Karan stepped down the jeep, helped Monami get down and safely escorted her to the covered part of the chai tapri.
"Karan, tumhara favourite chai+baarish moment kaunsa hai?" Monami asked
Karan shrugged and gestured "none".
"Arrey koi to hoga? Achcha pehle Main batati hoon. School ke baad hum kuch friends - I mean main, Sid and some friends - we had gone to Austria for trek in the Alps. Wahan raaste mein mausam kharab ho gaya and kaafi baarish ho rahi thi. Hum raincoats ke bawajood bhi bheeg gaye the and it was really cold. I started to shake and shiver. Sid was so worried and jaise hi hum ek village pahunche, Sid ne doors knock karna start kiya to get something warm for me. Can you imagine ki wahan wilderness mein Humein ek Indian family ka ghar mil gaya. And they gave me chai.
Jungle, Pahad, Baarish, thand, chai, naye dost and naye puraane doston ke thahake (laughter) - it was so perfect."
Monami looked at Karan who was smiling but looking away, as if lost in some thought.
"Tum sun rahe ho?" Monami asked, looking into Karan's eyes.
"Pata hai Monami. Jab main 15 saal ka tha to pehli baar trek pe gaya tha, Param bhaiya ke saath. Manali ke paas ek jagah. 2 din ka trek tha and bas main aur bhaiya. Maine ek mahina us trek ki wait ki thi. Bhaiya ne mujhe camp set up, campfire lagana, mountain climbing, kitna kuch sikhaya. Hilltop pe pahunchte hue shaam ho gayi thi. Halki Baarish hone lagi to humne campfire pe chai banayi , aur sath mein bhutta seka and tent mein baith kar masti se khaya."
Monami noticed the softness in Karan's voice when he spoke about his brother. "Your favourite chai+ baarish moment , with your favourite person, haina?" she asked.
Karan straightened up suddenly and realised may be he had said too much again. Monami was still smiling. "Raani Sahiba, aapke Alps jitni fancy to nahi but hamari commando life main pahad wale moments aapko aur milenge."
Monami smiled and felt pleased that Karan may call her Raani Sahiba but deep down they sought similar things in life.
As it started raining heavily, both Monami and Karan asked for their second cup of tea. And Monami saw Karan's elusive big smile again.
At the chai tapri, radio played light music :
"अपना दिल मैं ज़रा थाम लूँ, जादू का मैं इसे नाम दूँ
जादू कर रहा है...
जादू कर रहा है असर चुपके-चुपके"....
May be, she will have another favourite chai+baarish moment from now on, Monami thought to herself and blushed.
______TO BE CONTINUED____________
YOU ARE READING
Safar Khoobsoorat Hai Manzil Se Bhi
RomanceMoRan and a drive in the rains MoRan are returning from Mahajan House. But what if the drive had turned out to be different than what was shown on the show?
