BROKEN BUT BEAUTIFUL

4.Watch mil gayi

"Bas kar de meri behen, aur kitna maatam manayegi. Tune toh apne haath aise soone kar liye jaise pati ke marne par koi aurat apni maang sooni karti hai." Ananya said to Priyanka when both best friends were sitting in the college canteen. Priyanka shot her a glare.

"Hansaane ki koshish kar rahi hu tujhe, hans bhi le."

"I'm not interested."

"Yaar kya hogaya? Ab watch kho gayi toh kho gayi, what can we do now? Tera paas ek aur watch bhi hai na, woh pehen le."

"Mujhe nahi pehenni aur koi watch. Mujhe wahi watch chahiye. You know na, how precious that watch is for me, kya value hai uss watch ki meri life mein, phir bhi tu aise bol rahi hai."

"I know, par main kya karu bata. Main tujhe aise sad nahi dekh sakti. Aur mujhe watch milne ki koi ummeed bhi nahi hai." She gave Ananya a sad look on hearing her statement.

"Baat sun. Tujhe kya lagta hai itne dinon ke baad bhi koi tujhe woh watch lautane ke liye dhoondh raha hoga. Koi itna saccha aur imaandar nahi hai aaj ke zamaane mein, upar se woh branded watch thi." She made her understand.

After listening to all this, tears started welling up in her eyes. She knew, what Ananya was saying was right, but still, she tried to have some hope, that she would find her precious watch very soon. Ananya hugged her and tried to console her.

___________

Meanwhile, Kartik was in his class with his two best friends. It was a free period, so they were just sitting idle at the back bench.

"Bata bhai, aaj kya plan hai uss ladki ko dhoondhne ka?" Vikram asked him.

"Kya batau? Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aaraha." Kartik replied. His eyes were constant on the watch in his hands.
"Kal woh mujhe milte-milte reh gayi, all because of Shanaya." This time his voice laced with a little bit of frustration.

"Aaj Shanaya Kartik se baat karne nahi aayi, from this morning, chalo kuch toh samjhdaar nikli." Vikram whispered to Kavya in a low voice, gesturing towards Shanaya who was sitting at the front bench, taking glances of Kartik at intervals.

"Accha Kartik, chal canteen chalte hai." Kavya said.

"Nahi, mera mann nahi hai. You guys go."

"Chal na, aunty ne bataya mujhe, you didn't even had breakfast this morning, kuch khaate hai chal."

"Mujhe bhook nahi hai Kavya, please."

"So what? Hame toh bhook lag rahi hai, chal uth." Saying this, Vikram dragged him forcefully. Kartik didn't protest anymore because he knew these two were not going to listen to him anyhow. He slipped the watch into his pocket and went to canteen.

_____________

Kartik and his friends were on their way to the canteen. And meanwhile, Priyanka and Ananya were going out of the canteen from the adjacent way (just like how it happens in tv serials).

Thankfully, Kartik saw Priyanka on his way. This time, without wasting any time, he immediately ran from his place and went to stand in front of her. Confused, Vikram and Kavya also followed him.

When, finally, she was in front of him, Kartik felt like the most happiest person ever in the whole world. He couldn't stop smiling looking at her. He noticed that Priyanka was a little surprised at his sudden movement. She was unable to understand what was happening. He already somewhat guessed that she might not remember him, because on that day, she was in a hurry for the exam.

'Ye ro rahi thi kya?' The thought came in his mind as he noticed her eyes.

"Excuse me?" Ananya asked him.