Maithili - Chahat Khanna
Arjun - Arjun Bijlani
Chapter 6A: Double dates
Week flew by due to midterms. It was Thursday evening in India. Arjun and Maithili were meeting today.
In Devgarh Mahal Mumbai
Arjun was getting ready for his date when Vijay enters. Arjun was wearing a black pant with white shirt and black coat.
Vijay - wow bhai, stud lag rahe ho.
Arjun looks at Vijay and smiles.
Vijay - waise kiske saath meeting hai?
Arjun - bataya toh tha, Rajkumari Maithli se milne jaa rahe hai
Vijay shocked: aise? bhai aap date pe jaa rahe ho woh bhi in a cafe. unka interview lene nai. You need to be more casual not so serious
Arjun - par
Vijay cuts his off - no par bhai, let me pick your outfit.
Arjun agrees. While going through arjun's closet vijay says - waise bhai college time dates pe aise kapde pehnte the?
Arjun - sometimes
Vijay - no wonder aapki koi girlfriend nai thi
Arjun gives him an angry look and says - ladkiya aapke bhai k aas pass hamesha rehti thi. woh toh humne kisko girlfriend ka spot diya nai.
Vijay - hum toh chedd rahe the aapko. Waise bhai aapko kabhi kissi se pyaar nai huya?
Arjun - pyaar? Nai, aisi ladki kabhi mili nai
Vijay - kaisi ladki chahiye?
Arjun - why the suddent interest in my lovelife?
Vijay- baas aise hi puch rahe hai. Humhe apne Yuvraj k likes or dislikes ka pata hona chahiye na (he winks)
Arjun - hmmmm
Vijay - come one hai, tell!
Arjun- pata nai, kabhi socha nai
Vijay - toh fir aap unko doodhoge kaisi? Aur agar koi mil gayi toh aapko pata kaise chalega that you are in love?
Arjun surpised by Vijay's sudden questions raises his eyebrows at him and says "jab hoga tab pata chalega...i guess"
Vijay pulls out a casual white shirt and jeans - wear this bhai
After getting dressed, Arjun leaves for his date. On his way he picks up flowers. Per Vijay's instructions he also gets a box of chocolates. Arjun had booked a section of the cafe for themselves as he did not want others or media to know.
A beautiful women in brown sunglasses and red off-shoulder layered dress walks in.
They introduce each other and talk for almost 2 hours. Maithili checks her watch and says - oh wow time just flew by
Arjun - ya
Maithli - I have to head out... it was great to meet you Yuvraj.
Arjun smiles - same here
She gives him a hug and a peck on cheek.
Back at Devgrah Mahal Mumbai
As arjun enters, Vijay - Kaisi thi date?
Arjun - aap darwaze k pe humara wait kar rahe the?
Vijay - haan ofcourse, im too excited Yeh sab chhodo..... soooooo?
Arjun asks - so?
Vijay - kuch kuch ho raha hai?
Arjun looks confused, vijay adds - humara matlab hai unse milke aapke dil mein kuch kuch huya?
Before he could reply, Vijay pointing to his cheek - ye kya hai?
Arjun wipes hi cheek - kuch nai
Vijay - liesss, bhai!! Kya chupa rahe ho?
Arjun- nothing vijay, anyways she was nice but i dont think so
Vijay - you only met her once, she could have been nervous. Met her again and see
A voice comes from the back "bilkul sahi"
Brothers turn around to see their grandmother - "vijay sahi keh rahe hai, Arjun beta give it time before you decide anything". Arjun doesnt push back and nods in agreement.
Mrinalidevi was well respected and considered one of the most influential women in India. Married at young age of 18 to Mahendra Pratap, she had her first child Brijraj at 19 and Menaka at 21. Shortly after Menaka's birth, Mahendra Pratap died. Since then Mrinalidevi had taken over Devgarh. Devgrah meant everything to her, it came before her and her family. Being one of the few ruling women in a "man's world", she had earned her place as advisor to head of mahashaba. Thus her decisions were considered craved in stone by her family and others who knew her.
*******************************************************
Back in USA, it was Thrusday morning. As no one had taken Friday classes, today was last day of thier exam. Everyone were in their respective class for exams or studying in library.
At night, Mansi was having a fashion show in her room, trying to decide what to wear.
Isha and Jen came by as she has not been downstairs for a while.
Jen - ooo babe alert
Isha - whats the special occasion
Not wanting to make a big deal, mansi says "i am going out tomorrow with a friend who is visiting"
Jen - i thought we were your friends? (Make a sad face)
Mansi - nooo we are just roomates
Jen throws a dress at her.
Isha - so is it a boy? Mansi nods yes. Both girls tease her. After helping her to pick an outfit, they head to their rooms.
Mansi was tossing and turning all night. She was confused about her feeling about the date.
At 845 am, all dressed she heads out. Mansi asked UV to meet at campus so not be caught by her roomies. At 9, UV picks her up. UV - humhe pata tha
She knew exactly what he was referring to - well wearing red was not in the bet
UV smirks at her answer.
M - toh hum kaha jaa rahe hai?
UV - mere ghar, humne socha hum wahi time spend karte hai (as he winks at her)
M - haww! (Covering her mouth)
UV smiles and says - kya "haw" (mimicking her). Tum kya soch rahi ho?
Mansi doesnt reply and she looks away.
UV - ufffo princess gutter mein se dimag nikalo.
She starts bickering, but he doesnt reply. After few minutes,UV - "ho gaya, ghar aa gaya. Chale?" As they are walking in, Mansi with an attitude - "yahi hai yuvraj k saath date ka plan. Ghar? How boring "
Uv doesnt say anything and just smiles.
They head to the garden/backyard. The yard was very private as it was surrounded by trees. In the middle of a yard, a table, decorated beautifully with flowers, was arranged. As Mansi was admiring the setup, UV says "lets have breakfast".
Maids comes with variety of dishes
Mansi - parathas!!! I love them.
UV - yeh humare bhi favorite hai
Mansi was surprised to hear that - humme laga tum healthy sealthy breakfast khate honge. UV - haan par sometimes I can have a cheat day, haan nai toh!
Mansi gives him a blank stare. After they eat, UV says lets heads out.
Mansi - ab kaha ja rahe hai?
UV - princess sawal mat karo, just come
They had been driving for almost an hr and half, when Mansi finally says - hum ja kaha rahe hai? Itne time se drive kar rahe hai
UV - patience princess, sabra ka phal meetha hota hai.
Mansi get annoyed and sits with her arms crossed, looking out the window. UV calls her but she doesnt reply. He gently touches her hand to get her attention. She get startled by his touch. she can't understand why it happens only with him.
UV - sorry princess. But we are almost here, you can see yourself then
They finally make it to the docks. UV gives the keys to the valet. He opens the door for Mansi. Without thinking he holds her hand and she also doesnt resist. They walk into the ferry, hand in hand.
Mansi - "oh we are going to Martha's Vineyard"
UV - hmmmm
Mansi gets excited. She had heard about its beauty but never had opportunity to come. UV's car was boarded on the same ferry. They reach the island and then a short drive to the gun range.
Though her brothers went hunting and to the range, Mansi never participated. She couldn't hurt an animal. UV assured her they will only be practicing with disks and board. She didnt know anything about guns. She picks out a sniper to try. UV explains to her where to look and how to aim with it. UV moves close to her and moves strand of hair behind her ear. She aims and shoots. It hits the cutout board of a man right in the chest. In her excitment she hugs UV, he hugs her back as a smile forms on his face. Mansi - did you see?
Letting her go, he says - not bad at all princess, ab humhe aapse kum pange lene padenge
Mansi - haan nai toh!
Both laugh. Mansi now picks up a particular revolver.
UV - not this one, if you dont hold it correctly, it can cause pain from recoil.
Mansi - kuch nai hota
UV - "try something else" But Mansi is adamant. UV adds "aap itni ziddi kyu hai!" Mansi gives him a big grin, she was happy for getting her way. He adds " make sure you grip very tightly with both hands."
Mansi holds the revolver with her right hand tightly. Her left hand grip was light. Before he could move behind her and hold her hands to give further support, she shoots. The gun's recoil was hard, her grip was not enough and a sharp pain travels up her right hand. Surprised, she drops the gun. UV - are you okay? Mansi - "haan woh i got surprised"
UV was not convinced - sure?
Her hand was hurting but she doesnt say anything as her ego wont allow it. She didnt listen to him but she cant let him know he was right. Mansi says she's done, so UV decides to take his turn. They go to an open ground where a man was standing with a machine.
Mansi - yeh kya hai? Where is the target?
UV smiles - patience princess.
The man loads the machine, aims it up and releases a disc. UV waits with his rifle. At the precise time he shoots the disc down.
Mansi- oh my god! That was awesome. Mujhe bhi karna hai...
UV couldnt say no. He shoots a few around and then calls her over - "just focus on target and trigger, i will do the rest". he stands behind her but this time very close so he can support the gun fully. His hands were over her. He stabilizes the gun. He was giving her step by step instructions, but being so close, his warm breath was falling on her ear. She was losing it. She couldn't process everything he was saying. The disc is released, she shoots and misses. Seeing this Mansi is very disappointed, she dislikes losing. UV cups her face and says "This is hard princess, but with pratice you will explode it as well"
Mansi in frustration - sab tumhari galti hai, i couldnt focus
UV - humne kya kiya?
Mansi blurts out - jab tum itne (realizing what she is saying she pauses and whispers the last word) [kareeb]
UV - batao, Kya kiya humne?
Mansi - (pauses) kuch nai .... woh humara haath dard kar raha tha from revolver is liye focus nai kar paye".
UV's concern took over- why didnt you tell me before? Should we go to a doctor?
Mansi - "itna bhi dard nai. Better than before. Thodi der mein theek ho jayenga"
Mansi felt bad but she didnt lie completely. Her hand did hurt a little but that wasnt the reason for missing the shot.
UV - theeke hai chalo lets get you some ice.
They head to their next destination. It was a beautiful resort on the beach. UV had arranged a table on the beach for lunch. They were alone, tables around them were empty. UV - "how do you feel now? Did the ice help". Mansi - haan (happily playing in warm sand with her feet)
UV - so after lunch we have couple of hours to kill until the next plan. What would you like to do? Jet skis? Swimming?
Mansi - "actually humhe sirf beach pe baithe k relax karna hai". UV -sure
After lunch, they grab a cabana on the beach. In the cabana, there was hammock and two recliner chairs. Mansi takes the hammock. After a while, UV says "im gonna go in water for a bit". Mansi who was reading a magazine - "okay". UV was in the water when two girls come & start talking. Mansi notices them. One of the girl playfully touches his arms as they all laugh. Mansi is not happy and says to herself - "halkat veda kahi bhi shuru ho jata hai".....
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