At Khushi’s home…
“Dad, did you have your medicines?” Khushi asks her father around 9pm in his bedroom.
“Hmm.” Her dad replies.
“Dad, I got a call from Sadiq.” She says taking her seat beside him.
“Hmm.”
“All these days he is busy with his CAT preparation. He got a seat in IIM Bangalore.”
“Hmm.”
“He said that he had an option for IIM Ahmedabad, but he had selected Bangalore for me.”
“So, you excused–” He guesses.
“Never.” She shouts.
“Are you still angry with him? I got an accident after his departure. He hasn’t left you knowing that you will need him.”
“Dad, I know that he doesn’t know about whatever happened; but the truth is he hasn’t tried to know.”
“Khushi–”
“Dad, I don’t want you to support him.”
“Fine, I don’t support you as well.” Her dad quits the conversation and goes to bed. She is left with the question ‘why is she even speaking about Sadiq?’
~~~~~~
At Sadiq’s home…
“Ammi, she never calls back, right?” Sadiq asks his mom lying on her lap in hall. He shares everything with his mom.
“Why are you drawing conclusions?” His mom questions back.
“She didn’t even say congrats, ammi.”
“Six months back you didn’t even say goodbye.”
“Ammi…”
“Suno(listen), everyone can easily feel our presence, but only a few can feel our absence. She is one of those few.”
“Pataa hai ammi. Ab mujhe karna kya hai? (I know mom, what shall I do now?)”
“She was hurt. Heal those wounds.”
“Kaise (How)?”
“Earlier, unknowingly you have become a reason for her sorrow. Now, knowingly try to become a reason for her happiness.” She gives a suggestion.
“Hmm…” He decides to think over it.
~~~~~~
After a few days, at a shopping mall in Kozhikode, Kerala.
“Hai!!” Sadiq greets Khushi.
“What are you doing here?” She refuses to accept his presence over there.
“I changed my option to IIM Kozhikode.” He says.
“I would like to hear facts, not stories.” She strikes off his statement.
“Don’t you believe me?”
“No. I don’t. Along with me, you have many other reasons to opt for IIM Bangalore. I know that you never compromise with your priorities.”
“Fine… I am here for an event in IIM Kozhikode.”
“Oh, then go and enjoy your event.”
“I thought of inviting you–”
“I am not coming.”
“Let me finish… I thought of inviting you, but decided not to invite you.” He adds to her anger. She leaves with a mirchi face into a café (within the mall). He follows and tries to convince her. But she is reluctant to take back her words. He thinks of dealing with the situation in his original style and moves away from her.
“Hello, ladies and gentlemen…” He speaks aloud standing in the middle of the cafe. Everyone in the café turns towards him from their chairs.
“Please pay me a little attention. Why because the one with whom I used to share all my chota chota matters is not available for me now. So, will you listen to me?” He asks.
“Kya hua, Bhai? (What happened, bro?)” A person out of the crowd responds.
“I will let you know, but before that, I would like to ask you all something…
If you stay away from your dear ones because of the chaos that you are facing in your life, does it mean that you don’t miss them? Does it mean that they matter nothing to you?” He asks the crowd.
Khushi gets a little tensed as she doesn’t have any idea of what he is going to do.
“Definitely not. If it is a solid relationship they never get out of our thoughts and memories.” A man speaks up.
“Hai na? Lekin ye Gyan mere friend ke pas kyu nahi hai? (Isn’t it? Then, why doesn’t my friend have that knowledge?) She missed me when I left, but not now. I don’t know how to make her understand that I too missed her and missing her not only then, even now —he continues looking at Khushi who is a part of that crowd— What I would like to convey is… All situations don’t come under right or wrong categories. Some situations just exist as such. In those situations, don’t try to prove yourself as right and don’t blame others as wrong. Try to value the relation that you both share not the situation which keeps changing.
And yeah, things are not that simple. Complications do exist, if not with the people close to your heart then where else do you face them and deal with them? I agree things don’t remain the same. Time changes everything. But why always that change should be worse than before? Why can’t be better than before? Why do we always think of breaking a relationship and don’t recognize that there also lies an opportunity for a new beginning?” He concludes in a high pitch.
After a few seconds, he receives a big round of applause from the crowd. He thanks everyone and leaves the café. Khushi follows him.
“Hey, tum na MBA vagaira chodkar screenwriter ban jaavo. Kyaa dialogues maara tumne? (Hey you better leave your MBA and try to become a screenwriter. Your dialogues are awesome).” She appreciates his way of approach.
“Hmm… you would like to listen to facts, but you understand those facts only if they are conveyed through stories. Right?” He states.
“There is nothing wrong in expecting a little effort. New beginning doesn’t occur on its own.” She says.
“Okay… Tell me now. How is dad?”
“Come home and see.”
“Matlab, am I going to get back bumps from the entire family?”
“Hmm… there are possibilities. Why don’t you get ready with one more speech?” She makes fun of him and laughs at his reaction to that.
“Then… how are mom, dad and Noor?” She asks.
“Good. Mom said one thing about you.”
“What?”
“Everyone can feel our presence, but only a few can feel our absence. You are one of those few. And I don’t wanna miss you and our friendship.” He says.
“Shukriya (Thank you)!” She says waving her hand in Muslim style.
And then they head towards Khushi’s home relieving all those discussions which remained undiscussed between them, one by one on their way.
Image source: Bepanah and Google
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