Ek Duje Ke Vaaste

3

Next day Suman woke up late and with a headache because she cried for a while last night. She was hurt and couldn't hold tears back. She was getting ready for PCT, her only place to gain peace at the moment. PCT was her mess or tiffin service that she has started on her own. Being learning cooking from her teenage, PCT, her business was her identity.
The door bell rang and she went to open the door.
She in a quick glance closed the door. It was Shravan.

"Nanu ne kaha tha, tum aao to darwaza band kar doon"
She shouted from inside.
Upon getting no response she thought to open the door but went to check from window instead so that she doesn't get caught.
She was leaning from the window but was unable to see anything.

"Itna lamba ho gaya hai, phir bhi nahi dikh raha"

She leaned a little more and she fell. On the ground. She fell on face. In the garden with water and mud. Thankfully, she didn't get hurt, she just got covered in mud. She stood up and went inside but the door was locked, she rang the bell and this time it was answered by Shravan. She was surprised to see him inside.

"Tumhe abhi tak wo secret raasta yaad hai?"
She asked but as usual got no response.

He went to meet Nana ji and she went to change.

He met Nana ji, won over his anger and completed the Chess game which was placed the same way, he left it 10 years ago. Though, when Suman came to serve tea, she disturbed it a little to check if he remembers but she got a glare from him in return to tell her that he does remember.

Day went normally after that, she went to PCT and he was with Nana ji the whole day.
When she came, he was still in the house which she didn't know.

"Bahut badal gaye ho tum Shravan"
She said out loud while thinking about him when she came in the room.

"10 saal mein har koi badal jaata hai"
Shravan said from a corner of the room.

"Oh...God...you...yaha...yaha kya kar rahe ho tum, dara diya mujhe"
She said keeping hand at her chest after he startled her.
"Main yaha tumhe invite karne ke liye aaya hoon, ek school reunion party ke liye, sunday ko, sab aa rahe hai tumhe bhi aana hai, okay?"

"Shravan, main ye sab...."

"Main naa nahi sununga, abhi I should leave, kal baat karte hai"

Said this he left leaving Sumo in her thoughts.
1-2 days went like this where he tried to make Sumo come to the party but she avoided it. She was liking how he was trying to persuade her.

"Aa jao na, kya problem hai? Tumne mujhpe jo paani fenka hai, uske return mein hi aa jao"
He said while they were in her car to test drive it. It was again having some issues and Shravan fixed it to avoid any more excuses from Sumo. While he was fixing it, she not knowing who was under her car, threw a bucket full of water and coincidentally he came outside just that time to have that water on his face.

"Main busy hoon uss din"

"Sunday ko kaise busy? Dekho, bahane mat lagao, just wear the dress I gave and came"
"Pahle mujhe Sumo bulao"

"Kya?"

"Jabse aaye ho mujhe Suman bula rahe ho, pahle Sumo bulao tab hi aaungi"

"Jab se aaya hoon, maine tumhara naam liya hi nahi"

"Liya hai Shravan, jab itne saalo baad pahli baar dekha tha, shayad tumhe yaad nahi"
Suman thought.

"Maine Sumo bulaya hai tumhe, jab pahli baar dikhi thi tum, par shayad tumhe yaad nahi"
Shravan thought.

"Theek hai, aise nahi manoge tum"
She said and started driving her car very irresponsibly.
He tried stopped her but Sumo being Sumo didn't stop.
As a pothole was approaching, he screamed in reflex.