Chapter 9

Part 9: Sameer's Redemption Begins

Sameer was early to school the next morning. This was becoming the new normal for him. He had just kept his bag on his seat when he saw Naina enter the classroom, with her drooping face and doleful eyes. She was startled to see him there, but did not say anything. It was a miracle how she could manage to look so cute, even when upset. Though Sameer was happy to see her, the only change he wanted was to see Naina smile. Smile the way she used to. The way she used to smile at him. He knew she was not able to forget the pain he had caused her. If only he could go back in time, not take up that bet and start an honest friendship with her. She'd opened a book to read. "Tick, tick, he tapped his pencil. No reply. "Tick, tick. Again no response. Suddenly, he threw the pencil at Naina. Startled, she looked at him in agitation and saw Sameer holding his ears in sorry! The expression on his face was cute, pleading. He looked genuinely sorry. Naina looked away and threw the pencil on the floor. But Sameer was glad, at least by accident, she had looked at him.

Till the time other students started entering the class, Sameer was humming every song on maafi' he could think of, much to Naina's irritation. She however ignored him and tried to focus on the book she was reading. Munna and Pandit joined Sameer after a while. They too were sad seeing Naina so miserable because of their actions. Munna and Pandit had been doing their bit to make it up to her. They too, like Sameer had said sorry innumerable times to her. "Yaar Sipahi, maaf kar de please. Bahot badi galti kar di yaar. Tujhe jante nahi the. Tu aise udaas mat ho. Tu udaas bilkul acha nahi lagta, Munna would keep telling her. But they too, never got either a smile or a reply from Naina. Soon after, Swati entered the class. She had been extremely worried about Naina from the past few days. She could sense something major had happened between her and Sameer. But Naina would not tell her. Exasperated she had forced Munna to tell her the truth. He had told her everything about the bet. "Yaar Pandit, ab tu mat rooth ja, wahan wo Sipahi ki aankhon me aansu nahi dekhe ja rahe. Yahan tu rooth gaya to pata nahi kya haal hoga, he had told Swati. But Swati had left in a rage. She had spoken to Naina after school that day, and had seen her shattered and crying her heart out. She didn't know about Naina, but she wasn't going to forgive Sameer. She'd dashed right to the parking and lashed out at him. "Sameer, tum sach mein hero nahi, ek bade zero ho. Tumhe duniya me Naina hi mili thi dil dukhane ke liye. Arey uski jagah mera dil dukhate na, tab bhi mujhe itni taqleef nahi hoti, jitni Naina ko aise dekh ke ho rahi hai, she had snapped at him. Her eyes had been moist with tears. "Pandit, maaf kar de ise, interrupted Munna. "Haan Swati, ye to khud Naina se pyaar karta hai. Bechara ise to ye lag raha tha ki wo Naina ke sath naatak kar raha hai sirf shart ke liye. Isne samajhne me der kar di, added Pandit. Swati had calmed down a bit at this, looking at Sameer's morose face, but she was not in a mood to relent. Swati put her hand on Naina's shoulders to comfort her as the classes began. Through all the classes, Sameer had eyes only for Naina.

***

It was lunch time and Swati and Naina were sitting in the canteen. Sameer, Munna and Pandit were sitting on the side. Sameer had not touched his food. His ears were on the table next to him where the two girls were sitting. Sameer was worried for Naina. He knew she would not be eating properly these days. Swati noticed that Naina had not touched her tiffin. "Naina, khana kha le please, pleaded Swati. "Bhook nahi hai Swati, tu kha le mera tiffin, replied Naina, uninterested. "Naina, khud ko tadpane se kya hoga. Tu bhi na gussa hamesha khaane pe hi nikalti hai, said Swati. Sameer was reminded of how his mother used to scold him for doing the same. He was pleading to God deep inside that Naina would eat something. When Naina ignored her, Swati said, "tu nahi khayegi to abse main bhi nahi khaungi and with this, she closed her tiffin too. Naina knew that her best friend was not going to give up. She gave her a small smile. Happy that Naina had acceded, Swati opened up her tiffin for her, "Arey waah, aloo parantha..., she exclaimed happily. Naina's smile vanished as soon as it had appeared and anger shone in her eyes yet again. "Aloo parantha...aloo parantha...jab dekho bela chachi aloo parantha hi banati rehti hain...ye jaante huye ki mujhe aloo parantha bilkul pasand nahi hai, she exclaimed in anger and stormed out of the canteen. Sameer's face drooped further. Few moments later, he too left the canteen, his plate untouched. "Yaar, kaisa pyaar hai inka...yahan wo khana nahi khati...yahan ye bhukha rehta hai...Ishq dono ko hai lekin fir bhi roothe baithe hain, exclaimed Munna slapping his palm on his forehead.

***

Sameer came to his room post dinner that night. He hadn't eaten since then. He'd lied to Nanu that his stomach was upset. But the truth was, knowing Naina was hungry somewhere, food refused to go inside him. He opened his bag to study and found a plastic bag stuffed inside it. Sameer was surprised. He opened it and his face fell. Naina had returned all his gifts back to him- the jhumkas, the Aashiqui cassette. There was another damaged cassette inside- he knew it was the one in which he had apologized to her and invited her to his birthday. A tear streamed down his cheek. He had been such a rotten person. He then opened his drawer and took out his own passport sized photograph that Naina had thrown at him the other day. He wondered how had she got hold of his photo and since when had she kept it with her. Overcome with remorse, he rang Naina's home- the same two rings. Maybe today she will pick up. But no luck! Crestfallen, he went straight to the wall where he had put Julia Roberts' poster. But now it had been replaced by Naina's photograph. The one in the blue dress. He'd gone and got a poster sized print for that picture of hers- so that he could at least see her in the photo every day. He touched her face lovingly. "I'm sorry Naina...really sorry! Maine tumhe bahot hurt kiya hai Naina. Main jaanta hun main tumhare layak nahi hun, but still...I Love You! he said. He then crossed out another day on the calendar on his wall. He was counting days he was having to stay away from Naina. Sleep too had ditched him from the past few days. He stayed awake, lying in bed, thinking of her for a long time. And there Naina, fully aware of his phone calls, was wondering what more did he want from her now.

***

In school next day, Naina was the first one to enter class. She found a big note with a sorry and a sad face pasted on her desk. It said I miss you'. Naina was taken aback slightly and then she saw Sameer hiding near the door, expectantly waiting for her reaction. Naina's anger wasn't one to calm down so easily, Sameer knew, but he wanted to try all that he could. She tore the note away, crumpled it and threw it in the bin. Sameer was dejected. But he too was stubborn. He wasn't going to give up this easily. From that day onwards, Naina found the same note every morning on her desk and every morning she threw it away.

The next morning as Naina and Preeti were coming to school, Sameer came upto pace with them on his bike. Munna and Pandit were sitting on the back. Sameer was constantly trying to catch Naina's eye- hopefully one day she will smile at him. He had taken to following Naina around as much as he could. Sameer adjusted the pace of his motorcycle such that he was always besides Naina, eyes fixed on her, hopeful of a response, but he got none. Suddenly, Preeti who was irritated at Sameer, snapped, "tumhari bike isse tez nahi chalti kya? "Haan, nahi chalti isse tez, snapped Sameer. "Hum tumse koi baat kar rahe hain kya, jo hamare side me chal rahe ho, she retorted.  "Main vaise bhi tumse baat nahi karna chahta. Jisse karna chahta hu wo kar legi, he smirked at her, while eyeing Naina all the while. Preeti responded by making a face at him. Suddenly piche se aawaz aayi, "arey aap humse baat kijiye na! Kyun do prem panchiyon ke beech me ulajh rahi hain. Unko aapas me suljhane do. Aap hamara masla suljha do, Pandit quipped cheekily. Preeti made a face at him too, before ignoring him. For a few moments, she was too embarrassed with Pandit's comment to notice what he had said. When she and Naina were parking their cycles, she suddenly remembered- "Prem panchi, kya matlab prem panchi? Naina...tu aur Sameer- Kahin tum dono ka kuch chakkar to nahi? Isliye to tu itni udaas nahi? Jhagda hua hai? Preeti was unstoppable. "Bas kar Preeti! Filmein dekh dekh ke tera dimag kharab ho gaya hai. Aur tu kiski baat sun rahi hai. Meri maan, in logon ki baatein bharose ke layak nahi, she snapped. Standing just two cycles away, Sameer knew who the message was for.

Sameer was feeling upset- his efforts in trying to make Naina smile and talk to him were all going in vain. He was feeling at a loss at what to do. The first period was free for the class. Sameer tried to catch Naina's eye, but to no avail. His eyes turned moist. Fearful that his emotions would show on his face, Sameer left the class. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to vent out his feelings- talk to Naina, tell her how he feels, but she wasn't ready to listen. He was walking aimlessly, lost in deep thought, when he found himself standing outside the school's music room. Sameer looked inside. There was no one there right now. He went and sat down there and picked up a guitar. Guitar had always given him solace in his loneliness. He was thinking about Naina, when his fingers unconsciously began strumming the guitar. The melody coming out spelt sorrow and angst. He did not realize when he'd started singing about his loneliness. His eyes were closed, and his pain was reverberating in his music. When he finally stopped and opened his eyes, he saw that he wasn't alone. He was surrounded by a crowd- there were so many students around him. Lochan sir and Ajay sir (the music teacher) were also present. Sameer thought, "Now what! He's again in trouble. He got up hastily and murmured, "Umm sorry sir. Main bas try kar raha tha. Wo koi tha nahi room me to main permission nahi le paaya. Aage se aisa nahi hoga sir. Sameer had lowered his eyes to the ground. Finally Ajay sir spoke up, "Sameer, kabse gaa rahe ho tum? Sameer replied, a little surprised, "Yaad nahi sir, bahot saalon se guitar bajane ka aur gaane ka shauk raha hai. "Kya kashish hai tumhari aawaaz me, kitna dard hai tumhari dhunon me..., tum mein to kala koot koot ke bhari hai. Tumne kabhi music club join kyun nahi kiya? Bahot sundar beta! exclaimed Ajay sir. Sameer was astonished to hear Ajay sir praising him. Everyone was smiling and they started clapping. "Waah Sameer, natya kala ke sath tum me sangeet ki bhi pratibha hai! praised Lochan sir. "Sameer, kya tum hamare school ko inter-school music competition me represent karna chahoge? Main kabse dhundh raha hu lekin mujhe ab tak koi aisa chatra mila hi nahi jisme itni pratibha ho, enquired Ajay sir. For the first time in days, Sameer felt a little light. "Thank you sir, mujhe ye mauka dene ke liye, he replied. "Great, to main principal sir se keh kar tumhara naam bhijwa deta hu, said Ajay sir happily as the crowd dispersed.

Munna and Pandit got the wind of this news and they were happy for their friend. With pride, they declared the trending news in class. But for Sameer, it was only Naina's reaction which mattered. "Suno, suno...hamare apne hero, hamare apne Sameer ko inter-school music competition me hamare school ka pratinidhi chuna gaya hai..., they declared and the class applauded, that is, everyone except Naina. Naina didn't lift her head from her book, but Sameer knew she had heard. He had noticed it on her face for a fraction of a second and then she had again became stoic. While Munna and Pandit were blabbering, "Yaar Sameer ki aawaaz me jo soonapan tha, jo kashish thi...Ajay sir to bas dekhte hi reh gaye. All this while, Sameer's eyes were only on Naina. He knew she was listening. His reverie was interrupted by Kamya's shrill voice, "Wow Sameer, tum mere liye bhi guitar bajao na! she exclaimed, much to Sameer's irritation. "Wo Kamya, main guitar sirf apne special doston ke liye bajata hun...aur tumhe yaad hai na...maine tumhe bataya thi ki mera ek bahot khas dost hai. Wo mujhse rooth gaya hai. Is baar guitar maine sirf uske liye bajaya tha, he replied, not taking his eyes off Naina. Kamya made a face, while Sameer noticed Naina twitch. A glitter of hope came in his eyes. He knew the last time he'd spoken about his special friend to Kamya, he was thinking about Julia Roberts. But this time, it was only Naina who was in his mind. Sameer kept stealing glances at her throughout the day in school. And Naina, well, her mind was now racing- gaane me dard, was it a gimmick again or was he really sad being away from her? She somehow knew; that she was the special friend he was telling Kamya about. How, she didn't know- but her senses had told her.

That night also, Sameer called her up. Her heart prompted her to answer, but her mind decided against it. Sameer, dejected as usual, said Good night to his ladylove's photograph and went to sleep clutching it in his hand.

The coming Saturday, Sameer was up and about early. Nanu could hear him playing guitar in his room. He went up to him. "Hmmm, lagta hai heroine abhi bhi hamare hero se roothi huyi hai, haina? said Nanu in his matter of fact tone. Sameer looked up, "Arey Nanu, aap kab aaye he replied, his face devoid of the cheer that Nanu loved. "Beta, kya hua, bata...kya Naina ab bhi naraaz hai? he asked. Sameer nodded his head slightly. "Hmm, tera ye sad wala music, udaas wala chehra...beta himmat mat haar. Ye mohabbat itni aasaan hoti to baat hi kya thi. Sameer, agar pyaar saccha ho na to do pyaar karne walon ke milan me bhagwan bhi maddad karte hain. Suddenly Sameer was overcome with emotion and guilt. He hugged his Nanu, "Arey beta...bas bas. Nanu patted his forehead. He could hear Sameer sobbing. "Mummy, main bahot bura hun. Maine uska bahot dil dukhaya hai. Wo mujhe kabhi maaf nahi karegi, Sameer stammered. "Nahi beta, tu dukhi mat ho. Mera dil kehta hai wo zarur maaf karegi tujhe, consoled Nanu. "Nahi Nanu..., started Sameer and confessed all about the bet to him- how he had misled Naina, how he had tried to play with her emotions. And in the end, how heartbroken she had been, while he had realized his own feelings were genuine. Nanu became very formal after listening to all this. "Sameer, aaj pehli baar mujhe tera nana kehlane par naaz nahi hai. Beta koi aapke saath bura kare ya acha- ye koi tareeka nahi tha Naina ya kisi bhi aur ladki ya fir kisi bhi insaan se badla lene ka. Maana galti ho gayi usse, to kya. Galti to tune bhi bahot ki hain. Sameer knew his Nanu was extremely disappointed with him for the first time in his life. But Sameer knew he deserved all of this. Nanu thought for a while, "Sameer, agar tum us ladki se pyaar na bhi karte, phir bhi uska dil todna galat tha. Bilkul galat. Par mujhe is baat ki khushi hai ki kamse kam tujhe is galti ka ehsaas hai aur tu ise sudharne ki koshish kar raha hai. Lekin is galti ko sudharne me main teri maddad nahi karunga. Tujhe khud hi sab sahi karna hai. Bas himmat mat haarna beta. Koshish karte rehna. Main us ladki ko udaas nahi dekhna chahta, na hi tujhe. Nanu got up with this. "Haan lekin khud aise rondu chehra banayega to ladki ko kaise manayega? Nanu added as he was at the door. Sameer nodded, smiling a bit, wiping tears from his eyes.  

Later that afternoon, Sameer took his bike and went towards Naina's home. He just wanted to catch a glimpse of her. Though it was not that cold, Sameer was wearing the sweater his sweetheart had knit for him. He was waiting outside, when he saw Preeti and Naina come down the stairs; shopping bags in their hands. Naina was perennially upset these days, while Preeti was chattering about. Suddenly Naina's gaze fell upon Sameer. She was surprised to see him there at this time of the day and in a sweater- her sweater, the one she had knit for him. Why was he wearing it now? She shrugged these thoughts from her mind, and averted her eyes from his pleading gaze. Both girls went to the market. Sameer followed on his bike.  Preeti and Naina were waiting at a shop, "Yaar ye mummy hamesha humein hi gehu piswane ka kaam kyun de deti hain! Preeti was complaining.  Sameer saw them and came up and stood besides Naina. Both girls turned to look at him. "Ye yahan kya kar raha hai? whispered Preeti to Naina. "Mujhe kya pata, replied Naina, irritated now. Sameer's eyes were constantly on Naina. Suddenly, he shouted, "maaf karna...!eyeing Naina and then added to the shopkeeper, "bhaiya- ye gehu pisne ka kitna lete ho? He didn't pay heed to the answer as Naina had turned to look at him for a second.  "Maaf karna bhaiya, aur ye bajri ka...maaf karna bhaiya ye jowar ka... Sameer kept on reiterating maaf karna' eyeing Naina. Preeti said, "bada ajeeb hai ye...chod tab tak paani puri kha ke ate hain. Naina and Sameer's eyes locked one more time and then Naina looked away. "Aapko kuch piswana bhi hai ya sirf rate hi puchte rahoge, the shopkeeper remarked, now visibly irritated at Sameer. "Maaf karna bhaiya! Agli baar! he replied as he raced towards the chaat stall. There, Preeti was forcing Naina to have paani-puris, but she didn't seem interested. "Arey yaar ye fir se aa gaya! Preeti was pissed, as Naina looked at Sameer. "Tum hamara peecha kyun kar rahe ho, Preeti asked. "Kyun atta piswane aur paani-puri khana sirf tum log hi kar sakte ho kya? he snapped back, making a face at Preeti. "Lagta hai tumhare dimag me kuch gadbad hai, tabhi to garmi me sweater pehna hai, she retorted. "Dimag me nahi, gadbad to dil me hai, he murmured, loud enough for only Naina to hear. "Kya kaha? Preeti demanded. "Tumse kuch nahi kaha! he replied with a smug face. Naina and Sameer again looked at each other. This time, Sameer's gaze was hopeful. But Naina turned away in anger again. "Uhh, bhaiya, ek meethi wali paani-puri banayenge kya? he asked the chaat wala. "Kabhi bolta hai teekhi do, meethi ladkiyan khaati hai, fir khud meethi maangta hai...iska pakka screw dheela hai, whispered Preeti to Naina. "Ummm... Naina...tum khaogi kya, suddenly Sameer asked, moving his plate towards her. "Mujhe paani-puri nahi pasand, na meethi, na teekhi, she responded, indignant now. "Chal Preeti...atta lekar ghar chalte hain, she added and both girls left the place. Sameer was left staring at her, plate in hand; the paani puri now starting to sog in the water.

As soon as the girls were back inside their room, Preeti locked the door and demanded, "Kya tha ye? Kya chal kya raha hai? Wo Sameer tujhe ched raha hai kya? Pareshaan kar raha hai? Jhagda hua hai firse tum dono ka? "Kuch to bol Naina! she added, as Naina maintained her silence. "Kuch nahi Preeti, ignore kar use, she replied as Preeti kept on prodding her. "Wo tujhe pareshan kar raha hai to bol...hum Rakesh tauji ko bolte hain aur principal se uski shikayat karwate hain. Preeti was concerned now. "Nahi nahi! Naina spoke, shocked at her own defense of Sameer. "Wo pareshan nahi kar raha hai. Hum dono ke beech ka masla hai, hum dono suljha lenge. Tu please beech me mat pad, Naina added, in an effort to pacify Preeti. She was still broken and angry at Sameer, but her heart was still soft on him. She did not want anything to do with him anymore, but she didn't want someone to be hurt for no fault of theirs. The phone calls that night too went unanswered. And there, Sameer slept wearing her sweater and with her photo in his hand.