TERI MERI KAHAANI

CHAPTER 36 TUMSE MILKE....

Dushyant and Ishita's home, 2:30 PM

"Yeh ghar mein itna andhera kyun hai?", Kavin thought as he entered Dushyant's house.

Suddenly melodious and light strains of music hit his ears. It was coming from the main room upstairs. He looked around astonished and his eyes went towards the wall on his left. An illuminated arrow marked a direction forward. Feeling surprised, he followed that arrow. Another glowing arrow awaited him at the side of the stairs and it pointed upwards most likely to the room from where the music emanated. As he climbed up the stairs, the song became clearer...

"Tumse milke, aisa laga tumse milke
armaan hue pure dil ke
tumse mil ke, aisa laga tumse milke
armaan hue pure dil ke, ae mere jaan-e-wafa!
Teri-meri, meri-teri ek jaan he
saath tere rahenge sada, tumse na honge juda..."

{Movie-Parinda(1989); Singers-Asha Bhosle/Sudesh Wadekar; Music-R.D.Burman)

Still mesmerized by all these colourful pyrotechnic arrows (he found another one at the top of the stairs indicating forwards), Kavin made his way towards the room. The door was slightly ajar and he pushed it to enter. He was suddenly dazzled by fairy lights that came on as soon as he entered. The walls were covered with beautiful silver stars (a few were tilted slightly) and the ceiling was full with white heart shaped balloons. The floor looked beautiful with strategically lit candles and rose petals sprinkled in between. As he looked around slightly stunned, he spied a sudden movement on the left side of the bed. What he saw made him stop right in his tracks.....

A skewed heart shaped figure was made on the floor with rose-petals. Brightly lit candles surrounded the heart and in the middle sat Purvi bent on her knees with an open ring-box. Behind her on the wall, clearly made by the kids was a sign...

WILL YOU MARRY OUR MUMMA?

Kavin was so overwhelmed that he couldn't react for a whole minute. He just stared at her looking up at him with love and hope in her eyes. Then finally, coming to his senses, he weaved his way slowly inside the heart which was big enough for two people. He bent down on his knees just like Purvi and clasped her hands....

"Yes, yes, yes! A thousand times yes!"

He had tears in his eyes now and as Kavin pulled her in for a kiss, Purvi yielded to him for the first time, her own eyes moist yet speaking volumes. They broke apart fairly quickly and Purvi put the ring immediately on his finger.

Kavin laughed. "Itni bhi kya jaldi hai Puri ji? Vaise, iska matlab toh yeh hua na ki Pihu maan gayi? Par yeh chamatkaar hua kaise?"

"KV, agar tum bura na maano toh hum us sofa pe baith kar baat karen. Mere ghutne dard kar rahe hain!", Purvi said in a lighter vein.

"Array kaahe ki CID officer Purvi, jab thodi der mein hee ghutno ne jawaab de diya?", Kavin teased her.

"Tumse pehle ki baithi hun KV. Madad karne ki bajaaye mujhe chidha rahe ho tum?", she pouted and tried to get up. But what with the space constraints and lighted candles surrounding them, she almost fell on Kavin!!

Kavin immediately held her hand, steadied her and they both got up. For the first time, he saw Purvi's outfit and kept on looking at her mesmerized.

"Purvi..is outfit mein tum bahut khoobsurat lag rahi ho. Yeh red saree tum par bahut suit kar rahi hai!"

She deigned to blush for the first time that day. While leading her towards the sofa, he said,

"Dekho toh tumhe, ab blush karna yaad aa raha hai! Jo kaam mera hona chaahiye tha, woh tumne kiya, tab blush karna yaad nahin aaya? Par ab dekho meri Puri ji ko!"