In love?

KNOWING HER FRIEND

Raman, Ishita reached home and Raman was determined to know everything about her friend.

R: Achha Ishita, woh hain koun by the way?

I: Koun?

R: That friend of yours.

I: Mani! Bataya na aapko ki mera dost hain. Hum school mein ek saath jaate the. Phir college bhi ek saath jaana chahte the par main Subbu ki wajah se medical mein gayi, and he went for business studies.

R: (with an annoyed frown) Subbu ki wajah se? I thought you liked it as well.

I: (laughs lightly) Haan haan even I liked it. But aap jal rahe ho Subbu se?

R: Oh please, in your dreams. Mujhe toh ab iss Naag mani se problem hain.

I: Kya? Kyun lekin? Woh toh bas mera achha dost hain.

R: Dikh raha tha woh. Itni raat gaye itne laparwahi se chali gayi tum uske saath.

I: Laparwahi? No way. He is Mani yaar. I am the safest with him. In fact school mein toh hume ek doosre ki parchhayi kehte the.

R: Aur yeh Subbu ko koi problem nahi thi usse?

I: Use kyun hogi? He trusted me Raman.

R: Ohhh! Really! And even I trust you okay.

I: Maine kab kaha you don't trust me? Main bas itna keh rahi hoon ki Mani pe mujhe poora bharosa hain because he is my best friend.

R: No way. Tumhara best friend sirf main hoon. Tumne aaj subah hi bola tha mujhe.

I: (looks at him surprisingly) Haan aapko yaad hain?

R: Tumhari kahi baate main kabhi nahi bhoolta.

I: Nice to know. (smiles) Aap aur Mani dono mere best friends ho. Dono aap mujhe utne hi important ho.

R: Woh tumhe itne achhe se jaanta hain kya?

I: Yes of course. Woh meri har pasand, napasand, khushi, gam sab samjhta hain.

R: But I am sure mujhse jyaada nahi.

I: Aap compete kar rahe ho kya usse?

R: Haan why not. Main tumhe better jaanta hoon.

I: Really? Mera favourite ice cream flavour?

R: Black currant. Your favourite colour is green.

I: Hmmm. Impressive. Mujhe khane mein kya pasand hain?

R: South Indian, tumhara Idli, wada, dosa....

I: Wrong. Woh mera staple diet hain but I love Italian. Main subah uth kar sab se pehle kya karti hoon?

R: Jameen ko apne charan sparsh karti hain. (laughs)

I: Jee nahi. Main sabse pehle Ruhi ki photo ko kiss karti hoon.

R: (under his breath) Haan jo bagal mein so raha hain use chhodke photo ko kiss karti ho!

I: (shocked) Kya kaha?!

R: Nothing. Next question.

I: Mujhe sabse jyaada bura kab lagta hain?

R: Jab tumare lecture koi na sune?

I: Nahi, jab mujhse koi chhoth bolta hain tab.

R: (looks at her intently) Hmmm

I: Mujhe sabse jyaada khushi kab hoti hain?

R: Kab? (his gaze intact on her)

I: Jab Ruhi mere paas hoti hain.

R: Hmmm

I: Mujhe sabse jyaada takleef kis baat se hoti hain?

R: (seriously) Mere jhooth se.

Ishita looked at him surprised while held her gaze with sincere eyes. 

R: Main jaanta hoon Ishita. And I am sorry.

I: (tries to cool down the rising heat in the conversation) It's okay Raman. Aap mujhe shayad Mani se jyaada nahi jaante. But try, try. It's not that difficult.

R: I will definitely try with all my Ishita.

Ishita understood where all that was heading to. She knew if they  go on with the conversation they will end up hurting each other. In an attempt to loosen the tension, she laughs.

I: Aur Mani mera best friend hain isse aapko koi problem nahi honi chahiye. Mihir aapka best friend hain isse mujhe koi takleef hoti hain kya?

R: (coming out of the serious discussion mode) Haan kyunki Mihir aurat nahi hain. Meri girl best friend tum ek ho, samjhi.

I: Okay okay, now let me go and prepare to sleep.

R: Haan but first tell me one thing, tumhare best friend sirf main hi hoon na?

I: (smiles) Dekhenge dekhenge! Pehle thodi mehnat to karo. Try to know me, bear me, tab pata chalega.

She moves to the washroom leaving Raman in thoughts.

R: (self talk) Aaj shayad mujhe thoda thoda samajh aaya ki mere aur Shagun ke rishte ka Ishita par kaisa asar hota hain. But mujhe phir bhi problem hain yaar uss Mani se. I am not jealous... Or am I... No, no, no, certainly not. Lekin I want to be Ishita's one and only best friend. Tumhe jaanane ke liye poori umra nikal jaaye toh bhi it's worth it. Main humari friendship bohot bohot strong karne ki koshish karunga. We will soon become best of friends in every sense, promise. (smiles) Tomorrow will be a new day, new hopes and new surprises!