Assi Tussi: Hum Tum

If February is measured to be month for lovers then August is marked as month for friends. Remembering one such dear friend I am writing this today…

We were almost through the first semester and our friendship had reached the stage which was equivalent to ‘fevicol ka majboot jode’.

It was about 6:45 in the morning; I was still sleeping like a bull and my phone rang… “Dus bahane karke legaya dil legaya dil…” popular bollywood number of that year…

‘Tussi’ you are still sleeping? She said.

I said yaa and which ended into a yawn.

Come on! wake up and listen to me, she said.

But ‘Assi’, it’s Sunday! why you want me to wake up so early, I said.

(You all must be wondering what is this ‘Assi & Tussi’ so, madam was very much fascinated by characters of a famous Hindi movie in that year ‘Hum Tum’ she had come up with a Punjabi version of it for both of us ‘Assi Tussi’, I found it very sweet.)

Wake up na ‘Tussi’ and listen to me from Tuesday till next Sunday I am not in the town as my entire family is traveling for a cousins wedding. And, I want to spend whole of Monday with you before I leave, she said. I was still in my half senses, ‘Assi’ but you were supposed to explain me those economics lectures which I missed.

‘Tussi’ you are such a big turn-off, you are bothered about that stupid economics don’t you realize that I wont be here for almost a week, she said. Nothing new guys, most of the time I plunge in such situations where my brain takes over my heart and I end up saying something diffusing.

Sure! Tell me what is the plan? I said.

No plans, I just wanna be with you whole of tomorrow. She said. Next day was very usual one, like any other Monday. Classes and then we worked on a presentation for couple of hours. After the lunch, she also wanted to explain me that stupid economics. Girls! I always wondered how they happen to remember important things.

It was about 4:00 in the evening when she finally started with her economics lecture, but I was not at all interested in it by then. And, she just went on and on and on…

I kept staring at her; she raised her eyebrows and shook her head at my behavior. “Come on concentrate, she said”. I am not looking that good, “but she was and she knew it fully. She wore a maroon top which had a strap. It was not revealing but extremely graceful, and it had settled on her beautifully, highlighting her figure. She carried her usual make-up, little kajal and touch of gloss on her lips. I looked into her eyes. She allowed me to do so and her eyes smirked when I did that. Earlier she would feel shy when I tried to concentrate on her eyes and would laugh and say, what are you doing?

It was more than two hours; she was trying teaching me economics. I asked her to take a break. By then it was dark outside but the moon was gleaming on full volume; once we came out we realized that it had drizzled sometime back. We had an amazing tea at the tea-stall opposite to the college building.

‘Tussi’ let us go to the terrace and spend sometime its is such a lovely evening, she said.

Terrace was out of this world, beautiful smell of wet earth lingered on and brilliant cool breeze was playing with her gorgeous hair. We sat down on a broken bench lying there since ages. Her quietness was speaking a loud that she didn’t wanted to leave me and go next day but she had no option. I moved myself more close to her. I took her hand into mine and looked into her eyes and we both enjoyed the silence as she gently placed her head on my shoulder, I could feel her breath on my neck. She looked so lovely in the moon light, it was a blissful moment. I wish we could sit that way forever.

Suddenly her mobile rang “…every night in my dreams I see you…” I hated this ring tone and we had also fought couple of times over it.

Oh Mom, she said. But, she didn’t take the call. Phone rang again. Come on take the call she must be worried, I said.

Can’t we sit like this for some more time? She asked in an unsettled voice.

I wish we could, for the rest of our lives, but then you have to leave in sometime, I said. She lifted her head slowly from my shoulder and looked into my eyes and said ‘Assi’ will miss ‘tussi’ a lot.

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Today, even I miss you Assi… When you are not around!

Kya paata hum phir mille " kyun ki Zindgi bahut lambi hai aur time bahut kam!"