish, a gesture of asking her to help him get up, smiling seductively at her.

Shaking her head in slow succession, smiling a little, staring him throughout, Kashish holds his hand. Sujal tightens his hold on her hand. They stare each other for further few moments after which Kashish pulls him lightly towards herself. Sujal immediately gets up.

They continue staring each other. Smiling, arching his right brow, Sujal gestures Kashish to set him free of her hold. Kashish immediately leaves his hand, feeling awkward. She tucks her tendril of hair behind her ear self consciously. Everything about her keeps attracting Sujal to Kashish.

•••••

Away from the eyes of the crowd, Sujal and Kashish walk to the place where they were expected to reach for the practice of their dance performance. But they discover no one there other than themselves.

Walking forth and away from Sujal, Kashish looks here and there in confusion and says,

"Arey kahan gaye sub? Yahin to aane ko bola tha."

Sujal smiles staring a puzzled Kashish, standing transfixed at his place.

"Kashish, agar tum mujhe miss kar rahi thi to seedhe-seedhe bata deti na. Ye bahane banane ki kya zaroorat thi?",

Sujal bites his lower lip to hide his amusement.

Kashish couldn't believe that she heard that. Widening her eyes in utter shock she turns to look towards Sujal and asks,

"Kya matlab?"

Sujal laughs silently, staring her throughout.

"Tumhe lagta hai main tumhare saath waqt beetane ke bahane dhoondh rahi thi? Jhoot kaha maine ke humein yahan dance practice ke liye ana hai?",

asks Kashish, unable to take it that he indirectly is calling her liar.

Sujal laughs further and tries to calm her down,

"Acha-acha relax."

Kashish shakes her head, staring him.

Sujal looks around and says,

"Ab jab koi nahi hai to....",

he turns to look towards Kashish.

Kashish completes his words, looking away,

"Haan chalte hain."

The moment she walks forth to leave, Sujal stops her holding her wrist. That skips Kashish's heartbeat. After the initial shock she turns to look towards Sujal, slowly and gets surprised to discover his eyes down casted and a little smile stretched on his lips.

"Sujal...!",

calls out Kashish, hesitantly, softly, tilting her head a little towards right.

Sujal, smiling sweetly throughout, slowly looks towards Kashish. They stare each other. Sujal gestures her to stay there. Walking forth he walks towards the music player and a melodious romantic track fills the air, setting Kashish's rate of heartbeat at a higher pace.

Staring her throughout, Sujal extends his hand in front of her, smiling. Kashish fails to hide the throbbing of her heart and her blushed cheeks. Smile cease to leave her face even for a moment. His each gesture oozes his pure feelings for Kashish which how hard might Kashish try but fails to take it as fake.

Kashish doesn't realize how her each reciprocation of his gesture is binding him to her all the more. The final knots that were serving as hindrance between them, Kashish's each gesture of acceptance succeed in untying them.

Kashish understands that her placing of her hand in his hand wouldn't only mean that she is accepting him as her dance partner but much more than that, such is the level of understanding between them. When did they manage to understand each other so perfectly, they have no idea about it. All they know is whatever they are doing at the moment; whatever they are feeling at the moment, they want it and they are enjoying it!

Pulling her lightly towards himself Sujal leads the dance. His each step slow, letting her to understand the rhythm, giving her time to flow with him. Their stare remains intact throughout. The smile on their face conveys how they are enjoying the moment; their presence in front of each other. Not a word gets exchanged between them. It is rather their eyes that do the talking. It is their heartbeats that race against each other as they get all the more involved in the dance. Kashish couldn't help herself from laughing freely, enjoying. Sujal smiles wide, gauging her each gesture.

The cool breeze messes up Kashish's hair. Sujal slowly adjusts her hair tendril, setting it behind her ear. Closing her eyes, Kashish feels his touch. Their dance comes to an abrupt halt. Sujal takes his time staring each change that comes on her face - the way her cheeks begin turning red; the way her body starts emitting heat; the sudden change in her rate of heartbeat. Her knitting of her brows conveys to Sujal of her heightened up desires.

Unable to resist herself anymore Kashish embraces Sujal into a warm and tight hug, her eyes remain closed; her brows tightly knit. Sujal embraces her back. His face expression calm and composed. He could feel the emptiness in him getting filled. He finds his own feelings weird. How can a mere hug make you feel complete? But for once he skips torturing himself by searching for logics and reasons and rather listens to his heart's desire to enjoy this moment; feel Kashish's presence.

Sometimes it is better to let your emotions flow easily without putting any barrier.

Never before coming to this place did Sujal and Kashish have the slightest idea that they are to find their soulmate in each other. It sometimes takes years to realise about your feelings for someone and sometimes the strings of two hearts get tangled the moment two people meet each other. Universe has its own beautiful way to bring together two people who are meant to exchange their hearts and stay together forever. All one needs to have is patience and faith and realise that the writer up there is working on creating a beautiful plot and a super amazing happy ending where they will stay together forever!

-THE END-
(19.2.2021)