Is love blind? .......Oh yes it is!! - Episode 34

Sam comes back to the dance floor….….

Sam: I guess Anjali is angry
Sheetal: ab kya hoga???
Aashu: I think we should go to Anjali….she seemed little upset too….
Sam: that’s not required…Sid Anjali ko manaa lega….. unne akela chod dhete hai….yahi teek rahega……
Tushar: hmmm…..They will talk or fight and solve it together…..we mustn’t interfere now…..
Sheetal: but…..
Deepak: Sheetal, I think they are right….we must leave them alone for a while….
Aashu: yeah…….guys, I am leaving….I have something important….
Deepak: shall I drop you??
Aashu: nah…I will take a cab….you guys carry on…..

[A little later……Aashu is in the cab…talking to someone…..from her talks, it looks like she is talking to a guy….the guy she loves……”kab aa rahe ho??”…….[smiling]…..”iss baar jhoot math bolna……jaldi aajaana…..i am waiting for u….[blushes]….hmmmm….ok….bye….” she cuts the call and kisses the hand set……then shyly smiles to herself….. ]


Zindagi do pal ki, zindagi do pal ki
Intezaar kab tak hum karenge bhala
Tumhe pyaar kab tak na karenge bhala
Zindagi do pal ki
Intezaar kab tak hum karenge bhala

[Sheetal’s place….Sam drops her at the gate……]

Sheetal: thanks….
Sam: accha lagaa…..
Sheetal: [surprised and rolls her eyes] accha lagaa???….kya???
Sam: sab kuch….tumaare saath….[after a pause] dance, this bike ride……aur….
Sheetal: aur??
Sam: u told me na….that u trust only me….woh mujhe bohat achha lagaa…. shayad pehli baar koyi ladki ne……[stops]
Sheetal: [laughs] is it??? Kya koyi aur ladki tumme trust nahi karthi?? Ya phir mujhse alag se pesh aathe ho??
**************************************************
Sam: shayad…… [Hesitantly]…. koyi aur ladki mujhe itni kaas nahi lagi…..
[Sheetal blushes….]
**************************************************
Sheetal: [after a moment’s wait, she snaps her fingers in front of his face…….yup that was a short dream…Sam said that in his mind..So Sheetal snaps him out……] why are you silent???...... Anyways, i think I should go inside….bye….gud night….
Sam: [in a sad tone] ok…….[cheering up] take care….bye…

Dil mein tumhare Chupa Di
Hai Maine to apni yeh Jaan..
Ab tumhi isko sambhalo..
Hamein upna hosh kaha..

Bekhudi do pal ki,,
Zindagi do pal ki,
Intezaar kab tak hum karenge bhala
Tumhe pyaar kab tak na karenge bhala ..

[A little away from Kripa’s place]
Kripa: I will get down here…..
Deepak: [stops the bike] here??? I will drop you in your street na….yahaan se akele se kaise jaavoge??
Kripa: It’s just a street away…..baba would be at the gate…..if he sees me with you, that’s it…..
Deepak: come on yaar…..i am your friend….why are u feeling guilty??? I don’t think your dad will mind it…..I can’t drop you like this at such an odd time….its not safe!!!
Kripa: [smiles seeing his concern for her]
Deepak: why are you smiling?? Accha teek hai, you walk from here……I will leave only after you reach your home……
[Kripa nods and walks…She is smiling all the way……After she walks 10 steps, he slowly follows her…..keeping up the distance between them intact….Once Kripa enters her apartment complex, she turns behind and waves to him……he waves back and smiles……]

Ek chota sa waada ish umr se jyada sachcha hai sanam...
Har Mod par saath isliye rehte ab dono hum...
Dosti Do Pal Ki....
Zindagi Do Pal Ki....

[In Sid’s place….Anjali is sitting on her bed……tears in her eyes and looking at the door and the clock alternatively….Sid hasn’t come yet…..Its going to be 1.....He hasn’t been so late after their wedding……she is little worried for him since they had a heated argument before she left the party…….She knew she spoke very harshly…..] [what they spoke will come in later…….]

Intezaar Kab tak hum karenge bhala...
Tumhe pyaar kab tak na karenge bhala....
Zindagi do pal ki
Zindagi…………

Anjali: [mind voice1: I shouldn’t have spoken so rudely…] [hits her head]
Anjali: [mind voice2: but what he did wasn’t right too…..he took benefit of the situation……how dare he kisses me???]
Anjali: [mind voice1: why can’t he??? he is your husband dammit!!!He just kissed you…..if it were someone else…..waise bhi, u never stopped him!!! ]
Anjali: [mind voice2: now why are you favoring him???? I hate him]
Anjali: [mind voice1: oh really….then why are you worried for him??? Why are you waiting restlessly for him??? Why are you not sleeping???]
Anjali: [closes her ears][mind voice2: OH!! Shut up!!!!]
Anjali: I will call Aashu and check if he is at the party.….[dials the number and then cancels it…..] bohat dher hogayi….party toh katam hogayi hogi………...or shall I call up his friends??? Oh no, I don’t have their numbers…..
[She tries to sleep but her eyes refuse to close, she walks, sits, tries lying down……she feels restless and is impatient……she keeps looking at the door….tensed and nervous to the core….. She keeps praying that he comes back safely……]

[Her phone rings and she quickly picks it up…..]

Anjali: [tensed and in a scared, broken voice] Hello…… [In an instinct that its Sid]Sid

[It’s Sam on the other end]
Sam: Sam here Anjali….
Anjali: [in a tensed up tone] bolo…..where is Sid??
Sid: he is with me…We are standing in front of your house…open the door for us…..i don’t want to disturb others….
Anjali: hmmmm [gets up from the bed and rushes to the main door…..]
[She opens the door to see Sam holding Sid…Sid is struggling to stand and his arm is over Sam’s shoulder]
Anjali: kya hua???? Sid Sid….[pats him and calls him]
Sam: shhhh…..dheere……pehle room mein chalo……
[They take Sid to the room and puts him on the bed…..he is half conscious and is not able to manages himself……He is drunk totally]
Anjali: [not aware of what is happening] Sid Sid….kya hua tumme????
Sam: usse kuch nahi hua…..he is drunk….i didn’t want to leave him alone in this condition…..[looks at her meaning that she left him alone] dhosti hai toh nibaana bhi padega na??

[Anjali’s face shows up her guilt….she is silent and is unable to justify herself….Sam turns to leave but stops and looks at her for a moment]

Sam: mujhe nahi pathaa ke tum dono ke beech kya hua….aur jaan na bhi nahi chahtha…par itna jaantha hoom ke Sid bohat hurt hai…..i have never seen him drunk like this before…..he had stopped drinking after wedding……He was so happy when he got you as his wife…..but……[stops] just remember one thing…..he is the best person you can ever get……He loves you so much……tum microscope lekhe dhoondoge toh bhi aise pati nahi milega…..
Anjali: but….
Sam: [signals her that she doesn’t need to explain] just think about what I said…… [looks at Sid and turns back to her] take care of him….take care of your life…..ek baar haath se gayi toh…[halts]…. main chaltha hoom….bye
[He closes the door behind him while leaving..
Anjali is still dumbstruck…She returns back to the bed…looks at Sid for a while…..tears roll down her cheeks…..she removes his shoes and tries to put him to bed in a comfortable manner……but he tries to gets up and pushes her to the bed……]
Sid: [in a husky senseless voice] oh mere dil ke rani….mere life ke roshni…..mere raaton ka chandini…..my life….my love….mere sab kuch tumaara hai…..yeh room aur yeh bed bhi tumaara [hiccups…..Anjali gives him a water…..He drinks it in one gulp and continues] hai…….tum yahaan so jaao……main vahaan [pointing to the carpet] yahaan neeche so jaatha hoom……[she gets up from the bed as he speaks and looks at him intently….she tries to force him to sleep on the bed and he falls on it flat….she aligns him properly puts the blanket on him]
[She switches off the lights and sits beside him…..tears don’t stop flowing down her cheeks.....]


Anjali’s POV: Anjali starts introspecting herself…..
Kya main itni buri hoom???? All are blaming me….[thinks for a moment and looks sideways at him]….and Sid!!!!….his behavior confuses me….his care and love for me irritates me…..does he love me so much???? Have I made a mistake in identifying his goodness??? Did I jump into a hasty conclusion???? Was my decision wrong??? Oh god…plz help me….help me out of this problem…..i want to sort it out soon……
If Sid is the best that can happen to me, then…..if Sid is innocent then, I want to know it I want to know the truth God…..i think I shouldn’t be hurting him like this without knowing the truth…..
[She starts thinking about the party]

<<Flash back to the party……soon after the dance, she broke away from his hug and runs out…He goes behind her and holds her back just outside the party hall……
Sid: Anjali….plzz rukho….ek minute mere baat suno….. [Holds her hands tightly]
Anjali: [trying to free her hand] Now what Sid??? Tum jo karna chahthe toh kar chukhe na??? ab aur kya sunoon main???
Sid: [puzzled] what did I do???
Anjali: oh yeah u never did anything……jo bhi kiya maine hi kiya na??? Tumse shaadi karne ki galthi ki hai na??
Sid: come on Anjali…..why are you getting flared up like this??? That too for a simple thing….
Anjali: SIMPLE THING!!!! HOW DARE YOU KISS ME???
Sid: [slightly taken back] I am your husband…..[Anjali breaks in]
Anjali: HUSBAND MY FOOT……I have never considered that as a wedding……understand???
Sid: [turning her to face him and placing his hand on her shoulders….his pain reflects in his voice] Anjali, look at me….kya main tumaare liye kuch nahi lagtha?? Kya mera choone se tumme itne problem hai??
Anjali: [sternly in a harsh manner]I feel like burning myself down when you touch me……[pushes away his hands]so think twice before you do anything like this hereafter……
[She rushes out without waiting for his response…….she leaves behind a totally broken upset Sid……]
>>Present…..

Anjali’s POV contd…..I know I was harsh but his deeds aren’t pardonable either……He caused a lot of havoc in my life which literally turned my life upside down…….[a small fight starts in her mind]
So what if he did all that??? How long will I ignore him or treat him like no one???He is my husband, my partner for life…..There is a limit to everything…even his punishment……I can’t hurt him like this…..Sam was right…….I should have acted sensibly……Atleast I shouldn’t have forgotten the friendship we shared before….
But should I just forgive and forget everything and be happy with what I got…….
Why not??? I sure like him or rather love him…..if he didn’t do all that and married me, I would have got hooked with Rohit….Rohit, for whom I didn’t have any feelings apart from friendship…..
[She keeps fighting over and over and somewhere towards the early morning, she puts her head down and slips into sleep]

Next morning…….Sid slowly lifts up his head and looks around…..a voice comes up from behind….
Anjali: daro math…….tum apne ghar mein apne room mein ho…….
[Sid looks around and sees her standing beside the bed……she has a cup of coffee in her hands….he smiles sheepishly forgetting the happenings of the previous night….he tries to get up and ruffles his hair ]
Anjali: [placing the cup on the side table] Luckily Sam was there to help you……warna tum wahaan bar mein hi pade rehthe!!!!
[Sid’s face straightens up as if remembering her harsh words…..She leaves that place but stops just before leaving the room]
Anjali: Sid…[he looks up to her] I think we should give us and our relationship some time…..i will try my best to come in terms with it soon……[as always, she leaves before he replies]
[Anjali is in a forgiving mode and wants to restart her life in a new way but will destiny be with her….Will Sid feel the same way too??? Let’s find out soon…….]

[To be continued]

Is love blind? .......Oh yes it is!! - Episode 33

Sam: idea accha hai…..i will make the arrangements…..tum DJ se baat karlo…..aur couples ke naam bhi likh lo…..kaas kar Sid- anjali…..[grins]

Sheetal: hmmmm…..unke naam toh likhna hi padega…..[smiles and they part ways to implement their plan]
All are busy with their friends and some are dancing….some are busy in their group chit chats……
Some are restless too……obviously Anjali and Sid are feeling out of place……the party is arranged as their wedding treat……More or less like a reception but they aren’t happy………it is clear that they are still there as they don’t want to hurt their friends and their feelings……

An announcement comes up suddenly…..All turn to the center stage…..The DJ announces a dance competition for all the couples…..
[By DJ I mean the event coordinator of that place…..he is acting as the anchor cum DJ cum event manager for the party…..]
DJ: Hear hear hear…….ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls…..aaj ki raat ko shaandhaar banaane ke liye ek competition…….a very very interesting dance competition…..which will have a lot of passion, love and a little of dance…[winks and smiles]…..agar aap ko dance karna nahi aatha toh bhi chalega…..because, this is all about love, passion and togetherness……the couples selected are……Sid and Anjali…obviously, unke bhina yeh game adhoori hai……reads a few more names….sheetal-Sam ……………Kripa-Deepak
Sam is a bit surprised to hear his name with Sheetal but he comes forward to the floor…..
Sheetal gave Deepak and Kripa’s name too just to increase the number of couples participating……
Sid is shocked and is confused if he wants to do this…..he knows Anjali would never like it…Anjali is on a denial phase tooo but Aashu comes to her quickly and persuades her……Aashu doesn’t want Anjali to withdraw from it…..
Aashu: why are you hesitating Anjali?? Kya tum jeeju ke saath akele mein hi dance karogi???? Humaare saamne karne se sharmaathi ho kya???
Anjali: Aashu, yeh sab kya hai??? Mujhe akele chod dho….plzzz force math karo…..else I will leave the party…
Aashu: tum darrthi ho…..isnt it??
Anjali: [rolling her eyes] darr???? But why??
Aashu: [sarcastic] darr thi ho ke Sid ke liye jo feelings aur love tumne chupaaya hai woh bahar aajayega……right na??? hmmmm I understand…..
Anjali: are u gone nuts?? Mujhe aur feelings!!! Kabhi nahi….
Aashu: then why don’t u take this up as a challenge!!!!
Anjali: [thinks for a moment] ok…..
[Aashu knows her friend completely….so she strikes right at the point and gets the task done…]
Sid sees Anjali coming forward and is little shocked….but then he thinks that she is slowly reforming herself and trying to patch up or may be her friends convinced her…..He quickly steps in too…..Now the DJ starts on the rules of the game…..
It’s a popular game…..a chart paper will be laid out for each couple….the couple have to stand on the paper and dance to the music…….at each stop of the song, the chart paper will be folded once……that means, the area for dance will become lesser and lesser as the game progresses……the couple shouldn’t step out of the paper….who ever steps out will be out of the game too……the couple who witstands till the final round wins……..Only after the rules are announced, Anjali realizes that she will be required to dance closely with Sid…..but she doesn’t want to step back now…..actually she cant….if she did, Aashu’s statement would be true…..Sam comes and tells something in Sid’s ears…..he says this “Sid, har place mein tum hi first aathe ho…..iss baar haar math jaana……waise bhi a newly wedded couple should be able to win this easily……and you both are the only wedded couple here…..so All the best!!!”

*************************************

The fast beats and rocking songs stop……….

The stage is set…..and all couples are ready too…..music starts…..a cute romantic song starts rolling…..Any couple in love will appreciate the song and will start swaying to the music….its such a beautiful song……..it also has the ability to bring out the hidden love from the couple’s heart…..

Sid puts his hand around her waist and forces her to come closer to him….He takes her hand and puts it on his shoulder……His eyes speak his emotions, his love for her……

Surkh wala, sauz wala, Faiz wala love
Hota hai jo love se jyada waise wala love
Ishq wala love

Hua jo dard bhi toh humko aaj kuch zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Ye kya hua hai kya khabar yehi pata hai zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Agar ye usko bhi hua hai phir bhi mujhko zyada hua
Ishq wala love
She is far away from him in terms of her feelings……obviously, she isn’t happy with what she is doing…..Her eyes keep staring at him….and she keeps moving to the tunes like a doll keyed by him…..in between she accuses him in a low voice
Anjali: yeh sab tumne kiya hoga…I know….aur kyun kiya, yeh bhi main jaantha……but dont even think you can win me by playing such games.......
Sid: [a false smile at others looking at them and in low voice to her] tumme jo sochna hai sochlo….mujhe usse koyi farq nahi padta…..i know what I am doing and why I am doing…..aur maine kuch galath nahi kiya……I will never try justifying myself…..

[Anjali is stunned by his reply and just keeps looking at him……his closeness, his touch sure sends a strange feeling into her…but she pretends to be unaffected by it…she just keeps looking at him…..he looks into her eyes and sternly continues dancing……he feels the whole world is twirling with them….the sky, the land….everything which are testimonies to his love dance with them…..She doesn’t move her eyes away from his…either she doesn’t want to….ya phir woh uski giley shiqwae bhool gayi……or as Aashu
told, the love hidden deep inside her is slowly showing its face up…..]


Meri neend jaise pehli baar tooti hai
Aankhein band kar ke dekhi hai maine subah
Hui dhoop zyada leke teri roshni din chadha
Ishq wala love

Jhanke badalon ki jaali ke peechhe se
Kare chandani ye mujhko ittala
Leke noor sara chand mera yahin pe hai chhupa chhupa hua
Ishq wala love

Sam and Sheetal dance like perfect friends…not much of closeness….a little embarrassment on both their faces…….Sam feels that Sheetal would be thinking that he gave their names to the anchor.....He doesnt even have the faintest idea about who gave their names.....

Sam: [to avoid the odd feeling] I don’t know how our names got included…..hum couple lagte hai kya??
Sheetal: [slowly in low voice] sorry sam….woh actually, maine hi tumaara naam diya tha……I didn’t want to dance with anyone else…..couples ki kami thi….so the DJ wanted 2 or 3 more names….so I gave my name….when I looked for a partner, tum hi nazar aaye….i don’t trust any other guy…..[pauses and looks into his eyes]...i am sorry…..i hope u don’t mind….[lowers her eyes]
Sam: [pretending to be just ok with it…..the truth is that he is happy by what she said] that’s ok……I mean you don’t have to be sorry…..[mind voice: tumme aur koyi nazar nahi aaya…..u don’t trust anybody else except for me…..I feel special Sheetal]
[He pulls her nearer and twirls her as he says this……]
Deepak and Kripa are feeling a little odd too….a strange feeling when they are forced to touch each other……Deepak looks at her intently…..She lowers her eyes……He asks her permission before holding her closely “Can I?”….when he sees her nodding "YES", he holds her waist and drags her along…….She shivers when he does that……He could feel her shiver and smiles….
Deepak: kya hua??Are u ok?
Kripa: hmmm….[she says something further but…..her voice is struck and is not audible…]
Deepak: kya tumme ajeeb lag raha hai???
Kripa: hmmm…..kuch kuch…… [Doesn’t look at him]
Deepak: sach kahum toh mujhe bhi!! Yeh Sheetal bhi na, humme aise odd situation pe daal dhi…..
Kripa is silent but enjoying it within…….Deepak continues
Deepak: [hesitating a little] par isme bhi kuch thrill hai na??
[Kripa gathers up a little courage and looks at him and smiles…]
They lose out after the 2nd round…..Kripa being the shy type is not able to hold on to the game after that…That round requires her to come really really close to him but she feels uncomfortable and she steps out…..
After about 2 rounds, each couple gets out one by one……
Sid and Anjali are in still….She tries to move away from him but he forces her to stay close…… within the limits of the paper ………He is adamant and wants to win it no matter what……..
It seems that both are lost in each other’s eyes…….She is literally standing on his shoes…..and he holds her securely so that she doesn’t get out or fall down…..
Hua jo dard bhi toh humko aaj kuch zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Ye kya hua hai kya khabar yehi pata hai zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Agar ye usko bhi hua hai phir bhi mujhko zyada hua
Ishq wala love

Jo aise hota
Jo milte tum ho jaate gum sath mere
Hote hote hoga samjhaye hum tham jaaye tum
O dil mere
Toota zyada zyada tara jab gira 
Zara zyada zyada maangu dil tera
Kabhi zyada zyada maane na dil ye sarphira
Ishq wala love

Just 2 couples remain…..and the paper just enough to accommodate one preson…..Anjali tries to pull away but Sid grabs her firmly and lifts her up in his arms……and starts swirling and swaying with the music……She has no other go but cling on to his neck…..their eyes are locked yet again…..Its a passionate moment for both of them…….
At this juncture, the other couple gets out…..So Sid and Anjali emerge winners…..but they continue to be at the same pose for the remaining of the song…claps are heard all around but they remain unaffected by it…..They don’t hear anything else……They seem to be lost in each other……
Passion fills the air around them……for a moment, they seem to forget all their grievances and mistakes of each other….Sid ignores the insults and Anjali forgets the anger she has for him…….they appear to be oblivious of the people around them……They appear as if in deep love……a new just born love…..

Bada ye dil nadaan tha, par aaj kuch zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Jo khine ka tha dar tujhe pata nahi kyu zyada hua
Ishq wala love

Hua jo dard bhi toh humko aaj kuch zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Ye kya hua hai kya khabar yehi pata hai zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Agar ye usko bhi hua hai phir bhi mujhko zyada hua
Ishq wala love

Surkh wala, sauz wala, Faiz wala love
Hote hai jo love se jyada waise wala love
Ishq wala love

Sid is fully lost in her love and passion…….love blinds him….he seems to lose control of himself… he forgets that there are viewers around them….. He cant see anything else except the fact that she is his wife… …that his love is in his arms..….nothing else matters to him at that time...in that spur of moment, he hugs her tightly and kisses her….their first kiss…..He deepens it when he feels her response back to him......

It comes out in the most unexpected manner and at the unpredictable time…She doesn’t react immediately….she seems to be in a sub conscious state....

All their friends as silent witnesses….all are dumbstruck and remain in their positions…..but they are happy for them too……
Anjali all of a sudden snaps out, pushes him away and walks out……Sid is yet to come out from his trance and keeps looking at her……He feels good and happy about having broken the ice…….he thinks that the emotional wall between them is removed now…….

Seeing Anjali walking out, Sam rushes to Sid…

Sam: Sid, yaar, yeh tumne kya kiya???? sab ke saamne hi!!!! I think she is embarrassed…..ab jaao bhi….usse manao…..[grins]

Sid: [snapping out] hmmm…[rushes out behind her…]

[To be continued]

Is love blind? .......Oh yes it is!! - Episode 32

Kripa’s POV:
When Deepak called me to say that he would pick me up, I felt nice……He cared for me……that was the first thought which came to my mind……
I asked him to wait for me in the nearby café…..I didn’t want him to pick me up from home…….I somehow managed to convince baba that it was a college party and I would be back soon….. Yeah a lie but I didn’t have an option……Amma had no issues since baba already agreed to send me…..Kavya knew where I was going and who was going to pick me…..She made fun of me and that continued all along till I got dressed up……She chose the dress for me…….

Kavya: wear this di…..he will like it…..
Kripa: [rolling her eyes] "He!!!" WHO???
Kavya: diiiiiiii……don’t tell me that you didn’t understand!!!
Kripa: I am not dressing up for him to look at me…..OK??
Kavya: see see….you know whom I referred to…..[grins]
Kripa: KAVYA!!!! [playfully lifts her hand to hit kavya but kavya dodges away from that]
Kavya: di….kya kar rahe ho….maine kuch galath kaha kya?? Jabse woh tumaari dhost banaa hai, tumaari har action usse judi hai…..haan ya naa??
Kripa: aisa kuch bhi nahi hai….tum aaj kal bohat imagine karne aur bolne lagi ho….
Kavya: jhoot…..tumaari dil ki baatein mujhse chupi nahi hai di….woh na samajh hai par main nahi….
Kripa: Woh??? Woh kaun??
Kavya: Deepak…..sorry sorry….mere hone waale jeeju….Deepu jeeju…..[laughs] hai na Di????
Kripa: tumme toh main nahi chodungi….[runs after her….but her phone beeps…it’s a message from Deepak] ohhhh no….he has already reached the café……dekho, tumaare wajeh se, main late hogayi….
Kavya: ok ok….now get ready quickly…..main tumaari hair style kar dheti hoom….
[Kavya dresses up her di to look like a princess…..]
Kavya: [giving finishing touches to her face and hair]aaj toh Deepak gaya kaam se…..tumme dekh kar zaroor uske hosh udd jaayega!!!
Kripa: bas bas….ab main nikalthi hoom…..bye
Kavya: bye di….have fun……wapas aakhar sab kuch detail mein kehna…..

[She sets out to the café…..Deepak is impatiently waiting for her]
Kripa: sorry Deepak…..thoda late hogayi….
Deepak: [noticing her changed look…the changes made her look more attractive…now any guy would turn once more to have a glance at her] its ok…..you look different!!! But….[pauses and hesitantly] beautiful!!

Kripa: [blushes and bends down] chalen….
Deepak: yeah sure…..chalo….

[Our 3 couples set out to the same party…..just that Anjali and Sid are not aware of that]

tu kahe dil yeh tera hi rahe
aur kya kahun khabar nahi khabar nahi
kis taraf hai aaasmaan kis taraf zaameen khabar nahi khabar nahi
mere maula maula mere maula, man matwala kyun hua hua re
man maula maula mere maula, mere maula
aayega woh is intezaar mein
ud chala dil wahan sapne jahan mein janu
lagta hai woh mere kareeb hai
aisa kyun hai magar dhunde nazar beqabu
hosh gul sapno ki main bandhu pull
aankh kab khuli khabar nahi khabar nahi ho o
kis taraf hai aaasmaan, kis taraf zaameen khabar nahi khabar nahi
jab se aaya hai sanamm mujhko khud ki bhi khabar nahi khabar nahi
hosh gul sapno ki mein bandhu pull
aankh kab khuli khabar nahi khabar nahi ho o
kis taraf hai aaasmaan kis taraf zaameen khabar nahi khabar nahi

mere maula maula mere maula, man matwala kyun hua hua re
man maula maula mere maula, mere maula

A rocking party to save the rocking marriage!

Anjali’s POV:
Aashu took me to a rocking place….We had never been there before…..I was confused as to what happened to Aashu….It was one of those hi-fi places where rich spoilt brats partied till mid night or perhaps also into the early hours..…..We usually kept away from those places……now why did she bring me here???? 

I was even more confused when she asked me to wait outside the banquet hall……She went somewhere else leaving me there…..I waited for 10 minutes…..A new place and I was all alone….i was feeling bored and also a bit scared……there were lot of people passing by….I could feel their stares at me……stares having many meanings…….they looked at me as if I were some from other planet…….I was in a saree and so may be I looked a total misfit for that place….. ……most girls were dressed mini and micro mini skirts…..i always wondered how these girls walked out of their homes dressed like that..…how did their families allow them?…
I tried calling Aashu, but she never picked up……..Deepak and Sheetal were out of reach…….Suddenly, I heard my name being called….”Mrs Anjali Sidharth” 

I needed 2 such calls to confirm that it was me…..yeah, that’s my name…..The first time, the call was Mr and Mrs Sidharth….for which I didn’t respond…….I was being called in…..I wondered what was happening………I slowly opened the door and stepped in…….

Sid’s POV:
I reached the place dot on time……Sam had specifically asked me to wait outside this door……I didn’t know why but he stressed on that “Door”……..As I already had lot of matters piled up in my head, I didn’t bother to extract the reason from him…….whatever…..it was some surprise for me from my friends…..i guess I will wait for him……
This was one of my favorite hang outs…..we used to party a lot there……we just needed a reason to treat ourselves…..but for the past 2-3 months, we hadn’t partied much………To be precise, from the day, I fell in love, I didn’t have any other thoughts in my mind……

Today also I wasn’t in a mood to party…the reason for that was also Anjali….her weird behavior towards me was confusing me…..I was lightly cooked up by her indifference and rudeness……. My ego was getting hurt many a times….I just tried to pull on since I didn’t want to lose her…..
I cant afford to lose her so easily……so giving up was never a choice…...but I had decided to give it some time……..time could heal anything…….may be she will change too…… I will wait for that to happen…..may be a few days, months or even years…… but I know she will accept me…and my love…
Sam and Tushar were behind me for a treat for the wedding…..I didn’t want to disappoint them…..probably they had doubts about the problems we had but they never openly asked me about it…..I didn’t want to discuss with them either……By refusing a treat, I would be inviting unwanted questions from them…..”Aren’t you happy with this marriage?” “Is there any problem between you and Anjali?” I didn’t want to answer any of them…….So I agreed to give them a treat……and so here I am…..

Anjali should have been here with me too but I guess I will give some excuse for her absence….”She is not well” or “she is at her mom’s place”….anything….
My phone rang…..it was Sam’s call….I picked it up…..”Hey Sam, where are you?”
Sam: Have you reached the place I told you?
Me: yup….i am just in front of the door….but sorry dude, Anjali couldn’t make it…..she is not well…..
Sam: [I could hear him giggling but he controlled it soon] oh is it??? That’s ok Sid……just wait there….come in when u are called in…..
Me: CALL!!! What call?????…aren’t u coming here??? [but he cut the call before I completed my questions] oh shit…..what is he upto???
Just as I cut the call, I heard my name being called up…..actually it was a call for Mr and Mrs Sidharth……these guys are upto some prank…….hmmmm let me see…..
I stepped into the hall……the entire place was dark…….the spot light was on me…..i saw another spot light on the opposite side….it was on a girl…..I focused and I understood that it was Anjali……She was looking at me as well….
How did she come here???She was supposed to be at Aashu’s place….

Anjali’s POV:
That’s Sid……how did he land in here?? Is his party here??? Oh no…..is it coincidence or some game being played by him??? But Aashu??? How did she bring me here??? Is she aware of this??? May be Sid tricked Aashu too…..how cheap!!!! 

“Welcome to our just married couple….” Said a voice……I wanted to know whats happening….I moved forward…….He moved too…..

Sid’s POV:
The spot light moved with us…..We were at the center of the hall…..we were now standing face to face…I could see questions on her eyes……well I had my questions too…..I whispered “how come you are here darling??”……She heard it…..she shot back”how the hell did you come here?? Are you playing any new game??” There wasn’t enough time to clarify anything…..the lights came up suddenly……the whole place was well decorated……roses, red heart shaped balloons….all over……it looked like one of those valentine day parties……All our friends were clapping…

Anjali’s POV:
I was surrounded by my friends…..His friends were there too……I understood that my friends were part of the plan too…..They were clapping with smiling faces……I forced a smile on my face……Sid came near me….or I should say his friends pushed him to my side…..We almost bumped each other…….

Sid’s POV:
Definitely a plan master minded by Sam and Tushar…I could sense it from the feel of the party……maybe they took help from Anjali’s friends too…..I was a bit angry but I held it back……I knew for certain that they did it for helping me…
well, if this could make Anjali realize her mistake, then its all fine with me…..As my shoulder touched hers, she moved away and looked at my face……A sudden click shook me up….Sam had captured that moment in his camera.……She didn’t stand there after that moment……She moved away from me……

Anjali’s POV:
I walked to Aashu to save myself from that situation……

Anjali walked upto Aashu….she keeps pretending that she is busy chatting to Aashu……while Sid catches up with Tushar and Sam……he does look at Anjali at times but when he sees her attitude, gets irritated and looks away showing that he isn’t interested either……Sam realizes that their plan is on a downside…he slowly slips from there and goes to have a talk with Sheetal and Deepak


Sam: guys guys guys…..this plan isn’t working…..woh log toh baat tak nahi kar rahe hai…..
Sheetal: baat toh dhoor ki baat hai…..they aren’t even looking at each other…..

Deepak: hmmm….u are right….see they are posing as if they are total strangers


Sam: I don’t understand Anjali….why is she so indifferent to Sid?? Pati se aise behave karthe hai kya?? [Looks at sheetal]


Sheetal: [sarcastic] meri shaadi abi hui nahi….so I don’t know….
Sam: [low voice: kabhi na kabhi toh hoga na??? kya tum bhi aise hi karogi?]
Sheetal: what what??
Deepak: Come to the point Sam……ab kya Karen???

Sam: kuch bhi karke dono ko paas laana hai….socho…..
Sheetal: [brightening up] Idea!!! Ek film mein dekha tha…..


[She tells some idea to both Sam and Deepak….and they are convinced tooo]

[To be continued]

Is love blind? .......Oh yes it is!! - Episode 31

[Anjali too leaves with tears in her eyes…..Sheetal goes behind her……Sam is worried about Sid and Anjali now]
Sam rushes to Sid..
Sam: Dude , I was searching for you…..i need to tell something important….
Sid: [lost in his thoughts, snaps out] not now…….later!
Sam: its about Anjali Sid…
Sid: [turns to him instantly] what about her??
[Sam explains the whole thing….Sid is quite angry with Shweta…..]
Sid: uski himmat toh dekho….abi jaake usse uski aukaad dhikaatha hoom…..
[Sam holds him back]
Sam: Sid, abi nahi…..ab Anjali ke paas jaao….she needs you near her now….
Sid: [nods after a thought] hmmm….woh kahaan hai??
Sam: shayad canteen mein…….
Sid: teek hai….main chaltha hoom….
[Aashu sees Sheetal on her way and holds her back…..Sid reaches the canteen first…..Anjali isn’t seen anywhere…….He knows where she would be when she is upset and goes behind the canteen building…….He sees Anjali leaning to the wall…..She looks sad and her eyes brimming with tears….The canteen is fairly empty as classes have already started…….He goes towards her and calls her]
Sid: Anjali…..
[For a second, Anjali forgets all that she has against Sid, for the moment, Sid is just the close friend she had before….She turns back and hugs him tightly…..as if she needed his shoulder to console herself….she doesn’t utter a single word but her gestures conveyed a lot of meanings….Sid is a bit surprised by her hug….He slowly hugs her back and holds her close to himself, close to his heart……]

Sid: [slowly gliding his fingers on her hair and then her back] Its ok Anjali….dont feel so much for what she said…..She is an idiot….. She has no sense at all…….dont take it to your heart…….forget it…..
Anjali: [realizing what she is doing…breaks away from him and wipes her tears] Forget!!! What all should I forget??? Forget what she said or forget that I am married to Sid the great!!!...You are the reason for all that has happened………I regret the day I became your friend……Its all because of you
Sid: [irritated by her talk…..her accusation seems baseless to him] Shut up…..come with me….
[Though she resists, he pulls her and takes her along with him……He takes her to Shweta…..She is standing amidst her gang of girls and a few guys….. Anjali is not very happy with what he did but comes with him as she has no other option…..Shweta sees them coming hand in hand and is bit frustrated but hides her feeling and shouts out….]

Shweta: HEAR HEAR HEAR………LETS ALL GIVE A STANDING WELCOME TO OUR NEWLY WEDDED COUPLE……[all start clapping when Sid and Anjali comes near her]

Sid: STOP IT……. Shweta, apologize to Anjali…..
Shweta: APOLOGIZE!! Why should i???
Sid: don’t act smart……just do what I said……else…
Shweta: else what Sid???? [Smiling] how did you agree to marry such a down market girl??? You rejected me, “SHWETA” for this girl!!!! How sad!!! [As if pitying him] I know, it must have been forced on you…poor you!!.....I never thought that she can go to this extend…..[turning to Anjali] par Anjali, itni jaldi kya thi??? Shaadi ki bina hi…..[stops and sarcastically] Kuch gadbad hogayi kya??? [winks and smiles]

Sid: [angrily in loud voice] shut up……mind your tongue….She is my wife and I married her because I love her….Do you understand that????

[Anjali, who was already burning in anger, is out of control hearing what Shweta said…..she forces her hand out from his and screams at him……Sid’s friends, Sheetal, Aashu , Deepak also reach the place by then…….]

Anjali: bas yahi sunna baaki tha…..bohat accha kiya ke tumne mujhe yahaan le aaye aur yeh sab bhi sunaa diya….[with tears and anger beaming her eyes…..She goes away from there]

Sid: ladki hokhar kisi aur ladki ke feelings ke saath khel rahe ho……oh yeah….I know I can’t expect anything good from you…..
[Glaring at her, Sid storms away ……All the others expect Anjali’s friends, Sam and Tushar leave the place]

*****************************

Their friends are worried about them and meet up to discuss something....

Sam: guys, I think we should plan something to bring the two together
Tushar: hmmmm I also feel that the problem is much more than what it seems….
Sheetal: [nodding] yes, I too felt that from Anjali’s talk…..
[Aashu already had this doubt when she heard Anjali telling about her wedding and Sid…..So she also thinks that they have a problem to solve…..So she gives a silent consent to their plan…..]
[Days pass by….Anjali still behaves indifferently to Sid……
Meanwhile, their friends plan a surprise for both……Sam and Sheetal take the responsibility of coordinating it….In the process, they grow to become good friends……Aashu, Deepak and Kripa are into it too…..Tushar is the master mind behind it…..They are planning a rocking party……and surprise them by bringing them to the party independently….Its planned for the Saturday night]

******************************

[Saturday evening…….In Sid’s room….. Anjali wants to settle down quickly with a book to forget her worries….All her books are in cardboard boxes…..She is unpacking them and arranging it on the shelf and desk…..She is not aware of the party till now….While arranging, some dust goes into her eyes……She closes her eyes in irritation and starts rubbing it……She is not able to open her eyes…..]

Anjali: Smriti….Smriti…..[Smriti doesn’t turn up…..but Sid come out after his bath…..He sees her state and rushes to her……he tries to open her eye and blows air gently into it…..Anjali, in her plight doesn’t realize that its Sid and not Smriti……Smriti passes by and stops seeing this scene…..]
Smriti: [grins] yeh sab romance door bandh karke kiya karo Sid…..iss ghar mein tum dono ke seva bhi log hai……[she closes the door]
[Anjali now realizes that its not Smriti who is helping her……she pushes Sid to the bed and tries to move away but in the hurry she stumbles and falls over him……He holds her in a sudden reflex action……]
Smriti: [naughtily comes back and opens the door slightly] kya main andhar aa sakthi hoom???…..[she sees this scene and is surprised again] Oh no not again!!! [she turns to the opposite direction]
[It is an embarrassing situation for both Sid and Anjali…… Anjali manages to struggle and get up from there….Sid stands up too…….He smiles sheepishly……while Smriti is not able to control her laugh seeing their faces]

Sid: [hiding the embarrassment] what do you want???
Smriti: [turns to face Sid] filaal kuch nahi….I just came to pass on a message….Your friend called up to remind you about the party…..He said that your mobile phone is switched off…..
Sid: [picks up his phone and switches it on…..2 reminder messages from Sam and Tushar beep in] hmmm…….uss keliye hi thayaar ho rahaa tha…..[holding his wet towel around his neck…..looks at Anjali…she just silently hears what they said…..then continues doing her work] 

Smriti: [grins and looks at Anjali] hmmmmm woh tho dhik raha hai!! [She leaves smiling]
[Sid looks at what Anjali is doing but she appears to ignore him….He doesn’t bother to explain anything to her…..he just gets ready…..Just before leaving, he talks to Anjali]

Sid: I know you dont care about where I go….but still….. [Turning towards her] I am going for a party….want to join?
Anjali: [sarcastically] your party!!!! How did you even think that I will join???
Sid: ok fine….poochna mera farz thaa aur aana ya na aana tumaari marzi!!!
[As Sid is leaving the room…..Anjali gets a call from Aashu…..She picks it up immediately……]

Anjali: [after hearing out what Aashu said] no yaar…not today….i am not in a mood for an outing…..waise bhi Sid nahi hai…..ghar mein kya bolungi….[Sid stops just outside hearing his name being mentioned…][Aashu is continuously trying to convince her….so Anjali checks if Sid has left……but she sees him near the stairs and calls out to him…..Sid comes back to her……

She checks with Sid if he could drop her at Aashu’s place and he agrees to it….She then comes back to the phone call and agrees to what Aashu said] Ok dear…Sid will drop me at your place…..[She cuts the call and starts getting ready…….little does she know that Aashu is planning to take her to the same party]

[Sid comes back and waits for her…..Anjali selects a dress for herself and looks at Sid…..He understands that her look means that he has to go out of the room]
Sid: I will wait downstairs…Get ready and come soon…..
[Sid leaves and Anjali is a little relieved at the fact that he understood what she has in her mind without her having to say that out to him….
Anjali dresses up and comes down…….]

Sid usse dekhta hi rahe tha hai…..He says dreamily to himself “party cancel 

karna padega….dil chahtha hai ke usse dekhta rahoom”]
[They leave together from Sid’s place…….]
mere maula maula mere maula, man matwala kyun hua hua re
man maula maula mere maula, mere maula
kis taraf hai aaasmaan, kis taraf zaameen khabar nahi khabar nahi
o o jab se aaya hai sanam, mujhko khud ki bhi khabar nahi khabar nahi
ho o o hosh gul sapno ki mein bandhu pull
aankh kab khuli khabar nahi khabar nahi
hoo hoo kis taraf hai aaasmaan
kis taraf zaameen khabar nahi khabar nahi
mere maula maula mere maula, man matwala kyun hua hua re
man maula maula mere maula, mere maula

*********************************
[At about the same time…..Sheetal’s home….She gets a call from Sam….]
Sheetal: hi hello sam….yeah tell me…kaise phone kiya?? Everything ready na??? Do I need to do anything else???
Sam: no no….sab arrangements hogayi hai….
Sheetal: [confused as to why he called] hmmm….[pauses and waits for him to say why he called…but she doesn’t want to ask him the reason explicitly….so she talks in broken sentences] then…..what else
Sam: [hesitantly] ummmmm… actually,[hesitates] I wanted to check if you want me to pick you up……. I mean Aashu will be coming with Anjali, na???...and you will be left alone….
Sheetal: [smiling] oh thanks…actually, Deepak would be coming to pick me up…..
Sam: [in a disappointed tone] oh…..ok….[Sheetal continues]
Sheetal: but……I can ask him to pick Kripa….
Sam: [brightening up] hey that’s cool yaar…..I will be there in 10 minutes…..see ya
Sheetal: hmmm……bye [smiles]

**************************************

[Sheetal calls up Deepak and tells him to pick Kripa…..]
Deepak: ok ok….i will do that……[He feels happy for the reasons unknown to him]
Deepak: [mind voice: Sheetal refused my lift…..and asked me to pick Kripa….. why am I feeling so happy for this???? Strange!!!!]
[he gets dressed for the party and starts off to Kripa’s place……Kripa was in fact reluctant to join the party……She feared to tell her parents about going to the party…..Her amma would agree after some resistance but her baba…..he would definitely not allow her……..but when her friends, especially Deepak wished that she comes, she couldn’t refuse it……She agrees after some persuation……]

jaane kab kahan kaise tere ho gaye kaise
hum to sochte hi reh gaye aur pyaar ho gaya
mere khawaab dil saaansein, mil ke kho gaye aise
tujko dekh ke aisa to kai baar ho gaya

[To be continued]