Nupur was an early riser. She quickly woke up as soon as the rays of the sun pierced her delicate eyes. She quickly got up and went towards her dressing table, and looked at herself in the mirror. She gave one glance at herself. Her eyes were swollen and red, as a result of all the crying she had done last night. Her hair was tied into a ponytail, her skin looked pale. She looked towards the end of her room, and spotted one suitcase right there.

She again looked at herself, and heaved a sad sigh. She touched her face with her hands, which felt rough against the soft skin of her face.

"Are you ready for this, Nupur?" She questioned herself.

She surely wasn't ready, but she knew that there was no other way. She quickly got dressed, and took her suitcase, and silently moved out of her room. For the first time in her life, she felt grateful that she and her sister Gunjan, now had different rooms. She surely couldn't have sneaked out so easily, if Gunjan and she had shared the same room. Gunjan had always caught her. Whether she were cheating in a test, or lying to her family, Gunjan always knew what's up with her older sister. Though Nupur was older, Gunjan acted more like the mature one. She was too sensitive and emotional at times, but at the same time, she was really supportive. She supported her sister in everything. As Nupur walked past Gunjan's room, she noticed that the door was ajar. There she saw her little sister, sleeping comfortably, probably dreaming about the love of her life, her Samrat. Nupur felt the constant urge to go in and kiss her sister goodbye, but she knew that if she did anything, she would simply break down. It was hard enough for her already. She quickly took out a piece of paper, and began scribbling something in it. She then slowly went inside Gunjan's room, and placed it beside her, and then went away from there. She could already feel the tears streaming down her eyes. She knew this wasn't right, but at this stage, she was too tangled up to know what's right and what's wrong.

                                                     ********

At around 9-30 am, Gunjan woke up from her sleep, all smiling. She stretched herself once, and then fiddled around her bedside table, to look for her spects. She wore them, and then smiled to herself.

"I love you so much Samrat" She said to herself.

Gunjan slowly got up from her bed, and went and got dressed. As she came out of the washroom, she noticed a small piece of paper on her bed. She looked around here and there, thinking it was one of Samrat's pranks, and she quickly took hold of it. She opened the letter, all excited to read it, but was simply dumbfounded when she read what was written in it.

 

"First of all, Good Morning my dearest sister. I'm sure tu Samrat ke meethe meethe sapne dekh rahi thi, isiliye itni der se jaagi. Khair, mujhe usse koi shikaayad nahi hai. Infact, ab kabhi nahi hogi, kyonki mein jaa rahi hoo. Yes Gunjan, I'm going away. As per the deal, I tried thinking of the better side of this marriage, but all I could conclude was that, I don't know what to say yaar Gunjan. You know I love mamma and papa, and you so much, but even I have some dreams. I just can't let them break because of some stupid conservative guy, who wants to marry me and spend rest of his life, ruining two completely innocent lives. I know Gunjan that you might be crying right now, but trust me, this was the toughest decision ever to make. On one side, I have my whole life, and on the other, some stupid stranger. You just weigh the options Gunjan, tu meri jagah hoti, to tu kya karti?Anyway, you please be happy with Samrat. Enjoy your life, while I enjoy mine. Love you so much my silly but sweet sister, and I'm really gonna miss you the most. Trust me, I'm unable to control my tears right now, but I have to do this. Give my love to mamma and papa.

Yours lovingly,

Nupur."

Gunjan's eyes were now sore and red. She stood there, standing, reading the letter over and over again. She quickly reached for her cellphone, and could only think of one person whom she could really talk to.

"Hello Samrat?"
"Ha Bolo meri chashmish, kya hua?"

"S-samrat" Gunjan managed, her voice breaking.

"Gunjan, kya hua?" Now sounding really tensed.

"Samrat, tum please mujhse abhi ke abhi caf me milo. Please Samrat, jaldi aana."

Samrat didn't say anything and quickly hung up, and left from his house immediately.

Gunjan sat down in one corner, crying her heart out.

"Di, please waapas aa jaao. Please."

                                                ************

Nupur walked up to the ticket counter, only to find a huge line right there.

N- Come on yaar, yeh line khatam kyon nahi hoti! Mujhe abhi issi waqt yahaa se nikalna hai, isse pehle ki Gunjan mujhe dhoondne ke liye yahaa pohoch jaaye.

Just then, and man walked up to join the line, and stood behind Nupur. She slightly pushed her, which irritated the already irritated Nupur.

She turned around angrily, but on seeing the guys expression, she simply kept quiet. She again turned to look in the front, watching the slowly moving line.

 

                                              ************

 

At The Sharma house, Mayank's mom just woke up. As a customary, she walked up to Mayank's room only to find it empty, everything neatly arranged in its place. She slowly walked up to his cupboard, and opened it, only to find it completely empty. She simply sighed.

Mayank's Mom- Kyon Mayank, kyon!

                                           

                                             *************

In the caf, Samrat had Gunjans hands in his, as she continued to cry. He slowly patted her hands, and with one of his finger, raised her head so her could look into her eyes.

S- Please chashmish, rona band karo.

G- Kaise Samrat, kaise?

S- Dekho Gunjan, mein jaanta hoo ki tumhareliye ye bohot mushkil hai, lekin, tum meri baat to samjho.

G- Kya samjhu mein Samrat? Di ne aisa kyon kiya?

S- Gunjan, I think ki Nupur ne job hi kiya, bilkul sahi kiya. After all, wo bechaari thodi na apni puri life sacrifice kar degi, wo bhi uss insaan ke liye, jisse wo kabhi mili bhi nahi hai. This is unfair na Gunjan? Aur Nupur to badi hai, wo apnaa khyaal to rakh hi sakti hai. Mujhe lagta hai ki usne bhaagkar bilkul sahi kiya hai.

Gunjan just stared at Samrat.

G- Tum aisa keh bhi kaise sakte ho Samrat? Mamma aur papa to Di ke liye hamesha sahi cheez hi to karenge. Aur Mayank bhi ek bohot achcha ladka hai. Mein mili thi usse. Wo Di ke liye perfect tha.

S- Achcha, aur agar yahi rishta tumhareliye aaya hota, to kyat um is rishtey ko haa kar deti?

Gunjan had no reply to this. Samrat was right. Maybe Nupur did the right thing by running away. Maybe this would be the ultimate turning point in her sister's life. After all, Destiny plans something for everyone!

 

 

Thank you. Hope you liked it. Please do comment.

Precap: Mayank and Nupur traveling in the same bus to Mumbai, and Gunjan and Samrat tell their family that Nupur ran away.