PART 8
Monday 7:30 am..Hostel 7 Room 201
Khanak is up..she is making the bed..then suddenly realizes, Shaan is at his desk..with his hand on his head..
Khanak: Aap kab uthe??
Shaan: Mai so nahi paa raha tha..
Khanak: Kyun? Kya hua?
Shaan: Kaam bahut hai..and I don't know nothing seems to be coming together..
Khanak: Tho kya poorie raat?...you were up?
Shaan: Haan..(rubbing his eyes)..no classes..have a practical session at around 4pm
Khanak: Ab so lee jeye..
Shaan: Hmm..
Khanak enters the bathroom..hums while putting on her toothpaste..
Shaan: (smiles listening to her, gets up from his chair..streches): When are you leaving?
Khanak: (inside the bathroom..stops brushing..spits out and yells): JEE..
Shaan: (cleans his right ear as tho to say..no need to yell..): When do you have to leave?
Khanak: Oh in an hour or so..have to be there by 11.
Shaan: Theek hai..
Khanak comes out..knots her hair..with a towel on her shoulders and a bucket half filled..
Shaan: Kya kar rahee ho??
Khanak: cups aur plates dho rahee hoon..
Shaan: (moving towards his bed): Kya?
Khanak: Haan..(and starts washing the cups in the pantry enclave with the bucket of water)
Shaan: OH my god..are you mad??!! Yahan pe there is a bathroom..sink mein dho lo..
Khanak: EK tho itni choti sink..plates don't fit..aur wahan pe hum thookte hain..aur bajoo main toilet.. (shudders) yuck!!
Shaan: (lies down on his bed..half raises his head from the pillow and looks at her): Toilet mein thodee dho rahee ho tum..aur Thookte hain ka kya matlab? Khana khate vaqt khana mooh mein jaata hain..
Khanak: (has finished the job and is walking by his bed, stops looks at him): Please..khanne ki cheezein toilet mein dhona mujhse nahin hoga..
She is holding the bucket..he stares at her with a small smile..he is too tired to argue..but wants to nevertheless..
Shaan: (with a small smile..lying on the bed..staring into her face): ab kahan jaa rahee ho?? Bucket dhone??
Khanak: (glares): Nahin..nahane!!!..aap so jaayiye..
Shaan: (stares at her knotting her hair again and continues watching her walking towards the bathroom): Are you sure?? Yahan kyun nahin naha letee?? I mean ..wahan tho hum thookte hai aur toilet ke baaju mein naha ogee..?? isse achaa yahee naha lo..(grins and smirks)
Khanak: (just before entering the bathroom): Will you shut up!!!!??..
She is not there to watch Shaan's huge smile or him fall fast asleep within seconds. By the time she gets out of the bathroom and gets ready, gets her papers together, Shaan is lost in his dream world. She smiles at his sleeping figure..gets some tea for herself..decides to catch breakfast at the mess before leaving..she opens the door to step out and is surprised to find Karthik and Murli there..
Karthik: WOW! Bhabhee..looking good.
Khanak: (a little shy): Thanks
Murli: Shaan kahan hai?
Khanak: Woh so rahe hai..
Murli: What?
Khanak: Nahin..he was up all night working..
Murli: OH!!..I had to return this (hands her his phone)
Khanak: Oh! (puts it on his desk)
Karthik: So all set Bhabhee..
Khanak: Bus, thoda sa breakfast khakhe..
Karthik: Hum bhi mess ja rahe the..chaliye..
Monday 8:30 am..Hostel 7 mess
Murli: So you excited?
Khanak: Hmm..bahut..
Karthik: Bhabhee..as soon you as you get into the course..ek treat hamare liye..
Khanak: bilkul..
Karthik: Promise..
Khanak: Promise..
Karthik: You are so different Bhabhee..Suraj tho bada kanjoos tha..
Murli: (looks shocked at Karthik): Kya? (whispers): What is wrong with you?
Khanak: (small sad smile): Nahin Nahin..it is okay..actually na, Suraj ka family bahut ..I mean unke bahut..(tears up a little)
Karthik: Sorry Bhabhee..I am really sorry..
Murli: (glares at Karthik): Anyway bhabhee these guys eat like buffaloes..Savages saale..Suraj was a smart chap..
Khanak: (smiles through her tears): Tho maybe I should reconsider my treat..
Karthik: (fist on forehead): Kya? No bhabhee..aisa julm..
Murli: (slaps his shoulder): Nautankee band kar..
(Harshad and Amit enter the Mess)
Harshad: Arrey Bhabhee ..aap yahan? Shaan kahan hai
Karthik: negotiating stables..
Harshad: Arrey yaar..was hoping these two would have a chat this morning..
Amit: (sits down next to Khanak): Its okay I will meet him later..(looks at Khanak): Hi..
Khanak: (looks up from her upma): Hi..
Amit: (whispers): Are you okay?
Murli: (sensing something off): Bhabhee..you are getting late, I think..
Harshad: For what?
They are all animatedly discussing Khanak's venture..
Harshad: Bhabee..cell phone hai na..
Khanak: haan Haan..
Amit: You should keep all our numbers..just in case..
Khanak: Haan..good idea..
Murli: Shaan ka number hai na..buss!!!
Karthik: Nahin re..I agree she should have everyone;s..
Numbers are stored in her phone..she smiles at four guys and five cell phones..they hand over her cell phone and they go back to discussing latest cell phones..boys and toys she thinks..she bids good bye and leaves..
Monday 9am..BEST bus stop outside ITI ..
There are quite a few people at the bus stop..Her bus 396 arrives almost as soon as she is at the bus stop. She gets in..shoves herself to a corner..the bus is crowded..it is a Monday morning..she gets a seat..in no time, the person next to her gets off..she has a window seat..she is looking out..loving the smells and the anticipation of singing is exciting her to no end..she moves the strands of hair from her face..and notices someone seated next to her..it is a school kid..she smiles at him..he in his uniform and waterbottle around his neck smiles back.
Boy: Aap kahan utrenge?
Khanak: Tumhe kahan jaana hai?
Boy: Mujhe pata hai mujhe kahan utarna hai..mai isiliye pooch raha hoon..becos I want to know when can I get the window seat..
Khanak: (bursts out laughing): You can get it now..
Boy: Really?
Khanak: Of course..
They move around to exchange seats..she smiles..and after a long while..she feels her emptiness filing up again..is she getting there??
--
halke halke kohre ke dhuae mei..
shaayad aasman tak aa gayee hoon..
Kohre mei behne do..
---
Review Mandatory
--
Next Part-Page 36
Edited by saaaz - 12 years ago