Is love blind? .......Oh yes it is!! - Episode 9

Rangon ke festival Holi aayi………dekhthen hai hamare kahaani mein kya rang laathi hai!!
Holi, the festival of colors is expected to bring happiness to all….It is the best time to forget and forgive…..

Holi party is organized in the college by the students association….All students are excited and in a very joyous mood…..A whole day of celebration is planned….

Anjali was high on spirit…..All these years, she used to celebrate holi with all her friends…Till last year, they would plan the celebration in one of their homes…..They would do a lot of masti and try out lots of pranks on other people……Last year, Aashu, Sheetal and Deepak had come home early in the morning and woke her up with colored water……that remained fresh in her memory…..She was fully drenched and looked like a multi-colored wet hen…..brought a smile in her face even now…..

The holi celebration in college was a much expected event for all of them….They wanted to have maximum fun that year….but all that was before the tiff……

Yet, Anjali hoped that everything will become normal after this celebration……Her hopes were high…..After all Aashu can’t ignore her on holi…..She thought this as the right opportunity to patch up……..

That morning, she tried calling up Aashu…..She wanted to wish her…….Aashu didn’t pick the call….She left it thinking that Aashu might be busy getting ready…..

Her eyes fell on the album which had the memories of the previous year……She picked it up immediately and browsed the pages one by one…..They had laughed so much that day…..The fun and laughter were such that it brought pain all over their body…..

Those memories made her eyes wet.....Tears rolled down from her eyes…..”kaash iss saal bhi aisa hi ho”
She hoped for the best and set off to college…..

She didn’t find her gang in the class room and canteen……
After a small walk, she found them near their favorite hangout…..they weren’t drenched in colors….so she took some powder and went near them quietly……

She first smeared it on Aashu….”Bura na maano…..Holi hai…..Happy Holi dear!!!!”…

Excitement and Happiness spilling in every single word she said….…She expected the same kind of response from her but Aashu responded in a cold manner and in a not so excited voice……” Happy Holi”

Same was the response from Deepak……Sheetal showed a little more excitement but certainly not her normal self…..

Anjali was sure disappointed and heart-broken…..She turned away from them and walked slowly…..Aashu badly felt a urge to call her back, hug her and then of course drench her in colors…..but she didn’t……Deepak tried to convince her “aisi bhi kya naaraz hona….usse bulaao Aashu….”

Aashu was silent…….but was worried and within her mind she was thinking “na jaane woh kahaan jaa rahi hai…..”

When Anjali didn’t return even after a long time, Aashu was worried…

Aashu: kahaan gayi hogi?? Ab tak nahi aayi….

Deepak: kahin ghar toh nahi chali gayi…

Sheetal: usse khudh hi bagaa diya aur ab pareshaan ho rahe ho…..aap log bhi bade kamaal ke ho!!!

Deepak: aur tumne kya kiya?? Usse kyun jaane diya??

Aashu: [irritated] guys plzz….

Deepak: ok ok….kuch sochtha hoom….

Sheetal: socho socho….uss waqt toh tumaara muh bandh tha…

Deepak: [sarcastic] accha….toh phir tum socho…..

Aashu: [she tries Anjali’s phone …but it says “UNREACHABLE”] uski phone bhi nahi lag rahi….chalo..uske ghar chalte hai…

Deepak: [looking to some direction….] uski koyi zaroorat nahi….dekho…woh aa rahi hai….
[All become silent and look in that direction….A light smile brightens up in Aashu’s face…but she hides it when Anjali nears them……]

Anjali appears and behaves differently…..

Anjali: [different overwhelming tone] HELLOOOOOOOO……..sab aise kyun dekh rahe ho???kya main joker ke thara dikthi hoom?

Deepak: tumme kya hua?? Aisi beheky beheky baat kyun kar rahe ho?

Anjali: [rolling her eyes…] mujhe….mujhe kya hua hai??[Looks at herself…] teek taak toh hoom….accha main chalthi hoom…..sab mera wait kar rahe honge…..

Deepak: suno….kahaan aur kaun wait kar raha hai??

[Anjali doesn’t stop…..she walks away…..]

Aashu: Anjali Anjali…. [But she has gone already]

Aashu: yeh kahaan jaa rahi hai??? Deepak, usse rokho plz….
[They go behind her….she goes and mingle with everyone in the ground…..and then start to dance…]

Deepak: zaroor usse Kisi ne bhang pilaya hai….

Aashu and Sheetal: [shocked and shouts together] BHANG!!!!

Deepak: haan….usko dekh kar aisa hi lag raha hai!!

[A song is played……She starts dancing and somebody from behind pushes Siddharth forward to dance with her……She is first embarrassed first but shedding all inhibitions, she starts to dance with him…..As expected, he is more than happy to dance……..]

SONG:
[dhoom taana ta dhoom ta ta na na na , dhoom taana dhir na dhir na
kaise naino se naian milaon sajna, kaise mein aise na ghabrau sajna
kaise aaye aise mohe laaj sajna, chuna na dekho mohe aaj sajna
dhoom taana ta dhoom ta ta na na na , dhoom taana dhir na dhir na
mriganaini tu na jaane, prem kitna mere mann mein hai
yeh bechaini maangti hai, roop jo tere yowan mein hai……

[Aashu, Deepak and Sheetal are not so happy seeing this….They are surprised to see Anjali dancing like this….Few more couples are dancing along with them…..the rest of the students are standing around and seeing the dance…..A romantic atmosphere sets in….Sid is drooling at her while dancing and his mind is bubbling in her love….She is oblivious to all this and is dancing to the tunes happily….She grabs his hand and runs, circles him as part of a dance step…..He is mesmerized by her touch and his hopes soars the sky….]

tera phool sa hai ang, tere ang mein hai rang
tere rang ke main sang goriye
tere rang mein hai roop, tere roop mein hai dhoop
teri dhoop hai anoop goriye
sajna se kahe aaye laaj sajani, choone de ang mohe aaj sajani
dhoom taana ta dhoom ta ta na na na , dhoom taana dhir na dhir na ………]


[At a distance is Kripa…she is also confused at Anjali’s behavior]

Aashu: Yeh Anjali kya kar rahi hai??

Deepak: Aashu, woh hosh mein nahi hai!!

Sheetal: [dreamily] pyar mein aksar aisi hi hota hai……Hosh kho jaati hai!!

[Both Deepak and Aashu glare at her…..The song and dance is over……They see Siddharth trying to talk with Anjali..But they don’t hear what they talk with each other]

Siddharth: [mind voice: yahi mauka hai….mujhe usse baat karna chahiye]

[Anjali is walking away from there when Sid catches her]

Sid: Rukkho Anjali….mujhe tumse kuch kehana hai…

Anjali mujse….kaho….

Sid: Anjali…… [Hesitates….but then when he starts speaking, the loud music and the loud sound of the crowd make his voice inaudible]

Anjali: mujhe kuch sunayi nahi deh raha!!! Zor se bolo….

Sid: [pointing to a lonely place] wahaan chal kar baat karthe hai…..yahaa bohat shor hai….

Anjali: accha….chalo…

[They move out to the far off place. Aashu, Deepak and Sheetal follow them]

Aashu: aao…unke peeche chalte hai….na jaane uss Sid ka kya iraada hai….

Sheetal: Love birds ko disturb karne jaa rahe ho!!! WOW....Bohat mazaa aayega…jaldi chalo….

[Aashu and Deepak get angry but ignore her for the time being….]

Anjali: ab bolo….kya kehana hai?

[Siddharth is nervous but starts talking slowly…]

Siddharth: Anjali…..woh….woh

Anjali: [gets impatient] woh woh kya….jaldi batao….

Siddharth: [mind voice: ab main kya kahoon Anjali…..mera dil ka haal tumme kyun nahi dhik raha!! …pehle kabhi aisi ajeeb si feeling nahi tha….itna nervous bhi nahi hua….mere aankhon mein dekhthi tho saaf dhiktha!!!] 

Anjali: ab bologe ya phir main chalthi hoom…..

[She starts to leave but her leg hits a stone and is about to fall…..Sid catches her before she falls….He holds her tightly and her eyes are forced to meet his…..His hands snake around her body passionately......

Aashu comes in between and pulls back Anjali from him]

Deepak: [angrily pushes him away from Anjali] BACK OFF!!

Aashu: [loudly and in an angry tone] WHAT ARE YOU UPTO ANJALI?  Come with me right now!

Sid: hey hey…..hold on……I need to talk to her in private… 

Deepak: [pushing him away] you have already done your part…..now just shut up and get lost!

Aashu: [glaring at Sid] what do you want to talk?? Tell whatever you want in front of us….

Sid: plzz Aashima….I just need 5 minutes

Aashu: I am sorry Sid….that’s not possible….She is not in her senses and we cannot leave her alone with you in that state….

Deepak: [irritated by Aashu's explanations] why are you giving him reasons??Who the hell is he??? [Turns to Sid] Just get lost!!

[Aashu and Deepak leave dragging Anjali along….Sheetal follows them silently….Sid is angry and irritated to the core of having lost an opportunity to open his heart to Anjali…..]

[After a little walk……]
Anjali: [forcefully frees her hand from Aashu] Aashu, Leave my hand!!

Aashu: Shut up and come with me!!

[They reach the wash area……]

[Aashu takes a bucket full of water and pour it on Anjali…..]

Anjali: [shaking her head and body when the water splashes her] Hey…. what are you doing?

Aashu: tumme hosh mein la rahi hoom!!!

Anjali: oh.....toh mere liye badi fikar ho rahi hai!!! Kyun??

Aashu: [irritated] kyun matlab?? Main teri dhost hoom aur tumme iss haal mein nahi chod sakthi!!

Anjali: accha…dhost ho!!!mujh se baat thak nahi karthi….ab aagayi dhost banne..

Aashu: thodi naraaz kya hogayi, tumne tho paraaya hi banaadiya!! Naraazgi uski jagaa….dhosti aur fikar uski jagaa!!!

Deepak: Anjali, pehle yeh bataao….tumne bhang kyun pi???

Aashu: yeah…..I forgot it… [Angry] tumme itni himmat aayi kaise??...aur phir uss Sid ke saat dance!! saara college dekh raha tha….yeh sab kyun??? tumaare akal toh teek taak hai na??? ya kuch nut loose hogayi hai???

[Anjali winks at her……and smiles naughtily]

Aashu: [shocked at her reaction, looks at Deepak and Sheetal] matlab.....you were just acting!!! 

Anjali: oh yes….Do you think that I will drink and dance with that idiot just like that??

Aashu: [smiling] Anjali…..knowing you well, I should have guessed that….shame on me!!![grins]

Anjali: it was just a trick to make you all talk to me….I knew that you wouldn’t leave me alone in that condition!! Uss Sid ke kaaran, hum sab ke beech jagda hua….iss liye, maine usse hi iss plan ke liye use kiya!!

Deepak: [laughs] I must say that you acted well…all of us were really scared!!!

Aashu: yeah…that’s true…. [Grins] you dance well too….”Hats off to Deepika of our college”

[All laugh at this when they spot Sid standing at a distance…..He had heard every word spoken by Anjali]

Sid: [mind voice: usne mujhe use kiya…..mere feelings ke saat khela…..aur main paagalon ke thara uske saat naach raha tha!!]

[He walks away from there….Anjali feels sorry for him…The reason for that is unknown to her as well…..but she decides to talk to him and console him….]

Anjali: Aashu, main abi aayi…. 

Aashu: Anjali…suno…where are you going?

[She doesn’t stop to listen to Aashu…..She runs behind Sid and catches up with him]

(To be continued.........)