Author's pov

"If we have a pond or a lake near our house,,,that means we have a huge property to look after...... it's our responsibility to keep our surroundings clean.... remember, a pond or a lake is an expensive part of this biodiversity....."

The play has started on the street. Today's play is on environmental cleanliness.

"Save environment, save humanity"

Total 7 to 8 girls and boys were taking part on that play including Sanjh and Amir. Amir is playing the role of a boy who is throwing garbage on the pond, while Sanjh is playing the role of a married woman who regularly use the pond to clean her dishes.

People has gathered around the play. They were watching eagerly.

Finally the play got over with a song by Sanjh and Amir. Other members danced according to the rhythm.

The play got over with huge claps.

The leader of this group is Avinash Singh. He paid everyone after the play. Avinash walked near Sanjh and Amir.

"You both did a great job....take this"

He gave them their share of money.

"Thanks Bhaiya"

Sanjh said.

"Oh c'mon Sanjh, how many times I have to tell you to not call me bhaiya..."

Avinash said with a sad face. Sanjh giggled.

"I can't help it... seriously"

She said while smiling.

"My poor luck! Anyway, next play will be on next month...I think we should start the rehearsal from tomorrow....the topic is child abuse.....Sanjh you will do the choreography and Amir, you will write a song, okay?"

Sanjh and Amir looked at each other and smiled. They love to do that.

Avinash left from there after few more minutes.

Sanjh and Amir sat side by side on a tea stall.

"So, are you planning to apply for a job?"

Sanjh asked him excitedly.

"I don't know... I'm confused"

Amir said while sipping his tea.

"Why? You should apply for a job you know....you topped in the final exam..."

"I know but I'm not sure what I exactly want...."

"Listen Amir, you were always very studious,,,I want to see you as a successful person...."

Sanjh said with so much hope on her eyes.

"What is the definition of success Sanjh? What is more important in this life, success or happiness?"

Amir asked looking at Sanjh.

"They both can come side by side..."

She said to him.

"But i can't digest success...if I want something in my life permanently, it's only your presence.....And I know how much you are scared of success...Deep down you have a thought that successful people always leave you.....They have got bigger ambition...I don't want to become successful, also I don't have a bigger ambition......why can't we spent this life on street play like this....our requirements are very minimum....we don't need a big mansion to spent this life.....we just need each other....."

A lump has formed on Sanjh's throat after hearing Amir's words. She averted her gaze.

"You are making me emotional... don't do this okay.... Sanjh Mathur is not a kid anymore....she doesn't like to cry....you know what the real thing is you are scared of the outer world..... that's why you are putting this on me..... I'm a strong girl and I don't need anyone around me... it's you who needs me..."

The way she said all these dramatically, creates pressure inside his tummy.

"Okay I agree...I need you but you don't need anyone.... that's true actually....You are brave and strong but I'm not strong like you... I'm scared of ghosts too"

A broad smile covered in Sanjh's face. She pulled him up by his elbow and dragged him on the road.

"Where are you taking me Sanjh... I'm so tired..."

"Stand right here okay.....and close your eyes....no cheating"

Amir closed his eyes with a smile on his face.

"Now give me your hand"

Amir slowly gave his hand to Sanjh and then he felt the touch of a wooden thing. He immediately got what the thing is. He opened his eyes and stared at the new flute which Sanjh just placed on his hand.

"This...is....AR 15 flute...I mean..this..is..costly..."

He was stuttering in shock.

"How did you buy this? I mean you don't take your pocket money from your father.....you wanted to buy a tank top for yourself last week but you bought this for me... Sanjh...this is..."

Amir was looking at Sanjh in shock and sadness.

"This is for you Amir.....I have seen how you used to look at this whenever we passed by that musical shop.... aren't you happy?"

She asked with so much innocence that Amir's heart melted.

"Ofcourse I do... it's beautiful and it was my dream to buy this....but Sanjh, you don't need to do this..."

Sanjh lowered her eyes.

"I have noone except you Amir..... Don't say something like this....I felt happy while buying this.... don't snatch this happiness from me...."

Tears appeared on Amir's eyes and he immediately wiped that tear off his eyes. For a second his father's face appeared infront of his eyes.

Again he felt that his father was right. God has send this fairy for him. He is not alone in this world.

"You are such a kiddo Sanjh and now you are making me emotional....Hence it is proved who needs whom to survive"

The way Amir said the last part make her smile wholeheartedly. She immediately ran after him to catch him.

The air covered with their laughs. They both started to sing a song and few passerbys stared at them in amusement but they didn't care.

Singing and dancing is what they live for. Nothing mattered much to them.

.........,........

After getting inside her hostel room, she literally got startled after seeing her father.

Pooja was serving tea to Rajiv. Sanjh stood quietly at the door. When Rajiv found her, he smiled a bit. Then his eyes fell on her messy frame. For a second a small frown formed on his forehead.

"Pooja, can you give us a moment please?"

Rajiv said to Pooja and she immediately stepped out of the room.

"Come here"

Rajiv make his voice gentle.

Sanjh walked inside slowly.

"What the things you do girl? Look at yourself....when will you learn to groom yourself?"

Rajiv walked near her with a tensed face. He caught a dirt from her disheveled hair.

"Sanjh, go and take a shower...I have bought some clothes for you....we are going to attend your sister's party"

Rajiv took the packet and forwarded infront of Sanjh.

"I won't go"

She replied straightly.

"Won't you wish your sister happy birthday?"

Rajiv asked her.

"I will call her papa....please don't force me....you know how everyone reacts after seeing me, specially Dev uncle..."

She remembers her vacation days. When she used to go to home and what kind of humiliations she received from Dev.

"No, you are coming with me and that's final...."

Sanjh stared at her father with little anger.

"Don't show this attitude....I don't have much time"

Rajiv again said while looking impatiently at his watch but Sanjh stood absolutely motionless.

Rajiv sighed hard after seeing her stubbornness.

"Okay listen....Beta, I'm not here to scold you....Sikha bhabhi send me, she wants to see you....From the morning she is telling me to bring you home.... don't you miss your home? I have decorated your room.... won't you come and see by yourself?"

Rajiv started to patt her head gently.

Sanjh stared at her father.

"How long i have to stay there?"

"Sanjh, i have to tell you something.... actually Mahi and Rudra are getting engaged today.....Your presence will be needed in your sister's wedding....our relatives are already asking for you"

Sanjh felt a jolt inside her chest. She stared at her father in pure shock.

"What? Mahi di and...."

Rajiv slightly nodded his head.

"You remember Rudra's 18th birthday? When that attack happened? That day, Dev asked for Mahi's hand for Rudra"

Sanjh turned her head away and went towards her cupboard. She doesn't know why but her heart is crumbling inside with an unknown pain. This news is not giving her happiness.

Till now she is thinking that she is the one who will show how much unimportant Rudra is in her life but her father's one news moved her notion upside down.

She realised she is non existent for Rudra.

Her every small pain, every sorrow, every pride suddenly came back running.

In all these years, Rudra came in her hostel many times and every time her stupid heart forgave him and ran towards him. But then every single time he broke her heart by leaving the hostel without even meeting her.

14 year old Sanjh ran inside their superintendent's room. She saw Rudra's car entering their hostel premises.

"Mam, where is he?"

She asked eagerly. She knew deep down inside her heart that he came here to apologise.

"Who?"

"Rudra, i mean....i know him....he is from my family..."

The superintendent stared at her unbelievably.

"Before you, almost every girl tried to entered my office with this stupid excuse...Mr. Khurana was not here in search of his bride....he is our trustee...so it's obvious that he will come here very often.....you stupid teenagers have nothing fruitful to do....stop chasing rich men...."

"No mam,,, I'm not lying.... didn't he ask about me?"

Tears has brimmed in her eyes already.

The superintendent gave a mocking smile at her.

"Yeah, he was looking at everywhere madly for you....now leave....he doesn't even know you....."

What a fool she was!!!

Every time he visited this hostel, every time her hopes were higher. Every single time she forget about her last insult and ran to see him.

She wanted to scold him for leaving her like that. She wanted their old days back.

She remembers another day.

That day she almost ran towards his car. He was talking on the phone and walking near his car. She waved her hand by destroying her self respect but he didn't even see her!!

He straightly got inside his car and drove off!!!

She was probably 16 at that time.

She remembers how everyone in the girls hostel make fun of her after that incident.

"Please Sanjh,,,at least stay till the wedding"

Sanjh's trance broke with her father's voice.

She stared at his father. He was asking her to be a part of Mahi's wedding because of the relatives.

What she should do?

"What if i embarrass you again?"

She asked painfully.

"No you won't....please get ready.... look i have bought you a gown"

Rajiv took out the beautiful gown from the packet. Sanjh smiled a bit.

"I don't wear these things papa.... don't force me to wear something which I don't want...."

"Okay okay....as you wish..."

"I will get ready in 5 minutes"

Sanjh said. Rajiv smiled and walked out of the room.

Rajiv was really shocked after seeing her coming out exactly after 5 minutes. He has seen Mahi and Priya taking hours after hours to get ready but his youngest daughter only took 5 minutes to get ready.

He couldn't hold a small chuckle after seeing his clumsy and cute daughter. She is wearing a jeans and a white top which is actually not fitting her body. She is wearing a pair of black Snickers. She is not even wearing even a bit of makeup.

Sanjh walked towards her father's car.

"I'm happy you know....you are coming with me"

Rajiv said.

"But i will come back tomorrow morning....I will try to attend the wedding functions...you don't have to face the unnecessary questions of our relatives..."

Rajiv understood her mockery but he didn't say anything further. She has finally agreed to come and that's enough for him.

.........................,.....

Sanjh looked at the mansion. It has been decorated beautifully from outside. She can see many guests are coming.

A heavy security check is going on. She gets down of the car. Her legs were already shaking in tension. She can't believe that she used to stay here. This environment is appearing so foreign to her.

She bites her lips in nervousness and rubbed her palms together. A small frown is playing on her forehead.

"What happened?"

Rajiv asked her.

"Papa,,,you go...i will enter through the back side"

Rajiv sighed and agreed.

Sanjh walked inside the garden. She stood silently for sometime. She is getting scared from inside.

This is her family but not a single homely vibe she is getting. She wants to run away from here. She wants to go back to Amir.

She sat beside the small fountain. Suddenly her eyes caught something and a smile automatically spread on her lips.

She bent on the ground and find her old friends chewing a slice of cheese.

Two rats were fighting over a piece of cheese.

"You were my grandchildren..."

She said and started to laugh.

"Did you miss me?"

The rats made some sounds which make her laugh more.

"Thank God...someone is here who missed me...."

She was laughing but a lone of tear escaped her eyes. She wiped that tear.

She took a biscuit from her jeans pocket and very carefully placed it near the hole.

Her jeans and shirt were getting a bit messy. Her hair fall over her face. She brushed off those strands carelessly. She was enjoying the sight of their eating.

"Do you think I should go inside? Or should I run?"

She asked her friends.

"I don't belong here you know.....You know Dev uncle,,,he has some permanent hatred for me...he doesn't like me at all....Mom and Mahi di will not be that much happy after seeing me.... I'm not welcomed here....still i came here...i don't know why...i have no answer....what I want, i also don't know....you know, I'm like you....i can relate myself to rats..."

She was talking all these by sitting on the ground.

Suddenly her words stopped in midway. She stood up hurriedly. She looked at the fountain and her eyes widened after seeing a small screen beside the fountain. She can see herself in that screen.

She closed her eyes in embarrassment.

"Sanjh, idiot...stop talking to yourself...they will say that you are a crazy person.."

She murmured turning her head and immediately she collided with Shweta.

"Hi Sanjh....when did you come?"

She asked her with a smile.

"Umm..i was..just...who installed these cameras?"

Sanjh asked while pointing towards the camera.

"Actually Papa has installed them..they are for security purposes you know....come inside...why are you here?"

Shweta almost pulled Sanjh inside.

Shweta got married to Rudra's elder brother Sanjiv two years back.

Sanjh walked inside the big party hall. She stared at everywhere in tension. Her heart is hammering loudly inside her chest.

Mahi has already cut the cake. Sanjh looked at Mahi's way. She is wearing a red gown looking gorgeous. Sanjh walked near her.

Priya was standing beside Mahi. She has a proud smile on her face. Her daughter is getting engaged to Rudra Khurana. This is a proud moment for her. She can see many jealous eyes over her daughter and she is enjoying this a lot.

Now her eyes fell on Sanjh. Mahi has also seen Sanjh.

"Happy birthday di"

She said.

Mahi stared at her for few seconds and then she hugged Sanjh with a warm smile.

"Thanks Sanjh...."

Priya held Sanjh's arms slightly and pulled her closer.

"What the hell are you wearing? Didn't your father give you the gown?"

She whispered on her ear.

Sanjh again felt sad. Her mom was seeing her after months and this is the first thing she is saying.

"I was not comfortable in gown...."

She said in a low voice.

"At least you should apply a bit of make up...your face is looking so dull....today is your sister's engagement, don't do something embarrassing okay....behave well.....if anyone ask you what you do...you will tell them that you are studying MBA in abroad....got it?"

Sanjh stared at her mother in pure shock.

"No i won't mom....if you are so embarrassed, then you shouldn't have call me here...."

She replied.

Priya burned her with her gaze. Mahi sensed the argument. She immediately came in between her mom and Sanjh.

"Hey Sanjh, why don't you sing something for me... it's my birthday afterall....hello ladies and gentlemen....today my sister is going to sing a song for me as my birthday present....."

Mahi's announcement was so sudden that Sanjh didn't get the time to react.

Suddenly she find herself in the middle of every attention. A man came and gave her a guiter.

She held the guiter with her trembling hands and slowly sat on a chair that is placed near her.

She closed her eyes and remembered Amir's face. This face always took her all nervousness away.

She is an artist. She can sing infront of this whole world with confidence. This is the thing which always can wash away her all pain.

She ran her fingers on the guiter and the magic got spread throughout the party hall.

Everyone's gaze got fix on her.

She started to hum slowly in the rhythm of guiter and then her sweet voice resonates all over.

She was singing with a smile on her face. She is feeling good. No nervousness at all. People are looking at her with equal amazement. Her voice is amazing.

She started to nodd her head and tap her foot on the floor. Her fingers were creating magic.

Suddenly she felt her mouth getting dry. Voice is no more coming out. She saw everyone's attention shifted to the entrance.

Her singing stopped in midway and she started to cough. Her finger got hurt with a string of the guiter and she shrieked in pain.

Her heart almost ju

mped in her mouth when she saw him entering the party with all his glory.

So many cameras flashed on him. He walked straight inside the party with a cold and intimidating persona taking every bit of attention on him.

Sanjh's mouth gaped after seeing him entering just like a king.

She immediately lowered her head. She was terrified after feeling her own heart hammering like hell!!!