Listen ek tukda dhoop when Shantanu's part starts for utmost feel. ❤️
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— Mam, mein nahi ja paunga exam dene...
As soon as Ishan said the sentence, Isha stared towards him with utmost surprise...
— Kyu Bala, Aisa kya ho gaya?
Sad Ishaan was sitting on the sofa. Isha came and sat beside him.
— Dad is in US. Mujhe pahad jana hoga and dad mujhe akela nahi chodenge...
Savi laughed loudly.
— Ladka hoke akele nahi ja sakte tum?
Ishaan said nothing. Isha scolded her,
— Savi, behave. Aisa matt bol. Ishaan, tu kisi dost ke saath ja jo yehi exam dega.
— Nahi hai aisa koi. Mein akela yeah exam de raha hu. Koi nahi jayega saath mein. Chodiya, baaki saab ki tarah mere sapne bhi mere saath chodh rahe hai. Mein yeha koi school mein padha lunga.
Isha thought something for minutes. And then said,
— Main jaungi tere saath!
Ishaan and Savi both surprisingly looked towards Isha. In this whole seven years Isha went nowhere. Though she said everyone many excuses but actually she silently waited for her Shantanu to comeback.
— Mam, aap jayenge?
— Ha, apne bacche ke liye itna to mein kar hi sakti hu...
Ishaan smiled. In this seven years, he became Isha's son. He topped in college, beating Savi in exams. He made Isha love him like her son. Savi smiled looking towards this duo. She was happy for her friend.
— Phir kya... Tum khush ho jao Ishaan. Sapna or mam dono mil rahe hai...
Ishaan smiled then said,
— Sunday jayenge. Monday mera exam hai... Tuesday chale aayenge. Apko problem to nahi hai na mam?
Isha was about to say something when Savi said,
— Mam itne din baad bahar ja rahi hai Ramtek se, or tum baas tin din mein nipta rahe ho... Atleast ekdin to waha sights dekho, masti karo. Mam, plzz... Aap to aise rest bhi mil jayega yeah tight schedule se.
Isha said,
— Paar college se chutti nahi milegi!
— Areh its ok na... Aap ekdin bhi chutti nahi leti hai. Abhi de hi denge...
Isha at last agreed. Suddenly she asked,
— Oho, kaha jaana hai?
Ishaa replied,
— Kasauli.
Isha nodded her head. Little did she knew that this trip will be a life changing thing for her.
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— Bhaiya ji, haar waqt kitaab padhte hai aap... Taang nahi aata hai?
Shantanu smiled. He closed the book and replied,
— Book hi insaan ka saabse bara dost hota hai. Atleast logo ki tarah chupchap chodh ke nahi chala jaata...
Shukla understood what Shantanu was trying to say. He changed the topic...
— Aap chatt pe jaiye bhaiya ji, mujhe saaf karna hai...
Shantanu nodded his head and went to the terrace. His house was in a quiet place, not near the crowds.
As the sun reaches its peak, the sky transforms into a brilliant blue, with just a few wispy clouds drifting lazily across. The air gets filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers and the gentle hum of bees as they flit from one colorful blossom to another.The warm sunlight cast a golden glow on the lush green hills, accentuating the vibrant hues of the trees and the soft rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. The sound of birdsong fills the air, a melodic chorus of joy and abandon.
In the distance, the majestic Dhauladhar range stands tall, its snow-capped peaks glistening like diamonds against the blue sky. The gentle rustle of leaves and the soft chirping of birds create a soothing symphony, lulling one into a state of deep relaxation. Also, the sweet breeze makes one feel peace.
Shantanu remembered his first day in kasauli. He randomly took a truck and then went to pune. Then he went to station and sat on a train. He had no destination, he just wanted to leave everything. The last stoppage of the train was Kasauli. He was forced to stay there. But after two days, he fell in love with this place. The way Kasauli took all his pain and tried to heal him. He stayed back. He gave interviews and cracked one. Then gradually he took his house as rent first and after two years, he finally bought it. He took a deep breath... Then said,
— Isha, kaisi ho tum? Atul ke saath khush to hogi hi... Maine bohot dundha tumhe insta, facebook saab mein. Na tum ho nahi Atul. Pyaar mein itna kho gayi ki saab chodh diya! Great. I hope tum bohot khush raho. Itna khush ki mu... Mujhe vul jao. Bas, ekbar mujhe pata chal jaata ki tum kyu ki aisa... Baas. Ajj taak yeah ek sawaal mujhe dard deta hai. Saabse ladna chahata hu mein Isha, saabko bolna chahata hu ki meri Isha ne cheat nahi kiya hai, usne galat kuch nahi kiya mere saath...
— Itna pyaar kaise karte hai aap bhaiyaji?
Shantanu looked back. Shukla ji was standing behind him. He questioned him. Shantanu smiled with teary eyes. Said,
— Mein janta hu apne Isha ko... Woh cheater nahi ho sakti... Areh, usne to dusro ke liye apno ko taak khoya hai... Woh kabhi galat nahi ho sakti.
— Unhone apko bina bataye shadi karli hai... Woh khush hai, sukhi hai... Aap hi akele rehe gaye...
— Woh uski zindagi hai or shayad uski destiny mere saath nahi thi. But uska pyaar saccha tha... Mujhe pata hai.
— Bhaiya ji... Aap pagal hai...
— Pagal to mein hu... Ajj bhi agar woh achanak mere saamne aa jaaye yeah ekbar bhi mujhe bole ki ushe meri zarurat hai, mein saab vulke uske paas chala jaunga... Woh zindagi hai meri. Woh kahi bhi rahe, kisike saath hi rahe mein chahata hu woh khush rahe... Baas.
— Pyaar kitna ho sakta hai yeah apko na dekhta to pata hi nahi chalta.
— Woh hai hi aisi... Woh jaab hasti hai taab lagta hai aasman ki haar ek sitara uske hasi mein hai, woh jaab gussa karke muh fulati thi to lagta tha ki ek bacchi muh fula rahi hai... Uski aankhe itni sukoon deti hai ki kya batau. Ekbar dekhenge to aankh hatane ka maan nahi hoga. Ush aankho mein aansu bohot buri lagti hai. Woh jaab hasti hai to uski aankhe bhi hasti hai jaise. Unn aankho mein sukoon hai. Woh insaan hi meri jannat hai. Usise mein hu, mein usse milne se pehele zinda tha, uske aaneke baad mein jeene laga!
Shukla noticed his bhaiya ji got lost in visualizing his lady love! Shukla ji nodded his head and asked god in his own mind,
— Aisa kyu karte hai aap? Bhaiya ji jaise sacche pyaar karnewale ko hi itna dard kyu? Or woh aurat bhi kaisi hai jo itna pyaar karnewale ko chodh diya. Kya khel khelte rehete hai aap bhagban ji! Kya yeah dono or kabhi nahi milenge?
Little they knew that god smiled from heaven. He knew what was coming that sunday....
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To be continued... ❤️
With love
Author ❤️