Pranbir : Celeso Amar

Taunts and Jeers

Tears filling her tiny eyes, Prachi failed to notice a figure coming from the front and collided into it.

"Are!", A familiar male voice gasped and straightened her by holding her shoulders.

"Prachi?", Pushkar beamed and kept on staring at her, his mind refusing to work as his heart sent flashes of their dances across his eyes, while he watched Prachi wiping her eyes with her pallu.

Wait a minute ... Wiping her eyes?

"P-Prachi kya hua? Why are you crying?", He asked her, worried. He gasped, "Is it due to the dan-oh shit! I'm so sorry Prachi, I didn't mean to ... Vo to bas ho gaya! Shit! I should've explained the guests. My humblest apologies. I'm so-"

"It-its ok Mr. Pushkar, you ... don't need to apologise. Main aapki vajah se nahi ro rahi.", Prachi stated, impressed at that man's genuineness.

"Oh. Oh good.", He heaved a sigh of relief. "Par phir ... ro kyun ...?", He asked her hesitantly.

"Eh...kuch nahi.", She looked away.

He sighed. "Koi baat nahi. Agar tum nahi batana chahti to it's ok. Par yaad rakhna, ek friend samajhke, tum kabhi bhi mujhse koi bhi baat share kar sakti ho. Vaise bhi mere bhi yahan Ranbir ko chodke koi khas friends nahi hain. I'd be glad to be friends with you!" He forwarded his hand.

Prachi began thinking. He was a nice person, a genuine person, she could feel it. 'Insaan ki utni parakh to hain mujhe ki kaun saccha aur kaun jhootha hain ye bata saku. Inse dosti karne mein koi burayi nahi hain. Vaise bhi, apnon mein akeli hoon, aur mujhe iss vakt ek acche dost ki zaroorat hain. Meri Shahana to hain hi, par ek aur dost hoga, to usme koi burayi nahi hain.'

"Eh...it's ok if you don't want to...you know ... Koi zabardasti nahi hain.", Pushkar said awkwardly.

"Nahi! We ... can be friends.", Prachi beamed.

Trying to hide the ecstasy that was bubbling inside him, Pushkar managed to keep a straight face and smiled softly, while shaking her hand.

She pulled away and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. He gulped.

No you idiot! I'm not doing that!, He scolded HIS duo of brain and heart.

Oh yes you ARE doing exactly that!, They fought back.

Badi mushkil se dost bana hoon. Isse aage gaya to vo bhi nahi rahunga. So ... Nope!

Are nahi. Try to kar yaar! Dekh, kal kare so aaj kare, aur aaj kare so abhi. Agar aaj nahi, to kabhi nahi.

Ok ok ok. Fine. I'll ... try.

Inhaling a lot of air, as though it was some sort of confidence tonic, he asked her nervously, "Eh ... Prachi?"

"Hmm?", She replied melodiously. 

His insides clutched his heart tightly.

Aargh! Do it man! Your stupid nervousness is suffocating me!!!, Heart whined.

Ok ok. I'm doing it.

"Eh ... dekho. Jab main sabse pehle Ranbir ka friend bana tha na, tab hum log snacks khane gaye the mere favourite hotel mein. I consider it as a sign of friendship to take my friends on a da-on a treat." Phew, that was close. "So ... kya tum bhi kal mere saath chalna chahogi mere fav hotel? Vahan bohooooot acchi paani puri milti hain."

"Eh..." Agar dobara mujhpe Ranbir ne ilzam lagaya to? Nahi, main seh nahi paaungi. Par ... Ye meri life hain. Usne bhi to ... Nahi. Mujhe jo karna hain, main vohi karungi.