Chapter 3

Hey fam, 

Continuing from the last part,

'They say the first one who fall in love is always at the losing end but hey if that first person leave na then the other one loses his soul..'

The sun set in the west. The late afternoon sunlight covered the sky.

Karan stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the office on the tenth floor, surprised at why he was in the mood to admire the setting sun.

Perhaps, because she came back.

Niya opened the door to see Lawyer Shergill with his back to her standing in front of the windows. He held a cigarette in his hand and had a desolate appearance ...... Desolate? Niya simply doubted her own eyes. Can this word be used for Lawyer Shergill who has always been full of confidence, calm and collected?

Karan heard the door open, turned and asked: "What is the matter?"

"Oh," Niya snapped out of her own thoughts and quickly said: "Lawyer Shergill, woh Vice President Rastogi of Mathur Corporation. Woh aa gaye.."

"Invite him to come in." Karan push away his chaotic train of thoughts and wholeheartedly engrossed himself into his work. He glanced at the clock on the wall--five o'clock, but she had not come yet.

Finally, he sent away Vice President Rastogi, Karan wearily leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes to rest. Suddenly, a large palm slapped his shoulder, Karan grudgingly opened his eyes. "Shivaay."

After graduating from university, he declined a postgraduate study offer and instead started work in "S&O Law Firm," which has now been renamed as "SSS Law Firm" since he became one of the partners. Shivaay Oberoi and another partner Faizuddin Siddiqui were also his University alumni. Faizi graduated a year earlier than him whereas Shivaay graduated many years ago.

The tall, sturdy and handsome person leisurely sat down across from him and arrogantly crossed his legs. "Aaj ka office k baad kya plan hai? "

Karan said without looking up: "Overtime."

"phir se nahi pls.." Shivaay shrieked. "Aaj toh weekend h yaar!"

"So what?"

"So what!" Shivaay repeated his words and shook his head. "This really sounds like something a cold-blooded, ruthless and workaholic Karan Shergill would say."

Karan squinted. "I certainly did not know you are so good at rhetoric.. and Annika nahi hoti toh tum bhi overtime hi kar rahe hote..."

"NO, NO, NO." Shivaay shook his hand. "This is the consensus from all the females who know Karan Shergill.. aur rahi baat Annika ki toh woh toh hamesha se sath hai even then I would always manage to take time for relaxing..." Shivaay leaned forward. "Karan, mujhe na tumse puchna tha.. kya tum gay ho ya phir you have an unmentionable illness?"

"Regarding this kind of silly nonsense, tere jaisa pagal hi dhyan de sakta hain.." Karan thought. Niya came in with two cups of coffee, and Karan asked her: "Did a Miss Mahajan come today?"

Niya thought for a moment, shook her head and said: "No."

Karan grunted to show what he heard and said to Niya: "I don't have much to do here so you better go home early."

Niya shook her head and said: "I'm in no hurry. Lawyer Shergill, when are you leaving? Do you need me to help you to buy something to eat?"

"No need, thank you."

Niya got the message and left with a disappointed look on her face.

Shivaay laughed heartily: "Hey, iss sundar Kanya Niya bhi na tujhme interested hai... An office romance, oh that doesn't sound bad!"

"She is a decent girl so you better not say such nonsense." Karan warned him.

A heart of stone! Shivaay subtly shook his head. Karan's attitude towards women has always been courteous and thoughtful, but never more. All these years, who knows how many women have had their hearts broken by the name of "Karan."

But the women coming in droves cannot be blamed as even from Shivaay's male perspective, Karan was outstanding. Disregarding his heroic spirit and compelling outward appearance, merely these few years, his reputation in the legal circle rose rapidly. In addition, his firm, persistent and upright image was more than enough to attract any proud and beautiful woman.

"Sach batana Karan tujhe kis type ki ladki pasand hai ? Itni saari ladies tujh me interested h.. but kya sach me aaj tak kisi k liye Tera Dil nahi dhadka.. woh.. yeah... That beautiful woman who was the director of a foreign company, her body figure was very hot ah! That television hostess who has cooperated with you for such a long time. Don't tell me there is not even a little sparkle? Aree and humari excellent peer Riya.. woh mujhe aaj hi court me mili thi.. puch rahi thi tere baare me.."

The more Shivaay talked, the more excited he became. Karan turned a deaf ear, letting him continue on talking nonsense.

A one-man show so Shivaay stopped in frustration. A while later, he said excitedly: "I know, it must be your little sister Sakshi. You treat her the best."

Sakshi often came to the office so Shivaay was very familiar with her.

"She is my sister." Karan quickly said.

"Come on, both of you are not blood related... and not legally as well.." Shivaay said knowingly.

"That does not change anything... and yeah agr tu friend nahi hota na then jitni girls k baare me tune bola woh record krke I would have send to Anika bhabhi"

Karan's tone was quite mild, but Shivaay could still hear the firmness in his voice. Shivaay shook his head and did not say anything anymore as he had experienced Karan's stubbornness before.

"Lawyer Shergill." Niya came in, holding an envelope. "abhi ek lady yeh dekar gayi.."

Karan knew what it was just by touching it. " Niya.. woh lady Kahan hai?"

"She left immediately after leaving this envelope."

"Gone already?" Karan looked disappointed. "kitni der Hui usse gaye hue.. "

"Less than a minute."

Karan did not think much. He just picked up the car keys and coat and went out. Shivaay followed him from behind and shouted: "Karan, tu Jahan Jaa raha h.. abhi toh overtime bol raha tha? " He did not seem to have heard.

At the front door, Shivaay happened to meet Faizi, who had just returned from court. "Isse kya hua..aise gaya achanak se jaise train chali jaegi"

Faizi looked at the direction Karan left, said thoughtfully. "hume lgta hai iska raaj hume pata h.."

"Tujhe pta hai.. toh jldi bta.. bolna.."

"Shivaay aaj tak suna tha shadi k baad husband wife ek jaise hone lagte h aaj dekh bhi liya tu Annika jaisa hi Raha h.. " Shivaay glared at Faizi..

"Humare kehne matlab h.. humne abhi kisi ko dekha tha par laga galat h lekin jaise Woh janab gaye usse lagta hai yeh wohi person thi.."

"Who? Tu thriller movie se bhi jyada suspense create kar raha h.." Shivaay said impatiently.

"What kind of person do you think Karan is?" Faizi did not answer but instead asked him.

"Calm, rational and objective." Shivaay's fair evaluation.

"In that case, this person will make him not calm, not rational and not objective."

Shivaay asked curiously. "A woman?"

"Yes, his former girlfriend." Although Faizi was one year ahead of Karan, they lived in the same dormitory so he knew very well about Karan's past.

"Girlfriend?" Shivaay had the expression of someone who heard a fantasy story, "Karan ki pehle koi girlfriend bhi thi?"

"Yes, Karan's girlfriend broke up with him because she went to the United States."

"You mean ......" Shivaay opened his eyes widely. "Karan was dumped?"

"Yes, moreover she left without telling him. Aur unn mohatrama k US jaane k baad Karan ko pata chala... This incident was very widely known at university. Karan was very depressed for a while. At that time, he started to smoke and drink."

"Impossible la ......" Shivaay really could not imagine what kind of woman could abandon Karan. No wonder he would not go near women, a case of once bitten, twice shy.

*****

It was rush hour as everyone left work. Monami was not in a hurry to go home so she wandered aimlessly in the crowd on the streets.

Until just a moment ago, she had no choice but to admit that she had changed. Before, it would be absolutely unlikely that she would avoid him, now obviously she really wanted to see him yet she did not dare.

Back then, no matter how indifferent Karan was, how his resistance made it feel like he was a thousand miles away, she happily followed him around with a smile on her face. Now, she did not even have the courage to say a few words to him.

Karan said she was 'sunshine', the sunshine he wanted to refuse yet could not. But now, even the sunshine in her own heart had disappeared so what could she use to shine on others?

A white BMW abruptly stopped in front of her. Monami did not look up and tried to avoid it. Then, she heard a familiar voice. "Get in the car."

She looked up in surprise, it was him!

Karan saw her looking distracted, frowned and said again: "The car cannot stop here so get in."

Monami did not have time to consider what was going on as the car brought them in to join the endless traffic.

"Indian or Western food?" Karan asked her while paying attention to the traffic situation in front.

"Indian food." She replied reflexively, then started to feel something was wrong. What Indian or Western food, could he want to treat her to a meal ah?

Karan glanced at her coldly. "Do you still know how to eat by hands?"

Monami pretended she did not hear his sarcasm, instead cautiously asked: "Do you want to treat me to dinner?"

"You picked up my wallet so it is reasonable that I ought to thank you."

"Actually, you do not need to be so polite." Monami mumbled, suddenly feeling dejected. When did they resort to saying such impersonal things?

They had dinner at the famous Daryaganj Restaurant, Connaught Palace , where the beautiful setting, delicious cuisine and attentive service could not improve Monami's mood. Facing that expressionless face across the table, she was doomed to have indigestion.

The musical ringtone from the mobile phone broke the quiet atmosphere. Karan answered the call. "Hello ...... yes ...... I am at Daryaganj restro ...... no, there is also Monami Mahajan ...... met by coincidence ...... okay."

Suddenly, he gave the phone to her. "Sakshi ko tumse baat karni hain.."

Monami took it. "Hello."

"Hello, Monami." A gentle voice came from the other side.

"Sakshi, long time no see."

"Yes ah, long time no see."

Both sides were silent, not knowing what to say so finally Sakshi said: "Monami, itne saal ho gaye.. kaisi ho.. how have you been all these years?"

"Not bad, until recently I was reluctant to leave the U.S." Monami tried to act casual and did not notice Karan suddenly looking at her closely.

"Oh." There was another silence, then Sakshi said: "Can you give me your contact number? We will find time to meet up."

"Okay." Monami told her the mobile phone number.

"All right, then good-bye la."

"Goodbye."

After finishing the call, she gave the phone back to Karan, but he did not take it. "Enter your phone number into it."

Monami was stumped for words and lowered her head to enter the number, but she encountered difficulty seeing the password.

"It needs a password."

Karan reached out to take the phone from her hand. "I will do it."

Monami felt embarrassed while watching his slender fingers gracefully and rapidly typing on the silver phone. After a few seconds, he finished typing and put it away in his pocket..

"Tell your number.."

"Oh"

He glanced at her and no longer spoke. Dinner was eaten in a silent atmosphere, even until he drove her home.

Getting out of the car, Monami said: "Thank you for driving me home."

He nodded his head and sped away.

Monami stood there, feeling at a loss. She did not know how long she stood there until she realized people passing by glancing at her strangely, only then did she snap out of it and hurriedly ran upstairs.

*****

"Blind, Blind date?" Monami shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Dheere bol Monu!" Koel covered Monami's babbling mouth. Then Koel warned her: "announcement nahi karni hai.."

Monami nodded her head quickly, waited until she was let go and asked: "tu blind date par Jana chahti hain..?"

"sirf main nahi baba tu bhi jaa rahi hain.."

"We? Why, why?" Monami looked critically at Koel.

"We are two of the oldest staff in the agency who do not have a boyfriend. Do you know, if we don't seize the day, we will not be able to get married?" Koel rushed to check the calendar, "Today's target is two XX Company's engineers so you and I are going just right. "

"If go, you go yourself. I am not going."

"kyonkii woh 2 log hain.. toh main akeli nahi jaa sakti na.." Monu, normally do I treat you well? Whether I can get married or not this year is all dependent on you." Koel looked at her pitifully, like an abandoned puppy.

"You can date one at a time ah."

"No, that is too inefficient. I also need your help."

"What kind of help?" Monami said cautiously as it was never easy to help Koel.

Seeing Monami backing down, Koel took out a lot of things from her desk such as black-rimmed glasses, weird looking wigs, earrings big enough to be bracelets and some very colorful clothes.

"Ab yeh kya hain..?" Monami stared at the pile of stuff.

"To make you look ugly to bring out my beauty!"

"...... I am your victim number what?"

*****

When it was time to get off work, Koel grabbed her and ran downstairs. When they finally reached downstairs, she screamed: "Ah! I forgot to take my 'sure-win' lipstick."

She rushed back up to take the 'sure win' blind date lipstick.

Monami was waiting for her at the front door, and suddenly se she felt heated. She turned around and unexpectedly saw Karan.

He met her line of vision and nodded his head at her to send greeting.

Her heart beat faster, could he be here to look for her? It had been almost a month since the 'silent dinner'. They have not been in contact so this time, could he be here to look for her ah?

She involuntarily walked towards him.

"How come you are here?"

"Waiting for a person." He replied briefly.

"Oh, wait ......"

"Karan!" A slender and beautiful woman with a soft feminine voice appeared in her line of vision, making Monami's heart sink.

"The person I have been waiting for is here so I will go first." He flatly told her and left together with that woman.

"Okay, good-bye."

She just stood there blankly and watched them walk to the direction of the car park. Actually, she did not have the strength to move her feet until Koel appeared and pulled her away. "Monu tu yahan moorti ban kar kyon khadi hai.. Walk faster as we are going to be late. I also need to help you put on make-up. Remember, oh, you have to behave a little worse than me ......"

Monami simply did not need to pretend as during the blind date dinner, she really looked dull and unresponsive, perfectly helping to highlight Koel's radiant personality.

**"**

He came to wait for her again.

Monami looked down from the floor-to-ceiling windows and saw Karan in a simple shirt and pants looking handsome downstairs. In this month, he would come here once every four to five days, then leave together with that beautiful woman.

Today was the weekend, he came again.

He never waited for her before.

"Monu, Monu." Koel squawked. "Aaj weekend hai.. toh tujhe mere sath Jana hoga?"

"Okay."

"Uh?" Koel was surprised, "tujhe pta hai main tujhe Kahan chalne ke liye bol rahi hoon?"

"Blind date!" Monami tiredly said. Given her previous "outstanding performance," Koel regarded her as her "blind date companion" so every weekend, she would drag her to go to blind dates.

But it was really fun to go to blind dates with her since she would not have to worry that men will like her. She only needed to go have dinner and watch Koel put on a show to amuse others.

"Today, what kind of man are you seeing?"

"Hehehe, today is a young and talented man ah, a surgeon, having Western food, hahaha ......"

Monami could not help but be amused by her attitude. It can't be deny that she was quite a pro as the blind dates got better and better. Unfortunately, no man has been won over! Instead, due to inexplicable reasons, they either became her good friends or her friends' husbands. Koel, who was twenty-nine years old and considered old for marriage, vowed to marry any man who would have her.

Due to the need to go home early to "make up", Monami left work on time. Thus, it was inevitable to encounter Karan, who was waiting downstairs. Monami only wanted to walk pass him with her head down. She did not expect Koel to suddenly stop and look with fierce eyes at Karan's......beautiful companion, who was standing beside him.

"This is too much!" Koel gritted her teeth and said angrily. Before Monami can react, she was pulled by her to stand in front of Karan and that beauty.

"Vixen, you are still seducing men."

That beauty, although looked delicate and soft, surprisingly said boldly: "Blind date maniac, tum abhi bhi doosre logo ko apne sath blind date ke liye leke Jaa rahi ho? " She glanced at Monami. "tumse jyada Sundar dikhti hain.. kahi aisa na ho tum lifetime ne hi shadi na kar pao.."

The two people actually began to quarrel. Monami was dumbstruck and greeted Karan awkwardly. "Hi!"

His complexion seemed rather bad, which was understandable since anyone would not be happy to have the girlfriend being scolded as a vixen.

"Uh, I'm sorry, although she speaks harshly, uska irada bura nahi tha.." Monami tried to defend Koel.

Karan gave her a killer stare, and his voice sounded cold as ice. "Are you going on a blind date?"

"Uh, yes ......" Monami did not know what to say but her hesitant attitude would only reaffirm his opinion.

He did not say anything, his expression frigid as he glanced at her then turned around and left.

"Mr. Shergill, wait for me." That beauty who quarreled with Koel stopped fighting and hurriedly followed when she saw him leaving.

Monami temporarily did not have time to sort out her mood because Koel's expression was really weird, as she actually was ...... crying?

Hey, Koel! The Koel who put on a show to amuse others daily was crying?

"Koel, you are crying just because you failed to win in your quarrel, very shameful ah."

"What do you know!" Koel stared at her with widely opened and tearful eyes, "She stole my first boyfriend."

Uh, indeed it was a bitter and deep-seated hatred! Monami immediately joined her in being angry and patted her shoulder. "There are plenty more fish in the sea. We will find a good one tonight to infuriate her."

"I'm not angry at her for stealing the person I like. Mujhe gussa isliye aata h kyonki usne uss person ko cherish hi nahi kiya.. aur iss wajah se uska accident ho gaya..and u know what happened after that Then, she abandoned him when he became crippled. How can she be like this ah? Why he still loves this kind of person? Why does he not like me, am I not beautiful as her.. Sob, sob ...... "

Monami listened in surprise. She did not expect the always starry-eyed infatuated Koel would have such a story. Indeed, the person with the more cheerful outward appearance will have a more vulnerable heart inside?

*******

Because of the quarrel, both of them were late for the first time. Monami also did not have time to put on ugly makeup. Koel was depressed so she did not take the initiative or put on a show to amuse others. As a result ......

The two outstanding surgeons were actually very interested in them?!

Oh my God! Could this be regarded as a blessing in disguise?

Due to the men's excessive enthusiasm, the four of them went to a movie, then to a game zone and finally to supper. They stayed out later than eleven p.m. before returning home.

Finally, Monami was relieved when she saw her home in sight. "Dr. Shah, mera ghar aa gaya.. Thank you for sending me back."

"Oh." Dr Shah stopped talking about heart disease and politely said: "Good night, Miss Mahajan. I had a good time today."

"Me too, good night!" Monami smiled and waited for him to walk away before going upstairs.

The lights in the corridor were broken so it seemed a bit dark. She walked up to the fourth floor and fumbled for the door key. Suddenly, a tall and dark shadow appeared in her line of vision, Monami was shocked and dropped her keys on the floor.

"tum......"

Before she could finish talking, she was pulled into a strong embrace and her unsuspecting lips were pressed. He mercilessly ravaged her lips repeatedly. Those fiery kisses even spread to the neck, seemingly wanting to crazily pour out all the pent-up anger. His hand tore open her collar. She started to feel a slight chill in her upper chest, and he immediately covered it with kisses.

Monami did not have a chance to react but was caught up unprepared in the spellbound and delirious confusion. The ambiguous atmosphere was filled with the smell of alcohol. Alcohol? He had been drinking!

Monami became more clear-headed and exclaimed in an unsteady breath: "Karan!"

He stopped all his movements, buried his head in her neck and rapidly grasped for air.

A long time later, only then his hoarse voice was heard. "haar gaya main..."

What did this mean?

"itne saalo baad bhi tumse haar gaya.. kitni koshish kar loon sabak hi nahi sikhta.. even After so many years, I still lose to you, suffering a crushing defeat."

Why did he sound so bitter?

"Karan, kya keh rahe ho tum? Tumne drink kar rakhi hain? Are you drunk?" She asked anxiously.

There was silence, then he suddenly pushed her away. His beautiful eyes shone awkwardly and resentfully in the dark night. His voice sounded strangely sober and cold: "I'm not drunk. I am crazy."

He turned and suddenly disappeared, like he had suddenly appeared. If not for the slight tingling feeling on the lips, she would think this was a ridiculous dream.

******

She picked up the keys to open the door. After entering the house, she just stood foolishly at the doorway. If the phone did not suddenly ring, she did not know how long she would stand there.

After picking up the phone, she immediately heard Koel's excited voice. "Monu, how are things at your end?"

What? Monami temporarily did not understand what she was saying.

"Say quickly, ah, did that Dr Shah say anything? Did he ask you when to meet up next time?"

"No."

"How can that be?!" Koel cried out, "He obviously looked very interested."

He was probably pleased to have someone willing to listen to his "heart and love" special topic lecture.

"How about you?" Monami did not want to beat around the bush so asked her directly.

"He invited me to watch a movie tomorrow, hehe......" scary laughter came from the other side, "Monu, starting tomorrow, I want to behave like a lady!"

******

Uff.. now agr koi yeh puche Why Karan kissed Monu without her permission.. well then.. so before u say just put yourself in his shoes.. woh bina keh kar gayi.. he hates her.. but phir bhi he waited for her.. bcoz more that he loved her..
And then seeing that she came back he thought maybe it will be okay.. gussa hate sab kuch h but usse jyada love h.. and then he heard she is going on date.. and so.. and u know acc to him, Monami ne usse chase kia tha.. and itna actively he also fell in love with her but phir woh achanak se chali gyi then he saw her again..

Yeah so btana kaisa tha part..

Till the next update
Ta-ta

Your writer
Kriya