Fasana

#Episode5

#ContinuationofTheMarriage

#Alovestory

#RhituparnaChakraborty

#Disclaimer: This is an original work of fiction. Any relation to any person or organism living or dead is purely coincidental. This story cannot be published, copied or reproduced elsewhere without the consent of the author Rhituparna Chakraborty. This is a work of imagination with no intention to hurt anyone.

Priyanshu was not happy. He felt Mushtaque and Saanchi shared a bond, an invisible bond which had immense strength. He had lost Saanchi once. He could not lose her again. He started hunting for information about Mushtaque. Priyanshu was happy that Mushtaque’s religion was different from that of Saanchi and Purshottam Pandit would never say yes to this relationship. All the same, Saanchi was their only child. For her happiness, he might agree. Hence, Priyanshu had to find all the information about Mushtaque. The hunt for information started.

Saanchi went to college a little early today. The reason… she was unable to sleep. Not that anyone disturbed her, it was just that she kept on musing over all the moments she had spent with Mushtaque. His smile, his eyes, his way of talking, his smart gait, and most importantly his gentleman attitude. Never for once did Saanchi feel unsafe in his company. Never for once did he look at her with lust. Mushtaque did not text her or call her in the morning. Saanchi was somewhat worried. He did text her last night that she looked beautiful, but after that, there was no text, there were no calls. After every class Saanchi would look at her phone. She was disappointed. Just then Priyanshu came. Priyanshu said, ‘Hi Saanchi.’ Saanchi replied nonchalantly, ‘Hey’. Priyanshu sat on the chair, right in front of Saanchi’s table in the staff room and said, ‘ You know what, the other day I discovered a new sandwich shop at the corner of new street. They have a wide variety of scrumptious sandwiches. If you are free, we can go and have our evening snacks there. What do you say?’ Saanchi was lost in thoughts of Mushtaque. She heard whatever Priyanshu said but she was in no mood to go out. She said politely, ‘I would have loved to Priyanshu, but, I have a splitting headache. I think I should go home and get some sleep.’ Priyanshu replied with concern, ‘Oh. Let me drop you home then.’ Saanchi said, ‘It’s okay. I will walk home. You please carry on. Thanks a lot though.’ Priyanshu knew there was no point coaxing her, so he left.

Saanchi looked at her phone hoping against hope that Mushtaque will call. Well, he was a very busy person. His job was hectic and stressful. Was she expecting a lot from him? Moreover, he never said he liked her or if he felt anything for her. How could she assume things? No, that’s not right. She picked up her bag and walked out lazily from the staff room. The college was almost empty. The library had some students and teachers. Rest, everyone had left. Saanchi walked slowly in the corridor when her phone rang. It was Mushtaque. She smiled like a happy kid at seeing his name flashing on her mobile screen. Saanchi received the call. Mushtaque said, ‘I hope I did not disturb you.’ Saanchi replied softly, ‘Not at all.’ Mushtaque said, ‘I won’t take much time of yours. Actually, a friend of mine needed some help with history. He is into some research and he is right there in front of your college. If you have some time, could you please help him?’ Saanchi said, ‘ Sure. If he is near my college, ask him to come and meet me at the reception. I will see him there.’ Mushtaque replied, ‘I will tell him to wait at the reception. Thank you. Bye.’ Saanchi said ‘Bye’. Saanchi consoled herself, ‘ At least he called. Even if it is for some work, I got a chance to hear his voice. Can’t ask for more. That itself is enough for me.’ Saanchi walked to the reception. There was no one there. She called up Mushtaque and said, ‘ Your friend is not here as yet.’ Mushtaque replied, ‘He is right behind you Saanchi. Hang up the phone.’ Saanchi hung up the phone and looked behind. It was none other than Mushtaque himself. Saanchi could not stop smiling. She asked him surprised, ‘How come you are here?’ Mushtaque smiled and said, ‘Thought of giving you a surprise. Although I am not sure whether the surprise was pleasant or unpleasant.’ Saanchi wished she could tell him how happy she was to see him. She said, ‘ What do you think?’ Mushtaque said with a smile, ‘Well, I hope it’s pleasant because for me, meeting you is always a blissful experience.’ Saanchi blushed. Mushtaque then said, ‘There is a new sandwich shop at the corner of new street….’. Before Mushtaque could continue, Saanchi said, ‘ Shall we go there?’ Mushtaque laughed and said, ‘Yes.’ Saanchi said, ‘However, there is a condition.’ Mushtaque asked, ‘What?’ Saanchi replied, ‘It’s my treat today. You won’t pay please.’ Mushtaque looked at Saanchi and said, ‘Umm…we will see about that. Shall we go now?’

At the sandwich place, Mushtaque and Saanchi sat at the corner table. White walls, blue windows and doors, comfortable chairs and tables, soothing music and ambrosial ambiance made Saanchi and Mushtaque feel immensely comfortable in each other’s company. Mushtaque gave the menu to Saanchi and said, ‘What would you like to have?’ Saanchi took the menu and said, ‘ I like grilled Mediterranean veg sandwich. How about you?’ Mushtaque said, ‘I like whatever you like.’ Mushtaque had said that looking right into Saanchi’s eyes. Saanchi was stunned for a moment. Mushtaque then called the waiter and placed their order. Saanchi was still surprised at what Mushtaque had said. To avoid the awkwardness, Saanchi continued the conversation. She said, ‘ So, what made you come here today? Office work?’. Mushtaque again looked at Saanchi right in her eyes and said, ‘ Why? Do I have to make an excuse of office work to meet you?’ Saanchi was amazed. Saanchi thought, ‘Mushtaque used to be hesitant. What happened suddenly? He is not worried about what I might think. What’s happening?’. Mushtaque then said, ‘ Saanchi I am here because I don’t know when I will meet you next?’ Saanchi’s heart skipped a beat. Saanchi thought, ‘Where was Mushtaque going?’ Mushtaque continued. My transfer orders are here. I will be moving out of the city in some weeks. Tomorrow I am going out of town for some important work. After that I will be busy winding up stuff. I don’t know if I will be able to meet you before I leave.’ Saanchi’s heart broke. This was the last thing she wanted to hear from Mushtaque. He was leaving. She should have known. He was in the police. His was a transferable job. Damn! What now? He will forget her? It will be all over? Over, even before it started? No!’

Saanchi went quiet. She had nothing to say. Mushtaque kept on looking at Saanchi through out as if he wanted to know what was going on in her mind. When it was time to pay the bill, Saanchi insisted on paying the bill, however Mushtaque gently said, ‘Please Saanchi. Let me pay today. Please.’ Saanchi was already broken deep inside. Mushtaque was leaving. That’s why he had come to meet her. He won’t come again.

Mushtaque dropped Saanchi at her home. Saanchi disembarked from the car. She wanted to cry but she could not. Mushtaque got off the car too and right in front of the gate of Saanchi’s home, Mushtaque looked at Saanchi’s eyes and said earnestly, ‘ Saanchi, I don’t know how to say this and I don’t know if I should say this. But…’. Mushtaque hesitated. Saanchi looked at Mushtaque’s brown eyes and said, ‘But?’. Mushtaque continued, ‘But the fact is, once I leave this place, there will be very slim chances of me coming back here.’ Saanchi eyes welled up with tears. The tears should not flow out or else Mushtaque would know. Saanchi looked away from Mushtaque’s eyes. Mushtaque said, ‘ I was waiting for this.’ Saanchi looked at Mushtaque surprised and said, ‘Waiting for what?’ Mushtaque smiled and said, ‘ Waiting to read your eyes.’ Saanchi gazed at him and said, ‘I did not understand.’ Mushtaque smiled like an innocent child and said, ‘But, I understood. Okay, now I can tell you.’ Saanchi asked him confused, ‘ Tell what?’. Mushtaque smiled again and said, ‘Since I won’t be able to come back to this place again so soon, would you like to come with me?’ Saanchi gasped. She stood there like a statue. Mushtaque then said gently, ‘I meant, I will seek permission from your parents to let me take you formally, as Mrs. Saanchi…’ Saanchi did not know whether she should laugh or cry. Everything seemed like a dream for her. Mushtaque proposed her. She had the least idea that he would propose her this way. She stood still there. Mushtaque said, ‘Take your time Saanchi. Let me know your answer. Bye.’

Mushtaque drove off. Saanchi wanted to scream with joy. She wanted to dance with joy. She walked up to her room, threw her bag aside and danced with joy. She was so happy that, for almost an hour, she danced, sang songs, lied down on the bed and reminisced all the words Mushtaque had told her. She then took out her phone to say ‘yes’ to Mushtaque, but, she thought, she would meet him and say ‘yes’. Saanchi was so overjoyed that she did not hear the phone ringing. It was from Priyanshu. Saanchi finally heard the phone ringing. She went ahead and received the call. Priyanshu said, ‘Hey how is your headache?’ Saanchi said happily, ‘I am absolutely fine now.’ Priyanshu then said, ‘That’s cool. By way, you know what, I saw your friend Mushtaque.’ Saanchi said , ‘Aha. That’s nice. Where did you see him?’ Priyanshu said, ‘At the ice cream parlor. He was there with his daughter. She is adorable. Around 6 years old.’ Saanchi said disbelievingly, ‘What? What are you saying? You must be wrong.’ Priyanshu said, ‘I was there with my friends. I heard daddy daughter talking. There was a lady with them too. I guess the lady’s name was Sakina and the little girl’s name was Mehek. The little girl clearly addressed Mushtaque as daddy. You can call Mushtaque and ask him.’ Saanchi stood there shocked. This cannot be true. No…..

To be continued…….