Note: This is taking place a little time after the whole blast. Maine Balli ko bhi usi blast me maar Diya, since makers weren't ready to.
Sanjana sat on the terrace, leaning comfortably against the bench. It was almost 2 at night, but sleep felt like a far fetched dream.
Her fingers clasped the bottle's neck, lifting it with little effort. She brought the mouth of the bottle to her lips, swinging it upwards and taking a small sip, the bitter taste of the liquid settling on her tongue.
She set the half empty bottle aside, her hand still wrapped around it, and breathed in the night air, feeling a little less tensed for the first time in the last two weeks. The first time she had tasted a drink after that incident.
Her vision blurred, but she didn't care. She closed her eyes for a second, before opening them, sensing a figure next to her.
In blurred flashes, she made out the black clad figure staring at her, looked familiar. She blinked, trying to keep away the sleep that threatened to engulf her.
"Hmm..?" The hum came out much weaker than she intended. Maybe, she had had a drink too many.
She sensed someone pulling out the bottle from her hand, in a way that was commanding, yet not rash. She opened her eyes, turning towards the figure. In a few clear flashes, she made out a familiar face looking closely at something on the bottle.
"Aadhi bottle...375ml....kitni baar mana kiya hai." The person, Karan's voice, she recognized, said. She could sense the frown on his face even without seeing it.
"Aap waapas aao, kabhi..haath bhi nahi lagaa...enge." she tried to speak, but all of it came out in lazy, almost slurred whisper. She heard a sigh beside her and a clink of glass against the floor, and she could feel the bottle near her fingers again. The next few moments were occupied by a heavy silence.
She lifted the bottle and took a small sip again, as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Aap waapas nahi aane waale." She murmured a faraway look in her eyes. Karan looked down, biting his lip.
"Sab...sab kaise hai." After a short silence, Karan diverted the topic, trying to ease the atmosphere.
"Sab..Batra sirji ne batane ki..mana kar rakhi hai." She said, the disappointment evident in her voice.
"Aur.."
"Monami? Vo aapko bohot yaad kar rahi hai Sirji. Roz aapke liye chithhi likhti hai...ye jaanke bhi ki aap kabhi nahi padhoge. Bohot pyaar karti thi vo aapse. Abhi bhi...karti hai. Aur Bhabhi aur Baby, unhe sach nahi pata hai Sirji. Lekin Monami roz Baby se milne jaati hai. Usko aapki kami mehsoos nahi hone deti. Uske saath bohot galat hua..." she completed, hearing a shaky breath behind her.
"Aur baaki sab...?"
"Baaki sab bhi...baaki sab bhi toot rahe hai Sirji. Hum koshish kar rahe hai. Lekin ab nahi ho raha hai...hume samajh nahi aa raha hai kya kare Sirji...hum poori koshish kar rahe hai kisi ko aapki kami na mehsoos karne dene ki..." she said, her voice breaking at the end. Frustration got the better of her, and she lifted the bottle once more, before something restricted its motion.
"Bas. Aur nahi. Isse kich nahi hoga. Saas le, fir bol." He said in a silent, yet commanding voice. Compelled, she let go of it, and silently obliged. It was getting more and more difficult to not feel drowsy.
"Aapne hume sab sikhaaya Sirji, aapne hume khudse bhi upar jaana sikhaaya...lekin kabhi aapke bina rehna nahi sikhaaya..." she spoke. Karan clicked his tongue. Sanjana turned towards him.
"Tum sab mere bina kahan reh rahe ho." He looked at her for a second, glancing at her confused face.
"Mai yahi hu. Ye academy, yahan ke sab log, meri jaan yahi hai Sanju. Mai iss academy ka his ban chuka hu, aur ye mera ban chuki hai. Mai chahe jahan chala jaau, mera ek humesha hissa yahi rahega."
"Rahi baat meri jagah naa le paani ki...tu isiliye nahi le paa rahi hai kyuki ye teri jagah hai hi nahi. Tu isse bohot upar belong karti hai. Tu apna rasta khud banayegi, kisi aur ke nakshe kadam pe nahi chalegi. Aur jis din tu waha pohochegi, mai sabse zyaada khush honga, jahan bhi honga...." Karan finished, smiling.
"Bas..ek waada chahiye." He said gently looking at the night sky. Sanjana nodded at him with teary eyes.
"Sabka..."
"Hum kisi ko kuch nahi hone denge Sirji. Unka dhyaan rakhenge. Humesha." She assured him. Karan gave her a grateful look, before leaning back against the bench, a comfortable silence between them.
"Aise hi..Monami ne bhi aapko 5 din pehle dekha. Lekin aap sachme waha nahi the...usne kaha..ki use lagta hai aap waapas aaoge." She spoke drowsily, as she moved herself a little.
"Tujhe kya lagta hai?" Karan asked, a little shock evident on his face.
"Man to kar raha hai nahi maan ne ka..par.." her voice slowly faded away.
"Sanju, par?" He asked
"Saboot..."
"Kya saboot?"
"Hume batane ki permission nahi hai Sirji...fir chahe aap sach me yaha ho, ya nahi..." she whispered. Karan smiled a little.
"Chal...so ja. Kal drill hai subah..good night." He turned to her to see her already curled up on the floor, asleep, probably the effect of the drink.
He got up slowly, the smile on his face fading, replaced with a guilty look. He worded a small apology in muted tone, before getting up and walking to the door.
Taking one last look at her, he whispered, "Sorry..tum sabko itna dard dene ke liye...lekin jab ye sab poora hoga, I swear it will be worth it."
