Kabhi to nazar milao

Saathi

When Sameer called up at five minutes past nine, Naina picked up the phone in half a ring.

"Hello Sameer."

"Kya baat hai, Naina... maine socha nahi tha tum itni bechain hogi mere phone ke liye." He teased.

"Main toh bilkul bechain nahi hun... woh Phulla bua dadi ko tumse baat karni hai... dopaher mein tum pareshan kar rahe the na phone karke... bas unko puchna tha ki tum bol kyon nahi rahe the." Naina played along.

It was Sameer's turn to break into a sweat.

"Ky... kya... keh rahi ho tum... unko kaise pata ma... main phone kar raha tha?" His hand holding the phone was shaking.

"Unko sab pata hai... tumhara naam... tumhara ghar... tumhara irada", she was silently laughing at his condition.

He was in panic now, "Naina kuch hua hai kya? Main wahan aaun? Kisine tumhari bua dadi ko hamare baare mein bata diya hai kya?"

Naina lowered her voice mysteriously, "Bata diya... woh bhi maine".

"Kyaaa??" He screamed so loudly that the person managing the phone booth got up to ask if everything was ok.

He dipped his head to say all was well...

Naina could not hold anymore and burst out laughing, "Buddhu, itna daro mat... kuch nahi hua... bua dadi toh bohot khush hain... tumse milna chahti hain."

He took some time to process the information... first the shock, then exhilaration... two extremes in two seconds...

He kept a hand on his thumping heart, "Naina, tumne toh heart attack hi de diya."

"Achha, itna kamzor hai tumhara dil?" She teased again.

Sameer had recovered by now, "Yeh kamzor dil tumhare liye kya kya sochta hai yeh kal bataunga."

Naina went silent.

He could feel her coloured cheeks, "Ab zyaada laal mat ho... batao kya kaha bua dadi ne."

Naina told him everything... even her grandmother's own life story. He was amazed at the old lady's stand for her love in those days.

"Naina, tumhari bua dadi toh sach mein bohot himmat wali hain." He was looking forward to meet her now.

"Kal aath baje bulaya hai tumhe... aa jana time pe." She reminded him.

"Main toh abhi aa jaun, sweetheart... tum ek baar bolo toh sahi", he said softly.

Her breath hitched at the endearment.

"Aa jaun kya?" He repeated.

Naina bit her lip, thankful that he was not there to see, "Sameer, kal aisi baatein mat karna."

"Matlab aaj kar sakta hun na?" He whispered.

"Phone mat rakhna", his voice boomed through the instrument as Naina was about to disconnect, "nahi toh sachhi aa jaunga."

She gulped... knowing fully well that it was not just a plain threat.

She looked down from the second floor balcony, "Yahan zara mushkil hoga... dusri manzil pe rehti hain bua dadi."

"Mujhe sirf tum rok sakti ho... dusri ya teesri manzil nahi", his voice was heavy now.

Naina had lost the number of times she had felt the colour spread on her cheeks today.

"Ab jaake so jao... kal jaldi uthna hai na... ghar yaad rahega na tumhe?" She tried to change the course of conversation.

"Kitni baar neeche khade hoke tumhari ek jhalak ka intezaar kiya hai maine... ghar kaise bhool sakta hun", he finally told her.