“Swara” Sanskar smiled looking at a photograph in his mobile of Adarsh’s marriage. “Oh she is that special someone?” teased Tarak. Sanskar bit his lip smiling. Tarak found Ragini on the way and spoke loudly “Sanky won’t you tell me about your lady love” Ragini paused hearing him and looked at them.
“What you want me to tell you? I myself don’t know anything other than name. To find that also from Adi Bhai I tried all the circus you know” Sanskar spoke dreamily. “That’s why I call you clown” Ragini who approached him hit on his head with her book. “Oh Ghajni it pains” Sanskar rubbed his head annoyed. “Then what you should have asked Pari maa directly your alliance also would have fixed by this time” Ragini chuckled. “I thought she will get jealous. But she is trying to help him. I think I only misunderstood their friendship” Tarak spoke in his mind looking at Ragini who was teasing Sanskar and he was pouting. “Excuse me I have a call to make” Tarak excused himself.
“So Jeejaji” Ragini tickled Sanskar. “Hey dare you call me that. I’m always your Ghajni and you will always be my Ghonchu friend” he hugged her. She smiled widely in his hold. “I wish our friendship remains same Sanskar” she wished in her mind. “So tell me now how to woe your younger sister?” he asked her pouting. “I will teach you but on a promise” she forwarded her palm. “Promise” he placed his palm on her palm. “So much trust on me Sanky?” she bent her head a bit. “More than myself” he smiled widely.
“You will never ever mention to Pari maa about me or Ishimaa because I don’t want her suffer due to it remembering maa and papa’s divorce and all those old memories” she pleaded him. “I promise. But you also have to come for Pari Bhabi’s delivery which is during vacations” he held her hand and she nodded in agreement. “That’s like a good girl” he hit her forehead playfully. She opened her mouth and chased him.
“I know. I’m really sorry for that. It was just a misunderstanding. I know because of this you have to plan your travel but I couldn’t avoid it” Tarak spoke to someone over the phone. “Phew” he sighed disconnecting the call. “Thank god everything cleared on time. Otherwise” he nodded his head and looked up.
********.********
“Oops I’m sorry” Sanskar apologized to someone when he collided with the person near the clock tower on Sunday. “That’s okay” Shesh wiped the juice which spilled from his can on his fur coat and looked up and stood numb for few seconds. His memory traveled back to Pari’s reception party when he saw Sanskar for the first time – After saving Ragini from falling when he was walking to the dance floor his mask fell and his face was visible to Shesh but it was difficult for him to recognize.
“Everything fine?” Sanskar waved his hands in front of Shesh who came back to reality. “I just felt maine apko kahi dekha hai” Shesh reasoned. “Indian?” Sanskar looked at him surprised. And Shesh nodded his head.
“Hi I’m Sanskar from Mumbai” Sanskar forwarded his hand. “Shesh from Darjeeling” Shesh shook his hand. “Darjeeling really. My bro stays there only” Sanskar spoke enthusiastically. “That’s great” Shesh smiled at him. “Yes now I remember. I have seen you in my best friend’s sister’s marriage” Shesh spoke and tried to confirm if he was the same person.
“In India?” asked Sanskar. “Yeah. I think it was last year” Shesh showed his forefinger. “Last year I have attended only my Bro’s marriage. Did you attended my Bro Adi and Pari Bhabi’s marriage?” Sanskar asked excited. “Yeah Pari dee’s marriage. She is my best friend Vikram’s elder sister” Shesh smiled at Sanskar. “I’m sorry I didn’t had enough time to know everyone of Pari Bhabi’s relatives. I returned to London same night” Sanskar looked apologetically. Shesh clenched his fist when he realized it was him only.
“That’s fine. Happens” Shesh smiled. “Good that he doesn’t remember his dance with angel” he spoke in his mind. They both interacted for some more time and Shesh departed from there and Sanskar walked back to his hostel.
*******.*******
Friendship is special than any relationship in our life. The way we will be with our friends we can’t be with anyone. Why does it binds us so close to each other? Why a stranger when becomes our friend knows us better than ourselves? May be because it goes through a lot of things to be the best relationship in anyone’s life.
“Exams and I haven’t prepared anything Sanky. And you want me to attend George’s birthday party. Do you realize how am I going to manage the studies?” Ragini gave Sanskar an annoyed look. “See this is going to be my last year here yaar Ghonchhu and I want to enjoy each of my moment with you. One night will not take your lifetime” he walked with her. She was struggling to hold the big books. He lent his helping hand to her.
She smiled at him and held the books properly. “But I’m not gonna come” she walked passing him. “Please na yaar ghonchu” he followed her annoyed. “No is a no Ghajni” she said. “Now I have practice session for play bye” Ragini walked inside the drama room. Sanskar stood there pouting.
“I wish someone comes to take me away from here. I wish someone releases me from all these clutches” Ragini spoke dramatically practicing for the drama. “Ragini little more emotions” Professor Jack spoke from the audience. She nodded at him and started it again. “Good” he said when he was satisfied with her performance.
“Why not my Queen. This official clown of you is ever ready in your service” they all heard a voice. When Ragini realized who the person was her eyes widened in shock. “Sanskar” she whispered and he winked at her. “What a clown is doing in Shakespeare’s drama?” Professor Jack looked at the person wearing a clown costume on the stage. “I have orders from your King. I’m not supposed to let the smile on your face vanish” Sanskar walked to her grinning.
She back walked a bit but he held her hand and dragged her to the middle of the stage.
Tum Yu mile ho jabse Mujhe Aur Sunehri mai lagti hu
Though he had breached in the drama practice literally Ragini couldn’t control her smile looking at him. All were looking at them amused.
Sirf Labo se nahi abtho pure badan se hasti hu
“Please Her majesty. Please accompany me to my best companion’s birthday and bless my evening which will gift a sweet memory to my life” he held her palms in his one hand and his other hand was on her back. She nodded her head in disbelief and blushed due to everyone’s gaze on them.
Mere din raath salone se sab hai tere hi hone se
“I don’t know we will be same her majesty. I don’t know what the time will bring. I don’t know where the time will take us” he looked into her eyes and she was looking into his eyes
Yeh saath hamesha hoga nahi tum aur kahi mai aur kahi
“But I will be with you when you won’t expecting me to be. I will trust you when you will not believe yourself. Remember even when your shadow also leaves you I will be the one who will be still standing beside you” his each word was straight from his heart which reached straight to her heart.
Lekin jab yaad karoge tum mai banke hawa aajavunga hmmm hmmmm
The hall was silent. Her heartbeat was so loud everyone could hear it. She moved her eyeballs looking into his deep eyes. “And Sanskar Maheshwari may miss his way for sometime but he never backs off from his words” he smiled widely which brought her to the reality. The cruel reality of the world which she had to survive. She can’t let him grow more close to her. It might lead to the consequences she would never want to face. She looked away.
“Now will you come with me Her Majesty?” he knelt in front of her. “Say yess” all cheered her and she looked at all. She looked at Tarak. “Practice” she whispered. He smiled and nodded his head signing he will manage. She nodded her head looking at Sanskar.
********.********
“Was it necessary to wear this atrangi(weird) dress?” Ragini tried covering her knees feeling awkward. “Stop doing that Ghonchoo kahi ki. That’s a skirt. And behave” he said annoyed as they walked to the pub. “And where have we come?” she asked worried looking at the board. “Party venue of course” he looked at her casually. “It is a Pub” she looked at him horrified. “Sometimes I feel you are new to London. I mean seriously birthday celebrations will be in Pubs only not in Church” he gave her annoyed look. “I mean I have gone to Pubs but the thing is it had been years now” she spoke nervously.
“Then no problem” he dragged her holding her arms. She walked inside nervous looking around. She did not expected this to happen.
Everyone were busy on the dance floor. Sanskar wished George along with Ragini and walked to the bar counter. “You don’t want anything?” he asked her when he ordered a drink. She gave him a confused look. “Drinks baba” he said after gulping the drink in his glass in a go. Ragini gulped in scared. “Some juice will do” she smiled at him. “No you take this shots it will not give you hangover much” he signed at the small glasses. “No I don’t drink” she blurted out. “I mean I don’t drink anymore” she corrected her sentence and gave him a nervous smile. “Oh common one peg will not do any harm. It isn’t you are drinking for the first time” he forced her a glass to drink.
It did not take much time for her to be drunk. “Sanskar…..” she drooled sitting on the chair. “Hmmm” he said looking at the crowd who were busy dancing. “Dance?” she stood in front of him stumbling. He was smiling looking at his friends. His face turned worried when he realized Ragini was not in her senses. “Are you fine Ragini?” he asked worried. She started crying like a small kid. “Shhhh” he placed his finger on her lips to calm her.
She looked at him surprised with wide open eyes. “What happened?” he asked her. “You called me Ragini” she pouted like a small kid. “That’s your name. What do you expect me to call you?” he asked her confused. “You said na that day I will be always your Ghonchu and you will be my Ghajni” she smiled closing her eyes placing her head on his shoulder and dragged him close to her holding his hand. He stumbled and looked at her shocked.
“Ahhh it is so noisy here” she screamed with closed eyes and placing her hands on her ears. “Shhh” he said to calm her. “I don’t want to be here. I can’t breath it is so crowded” she said making puppy face. “Some more time Ghonchu we will go home” he pleaded her. “No I want to go out now” she sat on the floor like a small kid. Sanskar looked at her horrified. “Okay fine” he forwarded his hand signing her to get up.
“Noooooo” she cried. Everyone had turned their attention to them. “Pick me” she forwarded both her hands. He hit his head annoyed. He picked her in his arms and she snaked her arms across his neck and placed her head on his chest. And then he walked out apologizing George and others.
“Stopp” Raginin screamed when Sanskar was driving the car. He jerked and stopped the car. “Now what?” he placed his hand on his chest panting badly.
“He he. I was testing if the breaks are working properly” she smiled sheepishly. He gave her an annoyed look and started the car. “What will I do now? If Raman Bhai saw her like this then I don’t know how will he react” Sanskar drove the car nervously. His car hit someone’s car when he was lost in his thoughts. “Oh I’m so sorry” he apologized getting out of the car.
“Hey Sanskar” he looked up and found Shesh smiling at him. “Hey Hi Shesh” Sanskar smiled at him. “How come you here at this time?” asked Shesh confused. “What to say dude I had been to my friend’s birthday party with my bestie. She is drunk and I don’t know how to take her home her family will be worried” Sanskar looked worried. “Oh that’s really bad. Anyways I have an apartment of mine just few kilometers away. If you want you can spend the night there. Anyways I’m flying to Paris now and will be back tomorrow morning only. You can return me the keys then” he said. “No I don’t want to trouble you” Sanskar hesitated.
“Don’t you consider me a friend?” asked Shesh. “I do” said Sanskar. “Then just do as I say” said Shesh and handed him the keys. Sanskar smiled at him receiving the key. Shesh climbed his car and drove it towards the airport. Sanskar sat inside the car and drove it towards the apartment.
“Mujhe tho teri lath lag gayi” Ragini sang the song she heard in the fm when Sanskar was carrying her in his arms inside the apartment. He made her stand near the bed and she puked on his shirt before she passed out. Sanskar made her lie on the bed and covered her with the quilt and looked at his awful shirt and walked to the wash room.
He came out of the washroom after placing the shirt to dry and sat on the couch shirtless. He messaged Tarak about the situation and Tarak immediately called worried. “Where the hell are you now?” he busted as soon as Sanskar received the call. “I’m in Green Apartments. Apartment number 589” Sanskar spoke the address. “Are you insane Sanky? At this time? And have you informed her family?” Tarak asked worried. “I’m scared yaar Tarak. I mean surely Raman Bhai will rip my body in two halves” he spoke worried. “That he will anyways do if she won’t reach home in some time” Tarak spoke annoyed. “Now what?” asked Sanskar.
“Take her cell phone and text any of her contacts saying she is in her friend’s house as she got late and will reach in the morning. That also I should tell you?” asked Tarak annoyed. “Fine I will do that” Sanskar disconnected the call. “She is in Shesh’s apartment. This is actually good opportunity but Sanky” Tarak bit his nail nervous roaming inside his room. “Shall I tell this to Raman Sir?” he thought. “I’m sure he is gonna be happy but at the same time he will be very angry on Ragini for being so close to Sanskar” he spoke squeezing his hands. “I have to somehow take Sanky out from there” Tarak spoke determined.
In next half an hour he got a call from Sanskar and smirked receiving it. He adjusted his expression to normal and spoke “Haa Sanky” “Yaar Tarak big problem. Raman Bhai called me saying he want me to drop him to airport now. Rohan isn’t in town and his car is broken. As there is some emergency he has to board the flight. And I like a fool told him I’m in hostel before he could ask me where I am” Sanskar spoke in a go. “Oh no” Tarak smiled widely. “Now what to do?” asked he acting normal. “I don’t know yaar Tarak. I’m totally confused. I can’t leave Ragini like this” he spoke helplessly.
“Do one thing. Give me the google location I will come there and you go to Raman Bhai. I will take care of Ragini till morning” Tarak smirked. “Are you sure?” asked Sanskar. “Yes man. And if Raman Bhai misunderstood you what will you do?” asked Tarak. “You are right. Okay I will send you the location. Please come soon” Sanskar said and disconnected the call.
“Thank God” Tarak sighed and looked up. He sent a text from his phone “Mission Loading in 8 hours”
*********.*******
Hope you liked the plot. Do hit the star if you liked it and suggestions are welcome.