Chapter 54

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Part 55 –  Mystery Man

 

The next day, yet another gift came from Mystery Man. Saanjhi read it out loud again.

Meet me at the party?

Will be waiting for you.

 

Everybody was so excited for her. All he girls were screaming and bouncing up and down. They were giving Saanjhi tips on what to wear and how to do her hair.

 

Pallavi: You're actually going to meet him!! That's so exciting!

Saanjhi: I know!!

 

Nakul wasn't even going to care anymore. If Saanjhi couldn't understand that he was trying to help her, it was her fault, not his. And plus, today was a huge party after work hours which he promised to himself he was going to enjoy. He walked off in his lunch break all alone as Saanjhi wasn't talking to him anymore and sat down in a small coffee store. He heard a similar voice that made his head turn. It was Sanjana talking on the phone with somebody.

 

S: Yes! I know! She's so stupid! She actually fell for it! She thinks "Mystery Man" is actually real!

 

             Nakul sat upright. Mystery Man? She couldn't be talking about Saanjhi's mystery Man could she? He shifted in his seat to hear what she was talking about.

 

S: I know! I sent her favourite flowers and cookies. And she actually thinks she has a secret admirer. As if!

 

             Nakul was sure that it was Saanjhi that Sanjana was talking about by now.

 

S: Yea, I'll come to that stupid party today and tell everybody that it was actually me behind all those lovey dovey gifts. Can you imagine the look on her face when she find this out? This is going to be so much fun!

 

             Nakul couldn't take it anymore. He went up to Sanjana and stopped her.

N: You're not talking about Saanjhi, are you?

S: And what if I am?

N: That is a disgusting joke. You have no idea how much she likes this "Mystery Man". You can't break her heart like that.

S: (smirks) Watch me.

 

             Sanjana walked off out of the coffee shop. Nakul had to do something. He quickly went home and got ready. He went to the party as early as he could to warn Saanjhi. He kept asking himself why he was going to help out a girl who didn't consider him a friend anymore, but he couldn't get any answers. Finally when he reached there, his eyes instantly started searching for Saanjhi. When he saw her, he almost didn't recognize her. She looked fifferent from her usual salwar kurtas. Her hair was done, her dress was gorgeous and most of all, the glow to her face made her stand out of the crowd.

 

N: Saanjhi, I have to talk to you.

S: Nakul, not now. I'm waiting for "Mystery Man"

N: But this is about –

 

             Suddenly the spot light was on Sanjana who had a microphone with her. Nakul's heart started beating faster. He had to save Saanjhi from the humiliation but how?

 

Sanjana: I have a little announcement to make. As we all know, Saanjhi has a Mystery Man…And I'd like to tell all of you here – that the Mystery Man is actually –

 

             Nakul ran up to Sanjana and stole the mike from her hands.

 

N: The Mystery Man is me!

 

             The whole room went silent. Sanjana looked as though she had swallowed a lemon.

 

Sanjana: No, he's not the Mystery Man! I sent all those gifts!!

Nakul: No, you didn't! I did!

Sanjana: No, I did! You don't even like Saanjhi!

 

             Nakul sighed. He had to do this. He walked over to Saanhji and cupped his hands underneath her chin and kissed her. Everybody was quiet but soon cheerful applause erupted.

 

Sanjana: Wait! He's lying! I sent those gifts! Can't you see? There is not Mystery Man! It was all just a joke!!

 

             But nobody was even listening anymore. Sanjana pushed her way through the crowd and left the party. Nakul looked at Saanjhi and felt a little weird now.

 

N: Umm – I –

S: You didn't really send me the gifts, did you?

N: Well – no, I didn't –

S: So, it was Sanjana from the start. There is no Mystery Man.

N: Yea, I'm sorry, Saanjhi. I just didn't want you to get hurt.

S: Thank you, Nakul.

N: For?

S: For being such a good friend. Even after I said all those thing to you – you still helped me.

 

             Archita and Pari made their way towards their cousin. Nakul kissing a girl? Had they seen right? Were their eyes playing tricks on them? This was the Nakul that didn't even look at anything besides work!

 

Archita: Bahiya?!

Pari: It is you!

N: Archita? Pari? What are you two doing here?

A: We're here for the party.

P: What are you doing here, Nakul bhaiya?

N: Woh – Saanjhi had a problem – I saved her –

A: By kissing her! Waah! What an excuse!

 

             Saanjhi went red in the face. While Nakul looked uncomfortable.

N: There was no other way – I –

A: Haan, haan, we know everything. Don't worry.

P: Waise bhaiya, Manthan aur Eklavya bhaiya ke baad, lagta hai aapka number hai!

A: So, Saanjhi, should we start calling you bhabhi –

N: Archita!

 

             Nakul lifted his hand to lightly hit them but they both escaped giggling.

 

N: Umm…don't mind them. You wanna go for a walk? It's kinda hot in here.

S: Uh… yea. sure.

 

             Archita and Pari watched as the two left from the party. Both of them knew that this was the beginning of yet another love story.

                                                         I might not be able to post regularily now...I'm going to be really busy in May and June so I'm not sure how many times I can update a week.

                                                  -Pooja