"Good morning Naina, Sameer nahi utha kya abhi?" Rahul was coming out of his room when Naina reached the dining table.
"Uth gaya, bas aa raha hai." She looked back at their door.
"Naina, sun idhar aa zara." Sonali peeked from the kitchen.
She walked in to hear what her friend had to say.
"Kya baat hai, Sonali?" She asked upon entering the kitchen.
"Abhi jaana zaroori hai kya... nahi main rukne ko nahi keh rahi... par raat ko chale jaana... hostel ki limit toh nau baje ki hai... tum log yahan se aath baje nikal jaana." Sonali tried to prolong their stay.
"Sonali, humne packing kar li hai... apne man ko bhi taiyar kar liya hai... abhi kamzor nahi padna chahti... hamara chale jaana hi theek hoga... bas abhi breakfast ke baad hi nikal jayenge... chaar din baad pehla exam hai... tab tak thoda adjust ho jayenge... warna yahan toh aadtein hi bigaad di hain tune aur Rahul ne." Naina explained her reason, smiling warmly as she appreciated their hospitality.
"Achha promise kar jis din aakhiri exam hai ussi din aa jaoge... agle din tak nahi rukoge... yaar Naina, mujhe na abhi se iss baat ki ghabrahat ho rahi hai ki tere Ahmedabad chale jaane ke baad tujhse milna kaise hoga... pata nahi kyon... par mujhe aisa lagta hai jaise meri behen ghar se vida ho rahi hai." Sonali blinked back the tears that welled up in her eyes.
Naina hugged her.
"Tujhse milne ke baad mujhe kabhi aisa laga hi nahi ki main yahan Mumbai mein akeli hun... shuru mein jab Sameer nahi tha mere saath tab toh sirf ek tujhe hi dekh ke apnapan lagta tha... tune sach mein mujhe ek behen de di hai, Sonali... aur teri family se mili toh kabhi paraye lage hi nahi woh sab... kab aa paungi yeh toh nahi keh sakti par haan, Mumbai sabse milne zaroor aaungi... aur tujhe bhi aana hoga Ahmedabad... humare ghar." She comforted Sonali.
Sameer was seated with Rahul when they took the plates and casserole out.
"Sameer, aaj tumhare liye alu paranthe banwaye hain... bohot saare... achhe se khana." Sonali cheerfully informed him.
He smiled, "Thank you, Sonali."
"Yaar, ab yeh har baat mein thank you mat bola kar... bada ajeeb lagta hai... teri bhabhi ne banaye hai... tera haq hai usse kuch bhi banwana... jaise main Naina ko bolunga jab Ahmedabad aaunga." Rahul said.
"Haan, haan, banwa lena... lekin main Sameer ki bhabhi nahi saali banungi... aakhir joote churane ke paise milenge." Sonali settled on the chair besides Rahul.
"Tum Ahmedabad aaogi mere joote churane? Yahin chura lo." Sameer chuckled.
"Chura leti... agar tum bulate shaadi mein toh... main court mein bhi chupa sakti thi." Sonali gave a determined look.
"Par court mein maine joote utare hi nahi." Sameer said matter of factly.
"Haan toh ab yeh log aayenge na Ahmedabad, shaadi mein... tab toh utaroge hi... pheron mein utar ke baith te hain." Naina informed him.
They continued to eat while making plans for their visit.
Though it was Sameer's favourite food, he could not eat more than two paranthas... the heaviness in his heart was too much for him to enjoy the meal, though he kept up the facade of being normal.
"Chal Sameer, ab college mein milte hain, exam wale din." Rahul hugged him as they stood near the main door.
Sonali handed a small packet to Naina, "Ismein kuch paranthe hain... Sameer ne khaye hi nahi... toh maine socha tum saath le jao... wahan kha lena."
