"sAy iT...wHeN u Love iT.."

Chapter-2 The Real Gift

"Om bhurve bhurvaha swaha tattsavitur varenyam,bhargo devaysaya deemahi dhiyo yonaha prachodyatt"

that is what Jatin heard when he pressed the door bell of Mishthi's place.It was quite shocking for him,for Mishthi never belived in God apart from exam times ,that is when she was always found either with her books or with the statue of Krishna ji which she had.She belived only in one God or in her language,she was a biggggg fan of Lord Krishna.

Amazingly during exam times the always hugging and hi wi-ing Mishthi would turn into one who would greet others by saying,"Jai Shri Krishna".Many belived that she was a stupid and a fake girl,which she was.

Suddenly the door opened with a bang.In front of him was the most pretty lady on this earth.Somehow girls always look prettier when they get up in the morning, sexier is a better word.Hair swaying in the light breeze,sky blue coloured night suit with flowers and leaves printed on them,one hand of hers completely inside the arms of her suit.She rubbed her eyes and shouted

"Phattuu.....tu."

and hugged Jatin and before he could utter a single word she started "I am so sorry Phattu I could not contact you infact I am feeling very guilty.I shouldnt have done this to you.You were my best pal and I left you.I am sorry Phattu.Phattu I want to say something....

Phattu I....."

And suddenly the alarm interrupted yet again.It was a dream which was broken.

But today Jatin wasnt that frustated,deep inside he knew that what he saw is about to happen in reality.But there was a problem,Mishthi did ask him to come and meet her but when..? At what time should he go?

Yes this was Jatin taking unnecessary tensions and making useless assumptions.

After thinking a lot he decided that he should go in the evening.So he went on to his daily routines.Started going through the headlines,with a glass of milk and toast to go with it.But after every second that sweet,innocent and lovely face of Mishthi was making him restless.He tried to indulge himself in some of the news headlines.But even in the newspaper he was visualizing Mishu.

This was it.He got up took a shower in 5 min usually he used to take 15 min but today only 5min.Took out his shining white Scorpio quickly started it,locked his place,checked everything the windows were closed ( he had this girly tendency) and the journey began.

Mishthi's place was about an hour away from his place.It had been pouring since last few days,but today was a bright sunny day.Jatin said to himslef,"A perfect start to what is going to be a perfect day".

Because of the heavy rains a cool breeze was blowing but the warmth of the sunrays gave a pleasant feeling.A perfect weather for someone in love.Jatin started the music system and it sang

"To breathe the name

Of your saviour
In your hour of need
And taste the blame,
If the flavour should remind you of greed
Of implication, insinuation and you will
Till you cannot lie still
In all this turmoil
Before red cave and foil
Come closing in for a kill

Come feed the rain
'Cos I'm thirsty for your love,
Dancing underneath the skies of lust
Yeah feed the rain
'Cos without your love
My life ain't nothing but this carnival of rust "

Jatin kept imagining himslef in the song.All the moments which he had spent with Mishthi kept coming in front of his eyes.Bunking from classes,having fun in canteen and there first meet.

It was Mechanics class.Mr.Jigyasi was teaching them shearing force and bending moment.Jatin being a regular and a studious student was sitting on the first bench.Suddenly a sweet and honest voice came " May I come in sir".Jatin wanted to see who was there but Radhika who was siting next to him kept him buzy in her doubts.This was the first time that a voice had struck him so deep.It was as if great Lata ji was singing in her golden days.For the first time clearing someone's doubt seemed to be a ridiculous job to him.As he turned slight fragrence of jasmine thrilled him.This was the best fragrence he had ever smelled.

Without seeing the source of this divine fragrence he said,"what a lovely fragrence,which perfume?"

From the other side a strong relpy came,"Excuse me,what did you say?"

As he saw the source of this fragrence he could not utter a word,could not blink his eyes,everything was motionless apart from the girl sitting next to him.She flunged her hair aside,adjusted them,those wide eyes with kajal in them,red lips there wasnt any lipstic on them but they looked as red as a cherry,glowing divine skin,the black watch was shining on her glowing hand,those red cheeks and to add to all this a mini skirt.

Everything made him restless.This was the first time he ever observed a girl so closely.Suddenly in such a beautiful environment a strong voice interrupted,"Mam your name please"

She replied "Mishthi"

Jatin murmured "what a sweet name,Mishthi,so sweet"

And as Jatin turned back to have look of the class,almost half the class had fallen in love and the fact that the most gorgeous girl of the class was sitting next to him made him feel like a dude.But he noticed one thing there were only two expressions on every boy's face.One by which he understood that Mishthi already has somethings to deal with and the other expression showed that Jatin had few enemies in the class...!!

Jatin was recalling all this and suddenly coming to senses realized that he had already reached Mishthi's colony.Taking few left and right turns he finally reached his destination.

Enterd the house,walking through the garden he realized that he hasnt bought anything for Mishthi.Suddenly he saw a RED ROSE.He went close to it plugged it and a voice came

"Whose that"

He turned and in front of him was the girl whom he loved the most.She wasnt as beautiful as she was three years ago but still she could turn someone speechless with her beauty.

"Hi Mishthi,remember me"

Mishthi,"ofcourse I do Jatin,but what are you doing over there with a pot?"

Jatin said hesitatingly,"well nothing much, was plucking a leaf"

Mishthi was amazed to the reply,"what,a leaf of a rose lpant?"

Jatin,"yeah,why anything wrong in that,dont the leaves of roses have the liberty to be plugged"

That was a stupid answer and Jatin knew it.He had this tendency of saying stupid things especially when Misthi was around.

Just to change focus he said,"wont you ask me to come inside?"

She replied,"oh yeah sure..come"

"come and sit here i will just bring what i wanted to give you."

This is what he did not think.He thought she would ask her for a coffee or tea.It was rainy season afterall.But this was Mishthi,highly unpredictable.As he sat on the sofa he took out the Red Rose and hided it under the newspapers kept on the centre table.He was reading the news paper and out came Mishthi with a bag in her hand and said

"These are the things you gifted me Jatin and I want you to take them back.Because I cannot keep them.These rubbish things are using a lot of space its better you take them with you"

Suddenly the world came to a hault to him.He could not breathe,but he could see from the window that it was again getting dark.Dark clouds were starting to cover the bright sunshine and it was again dark.

Before he could inquire anything Mishthi said,"I know what you feel for me.But I never loved you.I used you only to get good marks and now that college is over I want you to be away from me and my life.You were never a part of my life.I have a boy friend and you know that and we are very happy together so please Jatin take all this away and leave this place and my life as well."

Her voice was commanding and authoritative.He wanted to ask why did she do this but she had already answered.She used him,all his friends were right.Mishthi was fake,his first and only love was fake.This was the real gift.Without asking and speaking anything else he left.While leaving the place he still thought that a voice will come " Phattuu I was kidding.. I ....."

But nothing of that sort really happened.This wasnt the way things were to happen.It had almost started raining.It was pitch dark.lightining and strong wind blowing the trees and sheets and Jatin's life as well.

*****