Chapter 14

Part 14[NOCOPY]

Arjun: chalo mere saath.......................

Before she could ask anything, he dragged her away to the parking. He ignored all her questions on the way and finally stopped in front of a jewellery shop.

Riya(shocked): Arjun no!

Arjun: kabhi toh yes bol diya karo

Riya: lekin Arjun…

Arjun: dekho tumhe apni paise se earrings leni thi na? toh le lo, apni Mom ke liye nahi, khud ke liye, as it is you don’t wear anything real

Riya: agar main tumhari baat maan bhi lun toh bhi problem hai

Arjun: kya?

She waved the envelope in his face: maine na hi ise cash kiya hai aur nahi account mein daala hai, main paise kaise du?

Arjun opened his mouth to protest but realised she was right: well…..Shit!

Riya shook her head in disbelief: that is what happens when you don’t listen to me

Arjun: are koi baat nahi, main pay kar dunga, tum mere account mein transfer kar dena baad mein

Riya: lekin…

Arjun: lekin wekin kuch nahi, ab tum mera mood mat kharab karo (innocently) main kitna khush hun tumhari shopping ke liye

Riya melted seeing his face: fine!

He lit up: chalo!

They got out of the car and walked in.

Arjun: waise bhi mere friend ki shop hai, woh discount bhi de dega

As soon as they entered, Arjun’s friend came forward on seeing them.

Jignesh: Arjun!

Arjun: hi! Kaisa hai?

Jignesh: bas dhandha paani, tu bata abhi tak zinda hai?

Arjun: surprisingly

They laughed and shook hands

Arjun: acha sun, (gesturing to Riya) ye meri dost hai, ek earring set chahiye

Jignesh: ha kyun nahi? kaise type ke chahiye aapko?

Riya: uh…studs?

Jignesh: for everyday?

Riya nodded.

Jignesh: ayiye

He directed an employee of his to remove designs. Riya looked through all the designs but none of them clicked. Then Arjun pointed one out. Riya looked at them…plain diamond studs set in gold, no mushiness, no extra drawings just simple diamonds. A smile appeared on her face.

Arjun: pehen kar dekho

She tried them on. Jignesh forwarded her a mirror.

Riya: perfect!

Arjun: meri choice humesha perfect hi hoti hai

She raised her eyebrow at him. He winked in reply.

Jignesh: pack kar du?

Arjun: ya

Jignesh: kuch aur?

Riya: maybe next time, thank you

Arjun chuckled: bas hai abhi ke liye, zyaada salesman giri mat kar

Jignesh chuckles prepares the bill. Arjun paid for it and they walked out of the store.

Riya: Arjun?

Arjun: ha?

Riya: thank you!

Arjun: you’re welcome, ab chalo tumhe chod deta hun agar jaldi office nahi gaya toh Sam mera dimag kha jaayega

She giggled in response. He dropped her at the NGO and left for office.

The next day, Arjun was driving to the crime scene at around 10 am when a message beeped on his phone. He stopped at the signal and opened it. It was from the bank. Riya had credited the amount to his account. He shook his head in disbelief and continued to focus on the road.

A few days later-

Riya was sitting in the patio reading a book while watching over a few kids who were playing in the garden. A figure plopped beside her. Startled, she looked up.

Arjun: good morning!!

Riya: tum fir aa gaye?

Arjun: Riya we had this conversation. Please stop pretending (she rolled her eyes and muttered curses at him) acha suno na, tum free hona?

Riya: nahi

Arjun: Riya please!

She giggled: dikh raha haina book padh rahi hu? Obviously free hun

Arjun: toh chalo na

Riya: kaha?

Arjun: Star Wars. Actually na, mera aur Sam ka tradition hai, hum humesha saath mein dekhte hai theatre mein lekin us kamine ka Ayesha ka saath plan hai toh usne mujhe ditch kar diya

Riya: Ayesha?

Arjun: are ha! tumhe maine bataya nahi na un dono ka chal raha hai

Riya(surprised): really?

Arjun: ya aur pata hai (laughing) ek baar na mein unhe office mein pakad liya tha, itni jaldi kabhi aankhein band karke bhaagna nahi pada mujhe zindgi mein, pata hai? those two are too much! Kahi bhi kabhi bhi shuru ho jaate hai yaar aur sach kahu toh mujhe ye samajh mein nahi aata ki woh committed relationship mein kaise ghusa?

Riya: kyun?

Arjun: you should’ve met him in college, ek number ka playboy hai, do saal mein kam se kam 35 baar girls hostel mein pakda gaya

Riya: What?!

Arjun: ha

Riya: oh god! I… I really can’t imagine him that way

Arjun: tumne dekha nahi hai use, trust me (sighing) anyway tum chalo na please, he ditched me, Sunday hi toh hai tumhare paas aur kaunsa kaam hai?

Riya: oho Arjun, kisi aur din chale jaana, isme itna bura maanne waali kaunsi baat hai?

Arjun: par mujhe dekhni hai, main ek hafte se wait kar raha hun aur tumhe toh pata haina humari jobs kitni weird hai, aur main theatre show miss nahi kar sakta, time mila toh dusri baar chala jaunga uske saath par aaj tum mere saath chalo please, maine tickets bhi le li hai, ek ghante mein show hai

Riya: par…

Arjun: please, please, please, please

She gave up: okay baba

Arjun hugged her in delight: thank you!!

Riya shook her head as they separated: main ready hokar aati hun

Arjun: kyun?

Riya: jaana haina?

Arjun: ha par tumhe ready hone ke zaroorat nahi hai

Riya looked at herself. She was wearing a Capri and a loose one shoulder with a bun on her head.

Riya: aise?

Arjun: ha toh? kaun dekhne waala hai? log movie ke liye jaate hai dusro ke kapde dekhne thodi? Aur waise bhi tum toh apne hello kitty night suit mein bhi bahot cute lagti ho

Her eyes widened: Arjun shut up

Arjun: are sach keh raha hu

Riya rolls her eyes: nahi! main jean pehen kar aati hu, warna thand lagegi

Arjun muttered to himself: toh main huna?

Riya: kya?

Arjun: kuch nahi, tum jao pehen lo

She looked at him suspiciously but left nevertheless. She came back after a few minutes and they left for the movie.

Though Riya was engrossed in the screen, Arjun was paying more attention to the lady beside him for the entire duration. Feeling his gaze, she turned to him. Arjun smiled. She raised her eyebrow. He nodded negatively and looked straight. She shook her head and continued to watch.

They went back to Jeevan Nirmal talking about it the whole time. He skipped a step and turned to lean against the pillar of the patio.

Arjun:… par jo bhi ho I’m glad ki maine dekh li warna Sam ke chakkar mein toh miss ho jaati. Achi thi na?

Riya: ha but maine bilcul bhi expect nahi kiya tha, ki that guy will be Solo’s son

Arjun: ya! Aur un dono ka woh face off! Usne apne baap ko maar bhi diya, ek second ke liye mujhe laga ki woh side change kar lega but…tough luck

Riya: luck humesha tough hi hota hai Arjun, humari zindgi mein bhi plot twist ban kar hi aata hai, pata hi nahi chalta kab kiske saath kya ho jaaye?

Arjun smiled: ha plot twist toh bahot hote hai lekin sometimes (taking her hand) you can very well predict what will eventually happen no matter raaste mein kitne hi thokar kyun na mile, kitni hi adchane kyun na mile

Riya: kya matlab?

Arjun: matlab ye Riya ki….(gazing into her eyes) main tumse pyaar karta hun

She froze and pulled away her hand.

Riya: Arjun tum…

Arjun: you knew this was coming Riya, don’t deny it

Riya turned away: lekin main tumse pyaar nahi karti

Arjun turned her around: jhoot mat bolo Riya main…

Riya: yahi sach hai aur acha yahi hoga agar tum ise accept kar lo!

Arjun: nahi karunga accept kyunki main ache se jaanta hun ki tum bhi mujhse pyaar karti ho!

Riya(angrily): tum kuch nahi jaante Arjun!

She attempted to get away but he pulled her to him.

Arjun: toh fir muh kyun fer rahi ho? agar sach keh rahi ho toh meri aankhon mein dekhkar bolo….Bolo Ki Tum Mujhse Pyaar Nahi Karti!

Riya glared at him: I Don’t Lo

Her words die at her lips. Frustrated, she averted her gaze.

Arjun: nahi bol sakti na? (he held her shoulders) kyunki tum bhi ye baat jaanti ho ki tum mujhse pyaar karti ho! ….fir kyun mana kar rahi ho Riya? kyun mujhe khud se door kar rahi ho? is baat ko maan kyun nahi leti?

Riya felt her heart sinking but she firmed herself: mujhe kya karna hai aur kya nahi ye mujhe tumse puchne ki zaroorat nahi hai Arjun! (pushing him away) Leave Me Alone!

Arjun held her hand: I Won’t!!! Not Until I Get My Answer!!

Riya: main tumhe jawab de chuki hu! Main tumse pyaar nahi karti! itni si baat tumhare samaj mein kyun nahi aa rahi?!?

Arjun: kyunki ye jhoot hai!

Riya snatched her hand: Yahi Sach Hai!

Arjun: hum dono jaante hai ki sach kya hai isliye baat ko baar-baar dohraane ka koi matlab nahi Riya! tum kyun apne dil se bhaag rahi ho?.....apne past ki wajah se? (she closed her eyes and clenched her fist) tum jaanti ho mujhe sab pata hai Riya, maine tumse kitni baar kaha hai ki mujhe farak nahi padta! Fir bhi tum….

Riya lashed out: NAHI JAANTE TUM SAB KUCH!!! KUCH NAHI PATA TUMHE!! Tumhe Kya Lagta Hai Arjun, Ye Koi Fairy Tale Hai Jaha Ek Ladka-Ladki Mile, Unhe Pyaar Ho Gaya And They Lived Happily Ever After? NO! Ye Asli Zindgi Hai Arjun, Yaha Har Cheez Mein Happily Ever After Nahi Hota!!!

Arjun(sternly): Mujhe Agar Nahi Pata Toh Bhi Na Sahi! Nahi Jaanna Mujhe! Aur Agar Tumhe Us Baat Se Itni Takleef Ho Rahi Hai Toh Bol Kyun Nahi Deti?

Riya: bhul jao mujhe Arjun! Go live your life!

She tried to leave but he blocked her away.

Arjun: main kahi nahi jaane waala hun Riya! aur jab tak tum apna ye dar kabu nahi kar leti tab tak toh bilcul bhi nahi!

Riya glared hard at him: Arjun Leave Me Alone!!

Arjun: I won’t! kab tak apne dar ke peeche chupti rahogi Riya?

Riya: ye dar nahi sachayi hai Arjun! Meri Zindgi Ki Sachayi!!

Arjun: SACHAYI THI!! Woh tumhara past hai!

Riya teared up: Jo Mera Hissa Ban Chuka Hai! Jise Main Chah Kar Bhi Khud Se Kaat Kar Alag Nahi Kar Sakti!! Jo Har Roz Mere Dil Aur Dimag Par Mandra Ta Rehta Hai Aur Aage Chal Kar Tumhari Zindgi Ko Khaali Kar Dega! Uska saaya humesha humare future par rahega Arjun…please…please let this go! Let Me Go!

Arjun balled his fists to control himself: Riya tum itni si baat kyun nahi samaj rahi ki meri khushi tumhare saath hai!! Main Tumhare Bagair Khush Nahi Reh Sakta!! I Don’t Care What You Were!!

Riya: jis khushi ki talaash mein tum ho woh main tumhe nahi de sakti Arjun! I can’t!! I Literally Can’t…main chahu tab bhi nahi, aur na hi tum kuch kar paoge

Arjun: duniya mein aisi koi taaqat nahi hai Riya jo mujhe tumhare saath dukh de sake aur de bhi toh kya? Hum mil kar uska saamna karenge

Riya sighed in anguish: Arjun tum baat ko samaj nahi rahe ho…

Arjun: toh samjhao mujhe!!

Riya: Arjun I Can Give You A Wife! NOT A FAMILY!!

Arjun stood rooted to the ground, trying to understand and process what she said. She hung her head as she sat on the patio. Her tears flowed freely.

Riya: I can’t….I…they, they operate you within a month of taking you…(raising her head) main tumhe tumhare haq ki khushiyaan nahi de sakti Arjun, please jao yaha se!!!

Arjun came out of trance. He felt his heart sinking seeing her helplessness. Gulping the lump in his throat he came to her. He sat beside her and held her hand.

Arjun: Riya….(softly)meri wife hi meri family hai, mujhe aur kisi ki zaroorat nahi hai

She stood up: Arjun please tum…

He went on his knee holding her hand with both of his: Riya I love you and nothing can change that, main apni saari zindgi tumhare saath bitana chahta hu

Riya gazed at him with tearfully. He waited patiently for the softness in her eyes to transfer to her words. Instead, her expression changed. It went from love to stone.

Riya shouted as loudly as she could: SAVITA TAI!!! SAVITA TAI!!!

Arjun is confused. He was about to ask her when Savita came running hearing her shouts.

Savita: kya baat hai Riya tum…

A few others too gathered around. Savita was pleasantly surprised to see Arjun in such a position. However, Riya broke all of it down.

Riya(sternly): tai, ye admi mujh pareshaan kar raha hai, ise yaha se baahar nikaliye

Arjun’s heart shattered. His lungs collapsed as he stared at her in shock. The world hazed.

Arjun: Riya?!

She didn’t spare him a single glance: humari security aapki zimmedari haina? Toh Nikaliye Ise!

Saying so, she walked off leaving everyone in astonishment……………………