Kabhi to nazar milao

Distance

Naina had been pacing in her room for the last thirty minutes, constantly wringing her fingers.

"Kya Sameer naraaz ho gaya?" She was in a dilemma.

The frown deepened as she tried to recollect what he had said about the rickshaw driver.

"Naina, Tu bhi na sudhar nahi sakti... aankhen khol ke rakha kar... Sameer ko itni door se pata chal gaya ki woh aadmi theek nahi hai aur tu saamne khade reh kar bhi nahi pehchaan paayi... paagal hi samjhega na Sameer tujhe."

The images of that day were just not clearing up from her mind. Last few days she had not been able to study or even read her novels.

Naina slapped her forehead again, which, though a habit since forever, had become too frequent in the last few days,  "Yeh ek baarish ka din mere liye itni badi musibat ban gaya hai."

A knock at the door brought her out of her thoughts. She checked her watch to see the time... a few minutes past nine.

"Pakka ghar se phone hoga",  she rushed to open the door.

" Beta, aapka phone hai",  the elderly ayah informed her.

Naina ran down to the small booth at the entrance of their building. Just before entering, the images came rushing back to her yet again... how she had allowed her eyes to openly drift down from his face to his arms, to his chest...

She squeezed her her shut. Had the phone not rung that day, what else would have happened? 

She shook her head to get rid of the image and ran to pick up the receiver... glad that those on the other side could not see her red face.

"Hello"

"Naina, kaisi hai tu?" Preeti's chirpy voice boomed, bringing an instant smile to her face.

"Preeti, tu kaisi hai... yahan to sab badiya hai... chachaji, chachiji kaise hain",  she asked about her favorite people.

" Wo sab theek hai... lekin aaj sirf tu aur main baat karenge... main kabse tujhse baat karna chahti thi... aaj mummy papa Sarla aunty ke yahan jaagran mein gaye hain to mauka mila", Preeti had an urgency in her voice.

Naina instantly slipped into the role of elder sister. "Sab theek hai na Preeti? Tujhe kuch takleef hai kya? Kisine kuch kaha... taiji ne?  Ya college mein kuch hua hai... jaldi bol naaaa. "

"Behhheen.. tu break laga zara... mujhe bolne degi to bolungi na." Preeti tried to stop the barrage of questions.

"Hmm"

"Naina, mujhe kuch nahi hua... main tujh se Sameer ke baare mein baat karna chahti hun... teri usse aur koi baat hui? Pichhli baar jab phone kiya tha to tu khushi se pagal ho rakhi thi ki Sameer tujhe pehchan gaya... ab bata... ab bhi yaad hai tu usse... ya phir bhool gaya?"

Naina blushed at the mention of Sameer. How could she tell Preeti what all had transpired between them?

"Preeti, Sameer sach much mujhe achche se pehchanta hai... usne mujhse baat bhi ki... aur uss din baarish mein... " she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Preeti was alert, "Baarish mein kya Naina?"

Naina controlled herself, "wo baarish mein meri madad ki... mere paas chatri nahin thi to ussne ka kar di... jisse main bheeg na jaun. "

"Aur tu pighal gayi... meri bholi behen... tu khud ki hi takleef badha rahi hai... chatri dena koi bohot badi baat nahi hai... balki koi baat hi nahi hai... kya ussne tera haal chaal pucha...  tujhse pucha ki tujhe wahan koi problem to nahi hai... kaha ki kuch ho to usse madad mang sakti hai... koi apnapan dikhaya ek dost ke naate?" Preeti was not convinced.