Chapter 2

_Kriya_

@Kriya00004

Part 2

After shooting a session, Sanjana waved her hand. “We will stop here for today la.”

“But Sana, there is more ……” Her agent eagerly said.

“Stop here.” Sanjana said firmly, then turned to speak to Monami, “We will go for a cup of coffee.”

“Itne saalo baad, itna long awaited reunion, jana toh drink k liye chahiye, but unfortunately recently, there is something wrong with my stomach so there is no choice but to drink coffee.”

“Uh, a cup of coffee is good, or you should drink milk.” Monami did not know what to say. There are too many things she wanted to ask but did not know where to begin.

“Health is very important so dieting should be done in moderation.” Monami tried to find a neutral topic.

“Main diet nahi karti hoon.." Sanjana smiled faintly. “I’m an alcoholic.”

“Sanju!” Monami was shocked by her friend’s mistreatment of her own body. She anxiously reached out to take her hand. Why did Sanjana become like this?

Sanjana reflexively pushed away the hand, Monami was stunned, the atmosphere turned awkward and quiet.

“Tum kaafi badal gayi ho..You’ve changed a lot.” After awhile, Monami said softly.

“Yes, do you still remember my crush when we in first year of college?” Sanjana spoke of her own story coldly. “One day, I told him I liked him, he accepted, but he did not love me. After that, Sanjana died, I am now Sana.”

Sanjana’s words were like carvings into the heart. Monami felt distressed and was not able to ask anything else.

After a while, Sanjana coldly mocked: “Par tum nahi badli... Abhi bhi waisi hi hypocrite ho.. displaying insincere affection. Tumhara wapas yahan aane ka mann kaise kia from the glittering  United States ah?”

Her words somewhat hurt Monami but thinking about it, after all, she was in the wrong first. That year, she left without a word and did not keep in touch for seven years so she was the one who did not value their friendship. “At that time, I left in a hurry ……”

“You do not need to say that to me.” Sana interrupted her. “You should say those words to Karan.”

Karan? How come he is mentioned? Monami remembered that day he and Sakshi behaving like a couple at the supermarket: “I think he does not care ……”

“Does not care? Do you think everyone is like you, so unfeeling and heartless?” Sanjana’s voice became agitated, “The first few days jab tum kahi nahi dikhi.. woh pagalo ki tarah tumhe yahan wahan dhoondhta raha.. that guy..he nearly went crazy.  Phir jab nahi mili.. toh aakhir me woh roj hostel k neeche aake khada ho jata tha . Warden dekh na le.. iss reason se chhup kr tumhari ek jhalak ka intezar karta tha? But kya mila usse aakhir me..."  Sanjana’s eyes coldly accused her. “A few people came and took all your stuff away. Then, they told him and us that you have gone to the United States and may never come back.”

“Monami, you were really cruel.” Sanjana paused and said, “Main woh waqt kabhi nahi bhool sakti uss waqt Jis tarah Karan dikh raha tha... he looked like a person falling off a cliff, his face dark and empty, extremely despair until people could not bear to see. He is such a proud person but to actually look like that  ……”

Monami listened until she was muddleheaded. Did that really happen?

“Maybe he felt guilty ……”

“Monami Mahajan, jisne uski aisi haalat Kari jo chhodkar US gayi woh tum thi.. so the one feeling guilty should be you.”

“Sanjana, tum samjhti nahi ho.."

“I have eyes to see.”

Monami stopped talking. Everyone thinks that she was the one who abandoned him. That’s clearly not true!

Definitely, he was the one who said …… he said he did not want to see her again. He said he would rather he has never known her. He asked her to go the farther the better ……

Definitely, it was him!

*****

After saying goodbye to Sanjana, Monami walked in the streets in early summer, Sanjana’s words still rang in her ears.

“He has always been single …… Sakshi.. Shergill?  Woh toh uski bhn hai na.."

They surprisingly did not get together? Then why did she leave during that time?

Then, why did he say those words?

She spread out her palm, a piece of paper with the address of ‘S&S Law Firm’ laid in her palm.

Sanjana said: “Maybe you need this.”

She did not specifically come here, but she was just passing by. Before she knew it, she was already standing in ‘S&S Law Firm‘.

The receptionist smiled apologetically: “Lawyer Shergill is not in the firm. Do you have an appointment?”

Monami was not clear if she felt disappointed or relieved. “No.”

“Do you have anything important? I can help you to convey to him or ……” The receptionist looked at the clock on the wall, “You can wait as Lawyer Shergill should be back soon.”

“Oh, no need, I will come again.” Monami walked away then turned back. “This is Lawyer Shergill’s wallet. Please help me to return it to him, thank you.”

An outcome not so bad!

As the fate was shallow, no wonder the love was not deep.

*****

“Monami, ek baat btao.. tumhe India me kaam karne me aur abroad me kaam karne me kya difference nazar aaya..?" It was nearly time to go home so the workers had no motivation to work, while chatting a colleague suddenly asked this.

“Uh.” Monami looked around and saw the boss was not in, “Wahan par logo ki salary jyada hoti hain.."

“haan yeh toh hain..par kab humari kismat aisi ho ki hame wahan jaane ko mila?" The colleagues said..

"Kabhi jo sochte acha h woh itna acha nahi hota.." Monami whispered when she remembered her initial days in abroad.

“kya hua.. Did you experience any discrimination there?”

“well not much... but kahi kahi misconception hain”

“There was the time..  Once in front of all of my colleagues, my former boss said that India is not hospitable.. they are always only in their own... Jab yeh suna toh bahut gussa aaya and so I immediately pointed at the old man’s nose and said "jaante kyon India ke baare me Agar hum hospitable nahi hote then European countries ko 200 saal tak kya ek din bhi na rehne dete aur sirf apne logo k sath toh baat kro hi na.. ab humari galti nahi hai that humari India me itne different cultures h..and hume woh saare achhe lagte h.. Jo aapki country me cultures h woh humari country me bhi h and jo nahi h woh bhi h.. toh hum phr doosro kyon dekhe.."

“That’s how to do it! How fierce!” The colleagues kept clapping their hands, praising her continuously and then together asked her: “Later, what excuse was used to fire you?”

“……” Monami did not know whether to laugh or cry, “why should talk about that unpleasant days.."

"Tell us.."

"I was so frustrated one time that maine usse Hindi me jor se chilla kar gaaliyan de di.."
"And my bad luck there was one more Indian who was also that boss pet and he told him what I said.."

"What did u say? " One of colleague asked in curiously..

"He was bald but he didn't like people calling him bald.. So maine jor se chilaya "oyee Takle.."

“Ack!” A colleague laughed so hard and spit out tea. "Sachi.."

"Of course not.. I myself resigned.." bas wapas desh aana tha..

In the midst of loud laughter, someone called out: “Monami, someone is looking for you.”

Monami turned around, and Chitra  also known as——hash tag girl and a busybody, walked over. “In the #reception room, there is #someone very #handsome, very #cool and very #masculine.  He obviously looks like a $young and #talented urban elite with a #successful professional career. #Monami,  tum abhi abroad aayi ho aur itni jaldi #itne achhe ladke se #kaisi mili.."

If Chitra’s words can be believed, pigs can also fly in the sky. Usually, her words should be taken at less than their value, no, more like half of their value.

*******

Monami was very curious, she had just returned home without hardly meeting anyone, who would look for her?

She never thought it would be him!

The handsome man standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the reception room with his back to her turned out to be Karan. When he heard the door open, he turned around, looked at her with cold eyes, completely indifferent and without any emotions.

Finally, Chitra did not exaggerate. Indeed, he was extraordinarily handsome and impressive looking. His tailored and body fitting suit accentuated his tall and straight figure. He looked just like before, full of confident, calm and collected, but also with something like aloofness that made people uncomfortable.

She was left totally speechless.

In contrast, he looked cool and calm, nodded his head to greet her. “Miss Mahajan.”

Miss Mahajan?

Monami really wanted to smile, but it was just too difficult. “kar …… Mr.”

Gesturing to a chair, Monami said: “Please sit down.”

She took out the tea leaves and looked down to conceal her expression. She was unable to look indifferent like him so she can only hide her stirred up emotions. “What do you want to drink?”

“Thank you, no need.” His eyes were cold. “Mujhe bas kuch kehna hai.. After that, I will leave immediately.”

“Oh,  you came to see me ……tumhe kaise pata main yahan par hoon?" 

He paused for five seconds before speaking. “It is Sanjana, I am her lawyer.”

“What is the matter ah?”

His tone of voice appeared to be chilly. “Miss Mahajan3 din phle aap mere law firm aayi thi.. and kaha tha you would come back later.. lekin aap nahi aayi.. so I have no choice but to personally come here to pay you a visit.”

Monami was surprised, raised her head and met his luminous eyes. “Tumhe kaise pta” She did not leave her name so how did he know she was the one who returned his wallet?

“Miss Mahajan, I can reason like any normal person.” He said mockingly.

Probably those who are lawyers also have this kind of  ‘ability to reason like a normal person.’ Monami stared at a wall. “Main wahan sirf tumhara wallet lautane gayi thi.. aur jab tumhe woh already mil gaya toh tumhe yahan ki bewajah trip karne ki jarurat nahi thi.."

Karan‘s eyes flashed. “Wallet lautane ke alawa koi aur koi reason nahi tha tumhara wahan aane ka? "

What other matter? Monami was in a daze. “Nahi iske alawa aur koi reason nahi tha "

“Very good.” There seemed to be a trace of disappointment in his eyes. He walked and stood in front of her. “Par mera yahan aane ka ek reason hai.."

He took out the black wallet and put it in front of her. “Inside the wallet, it was supposed to have a photo. Miss Mahajan, do you know anything about that?”

Silence

Of course. Monami lowered her head. “Really? Maine dhekha nahi"

“Oh? The inside of the wallet had nothing but money. Thus, how did Miss Mahajan know it was my wallet?”

Monami was dumbstruck and unable to reply. She almost forgot he is a lawyer, someone good at spotting all the loopholes in other people’s words. Want to deceive him, it would be best to realize one’s own capability first.

He half rose out of his chair. “Miss Mahajan, kya aap woh photo mujhe wapas lauta sakti hain?"

Suddenly, Monami felt baffled. What did he mean? On one hand, he put on a ‘you are a stranger’ look, yet on the other hand asked for her photo.

“The person in the photo is me so why should I give it to you?”

“Miss Mahajan, I advise you not to discuss ownership legality with a lawyer.” Karan said coldly.

Monami was discouraged as she was not familiar with Karan like this and unable to deal with it. “Woh photo iss waqt mere pass nahi hain.."

“Give it to me tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow, I have ……”

“Miss Mahajan!” Karan interrupted her, “I think hum dono ek doosre se jyada contact nahi rakhna chahte hai.., so behtar aapke aur mere liye yehi hoga ki we end this quickly.”

End this quickly? Monami was silent for quite a while, “What do you want that photo for?”

“Who know?” Karan’s gaze darkened, “Maybe I want to keep it with me, to constantly remind me about that part of my stupid past.”

Stupid …… yes ah, so stupid! She even had some expectations.

Karan went ahead to make a decision. “I will come to get it tomorrow. If you do not have time, you can ask someone to pass it to me. Goodbye, Miss Mahajan.”

He moved forward to leave. When his hand was grasping the door handle, he heard Monami said from behind: “Wait …… kl.. tomorrow, I will send it over.”

“Good.” Karan turned around with a blank face. “Thank you for your cooperation, see you tomorrow.”

Monami, in a daze, looked at the back of the tall and straight figure walking away. Not that she had not thought what it would be like if they met again one day, but she did not expect they did not even have the affection to say “Long time no see.”

Really, stupid past ah?

*******

Monami stood in front of the bedroom mirror and looked closely at the woman facing her in the mirror.

If the short hair changed into long hair tied up in a ponytail. If the tanned skin became whiter. If she could still smile brilliantly without a worry …… most importantly, if the eyes could lose more than seven years of deep melancholy and be filled with innocence —— then she could become the Monami Mahajan who first started university and met Karan.

*****

“Karan, Karan ……”

“Karan, Karan ……”

She was not very clear how she managed to pursue Karan. Karan was even more unable to make head or tail of it. At that time, she just chased after him continuously. Finally one time, he could not stand it anymore and, with a straight face, asked: “Monami Mahajan, tum hamesha Mera picha kyon karti ho.. "

If now, she would probably be ashamed until unable to show her face!  However, back then, she was shameless so she opened her eyes widely and asked: “Karan, are you stupid or am I stupid? Of course tum toh bahut smart ho toh main hi stupid hoon.. bhagwan thoda akal dete mujhe.. itni failure kaise bana diya mujhe? Ki itna chase kiya maine.. phir bhi isse nahi pata chala main kya karna chahti hoon.."

She remembered Karan was dumbstruck and speechless for a long time. Later, when he mentioned about this, he laughed and also angrily said that he wanted to use the questioning tone to make her feel ashamed. But who could foresee in this world, there would be such a shameless little girl, in the end he was the one ashamed.

Thus, the outstanding student at that time in the department of Law, after reacting slowly, unexpectedly can only stammer: “I don’t intend to find a girlfriend in university.”

At that time, she was too simple because she was not aware that it was just an excuse so in a spurt of energy asked: “Then I will stand in line right now and wait for you to graduate from university. I will be given priority, right?”

Facing such a stubborn opponent, the future lawyer and also best debater surrendered. He quickly ran away after saying out loud: “I have to go to class.”

She certainly was not discouraged by this. Before she could think of a better plan, she unexpectedly heard someone in the university said: “Maine suna hai jo law faculty ka sabse handsome and best student h na uski girlfriend h.. naam.. Monami Mahajan..no she is not from law department.."

After hearing that, she immediately ran to the self-study classroom, found Karan and hastily clarified: “sach bol rahi hoon maine koi rumours nahi failaye.. You have to believe me.”

Karan looked up from his book, with a clear and bright expression, said: “I know.”

She foolishly asked: “tumhe kaise pata?”

Karan answered with a calm expression: “kyonki main woh person hoon jisne yeh rumours start kiye...”

Finally, it was her turn to be stupefied. He calmly explained: “I have thought about it. If three years later, you are destined to be my girlfriend, I might as well exercise my rights earlier.”

*****

Oh! That time ah!

The mouth of the person in the mirror curved up slightly, but the smile had not reached her eyes before it quickly disappeared.

Monami walked onto the balcony, her mind in confusion. Looking at the bright moon and stars, tomorrow should be a good day.