Darkhaast

~ 24 ~

"Abhimanyu, rukho!" Mahi chased him as he left the hospital after a 12-hour shift. He'd been ignoring her for the better part of a month. She knew the month was tough on him with Akshara's barsi so she didn't think much of it. When he ignored her in the hallways, Mahi justified it by saying he must've not heard her. She assumed he was busy when he stopped visiting their gym, which was fine. She was busy, too.

She grabbed his arm and pulled him closer. His anger, his guilt, everything thawed when he felt her against his chest. The height difference felt so salient when he looked down at her doe eyes. "Kahan jha rahe ho itni jaldi mein? Baat karni hai."

Aarohi travelled in the background, and he pulled away from her. Hands stuffed in his pocket, he collected himself. "Bolo."

"Ye dena tha tumhe." It was an invitation to her housewarming party. "Saturday ko hai. Agar tum aonge, toh acha lagega."

"Naaz ko bol dete, Rooh ko dene ke liya." His eyes turned cold again, seeing right through her at Aarohi who scrutinized the interaction.

"Roohi aur Abhir ko unki invitations mil gayi. Aarohi ko bhi. Hum dost hai toh main tumhe personally dena chahti ti. Is anything wrong?"

"Nahin, kuch galat kyun hoga. Bas busy tha bachon aur zimmedarion mein." His goodbye was curt and indifferent.

"Aaoge na?" She called after him. When he didn't turn back to see her, his heart clenched.

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"Abhimanyu, tum ready kyun nahi ho?" The kids pestered Aarohi to grab Abhimanyu with them for the party. They tried but Abhimanyu wasn't budging, citing surgeries and a heavy schedule so they had Aarohi clear it.

So, he made a new excuse when Aarohi came. "I'm not feeling well."

Another thing they have in common, Aarohi thought, is that they're both terrible liars. Her stomach recoiled at the idea.

"Apni feelings se bhaag kyun rahe ho?"

"Main bhaag nahi raha." He didn't look up from his files. "Toh phir chalo humare saath." Years ago, he threw the same challenge in Akshara's face when she didn't come to Abhimanyu and Aarohi's sangeet. Never anticipated that he'd be in Akshara's shoes one day.

-------

"Hi, Uncle! Hi Aunty! Hi Dida!" Naaz was a ball of excitement, handing out greetings like candy on Halloween. "Roohi, Ayra, main tum dono ko apna kamra dikhati hoon." The girls ran through the house, excited to explore.

The house was snug compared to the Birla mansion, with five rooms and three washrooms. It was decorated with a mix of blankets, pillows, photos, and trinkets, embodying the five women who'd now call it their home.

"Aap sab wahan kyun kade ho, andar aayi, main aapko sab se milati hoon." Mahi's home welcomed her friends from the Birla hospital, some from out of town, and to Abhimanyu's vexation, Jai. Aarohi eyed how Mahi's midnight blue saree peppered with reflective embellishments bewitched Abhimanyu.

"Mumma ko aap jaante hi ho, aap meri pyaar Ridhi Maa se mile." Mahi sat on the arm of Ridhi Ma's sofa as she chatted with the elders.

"Ladies, gentlemen, and beautiful humans." Jai grabbed the mike, capturing the living room like a stage. "Chand raat pe aap sab kya swagat hai."

Everyone's eyes furrowed, most in confusion, but Abhimanyu's in irritation.

"Chand raat?" Tayi Ammi asked.

"Haan, humari chand Mahi ki baat kar raha hoon. Jis chand pe paata nahi kitna gaane likh chuke hai."

"Shut up!" Mahi threw a pillow at him.

"Ek hume bhi sunao," a lady from the kitchen said. Nayanthara was her name, Aarohi recalled. Another friend of Mahi's from Bangalore.

"I'd thought you'd never ask," Jai winked at Nayanthara. He grabbed his acoustic guitar and sang, dragging people to the dancefloor. At the centre of it was Mahi and Nayanthara dancing, with Jai encircling them with the guitar.

Maana Teri Surat Ki Hai

Chandi Sau Taka Billo

Mere Dil Ka Sona Bhi Khara

Yeh Teri Chaand Baaliyan

Hai Honṭhon Pe Yeh Gaaliyan

Yeh Teri Chand Baliyan

Hai Honṭhon Pe Yeh Gaaliyan

-----

"Kya soch rahe ho, bhai? Ghar acha nahi laga?" Jai poked Abhimanyu, who stood out in the party like a sore thumb, stuck to a corner while his eyes followed Mahi.

"Jai." Mahi and Nayanthara chided, each sitting at one side of Jai on the dining table. The kids ate on the couch.

The vein in Abhimanyu's neck popped.

insert Abhimanyu's bgm here.

"Yahi soch raha hoon Jai ke aap aur Mahi itne karaab hai, apne rishte ko ek dusra mauka kyun nahi dete." "I mean, you look great together." Abhimanyu's sardonic tone rippled through the room, halting everyone's conversations. Ridhi Ma's silverware fell on the table after hearing his words. Mahi looked to Aarohi and Manjari, silently pleading to stop him.

"Abhi, ye tum kaunse baatein le ke behat gaye ho."

"Nahin Aunty, sawal acha hai." Jai's gentle smile didn't waver while blood rushed to Mahi's cheek. "Woh kya hai na, Abhimanyu. Hasrat hi rahe toh behter hai. Agar chand hasil ho jaye, toh chand chand nahi lagta."

"Shayad chand ki keemat kuch hi log jaante hain."

A nickname so dear to her heart was tossed callously throughout the room. 

"Jaise Anurag jisne itna acha gaana Mahi ki hasrat mein likha" Jai shot Abhimanyu's entitlement down.

Mahi's eyes darted between the two; such ferociousness was shocking.

Nayanthara rose up for a toast to bury their hatchet. "I want to thank Mahi for letting us use this opportunity," she intertwined her hand with Jai's, "to announce our engagement. Aap sab humare shaadi pe invited ho two hafte mein." The news snapped Abhimanyu's mouth shut. The change of conversation was welcome, but the applause was half-hearted.