FF- Katra Katra- Part 25-141, Pt 26-145, Pt 27-148 - Page 18

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PART 6

Sunday 3pm..ITI campus..

Shaan: (slides in next to her on the seat):  Tho kya haal hai aapka?

Khanak: Aap baithe hai Kendriya Vidyalaya ki nayee asst music teacher ke paas..

Shaan: (looks towards her with admiration in his eyes): Not bad..madam..congratulations!!

Khanak: Haan lekin I have to take some classes for a certificate of teaching.

Shaan: OH!!..(his phone rings..he picks it up)..hey..

Voice on the phone: Hey sweets..

Shaan: (glances at Khanak..whispers): Hiya..(holds up his index finger as tho to say gimme a minute)

Khanak: (nods and looks away outside the window)

Shaan: (back on the phone..turns away..can only hear his side of the convo): Hey..actually..no..oh! did you? ..yeah!!..umm..maybe next week..sure, email me!..actually..

The tumtum makes a turn..he holds the bar in front..the mehendi filled hand next to his..he glances at her while talking and suddenly catches Khanak smiling and staring at something outside..

The tumtum has made its way back to Hostel 7..and passes by the Powai Lake..and in summer..through the shrubs and trees, the lake makes a pretty sight..much like the enamoured smile Khanak wears while staring at it..

Shaan has stopped talking..he has stopped listening..after all what can be more important than this sight in front of him..his wife smiling..

He hangs up..They get off..

Shaan: coffee..??

Khanak: Hum chaiwalle hai..

Shaan: Hum ladke walle hai..

They stare at each other and burst out laughing..they enter the canteen laughing..the canteen is sparsely populated too..just one other table is full..three guys being themselves..singing and using the table as a table..

Guy1: OYE'Mr, Khandoo..Kya baat hai??

Shaan: Hi Amit..

Amit: Hi Shaan...

Guy2:  Lage raho boss..teri tho chaandi

Guy3:  (starts drumming the table and singing loudly)..Hastha hua noorani chehra..kaali zhulfein..rang sunhera..teri jawanii..tauba tauba..

Guy2 and Guy3: HAYE HAYE'Diiilrooobaaa'diiilrooobaaa'

Amit: Chup Baitho yaar tum dono..

Shaan stares at Khanak who is hiding her smile while sipping her chai..she looks back at him..Shaan raises his eyebrows..while he sips his coffee..she smiles back..

Khanak: Not bad..

Shaan: Kya?

Khanak: Chai..

Shaan: (still holding his cup) Maine socha tum unn puntars ki baat kar rahee ho..singing capabilities..

Khanak: (laughs ..puts her cup on the table): woh bhi not bad!!!

Shaan: (puts his cup down and bends a little forward):  Jaake bol doon.. ki KV ki nayee Asst singing teacher thinks you guys got skills..

Khanak: (smiles and before she can say anything..)

Harshad: Bhabhee..hi'Shaan tu idhar hai..Murli's asking for you..

Shaan: Achaa..kahan hai woh?  

(Khanak says Hi..and Harshad sits down.. )

Shaan:  (miffed): Tu yahan kya kar raha hai..chemical analyses kiyaa kya..

Harshad: Abey Saale..teri tho main..pehle set up tho explain kar..

The boys on the next table are leaving..Amit..comes by..

Amit: Hi Dekate..

Harshad: Arrey tera tho BASF ka summer agla hafta khatam hone walla tha na..

Amit: Yeah..it is, I am here just for the Sunday..came by to meet the boys..

Harshad: Kaisi chal rahee hai?

Amit: It is good..very good..actually I need to run something by you on a project I am doing..

Harshad: theek hai..aaj raat ko milte hai..

All this while..Shaan and Khanak are busy sipping their tea and coffee and glancing at each other while the other is not looking when suddenly..

Amit: (looking at Khanak): Hi..I am Amit..have not seen you around..

Khanak: Jee..I am Khanak..

Amit: Oh..sorry about my friends..jahan bhi khoobsoorat ladki dekhi..you know??!!!..New here at Hostel 7 ??

Shaan is busy finishing his coffee..and signals to canteen uncle to put down in his khatha both the orders..

Harshad: (looks at Shaan for a second and then decides to take matters in his hands): OH!!! Tu Khanak ko nahee janta??? This is Bhabhee yaar..

Amit: Bhabhee ..kiski?? meri  tho nahin..

Harshad: Abey ..this is Shaan's wife ..Khanak!!

The minute looong silence is broken with..

Khanak: Jee..namaste..

Amit: Jee..(extremely confused)..What??

Shaan:  (gets up..): Khanak..Chalein??!!

They leave the canteen..with a baffled Amit and a Harshad rolling his eyes..

Evening has begun to set. With June approaching..early evenings are a pleasant walk in the campus..wordlessly they walk..next to each other..and automatically reach the bend behind Hostel 7..the lake..they seat themselves on the grass..

Shaan removes his book from his bag..and a pencil..tucks the jansport under his neck..and is lost in mechanics and radiator coolants..in no time..he has several papers around him..making notes..he suddenly looks up to see Khanak..walking by..humming..and there under the open skies..her chappals resting next to his feet..half his size..

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Tumne to aakash bichhaya
mere nange pairo main zameen hai

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Review Mandatory

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Next part- Page 28

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