Love And Music

He never gets angry.
She was so happy that she would meet him after four days. Why he got angry and shouted at her, she didn’t know. He never did. But he did. And it did hurt. A lot.
She got him all wrong. He was not angry on her. He was happy that he was going to meet her after four long days. He was angry on his friend. His friend was supposed to submit his assignment on the selected day. He came back to learn that the assignment was submitted well after due date resulting in precious marks lost. He tried to reason out with the teacher in person, explained him the situation, but for no profit. She came to him seeing him agitated. He snapped. He slapped her.
Sunday Evening. Ashima entered the church. It was the nearest pious place from her college. She went past the benches and lighted a candle. She put it on the altar along with many candles and sat on her knees looking at the cross. Rain was dropping ceaselessly since morning. She sneaked through the lull in between, dry.
Few moments later, the doors of the church cracked. Aditya entered drenched. He walked towards the cross, shivering. His clothes completely wet, bent near Ashima and took out his candle. His hands still quivering, he tried to light up the wet wax. Ashima got up and walked to the nave and sat on the third row silently. Their eyes refused to cross each others. Aditya managed to heat up the wick and stick it near Ashima’s candle. He crossed his hands looking towards God, got up and walked towards the end of the benches, sitting near the last row. Sitting silently, both got transported to a day’s eve.
…………
‘Where were you guys?’ Ashima asked. ‘Yes we were about to leave. And how was your rehearsal?’ Shikha added.
‘As usual. Ashima’s man has again missed the first beat of his line.’ Sameer said, giving a knock on Aditya’s head.
‘How am I the defaulter? Pulkit always forgets to play his notes.’
‘Me?’ Pulkit exclaimed. ‘I am supposed to start from the second line, the first line is monologue.’ Both Sameer and Pulkit knock on Aditya’s head.
‘You guys can do this forever. Linkin Park ko chodke kuch gaana aata nahi.’ Ranjana imitated Pulkit playing the guitar. Everyone started laughing.
‘You never even listened to Linkin Park. You consider Himesh as a rockstar. What do you know about music.” They start fighting again with each other. Ashima hushes them up.
‘Stop it guys. And tell us about the plan for tomorrow.’
‘Plan unchanged. Morning six o’clock. Marine Drive.’ Aditya replies quickly.
‘Why are we going at all at this stupid place so early in Sunday morning, that too in the rain. We get eventually bored. You and Ashima move away from the group and spend time separately’ moaned Ranjana and everybody joined.
‘Hey guys, we never did that.’ Ashima protested.
‘Yes. We always bear with the awesome jokes of Pulkit, and try to smile in most of them. We never complain.’ Aditya explained.
‘Saale, maar khaega.’ Pulkit hits Aadi’s stomach.
‘Then my car tomorrow?’ Sameer asked.
‘No. Me and Ashima will meet you directly. We will take a rickshaw. I can’t bear Pulkit so early in morning.’ laughed Aditya. Again Pulkit and Aditya started in a mini fight.
‘Let them go. Else Aaditya will bore us crying like a little boy the whole day.’ Everyone laughed and moved to their respective hostel rooms. Pulkit promises Aditya dire consequences once they are back in room.

Morning 6.30am. Ashima and Aditya are sitting on the banister facing the sea at Marine Drive. Ashima knows that Aditya loves water, just looking at them, listening peacefully their frolicking, relieves him, and Ashima is relieved watching him happy and smiling. But now she is a little panicked as the other four are yet to arrive and it has been half an hour already.
Aditya’s mobile starts ringing.
‘What happened? Did you ask where are they? Aaah… great. Now the rain starts.’
‘Perfect.’
‘What perfect, Aadi. We will be drenched. And where the hell is this music coming from?’
Ashima turns around to see Pulkit with the guitar and Sameer with the keyboard all setup in the distance. Shikha and Ranjana are smiling nearby. Ashima is confused. She gets off the wide banister, and runs towards them. She hugs them both while the music is in full swing now. Ashima turns around to see Aditya, now standing on the banister facing the sea. He is humming, and starts singing.

Boondo k motiyon mein khulke ehsaas aya.
Waqt se nikalke lamha dil k paas aya
Choo k guzra tha par dil ko na mehsus hua
Ab jo dekha to vo lamha dil ko raas aya
Yun ki taiy kar nap au re
Dil ki baat main hawa k zariye pahuchau re
Ya khud hawa pe chalke aau re
Tumse pyar hai ye khulke
Jinme keh pau re
Lafz vo kahaan se lau re………

Music continues. Aditya comes down and bends before Ashima.
‘Ashima, will you marry me?
‘yes, you fool. Yes.’

Pulkit and Sameer continued the music without destroying the moment. Aashima and Aditya kissed each other. Ranjana capturing the beautiful moment.

……………………

Ashima looks back towards Aditya. He, settled on the bench was also looking at her. His eyes moist and regretful. Ashima runs to him and holds him tightly.
“I am sorry. I won’t do that again. I promise.” Aditya says.
“I know. Just don’t say anything, my love.”