She was getting ready. Sahil would be here any moment. She told her parents that she was going to a meeting. It was normal for her to have meetings on weekends so they didn't question much.
Her phone pinged indicating his arrival. She took her bag and left after wishing her parents. She came out of the house and her breath hitched.
There he was. On his Harley. In his biker outfit. A very dangerous combination for her heart. She had always been a sucker for bikes. He knew her weakness. He had heard her talking to Adarsh when she was telling him about it.
She went near him and greeted him in return to which he just nodded.
"I thought hum car mai jaayenge."
(I thought we will go by car.)
She said and sat on the bike carefully, wearing her helmet. She held the back handle for support not wanting to touch him. She knew he hated her but didn't want to give him a reason to say it on her face. He started the bike and they drove away in silence.
He stopped in front of a lounge and restaurant. They got off the bike and went in there. He had booked a private area there. They went there and took their seats facing each other. A waiter came inside and kept water and some snacks there. Sahil asked him not to disturb them until they are called.
They could hear loud music blaring outside. But they could talk easily. It was not deafening here. She looked at him, who was already looking at her.
"Kya puchhna hai? Puchhiye."
(What do you want to ask? Ask.)
She said slowly.
"I want to know. Everything. Pralana kaun hai, kyu hai? Everything."
(Who and why is Pralana?)
She gulped and took a deep breath before starting.
"10th mai banayi thi ye id humne. Pranati+Palak+Sanjana=Pralana. Hamara ship name tha. Uss waqt jo hamare seniors the unhe stalk krne ke liye bnawai thi Sanjana aur Palak ne. Par use kabhi nhi ki. Bas bna kr chhod di."
(We made that id in 10th. It was our ship name. We made this stalk out seniors at the time. But we never used it. Just made it.?
She started with a smile as if remembering the times. She looked at him. He had an unknown emotion in his eyes.
"11th mai sabke sections change huye aur kuch dost bhi. Sanjana se hamari baat band ho gyi. We had a huge fight. Aur hamara new group bna. Teacher's day ke baad Preeti ko chahiye thi ek fake id apne boyfriend ka test lene ke liye. Usse doubt that he was cheating on her. Tab wo id use huyi."
(In 11th sections changed and some friends too. We stopped talking to Sanjana. A new group formed. After teacher's day Preeti needed a fake id to test her boyfriend. She doubted that he was cheating on her. That's when the id was used.)
"Ussi time around Muhammad ne bhi school join kiya tha. New student tha sabko interest tha usme. Palak aur uska koi rumour chala tha. And God knows kyu aur kab Palak uss id se as Pralana, Muhammad se baat krni lag gyi. Mujhe do din baad pta chala that she is talking to him as someone who doesn't even exist."
(Same time around Mohammad also joined the school. New student everyone was interested. There was some rumour about him and Palak. And Gods knows when and why Palak started talking to Mohammad as Pralana. I got to know two that she is talking to him as someone who doesn't even exist.)
"Mujhe kyu involve kiya?"
(Why did you involve me?)
He asked. She looked at him and nodded acknowledging his question.
"Aapko yaad hai aap bhi ussi time around aaye the hamare school mai. Aur uske kuch time baad hamara annual function tha. You and Muhammad were like always together. Dono new students sabke interest zone mai the. Well Palak bhut curious insaan hai. Usne Muhammad se bola ki Pralana uske tution mai padti hai and that they are neighbours."
(Do you remember you also joined our school around the same time. And some time later was our annual function. You and Mohammad were like always together. Both the new students in everyone's interest zone. Well Palak is a very curious person. She told Mohammad that Pralana studies in herr tuitions and that they were neighbours.)
"Palak aur Muhammad ki bhi dosti ho gyi thi kaafi achhi. Aur Pralana ne Palak ka number diya tha saying ki wo jab bhi Palak ke ghar jaayegi tab Muhammad se baat kr legi. She just wanted to be friends with him aur usne ye socha tha ki kuch time baad usse sach bta degi. But then iss darr se nhi btaya ki kahi Muhammad usse baat krna na band krde. She was scared. Already apni ek friend kho chuki thi wo dobara nhi khona chahti thi."
(Palak and Mohammad became good friends. And Pralana gave Palak's number saying that whenever she would visit Palak they could talk. She just wanted to be friends with him and she thought that she will tell him the truth some time later. But she didn't because she was scared that Mohammad would stop talking to her. She already lost one of her friends and didn't want to lose another.)
She looked at him and he was listening with utmost concentration.
"This continued. Aur phir annual function. You were always the quiet child aur uska interest jag gya to know about you. Isliye annual function ke kuch dino baad apne ek story post ki toh usne uspe reply kiya. Aapse baat start usne ki. Date ke liye haan bhi usne bola. Mujhe toh teesre din pta chala ki wo aapse bhi baat kr rhi hai aur madam ne ye karnama kr diya."
(And then annual function. She got interested to know about you. That's why some days after the annual function when you posted a story she replied. She started talking to you. She said yes for dating. I got to know on the third day that she was talking to you and that she had done such a thing.)
"I swear itna gussa aaya tha na. Ek toh Muhammad se jhooth bol rhi thi upar se aapko date ke liye haan bol diya. Jab usse smjhaya tab usne bola ki mai baat krke sab sort kru. I didn't know kya kru. It was the first time mai kisi se baat krti wo bhi as someone else. Date ke liye mana usne kiya. I know bhut stupid reason tha."
(I swear i was so angry. First she was alreay lying to Mohammad and then she said yes to you for dating. When she realised she asked me to sort it out. I didn't know what to do. It was the first time i was talking to someone as someone else. She denied for dating. I know it was very stupid reason.)
"Yeah. Bhul nhi skta mai. Mere crush ka breakup ho gya aur mujhe uske liye firse feelings aa gyi. Like what the fuck man?"
(I couldn't forget. My crush had a breakup and i got feelings for him again.)
She chuckled.
"I know. She is crazy. Anyway. Uske baad apne phone number maanga saying that you want to talk to her. She freaked out kyunki uske dono number Muhammad ke paas already the. Toh maine mera number diya. Uss phone call ke baad se i took over. Text pr kabhi kabhi wo bhi baat krti thi but mostly it was me. Muhammad ke liye she was Pralana aur aapke liye mai."
(After that you asked for phone number saying you wanted to talk to her. She freaked out because both her numbers were with Mohammad. So i gave my number. After that phone call i took over. She used to talk on text sometimes but mostly it was me. For Mohammad she was Pralana and for you it was me.)
He nodded slowly as if processing everything. They kept quiet for some time. He suddenly remembered something.
Write a comment ...