Alfaaz

Chapter 3 : Muntazir

Muntazir - Awaiting

"Suman! Beta aj school nahi gayi tu?" Asked Mausiji concerned.

"Nahi Mausiji, aj mann nahi kar raha tha." Said Suman nonchalantly.

"Yeh kya baat hui beta? Preeti toh gayi hai, uske saath chali jaati na.. Mann ho ya nahi padhai zaroori hai.."

"Ji..." Said Suman dryly.

"Chal koi baat nahi, aage se dhyaan rahe." Saying Mausiji left.

Suman thought to herself, "Ab aapko kya bataaon mai... Shravan ka aj phone aane wala hai aur mai hi uthaoongi! Mujhe maafi maangni hai usse."

What started out as excited awaiting soon turned into awaiting and then into the heights of waiting. Suman was getting agitated. Shravan said he would call today. It's 9 in the night! Which means its 4 in the afternoon in London! He didn't bother calling me! He must be done with classes by now. Maybe he is studying in the library or has extra class. Quite possible given we are talking about my chashmish. She waited for three more hours, but Nanu's phone didn't buzz. Maybe he went for basketball practice after class. She had school the next day, so she decided to rest, if he did call she would wake up and answer. Waiting she didn't know when sleep overtook her being.

Shravan however did not call. The next day she was hopeful that the first thing in the morning, Shravan would call. But he didn't. Not even a voice message. How callous she fretted.

"Suman Di! Chalo late ho jayenge.." Nudged Preeti.

"Haan chal.." said Suman grabbing her backpack.

"Arey Di! Yeh mobile kahan le jaa rahe ho aap? Complain aa jayegi school se! Wapas de aao Nanu ko.." saying Preeti stepped out towards their cycles.

Suman returned the phone to her grandfather, and with a crestfallen face set off for school. She spent her day sulking mostly. And the rest of the evening she passed, cooking. Cooking was her escape. It helped her clam down. It helped her think. She felt much in connect with her mother when she cooked. She had always loved cooking for Shravan and then watching him savor each bite. As the aroma started to ooze her tension evaporated. She was hurt that Shravan didn't call. Two whole days and he didn't but then she thought the work back in London was a lot. Studies must be so difficult. He will call when he's free. But she didn't need to wait. Given she didn't want to be the first to call, but she could be the first to apologize. She had so many mails typed out, she could just send one of those. Yes, that's what she would do. Suman had decided to email Shravan. But before that she would gorge on the delicious Sev ki Sabzi, her Lamboo's favourite. She hadn't eaten in two days. Patience sure wasn't synonymous to Suman once she had set her heart on something. She thought if Shravan got to eat home food there? She'd ask him that when they spoke.

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

Shravan on the other hand wasn't in very good shape either. He was under the weather and the constant cough and sneezing didn't help. He was running a 104 and still managed to sit though lectures for two days. Today was difficult. His head throbbed and each one of his bones ached. It didn't help that he was away from family. All these days he had been eating at the mess but he had no strength to head there now. He would live without eating a meal but he felt like he would die if he didn't hit the bed immediately.

He reached his dorm, threw his bag on the nearest chair and flung his shoes in different directions. He washed up, took the pills that had been prescribed by the school's head nurse and slumped onto the bed. Sleep evaded him. His growling stomach and hurting limbs didn't allow him to rest. Just when he thought he was all alone and melancholy began to set in he heard fervent knocking on his door. "Who is it?" his voice hoarse with fever.