Chapter 8: Crossroads
UV comes back with his choice- he will be perfect. No one will suspect anything.
He is looking at them confused, while others are analyzing UV'S proposed plan. Mansi - "hmmm" while she circles around him, checking from top to bottom
Rohan - itna bhi kya soch rahe ho
Isha - okay done but it has to seem natural
The atmosphere was serious. His mind had came to numerous conclusions by now. Finally, confused and worried, he asks- kya aap sab humse kissika khoon karvana chahte ho?
They burst out laughing. "No Luv, itne bhi bure din nai aaye. Tumhe baas cupid banna hoga" says Mansi.
Luv - matlab
UV explains the plan to Luv.
"Nai nai banna humse nai hoga!
Isha and Rohan pleads Luv but he did not seem to budge. UV not wanting to unintentionally force him remains silent. "please Luv, hum bas Jen ko khush dekhna chahte hai. Please humare liye! I promise we wont drag it long" says Mansi.
Luv could't say no to her and agrees.
Seeing his quick agreement, isha says "wow humse itna bhav khaya aur mansi k ek baar kehne se haan!
Although Isha didnt mean much with those words, UV's mind couldnt let them go easily. They decide on the details and go back.
Chris - where were you all?
Isha - just walking
"Lets have dinner then" chris adds
After dinner, they gathered around fire.
She slyly tries to tell Luv "over there next to Jen". But Mansi's efforts were wasted as Luv did not understand. Giving up, she quickly goes and sits in between Jen and Isha. After she takes her place, she says "Luv come sit with us". He goes to sit next to Isha but Isha quickly stretches her leg.
"Sorry, i need that space to extend my legs, go sit next to Jen"
Mansi agrees & adds "yes next to jen"
Luv shoots daggers from his eyes. He then goes over to Jen's side and sits. Mansi scoots over toward Jen, forcing jen to scoot further near Luv.
Now, very suspicious jen whispers to Mansi "what the hell is going on".
Not wanting to reveal eveything in front of others mansi says "nothing". Then she says out loud "so what should we do?"
Rohan - scary stories
Chris - oh god
Others persist as always, and Chris caves in. Mansi was yet again disappointed by Chris.
"I have a perfect story, its a true story it happened to a friend" says Rohan.
"My friend, Kabir, went to a store with his friends. Some of the items in the stored were pre-owned. There he spots a nice black and purple tie. It was antique and beautiful. Kabir decides to buy it.
When he goes home at night, he puts tie in his closet. That night at 3 a.m, suddenly his eyes open. This rarely happens, he twists and turns trying to fall back alseep. Something leads his eyes toward closet, and there he sees a shadow. He closes and opens his eyes thinking he is hallucinating. But its still there. Now his eyes can tell that was a shadow of a man. Not knowing what to do,..."
Looking around at everyone's tensed faces, Rohan smirks. He takes a dramatic pause to add more suspense.
"... he covers his head with the blanket and peaks from under. Suddenly, the shadow grows larger or was it coming closer? Kabir starts to freak out. Now Kabir can feel the shadow standing over him. He..."
UV sees Chris has covered his ears. Even Jen has moved very close to Luv, hoping for him to protect her. He looks over to his bheegi billi and see her all over Isha, hiding in Isha's arms. Seeing this he says to himself: "that should be me instead of Isha.... stop it Uday you sound like a high school girl.... ugh Its Luv and his stupid thoughts thats gotten to me"
His mind wonders to the conversation he had with Luv the night before:
UV - hmmm
Luv (hesitantly) - woh hum baas ..(pauses) actually hum kuch kehna chahte hai.... aap jante ho humne aaj tak kabhi is mamle mein kuch interest nai liya ya kuch bola
UV - toh fir aaj kyu
Luv - banna im speaking as her friend only, i dont want to see her hurt.
UV - I have never forced anyone and..
He gets cut off by Luv - "aap humhe galat samjh rahe hai. I know you have never forced anyone and they all come at their will and are okay with.... (he pauses, trying to find appropriate words) with the arrangement. But she isnt like other girls. She doesnt care about your looks, money or your crown. She considers you a friend and really cares for you. And (he hesitatantly adds) and if all these things continue between you both im afraid she might fall in love with you."
The word love triggered unfamiliar sensation in UV.
Luv - "humara parivar teen peedhee (generation) se Jaigarh rajya k mantri padh (sear) pe hai. Aur mantri hote huye humara kartavya hai aapko sahi salaah dena."
I could sense UV was in a mental dilemma about his feeling for her and what im saying to him, Luv thought, but it has to be done. He adds " aap yuvraj ho aur aapki shaadi ek rajkumari se honi hai... varna Mahashaba"
UV raises his hand to stop his from speaking - humhe yaad hai
Luv - banna please think about what i said.. Kyunki kahi na kahi you care for her too aur hum nai chahte k you end up losing her as a friend as well.
UV thinks to himself- i cannot control myself, humhe pata nai kya ho jata hai. I need to keep my distance from her, its best for both of us and our friendship (reanalyzing his decision)....haan, Hum Rajwade hai aur humare liye risay....
His thought was broken by a scream from Mansi, Chris and Isha.
The scream had made Jen jump onto Luv. Realizing the scene in front of her, Mansi looks at Rehan. she thought she saw him react for a second but she wasnt sure. Mansi to herself - "oh god rehanbhai you are so difficult to read"
Looking at everyone's reactions, Rohan couldnt control his laughter - oh man should have seen your faces. So should i continue?
Mansi - im sleepy im going. Lets go Isha
Isha - I want to finish hearing the rest
Mansi unable to take any more of the story decides to go to her tent. She was followed by Jen, who was embrassed by her stunt with Luv. Chris also heads to his tent. The rest were listening to the story.
In the girls tent:
Jen - wow that was some story
M - yes, so creepy
Jen - so are you going to tell me whats going on?
M - what?
Jen - the whole luv come sit here, isha with her extending leg? And earlier before i saw you mouthing something to Luv and pointing towards my direction
M - oh you saw that (jen nods yes)
M tell her the whole plan.
Jen - noo thats not right, i dont want to trick Rehan into liking me
M - you are not!! This is just going to help him to realize his feeling, if there are any and if not, then you can move on Jen.
Jen looks unsure. Mansi furthers adds "how long can you just wait around that will cause more pain."
Jen - you are right... i guess i am just afarid to hear no
M - i know. You will be hurt for a while eventually time will help to heal. But if you just keep hoping and waiting it will hurt even more.
Isha, who heard Mansi, pops in the tent - "she is right, best to pull band-aid sooner and faster. It will sting for a bit only"
Jen hugs the girls and says "you guys are the best, im so lucky to have met such amazing friends"
Then, they go to their spots to sleep. Jen's words had stirred a sense of guilt in Mansi. She thinks " i never thought i would meet such amazing friends. And now my i feel like im cheating them by hiding my identity"
She battles with herself for long time, and eventually falls asleep.
Sunday afternoon they head back to their homes and back to routine. With grauduation coming up, group was busy with school and internship applications. Time flew and it has been a month since the trip. And it has been a month since UV has put a wall between him and Mansi.
Per Mansi - They talk but its different.
He jokes around with her but it doesnt have that UV charm.
He still calls her princess but it doesnt have the same feel to it....
Sometimes at night it keeps her wondering why he is being so distant and why is it bothering her. But by morning her ego takes over and she moves on saying "whatever"
UV's house
His phone rings, it was his sister.
"Hi dada, we have reached"
"Great choti, is dad doing good?"
"he is fine. He is preparing for the meeting"
"Acha. Toh aapne kya plans banaye hai?"
"Dad is busy next 10 days with deal. Hum humari dost ki shaadi k liye ja rahe hai Manali do din baad. Fir hum soch rahe the Jaigarh jaye kuch din k liye"
"wow choti im glad aapne Jaigarh jane ka plan banaya."
"haan dada humne Jaigarh baas photo mein dekha hai baki humhe kuch yaad nai."
"Hmmm...enjoy your trip choti"
"woh dada" says Unnati hesitantly
"Haan bolo"
"Kuch nai, hum aapse badme baat karte hai."
UV didnt think much of it and goes back to doing his work.
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