I was there with Kejriwal inside AAP headquarters when history was made

"Bhaiya tayari bahaut karli hai par kuch ulta toh nahi hoga?" asked an Aam Aadmi Party volunteer at the East Patel Nagar party office early morning. The three story building was decked up with balloons and flowers, the stage had an LCD, the air was buoyant and expectant. And Arvind Kejriwal's young soldiers were getting restless. The man of the moment was tucked away, sitting in a room on the third floor.

Having covered the AAP since its inception I thought I'd push my luck a little. With "Paanch saal Kejriwal" blaring from a speaker behind me, I asked to be let in. Even as my annoyed colleagues began to protest, I jumped the gate and headed for where I knew I would find Arvind Kejriwal. If you haven't been to the East Patel Nagar office before, there is no way you can find your way to the room marked "National Convenor" on the third floor. The building is divided in two parts and a secret passage connects both. Making my way up, I bumped into senior leaders and spokespersons of the party flashing the V sign, young volunteers in the war room dancing with TV channels showing the party's increasing lead. After about 40 hugs, a couple of high-fives and a few ladoos, I reached Kejriwal's room.

As soon as I entered I saw Kejriwal sitting in front flanked by veteran party leader Admiral Ramdas and the inexhaustible Kumar Vishwas, who was entertaining everyone with his smart one-liners. The atmosphere was electric. Chairs were lined near the walls and the centre of the room was filled with young volunteers sitting on the ground cheering the numbers. Kejriwal saw me and smiled. Suddenly the trend crossed 40 and everybody went into a frenzy. As I tried to make my way towards Kejriwal, most volunteers kept stuffing sweets into my mouth, and everybody was in disbelief. Before I could meet Kejriwal, there was a sudden jump in numbers and then the figure climbed 60 - stunned for a moment everybody shouted in excitement. But Kejriwal was sitting calmly. He wasn't smiling but he too was overwhelmed and that was evident by his expression. A night before he had told me with confidence that AAP would cross 50, but 60 was beyond expectations even for him. But then there was even more frenzy as Sanjay Singh, one of the party's most visible faces, rushed towards Kejriwal and lifted him high in the air. As I went up and congratulated Kejriwal, shaking hands with him, he said: "Sirji aapko bhi... bahut, bahut mubarak."

As I tried to station myself in one corner, trying to click pictures and quickly type away the buzz from inside to feed the ever hungry screens mounted, Ashutosh, a former journalist and now one of the chief defenders of the AAP in TV debates, walked in. He was overwhelmed by emotions and hugged Kejriwal for a good three minutes before turning around - a long chain of celebratory handshakes and hugs began with others in the room. Throughout this time phones were buzzing and leaders from far and beyond were calling to congratulate Kejriwal. In between party workers and volunteers were getting a selfie with Kejriwal, few getting his autographs to capture the historic moment forever.

Suddenly Kejriwal's close aide came running to him, handing him his phone, and said, "PMO se phone hai". The room fell silent. For the next minute and half, Kejriwal spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had called to congratulate. After a fierce campaign this gesture was well appreciated. And after he kept the phone down, I asked him what did the PM say. With a smile, Kejriwal replied,"Chai pe bulaya hai".

And then I heard loud laughter from the young volunteers in the room. Turning around I saw Shazia Ilmi was on TV.

A cake was then brought in to celebrate the victory and the birthday of Kumar Vishwas. Between laughter and jokes the cake was cut, and Kumar's face duly smeared with it. Yogendra Yadav riding high on his tsunami prediction came in but was composed and calm when he met everybody. Raghav Chadha, the young spokesperson of the party, was delighted. Ashish Khaitan was there too. The room was filled with no space even to stand on one foot. I managed to speak to Kejriwal and asked him whether he had spoken to his wife Sunita Kejriwal and children. Not yet, he said, but they were about to arrive. In a few moments, close aides were asking people to vacate the room, as his wife, his son Pulkit and his father came into the room. A beaming Kejriwal hugged his wife and the room went berserk. It was his way of thanking his wife for standing by him through his struggle. His son said "congratulations" and shook hands before Kejriwal hugged him and then like he does every morning before leaving his house, Kejriwal touched his father's feet.

It was at this time we too were politely told to vacate the room. Before I did so, I stole one more opportunity to turn around and speak to the CM elect of Delhi, trying hard to stay afloat in this massive euphoria. I asked him questions about when he would be sworn in and his cabinet, that he probably didn't even hear as he was getting ready to address his supporters from the balcony. "It's overwhelming, humbling and also scary the expectation...You know real work has just begun," he said. And that sums it up. Delhi 2015, here comes your new chief minister.