“Tum? Yahan kya karne aayi ho?”

“Andar to aane do, Kabir.”

“I don’t think so. Jao yahan se.”

“Please. Mujhe tumse kuchh baat karni hai. Ek baar, please?”

He wasn’t persuaded by Shreya’s pleading, but he feared that she will create a scene if he didn’t let her in. Reluctantly, he stepped aside.

“You have done so well in your career, Kabir. I feel so proud of you.”

He didn’t respond, instead just stood before her with folded hands and regarded her coolly.

“I know your predilection for your young subordinates, Kabir. But I still love you.”

“Tum mujhse kya expect kar rahi ho, Shreya?”

“Let’s get back together, Kabir. Hum saath rahenge to kya kuchh nahin kar sakte hain. I have so many plans. A new channel. Our own. Mere contacts aur paise, aur tumhara journalistic talent. We are a formidable combination, Kabir.”

“Isliye tum wapas Delhi aayi?”

“Sirf tumhare liye.”

“Aur Ananya ko hamare raaste se hatane ki koshish kar rahi ho?”

“Woh hamare raaste se hat chuki hai.”

“Ananya meri fiancee hai.”

“Uski Ma tumhari shaadi kabhi nahin hone degi.”

“Kyonki tumne unke kaan bhar diye hain.”

“Bas tumhari sachchai batayi hai.”

“Hamara beta?”

“Ek chhota sa jhooth to banta hai love and war mein, Kabir.”

“Aur tumhein aisa kyon lagta hai ki main in sabse bahut khush hoon?”

“Come on, Kabir. Woh bachchi hai tumhare saamne. You are no more over me than I am over you. Tum Ananya ko us farmhouse mein nahin lekar gaye the jiske baare mein maine tumhein bataya tha?”

“Tum hamein follow karwa rahi thi?”

“Love and war, Kabir!”

“Agar Ananya tumhein us din pub se nahin le jaati to? Kaise dosti karti tum usse?”

“Tumhein pata hai Kabir ki mujhe jo chahiye hota hai woh main haasil kar leti hoon. Ananya se milne ka woh pahla plan nahin tha. Aur unsuccessful hota to aakhiri bhi nahin hota.”

“I am impressed, Shreya. So you still love me?”

“Itna sab maine kiske liye kiya?”

“Ye sab to tumne apni marzi se kiya, Shreya. Kya tum mera ek test dene ko taiyaar ho?”

“Koi bhi test le lo, Kabir.”

“Baitho. Main aata hoon.”

She sat down on the sofa, while Kabir went inside the bedroom.

On coming back he tossed something at her which made her jump up. It was a pistol. Before she could recover, she found him pointing another one at her.

“I play a fair game, Shreya. Pistol tumhare paas bhi hai. Safety latch off hai. Loaded hai. I want to kill you. Lekin tum mujh par pahle goli chala do to bach sakti ho.”

Shreya tried to talk some sense to him, but not before pointing her pistol at him. “Ye kya pagalpan hai, Kabir?”

“Love and war, Shreya. Dono hi pagal hote hain. Ek kaam karte hain. Hum coordinate kar ke fire karte hain. Dono log saath hi mar jaate hain. Saari great love stories ka yahi end hota hai. You know, Romeo and Juliet, Shiri-Farhad…”

“Kabir. Main tumhare saath jeena chahti hoon, marna nahin chahti.”

“Saath mein to ab mar hi sakte hain, Shreya. Jeena hai to chala do goli mujh par. Main teen tak ginta hoon aur tumhein pahla mauka deta hoon. Ek… Do…”

“Nahiiin!” Kabir didn’t know the source of the scream for a moment. Shreya had pressed the trigger and — Ananya was standing in front of him, shielding him from the bullet she expected to come his way.

“Ananya!” he turned her around and drew her sobbing form in his arms. “It’s okay. You are safe. We are safe. Pistols loaded nahin hai. Calm down. I’m sorry.”

He threw his pistol aside. Ananya recovered, but still continued to lean on him for support. Shreya was bewildered and stared wide-eyed at the scene unfolding before her.

Kabir helped Ananya to the sofa, then faced Shreya.

“I can’t die with you, Kabir,” Shreya said, scared but stubborn.

“And Ananya can die for me,” he hissed as he closed in on her, “So leave now. And leave both of us alone. Warna ab mujhe bhi games play karne aate hain, Shreya. It won’t end well for you.”

He came back to sit beside Ananya after seeing Shreya out of his house and bolting the door behind her. Ananya wasn’t crying, but was still shaken. He gathered her in his arms and she clung to him.

“Mujhe aapse jhagda nahin karna chahiye tha,” she said, her voice trembling, “Lekin main aapko chhod kar nahin gayi thi. Bas… I am sorry. Maine aap par bina soche-samjhe gussa kiya.”

“It’s okay. It’s okay, Ananya. Clam down.”

“Kya aap mujhse… Do you still love me?” She looked up, fearful.

“Pagal ladki. Ek baar gusse mein jhagda ho gaya to kya main tumse pyaar karna band kar doonga?”

She held him even tighter and mumbled, “Sorry.”

“Taali ek haath se nahin bajti. I am also sorry. Mujhe patiently deal karna chahiye the isse. Lekin zindagi, hopefully, lambi hai, Ananya. Abhi to aise kitne jhagde honge,” he made her look up at him and smiled, “Kabhi main tumhein manaunga, kabhi tum mujhe manana – nahin? – achchha main hi manaunga.”

She couldn’t help chuckling.

“Har chhote-mote jhagde se rishte khatam hone lagein to duniya bahut unbearable ho jayegi. Waise itni raat ko tum aayi kaise?” he suddenly remembered.

She just smiled, looking embarrassed.

“Scooter se? God! Ananya. Tum– Kya apni jaan dene ka soch kar nikli thi? Raaste mein bach gayi to yahan kood gayi pistol ke saamne.”

“Mujhe kya pata tha ki woh khali hai?”

“Yahi to baat hai na, Ananya,” his voice grew tender and reflective, “Tumhein nahin pata tha ki woh khali hai. Tum meri jaan bachane ke liye…” Rest of the words got stuck in his throat.

When Ananya looked at him, she had to avert her eyes. His amorous, yet fond gaze gave her goosebumps.

“Bedroom mein chalogi, Ananya?”

She knew what he wanted, but she couldn’t find her voice. She could only respond by nodding.

—

When he pulled up the car in front of her later at the night, they were both reluctant to let go. They remained seated in the car for a long time.

“Let’s get married,” Kabir said finally.

“Ma phir se tension mein hain aapko lekar. Shreya ne pata nahin unhein…”

“Taking a leaf from your book,” he grinned, “Maine ye lagaya hua tha aaj usse baat karte hue.” He held his hands out.

“Spy cam?”

“Spy cam. Ma ko dikha dena. I think it should be sufficient.”

She shook her head smiling, “I don’t believe it. Aapko pata tha ki woh aane waali hai.”

“Nahin. Lekin I am ready enough a reporter. Tha ek mere paas. Bas use sahi direction mein point karne ki zaroorat thi. Woh pistol waala part nahin hai recorded. So Ma won’t freak out.”

“Waise ye kya stunt soojha aapko bhi, Kabir? Aise pistols nikaalne ka?”

“She brings out the worst in me, Ananya.”

“Phir bhi–”

“Main use batana chahta tha ki uska obsession aur uski loneliness mere liye uska pyaar nahin hai. Tumne aur zyada achchhe se samjha diya.”

Ananya shook her head, unconvinced.

“I know, I know,” he conceded, “Dubara nahin hoga.”

“Aapke paas do pistols hain kyon?”

“Kabhi investigation karte-karte mil gaye the. Khali the, Ananya. Ab maaf kar do, please?”

“Theek hai,” she pouted.

“Aur Ananya!”

“Ji.”

“Tum bhi dekh lena woh clip.”

“Mujhe dekhne ki zaroorat nahin hai, Kabir. Mujhe aapki baat par kabhi shaq karna hi nahin chahiye tha–”

“No. Ananya. I want you to see it. Agar nahin dekhogi to mujh par to bharosa karogi, lekin ye bharosa nahin hoga tumhein ki Shreya kis hadd tak ja sakti hai. Aur mujhe dar hai ki woh chup nahin baithegi. So I want you to be prepared for it.”

She reached over the gearbox and gave him an awkward hug. “Aap bahut achchhe hain. Agar maine phir aapse kabhi jhagda kiya na to whack me on the head. Taki meri akal thikaane aa jaye.”

“Actually,” Kabir tapped his chin as if thinking seriously, “I think main jhagda hone doonga. Kyonki make-up waala part better hai.”

“Kabir!”

He gave her a quick peck on the lips and smiled. “Good night, sweetheart.”

“Good night, Kabir.”

—

To be continued