Category : Stories

Sub Category : Romance

"Hey, now lets have some pani puris..." said sofia with her soft and appealing voice. It was the fifth item which she had demanded this evening. I simply nodded my head and said, "ok, you will definetly get fat and pimples will spoil all your beauty" She giggled and punched me softly on my cheek. In the last three hours it was the tenth time she had punched me. I don't know why did i made these countings . . . anyways after having those spicy pani puris finally we walked back to her hostel. . . her eyes were still red due to the extra chilli which she loved to add with the pani puri. . .
 "Look at your red eyes, they're making you look like a witch. . . !!!!" i teased her.
 She punched me for the last time today and said, "that was for today . .. Be ready to tolerate me tomorrow evening as well."
"As you say my princess," we finally bid each other goodbye and I turned to return to my room which was a few metres away away from her hostel. I paused for a moment and turned back again . . . a fair coloured,smiling face, medium long hairs and wearing white top and black jeans lady was entering to her hostel. . . yes she was shofia .. I knew her since the last two weeks only and we had became so much friendlier that every evening we met we spent lots of time with each other. I clearly remember the day we first met. It was my best friend Arpita's birthday. She had invited some of her friends too. It was a cold evening. I was standing near the restaurant waiting for the birthday girl to come . . .
 "Hii... Pravir" the same soft and appealing voice came. I turned back. A girl in pink salwar kameez with a present in her hand and was waiting for my reply .
"Sorry do i know you ..?" I asked
"I am sofia naaz, arpita and i live in the same hostel" she said.
 "Ohh hii . . . nice to meet you" we did a formal handshake.
 "I knew your name from first year only, arpita many a times mentioned your name but never got an opportunity to meet you" She said
"Haha. . . so finally you got the OPPORTUNITY to meet me . .. I am Feeling so special" i tried to crack a (lame) joke. Soon we started to talk and it was she who made this conversation so comfortable for me . . . her eyes had a charm which fully mesmerized me. . i wanted to continue talking to her but soon arpita arrived and we became busy in making her birthday special. We had a huge celebration there. . . my job was to click photos as i was the best in it. Sofia started giving different poses and i was ready with my camera. . . The party was over at 10 pm. But since sofia's hostel was a bit far so arpita told me to drop her. Arpita had shifted to a new hostel last month. That was the first time we walked togethar. Being an extrovert of the extreme level sofia started explaining all the things which she experianced during the party . . how tasty the food was, the couple dance,the ballons,the cakes everything. . . i usually get irritated but for the first time i was listening to her each and every detail making such cute faces. . . she gave me her phone no and entered her hostel. From that day only we started sharing every evening togethar. Slowly i started knowing her likes dislikes ,her hobbies. . . i never got a chance to say or express anything. And if got one she quickly interrupted And continued her gossips. . . she became a bad habit for me . . . after waking up the first thing which i checked was her messages. . . the whole day i waited for her one single message and a simple "hmm" or "ok" from her was enough to make my day. I took all biodata from Arpita about Sofia's earlier life .Once she was in a relationship but the boy betrayed her. She had battled depression for two years and now she wants to live life to the fullest leaving all her weakness apart. From that day only i wanted to be her strength and not her weakness. . . i didnt knew that it was love or just an influctuation. . .i wanted to share all my feelings to her. . . but the fear of losing her never let me to do so.. .
Days passed like this and our friendship got more stronger. I never expressed my feelings to her. I dont knew if she ever noticed me when i was busy in watching her hairs coming over her face or when she got those cute dimples while laughing or when i just watched her fast forward lips while explaining me anything. I dont knew i loved her or not but yes i was addicted to her. I had no ideas regarding her views about me . . It was 5pm in the evening and the cloudy weather was pouring all its romance in me. . . after few minutes i took my unbrella and went for evening walk with sofia. . . today she was wearing a black jeans and white top with a light blue jacket. . i was mad about her dressing senses and always appreciated it and as usual she flaunted it. . . amidst the thundering and lightening, we made our way towards the coffe hut. Today also everything was same but the sparke in her eyes was missing. . . i could sense that everything was not ok but didnt want to discuss it and spoil that evening. . . but before i could say something sofia started to speak,
"Pravir you are the best i could have in this college. Last few months were the most memorable days . . .this is our last semester and today is our last evening togethar. My engagement has been fixed and tomorrow i will be leaving home. I will only come for my final exams. . . "
I was sweating. . . my eyes got blurred . . . i rubbed them and tears started rolling down my cheeks. . . i had never been in such an awkward position before.. . . "How can you just leave me like this . . . who gave you the right to take decision on our relationship. . " i somehow controlled my emotions . . . took a long breath and then again said
 "hey what happened all of a sudden . . . why are you getting engaged so early." "Everything cant be explained pravir, there are some personal issues. . " she said "Yes you are right, everything cant be explained. . . . . some things are meant to be felt. ." i don’t knew she understood this sarcasm or not. . . anyways we came out of the cafe and started walking to her hostel. . That evening the thundering has defeated sofia's gossips. . . i was silent but my heart was bursting out of questions. . . suddenly it started raining heavily , i took out my umbrella and sofia came close to me. I could smell her hypnotising perfume. . . her hands touched mine for a while and there was a strong jitter in my heart. It was the most beautiful rain i had ever seen in my life. . .we reached her hostel and exchanged an enchanted look for a while. . i could see her,opening the gate . . it was her last departure . . i turned back and started returning . . . few steps after, i again turned but this time there was someone to welcome my solidarity. . . sofia ran to me and hugged me tightly and said
"This is the moment when our souls have no names. . . from tomorrow i will be having a muslim soul and you a hindu soul. . . just want to cherish every bit of this moment ".
 " I LOVE YOU sofia, i know there is a world outside waiting to tear us apart. . . . but right this moment you are only mine and no one can take this moment from me. . . " my voice fumbled.
 Sofia pushed me and said ," no I CANT LOVE YOU . . . i have no right. Our constitution doesnot believe in RIGHT TO LOVE," I tried to hug her once more for the last tym but she pushed me again . . . i held her hands and kissed it . . . she pulled back her hands and turned back to return but paused for a while and gave me a flying kiss . . . this time i could see the lost glitter in her eyes . . . i got a momentary glimpse of my funny and talkative sofia for the last time. . . .
 Today six years have passed and Destiny has brought my evening to the same street . . . i was sitting in the same coffe hut . . . soon a BMW arrived and a couple stepped out of it. . . the lady was wearing a burqa. . . she stopped infront of the pani puri stall and ordered " pani puri with extra chilli". . . . soon i identified those red eyes. . .her husband was busy on the phone . .
 I went to her and said " can u share some of these with me",. . . Her red eyes soon got her twinkle back. . i could clearly imagine her dimples inside the burkha. . her dressing sense and aspiration of becoming a fashion designer was buried deep inside her burqa. . . there was a sign of pain and helplessness in her eyes. . . . Finally i broke the silence and said, "let everyone try to make us apart but they will never be able to take away this evening . . . . its the same evening in which we have spent our most beautifull and memorable days . . we can relive these memories always whenever we can . . i will wait for you every second saturday of month. . . . promise me you will come . . ."
A voice came from the burqa," i am not allowed to love anyone . . . i cant love you. . . " . . . . She stood up and departed but she could not hide the hope which was in her eyes at that time . . . . i smiled and started waiting for the upcoming second saturday . . . .