Part 13
Armaan and Muskaan get busy with work in Armaan's cabin….discussing the issues and complexities of their one of the most important projects….Rahim and Sajid check on them once when they come to office…then go back to their own work…
It was 4 pm…Armaan comes back from a brief meeting and finds Muskaan engrossed in the laptop…
Armaan: Muskaan…did u have lunch?
Muskaan(still engrossed): hmm….
Armaan: Muskaannn…m asking u something….did you have lunch? ….(he nudges her)
Muskaan: m not hungry Armaan…u had?
He just stares at her….then holds her arm and makes her get up from the chair….closes the laptop…and makes her walk with him to the door…
Muskaan: Armaan…. Kya kar rahe ho….mera kaam…laptop…Armaan…
Armaan: kahi bhaag kar nahi jaega…na tumhara kaam…aur na laptop…
They get out of the cabin ….and out of the office….
Muskaan: but Armaan…mujhe kaha le ja rahe ho…haath to chodo….
When they reach the parking lot…he finally leaves her arm…
Armaan: Indian pasand hai ya international??
Muskaan: kya??
Armaan: khana…
Muskaan: emm…uhh……Indian…
Armaan: cool….lets go to my one of my fav restaurants then…
He opens his car door and signals her to get in.
She lets out a deep sigh and gets in…: Armaan…tum bhi na…
Armaan: m too good…I know…
The restaurant wasn't far n they get there in a few minutes. He gets out of the car and opens the door for her. She gets out and follows him to the top floor of the restaurant. It was a peaceful open terrace beautifully done with elegant furniture…simple but attractive…she liked it instantly…and since it was almost evening…the place was least crowded. They occupy a corner table. Armaan gives the order for both of them.
Armaan: u like the place?
Muskaan: yeah..its nice…
Armaan: I come here often…there is coffee shop too on the other side…kabhi Zaheer ke saath…kabhi dusre frnds…ya dad ke saath…evry1 likes it…
Muskaan smiles.
A waiter gets their food and starts serving them.
Armaan: tell me something about London… how is your life there
Muskaan: hmm…London…ghar me abbu, Imran my younger brother, Naaz, Sulekha aunty our helper and me..
Armaan: yes I know that…n friends?
Muskaan: friends bhi kafi hai…but Naazneen and Aman are the closest…we met Aman in college…aur aaj bhi best friends hai…
Armaan: wow…for me…Naazneen and Zaheer are that close…but Zaheer even more…Naaz to waha chali gyai thi…baki lots of other friends…
Muskaan: tumse Zaheer ke bare me sunte sunte, lagta hai jaise I already know him so much..
Armaan grins..: ab kya karu…he has been such a constant companion…his name comes in every chapter of my life…
They continue to chit-chat and in the meanwhile get done with their food.
Back in office….they are preparing for a meeting with the clients regarding their project. The manager comes to take them for the meeting…they take the respective material and leave with him.
Muskaan is able to tackle most of the problems that they were facing. And wherever she got stuck Armaan came to the rescue. Together, they handle the issues very well. Armaan then conducts the rest of the meeting detailing the team on the project. All done…they leave the office by night. Rahim and Sajid have already left.
On the way…Armaan realizes he still didn't get the gifts for the two girls that he had promised them.
Armaan: Muskaan…ghar jaldi jana hai kya? I have some work on the way.
Muskaan: no its ok…I can wait with you
Armaan: ok then…actually…the other day when Naazneen asked for the gifts…I had ordered some jewelry for her…but kuch problem hogya…so jakar check kar lete hai… in fact.. I think you can help me..
Muskaan: why not…
He drives to a mall and takes her to the jewelry shop.
Armaan: let me 1st show you what I had ordered for her
He guides her to a corner table and points to a beautiful pendant with a name carved on it.
Armaan: I ordered 2 such ones…a 'NM' for her and a 'MM' for you
Muskaan: that is such a lovely design Armaan..hogaya ready?
Armaan: nope…workers are not available to make it now…the shopkeeper is suggesting I buy something readymade…ab kya karu
Muskaan: hmm sad…its ok…our bad luck…kuch aur le lo
Armaan: ok…tum to yahi ho…u can take whatever you want…aur Naaz k liye bhi kuch select kar lete hai….
Muskaan: its ok…I don't want anything…Naaz k liye hi le lo
Armaan: are aise kaise…its not from me alone…its from the entire family…I cant excuse you on their behalf…you check around…m getting a call…2 mins…(he leaves with his phone in hand)
Muskaan looks around the shop. The pendant was actually beautiful…such an elegant piece…nice choice he has she thinks. She is checking the stuff there when her eyes fall on the collection of mang-tika. She goes to the cabin and touches it gracefully. She has always loved them. Since she was a kid she would stare at older women wearing them on their foreheads. But she didn't have one herself. Amongst the jewelry she possessed…consisting of the most beautiful pieces in the world… that her father gifted her…or other gifts she got…as the daughter of the famous industrialists Feroz Malik…she always yearned for a piece of this Indian jewelry. Not surprising though…she hardly thought of going and buying it for herself…or buying anything for herself in that case.
There were a few pieces kept on the table there. Her eyes fall on a heavily done piece with small pieces of diamonds in it. She picks it up and admires it. A smile appears on her lips with the touch.
She did not realize when Armaan got there and saw her with the jewelry piece.
Armaan: so u like this one?
Muskaan gets startled..: emm…nahi to…bas dekh rahi thi…(she keeps it back)
Armaan: par…I think its nice…(he picks it up)..or u like anything else..
Muskaan: emm…nahi Armaan jane do…Naaz k liye hi le lo…I …emm
Armaan: come on Muskaan…ab saath me hi ho.. to kuch le lo…and I am really liking this…why don't u try it
She stares at him and that mangtika..: hmm…
Armaan: come here…(he takes her to a nearby mirror)…here…take this n try…(hands over the piece to her)
She is standing in front of the mirror with the mangtika in her hand. She slowly places it on her forehead….a glow appears on her face.
Armaan appears next to her in the mirror..:…hmm…its not straight I think…
He moves his hand and adjusts the magtika. His fingers touch her skin and she gets shivers down her body. He is so close to her…she is just staring at him.
Armaan:…hmm..ab dekho…(he looks in the mirror)
Muskaan moves her eyes from him somehow…and looks in the mirror herself..she sees the two of them next to each other.
Armaan: I think its beautiful…hmm?
Muskaan: hmm…
Armaan: so…shall we buy it?
Muskaan: ya…
Armaan: k then…give it to me...i will get it packed…
Muskaan looks at him. She moves her hand to her forehead to remove it. But somehow…she just doesn't feel like it. She reluctantly moves it from her forehead and places it in his hand.
Armaan: tab tak tum Naaz ke liye kuch dekh lo…(he goes)
Muskaan suddenly realizes… she is holding her breath! She lets it out and gets back to her senses.
Muskaan(to herself): ye Armaan bhi na…(smiles)…pagal hai…
She choses a bracelet for Naazneen that Armaan too likes and buys it for her. They take the gifts and head for their house.
Part ends.
Comments awaited.
Guys…I think its called a mangtika…the jewelry you put on your forehead…but I wasn't sure..lol…to plz accept that word…aur agar kisi ko pata hai use kya bolte hai…to let me know too…hehe
Love,
Sana
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