Hearing the sentence, Shantanu stood like a statue. Shukla Ji said,
— Sir ji, jaiye... Woh aagayi!
And then Shantanu ran out from his room to see his lady love after whole seven years. The way from room to garden seemed like a long road for him. His eyes became restless to see his Isha. He went to garden but found noone. The sun was going down and the whole garden was looking fab. But he was unable to find her. After looking for her several times, he said to himself,
— Yeah Shukla ji bhi na... Kya kya dekhte hai... Or mein bhi, Isha yeha kyu aayegi... Usko yeha kya...
And then only he collided with someone. The woman before him was going to fall so he grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards himself but he himself lost his balance and fell on the ground with the woman on him.
Isha was watching the roses when she felt some insect's bite on her neck. Left side of her neck was hurting her. She stood up and was going to say Sriti about it when someone came just infront of her. She had no time to stand or give that person side and as a result collision happened. She was about to fall but the person infront of her pulled her towards him and she fell his chest on the ground.
As soon as Isha opened her eyes, she skipped her heartbeats. The man with whom she collided was not an unknown person. He was her love of life, her everything... Her Shantanu. She never expected him here. Her eyes got stuck in his. She felt his hands grabbing her waist tightly. She closed her eyes. This touch, she missed this touch like hell!
Shantanu was too surprised to see her here. The woman on him was his one and only lady love, Isha! Same cute face, same expressions... Shantanu wanted to kiss her here only as her lips were too near to him. But he controlled himself. He became too emotional and was trying to say something when he saw a mark on her neck. Lovebite! Shantanu felt that someone indirectly slapped him hard. He immediately said,
— Uthiye plz..
Hearing "Aap" from Shantanu was too painful for Isha. Till now, she was happy to see him but as soon as he said this, she controlled her. She can't become soft, she can't make Shantanu weak for her. Everyone knew that he was married to Atul and this is the only way to keep Shantanu safe.
Isha and Shantanu stood up. And then Shukla ji came with Sriti.
— Bhaiyaji yeah Isha ji hai. Yeah or inke student aaye hai yeha. Ishaan kuch exam de raha hai yeha to isiliye yeah aaye hai. Inko apke garden ke paudhe dekhne hai isiliye...
Isha cleared her throat and said,
— Mere gale mein kisi insect ne kata hai... Plzz ghar chalo.
Now, Shantanu again stared towardtowards the mark on her neck. Now, it seemed an insect bite only... His over thinking made him think that it was a lovebite. He immediately answered,
— Da... Dawai hai ghar pe... Shukla ji laayiye na.
Shukla ji went inside and then came back with an ointment. Isha applied it on the marked place and said,
— Thank you!
Shantanu had fears that one more moment with Isha would be too much to bear, and he might surrender to his desires, risking everything for love. So, he said looking towards Sriti,
— M... Mein andar ja raha hu... In... Inko saare jagah dikha dena.
After telling this, he left the place.
— Sriti Ji, mujhe ghar jaana hai... Plzz chaliye.
Shukla ji knew why these two were acting lile this so he said,
— Ha sriti, tum jao. Mein kaal paudha de aunga...
Sriti agreed and then the two went away. Isha departed without a glance back. But if she had turned around, she would have seen Shantanu on the rooftop, eyes brimming with tears, gazing longingly at her departing form.
— Maine tumhe kho diya, phirse... Tum mujhe chodhke chali gayi, phirse!
— Bhaiya Ji, kyu jaane diya apne? Woh akeli aayi thi, unka pati bhi nahi hai yeha. Apne sawaalo ka jawaab kyu nahi maanga!
— Kyunki, mujhe laga woh khush nahi hai! I don't know kyu aisa laga... But, uski aankhe simat si gayi hai. Mujhe kuch sahi nahi laag raha, Shukla ji...
— Saab sahi hai Bhaiya ji. Aap bhole ho. Woh to maje se ghum rahi hai apne student ke saath kasauli. Unko dekh ke ekbar bhi mujhe aisa nahi laga ki woh dard mein hai!
— Yehi to fark hai aap mein or mujh mein... Mujhe uske muh se kuch sunna nahi padhta, mein uski annkho ko khudse zyada pehechanta hu. Yeah woh Isha nahi jo mere paas thi. Yeah Isha alag hai, dukhi hai!
— Apka bhram hai yeah!
— Bharam ho to hi behetaar. Mujhe agar pata chala ki Atul ki wajah se Isha dukhi hai to woh nahi mere liye accha hoga to nahi Atul ke liye.
— Kaise pata karenge aap?
— Mein nahi aap. Kaal jaake Ishaan se baat karna. Isha uske bohot kareeb hai.
— Aap unse or kabhi nahi milenge?
— Nahi. Mein nahi chahata meri nazar lage usko. Woh mere saamne nahi aana chahegi, I know. Kyu khudka dard bhadhau or shayad uska bhi...
Shukla ji silently watched Shantanu. The last beam of Sunshine fell on Shantanu's face making his face visible to Shukla Ji. He saw a numb face with millions of emotions.
_________________________________________
To be continued... ❤️
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