Kabhi to nazar milao

Tuition

Sonali had been missing college quite often. Naina was happy to see her finally one morning.

"Kitni classes miss kardi tune abhi se... shaadi ke time bhi karegi... fir kaise tera course poora hoga, Sonali?" Naina was worried for her friend.

"Haan Naina, woh shopping ke chakkar mein college ki chutti ho gayi. Abhi bhi itna kaam baaki hai... lekin maine mummy ko keh diya ki aur chutti nahi lungi... baaki kaam ab shaam ko karenge... mujhe toh khud badi tension ho rahi hai... agar shaadi ke chakkar mein fail ho gayi toh sabke samne mazak ban jayega." Sonali was a nervous wreck.

Naina immediately consoled her, "Itna darne ki zaroorat nahi hai... main tujhe kara dungi... bas tu roz ek ghanta mere saath library mein padh liya kar... dekh Sonali, yeh final year hai... tu abhi tak achhe number laati rahi hai... thoda sa dhyaan de degi toh ab bhi aa jayenge... shaadi mein jitne din baaki hain utne din achhe se padh le."

It was decided that Naina would help her everyday in the morning, before lectures, since Sonali mostly had to leave immediately after the classes.

"Naina, tum roz subah jaldi aaogi toh breakfast kaise karogi?" Sameer was concerned for her.

"Breakfast toh saat baje se shuru ho jata hai... main Sonali se aath baje library mein milungi... kha ke hi aaungi, Sameer. Tum chinta mat karo." She explained the arrangement to him.

"Iska matlab ab tum roz library se class mein aaogi... matlab main jo gate se tumhare saath aata tha woh nahi aa sakta." He realised he would be missing their morning meetings outside her hostel.

She placed a hand on his cheek, "Thode din ki hi toh baat hai... apne doston ki madad hum nahi karenge toh kaun karega?"

He held her hand between his palms and smiled, wondering how she could be so giving... always willing to help others... going out of her way to do whatever she can for anyone who asks.

The sessions with Sonali started from the next day. Sometimes Rahul joined them too. Sonali was a good student, it did not take her much time to catch up... also she had a great teacher.

In less than a month, she had completed everything and was at the same pace as other students. Naina had helped her relax on this front at least.

One morning, when they were redoing some problems, Sonali suddenly remembered something.

"Naina, abhi tak ka toh tune kara diya. Ab agle mahine jab main chuttiyan lungi toh jo miss hoga woh bhi please baad mein karne mein help kar degi?" She pleaded.

"Ismein kehne wali kya baat hai... pakka help karungi... par tu koshish karna kam se kam chuttiyan lene ki." Naina instructed.

Sonia wrinkled her nose, "Kam kaise ho sakti hain... shaadi se dus din pehle se mummy bahar nikalna band kar dengi... Rahul se bhi nahi mil paungi."

"Oh!" Naina was surprised... ten days without meeting... would she need to stay away from Sameer for so long when they got married... she shuddered at the thought.

"Aur kya... ek baar ghar mein band hui toh Rahul se seedha shaadi wale din hi milungi... bas phone pe baat karke kaam chalana padega." She sighed.

"Phone pe? Ghar mein itne rishtedaar hote hain... phone pe har samay koi na koi baat kar raha hota hai... woh bhi mushkil hoga." Naina enlightened her friend, recalling the time of Pooja didi's marriage when their house was full of people for days together.

Sonali gave a relieved look, "Woh tension nahi hai... saare rishtedaron ke liye papa ne alag se do teen ghar karwaye hain... humari society mein hi hain par hamare ghar mein koi nahi rahega."