|OS: All over again|

Hugging herself as a shield from the cold February air,Khushi sat on the cot in the Gupta House garden.Bringing her knees closer to her chest she looked above at the twinkling stars.Sixty minutes,sixty minutes to complete one year.One year since the day he had marked her as his.One year since those burning eyes had forged a relation with her teary ones.

_

Arnav opened the glass door,letting the sharp biting air hit his light grey rubgy pullover.He glanced at the pointed pieces of silver in his palm,each one carved out in the shape of a star.Taking a deep breath he looked up,through the deep mist he could still make out the bright stars shining softly above.

He heard the alarm clock on the table tick simultaneously with his heart beats.The dull thudding in his chest was the only hint of the organ being alive.

He leaned against the glass door and looked over at his blackberry on the glass coffee table.

Should he?

_

She took a quick look at her mobile by her side.The house was in silence as Amma,Babuji and Buaji had to urgently leave for a relative's place,the afternoon before.

''Huh!!''she finally uttered ''Stop glaring at me''She told the stars.

''I wasn't thinking of him ok?I am just waiting to call jiji and jijaji and wish them!!''

She fought with no one in particular,claiming that she didn't care if he existed or not.

_

''Are you sure about this?''

Payal uncertainly asked Akash as they stood in the Raizada Mansion garden and looked over at the beautifully decorated silver gazebo which shone with a sliver of moonlight falling on it.

''More than sure.''Akash smiled,holding Payal's hand and gently squeezing her fingers.

She looked at him lovingly,the reassuring eyes calming her down with a sense of hope.She rested her head on his shoulder,each one of them remembering those little moments which had made their first year so special.

But more than that Payal and Akash thought about their own siblings-her overcharged lively sister and his calm yet sometimes hot-headed brother.

''Had they not been there,we wouldn't be together now.''Payal whispered as Akash smiled sadly.

He knew how much his brother loved Khushi-even though he had never voiced his feelings.He knew that when Arnav's hesistant voice had asked him to take care of her.

Payal had seen Khushi fret like she had never done for anyone before.Since childhood Khushi had never gone through a phase when she hadn't smiled for weeks.But during Arnav's absence she had seen another side of her sister.

So,it had come as a huge shock to both Payal,Akash and both the families when the truth came out.Payal had felt like screaming at herself for being so rude to the sister who had given up her own happiness for her.Not one family member could believe that Arnav and Khushi's marriage had been fake.Each could see the raw longing and love in their eyes and yet those stubborn creatures had refused to listen.

Khushi had gone back to her independance and Arnav had gone back to his laptop and deals.Akash and Payal couldn't bear to see them like this-killing themselves with loneliness and yet refusing to bridge the distance.

And today,one year later they had decided to give back the same love to their siblings.

_

He finally went over and picked up the blackberry with a sigh.His gaze lingered on her name on the contact list.Taking a deep breath Arnav Singh Raizada placed his thumb on the green button and pressed it.

_

''Chalo maiya ke bhawan bhawan bhawan,

Chalo maiya ke bhawan bhawan bhawan''

The sound pierced through the silence as Khushi looked at the flashing screen.Her hands shivering,she picked it up and gazed at his name blinking repeatedly.

Should she press the red button,like she always had over the past few months?

Fifty minutes were still left.

Taking a deep breath she pressed the green button and led the mobile to her ear.

_

Without a single word from the other side,Arnav could make out her short breaths echoing down the line.

''Khu..''

He couldn't.Before he could speak out her name,his throat constricted up.For the first time tears flowed down his eyes so willingly.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwpRo9LAljI[/YOUTUBE]

Mein Yahaan Tu Wahan, Zindagi Hai Kahaan
Tu Hi Tu Hai Sanam Dekhta Hun Jahan
Neind Aati Nahi, Yaad Jaati Nahi
Bin Tere Ab Jeeya Jaye Na
Mein Yahaan Tu Wahan Zindagi Hai Kahaan

She heard him crying and broke down herself,not able to control herself.How she wished she could go and comfort him.

She just held onto the mobile and poured out the pain which had rivetted her heart each time she had rejected his call.

Waqt Jaise Theher Gaya Hai Yahi, Har Taraf Ek Ajab Udasi Hai
Bekarari Ka Aisa Aalam Hai, Jism Tanhaa Hai, Ruh Pyaasi Hai
Teri Surat Ab Ek Pal Kyu Nazar Se Hat Ti Nahi
Raat Din Toh Kat Jate Hai, Umra Tanhaa Kat Ti Nahi
Chaha Ke Bhi Na Kuch Keh Saku Tujhse Main
Dard Kaise Karu Main Bayaan
Main Yahaan, Tu Wahan, Zindagi Hai Kahaan

For two people who couldn't stay away from bantering Arnav and Khushi remained silent for the rarest times in their lives.

So much to say and yet nothing they could voice.

Both listened to the sobs and the silent tears on the other side,holding the phone so close that they could almost feel like they were standing next to each other.

How could he explain the large vaccum she had left?

How could she explain the lonely nights she had spent crying on her pillow?

Jab Kahin Bhi Aahat Hui, Yuh Laga Ke Tu Aagayaa
Khushboo Ke Jhoke Ki Tarah Meri Saanse Mehka Gaya
Ek Woh Daur Tha, Hum Sada Paas The
Ab To Hai Faasle Darmiyaan
Main Yahaan Tu Wahaan, Zindagi Hai Kahaan

He closed his eyes imagining her shyly tucking a wisp of her hair behind her ear.

Beeti Batein Yaad Aati Hai
Jab Akela Hota Hun Main
Bolati Hai Khamoshiyaan, Sabse Chupke Rota Hu Main
Ek Arsa Hua Muskuraye Huye
Aasuo Mein Dhali Daastaan

She imagined him sitting on the recliner,tapping away on his laptop.

Mein Yahaan TuWahan, Zindagi Hai Kahaan
Tu Hi Tu Hai Sanam Dekhta Hun Jahan
Neind Aati Nahi, Yaad Jaati Nahi
Bin Tere Ab Jeeya Jaye Na

_

''I should call her now''Payal finally got up and Akash nodded as she pressed the Call button.

A beep on her mobile startled Khushi and she gazed as Payal's name flashed with the call waiting sign.

With a deep sigh she cut his call and attended to her sister's

''Jiji?''

_

''Khushi I just..''

Arnav started out and then felt an unnerving silence from the other side.He looked at the screen-she had cut the call.

Maybe he was worth it,worth her silence.

He looked back at the stars,his voice cracking

''Ma,tell her to talk to me ..please..sh..she will listen to you..please Ma just tell..her to g..give me on..one chance...one chance''

He cried out in the drenched silence of the winter night.His mother just twinkled back,knowing exactly how he was going to end up.

_

He sat still on his recliner,going over the few strands of memories which still hadn't blurred.A soft knock at the door broke his train of thoughts.

Akash slightly opened the door and Arnav called out to him.

''Hey Bhai''

''Hey!''Arnav sat up and gave a slight smile ''So?All set for first anniversary?''

''Uhh ya Bhai twenty minutes left''

Twenty minutes.Arnav wasn't much into all these countdowns but today it struck him sharply.As if time was inching to a close,as if in twenty minutes everything was going to go still.

''Bhai?Can I ask you for a favour?''

''Uhh?Oh yeah!Sure Akash anything you want!''Arnav replied.

''Oh Ok Bhai!Thanks!umm I was wondering if you could come and see my gift for Payal?''

''Me?But Akash what will..''

''Bhai please?''Akash insisted.

''uhh Ok fine!''Arnav was confused ,he sure didn't have any experience at all when it came to anniversary presents or anything!Hell he hadn't even tied a ribbon before.Anyhow,he complied because it was Akash insisting.

_

''Jiji?''

Khushi kept an uncertain foot in the Raizada Mansion garden.When Payal had called up,she had sounded really worked up.Khushi hoped nothing had gone wrong between her and Akash.She wasn't willing at all to even step near Raizada mansion for obvious purposes.But Payal had to insist so much right on the eve of her own marriage and Khushi couldn't refuse as usual.

She had hurridly chosen to wear an Anarkali Payal had gifted her a long time ago.The light shade of red sparkled with the silver design on one corner of the dress.Except that the whole anarkali was bathed in an air of simplicity.She pulled the dupatta close to her body and looked around for her sister until her eyes met a sight which made her draw in her breath.

A beautiful gazebo stood in the middle of the lawn ,covered with fairy lights.The only decorations around it were creepers of jasmine snaking round the pillars.

Guessing that Akash had decorated all this for Payal,Khushi walked over the grass towards the Gazebo-enchanted with the fairytale aura it sent.

_

''Bhai you go,I will just check up on Payal.''

Arnav didn't question him and thinking of getting over with it,carried on.

_

She touched the soft petals of the jasmine flowers,breathing in the pungent smell.She contemplated over stepping on it and just seeing what it felt like to experience an anniversary present,something she would never get-not in a long while atleast.

''No Khushi!How can you even think?I should just go and check up on Jiji.She must be very tensed to sound like that!!''She battled with her emotions,like she had always done all over the years.

Turning away she squeezed her eyes shut,not wanting to steal her sister's pleasure.

''Umm ok only one chance promise!!''childishly she looked up at her Devi Maiyya and asked her for just a few seconds of happiness.She turned again and looked at the fairylights sprinkling light all around and slowly stepped on it.

She wondered what would have happened if she had really been happily married.Maybe,he would do something like this for her?

''Fat chances Khushi!He wouldn't even have seen Kuch Kuch Hota hai!Let alone copy the sequence''she babbled on.

But really,suppose she was dancing in here?Like the weird type of dance they usually showed in movies?

She awkwardly put her hand on the shoulder of an invisible man and the other slipping through fingers of air.

''Ok this is stupid and filmy but let me try it out''

Saying so,she twirled around the Gazebo-wishing she was in his arms right now.Her light arms felt like holding on to his strong ones.

_

Arnav walked over the grass,not really paying attention towards the Gazebo.His eyes suddenly caught some movement and immediately flitted over to a beautiful sight.

No,it couldn't be her.

But it was.

He couldn't believe his eyes as he proceeded towards the middle of the lawn,his eyes following her movements as she tried to dance around.Suddenly the lights felt softer,the beautiful gazebo just blurred out and Arnav could just make her out.Her ,in the light red Anarkali as it encircled everytime she twirled.

_

This was more beautiful than she had imagined.No wonder the actresses looked all blanked out in such situations!

She floated around on her feet imagining each single nagging worry lifting off her shoulders.Her smile slowly came back to where it had belonged.

As she took another turn,she stumbled awkwardly and then laughed

''You Khushi are slightly mad,as he always said!!''

A silence fell over her as she finally mentioned him.

Pagal hai,par cute hai.

Oh!How he wished he could just go and bluntly tell her that!

Arnav who had been gazing at this scene for a while,stepped forward.

She immediately turned with an expression of shock on her face.He bridged the gap between them and held her waist with one hand leading hers to his shoulder.

''But Jiji...''

''Sshh''he placed his finger on her lips and slid it down to her hand ,holding it firmly.

Spellbounded,she followed him as he directed her footsteps.One back,one forward and then a twirl.All this time he gazed into her eyes and spoke out all the sorries he had gathered over the days.

They danced to their own tune,maybe an invisible piano at that!

Khushi closed her eyes as he twirled her and then pulled her close into his arms.She could feel his breath falling on the crook of her neck,her heartbeats going wild.

Tears sneaked down her closed eyelids,creating a warm streak down her cold cheeks.As she breathed out,the water vapours rose up as wisps of mist.

She turned about in a sudden moment and buried her face among the creases of his warm sweater,sobbing lightly.He held her,trying to pass all the warmth he had into her body.

_

Payal smiled widely at Akash as they watched the scene froma distance.

''My lady ,now its my turn''

''Turn for what?Dancing?I thought you had two left feet?''Payal teased him.

''Nope.Better than that!''Akash pulled her into his arms and led her inside Raizada Mansion where a candle light dinner awaited them by the poolside.The same jasmine flowers and fairy lights adorning the area.

Payal sneaked a glance back at her sister and turned back in satisfaction.Finally,Khushi had got what she had deserved all along.

_

Her sobs quieting down,she looked up at him.

All the ticking clocks in the house came to a standstill-the hour hand slowing down at twelve.

Distantly the ringing of a temple bell could be heard.Call it coincidence,call it filmy or call it heavenly-Devi Maiyya had congratulated the couple in her own way.

''Happy Anniversay''He whispered.

Maybe it was time to fall in love all over again.