C U 2MROW @ 9 (June 29, 2016)

A ‘hello’ couldn’t have been more exotic. Something like a rattle crept up his whole body. She talked in whispers and so did he. They both had that feeling of shyness till the end of the first minute. Silence and deep breaths had followed the everlasting ‘hello’. The darkness and stillness of the night had blindfolded Mannu and seized his lips.

“Pia...” He breathed on her through my phone.

“Yaaa... I’m on the line...” said Pia in a low and dusky voice.

 Something happened inside his body, again.

“Have you turned off the lights, Pia?” Mannu asked her, checking the door..

“No... Shall I?”

“Yes... why not?”

“Wait a second...”

“Okay....”

Even after hiding himself under a sheet and that too in the month of May, he was shivering.

Oh God... help me. Mannu prayed and checked the door again to ensure safety.

“Mannu...” She spoke. Her words were accompanied with a tail of some deep, warm breaths. They had the warmth just like the first fire of a dark winter night which heals the soul and the body. She was nervous.

“Congratulations....We are...” She choked.

“Hmmmm...Speak up...” Mannu whispered, peeping out of the sheet to get a glimpse of the door. Everything was fine. Mrs. K and Channu were asleep.

“I am sorry. I don’t know what happened. But I guess it was Anuskha who did it. She came to my room. We sat for a very long time and she would have sent you those messages.Now i feel how foolish I was to tell her everything. She was jealous, I knew, but how could she do it. I am sorry. Please forgive me.” She spoke altogether breaking the long silence.

“ I... I love you.” She continued.

Mannu was speechless. Such was the magic in her voice.  A tear drop rolled out Mannu’s eyes.    

“Even if you don’t say... I know you love me.” She broke the silence, again.

A smile parted Mannu’s dried lips. He didn’t want to disturb the thought by drinking water.

“I love you too.”

“I knew in my heart that you couldn’t message me those words...But..I’m sorry too. I doubted on you. I shouldn’t have done that. I was wrong Pia...I am sorry.”   

She was shy and Mannu was glad as she praised him for his courage to speak up that he loved her. Still Mannu’s heart was pounding up and down. He woke up again and again and again to check if he had become a victim of Mrs.K’s eyes. But till now he was safe.

C U 2MROW @ 9 (June 27, 2016)

Meanwhile Mannu had found a silent corner. He was preparing himself for the conversation that was to follow. Channu was sitting with the aunties, taking the praises and blessings. He was even given an envelope by Dr. Varshneya, the eldest among the attendees. He buried it in a book and went back to the drawing room. This behaviour was unusual on his part, but it showed how happy he was with his first academic achievement at a national level. Mannu opened up a poetry compilation of Khayyam, Ghalib and others. The thoughts on love were bitter, soft at times too, stark and sharp in tone and Mannu was still unable to make out what was to follow. Why had Pia made such a request even after the misunderstanding? If she wanted to reconcile things why did she choose the end of the day? Was she so busy throughout the day to resolve the budding affair? Mannu felt that she had been careless on her part, but a part of him asked him not to fill his mind with any preconceived notion. 

Pakora’s were served for dinner accompanied by a milk shake. Mrs. K had already gone to the bedroom and Mannu was alone at the dinner table.

 “You won’t be able to sleep in a lighted room. It would pinch your eyes... believe me.” Mannu spoke to Channu. The time was 11 pm.

“I’m not sleeping yet.”

“But why? You see it’s already 11 pm. You’ve to get up early for your school... right? Tomorrow you’ve to perform, so have a good sleep.” Mannu said again.

“Yaa... but...”

“No ifs and buts... come on go to sleep.” Mannu interfered and started forcing him towards the door. It was 11:20 pm already.

“Will you study, Bhaiya, brother?” Channu enquired.

“Yaa...”

“Then I’ll practice the guitar piece... it won’t harm your ears. And... And why be so fussy?” Channu spoke irritated, but fresh.

 “I can’t study with your head in front of me... I need some space tonight. Chemistry isn’t as easy as it seems to you. Why don’t you understand Channu? I have many exams going on.” Mannu retaliated. There was silence around. Channu inhaled deeply, kept his books on the table and left without even saying a word. Mannu was ashamed of himself and his uncanny behaviour. The clock showed 11:30 pm. But Iit was sure that both would make up with each other the next morning.

“Good night, Mummy.”

“Good night beta.”

“Good night Channu.”

“Hmmmm... Good night.” Channu replied and asked Mannu to close the door that led to Mrs.K’s room.

In a hurry he went to the other room, set the pillow, turned off the lights and hid himself in a bed sheet. Oh! He woke up again and brought the water bottle. Walking on the tip of his toes he brought one from the refrigerator. The grinning of the stabiliser made him comfortable, confident that they would suppress his voice.  A new excitement was building up. After dormancy that lasted for the whole day Mannu felt something good was going to happen. Strange, but beautiful! His young conscience ordered him to hurry. The dim light of the mobile phone pinched his eyes. He processed the phone with his left eye closed, until he pressed the dial button after half emptying the 500ml bottle.

Nanny's Young Garden

A Day in Kashi...