Raat Akeli Hai | 𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒋

𝐕𝐈𝐈. lost and found

❝
kahan kahan dhoondha tujhe
thak gayi hai ab teri maa
aaja sanjh Hui
mujhe teri fikar
dhundhla gayi, dekh meri nazar

❞

sumedh :

I stared at the man right opposite me, awkwardly.
He looked strangely familiar, yet I definitely did not know him.

I walked past him to my car and sat back.
Late already.

My phone buzzed as I immediately received the call and tucked the bluetooth cordless earphone in my right ear.
The man kept staring at me, dumbfounded.

"Sumedh, where on earth are you?", I heard my friend from across the line.
"On the way, Nakuul. Just gimme a moment.", I said starting the car.
I was adjusting my rear view mirror when I saw the reflection of a woman.

In a saree, with just a cardigan.
I paused.

That woman.
I immediately turned to see her myself.
Extremely familiar. As if I had seen her multiple times, yet never recognised until now.

"Sumedh, tere liye sab ready karke rakha hai. Jaldi aa jaa, waise bhi Shruti ka call aaya tha.. teri magazine cover wala photoshoot bhi baaki hai.", Nakuul said.

I tore my gaze off her.
"Ha.. aata hu.", I mumbled as I turned my car immediately.
I'd take a little longer route.

"Teri hi wajah se aaj mai Gurukul ka owner bann paya. Tu woh idea nehi deta toh pata nehi kya karta..", Nakuul went on with his thank you speech while I slowly followed the woman walking down the footpath in my car. I paused as I watched her enter a restaurant.

Spice & Chutney.

I wore my shades back.
I watched her walk right in, towards the kitchen.
She obviously worked here.

I must find out who she is.

"Aa raha hu. Kuch toh tareefein chod de.", I said as I looked away.

I increased the speed of my car.
Suddenly I thought I heard someone call from behind.

"Samar!", I heard. I looked in my rear view mirror, I saw no one.
Maybe I was imagining.

I drove off.

•

anupamaa :

I ran to the door and opened it.
My heart pacing wildly.

"Anupamaa ji?", I heard Yashdeep sir from behind but I stood at the opened door of the restaurant, staring out.

"Samar..", I whispered, feeling defeated.
I knew it was him. In that car. Looking at me.
My eye caught his but he wore his sunglasses and drove off.

Did I imagine?
How can it be? It was so clear. So distinct.

I sighed and walked back in.
"Is everything okay?", Yashdeep sir asked.
I nodded and walked past him.

The whole day passed in thought, and trying to think of anything else apart from the vision I saw.

Night set in.
I was finally packing up everything.