Ek Ajnabee Haseena

chapter 6

Purvi was sitting on a couch nearby reception, already so relaxed there, it appeared like she was going in for a deep sleep. Kavin too, standing by the register, rubbing his eyes, trying to stay awake, as he was finally handed over the key to his bedroom.

"thanks!" exclaimed kavin in relief, as he carried two suitcases, ready to go to the room, when he saw purvi, asleep on the couch.

The receptionist, noticing this, called someone to carry the bags for them, as kavin would be probably carrying purvi. And knowing that their room is on the third floor, didn't really help.

***

Ishita was scrolling through channels, changing them constantly, not able to find anything, as she moved back to a channel, where DDLJ was playing. The iconic scene, of raj pulling simran inside the train, as she was so enraged, she just threw a pillow at the tv, when her glance fell on her phone.

She noticed it was already 6 in the evening, probably seven hours had passes since she called him. she couldn't help but think it could be him this time, on the receiver's end.

She immediately dialled for him, her hopes only going up as the phone rang more, but they were soon dead as the phone was answered.

"hello, arre bhai kaun hai, kuch bolo..." complaint the woman on the receiving end, as ishita took a deep breath before answering.

"yeh Mr. Rohan Bhargav ka number haina?" asked ishita.

"hanji, lekin kyun puch rahi hoo.." replied the lady.

"woh, uhhm, unhone credit card ke liye apply kiya tha...toh bas, details confirm karni thi." stated ishita.

"acha..." the lady was surprised.

"waise, aap kaun bol rahi hai?" asked ishita.

"arre, woh bhabi hoon uski.." she replied.

"uhmm, ok, acha woh rohan ji...kahan hai..woh uhmm zara bank details confirm karni thi, toh, kab phone karoon?" asked ishita.

"arre, woh, toh bareily gaya hai, rishta aaya tha uska...isliye toh maine yeh kaam wala phone ghar chodne ko kaha..." she informed, as ishita, somehow attempted to control her flow of emotions.

"oh, uhm, toh parson phone karleti hoon, uhh, thanks." Hung up ishita on the call, as she kept the phone away, and let just everything sink inside of her.

***

Tarika and abhijeet, were seated by a tea stall, as they had khullad cups, in their hands, to sip tea from.

"badha time ho gaya khullad waali chaye peeye hue...aakhri baar, toh shayad, college mein peeyi thi..." recounted tarika.

"arre maine toh kaafi samein tak pee thi, ab paise toh milte nahi thi dhang ke, jab pehli naukri lagi thi...bas yahin bahar lapata tha, main kaveri ko.." reminisced abhijeet.

"acha, toh ab kisliye mujeh lekar aaye yahan?" questioned tarika.

"tarika ji, ab hum dono kya karte wahan hospital ke bahar baithe, ab yeh paas mein thi jagah...toh bas, socha yahan hi baith jaate hain..." stated abhijeet.

"haan bas yeh health inspection na baithta abhi..." responded tarika.

"arre maine toh do saal mein pehli baar dekha hai, khush ho jayi kuch hua toh.." informed abhijeet.

"itne paise do inn private hospitals ke....phir yeh sab.." shook tarika her head in sheer disbelief.

"kam se kam baithne layak jagah toh milti hai.." remarked abhijeet.

"acha, kabhi aap aur kaveri ji ghoomne gaye kahi honeymoon ke baad, mujhe aur raj ko time hi nahi milta tha..." started tarika another topic of conversation.

"kaveri se nahi jaya jata tha chuti pe, workaholic ekdum..." replied abhijeet.

"acha?" confirmed tarika, as abhijeet nodded in agreement, chuckling.

"aap toh nahi lagte workaholic.." commented tarika.

"pehle tha, ab jaise-jaise umar badhi, koi faydaa nahi lagta inn cheezon mein..." stated abhijeet.

"pata nahi, mujhe toh abhi bhi samajh nahi aata work-life balance kahan se rakhon.." expressed tarika her weakness.

"tarika ji, balance aata hai priorities samajhne mein...jab woh samajh aa jayein, toh itna mushkil nahi hai.." offered abhijeet a solution.

"matlab chahte ho ki main yeh bataon ki raj zyada pasand hai ya kaam?" asked tarika jokingly, as abhijeet chuckled.

"arre bilkul nahi...dikhiye, kabhi na kabhi aisa waqt toh aata hi hai, ki dono hi pasand nahi aate...kabhi-kabhi baat bas yeh hoti hai ki kise zyada zaroorat hai humari..." offered abhijeet his two cents, as tarika got something to ponder over.

***

Dushyant entered the house, it was already 11 at midnight, as he noticed ishita had already fallen asleep. He saw his mattress still there with his sheet and pillow, as he just removed his shoes, and went to lie down and close his eyes, to soon fall asleep. Ishita, turned to see him, and after she saw him fall asleep she turned back to her right side, but dushyant who had realised this, was now awake.

***