Bunny: It’s from office.. I have to take this call.. You stay here ok..
Naina smiled.
Naina: Sure!
Meanwhile, Naina looked around admiring the garden.. when suddenly a music caught her attention.. a beautiful tune.. someone was playing a guitar and without thinking she pushed open the main door and stepped inside the huge house...
*****
The first step in the house.. and it took her breath away. It was indeed a palace from inside and outside. The white walls, the ceiling, the flowers and its beautiful chandeliers... For a moment Naina felt like entering the scenes of her novels.. Her eyes moved scanning the whole area.. Everything seemed so perfectly sculpted.. Bunny was right! This house.. or better say.. this castle.. was made of love and nothing else.. Naina looked towards the stairs and a smile curved on her lips.. She never saw Khushi.. but she could almost imagined her descending down the stairs, like a real princess at the arms of Arnav Singh Raizada. Though the eagerness to walk ahead.. to explore each corner.. she knew she had to wait for Bunny... The impatience.. the longing.. eating her each second.. She turned several times to look at the back of Bunny who was still on a call.. She closed her eyes and signed irritatingly when suddenly she heard the music again.. And this was enough to let her be defeated by her restless temptations.. Her steps slowly guiding her towards the melodic tune, Naina walked through the lavish living room and passed through another door till she found herself into a luxurious corridor..
By the side several doors till the end of the long hallway.. When she finally laid her hand on one of the doors, Naina just knew that this was the one.. She pushed open the door slightly, enough to peep inside the room.. A dark room.. with long golden curtains. She remembered Bunny telling her about his friend being a great artist.. and this room seemed to be the perfect atmosphere for the hidden artist in the mystery tycoon.. A deserted area with limited furniture.. In a corner.. some music instruments while the walls looked like to be completely the chef d’oeuvre of a professional artist.. From where she stood, she could see hidden behind a wooden wall a line of painting stands but to her misfortune all the paintings were covered.. The music echoing in her ears, her eyes searched for the owner of the tune and on her toes, she stepped into the room when she finally spotted a man.. in a white shirt and black pants...sitting on a high stool with his guitar in hand.. His back facing her, Naina was so lost in his tune that she jerked in shock when all of a sudden the music stopped. She rushed behind the wooden wall hiding herself.. while the man in white lifted his eyes to his new painting.. Behind the wall, she could see only his back and she stretched her neck in curiosity trying to catch a glimpse of what made him stop. And as her eyes fell on the most beautiful painting of the room, they shot wide open in awe.. It was beautiful.. In the only spotlight of the room.. a painting.. of a starry night, a full moon night and... an angelic face.. And all she could whisper to herself..
WOW.. this is the angel of his life...
*****
A smile curved on his lips as Arnav stared at his smiling Khushi... and he said sweetly..
ASR: What say? Pink or red...
He brought his hand to the palette by his side and was about to put his thumb into the red color when he suddenly stopped... lost in his memories..
Flashback
8 years back
ASR: Red
Khushi: Noo.. Pink..
ASR: I said red Khushi..
Khushi: But I want pink..
He naughtily brought his arm to her waist and pulled his teenage girlfriend to his chest..
ASR: I’m fed up of tasting pink.. let me taste my favorite color..
Khushi’s eyes popped out and she gulped her breath.. In a crowded market, A 17 year old Arnav cared no less of the glares on them.. Khushi looked around.. and wriggled in his arms...
Khushi: Arnav.. please leave me.. everyone is staring at us..
He smirked..
ASR: Red or kiss me now!
And she pouted angrily..
Khushi: Fine! Red!
She pulled back forcefully from his arm and walked away while with a smirk Arnav turned to the middle aged vendor..
Vendor: the red lip gloss..
Arnav smiled at him..
ASR: yes and the pink one also..
While the vendor packed the items, Arnav turned his eyes searching for Khushi and spotted her near the dupatta stall.. He smiled as he saw her excitedly trying a red dupatta.. When suddenly her eyes fell on him, she grimaced and pushed her tongue out like a kid while Arnav let a laugh...
Flashback Ends
He finally dipped his thumb in pink color and brought his hand to the painting.. Brushing his thumb on her lips, he smiled and said..
ASR: Perfect!
Staring at the painting.. Arnav finally closed his eyes with her voice humming in his ears and the flashes of his beautiful Khushi running in the forest...
Aa aa aa aa, aa aa aa aa
Aa aa aa aa, aa aa aa aa
And he brought his guitar back in position as he began playing his
Khushi’s favorite tune..
(Slow Music)
Flashback
Sitting under a tree, his guitar in his hand.. when suddenly Khushi
appeared from nowhere and hugged his neck..
(Fast Music)
Khushi pulled the guitar from his arms and laid her head in his lap as he began singing for her..
Ek ladki ki tumhe kya sunaaoon daastaan
What can I tell you about
(the story of) one girl
Ek ladki ki tumhe kya
sunaaoon daastaan
What can I tell you about
(the story of) one girl
Khushi
smiled at him lovingly...
Voh pagli hai sab se judaa
The crazy girl is different
from everyone
She
grabbed his collar and pulled him to her till her lips brushed his cheeks
innocently.
Har pal nayi uski ada
At every moment she has a
new style
He
picked a flower and placed it behind her ears...
Phool barse, log tarse jaaye voh ladki jahan
Flowers rain down, people
thirst, wherever that girl goes
and
she hugged him tightly..
Ek ladki ki tumhe kya sunaaoon daastaan
What can I tell you about
(the story of) one girl
Ek ladki ki tumhe kya
sunaaoon daastaan
What can I tell you about
(the story of) one girl
She
pulled her neck back and stared into his eyes.. His arms around her petite
figure.. their lips few inches away..
Voh pagli hai sab se judaa
The crazy girl is different
from everyone
Har pal nayi uski ada
At every moment she has a
new style
Phool barse, log tarse jaaye voh ladki jahan
Flowers rain down, people
thirst, wherever that girl goes
Ek ladki ki tumhe kya sunaaoon daastaan
What can I tell you about
(the story of) one girl
Ek ladki ki tumhe kya
sunaaoon daastaan
What can I tell you about
(the story of) one girl
(music)
Arnav
moved ahead till their lips met.. He held her possessively while her fingers
tugged into his hairs.. and they went lost into a long kiss..
Aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa,
She pulled from his hug and ran away shyly while Arnav ran after
her..
(music)
He finally held her wrist and she turned her eyes nervously
towards him.
aa aa aa aa
She lowered her gaze and he walked around her while singing...
Hai khafa to khafa, phir khud hi voh maan bhi jaati hai
If she's sulking she's
sulking, then she herself patches things up
He grabbed her and pulled her to his chest.. while she smiled
shyly hiding herself into his chest..
Laati hai honton pe muskaane voh
She brings a smile to her
lips
He forced her to look into his eyes.. and he pecked her lips..
Ho, chup hai to chup hai voh, phir khud hi voh gun gunaati hai
Oh, if she's silent she's
silent, then she herself hums
Gaati hai meethi meethi gaane voh
She sings sweet
sweet songs
She giggled and pulled back from his hold as she lurched around like a kid humming..
Oh oh oh oh oh oh, aa aa aa aa
She turned her gaze towards Arnav and stared at him..
Kaise kahoon kaisi hai voh
How can I say how she is
Bas apne hi jaisi hai voh
She is just like herself
alone
She smiled and ran into his arms..
Phool barse, log tarse jaaye voh ladki jahan
Flowers rain down, people
thirst, wherever that girl goes
Ek ladki ki tumhe kya sunaaoon daastaan - 2
What can I tell you about
(the story of) one girl
In his arms.. Her heartbeats raced.. her breath loud.. while
Arnav’s lips brushed her forehead.. her nose.. her cheeks.. His fingers dancing
on her arms.. her skin shivered under his touch.. and his lips bite her lower
lip..
(Soft Music)
Flashback Ends
He found himself in his dark room.. alone.. his Khushi’s touch
missing.. and he violently pushed on the guitar strings..
(Guitar Music)
He closed his eyes in agony.
Aa aa aa aa
His eyes welled up.. a tear rolled down his cheeks.. and he sang..
oblivious of the teary pair of eyes behind the wall.. holding her handy cam...
Aaj kal har voh pal beeta jo tha uske saath mein
These days, all those
moments I spent with her
Kya kahoon khwaabon mein aata hai kyoon
What can I say, why are they
coming in my dreams?
Ho, yaad jo aaye to usse bichhadne ki voh ghadi
Oh, if I remember that
moment of separating from her
Kya kahoon dil dukh sa jaata hai kyoon
What can I say, why does my
heart begin to pain?
Aa aa aa aa aa aa, aa aa aa aa
He placed his guitar down and stood from the stool.. Moving
towards the other painting stands..
Ab main kahin,
Now I am somewhere,
And
he began to un cover his other paintings one by one.. revealing different
paintings of his khushi.
voh hai kahin
she is somewhere
He stood near a painting.. and smiled tearingly at his Khushi
Par hai dua ae hamnasheen
But there is my prayer
He finally wiped off his tears and sang to the painting like
Khushi always liked it..
Phool barse, log tarse jaaye voh ladki jahan
Flowers rain down, people
thirst, wherever that girl goes
Naina
also wiped off her tears.. and smiled..
Ek ladki ki tumhe kya sunaaoon daastaan
What can I tell you about
(the story of) one girl
Ek ladki ki tumhe kya
sunaaoon daastaan
What can I tell you about
(the story of) one girl
Voh pagli hai sab se judaa
The crazy girl is different
from everyone
Har pal nayi uski ada
At every moment she has a
new style
Phool barse, log tarse jaaye voh ladki jahan
Flowers rain down, people
thirst, wherever that girl goes
Ek ladki ki tumhe kya sunaaoon daastaan
What can I tell you about
(the story of) one girl
Ek ladki ki tumhe kya
sunaaoon daastaan
What can I tell you about
(the story of) one girl
As
the song came to its end.. he whistled the tune while Naina lowered her handy
cam and closed her eyes silently praying for hope to see the light soon.. The
tune stopped and she jerked from her prayers when suddenly her handy cam was
snatched and thrown violently to crash on the floor.. Frozen in a state of shock.. she looked
fearingly into the eyes like furry of Arnav Singh Raizada.. His jaw tightened..
his fists clenched.. Anyone could imagined the anger of the angry man.. Naina’s
breath stopped while tears formed in her eyes..
ASR:
How dare you? How dare you stepped into my house?
His
furious words echoed in the room when at the same time Bunny’s steps halted in
front of the door.. and he exclaimed to himself in worry..
Bunny:
Oh shit!
Arnav
moved forward angrily while Naina stepped back in fear.. as she stammered...
Naina:
List... listen.. I’m sor...
Arnav
intervened her words.. and he barked mercilessly...
ASR:
You are finished.. I’ll ruined you.. you can be sure of that.. your career is
finished... you bloody reporters..
As
she heard him.. she breathed a sign of relief as she thought
Naina
thinks: Oh god.. he is thinking of me, a reporter...
..
and forgetting her fear.. she replied back..
Naina:
No no no no, you are getting me wrong Mr
Raizada.. I’m not a reporter.. I’m just the friend of...
And
the voice from behind completed her line..
Bunny:
mine!
Arnav
and Naina looked towards the door.. and Bunny entered the room in a hurry.. He
stood next to Naina as he said in one breath...
Bunny:
She’s right ASR, she is not a reporter.. she’s my friend.. remember I told
you.. the writer...
Bunny
faked a smile.. but Arnav knew these pleading eyes of his best friend... After
all since the last two weeks Bunny has been eating his brain about his new
found writer friend.. He signed irritatingly and said with a stern look..
ASR: Get her out of my house now...
Naina’s eyes popped out and one look at
Bunny’s face, she knew for sure that if she relied on him.. she definitely
would be saying goodbye to her story..
and she bravely said with a smile..
Naina: No.. I’m not going anywhere.. I’m
here to meet you Mr. Raizada.. to know your love story..
Rooted to the floor, shocked.. Arnav
stared at her fumingly while Bunny’s jaw dropped in horror and Naina elbowed
him...
Naina: Tell him Bunny.. what are you
waiting for?
Bunny: Arna...
But the one glare Arnav threw him was
enough to shut his mouth.. Bunny gulped his breath and lowered his gaze in
guilt as he cursed himself..
Bunny thinks: Why the hell did I open my
stupid mouth! You idiot! He’s never going to forgive me..
Arnav walked closer to Naina and said
without a blink..
ASR: I said get out of my house.. NOW!
Naina: But...
Instantly, arnav gripped her arms and
dragged her out of the room while she fussed loudly on the way to the exit
door... pleading him to understand.. to listen to her..
Naina: Mr Raizada.. Please try and
understand.. I’m a writer.. maybe I can help you.. maybe my story can help you
finf her... Please Mr Raizada.. I really need to know... I promised after this
you won’t hear about me again.. Mr Raizada..
She looked towards Bunny who was silently
following them..
Naina: Bunny please tell him..
As soon as they reached the door step,
Arnav pushed her outside angrily and looked towards Bunny...
ASR: I better not see her here again..
Understand?
Without listening to his answer Arnav
turned back but his steps stopped at the revolting voice of Naina..
Naina: I’ll come back.. again and again
and again.. till you tell me your story.. yours and khushi’s story...
He clenched his fist as he heard his Khushi’s
name from her mouth.. And this was it.. His anger knew no bound.. He turned to
face her.. and was ready to show her his real self.. He moved to her angrily
when suddenly he stopped.. His face turned pale.. His heart restless.. Naina
stared at him in confusion.. She knew something was wrong but what? Arnav
brought his hand to his heart.. and closed his eyes..
Khushi... God protect her..
*****
Somewhere in Delhi...
A young girl ran worriedly across the
corridors of the huge Jha’s mansion yelling out..
Maid: Daima.. Daima.. Daima..
As the maid reached the kitchen.. Daima,
the oldest servant of this house turned towards her while the latter said
breathlessly..
Maid: Daima... Khushi! Khushi ne phir
se.. (Khushi did it again...)
And Daima’s eyes popped out in shock..
Daima: Kya! (What!)
Maid: Haan! (Yes!)
The maid held the 80 years old lady and
they hurried towards Khushi’s room followed by the other staffs.. They entered
the room and rushed to the small pond area.. Daima’s eyes welled up as she
spotted Khushi.. laid on the marbled floor.. Her arms hanging into the pond..
while the water gradually turned red.. The staffs rushed to save her while
Khushi smiled in her half consciousness... This was the second time she cut her
wrists this month.. but she knew it.. death was not coming for her again..
Flashback
Sitting at their usual place in the
forest.. Arnav wiped off Khushi’s tears..
ASR: Meine kaha na.. hum dono kabhi alag
nahin honge.. (I said it.. we will never be separated..)
And the teen girl said in between her sob..
Khushi: Lekin tumhare... (But your...)
ASR: Ssshhh.. Agar bhagwan ne chaha.. to wo bi humein alag
nahin karsakte.. to phir mera baap humein kya alag karega.. Come on stop these
tears now and give me an irresistible smile.. (Ssshhh.. even if god wants.. he
won’t be able to separate us.. so what about my father.. Come on stop these
tears now and give me an irresistible smile..)
At his words, Khushi chuckled.. and Arnav
kissed her forehead.. As she returned to her cute childish self.. she said
amusingly...
Khushi: Exactly! Tumhare baap kya chiz
haii, wo to hume pata hai.. lekin bhagwan ka to pata nahin.. (Exactly! What is
your father, I know.. but we don’t know about god..)
ASR: Matlab? (You mean?)
Khushi: Bhagwan hamare kismat likte hai..
aur uski marzi kuch bhi hosakta hai.. kya pata kal mera accident ho aur mein
mar....
ASR: Khushi!
As he yelled, Khushi jerked at his
voice.. Arnav held her arms and angrily said..
ASR:
Aisa kabhi mat kehna.. samjhi tum!
Khushi: Arnav... I’m sorry.. I didn’t
mean to hurt you..
Her eyes welled up and tears fell down
her cheeks as she said guiltily..
Khushi: I’m sorry!
He wiped off her tears and held her
knuckles..
ASR: Khushi... look at me!
She stared into his eyes.. and he brought
her hand to his heart as he said..
ASR: Do you know what are these?
Khushi: Your heartbeats..
ASR: Exactly!
And holding her other hand, he brought it
to her heart.
ASR: And these?
Khushi: My heartbeats..
ASR: And when these two hearts beat
together.. our heartbeats became one.. Samjhi?
And she nodded negatively.. She pouted
innocently while Arnav smiled..
ASR: Come here..
He held her and made her sat in his lap..
Her back resting on his chest.. He brought his arms around her.. and when she
was comfortably settled in his embrace, he said..
ASR: Khushi.. agar kabhi bi.. mujhe kuch hojaye.. shayad
uss waqt meri saanse ruk jaayega.. aur mera dil kamzor hoga.. lekin yeh jo
tumhara dil heina.. jo hamesha zor se darakta hain.. jo mere naam zor se
pukarta hai.. wo mujhe vapas le ayega.. wo mujhe marne nahin dega..
Khushi: Thik ussi tara.. tu mujhe marne
nahin dega.. heina?
He smiled and nodded in affirmation.
ASR: Haan.. Arnav and Khushi kabhi alag
nahin honge..
Flashback Ends
And a lonely tear rolled down her
cheeks...
Khushi: Let me go Arnav! Marne do
mujhe...
