Kulfi Girl Chapter 4: The Days of Realization

17 years and 21 years

Mumbai seemed to be hot even in the month of September. His Naina would turn 17 today, but he wasn’t there to give her gift in person like last year… The coffee at the hospital canteen was horrible, and he felt lonely, just like he had felt on the day of his own birthday. Shuffling feet grabbed his attention, and he looked up at the tired looking man dressed in his white coat.

“Mr. Maheshwari”, the man nodded at him, “main aapko hi dhund raha tha.”

Sameer tensed up, “kya baat hai doctor? Nanu theek toh hai na?”

The doctor nodded, “haan sab theek hai… bas yeh ek davai aap bahar se laake dijiye. Hospital ke chemist shop me stock khatam ho gaya hai.”

Sameer nodded, taking the piece of paper and walked outside to his car. The chemist shop wasn’t far, and he thought that now he was outside he could grab some dinner as well. The food at the small air-conditioned restaurant was good but nowhere close to what his Naina would make for him on days he was exhausted. God… He missed her… Somehow pushing her thoughts aside he finished eating, and then went back to the hospital, handed over the medicine to the nurse, checked on Nanu, and then sprawled on the low couch in the corner. Opening his wallet he looked at Naina’s picture, and slowly closed his eyes letting himself drown in past.

The big hurricane that had hit him just before his college trip had dimmed his senses. He couldn’t believe that Naina, the shy innocent girl, could be so fierce. He had chucked Ananya out of his home after the way she had behaved with Naina, and had told her very clearly that he was not interested in any girl who was as rude and insensitive as she. That night he had opened the bag Naina had almost thrown on him, and on seeing the contents felt like kicking himself. There was a soft hand-knitted sweater in dark blue wool with designs at the chest made of light blue wool. The v-neck cut and the sleeve length sat perfectly on his body as he tried it… And he felt deep pure warmth envelop his being… Naina had knitted this… For him… She had told him that blue sweater would look good on him, and after that conversation he had nearly kissed her and then talked rudely with her… But still she had not just forgiven him but had somehow found it in herself to spend hours knitting this for him. Every gift he could every shower upon her felt too small in-front of this. At just the age of 16, Naina was a miracle.

The trip had been a disaster because he had been unable to meet Naina before leaving… She didn’t come to his home, she didn’t come up to terrace, when he had gone to her home she had hid inside the bathroom… And the three days on his trip he had simply kept thinking of her, wanting her with a desperation that bordered on madness.

When he had returned it had been to an empty house, and their servant had let him know that Nanu had to leave for an urgent business trip to Mumbai. He hadn’t taken much note of it as Nanu would return in just a day, but rather he had chosen to go meet Naina… And so wearing the sweater he had received, carrying a box of sweets, he had walked to the neighboring house only to almost drop the sweets on the floor as his personal hurricane had come dashing to the door. Swiftly he had looped his arm around her waist to steady her, and after four whole days had finally felt his heart beating with a new vigor… Naina… His Naina was in his arms… He should thank God for that moment because surprisingly the Agarwal house which usually teemed with people seemed to be empty then. He looked into Naina’s eyes, and was lost… Something happened to him whenever he looked in her eyes… Earlier he had not been able to identify this feeling, terming it as attraction, but now… oh now he knew how much he loved her… and every time she came in-front of him he seemed to lose some or all of his senses. His brain stopped comprehending everything around him and functioned only in silo in matters related to her. Today she was dressed in pink, her hair was up in a single ponytail, and he wanted to reach up and free her hair, let it fall over his hand…

She had pushed him, stepping away from him, and frowned, “tum kab aaye?”

He had taken a step closer, hating the distance, “huh?”

Just then Chachiji had stepped out of the kitchen, “aree Sameer beta… Bhagwan jhooth na bulaye kaalej ki tarip poori ho gai?”

Sameer had snapped back to his senses, “ji aunty… yeh mithai laaya tha aap sabke liye Darjeeling se.”

Bela had been extremely happy that he had thought of such courtesies even during a college trip and instructed Naina to learn something from him. He had smirked, lifting a brow as if to show his superiority. But Naina had crossed her arms, “rehne dijiye chachiji… isse kuch sikhungi toh mera dimag bhi kaam karna bandh kar dega.”

Before Sameer could reply, their servant had huffed up to the doorstep and broke the saddest news of his life. He was informed that Nanu had suffered from a sudden stroke during the meeting and was admitted in hospital. Sameer had been too shaken to react, and would have collapsed on the floor had his arms not been held by two soft hands. Naina had supported him, making him sit, and hollered for Preeti to bring water… Bela had rushed to call her husband from their bedroom. The next few hours were still a blur… He only remembered jumbled up scenes…

Chachaji talking to their servant… Naina helping him drink water… Chachaji calling someone in Mumbai to ask the details… Naina shaking him to speak up… Chachaji explaining to him that he needed to go to Mumbai… Naina wiping his tears… Arjun supporting him to walk to his own home… Naina making him sit on the sofa…

And then there was darkness… Total darkness until once more he had felt the familiar hands over his own… “Sameer…”, her gentle voice had called out to him, making him shake out of his despair… He had jerked and looked around, finding himself seated on the sofa and then glanced down to see Naina crouched in-front of him.

“Nanu”, he had whispered, tears brimming in his eyes.

And then Naina had surged up, looping her arms around his neck, letting him lean on her shoulder. He had hugged her tight, burying his head on her shoulder and sobbed hard. She had rubbed his back, comforting him, saying that she was with him. He didn’t know still how long they had remained like that but a doorbell had interrupted them, and Naina had opened the door to Munshiji, who had arrived with Sameer’s flight tickets to Mumbai. He was supposed to leave next morning on a 5am flight.

Sameer had felt like a lost kid in forest, and to his surprise Naina had taken the manila folder from Munshiji assuring that he would leave on time. Later she had helped him pack while he had just sat cross-legged on the bed, blinking stupidly, his mind reeling with flashbacks of the time he had spent with Nanu. Then he had felt her slipping her arms around his shoulders from behind, leaning her head against his, and said, “tum aise kamzor nahi pad sakte Sameer… Nanu ko zaroorat hai tumhari. Tum hamesha kehte ho na ke main choti hun aur tum bade… Toh ab mauka aa gaya hai ke tumhe sach me bada hona padega. Mumbai jao… Nanu ke saath raho…”

He had gently released her hold, and stood up, turning to her. Looking into her eyes for a minute, he had then for the first time hugged her on his own… Grabbing her hand he had pulled her in his arms, holding her against his chest, and tightened his hold on her, needing to feel that she was his. The thought of Nanu was scaring him, but he was equally afraid of going away from Naina, especially after the way she had left last time… Unintentionally he had hurt her… He still remembered how he had flipped on seeing her with that classmate of hers, and that was before fully realizing what he felt about her. He couldn’t imagine how she would have felt on thinking that he was about to kiss another girl. The way Naina cared for him was special; he didn’t want to put the word love to her feelings yet, but he knew whatever she felt for him was not superficial. And so he had decided that he needed to clarify a few things… Pulling back a bit, he had cupped her face, “kulfi girl… I have to tell you something… Ananya meri girlfriend nahi hai… kabhi nahi thi… Aur uss din… I wasn’t going to kiss her… Woh try kar rahi thi aur main usko dur kar raha tha… Naina, main… kaise samjhau tumhe? Tum bura maan jaogi phirse agar bolunga ke tum choti ho, par yeh baat toh sach hai na ke tum ab tak school me ho… You need to focus on your studies… I don’t know how to tell you what I feel…”

“Itna mushkil nahi hai Sameer”, she had softly replied, “lekin abhi yeh baate karne ka waqt nahi hai… tumhara dhyan abhi mujhpe nahi Nanu pe hona chahiye. Aur rahi baat uss chudail ki toh mujhe uss waqt bura laga tha lekin mujhe pata hai ke jab usne meri insult ki tab mujhse zyada gussa tumhe aaya hoga… Bas maine tumhe bolne ka mauka nahi diya warna phirse tum angry young man ban jaate…”

He had stared at her in surprise, wondering how well she knew him… She had chuckled, “itna chaunk ne ki zaroorat nahi hai… tumhe bahot achche se jaanti hun main… Tum meri fikar mat karo… Nanu ke paas jao… Aur jab tum unko leke wapas aaoge na tab main tumhe yahin milungi, tumhara intezaar karte hue.”

He had smiled a bit at that assurance and quickly helped her pack. Sleep was far from his eyes that night and around mid-night he had gone up to terrace, surprised to see her there, sitting on the mat, leaning against the wall. He had woken her up and scolded her as he was scared she would again fall sick, but she had grinned and pointed to the sweater she was wearing, and the blanket she had brought. When she had offered him the blanket, he had given in and sat next to her, throwing the blanket over both of them. She had leaned on him, and after a moment, he had looped an arm around her letting her sleep against his chest as her hand wrapped around his stomach. Slowly he too had fallen asleep feeling comforted to hold her like that…

When he had left at 4am for the airport, Naina had sent him over with a hug and take care. He had entered the hospital in Mumbai with the thought that in a few days he would be taking Nanu back to Ahmedabad, but life had once more turned upside down when the doctor had mentioned that Nanu’s heart condition was critical and he would be required to undergo multiple surgeries in the upcoming months based on how fast or slow recovery happens. Sameer had no clue what to do, for a moment he was tempted to take advice from someone, maybe his mom or dad, but then had preferred to call Chachaji instead. After appraising about the situation, he had requested to talk to Naina as well, wondering how her family would react, but to his surprise there hadn’t been much fuss. Both Naina and Chachaji had told him that he needed to do whatever was required, and after a day and night at the hospital Sameer had understood that it was time for him to grow up now.

The most immediate changes had been to find accommodation in Mumbai where Nanu could be shifted after discharge, and then making that place worth living. Munshiji had informed him that he already had the power of attorney to Nanu’s business ever since he had turned 18. This had surprised Sameer but he had been thankful of the authority to take certain financial decisions. After a week he had started the formalities to get a transfer to a college in Mumbai, and another week later there had been the dreaded trip to Ahmedabad to pack and shift. Naturally Naina had been there to help him, constantly blabbering until he had grabbed her nervously shivering hands and pulled her in his arms. She had stiffened for a whole minute before starting to sob, hiding her face against his chest.

He had been unable to control his own tears but had promised, “Naina… wahan se jitni baar ho sake tumhe phone karunga… Aur yeh hamesha ke liye thodi na hai, bas kuch mahine shayad… I promise main wapas aaunga…”

She had nodded, sniffing, “jaanti hun… tum apna bhi dhyan rakhna, warna koi girlfriend nahi milegi Mumbai me.”

“Ahan”, he had teased, “so ab kulfi girl ko finally girlfriend ka matlab samajh me aa gaya.”

She had pulled back and smiled, “kaafi saalo se… bas tumhe nahi pata mujhe kya kya samajh aata hai.”

He had been puzzled, “matlab?”

She had shaken her head, “kuch nahi… achcha yeh sweater ka toh koi kaam nahi hai na. Mumbai me toh thand hogi nahi…”

He had grabbed the blue sweater, stopping her from putting it aside, “thand ho ya naa ho… mujhe yeh sweater chahiye apne saath.”

She had glanced at him and blushed, leaving him mesmerized at the sight. He had left Ahmedabad with that image captured in his heart. Back in Mumbai, he had helped Nanu settle in the new apartment, and then had started his most trying time. New college was easy to adjust to; he didn’t need any friends as he had his friends back in Ahmedabad. He didn’t crave any attention even though plenty of girls had started noticing him from the very first day; all he needed was those weekly phone calls with Naina. He didn’t feel much difficulty in living in a new city, but he missed the homeliness of Ahmedabad. However, the most difficult phase had been to learn and take up the responsibilities of business. In the middle of all that there had been the visit from his mom along with her second husband… That week he had called Naina up almost every night, needing those few moments of peace. Honestly, if he was to judge himself he would say he had done fairly well. He had been generally courteous in behavior, keeping the talks to the point, and when his mother had tried to take over the house and apparently set him straight, he had fixed her with a solemn but confident stare, “mom… aap yahan apne papa ki khabar lene aai hai… apne bete ki nahi… Don’t worry… Main chillaunga nahi aur rounga bhi nahi… I have grown up and learned my place in your life. Aap yahan rahiye aapko jitne din rehna hai, Mr. Somani is also welcome to live here, but don’t interfere in my life…”

He could say that it was in that week he had grown the most… He had learned that he could control his emotions and anger just by imagining Naina’s face in his thoughts. He had learned that he could have turmoil rolling inside him but still maintain the façade of being in complete control. He had learned that he could take decisions without consulting people all the time. He had learned that he could adapt to being a businessman as well… It was either a knack he had owing to his dad’s genetics, or maybe it was because he had wanted to fulfill Nanu’s dream with all his heart… Nanu was happy to see the changes in him, and that was what mattered in that moment.

Weeks had turned to months with Nanu’s treatment, and second surgery, and he had started to be more and more involved in business. Just a couple of days ago Nanu had undergone the third surgery, and today it was Naina’s birthday. In a few months his second year of college would end, and third year would begin… Naina would finish her 12^th boards, and join college. It was amazing how he constantly kept missing her, but still it was only her thoughts that would make him calm. He wondered how would she react to the changes in him, because the changes had been immense in just a year, both emotionally and physically… He was much more mature, in control, more confident than before… Physically he had developed a lean build, with broad shoulders, and exercise had given him some muscles. He also was old enough to sport a 5pm stubble, and if he kept the top buttons of his shirt open she would be able to see the hair on his chest. He also wondered about the changes in her… Did she still keep two pigtails in school? Had her skin changed? Had her hair lengthened? He gulped often as he wondered if the curves he had felt and witnessed last year had changed now… The edge of desire he felt for her seemed to keep burning even though she was so far from him… He wondered if she thought of him like that… Did she remember how his hands had felt on her? Did she recall that almost kiss? Did she, just like him, wished that once, just once, they had ventured into that forbidden territory? He was still often confused about his own emotions, his brain telling him that what he felt was wrong, but his heart had a mind of its own. The days his brain would take dominance he would try and erase the memories of those intimate moments, but would eventually end up staring at her photo with a lovesick expression… Today was one such day. He had been tempted to send the silver pendant-earrings set he had bought, along with the book and box of sonpapdi, but had somehow managed to refrain at the last moment… The book and sweets had reached her, but the set was now stored in the same box in his room. The tug-of-war between his brain and heart was exhausting, and he fell into a light doze until his new mobile rang…

“Hello”, he mumbled sleepily,

A grumpy voice at the other end said, “mujhse baat kare bina hi so gaye? Aaj ka din bhul gaye na?”

He chuckled, the sleep replaced with happiness his eyes, “bhula hota toh abhi tumhare haatho me book hoti kya?”

She blushed, “tumhe kaise pata ke book mere haath me hai?”

He smirked, “itna toh tumhe jaanta hun kulfi girl… happy birthday.”

She enquired about Nanu’s health, and they fell into a familiar rhythm of conversation. He fought with his feelings, but he couldn’t stop the bone deep sense of happiness he experienced whenever he talked to her, neither could he ignore the peace and warmth that filled his heart whenever she mentioned that she missed him or was waiting for him to be back.

18 years and 22 years – Mumbai

The day Naina turned 18 was one of the happiest days of his life, and there were three reasons for this. First, Nanu’s last operation was successfully done today; second, he had received confirmation on one of the biggest deals Maheshwari Industries had ever seen; and third, he finally had the chance to return to Ahmedabad. The few days had turned to weeks to months and then to years… It had been 22 months now since he had left Ahmedabad and moved to Mumbai, to be with Nanu. Given Nanu’s age the recovery after each surgery had taken longer than anticipated, and that had extended his stay in Mumbai. He itched to go back to Mumbai immediately, but he needed to allow time to Nanu to recover fully from his last operation, work out the details and execution of his new deal, and also finally finish his graduation. He couldn’t believe that so much time had passed in between the last time he had hugged Naina, and now… She was in college… When he would graduate, she would finish her first year… And plus, she was an adult as of today…

18… God… He had hugged a 16 year old Naina and felt fire rage in his veins, what would be the effect like if he hugged her now… Since now she was no longer small, could he stop feeling guilty of feeling attraction and love for a child? Could he start afresh? Could he take solace now that he wasn’t a pervert? 18 and 22, was this age gap okay? The almost two years gap hadn’t been enough to douse the flames in his heart and body… No girl in the modern sophisticated city of Mumbai caught his eye… All he craved for was her smile that would light up the gloomiest days of his life… All he desired for was her touch that had given him so many peaceful nights of sleep… All he yearned for was to hear her voice calling his name which could make his heartbeats thud and head spin… Was it okay to love her like this now? Was it justified to feel like this for her now? How to resolve this dilemma? And if Naina also felt like this for him then what direction would they be headed? Would everything be alright between them or they would fall apart like… He sighed, unable to complete the statement even in his thoughts.

That night when they talked, he felt soothed by her voice, as she exclaimed how she had already read some pages of the new book he had sent. Then she joked, “tumhe pata hai na Sameer… agar tum mujhe har birthday pe ek-ek book doge toh khatam hote hote main 34 years ki ho jaungi… Tab toh shayad mere bachche ki umar hogi Famous Five padhneki.”

Something jolted inside him, “bachcha? What are you talking about kulfi girl? Tum ab tak bahot choti ho…”

She laughed, “maana tumne mujhe do saal se nahi dekha lekin phir bhi… umar toh pata hai na… 18 saal ki ladki ko chota kaun bolta hai… Taiji toh abhi se meri aur Preeti ki shaadi ka soch rahi hai…”

He choked, “kya? Shaadi? Tum… Tum shaadi karogi?”

She candidly replied, “haan kyun nahi… 19-20 saal ki umar me toh shaadi ho jaati hai na… mujhe college khatam hone tak intezaar karna hai par depend karta hai ladkewale kya bolte hai…”

It seemed as if he was surrounded in a haze of confusion, “kaun ladkewale?”

She chuckled, “mujhe kya pata kaun ladkewale… woh toh jab shaadi ki baat chalegi tab hi pata chalega na… Taiji soch rahi hai ke mera first year khatam honeke baad milna-milana shuru karenge… I mean, ladkewale ghar pe dekhne aaye woh sab formalities…”

After she completes her first year of college? But… That would be in just few more months… How could they plan for her wedding so soon? And she was ready? What… What did this mean? Some boy would come to see Naina…?? His Naina…?? And she would get ready for someone else? Wear good clothes and dress up to show herself off? What was she thinking? Just because her family said so why did she have to do it? Did 18 really mean she was so grown up that she could get married?

“Naina tum…”, he tried to frame a proper sentence, “Naina… tum… tum mana kar dena… yeh sab bakwaas cheeze karneki zaroorat nahi hai tumhe… Araam se college khatam karo… Bahot time hai tumhare paas.”

She was amused, “inn mamlo me ladki ki pasand nahi puchi jaati… 18 saal ki ho gai yaane samaj me baate banne lagti hai… Gharwale rishta dhunde na dhunde, saamne se rishte aate hai… Agarwal samaj se kaafi chalta hai yeh sab… Kahin se koi aunty koi rishta dhund degi, kabhi panditji koi rishta layenge… Aur baar baar ignore nahi kar sakte inn sabko… Milneka toh ho hi jaata hai… Aur jab milneka hota hai tab agar ladkewalo ko ladki pasand aa gai toh bas… Ladki ka parivaar aur kuch dekhta hi nahi hai… baat wahi pakki ho jaati hai.”

“Ridiculous”, he thundered, “bakwaas hai yeh sab… aise kaise kahin bhi rishta kar denge? Raah chalta koi ladka bol dega ke tum usko pasand aa gai toh kya shaadi ho jayegi…? Main nahi maanta yeh sab baate… Aur tum kya shaadi ka gaana gaa rahi ho? Chup-chap se bed pe jao aur book padho… Yeh shaadi, ladke, inn sab pe se dimag hatao apna… Tumhe kisi ladke ke baare me sochne ki zaroorat nahi hai.”

She closed her eyes, listening to his rebuke, exhilarated at how the discussion of marriage affected him… It had been so long… so long since she had seen him, touched him, felt the reassurance of leaning on his shoulder… God… She needed him… But the distance and his constant fight of hiding his own emotions for her had left her slightly insecure… Sameer was so handsome, rich, and add to that he was now successful as well… A businessman while still being a college student… And he was in Mumbai, a city far bigger and modern than their little quaint Ahmedabad… It would be so easy for him to land a girl there, someone who would suit beside him, someone extremely gorgeous to complement his handsome features, someone who would know how to dress up and apply make-up to look like a businessman’s girlfriend, someone his own age so that he wouldn’t have to pull back from a kiss thinking he had a child in his arms… All these thoughts worried her often, but now hearing how angry he was on hearing about her unplanned possible wedding scenario made her sigh in relief… He still cared… She didn’t know if he loved or not, but he cared for sure…

She didn’t reply to his angry remarks, rather softly said, “I am missing you Sameer… Chhat pe jaana achcha nahi lagta ab…”

He closed his eyes, letting her words flow over him… The way she had talked about marriage had almost given him a panic attack. The thought of his Naina with some other guy was enough to make him want to destroy everything in his way until he reached her and held her in his possession… It was absolutely insane and yet so right… “I… I am missing you too”, he dared to confess, “tumhari baate, tumhari hasi aur tumhare haatho ka banaya hua khana… Ab tak toh kaafi saara seekh gai hogi na?”

She smiled, “haan… tum wapas aa jao phir sab banake khilaungi…”

“Nanu has to recover first”, he helplessly informed, “doctor ne bataya ke kamsekam do mahine lagenge poori tarah se theek hone me… Aur naya deal jo jeeta hai uska bhi kaafi kaam hai… Lekin zyada din nahi ab… Bas graduation ho jaaye phir aa jaunga, kyunki aise aakhri 3-4 mahine me college shift karna possible nahi hoga… Tum samajh rahi ho na?”

She assured, “haan… bilkul samajh rahi hun… do saal beet gaye toh baaki kuch mahine bhi beet hi jayenge… tum Nanu ke saath-saath apna bhi dhyan rakhna…”

“Yes, kulfi girl”, he grinned. Conversation flowed easy after that, until it was time to sleep, and they both slept with the hopes of meeting each other soon.

Two weeks later Nanu came home, or rather their temporary home. The slight exertion of walking from the car to their apartment exhausted him, but after the previous operations Sameer knew that was to be expected. Things would get better… This time for real… There were no surgeries to be done, this time the healing would be permanent. Their maid came in with the light meal of soup and daliya that was advised by the doctor, and Sameer arranged the tray on the bed-table for Nanu.

“Time to eat”, he grinned.

Nanu smiled fondly watching his grandson who had been an official adult since a long time now, but had finally managed to grow up in the last two years. The way Sameer had risen to the responsibility and fought the adversity instead of breaking down made him feel proud. His grandson was still in college, a age and time when boys shirked responsibilities and spent all their time in fun and friendships, but Sameer had barely gotten time to even look a himself properly. The day Sameer had gone to their Mumbai office first time, he had blessed him and called him as ‘Sameer Jaiprakash Maheshwari’; and the boy had lived up to the name in way that he was proud. But now he was well and good, he wanted to soon partake in the responsibilities so Sameer got some time for himself, and hopefully understand what his heart wanted and craved for. In all these years, even though a lot of business associates had talked to him about Sameer’s wedding, he had never entertained any of these conversations, since he knew where his grandson’s heart was. Sameer might be living here since the last two years, but his heart was way back in Ahmedabad with a girl named Naina, and it was time that his grandson accepted this and acted upon it.

“Zara mera batwa dena beta”, Nanu requested in a tired voice.

Sameer nodded, picking up the brown leather wallet from the bedside table and handing it over to Nanu. He saw Nanu open it and smile fondly, just like he did when he saw Naina’s photo, and immediately blurted, “Nani ki photo hai.”

Nanu pretended to be surprised, “haan… lekin tumhe kaise pata?”

Sameer shrugged, trying to be nonchalant, “I guessed.”

Nanu smiled, “kehte hai ek ladka apne batwe me sirf usiki tasveer rakhta hai jisse woh behadh pyaar karta hai… Jaise main tumhari Nani se karta hun. Kahin tumhare wallet me bhi kisiki photo toh nahi hai?”

Sameer gulped, patting his pocket subtly to ensure that his wallet was hidden, and gave a nervous laugh, “mere wallet me bhala kisiki photo kyun hogi… I mean… meri life me toh koi ladki nahi hai…”

“Haan”, Nanu sighed, “meri kharab kismat… Mumbai me rehke bhi mere navase ko koi ladki nahi mili… koi aisi jiski muskurahat tumhare chehre pe bhi muskurahat laa de, koi aisi jiski hasi tumhare liye kisi romanch se kam na ho, jiski aankhon me tumhe khone me darr na lage, jiski awaaz tumhare dil ko sukoon pahochaye… koi aisi jisko tumhari fikar ho… Sameer, aisi koi ladki mili nahi kya tumhe Mumbai me?”

Sameer bit his lip, but honestly replied, “nahi… aisi koi ladki nahi hai Mumbai me.”

Nanu sighed once more, and muttered slowly, taking care to make it just audible enough for him, “kamsekam Ahmedabad me Naina toh thi…”

Sameer almost jumped up from the bed, and yelped, “kya?”

Nanu looked at him, his brows furrowed in confusion, “kya kya? Naina… yaad hai na… hamare pados me rehti hai… jisse tum baat karte ho… waise aaj uska phone nahi aaya ab tak?”

Sameer’s mouth twitched in confusion, “uh… maine usko bola tha ke I will call her later… par aap uska naam kyun le rahe ho? I mean… woh toh bachchi hai…”

Nanu mused, “bachchi? Par ab toh 18 saal ki ho gai hogi na… shaadi ke layak… kaash woh tumhare liye dost se badhkar kuch hoti…”

Sameer swallowed repeatedly to soothe his dry throat, “yeh… kya… yeh kya bol rahe ho Nanu? Naina… Woh mujhse 4 saal choti hai… hum jab yahan shift hue tab woh school me thi…”

“Par ab toh college me hogi na”, Nanu countered, “I like her… jab bhi ghar me aati thi aisa lagta tha apne saath dhoop ki garmahat, phoolon ki khushboo, payal ki chanak, aur chudiyo ki khanak leke aai hai… Tumhe yaad hai jab meri thodi si tabiyat kharab hui thi kaise hamare ghar pe aur kitchen pe kabza kar liya tha usne? Tumhari baat bhi nahi maanti thi… Peechle do saal me jab bhi operation ke baad hospital me raha hamesha usko yaad kiya, sochta tha ke woh yahan hoti toh kya karti…”

Sameer chuckled absentmindedly, “doctors aur nurses ko daant lagati… kehti usse behtar aapka aur mera dhyan koi nahi rakh sakta… hospital ka diya hua pheeka soup nahi peene deti, kehti ke ghar se banake layegi… Aur jab aap ghar aate tab har ek minute aapke peeche padi rehti… I am sure, doctor ka diya hua 2 mahine ka recovery time ghatkar 1 mahina ho jaata.”

Nanu smiled, glad of how the conversation was flowing in the direction he wanted, “haan… Naina ka pyaar, uski hamare liye chinta karne ki aadat, hamare prati uska apnapan yeh sab dekhke na mujhe kabhi-kabhi tumhare Nani ki yaad aati hai… Jaante ho… Garima mujhse 8 saal choti thi… Jab hamari shaadi hui tab woh bas 18 ki hui hi thi, phir bhi uske gharwale keh rahe the ki kitni der se shaadi hui… Uss zamane ladkiyo ki shaadi 16-17 saal me ho jaaya karti thi… kehte ke 16 baras ki hui matlab beti jawaan ho gai…”

Sameer gasped, his eyes widening on hearing the age difference, “8… 8 saal? Matlab Nani 18 ki thi tab aap 26 saal ke ho gaye the? Aise kaise… matlab… shaadi ke baad…”

Nanu tilted his head, “kya bol rahe ho tum? Shaadi-byaah ke maamle me yeh umar ka farq aam baat hai… Ladki ke gharwale koi kaabil ladka dhundte hai, jo kamata ho, naukri karta ho… Iska matlab ladka araam se 22-23 saal ka toh ho hi chuka hoga na… Har koi tumhari tarah college se hi kamana thodi na shuru kar deta hai… mujhe hi dekhlo… zindagi me apne paav jamate-jamate 24 ka ho gaya… uske baad bhi koi ladkiwale business karte hue insaan ke saath apni beti ki shaadi nahi karwana chahte the… unn dino business nahi chalta tha, naukri wala jamai chahiye hota the…”

Sameer slowly asked, “toh phir Nani kaise…”

Nanu smiled, his gaze softening with fond memories, “Garima ko pehli baar maine mandir me dekha tha… uske 18^th birthday pe… saree pehenke aayi thi hare rang ka… jaise hi uske chehre pe nazar padi mujhe aisa laga ke maano meri dhadkane ruk gai ho, aas-paas halki si thandi-thandi hawa chal rahi ho… main kaun hun, kya hun, kya kar raha hun kuch bhi yaad nahi tha… Thankfully mere babuji ne meri haalat dekhi aur Garima ke saath jo log aaye the unse baat ki… Phir kya tha… do din me shaadi tay ho gai, aur do mahine ke andar-andar shaadi ho bhi gai…”

Sameer queried, “Nani ko koi problem nahi thi aise rishte se?”

Nanu shook his head, “Garima ne mujhe aur mere parivaar koi usi din se apna liya tha jis din se hamari shaadi tay hui thi… Aur jab ghar me aai toh aisa laga ke saari khushiya apne saath leke aai hai… itna pyaar, itna apnapan… uska saath dil ko sukoon deta tha… Phir do saal baad Vishakha paida hui…”

Sameer gasped in shock, “sirf do saal? Matlab… Nani toh 20 saal ki hi hogi…”

Nanu nodded, “haan… lekin hum dono bahot khush the… Garima ko toh ek minute bhi nahi laga maa honeki zimmedari uthane me…”

Sameer kept thinking about what he heard… 8 years… Such a huge age gap and still Nanu –Nani had made it work. They had lived their life happily, and even though Nani was gone now, he could see how much Nanu loved her. And as per his words, Nani also reciprocated the same way. Was it possible then to have such a gap in age and still be in love, still live together, still be husband-wife? Could he have Naina in his life then? Would she accept him? Would he have the courage to tell her about his feelings?

Just then Nanu’s voice broke into his thoughts, “zara Naina ko phone laga doge? Baat karneka man ho raha hai…”

Sameer nodded, dialing her number, and waited… But even before he could say hello, there was an outburst from the other end, “Sameer Maheshwari… tum itni der kaise kar sakte ho? Samajh nahi aata ke mujhe kitni fikar hoti hai… Nanu kaise hai? Tum kaise ho? Ghar aa gaye? Kuch khaya? Ab kuch bol kyun nahi rahe ho… Muh pe taala laga hai kya?”

He smiled in delight, the concern in her anger soothing his heart, “tum kuch bolne dogi toh bolunga na… tumhari toofan mail toh ruk hi nahi rahi hai…”

“Ab isme bhi meri galti”, she fumed, “ek toh khud bolte ghar pahonchke phone karunga, par karte nahi ho… Time dekha hai tumne? Ek ghante se upar ho chuka hoga ghar pahonche hue…”

He glanced at the clock and winced at her accurate accusation… Biting his lip, he murmured, “sorry…”

There was a moment of silence, and then she asked, “khana khaya?”

“Nanu ne kha liya”, he replied honestly.

She made a frustrated sound, “kya karu tumhara… Nanu ko phone do, aur tum jaake khana khao pehle… uske baad hi main tumse baat karungi.”

He nodded meekly, handing over the phone to Nanu with a grimace… Nanu chuckled, accepting the phone, and within a few seconds was engrossed in an animated conversation. He sat watching his grandfather, who didn’t look sick anymore, his face had energy and happiness… He couldn’t fathom the magic Naina spun around them… After a minute or so, Nanu looked at him in surprise, and then grinned, declaring, “Naina keh rahi hai ke hamari baate sunna bandh karo aur khana khane jao.”

Sameer’s eyes widened, “usko kaisa pata?”

Nanu shrugged, “tumhe puchna hai?”

Sameer shook his head, standing up, “nahi… abhi phirse daant nahi sunni…” He walked away to have his lunch, as ordered by the sprite of a girl who ruled his mind and heart… A smile tugged up the corners of his mouth, as he finally accepted that no matter wherever he was, whoever he became, it was only Naina whom he could love… It didn’t matter if she was the same age as his, older than him or younger than him… He was hers… And he hoped she would be his… It was time to wrap up things in Mumbai and go back home, go back to his Naina…