Malaal- Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

Rashi slept with a smile. She didn’t feel like drinking, for the first time in all these years. Ishan would return after two days, and she had atleast a week before joining her office again. “I have a lot of time with you Mr Modi.”, she thought and couldn’t help smiling even more.

Jigar was tossing and turning in his bed. He had touched Rashi. His Rashi. The only imperfect but normal person he had seen in his family. She wanted her life to be her way, and that’s what had made him fall in love with her. When he had proposed to Rashi as a practice to do infront of Sonal, he had felt something in her eyes there and then. When they had met for the first time, in the pitch dark dining area of Modi Bhavan and yellow flowers had rained on them. When she had tried to seduce him in the morning by dancing in a red saree, and he was in no mood. Each memory had made him fall even stronger for her.

He turned around again and looked at the empty space on the bed beside her. He burst out laughing as all plans of coming close to each other for the first time had failed hilariously back then. A malfunctioning waterbed, a cat and what not. He chuckled loudly. And finally when Rashi was in her yellow saree, sneezing like anything after dancing in the rain. And how the next morning, both of them were sneezing. He could always see Rashi’s faults getting erased, her bossiness melting, her eyes radiating the innocence of a child; whenever he touched her. 

“Loving you is the best risk I had taken. Because no matter how different you are, you love me and that’s enough.”, he thought.

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“Offo! Where’s this med kit now?”, Rashi said irritated as she rummage through the lobby drawers.

“Here.”, a voice said from her side, and a hand stuck out to hand her the meds. She looked to find the love of her life, the best thing that happened to her: Jigar.

She couldn’t help smiling. “Thanks.”, she said as she tried to hide her smile.

“Breakfast?”, Jigar asked in his usual cute way. Rashi nodded. She looked at Jigar.

“Mr Modi, get that beard off. Doesn’t suit you. I mean, makes you look like a grown up.”, she said.

Jigar laughed. “I AM a grown up Rashi!”, he replied.

“No I mean, be like...the old self you were. The one who brought me the anklets you know.”, she said casually but her heart broke at the memory. She could just sit and cry like anything.

Jigar’s laugh paused. “Okay Rashi. I will.”, he said as he went to his room.

Meanwhile Rashi went to the dinner table. “Gopi, how’s your daughter by the way?”, she asked straightaway. Gopi paused and smiled with tears in her eyes. Ahem looked at both of them with a smile.

“She’s fine Rashiben, she’s staying with Mamiji right now.”, Gopi blurted in happiness.

Rashi paused. Her cover blew away for a moment and everyone could see it. 

Hetal and Kokila exchanged looks. They didn’t know anything about the conversation that had happened between Urmila and Rashi that night.

“Oh, that’s sweet.”, Rashi managed to say. Gopi was surprised that she didn’t ask anything about Urmila.

“Rashiben, don’t you want to know about Mamiji?”, she innocently asked.

“No!”, Rashi said in a sudden voice, clenching her fists.

Her expression changed as she saw Jigar walk towards them. Clean shaven. The old perfect guy next door kinda boy. The boy she loved. Everyone was shocked to see Jigar like that.

“Our old Jigar is back.”, Hetal couldn’t help think this. 

“Wow Jigar, you have shaved finally!”, Ahem teased him.

“Yes bhai.”, he said and smiled embarrassed.

He saw Rashi stare at him. Rashi was unaware of the surroundings suddenly. She just wanted to cry and kiss him simultaneously. To complain like old days, to throw tantrums, to demand gifts and to have fun with him. She wanted to be part of the ‘cute couple’ again, as Jigna Maasi had put it back then.

Kokila smiled internally. Everyone was looking at Rashi who was in turn looking at just one person.

“Rashi Di.”, Gaayu interrupted the moment as she came with a phone in her hand, but regretted immediately. Rashi’s trance broke.

“Actually Rashi Di, Ishan Sir is calling.”, she said as she handed over the phone. Jigar’s fists clenched. 

“This Ishan won’t let us live for a moment.”, he thought angrily. Rashi saw it.

“Tell him that I am having breakfast right now. Would talk later”, Rashi said casually and shocked everyone. Jigar smiled internally. 

Kokila’s doubts increased. No matter how unpredictable Rashi was, it was impossible to believe that she could ignore the person who’s been with her all this while. There was definitely something cooking in her mind according to Kokila.

“Umm, Gaayu I’m going for an outing today, don’t prepare food for me okay?”, Rashi instructed.

“But Rashi Di, you haven’t still completely recovered and going out alone is a risk isn’t it?”, Gaayu asked concerned.

Rashi gave an irritated expression. “But I want to go! I’ve got free time after such a long time yaar.”, she complained.

“I can accompany, if you don’t mind.”, Jigar said with all strength in him. Rashi looked at him and thought for a moment.

“Okay. Let’s have breakfast and get ready quickly. I have lots to do today.”, she casually said and started eating her food.

Hetal observed Rashi. Rashi was eating like a bird and she didn’t even touch anything sweet. The Rashi back then was a foodie who still remained in shape.

Kokila planned to keep an eye on Rashi from now on. Her doubts weren’t going anywhere soon.

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Jigar had worn a black tee shirt, rugged blue jeans and a black leather jacket. He was dressed to kill. He was pacing outside Rashi’s room, when he heard the door creak open.

A slim pair of legs stepped forward in black pencil heels. Jigar looked up. Rashi stood like a model in front of him. She had worn black off shoulder crop top that barely covered her upper body, moreover it was backless, held together by only thin strings of fabric on the back. Down below, she was wearing denim blue mini shorts that barely covered her thighs. All of it was accessorised by a platinum bracelet and thin platinum chain that hanged down till her chest. Loose hair, slight black kohl and almost no makeup completed the look.

Jigar stared at her. He felt he could easily get a heart attack. His chest was hurting at the sight of such a sexy woman standing infront of him. His mouth dried which made him realise that it was open. He forced it shut with huge effort.

Rashi raised her eyebrow, quite aware of the effect that she had caused on him. She was surprised that even her sight had such effect on this handsome man standing infront of her.

“You’re looking fine. Shall we leave?”, Rashi said as she gave an unintentional hungry look at Jigar.

“Yeah.”, Jigar managed to say. 

Rashi barely wore such revealing clothes but today she had. She had her reasons to.

Rashi walked quickly leading him and he just walked slowly behind, still dazed by the sight his eyes held. They reached the hall to see everyone except Baa, Chirag and Parag. Kinjal saw Rashi first and a small cry escaped her throat. She was into fashion(Kokila didn’t know ofcourse), and Rashi was easily looking as a fashion icon. Kinjal wanted to complement Rashi but controlled her urge. Ahem stared at Rashi and couldn’t help imagining Gopi in such an outfit. He looked at Gopi with hopelessness. Kokila and Hetal paused. It seemed as if the floor slipped from beneath their feets; especially Kokila’s. Yes, she had seen her in many outfits but this one was in another league.

“Rashi!”, her shout was heard from across the hall as she quickly walked to Rashi.

“Yes?”, Rashi asked innocently.

“What the hell are you wearing!”, Kokila screamed. 

Rashi wanted to roll her eyes and ask her to buzz off, but instead she made a broken expression.

“But..”, she stammered, with tears in her eyes, surprising even Kokila.

“Jigar, forget about it. I’m going to my room. Bye.”, she turned to Jigar and walked away sadly.

Jigar looked at Rashi and his blood boiled suddenly. It was after so much time that she and Jigar were together, but his Kakiji couldn’t see this too.

“Jigar, I didn’t mean to stop her from going. I was just-“, Kokila tried to reason, still surprised that Rashi didn’t argue at all and sadly walked off simply.

“Kakiji, leave it. I hope you don’t intefere in my life anymore.”, Jigar said with clenched teeth.

“Jigar listen-“, Kokila continued.

“I said enough for god’s sake!”, Jigar shouted and a tear rolled down his cheek, as he walked away angrily to his room.

Kokila controlled her tears and walked with a straight face.

“Motabhabi, I didn’t want them to stop, I just asked her about the dress, she could’ve argued and won her way, and they could’ve gone, but I can’t believe this..”, she said slowly.

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