crackships and other bolly delights

I’ve been fascinated by the characters of Nikhil and Meeta from Hasee Toh Phasee.. This is just my imagination at play of the story ahead..

REUNION

It had been more than nine months since he had last seen his wife. She was his inspiration, his motivation to survive months of rigorous training he had to undergo as an IPS recruit. Now as a newly instated IPS officer he couldn’t wait another day to see her, to hold her, to spend every moment awake or asleep with her. He had never figured himself as a die-hard romantic but that was until he met Meeta.

Meeta, his wife, the brilliant genius who was on the verge of a breakthrough in her scientific endeavors had sounded excited about the progress she had made with her research. Having relocated from China only three months earlier, it had worried him that her work might get affected. However, he was relieved when her transition was smooth.

She was now living alone in their home and he couldn’t wait anymore to start living together again. He was going crazy with anticipation as his flight landed in Mumbai. He didn’t know what he would do when he saw her, probably scoop her up in his arms and kiss her silly. He grinned at the images that were now dancing in front of his eyes. He really needed to get a grip on himself, he thought. When had he become so utterly hopelessly romantic? When he met her, of course !

He was sorely disappointed to find Saleem waiting for him at the ‘arrivals’ instead of Meeta. Had she forgotten? He worried for the smallest fraction of a second but set it aside with the thought that her work was at a crucial stage. He felt relieved to hear it aloud from Saleem that Meeta was very busy or she would’ve been there to receive him . Yes, he knew that, he would have to wait just a little more to experience moments of sheer bliss. Right, the romance had surely made way for corniness he thought slightly disgusted with himself.

When he rang the bell of his house, the last person he expected to open the door was his dad but it was that kind of day. He couldn’t say he was disappointed to find his house filled with his family members. Mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, their two kids, Kabir, Meeta’s parents and extended family, everybody was there except her. His eyes kept searching for her while everybody tried to get a piece of him. He had never been given so much importance in his entire life and this attention felt unreal. He was being applauded and congratulated from all sides and then, all of a sudden there she was. She was clearly fixing something when she heard him, had left it mid way and come running. How he knew that he couldn’t say, he just knew. She was beaming watching him in the crowd silently waiting her turn while his eyes refused to leave her as if afraid to lose her if he did. She gave him a reassuring nod telling him to take his time for she wasn’t going anywhere. When he clawed his way out of the crowd towards her, she was shaking with quiet laughter.

He, however just pulled her into a hug that she reciprocated with a feverish desperate intensity. Suddenly everybody else felt like intruders, looking uncomfortably at each other before making loud conversations hoping that the noise would drown out the fervent passion the moment exuded. When they pulled apart after several moments, they were misty eyed but content. They were very private individuals but this one time was beyond even their control. There is pain in separation and yearning, the only thing that alleviates it is being with the person you miss so fervently. Nevertheless, in a fashion typical of extended desi families where such notions of romance are left unacknowledged, here as well after a few moments of privacy the couple had to attend to other folks. Nikhil went back to being patted on his back while being simultaneously grilled on his training and possible future postings. Meeta quietly made way to the kitchen to arrange for refreshments accompanied by his mother. His mother patted Meeta’s cheeks knowingly while she in return smiled gratefully at the understanding they shared.

Nikhil caught Saleem smirking at him from across the room and was reminded of one of his drill instructors during training. He flinched involuntarily, it was scary how much he was affected by even the thoughts of his training even though he had completed it successfully. Meeta, he needed to see Meeta, she would put his mind at ease. She could do that for him even from miles away. Now, he needed to be with her. He looked around, there was no escape. He had trained to be among the best police officers in the country, surely he could device a way to get away. So he did, it was simple enough, he needed to freshen up he said and hastened to his, no- their room.

Now he had to get her to the room as well. He called her on her mobile phone only to find it beeping away in the room. He sat on the bed his frustration growing at an alarming rate. Just as he was giving up hope, he heard the door to the room close.

Like a dream, like his dream of many many days and nights, there she stood, smiling at him, her eyes brimming with emotion. He didn’t know when he reached her or cupped her face or even kissed her. He didn’t even realize when she kissed him back and hugged him tight. He only knew he was not ready to let go of her. “Meeta” he said in a way only he could, his voice tender and soft. She felt a shudder run through her body. It felt like an illusion to her like her every night’s dream had come alive yet was threatening to dissolve into nothingness. She held him closer.

"I love you" she said simply. He stilled for the tiniest moment before looking at her with a sort of wonder in his eyes. They had been married for at least a year and a half now and they had never really said those three words to each other. It was always a given that they loved each other, they knew they loved each other, it was never said though. It didn’t seem important enough. Now, however once the words had come out in the open, it hit him with the force of a speeding truck. He could’ve sworn he staggered physically at the impact the words created. He held her roughly by the shoulder and planted kisses on her face incessantly. She was now laughing openly but he refused to stop until she pushed him away saying she had to get going as there were guests to be attended to.