... Saturday, around 5:30 pm, I was driving and Jagjit Singh ushering his best of the best... track change... and my favourite gazal began... "huzoor aapka bhi ehteram kartaa chalun, idhar se guzraa thaa soocha salaam karta chalun"...
Few thoughts ran through my mind & I made a left and headed to Aarti's house. The last week's tea invitation SMS was still seated in my inbox. I thought, let me call, just dropping in without informing will look impolite.
"Hi, this is Nitin". "Hey.. no need to identify yourself, I have your number stored, Kaise yaad kiya?" the voice has a visible sparkle and delight. "umm.. actually...I am in the parking area of your apartment, is it a good time to drop in?", I murmured. "Ofcourse yaar, ye bhi koi poochne ki baat hai, aur haan... apnee chai is overdue for over a week now." she giggled. I smiled too and proceeded to the elevator.
Before I could reach out the bell.... a gorgeous lady opened the door at 100 miles an hour, the gust of wind blew her well styled hair, a big hug and a even bigger Hi (i could not count the i's this time) followed. All this happened in a whirlwind, giving me no time to react. Come on in... It was Aarti... in her non-messy best... :)
The interior was fabulous, off white walls, with chestnut brown furniture...that's my favorite too!! I sunk myself in sofa and looked around to have a feel of the house and also looking for other probable occupants. "Pehle chai bana ke laati huun, fir dher saari baatey karenge". Chai was awesome; had to be; a gorgeous lady had made it. "achhi hai?", "perfect" said I. "Let's sit on the jhoola in my balcony, its raining, maaza aayega"... I followed her to the balcony.
In the due course of our interaction, we discovered many common interests, travel, photography, reading, eating etc etc... but love for Gazal gelled us most. Mehndi Hassan to Ghulam Ali to Jagjit Singh to Hariharan, we knew almost all their recitals by heart.
As we sipped tea, she said...
"Wo toh Baarish ki boondain dekh kar khush hota hai,
Usko kya maloom ke har gir-ney wala qatraa Paani nahi hota …"
"Aa gayi thee ik din tanhaye bhi jazbaat mein
aank say bhi chand boondein gir padi barsaat mein."
was my answer...
... and this continued for an hour.
We chatted for almost 3 hours, on everything. She was a great company, a great Human being, I found a good friend in her.
"Its 9, I must leave now". "Oh shuks... 3 ghante beet gaye, pataa hi nahi chala." "I know".
... she led me to the front door, I swung my had for a shake, but she hugged me instead. "Doosti dil se hooti hai fir haat kyun milana?" aaur haan, aglee baar parking may aake call mat karna, sidhe ghar aa jana, khana khayenge." "yes, sure". I hugged her back and walked to my Car.
Wonderful soul, wonderful heart making her a wonderful person.....
Lunch is scheduled this Saturday....
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