CUFFLINKED FOREVER

Diksha:

Half way down the road, Mr.Thakkar and my dearest best friend were jogging at the same speed. Savi was running faster than her usual pace, hoping that she could avoid him, but I must admit, he was persistent. He kept on matching up with her pace with much ease, while I slowed down, giving them space.

I saw him glancing occasionally at Savi, and trying to initiate a conversation. But little did he knew, that it was too early to start up a conversation after a fight with our dearest Savi.

A few more metres ahead, Savi abruptly stopped and asked, "Kya hai?" in a tone of irritation.

Rajat mumbled, "Ek baar sun lo meri baat please.."

"Nahi sunni! Maine keh diya na, mujhe nahi----"

And the next step was absolutely unexpected.

Within a flash of a second, he grabbed Savi by her arm, and pulled her towards him, so hard that she literally crashed on his chest and pinned her against the nearest street light, their faces, perhaps a few millimetres from each other.

Savi:

His move had thrown me completely off guard, and all I could do right now is stare at his mesmerizing pair of eyes..

My breath hitched, and I felt his chest rising a bit higher too.. My eyelids fell and rose rapidly, as I gulped, unsure of his next step and...

And this unusual feeling... warmth in my toes, heartbeat increased multiple folds, and my eyes not wanting to break the bridge they made with his eyes..

Perhaps I was intimidated..or perhaps.. it was something else..

His hot, slow, breath touched my lips and they subconsciously parted, not really sure of what they wanted to say..

He lifted his free hand and advanced it towards my forehead, and then, with the faintest touch, removed a wet strand of my hair which was flowing across my cheek...

His palms were sweating, the one with which he held my wrist behind my back but the grip was too firm-- my wrists weren't even twisting, even if I wanted them to.

Rajat:

There was something about this girl.. Something which always pushed me to the edges, made me forget boundaries, forced me to do reckless stuff which I didn't even imagine..

It was either her attitude, her tantrums, or it was her disgustingly pretty face..

How was it that I was always so attentive about her? Why did her actions bother me so much? Why am I, at this moment, holding her like this and not even feeling ashamed?

There's definitely something wrong with me..

No, not with me, it's this.. This damn girl!

Savi:

"Chup chap meri baat suno,"he said, his voice dangerously low, "Fir main tumhe pareshaan nahi karunga, I promise."

I nodded, and he released me immediately. As soon as the distance between us increased, I found a part of myself relieved, and another part wanting that proximity to become something else...

We sat down on the nearest bench, both of us at opposite ends. Clearing his throat, he said, "Dekho, main maanta hoon ki jo kuchh bhi maine kiya, wo galat hai..par trust me, main un logo me se nahi hu, jo apne colleagues ki respect nahi karta.. aur naa hi main apna frustration doosro par nikalta hoon..woh toh pata nahi mujhe tumhare saath kya ho jata ha--"

I looked up, and he paused. "Mera matlab hai ki, tumhare saath wo galti se ho gaya..I'm..I'm really sorry".

Deep down, his apology felt genuine. So, I decided to give him another chance.

"Theek hai. It's okay."

As I got up, I had expected him to follow me, but as soon as I turned he disappeared into thin air!

I jogged back to our quarters and found Dikshu waiting for me near the gate.

"Ho gaya solve?" She asked, lightly patting my shoulders.

"Hmm."

"Hmmmm...ab jaake case asli maaine mein solve hua hai. Par Savi, tune uske baare mein galat socha tha, ye Angoor toh meetha nikla yaar!"

"Badi hasi aa rahi hai na tujhe? Bada pasand aa rha h! Meetha nikla.. Koi meetha weetha nahi hai, bass apne aap ko shakkar mein duboke aaya tha do minute k liye.. Re kam se kam saath mein vapas toh aana chahiye tha na!"

"Ek min.. Iska matlab..tu chahti thi k woh tere saath aaye?"

"Nahi..n-nahi..aisa..aisa kab bola maine.. main toh ye keh rhi thi k.."

"Hmmm..rehen de rehen de..sab dikh rha hai mujhe.." she smiled slyly and climbed up the stairs.

Dikh raha hai? Kya dikh raha hai usey?

Aur mujhe ho kya gaya hai!? Main itna gussa kyun ho rahi hoon? Hai kaun wo? Kyun ayega woh mere saath? Hadd hai!

.............

Rajat:

The sun was about to set and the sky was a gorgeous blend of bright and dark hues.. I looked out of the window of my horribly clumsy room and my eyes, stilled...

At a distance across the lane, a gorgeous woman was facing her back.. the brown strands of her hair shining under the golden sun, dancing rhythmically with the soft breeze.. She was laughing, for her head went up and down, repeatedly as her slender body bent with the force of her laughter...

My eyes took me back to my childhood, a young boy of ten, watching his mother laughing away with her husband..a man of her dreams..

Inside his room, on his bed lay his father, a man of his dreams..

His chest fell and rose rapidly, as he struggled to breathe, to live every second of his life...

His vision blurred and so did mine.. After all these years...

Truly, time cannot heal everything..

A phone call interrupted my thoughts and I received it.

"Aur Rajat..Kya haal hai wahan?" Savi's 'Langoor' it was.

"Bass, sab theek."

"Savi ko transfer kar diya kya? Sukoon toh tabhi mil sakta hai tumhe."

I felt a feeling of anger creeping through my heart. I didnot like the comment.

"Aisi baat nahi hai.. sahi logon ke saath, she's very much cooperative. In fact, uske vajah se hi humne last case solve kiya, so.."

There was silence at the other end and finally the line got disconnected.

My eyes took me once more to the verandah and I saw--

The girl crouched on her verandah railing, shaking and struggling with herself.. and when she lifted her face, through widened eyes, I saw--

Savi!

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