Chapter 10

Part 10: Sameer's punishment

On Sunday, Sameer was woken up with knocks on his door. He heard Nanu waking him up, "Arey Sameer, dekh to kaun aaya hai tujhse milne? Sameer woke up with a start, "Naina? failing to see the improbability of that happening. He opened the door and found Nanu standing with his mom. She was smiling down at him and became teary eyed as she saw Sameer. For the first time in ages, she hugged him. His mother's love. Sameer was too shocked to react. Was this again a dream? Kya mom sach me aa gayi? "I'm sorry beta..maine tumhe galat samjha, said Vishakha, tears shining in her eyes. Today her eyes held warmth for him, Sameer felt. "It's okay mom. Thanks aap aayi, he exclaimed, turning emotional too. "Kitne duble ho gaye ho tum Sameer...papa ye kuch khata peeta nahi hai kya? Vishakha started fussing around him. "Aur ye sweater kyun pehna hai? Itni thand to nahi hai...tumhari tabyat to theek hai na! "Arey wo Sameer ka special sweater hai, Nanu chipped in slyly. "Nanu!!! Sameer glared at him. "Arey gussa kyun ho raha hai...arey Vishakha wo Sameer ke khas dost ne diya hai ise, added Nanu, not in a mood to stop. He was enjoying teasing his grandson. "Nanu...please! requested Sameer, alarmed and embarrassed. "Special dost, kaun hai ye special dost? quizzed Vishakha. "Mom koi nahi hai. Nanu bas din bhar mujhe chedte rehte hain, lied Sameer. "Main naha leta hun, fresh hota hun...bye Nanu, bye mom Sameer scurried away before his mom could start prodding him with questions about the sweater. Vishakha eyed her father with curiousity, "Who? "Naina! replied an amused Nanu. "Naina? Wahi Naina? asked his mother, now amused too. "Hmm...bilkul wahi Naina! replied Nanu and explained Sameer's situation to Vishakha. Nanu pointed out to Naina's photographs on Sameer's wall and left, thouroughly enjoying himself now.

At dinner that evening, Vishakha told Sameer about how the telephone had got cut due to a technical problem the night before he'd left for Mount Abu, and how sad she'd felt that she could not wish him luck before that trip. Sameer remembered his anger, his reinforcing of the bet that night. How he had decided to stay away from all emotions and love- so that no one would have the power to hurt him. Angst welled up inside him at what he had done to Naina.

***

Much to Vishakha's surprise, Sameer was up and about early the coming morning. She looked over at her father and he simply said, "Naina!...Mandir ja raha hai. Aaj Somwaar hai na! Vishakha was stunned to see the change in her boy. Sameer left at 5.30 and waited for Naina at the temple. Naina reached the temple around 6. She was alone today. Chachiji and taiji had some work and had decided to come later. As she was about to climb the stairs, her eyes fell on Sameer- he was giving fodder to gai mata there. She remembered their first date and how they had done gai mata ki seva. Chalo, ek cheez to achi kar li isne, she was thinking when Sameer turned around and saw her. Their eyes met again. Sameer held his ears and said Sorry. She turned away her gaze. She was in pain. Why was he after her now? Did he really...? No, don't think about it anymore Naina. Determined, she went up the stairs for the darshan. Sameer did not follow her. "Dekha...nahi aaya, she thought to herself. A few minutes later, she heard the temple bell ring twice. Sameer had finally come up. He looked at her before he joined his hands in prayer and closed his eyes. He took the aarti that Panditji gave him. Naina looked at him in confusion. And then deciding against questioning him, she started to leave when her eyes fell upon the beautiful red rose kept in her aarti thali. She hadn't brought any flower with her today. Where did this come from? She looked at Sameer and he looked right back at her. She understood he had put it there. She felt angry and was about to throw it onto the ground, when Sameer stopped her, "Fekna mat, bhagwan ka aashirwad liya hai please! At this Naina stopped. "Naina, main jaanta hu, tum mujhe bahot gira hua insaan samajhti ho. Lekin sach me, mandir me khade reh kar main jhoot nahi bolunga. Main jaanta hun maine tumhare sath bahot galat kiya hai Naina. Ho sake to mujhe maaf kar do. Ek mauka aur de do please, he pleaded. Naina thought for a few moments, the rose in her hand. She then quietly put it on the statue of Lord Shiva and left the place, Sameer staring after her, his head hanging in despair.

As Sameer came back home to get ready for school, Vishakha called him, "Sameer, aa jao nashta ready hai! Sameer came and sat at the breakfast table, lost in thought. Nanu noticed Sameer's morose face and thought to himself, "lagta hai aaj bhi baat nahi bani. "Tumhare favourite aloo ke paranthe banaye hain maine, ye lo said Vishakha happily. Sameer looked up at her and then at the aloo parantha. He remembered Naina's disgust towards them. He stopped her from putting any paranthas on his plate, "main ab aloo parantha nahi khata mom...sorry...jaanta hu aapne mehnat ki par main ye nahi kha sakta, he said and got up from his chair to leave. Nanu consoled Vishakha, "beta wo ek alag daur se guzar raha hai. Use daantna mat. Use hamare sahare ki zarurat hai. Vishakha was left staring at her son.

***

As was routine, Naina was already in school. She wanted to focus as much as she could on her studies. She could not bear to face her family, especially Preeti and her piercing questions. She had lost control of her emotions these days and was afraid she might cry in front of them. She had not been able to forget Sameer. He had been her first love, her true love. But he had wronged her and she would have to live with that pain throughout her life, she thought. She knew Sameer came early too and she knew it was because he wanted to talk to her. She couldn't fathom why though. What was the need for the apology now? He had broken her heart. And he obviously didn't love her. As she was lost in these thoughts, she looked up and saw Sameer enter. His eyes were fixed on hers. He had lost that charming smile of his. How much ever she ignored, she found a melancholy on his face which unsettled her. Sameer spoke, breaking her chain of thoughts, "Naina, manta hun main bahot bura hun, lekin ek baar mujhe sab sach kehne ka mauka to do. Main... She silenced him, "please Sameer, mujhe pareshan mat karo... Sameer felt angry at his helplessness. Without thinking, he went to the teachers' table and took the wooden scale and put it in front of Naina. "Lo, maar lo mujhe, de do saza. Lekin please aise udaas mat baitho. Main tumhe aise udaas nahi dekh sakta Naina, he said. Naina ignored him. He felt even more helpless and angry. Suddenly, there was a loud tap which made Naina look up. Sameer was hitting his palm with the scale. His eyes wandered over to hers. Naina was shocked. Sameer hit himself again and again. Naina flinched. She knew the pain Sameer was feeling. But he kept on hitting himself hard, trying not to show the pain on his face.

(Mohabbat mohabbat mohabbat

Mohabbat mohabbat mohabbat

Saanso se nahin kadamo se nahin

Mohabbat se chalati hain duniya

Saanso se nahin kadamo se nahin

Mohabbat se chalati hain duniya... plays in background).

Munna and Pandit entered after a while and saw Sameer hitting himself with the scale. "Ye kya kar raha hai tu Sameer...pagal ho gaya hai kya? They shook him and made him sit down. But Sameer had eyes and ears only for Naina. Sameer sat down on the desk next to her and she couldn't help but glance at him. Was he hurt? He has to be. Sameer looked at his hand and consoled himself. This is his penance for hurting an angel like Naina. Naina saw his hand was now deep red. Her eyes turned moist. It must be paining a lot, she thought. And then as if jerked into present, she hardened herself. She doesn't care. Not anymore. Enough of his antics! Soon, the classes began. Naina could notice that Sameer was having difficulty in writing and most of the time, instead of paying attention in class, his eyes were on her. What was different was that, today, Naina too couldn't focus on lectures as she used to. She was observing Sameer through the corner of her eye. Somehow, his pain was getting to her.

***

The last period was free and Sameer was practicing in the music room, when Naina heard him sing. She couldn't help herself and looked inside. He was lost in his music. Despite whatever anger she nurtured for him now, she couldn't deny his talent. He was a really good singer. She heard the school bell ring and soon, the crowd ran outside. Sameer was interrupted by the bell. As he opened his eyes, he saw Naina at the door. Soon, the school fell silent. But the duo were staring at each other. Naina remembered her anger and made to leave, when she was stopped by the strumming of his guitar. She looked over at Sameer, who started singing, "Meri soni, meri tammanna...jhoot nahi hai...mera pyaar...deewane se ho gayi galti...jaane do yaaar...I Looovvveee Youuu...I Love You... She was shocked. Sameer was looking directly at her with an intensity she had never seen before in his eyes. And with that, she saw something else. His eyes were moist...with tears? Was it the pain of his hand or or...was he really...no...love...no he can't be...if he had loved her...he would not done all that he did...No...Naina was hurt again...tears started trickling down her cheeks. She ran away, unable to bear it anymore. Sameer's guitar fell silent and tears gushed out from his eyes.