Kabhi to nazar milao

Temple

Naina waited for Sameer's call... impatiently pacing the room, "Aaj kya ho gaya?  Itni der ho gayi hai... roz toh iss time tak aa jata hai uska phone... main kar lun kya? Kar hi leti hun... ab aur intezaar nahi ho raha."

Naina dialled his number. He picked up after the first ring.

"Hello Naina", his voice did not hint at any trouble.

" Sameer, tum theek ho? "

The question that was the beginning of their story cropped up again.

He smiled, "Haan Naina... main theek hun... mujhe kya hua? Tum aise kyon pooch rahi ho? "

Naina didn't know she was holding her breath.

"Main dar gayi thi... tum roz toh jaldi phone kar lete ho na... aaj itni der ho gayi... " Relief flooded through her.

Sameer could hear the panic in her voice disappear, "Tum mujhe itna intezaar karwati ho... maine socha aaj tumhe pata chale kitna mushkil hai... intezaar. "

He stressed on the last word.

Naina blushed and got annoyed at the same moment, "Achcha... toh tum badla le rahe the? "

He chuckled, "Lena toh chahta hun par tum kareeb aane hi nahi deti."

"Achcha ji... hamesha toh kareeb aa jaate ho... main kahan mana karti hun?"

His eyes widened, "Naina, abhi toh maine kuch kiya hi nahi... ek baar tum paas aake dekho... tab tumhe dikhaunga tumse kitna pyaar karta hun."

Naina had no doubt, "Tumhe apne pyaar ka saboot dene ki zaroorat nahi hai... mujhe pata hai tum mujhse kitna pyaar karte ho... Preeti aur Swati ko bhi ek baar milke hi dikhai de gaya... keh rahi thi mujhse... ki tumhaari aankhon mein tumhaare pyaar ki gehraai saaf nazar aati hai."

Sameer was ecstatic, "Achcha ji... toh sabko mera pyaar dikhta hai... lekin Naina, tumhe toh sabse zyaada dikhna chahiye na... aur sirf dikhna hi nahi... mehsoos hona chahiye... kabhi toh mauka do na, meri jaan."

His words never failed to bring a strong streak of colour on her face,
"Mauka deti toh hun... aaj mili thi na tumse."

Sameer sighed, "Kaafi nahi tha... ab batao kab milogi... aur jaldi. "

"Isiliye phone kiya tha... kal somvaar hai... main subah mandir jaaungi... Preeti toh uth nahi sakti itni jaldi... aur chachiji ko kaam rehta hai... isliye main akeli jaati hun... kal subah 6 baje... Law garden ke samne wale bade mandir." Naina gave him the details.

Sameer jumped in joy, "Arre wah... itna achcha mauka... ab kal tak ka intezaar mushkil hoga. "

Naina smiled fondly, "Ab so jao... nahi toh subah uth nahi paoge...
Good night."

Sameer sighed, "Good night, jaan."

He placed the cordless instrument on his heart and closed his eyes, a contented smile on his face.

Later, as he stood near the window, looking at the stars, his hand reached his pocket and fished out the handkerchief he had used in the car. Bringing it close to his face, he inhaled deeply.

"Yeh subah kab hogi?" He yearned.

And kissed the handkerchief.

Next morning, Naina had woken up quite early in excitement. She got dressed in a pink suit, adding a few bangles. Combing her hair till they were shining, she left them open... then remembered taiji's views about open hair and quickly tied them up... sticking to her regular style.

She went to the kitchen and informed chachiji that she was going to the temple and will visit the library after that so she'll be late.

Chachiji nodded with a loving smile, "Ek tu hi hai jo har somvaar mandir jaana nahi bhulti... aur ek woh kumbhkarn hai jo kabhi nahi uth sakti itni subah."