She fidgeted and kept playing with her dupatta nervously as she served
the mint and jeera to the guests.
"Shravan ko message toh kardi tumne par Sumo, yahaan se kaise
nikloge?"
She kept looking here and there, waiting for a chance to escape from the eyes around. As always, her grandfather gave her the perfect excuse and called for sending mangoes upstairs. She took the chance instantly and volunteered, "Laa rahi hoom nanu"
And without waiting for any reply or nod from others who were engrossed
too much into the game.
None stopped or enquired when she slipped away and climbed the stairs with the bowl of fresh mangoes for Ramnath uncle and her nanu.
In less than 2 minutes she delivered it in her nanu's room and went further up to the terrace. Her nanu and uncle were also playing a head to head game of chess and didn't bother to stop or even talk to her.
They just acknowledged the mangoes and continued playing.
Meanwhile Shravan was getting too impatient and wondered if she fooled him like in their childhood. Then he himself corrected and smiled, "Nahi Sumo aisa nahi karegi...."Actually even in childhood days, she always kept her promises but he cheekily grinned thinking about how she was always late. She would have too many activities going around her and she would have to finish them all before coming to him.
He couldn't help smiling as memories came flooding into him. Their friendship was always unique and distinct, just like her. He smiled again and said in his mind, "Yes she was quite unique.....the one and only Sumo......His Su...."
His thoughts froze right there wondering if he could even think so about
her. Was she his Sumo? Did he have that right? No, wait, what if she never
thought beyond their friendship? What if she can never see him in the way he
desires? His heart screamed back and argued that she will but his ever logical
mind chose otherwise because his mind knew that if ever it was a no from her
side, he wouldn't be able to take that rejection and then their friendship will
never be the same.
This was a part of him which he had kept hidden and suppressed inside
him for 10 years but tonight, it was forcefully overpowering him, perhaps
because his sore relationship with her had healed and they were back to being
friends. Friends? he couldn't control a sad smile when that question mark
echoed once again.
So many questions and answers clogged his head at that moment. He wasn't sure of what to contemplate and what not to. Then his wise mind initiated an ultimatum to just leave it all to its natural course and for now stay the way they are, and live these stolen moments with her blissfully.
Of course, he was also weighed down by the thought that he might never get such a chance in the future.
His overwhelmingly emotional thoughts were interrupted by her voice, "knock knock.....can I come in?"
His anguish immediately vanished and he turned around smiling. She always had this magic in her and could cheer him up instantly. He commented, "Yahaan tumhe knock karne ki zaroorat nahi hai"
She mocked as she walked inside, "Kya patha tum kya kya kar rahe hoge? so safely knock kiya.....mujhe kal ki warning yaad hai"
She showed a funny face at him and she placed the mangoes she brought for them on the table. Her fun filled attitude made him coil back into his shell. Little did he know that it was Suman's way of tactfully hiding her own nervousness, her act to ward off her own weaker side. She always wore Sumo's cap to get rid or rather bury Suman's vulnerable emotions.
He faintly smiled and walked to the far end of the terrace, a favorite, nostalgic spot of their childhood days. It sure took them back their memory lane and those times when they used to sit on the parapet with their legs hanging down, sipping and chewing the mangoes they plucked from the Tiwari garden.
The mango tree was another happy memory. She used to climb the tree or throw stones at ripe mangoes, much to his horror. He used to try his best to stop the prankster but in vain. She used to pluck mangoes for him and mangoes had become his favorite fruit.
He smiled as he went and sat at the same spot. She followed and sat next to him like the same old days.
Silence engulfed them and it felt soothing along with the cool night breeze that flew past their faces. Though she was anxious of what he would ask for, she didn't let that affect this most cherished moment.
For both, oblivious to each other, these moments felt special for the same reason....their togetherness were reason enough to make this night special and magical.
She coughed all of a sudden and he turned to her side. Perhaps she felt the need to break the silence after a few minutes. He enquired in concern, "Tum teek ho?"
She merely nodded while her heart queried back, "Tumhe kya hua hai Shravan? You confuse me!"
Her heart had probably perceived or perhaps experiencing an unusual vibe
from him and deep in her heart, felt that he was in the same state as hers.
He wanted to break the barriers that held him back and confess, "Pyar Sumo....pyar hua hai mujhe....tumse" but his lips refused to spell that out, abiding to his strong mind.
Both of them were stubbornly refusing to speak their hearts out.
Amidst the solacing silence, she could feel her thudding heart which was in anticipation to what Shravan's demand would be. There was an unmistakable excitement too, curious also to know what was running in his mind.
Perhaps he had heard her loud heartbeats or did she speak out the last part?
He probed teasingly, "Humesha bolti rehti ho.....aaj itni chup?? Are
you scared?"
She instantly shook her head, “Nahi nahi….aisa kuch nahi hai….tum bolo na….kya kehna tha mujhse?”
He shook his head, "Kehna nahi hai but maangna hai.....mera
fees"
She gulped hard, thinking about all the weird ideas that was fed into
her mind and stammered, "fees??"
He just nodded, "hmmm" and she managed to reply in a low voice, "Haan bolo na....kuch bhi maang lo…"
Her already stammering words ceased when she felt his palm over her hand that she had placed between them. Her voice broke and he said, "tumaari promise yaad rakhna….jo maanga woh dena padega"
She gulped again wondering if her employee Preetha was right in guessing his fees.
She tried to sneak out her hands from beneath his but his hold became
stronger.
She didn't know when he stood up and pulled her up along with him. Now she was facing him and her hand was cradled between his palms. They were close, pretty close and his eyes forcefully locked with hers.
To be continued
