He looks at the gate one last time before he began,
"Duniya se chhupa ke
Ye karna nahin tha..."
And the paper flows away from his hands. He tries to get a hold of it, but fails. Everyone tries to catch it, but the paper, Anuj's poem, and his heart can all be caught by just one person. You guessed it right. The paper flows right up to Anu, and she tries to figure out what is happening.
Anuj looks at her and is already in awe. He has fallen head over heals for her 26 years ago, and has never really fell out of love ever since. But to see her right in front of him was purely magical. There has to be a way to heal their ailing hearts, and the way is to get them together, but destiny always had another plans..
Anuj is still at the stage, waiting for the paper to continue his recital, but someone just hands over the mic to Anupama to continue the poem. She looks at the paper, then to the mic, then to Anuj who she doesn't recognise, then again to the paper, and starts her recital...
"Duniya se chhupa ke
Ye karna nahi tha..
Duniya se chhupa ke
Ye karna nahi tha..." She walks towards the stage and continues,
"Thi ishq nahi vo
Bas Ibadat thi..
Thi ek sada si vo
Bas Dua si thi...
Duniya se chhupa ke
Use dil me rakhna nahi tha..
Vo thi shayad ek
Lamhe ki iltiza bas
Vo meri ibadaton ka
Sila bhar thi...
Duniya se chhupa ke
Ibadat karni nahi thi..
Jispar haq nahi tha mera
Mujhe vo..." Anu fumbles on the last line and gives a glance to Anuj.
Anuj continues,
"Jispar haq nahi the mera
Mujhe vo, Ummeed karni nahi thi...
Saari duniya se chhupa ke
Koi bhi ummeed karni nahi thi..."
Everyone gives them a huge round of applause.. While Anu just keeps staring at him. As much as he loves her gaze, and is on cloud nine already, he feels uncomfortable. "Everything ok?" He asks.
"I don't think so.." says Anu.
"Hi! By the way.. I am Anuj... Anuj from college.."
"Jai Shree Krishna.. I am sorry that I do not recognise you.. but..." she fumbles again, and touches her hair looking at the other side.
"You can tell me if something is bothering you.." he tries to be formal.
"Something to do with your poetry.."
"Don't worry, Anupama. I am open to all types of constructive criticism.. and this is just time pass, in fact I don't even tell the world that I write poetry.." he tries to laugh it off.
"I thought you write it for someone. As in some girl you loved..." she says..
Anuj is already in sweat even when all the ACs are working just fine..
She continues, "But... But you talked about the hope! And why can't you hope by the way? I mean even I was on the edge of breaking down but it was the hope from Kanha Ji that kind of solved my problems. So, I don't know why and how can someone be deprived of hope. Are you scared to even hope for something?"
Anuj was all ears and kind of loved the scolding while Anu was addressing the biggest devil inside of Anuj's head right at the first meeting. But was that really their first meeting? If you ask Anuj, he will write a better novel than I can ever write just describing their first meeting...
"I never thought that way.. I.. I am sorry.." the biggest business tycoon had no chance before his lady love.
"Hey.. don't apologize.. I am sorry, I just couldn't resist.. I have developed this habit of giving lectures... Sorry.."
That sorry really pierced Anuj's heart. The girl who literally fought for someone's rights in college, has been reduced to someone who ends up apologizing just for putting her thoughts across.
"It's completely alright. I said I am open to criticism.." he says.
"Yes.. and maybe I will wait for a day when you will write positively on hope one day.."
"Hahaa. I hope that comes sooner..."
"By the way, you paper... And you should also improve your handwriting a bit.."
"Okay, Miss." He obliged...
"Just joking.. don't worry..."
"I know..."
That one paper that had Anuj's signature.. And of course, there is a Anu in Anuj, so he has always been very protective of his own name. And this was probably the only time, in fact his very first, when that paper had Anu's touch.. It had her finger prints.. The first thing he is going to do when he go back hope, is put that paper in lamination and place it next to the rose embossed in resin.
"What's happening?" asks Devika.
"I'm not gonna spare you this time for the prank.." Anuj says..
"I told you that you won't regret.. Are you regretting?"
"Shut Up! Devu.."
"Devu??" Anu looks at Devika in disguise.. "Why am I not calling you Devu and he is?"
"Are you jealous?" Anuj asks..
"No.. I'm not jealous. Her life her rules.."
"Hey hey.. stop it you two. Anu, listen.. Anuj always called me Devu and that's cool with us. Moreover he has recently arrived at Gujrat and he was in USA for last 26 years. We were just connected on phone, so even if he wanted, he couldn't have stole me from you.. so, just relax, maybe.."
"That reminds me, there is one more person the talk of the town. My kids, in laws, infact my ex husband and his wife are all gaga over him.. you know, they don't talk about anything else these days. What was his name again, some Kapadia.."
Anuj and Devika look at each other and burst out laughing..
"What?" Anu asks.
"He.. he is that business tycoon Anuj Kapadia.." Devika points towards Anuj.
"What?" Anu almost eats her little finger.. "I am so so sorry.. so so sorry... I didn't realise that. I shouldn't have said what I said.."
"What has she said?" Devika asks Anuj..
"Something about his poetry and his handwriting..." Anu replies and the continues talking to Anuj, "I am sorry. Take that as a joke.. I'm very sorry..."
"I told you,it is all alright.. relax.. Waiter" he signals waiter and hands over water to Anu.
"Thank you.." she says..
"Forget it all.." Anuj says...
"Hey boring people, hit the dance floor if there is still some power left in your bones and if your joints are still intact..."
"Anu, let's go.. let's dance.." Devika tells her..
"I don't want to dance.. not now.. and definitely not in heels.."
"Arey.. Stop being so boring, ok.. Let's go. In fact, you know what..? The famous college dance you did in college, Anuj was the one who recommended your name.."
"Really? Thank you so much.."
"And know, you know what? You two should dance on that song now."
"NO!" Anu and Anuj say together.
"I am not taking no for an answer.." Devika takes the mic from Anu and announced the song.
***
They dance on a famous hindi song.
