Nandini stands with Samar in her kitchen, dumbfounded. He's the suiter her parents have brought for her to meet.
Samar: Mujhe nahi pata tha.., that it would be you, Nandini.
Her mother enters the kitchen with a sly, knowing smile. Nandini's never seen her smile like that at any of the other suitors.
Amma: Tumhare appa ne, tum dono ko baat karne ke liye kuch waqt diya hai. Vishwanath's very impressed with this young man- ye apne family ka business chala raha hai, aur acha hai ki iske papa retired hai!
(So basically.., iss kahani mein Vanraj used to run a business, which he passed on to Samar)
Nandini: Acha?
Amma: Don't let me ruin all the surprises. Tum dono baat karo! Hum tume kuch minute baad milte hai.
With that, she hurries giddily from the room, leaving Nandini alone with Samar. The air feels thick with things unsaid.
Nandini (hesitating) : Um.. Hi.. Ye utna bhi awkward nahi hai.
Samar(smiling) : On the contrary, tumse firse milke acha laga. This is difficult, but I don't want to mislead you.
Nandini: Matlab?
Samar: Mere parents ne ye meeting mere batane se pehle hi set karliya tha. Mujhe arranged marriage nahi karni hai. Mujhe sach me nahi pata tha ki ye meeting tumhare sath hoga. Tumne kabhi mujhe tumhara last name nahi bataya tha.
Nandini: Oh. Are you disappointed that it's me?
Samar: Bilkul nahi. In fact agar kisi anjaan se hota then I don't think I could've tolerated how it felt.
Relief washes over at nandini at his words.
Nandini: Hai na? I know exactly what you mean.
She pulls closer to Samar as if a magnet is slowly gripping her.
Nandini: Tum arranged marriage kyu karna nahi chahte?
Samar: Kal raat.. Tumhare sath, It made me rethink things. Ki shayad meeting woman should be done slowly and privately.
Samar lowers his voice, and Nandini sinks into his gaze, entranced.
Samar: I can't stop thinking about you ,Nandini.
Nandini: Even after what I said to you?
Samar: Mujhe pata hai. I shouldn't want anything to do with you, and yet you're an echo in my head.
Nandini: Samar.. I'm terrible at dating stuff . Dating, men, romance. .. Is very on brand to me to blurt out something horrible aur phir bhaag jau. I hate to say this, but shayad mein lucky ho jau agar mere parents mere liye ladka dunde.
Samar watches her intently, as if he might pounce.
Samar(smirking): You impressed me, Nandini. You aren't terrible. Tum itna real thi ki you couldn't go through with your plan to use my body.
He reaches out, rough fingertips skating so gently over Nandini's cheek. Her eyelashes drop as her brain goes fuzzy.
Samar: Did you feel it too?
Nandini: Samar.. I feel it still. I haven't been able to focus all day . I couldn't get a lick of work done.
Samar (teasing) : Don't use the word "lick" Around me. My parents still believe I'm a gentleman.
Nandini struggles to ignore Samar's flirting and focus on the issue at hand, but her cheeks fume.
Nandini: Waise bhi, why would it matter? We won't be arranged together, anyway.
Samar: Mujhe fark nahi padta if I see you at a party or by our parents. All that matters is seeing you. You're the reason mein ye meeting refuse kar raha tha. Mujhe aur ladkiyon se nahi milna tha until I found you again.
Nandini (surprised) : me?
Samar: Tum, nandini. I want to end what we started.
Nandini: What we started to do was ruin me, Samar.
YOU ARE READING
Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas : SANAN
أدب الهواةNandini is a good girl in a traditional Indian family, and that means letting her parents arrange her marriage. After a lifetime of obedience, though, she needs to break from tradition and blaze her own trail. There's only one thing stopping her. Th...
