Love in Mt. Abu- A SamAina FF

Part 7: Pathar ke Sanam

What Sameer had missed out on yesterday was that Naina too hadn't been for dinner last night. He asked Swati about her. "Wo kal raat se uski tabyat theek nahi hai. Thoda bukhar bhi hai use", said Swati. Sameer was worried, "Arey to doctor ke pass leke jana chahiye na use. Tumne mujhe bataya kyun nahi!" he lashed out at Swati. "Arey maine to bola tha. Lekin usi ne mana kiya, bola rest karegi akele. Theek ho jayegi", said Swati. Finally, at the time of boarding the bus, he saw Naina, trying to manage her sandook. She was looking really pale and down. And her eyes, they did not have the brightness of last night. They appeared swollen. Had she been crying? Sameer ran over to help her. But she ignored him. In the bus also, she took a seat far away from him. He wanted to talk to her, but she was not even looking at him. The bus stopped for a break. Everyone got down except her. Sameer came back with a bottle of Gold Spot and offered it to her. "Naina, abhi kaisi hai tabyat?" he asked. Naina did not respond. "Ye lo tumhare liye, tumhe pasand hai na." Still no response. "Kya hua tum gussa ho mujhse? Maine koi galti ki kya?" Sameer was appalled at being ignored by her. He could not figure out what was wrong. Was it the mention of Neha which was bothering her? Deep inside, he was feeling extremely uneasy and wary. But Naina had decided not to utter a word. At that time, the students started coming back into the bus. The whole journey between Mount Abu to school was in silence.

***

Naina had left the school by the time Sameer could get to her. As soon as she reached home, Preeti ran over to meet her. Everyone was curious to hear stories from Abu. "Ye kya Naina, tum itni thaki huyi, itni khamosh kyun ho?" asked a concerned chachaji. "Wo chachaji, kal raat se thodi tabyat sahi nahi hai. Upar se bus ka safar." "Main naha leti hu fir thoda aaram karti hu. Shaam ko ache se baat karte hain", she added to chachiji. She went to her room, unpacked and went straight to the bathroom. Unable to bear it anymore, she turned on the tap as tears started bustling out of her eyes. The song in background echoed Naina's pain...

Bichhde abhi to hum bas kal parson

Jiyungi main kaise is haal mein barson

Maut na aayi teri yaad kyon aayi

Haye Lambi judai

Char dino ka pyar o rabba

Badi lambi judai, lambi judai

Honthon pe aayi meri jaan duhayi

Haye lambi judai

Char dino da pyar o rabba

Badi lambi judai, lambi judai

Ek to sajan mere paas nahi re

Dooje milan di koyi aas nahi re

Dooje milan di koyi aas nahi re

Badi lambi judai, lambi judai

It was the first time she was actually in her senses. The rose-colored glasses through which she'd been eyeing Sameer had come off now. "Love- The word which used to bring a big smile on her face had now bought tears in her eyes. What wrong had she done to fall for the wrong guy? Pankaj's words were echoing through her mind. Bade tashan me isne shart lagayi thi...Main Naina ko pata ke dikhaunga... Uske aur uske baap ke sanskaron pe kichad uchalunga...Naina pure school ke saamne ise I Love You kahegi...Wo bhi gale laga kar....hahaha..Sameer was not changing. He had never changed. How could he do this to her? And all this, just for a bet? All those feelings, those emotions? They were all fake? He'd never loved her. Uski to bet puri bhi ho gayi. Kitna khudgarz aur ghatiya insaan tha wo, aur maine use apna bhagwan samajh liya tha. Kitna bharosa tha mujhe us par. Ab to wo khushi se party kar raha hoga doston ke sath. Wo sirf uska aur uske papa ka naam kharab karna chahta tha. Sab ek natak tha. Naina ye pyaar vyaar sirf filmon me hota hai. Asal zindagi me log matlab se pyaar karte hain." She spent an hour crying in there, reminiscing. If she had not forgotten her purse on the cliff that night, she wouldn't have gotten back to get it. And in turn, would not have known Sameer's true intentions. "Sameer naam hai mera...hawa ki tarah...Kab palat jaun...Main itna acha bhi nahi hu...Nainital ki sham ki dhundh me haathon me haath dale sath chalna...Fir kya wo mujhe bhul gayi main use....bhanwara hai ye Sameer....timepass karta hai...tumhare baad koi aur ladki nahi hogi Naina..." crying Naina put her hands to her ears to shut out these echoes.