Author's POV
"Mumma, aap do lunch boxes kis liye pack kar rahi hai?" Aakash asked, his gaze falling on the two identical lunch boxes on the dining table, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
("Mumma, why are you packing two lunch boxes?")
"Ek tere liye aur ek mère liye pack kar rahi hoon." Meera's voice preceded her as she emerged from the kitchen.
("I am packing one for you and one for me.")
"Aap dance classes aaj se hi join kar rahi ho kya?"
("Are you joining the dance classes from today?")
''Ha''
("Yes")
"Ok"
"Tu mujhe Academy tak chod dega. Academy tere office ke lane mein hi hain."
("Will you drop me off at the academy. The academy is in the lane where your office is located.")
"Theek hai, par thoda jaldi," he said, walking out of the house.
("Ok, but quickly.")
She took the lunch boxes, hurried behind him, and locked the door. Once settled in the car, the engine came to life, and they merged into the morning traffic.
"Aapne yeh wali academy mein hi kyu join kiya? Is it because it is near my office?" he asked, and his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
("Why did you choose this academy only? Is it because it is near my office?")
"Woh meri ek friend me suggest kiya, uski bhatiji yeh academy mein dance sikhati hai. Isliye wahi join kiya. Uska naam shayad Esha hoga." She told, her thumbs tapping away at her phone screen. The rest of the ride was silent, each lost in their thoughts.
("One of my friends suggested that her niece teach dance in that academy. That's why I joined here. I guess her name is Esha.")
"Lejiye hum pohoch gaye," he said, stopping the car near the entrance of the academy.
("We have reached.")
"Theek hai, shaam ko milenge. Sambhal ke jana," her mother told while getting out of the car.
("Ok, we will meet in the evening. Be careful while going.")
"Aur sun mein ghar ko chali jaungi. Tune kaha tha na ki tujhe aaj naye project ke wajah se deri ho jayegi. Isliye tu mera matt soch mein chali jaungi."
("And listen, I will go home. You said that you will be late today because of the new project. So, don't think about me.")
"Par Maaa...."
("But Maaa....")
"Par war kuch nahi, mein ne kaha na mein apne aap chali jaungi. Tujhe kya lagta mein khud se ghar nahi jaa sakti?"
("No ifs and buts, I told you I will go by myself. Do you think I can't go?")
"Aisa kuch nahi hai, mera matlab hai ki..."
("It's not like that, I mean...")
"Mein chali jaungi Aakash. Tujhe mere liye office se kaam chodke aane ki koi jarurat nahi hai."
("I will go, Aakash. You don't have to leave your office work for me."
"Jaisa aap ko theek lage. Par sambhal kar aana aur kisi cheez ki zarurat ho toh call karna."
("As you wish. But come carefully, and if you need something, then call me.")
"Theek hai"
("Ok")
He watched her for a moment until she entered the academy, then drove away towards his office. Her eyes quickly scanned the people in the room as if she were trying to look for someone.
---------
"Umm.....Is anybody named Esha here?" She asked one of the students who had just arrived at the academy.
"Ji"
("Yes")
Meera heard a voice from behind. Turning, she found herself face-to-face with a young woman. A look of mild confusion crossed Meera's features.
"Aap Esha ko janti hai?"
("Do you know Esha?")
"Nahi aunty, mein hi Esha hu."
("No, aunty, I am Esha.")
"Accha", she gave a small smile.
("Ok")
"Aap Meera Raichand hai, right? Bua ji ne bola tha ki aap aaj se academy join kar rahi rahi."
("You're Meera Raichand, right? My aunt informed me that you will be joining from today.")
They chatted for a few minutes before heading to the practice.
---------
It was lunchtime; Esha was sitting alone at the table in a corner. A slight movement of the chair beside her pulled her from her thoughts. She looked up and found Meera, who was standing holding her lunch box.
"If you don't mind, can I have lunch with you? Woh aaj pehele din hai aur mein kisi ko nahi janti. Itne logon mein akela khane ka mann bhi nahi kar raha hai."
("If you don't mind, can I have lunch with you? Today is my first day, and I don't know anyone. I don't want to eat alone amongst everyone.")
"I won't mind, aunty, please join," she replied with a small and welcoming smile. Meera too smiled and sat beside her.
They had a conversation while they were having their lunch. Meera talked about her passion for dancing. But she had to set it aside after her marriage, as she didn't get any time. They both cracked jokes and laughed together. After their lunch, they packed their boxes and sat for some time, resuming the conversation they had left before. After 10 minutes, they returned to their practice.
--------
It was 6 in the evening; Esha glanced at the clock and stopped.
"Ok, guys, it's already evening. We will continue our practice tomorrow."
Everyone began to disperse and left the academy. Esha removed her ghungroo, washed her face with cold water, and packed her bag. After she was done, she came out of the academy. She headed toward her car and started it. She was about to leave when she saw Meera standing on the footpath waiting for a ride, but was unable to find one.
Esha went near Meera and asked her, "Aunty, aap theek hai. You seem tense."
"Woh baarish ke wajah se, sare cabs aur rickshaws traffic mein phas gaye hai. Unhe yaha aane ke liye 1 ghanta lagega." Meera said, her gaze shifting between the road and her phone.
("All the cabs and rickshaws are stuck in traffic due to rain. It will take them 1 hour to reach here.")
Esha took out her phone to check if she could book a cab that would arrive sooner, only to find the same result: all the cabs showed an estimated arrival time of 1 hour and 15 minutes.
"Aayiye, mein aap ko chodd deti hu. Agar aap book karenge toh apko toh deri ho jayegi na."
("Come, I will drop you. If you book a ride, you will get late.")
"Nahi beta, mein chali jaungi. Tum toh dusri taraf reheti ho. Tumhe bhi deri ho jayegi na. Aur mere liye tumhe itni takleef uthane ki koi jaroorat nahi hai."
("No, dear, I will go. You will stay on the opposite side. You will be late. Don't take trouble because of me.")
"Aunty, aap kitni der yaha khadi rahengi? Aur waise bhi raat hone wali hai. It might not be safe. Aur mujhe koi deri nahi hogi."
("Aunty, how long will you stand here?")
"Par tumhare parents tumhare liye wait kar rahe honge. Mera beta adhe ghante mein aa jayega. Mein uske saath chali jaungi."
("But your parents must be waiting for you. My son will be here in half an hour. I will go with him.")
"Unhe bhi traffic ke wajah se late ho jayega. Chaliye aap mere saath."
("He might get late due to the traffic. You come with me.")
"Par...."
("But....")
"Aap agar mere saath chalengi toh mujhe accha lagega."
("If you come with me, I will feel good.")
Meera finally gave up.
"Theek hai"
("Ok")
She settled in the passenger seat of the car. Esha drove through the bustling streets of the city. Esha dropped Meera at her house in the next 45 minutes and headed home.
--------
The heavy rain had snarled traffic, and Aakash didn't get home until 8:30 PM.
"Sorry, Maa, aaj thoda late hogaya. Aaj toh bohot traffic tha. 1 ghante se car traffic mein phasi hui thi."
("Sorry, Maa, I got late today. There was a lot of traffic. My car was stuck in traffic for 1 hour.")
"Haa, mujhe laga hi tha. Aaj toh mujhe bhi thoda late hua aane mein."
("Yeah, I thought. Even I got a little late today.")
"Aap wapas kaise aayi?" Aakash asked, removing her coat.
("How did you come back?")
"Mein ne pehele socha tha ki cab ya richshaw book kar lu. Par saare rides traffic mein phase hue thee. Isliye mujhe Esha ne drop kiya. Bohot acchi ladki hai woh, mujhe bohot pasand aayi."
("At first, I thought of booking a ride. But all the rides were stuck in traffic. Esha dropped me. She is a sweet girl, I like her.")
Esha.....
When he heard the name, it echoed in his mind, stirring a strange sense of familiarity he couldn't quite place. Then he recalled that his mother had mentioned her friend's niece, who teaches at the academy.
"OK, toh kaisa thaa aapka pehela din? Maza aaya?"
"OK, how was your first day? Did you enjoy?"
"Haa, mujhe bohot accha laga. Mujhe aisa laga jaise tab lagta tha jab mein apne college ke time me dance karti thi." Meera responded, feeling nostalgic about some of the precious memories in her college days.
("Yes, I felt good. I felt the same feeling that I used to feel when I used to dance during my college days.")
Aakash smiled, looking at his mother. After his father's death, his mother had shouldered so much, giving him the love of both a mother and a father. Her happiness was all he ever wanted. To see her this alive, this joyful, made his own heart swell.
"Jaldi se fresh hoja warna khana Thanda ho jayega."
("Go and freshen up quickly or else the food will get cold.")
Aakash came within 5 minutes, and they had their dinner together. After their dinner, he went out of the house for a walk. He had taken a few steps when he saw a white car. His mind went back to the day when he met the girl in the middle of the road, with a broken car and no one to help. He watched the car for a few minutes. He remembered every movement she made when he was fixing her car. He came out of his thoughts when her mother called him.
He came home and went to his room. He opened his laptop to check tomorrow's schedules. When he was done, he placed his laptop aside and lay down on his bed. Within no time, he was pulled into a peaceful slumber.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cutely strange. He knows her face and her name. But doesn't know that she is Esha. How will he react when he finds out that she is her? For that, stay tuned!!
Hope you like this chapter. If yes, please like the chapter and comment on your favourite part.
Thanks for reading❤️...