Still feels the same…

Still feels the same…

It was a roadside café with very less turn out & it was but obvious. He looked into his wrist watch, it was almost 10:30 in the night. Though it wasn’t their favourite hangout but it sure was a convenient one as the company where she was working as an intern was at a walking distance from there. She had UK shift, so it was their regular time of meeting there after her working hours. The cacophony of horns, bikes & government buses couldn’t easily invade the privacy of the place unless someone opened the door to go out or come in. Every time he heard the outside sound he looked towards the door to check if she has come. His phone rang, the signature tune of DDLJ, the mandolin filled in the ever so quite café. He promptly answered the call, “Where are you”. Sorry, be there in another 2-3 minutes she replied & hung up. He somehow continued singing Pyar hota hain Deewana Sanam.

The door opened to let in the outside sound yet again, it was Sanchita this time. He welcomed her with a broad smile. No sooner she sat than he asked what will she have. With a blink of an eye he was back on the table with two hot coffees. She apologised for keeping him waiting as usual. He started talking as if he didn’t hear anything. Know what Sanchu I saw DDLJ again today. There can be no better thing than this to start your vacations with. I tell you darling, it still feels the same.. the way it used to feel so many years back. You remember the day I proposed you? God you took 14 long days to say yes. Those 14 days were like more than 14 years to me. I listened to “Na Jane mere dil ko kya ho gaya” countless times in those 14 days. And the day you said yes… Sanchu it all still feels the same, it’s been 6 years since then but still feels the same. I can still wait for you till eternity, I still feel the butterflies in my belly when I see you, I still keep waiting for your message like a teenager, your name still brings smile to my face. It still feels the same sanchu, still feels the same. She could only manage to smile as he kept speaking breathlessly.

How were your papers? The pitch of her voice was really low. Oh come on Sanchu, papers ko maro goli & to your internship also. One full month of vacations & I want to spend the most of it with you, he said in an authoritative tone. Let it be, tell me which one is your favourite scene in DDLJ? Before she could say anything he started talking again, aah mine is the one when he says, “Na… mein nahi aaunga” & walks away without looking back… or… wait it is the one in which he waves her off after Na jane mere dil ko kya ho gaya song, no no no it’s the one when he tells her I love you & she says I don’t wanna miss the train again. Wait..wait.. aah.. no Sanchu the whole movie is so amazing that it’s difficult to choose just one favourite scene. It’s undoubtedly one of the best love stories ever produced. But you know what Sanchu our love story is the best, even greater than DDLJ & do you know why is it so? It’s because it is OUR LOVE STORY. He was speaking with a twinkle in eyes, she looked down as she couldn’t look into his eyes anymore & said, Shri I am getting married. Someone opened the door & harsh sounding mixture of outside sounds kept pouring in, fading slowly as the door closed against its self-pressure. He is an architect from Goa, has his own firm. Mom is not keeping well since 6 months you know, I just couldn’t say no Shri. She kept giving out details as he continued looking outside through the glass door. After a few seconds of silence he raised the empty cup of coffee & asked, another coffee? Before she could respond he went to the counter again. She kept watching him from behind as he was taking out something from his front pocket. He usually kept money in the back pocket, she couldn’t make out what he was doing. It was only when he returned with two cups of coffee she understood that he had taken out handkerchief to wipe eyes which had turned blood red by now. She held his hand, he didn’t respond but didn’t resist either. Her grip around his palm was getting tighter as she said please say something Shri, please this silence is killing me. What should I do, please say something. You are not here to ask me, you have come here with a decision & with an intent to inform me, he managed to speak against the choking throat. But Shri your feelings are most important to me, important than any damn thing in this world, she kept the grip as tight as possible while they spoke.

You want to know how I feel Sanchu, you want to know Miss Sanchita? He gave specific stress over her name. You remember we used to play cards when we were kids. When some cards went missing we used to replace them with an additional plain card from the pack & pretended as if it was the original card while we played. I feel like you were pretending that I was your King all these years, when actually I was the plain card which could eventually become anything when needed. I don’t want to turn into “Just a friend” card now. You are my queen forever I’ll never replace you with some fake plain card. His eyes inundated with tears as he kept speaking. But I guess you have decided to replace me. All the best Sanchu, my life’s pack of cards will always be incomplete without you, wish you happy married life. She lost her grip over his hand as he said, I don't believe in clutching people forcefully Sanchu  & tears kept rolling on his cheeks. He walked slowly out of the café, she didn’t stop him. As he drove into darkness she kept looking at him until he got dissolved into it. She closed her eyes helplessly, the tears trapped in her eyes until now rolled out while she said, “It still feels the same Shri, will always feel the same”

Kay P Aar