Kabhi to nazar milao

Interview

"Naina, mujhpe itna bharosa mat karo... tumhe dekh ke main khud ko sambhal nhi paata... agar maine hosh kho diye toh tumhe hi rokna hoga." He pulled her back to his arms.

"Agar tumhe hosh khone hote Sameer, toh mauke bohot the tumhare paas... lekin tumne kabhi mujhe aisa mehsoos nahi hone diya ki tum khud ko sambhal nahi sakte." She said in a low whisper against his ear.

He sank in her hair, hoping that he is able to keep this trust of hers intact... with her responding like she did a few minutes back, it would be a tremendous task.

"Achha yeh batao... ab toh tumne ek shaadi dekh li na... ab tumhein samajh aa gayi saari rasmein?" She asked a little later.

"Umm... haan... itni toh aa gayi ki apni shaadi mein koi galti nahi karunga." He replied after thinking for a while.

"Kaisi galti?" She gave him a perplexed look.

"Woh abhi rehne do... baad main bataunga." He gave a side glance, knowing fully well what her reaction would be if he told her.

"Kyon? Abhi batao na... mujhe bhi toh pata chale aisa kya galat hua jo hamare time nahi hona chahiye." She pestered.

"Naina, main toh bata dunga... agar tum promise karo ki bhagogi nahi." He gave a mischievous look.

Naina was not sure anymore. The way he said it, she knew it would make her go red... she racked her brain for any such thing during the ceremonies. He could not be thinking that all those instances when they were close were a mistake... Naina laughed silently... Sameer Maheshwari could never call those moments a mistake. What else could be wrong?

"Achha promise, nahi bhagungi... batao," finally her curiosity got better of her.

Sameer turned to face her, "Apni galti se maine yeh seekha ki shaadi ke pehle wali raat achhe se so lena chahiye jisse mujhe baad mein chaudah ghante ki neend na aa jaye."

It took her a few seconds to understand.

And then, she wasn't red.

She was beetroot, twisting to get her hand out of his hold.

Sameer kept looking at her lowered eyes, enjoying the play of colours on her face.

"Promise yaad hai na?" He pinned her hand to his chest.

Naina bit her lip.

"Pata hai Naina, jab school mein tumse pyar ka ehsaas hua tha toh bas yeh lagta tha ki haan, tumse pyar karta hun aur tumhare kareeb aake tumhe batana chahta hun...
kabhi socha nahi tha ki iss pyaar ki gehraai itni hogi ki ek pal bhi tumse door rehna mushkil hoga." He rubbed his thumb on her hand, looking down at it.

The mention of those painful school days brought back many memories for her, "Aur maine socha main iss kaabil hi nahi hun ki tum meri taraf dekho bhi... pyaar toh bohot door ki baat hai."

Her sad tone and forlorn look reminded him of his own misery, "Tum toh hamesha se sabse achhi thi Naina... main hi nahi samajh paya shuru mein... jab tumhe dekhna achha lagne laga tab bhi pata nahi tha ki yeh pyaar hai... kabhi kisi ke liye aisa mehsoos hi nahi kiya tha... main toh yeh bhi nahi jaanta tha ki main kisi ko aise chahne ke kaabil bhi hun... mere dil mein pyaar ke liye jagah chodi hi nahi thi meri un... un... mummy ne."

She took his hand in her palms, "Tumhara dil toh pyar se bhara hua hai, Sameer... tumhare saath itna sab hone ke baad bhi tum itni khushiyaan dete ho sabko... tumhari mummy se toh main mili nahi par nanaji ko jaanti thi... tum bilkul unhi pe gaye ho... utna hi narm, saaf aur maasoom dil hai tumhara, jo sirf pyaar karna jaanta hai."