Is love blind? .......Oh yes it is!! - Episode 36

Anjali messages Rohit that she will meet him after college the very same day……
At about 5PM, at a nearby café……
“Hi Anjali” Rohit said as he saw Anjali approaching the glass doors of the Café day….he was waiting for her just in front after reserving a private table for them……
He led her to the table…..pulled a chair for her……He appeared to be in his best of characters……
Both remained quiet for a while…..Anjali didn’t know what to say….while Rohit felt that he should allow her to speak first……but she didn’t speak…..when he sensed the silence becoming awkward, he started off…..

Rohit: Anjali…..why are you looking so dull??

Anjali is quiet or didnt seem to have heard his question……

Rohit: [louder] Anjali, I asked you something….

Anjali: [snapping out] Yes Rohit……what did you ask??

Rohit: [deep sigh] What is your problem Anjali? Aren’t you happy??

Anjali: [looking at him] nahi Rohit….aisi koyi baat nahi….

Rohit: I know…you don’t consider me as your best friend anymore…..warna itna formal nahi hoti…..best friend chodo, atleast friend toh hoom na??

Anjali: no yaar….tum aise kyun sochte ho??

Rohit: I know you are worried about something but you don’t want to share it with me….we were close friends…..and we never used to have secrets within us….but now, you have changed a lot….

Anjali: time and circumstances changes everyone Rohit….

Rohit: so you do agree that you are hiding something….

Anjali: [smiling] tum chodoge nahi na?? [She meant that he is not leaving that matter]

Rohit: [determined tone] kabhi nahi!!!

[Anjali smiles to brush away that topic……but Rohit comes back to the point]

Rohit: baat taalne ki khoshish, huh??? Kaho kya baat hai??? Sid se jagda hua kya??

Anjali: [she says this off in a flow without much thinking] uss se baat bhi nahi karthi phir jagda kaisa!!!

Rohit: What??? [he is happy and smiling within his mind] What did you say???

Anjali: [quickly realizing what she just said and tries to change her words] mera kehne ke matlab hai….ek chota sa naaraazgi hai…..teek hojaayega!!!

Rohit: [tries to snatch her mind through her words] don’t try to hide it….tumaara dil mein kya hai yeh main dekh saktha hoom….kuch aur bhi hai jo tumme pareshan kar rahi hai!!!

Anjali: [gives up her efforts to hide…..After a deep sigh, she starts it off] hmmm….tumne teek guess kiya….ummmmm…..[long pause]actually, after I knew that Sid is responsible for all that happened to me and my family, I was shattered….I try my best to stay away from him…….but he keeps trying to win me…he does all kinds of antics to impress me….…..and I just hate when he tries that!!![gets reminded of the dance and the kiss...] But I feel guilty when I do something that hurts him too…….All our friends feel that my behavior and attitude towards him is not right…All around me advice me as if I am the sinner…..nobody realizes my feelings….my heart is burning when people accuse me…..even my close friends don’t understand my pains………..Its all going over the top that I myself have started feeling guilty at times…..[stops] kya tumme bhi aisa lagtha hai???

Rohit: never Anjali…..i will never think like that…..Sid did a unpardonable mistake……he can never be excused for what he did……..He spoiled our dreams……Both of us are the most affected and only we can feel what we lost!! i can understand what you are going through!!!! So don’t ever regret what you do……but.....[pauses and looks at her]...…..now that you are married to him, may be you must compromise and try to adjust……

Anjali: that’s what I am trying to do Rohit…..[sobbing]that’s exactly what I am doing…..

Rohit: plzz Anjali don’t cry…..wipe your tears…..i cant see you like this…..[places his hand on hers lightly first and then strongly]

Anjali: [wipes her tears and realizing that his hands on hers, she slowly withdraws hers from under his] hmmmm

Rohit: [taking off his hand seeing her action] just remember that whatever you do, I am always with you….you can share your problems with me….any time you need me, I am there…..call me and I am at your service right away my dear……[he bows down at that]

Anjali: [smiles with the tears still lingering the eyes faintly….she gets up] yes boss….[a moment of silence]now I got to go….will call you…… bye…

Rohit: ok….see ya….take care….and plz don’t cry...only kids cry!!.....and you arent a kid anymore!!! ok???

Anjali: [smiling]hmmm…
[She leaves….he keeps smiling and his eyes trailing at she leaves]

[An unexpected and uninvited person is listening to their chat from the adjacent table…..its none other than Tushar…..He was there for a coffee with his project mate when he sees Anjali there….He forgets the project and focuses on Anjali and Rohit……….]

Sid: are you joking??? Dude, are you suspecting her??? She is my wife and I know that she will never insult this relationship…..


Tushar: she might not…but Rohit….Rohit is not so straight yaar….He doesn’t sound too good to me…..He sure has some hidden intentions to his sudden comeback…..


Sid: so what??? Rohit chahe kuch bhi karle, Anjali sirf meri hi rahegi…


Tushar: SID!!! First make sure she is yours….phir uss par yakeen kar……right now, her mind is like a cat on the wall…..one smart move from Rohit and she might fall to his side….


Sid: [little tensed] what do I do???


Sam: give some shock treatment…..

Sid: chodo yaar….party mein ek shock treatment kiya aur I was close to becoming a devdas….and I would have spent my life in that bar!!! [Grins]


Tushar: Sid, be serious…..mazaag math karo….


Sid: I am not joking dude…[in a sad tone but smiling weakly]…but....I feel my life has become the biggest joke!!! 

Sam: don’t talk so depressingly Sid….hum hain na…..hum kuch sochthe hai…


Sid: no….ab jo bhi karna hai….main karunga….tum sab bas dekhte jao….


Tushar: aise kya karne waale ho??


Sid: Anjali ko track mein laana itna easy nahi…she is different…….She is tough to understand but I think I know her well now…..[thinking] you were talking about our long college tour na??? kab hai??

Tushar: you are worrying about the tour now???tum paagal ho Sid!!!

Sid: forget all this….and just get ready to go……Lets enjoy the trip to the maximum…..[smiles to himself and his mind is continuously planning something]

***************************
[Sid’s home…..His mom calls him to her room]

Sid: [smiling and pretending as if nothing is wrong]yeah mom….aap ne kyun bulaaya??


Mom: shaadi kya hogayi tum apni maa ko bhool hi gaye…..[smiles and ruffles his hair]Cant I call you only if I have a reason or what???

Sid: Maa aap bhi na……..aisi koyi baat nahi…..main hamesha aap ke laadla beta hi hoom…..

Mom: [smiling and pinching his nose] I know beta…..[caressing his cheeks] kya main tumse kuch pooch sakthi hoom…..


Sid: Yeh kya baat hui??? aap mujhse kuch bhi pooch sakthe…..


Mom: [concerned] tum khush ho na beta??


Sid: of course mom……..why are you asking this now???


Mom: [hesitantly] main ab tak chup thi par aur nahi reh sakthi……..Kya tumaari aur Anjali ke beech kuch problem hai??? sach sach batao….dono ke marzi se hi yeh shaadi hui na??


Sid: [looking else where] yes mom…..both of us love each other….


Mom: jhoot math bolo….main sab jaanthi hoom…..[Sid looks at his mom in shock]tum kal kis haal mein aaye teh…yeh bhi jaanthi hoom!!!


Sid: [doesn’t want to hide any further] hmmm…kuch problem hai…..par mom, aap befikhar rahiye…..


Mom: what problem beta??? Main khud iss shaadi ke khilaaf thi…..sirf tumaare kushi keliye haan kaha….ab tum hi kush nahi ho!!!


Sid: plzz mom….. just give me some time…..I will set everything alright….


Mom: [still not convinced fully] hmmm….


Sid: kal mere batch ek long tour keliye jaa rahe hai…..main bhi jaa raha hoom Mom…..


Mom: Long tour???? How long??


Sid: 3 weeks……all india tour hai…..


Mom: itne din???? [Sid hasn’t been away from his mom for so long till now….so she is worried]


Sid: I know it is indeed very long but I have to go mom…..plzzz


Mom: hmmm….agar tum khush ho toh…[stops]


Sid: haan…..this trip will be memorable…..this is the final year and I wont get a chance like this after this….


Mom: teek hai…..go and come back safely…..apna khayaal rakhna


Sid: ok mom…..main chaltha hoom…..mujhe packing bhi karna hai….

[To be continued]