╰┈➤ Author's POV

When you are running extremely late for something important, the universe somehow conspires to add to it and make you suffer.

That was exactly the case with Manjiri today.

Manjiri, as usual, woke up early in the morning, did her chores, took a bath, performed puja and sat on her favourite swing in the balcony. The little balcony garden was her favourite spot in their house.

She turned the radio on and sat there listening to the timeless Bollywood melodies.

'Kora kaagaz tha ye mann mera...

Likh diya naap ispe tera...

Suna aangan tha jeevan mera...

Bas gaya pyaar ispe tera...'

She softly hummed to the tune of the song. And just like that, she didn't realise how over an hour passed until she heard her mother's footsteps.

Oh no.

"Manjiri, get ready quickly. You'll get late. Aani aaik, I've put milk on the gas to boil. Make sure you turn off the stove before the milk spills. I'm going to Pathak vahini's house," came her mother's instructions.

(Translation of "Aani aaik": And listen)

"Okay Aai," Manjiri glanced at the milk vessel on the stove and then at the clock in the living room.

It was 7.40 am already.

'Instead of the students, I'll end up getting a late remark today,' Manjiri thought to herself and rushed inside the bedroom to get ready.

She dressed up, tied her hair into a braid and applied kajal-her signature thing to do. All this while, the old Bollywood songs were still playing in the background.

Manjiri rummaged through the drawers searching for the silver jhumkas that she bought last week.

"Where did I keep those?" she mumbled to herself.

Long forgotten was the milk on the gas and the only priority she had now was finding her brand new jhumkas.

"Mil gaye," she finally found her jhumkas and wore them in her ears.

"Perfect," she muttered and with a last glance at the mirror, satisfied with her look, she picked her bag up to leave.

Abhijeet, who had just woken up, watched her pace around the room with an amused expression. And then, he smelled something burning.

"Manjiri, kuch jal raha hai," he said.

(Translation: something's burning.)

"Oh Dada please, mai kyu jalungi aapse? Aapne aisa kiya hi kya hai ki mai aapse jealous hou?" she asked, completely misinterpreting his words, laughing at her own joke.

(Translation: Why would I be jealous of you? What have you done for me to be jealous of you?)

"Arey pagal, I meant something is actually burning," Abhijeet said, hitting her head lightly and that's when she remembered and screamed in horror-

"Milk!"

She ran towards the kitchen but she was too late. The milk had already spilled and the vessel was completely burnt.

"Shit. Aai will kill me," she muttered, already imagining her mother's reaction.

"Wow. You are so gone," Abhijeet remarked.

"Dada, will you please clean this mess up? I'm running extremely late. Please please pleaseeeeeee," Manjiri cried in front of her brother.

"What will I get in return for cleaning this mess?"

"Anything, I promise."

"Get me a cassette with all Mohammed Rafi songs in it," he said.

"But you like Kishore Kumar," she said, clearly confused by his choice.

"Jyada sawaal mat puch, just do as I say."

(Translation: Don't ask so many questions.)

"Okay fine," Manjiri shrugged and turned to leave.

"Wait," Abhijeet stopped her and handed her a 100 rupees note.

"But cassette toh mai laane wali thi na," she said.

(Translation: But I was going to buy the cassette, right?)

"Paise jyada ho gaye tere paas? Chal jaa ab."

(Translation: Do you have too much money? Go now.)

──── ୨୧ ────

Manjiri rushed towards the station where her best friend-Megha was waiting for her.

"Sorry sorry sorry," Manjiri chanted while Megha gave her a stern look.

"Itni jaldi kyu aa gayi? Thoda aur late aati na. Abhi toh 3 minute baki hai train aane mein," Megha gave her a side eye look.

(Translation: Why did you come so early? You could've come a bit later. There are still 3 minutes left for the train to arrive.)

"Sorry na," Manjiri gave her best puppy eyes.

Megha nodded and pulled a book out of her bag.

"This is for you," she said. It was the new romance novel that was published recently and Manjiri was practically on her toes to buy it.

"Megha darling, I love you," Manjiri said, as she ruffled through the pages of the book.

A loud sound of the train was heard and Megha grabbed Manjiri's hand, guiding her through the crowd. They boarded the train, sharing every little detail of their day so far.

──── ୨୧ ────

╰┈➤ In the evening

Rahul wrapped up his work and along with his colleagues, he left the bank. Chatting happily with his friends, he finally got to the station.

His colleagues bid him bye one by one and left, except one-Amar-the one he was going to move in with.

"So, when are you shifting?" he asked Rahul.

"Next week," he replied, looking around for a certain someone.

The girl he had seen yesterday, lost in her book. Those kohl rimmed eyes were imprinted on his mind from the moment his eyes met with them.

"Kisiko dhund raha hai kya?" Amar asked.

(Translation: Are you looking for someone?)

"Nahi toh," Rahul said, still looking for her.

(Translation: Not really.)

Amar shrugged his shoulders and continued complaining about their rude bank manager but Rahul's eyes were still looking for her in that crowd.

And then, he saw her. Finally.

Manjiri, too busy talking to Megha, didn't even notice a soft gaze fixated on her.

She looked angelic. A few strands of her hair were out of her braid. The soft breeze brushed those strands away from her face, giving him a proper view. Her kohl rimmed brown eyes-the reason he got so hooked to her.

He was practically staring-but in a good, admiring way.

But his trance broke the moment the train screeched into the tracks. The crowd rushed inside the train but Rahul-he was still looking at her.

Manjiri was about to get inside the train but then-she turned around. And their eyes met, again.

A small smile crept up on his face on its own. Manjiri's gaze was on him now, his smile didn't seem creepy to her. Unbeknownst to herself, an amused smile made its way on her face.

Rahul's smile only widened seeing her smile but the moment didn't last long. Megha pulled Manjiri inside the train as the train was about to leave the station.

Rahul too, boarded the train and throughout his journey he only wondered one thing-where did she get down?

──── ୨୧ ────

╰┈➤ In the evening

"Ek pardesi mera dil le gaya...

jaate jaate meetha meetha ghum de gaya"

Manjiri hummed the song as it played on the tape recorder.

"I've got all the famous Mohammed Rafi songs on the tape," Manjiri told Abhijeet. He just hummed.

"What 'hmm'? Thank me properly," Manjiri crossed her arms and demanded thanks.

"Thank you? Should I tell Aai that it was you who forgot about the milk causing it to spill and the pot to burn? I took the blame on myself in return for these songs. You have no idea about the scoldings that I had to bear because of you."

Manjiri gave him a side eye and mumbled sorry.

"Waise, why did you ask for Mohammed Rafi songs?"

"Um....I want to give this cassette to someone as a gift," Abhijeet answered.

"Who?"

"Why are you interrogating so much?"

"Aise hi pucha," Manjiri shrugged her shoulders off.

(Translation: Just asked, no reason.)

"I will tell you....some other day," Abhijeet said.

"Okay dada."

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Manjiri opened the door.

"Joshi kaka? Please come in."

(Translation: Kaka = Uncle)

Mr. Joshi was their old neighbour who had moved out a few years ago but they leased their home on rent.

She welcomed him inside and ran to the kitchen to get him a glass of water.

"Thank you Manjiri beta," Joshi kaka said, taking the glass of water.

"It's been a long time since you last visited kaka," Abhijeet said.

"Yes beta, actually I have a new tenant for my house. Two bachelors are going to share the house. One of them is my nephew and the other one is his colleague. My nephew moved in two days ago. I came to visit him but then how could I leave without meeting you two."

"It's so nice to see you after so long," Manjiri said.

They chatted for a while before Joshi kaka left.

"New tenant I see. Hope it's someone good," Abhijeet said, Manjiri nodded in agreement.

──── ୨୧ ────

"Rahul bhaiya, you are literally cheating," Golu-his uncle's son-complained.

"Maine kab cheating ki? Tujhe hi khelna nahi aata," Rahul defended himself.

(Translation: When did I cheat? You're the one who doesn't know how to play.)

"Mujhe nahi khelna," Golu said with a pout and turned the ludo board upside down.

(Translation: I don't want to play.)

"Chidku," Rahul teased him.

"Mummyyyyyyy!" Golu cried.

"Okay stop crying. Do you want ice cream?"

"Yes!" Golu excitedly got up from his seat.

"Chal fir," Rahul carried Golu on his shoulders and walked out to go get some ice cream.

(Translation: Let's go then.)

While Golu was busy eating his kulfi, Rahul was lost in his own thoughts. His kulfi had begun to melt.

"Bhaiya, your kulfi is melting," Golu said.

"Just like my heart," he said with a sigh.

"Kya?"

(What?)

"You won't understand Golu."

"Why would I not understand?" Golu questioned.

"Because you are a kid," Rahul said, gently ruffling his hair.

"Bhaiya, aap kyu jaa rahe ho? I will miss you. Mujhe kulfi khane kaun layega fir?"

(Translation: Why are you moving out? I will miss you. Who will take me to eat ice cream then?)

Rahul smiled at him.

"I will miss you too Golu but don't worry. I'll visit you on holidays and then we will have kulfi together."

"Promise?" He held out his pinky finger. Rahul chuckled and then latched his pinky finger with his.

"Pakka wala promise."

After the little kulfi date, they got back home. Rahul lay in his bed but sleep was far away from his eyes.

'Who is she? Why are her thoughts bothering me so much? Why can't I stop thinking about her? Why does her face appear in front of my eyes every time I close my eyes?' His mind was flooded with all these thoughts.

I guess I'll never know...

He thought and forced himself to sleep.