Chapter 11

EPISODE – 23

 

"Tumhara Bhai exactly tumse keh kya raha tha?"

"Nothing much." Then she giggled before she continued. "Woh kya hai na...zor ka jhatka unko aur zor se laga tha."

"You should have warned me in advance ki tumhare Bhai ko impress karne ke liye mujhe extra efforts karne padenge."

"I thought that was so obvious."

"What made you think so? Tumhein impress karne ke liye to mujhe bilkul bhi extra efforts nahin karne pade the."

"Haan but tumhein Bhaiyya ko date karne ke liye impress nahin karna tha unki behen... I mean iklauti behen ko date karne ke liye impress karna tha."

"But I tell you tumhara Bhai lagta nahin hai but hai bahut dangerous. What a grip he has!"

She giggled.

"Tabhi to woh army mein hain."

"To kya tumhare Bhai ko impress karne ke liye army join karni padegi."

"Kar sakte ho to kar lo. Mujhe army waale bahut pasand hain."

"Phir bhi ek civilian ko date kar rahi ho?"

"Kya karoon abhi tak koi Army waala mila nahin na."

"Aur tumhara woh friend..."

"Kaun... Raj?"

"Haan."

"Mujhe aisa kyun lagta hai ki jab hi main tumhare saamne uska naam leti hoon I smell something burning. Are you jealous?"

"Why should I be jealous?"

"Kyun nahin... Mujhe Army waale pasand hain aur woh Army mein hai, good looking hai, intelligent hai, caring hai, sweeeeeeeet hai, mera itna CLOOOSE friend hai..." She put an extra emphasis on each and every adjective she used for Rajveer and she could see its impact. He was looking bothered with those nice words used by her for someone else than him.

 

They were sitting inside Alekh's car in the parking. Alekh pulled her by her arm with a sharp and sudden jolt.

"Enough now." His voice was almost a hoarse whisper. She smiled.

"Dekha you are jealous."

But he didn't answer he was just looking at her adoring her beauty. She was wearing magenta lehnga with elaborate golden embellishment in mermaid style with a small backless blouse having a plunging neckline. Heavy matching chandelier earrings complimented her oufit and instead of a neckpiece she had draped the dupatta around her neck that had a heavily embellished border. Her soft pink lip gloss and shimmering make up added oomph in her charisma.

"You are looking gorgeous." He said stroking her cheeks with his finger.

 

She lowered her eyes... Partially because she blushed at the compliment and partially because she didn't want him to come closer though she felt he might just make a similar move. And she was correct. He took her in his tight embrace. She felt a bit relieved since a hug was just fine but her heartbeats were again racing up when she found his grip around her tighten. He had buried his face in her hair and the next moment his lips brushed on her shoulder. She shuddered. His lips were running down to her arms. His hands caressed her bare back and the nape of her neck. They parted from the hug. His fingers traced her cheekbone down to her chin. He kissed on her forehead then on her cheek and...... Suddenly her phone rang, much to her relief.

 

She picked up her phone and finished the conversation hastily. She turned to him.

"Maa bula rahi hain. I got to go."

"Okay."

 

She hurriedly got down from car and rushed inside. She had hardly stepped inside the party hall when she felt someone held her hand and pulled her into a lonely corner.

"Raj kya kar rahe ho? Maa bula rahi thi na mujhe?"

"Nahin."

"Nahin... But you just called up and said..."

"What the hell do you think you were doing?"

He was almost shouting at her in a hushed up voice.

"Woh... Main... You saw us?"

"Thank your lucky stars ki sirf maine dekha. Navin ya tumhare parents' mein se koi dekhta to... and why just them? It could have been any of the guests."

Her eyes were brimmed with tear and he was still getting mad at her ignoring that. But she could not stand that yelling and her uneasiness, because of what had just happened, beyond a point and clung to him.

 

"Naina... You are shivering!" He said after a pause.

He could see tears on her cheek.

"Listen... Naina I am sorry. I didn't mean to shout at you like that but..."

"It's not that."

"Then?"

She told him about her apprehensions and uneasiness.

 

"You know what Naina... I think you should talk to him about this. I am sure he'll understand."

"I donno how to, Raj. Whenever he touches me I just go numb. Main react bhi nahin kar paati hoon."

"But why?"

"I wish I knew."

"I don't believe you... You say he is your boyfriend and that's the comfort level you two share! You can't even talk to him about something you can discuss with me. Anyways, where's he?"

"Pata nahin."

"To pata karo."

"No. I don't want to.... Not now at least."

"Naina..."

"Bhaiyya bula rahe hain." She cut him in between and pulled him towards Navin.

 

********

 

"Kal jo tune kiya, woh kya tha?"

"Kya kiya maine?"

"You know what I am talking about."

"Come off it Bhaiyya... Ismein itna hyper hone jaisa kya hai."

"Naina! Okay fine but just tell me you are not serious about that guy."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Just that I don't like him."

"He's a nice guy."

"Hoga... So?"

"Forget it!"

"By the way, was that supposed to be our wedding gift? If yes, then I didn't like it at all!"

"Oh my God.... your gift. I forgot! Ek minute ruko... Main le ke aati hoon."

 

She returned in 5 minutes with a huge thing wrapped neatly.

"Ye raha aapka gift."

As Navin tried to open the gift Naina stopped him.

"Aap nahin... Let Bhabhi open it."

"Alright... Neeti go ahead."

 

Neetika unwrapped the gift that happened to be a huge canvas with a painting of Navin and Neetika in their wedding attire. She had painted that from one of his weding photographs.

"Maine yeh painting record time mein banayi hai... 2 nights flat!"

"To isliye tu aajkal saara din soti rehti thi."

"Chuck it... Pehle batao you like it or not."

"Naina it's so beautiful!!" Neetika's expression more than her words told Naina how much she meant that.

 

Rajveer also joined them and even he adored the beautiful painting.

"Oye Raj... Tera gift abhi tak due hai." Navin reminded him.

"Gift? Pehle shaadi karao aur phir upar se gift bhi do... Achchi zabardasti hai!"

"To zabardasti hi sahi but aise tujhe main nahin chodne waala."

"Okay then... here you are!"

 

He slipped his hand in his pocket and took out a small box and handed it over to Navin. He opened it.

"Chabhi? What's this for?"

"Well.... Mussourie ka ek khubsurat sa outskirts ka quiet area... Usmein ek bada sa Bunglow.... In a picturesque location... No one to disturb.... I think that's just perfect for your Honeymoon."

"Raj... PERFECT Yaar. Yeh bunglow hai kiska?"

"Obviously dad ka... Isliye maine unse kuch dinon ke liye keys maang li. Jab tak chaho jaise chaho... use it!"

"Great yaar! To main jaa ke packing karta hoon."

 

Navin left the room behind Neetika who had just left to shift that painting to her bedroom.

"Wow Raj... that's so sweet."

"Not really."

"Matlab?"

He again slipped his hand in pocket and took out another set of keys.

Naina stared at it for a while with her mouth open. Initially she was a bit surprised but then that surprise was taken over by mischief in her eyes that was already there in Rajveer's eyes.

"Maine usse kaha no one to disturb but yeh to nahin kaha na ki no one will disturb."

He winked at her and she ran to him and hugged him.

"Raj you are the best!"