Sach hote Khwaab

Guftagu

We were back home. As it was just Vashma and me, we had quickly made Khichri for lunch. We chit-chatted the whole afternoon and she grabbed at every opportunity to tease me. At about half past four, Vashma got up.

'Amrit sun main na Kadambari jaa rahi hoon. Do din se gayi nahi na. Fir agle hafte to vaise hi tera vyaah hai. Jo aaj bhi nai gayi to Guruji mujhe bheetar nahi aane denge !', she said in a panicky tone.
'Haan haan tu jaa. Main vi mummyji nu mil aati ha.'
'Haan ye thik hai !'

I went downstairs and waited for her. She came a while later, ready to leave. After locking the house, I waved her off in a tanga and crossed the road to Raizada Sadan. I would be finally living here after some days. I intertwined my fingers and raised my shoulders a bit in excitement.

Holding one end of my dupatta I went in.
'Mummyji?!' , I called out.
'Fursat mil gayi mummyji se milne ki ?', she said coming out of her room with a smile.
'Nai mummyji vo main to bas –'
'Ab to Randheer aa gaya hai na. Mere hisse ka saara time to ab uska hua. I know ! ', she said in a complaining tone.
Stupid me! I should have come to visit her. I was feeling so bad!
'Mainu maaf kardo mummyji !' I replied with a sorry face, 'main vo bas... mainu aana chaiye tha aapke paas. Mainu-'
'Arey bas beta!' She suddenly started smiling. 'Chehra dekho apna. Aise lag raha hai maine kitna daant diya tumhe !'
'Aap naraaz nahi ho mere naal ?', I asked, confused.
'Main kya samjhti nahi ?! I was just teasing you ! Par tum to sach mein upset ho gayi. Aao baitho', she said seating herself on the sofa. I sat down beside her.
'Amrit, aisi chhoti chhoti baaton pe upset nahi hote !'
'Par mummyji galti hai meri. Main bhi pata nahi –'
'Beta ! Randheer wapas aaya gaya hai ! Vyaah hai tumhaara ! Zaahir si baat hai tumhaara dhyaan hi nai gaya ! Koi baat nahi', she said caressing my face. 'Hum to yahin hai. In fact tumhe ab is baare mein bilkul sochne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Ye waqt dobaara nahi aayega ! Enjoy it !', she said with a bright smile. I shyly looked down.
We discussed how each of us spent these days. We chatted for quite some time.
'Mummyji Randheer Bauji ke saath gaddi mein daftar kyun nahi gaye ?'
'Uski baatein wahi jaane. Kehta hai ek seedhe sadhe naukri-pesha aadmi ki tarah jaana chahta hai office. Aur yahaan laad pura chaahiye! Abhi bhi bracelet aur ghadi apne Bauji ke haath se  pehenta hai!'
I smiled. He could be self-reliant and adorable at the same time!
'Humne bhi keh diya, humaari bahuraani ko ghumaane to gaddi laike jaani padegi !'

'Kya baatein ho rahi hai aap dono mein ?!', we turned around to see Bauji enter. Goodness ! It was evening ! Randheer would be returning any moment now. I need to get back home. But if I left immediately, Bauji would feel bad. I was fidgeting with my fingers, unable to decide how to leave!
'Puttar ki hoya tenu ?', Bauji asked with concern.
'Haan Amrit kya hua tumhe ? Ab tak to thik thi !?'
'Kuch nahi ... main thik hoon', I replied timidly.
I decided to stay for some time. All the time I was peeking at the door uneasily. After about half an hour, I got up to leave.
'Beta thodi der ruk jao. Randheer bhi bas aata hi hoga', Mummyji said.
'Mummyji vo ghar ki chaabiyan mere paas hai. Vashma ya Veerji aa gaye to unhone pareshaan ho jaana hai. Main aati hoon'.
I wished them good night and left, relieved that Randheer had not returned yet.

I was pacing around the drawing room restlessly glancing at the door every now and then.
I had already made the dinner. I had tried to write something but my mind was occupied and I couldn't.
Haaye Rabba ! Kya zaroorat thi mainu inni baat karne ki ! Ki sochia hoga unha ne mere baare mein!
Je vo aaye hi nahi to ?! Kinni ajeeb laga hoga ohnu ! Main bhi na !

I went near the door to have a peep outside. Randheer was getting off the tanga. He was headed straight here. I turned and dashed inside towards to stairs. And in a hurry I forgot to close the door.

I was on the fourth step when I heard him call, 'Amrit !', and I stopped dead. Itne pyaar se awaaz di ki main jau kaise ?! I did not go up. I did not turn. I just stood there.

'Aaj humse koi milne aaya tha daftar mein., I bit my lip.
'Acha ! Par ye to aam si baat hai. Tussi mainu kyun bata rahe ho ?', I asked innocently.
Coming one step forward he said, 'Ji baat zaraa dilchasp hai. Shayad aapko bha jaaye.'
I did not reply.
'Ek manchali ladki aayi thi ! Naam tha uska... umm haan... Tasneem'
I almost turned in surprise but stopped myself. 'Naam to vada sohna hai !'
He took another step forward. 'Ji unke saath unki jo behen aayi thi unka naam to aur bhi pyaara tha. Jaan-na chaahengi ?'
I glanced back.
Lovingly he said, 'Dilruba!' I lowered my face shyly and looked forward again.
'Aap pehle kabhi unse mile hai ?'
'Shayad nahi, shayad... haan', he said softly. 'Par unhone kaha ki unhone mujhe pehle dekha tha', he said matter-of-factly.
'Ek baat kahi unhone, ki unki koi puraani khwaahish puri hui aaj. Aise kya khwahish hogi bhalaa?',
'Shayaad aapko dubaara dekhne ki ?!'
Taking another step he asked dreamily ,'Aur agar unhone mujhe kayi baar dekha ho toh ?'.
'Jiski khwahish vahi jaane. Mainu kive pata hoga !', I replied nervously.
'Isiliye to aapse pooch raha hoon !' he whispered. He was just behind me.
Embarrassed, I ran up upstairs. He followed closely behind.