Pooja was a mess……Frightened and conflicted and excited and angry and sad and happy….. all at the same time! Blxxdy hell! Pooja cursed angrily in her mind. She had loved this man so very much and today when that unrequited love was getting reciprocated from him, it suddenly turned into the cause of her distress. With one single encounter, she had not expected to have all such feelings…… but here she was…… feeling like a pressure cooker ready to burst!
She drew on the deep well of control and discipline she learned throughout the years.
“I’ll go and get Aadi”
“Good morning, everybody!”
Both sentences came in unison, one from Pooja in a terse mood and the other from jovial Miku just waking up and coming out of his room. Both started walking towards each other, Pooja going up the stairs to go to Chandni’s room and Miku walking down the passageway to come down.
Darsh stared intensely at Pooja’s retreating back emanating the stress in her aura.
This was it!
This was why he was hesitating all these days to express his love. He hated that she was tensed because of him. And one thing he hadn’t wanted to lose was their carefree friendship……… which was at huge risk now, he knew damn well!......... Of course, he was true to his love and he wouldn’t back out now…….Yet, he was ready to do anything just to relieve her stress and put her back in comfort….. Rather he desperately hoped that she accepted his vicinity with the same comfort as before his declaration of love….. How beautifully carefree she had been!
“Good morning, Miku. Come and eat your breakfast! Been waiting for you to get up.” Chandni broke the tense silence with a loving smile. Miku smiled back at her.
Miku stopped Pooja just outside Chandni’s door. “Di, how was the concert? You guys….. enjoyed a lot? What time did you all return?” Miku was his chirpy self completely oblivious to the panicky undercurrents.
“Miku, Bhabhi bula rahi hai tumhe.” Pooja spoke so curtly; she was herself startled. Things were getting so very complicated. All she wanted was one moment of solitude. (Your sis-in-law is calling out to you)
Miku sensed her discomfort immediately. He touched her arm softly yet firmly with genuine concern, “Di kya hua? Aap khafa ho?” (What happened, Sis? Are you angry?)
Pooja knew Miku was genuinely concerned and she did not want him to be alert about the concert events. That was the most important thing now. He needed to be diverted otherwise, he was not the kind of person to ignore any discomfort of his family. He would pursue her till she blurted out the truth.
“Miku, tumhari Bhabhi kabse khadi hai tumhare liye, Bechari thak jaati hai, aur kitna wait karavaoge?” This time her voice was regular friendly Pooja speaking softly. ( Miku you are standing up your Bhabhi. Poor thing gets tired. How much more will you make her wait?)
Miku was not put to complete comfort, something felt amiss, but the mention of Bhabhi made him turn again. His Bhabhi looked pretty stressed. He hurried down, leaving Pooja to do her stuff. As Pooja opened the door, she felt greatly relieved having avoided a major risk. Luckily, Adi was asleep so she scurried to the bathroom to find her solace.
Miku walked towards Darsh with a sincere apology. “Sorry DD, could not attend your concert yesterday. I genuinely missed a great chance.”
Darsh patted on his shoulder, “No issues, MK!I’ll give you a special chance someday. I’ll sing just for you.”
Both smiled happily at the sudden idea. What they didn’t know was that the universe had heard that deal and signed it for the future.
Miku hugged Chandni with brotherly comfort “How are you, bhabhi?”
Chandni realized he was worried thinking her stress was due to Dev’s absence when in actuality currently she was just sharing the stress between Darsh and Pooja di. Chandni wanted to appease Miku immediately and not involve him in unnecessary tension. Clearly, Pooja Di needed time to sort out her feelings. She patted his head with motherly love
“I am absolutely fine, Miku. Don’t worry…..And pray tell, how was madam’s result?”
“She stood first in college… We all knew already!” Miku was proud declaring Shikha's achievement glancing at her closed door.
“That’s her problem always!” Chandni whined, “Even when she knows results are going to be good, she creates a fuss and ends up spoiling everybody’s mood…… How come you weren’t awake last night when we returned?”
Chandni’s question was nonchalant but Miku’s eyes flashed with an emotion. He had been caught red-handed. Somehow, he could not let her or anybody else know that he had been awake in his room listening to Pooja’s arrival first, followed by Chandni and Aadi but he had been busy on the phone for his mission so he had chosen to stay quiet.
He had been with Shikha when the results news came and had felt very happy for her, but she continued her chat with Mihir. Miku very much wanted to congratulate her but she had continued to ignore his gestures of urgency and continued her chat. Miku did not particularly like that Mihir had been the first person to congratulate her and not him. Of course, he was too noble-minded to hold any grudge against her. He had saved his dignity and left the room to conference with his friends.
When Pooja Di and Bhabhi had arrived, he had been busy discussing the plans to decimate the golden tooth person. Miku had planned to involve the village concubine to entice the man into his regular forest adda alone. His friends would need to be kept engaged separately in some other way. The concubine would take the confession of crime from the horse’s mouth. Once they reached the forest, the concubine would need to be rescued immediately before the man was targeted. Together the comrades had discussed every pro and con of the plan. It was essential that the man knew why he was being prosecuted and only he and nobody else must know who was executing the prosecution. Miku was most concerned to keep his Bhai’s name clear as the media noise last time after Gangaram’s suicide had put Bhai in trouble.
Pooja somehow managed to pull Adi out of the bed and walked out with him. He threw a tantrum to pick him up down the alley.
“Aadi, you are not a baby anymore. Yesterday, you made sweet CM pick you up. Now you’re at home. Now you can walk ” Pooja tried reasoning with a cranky Aadi. He refused to listen in spite of repeated urging by Pooja and finally, she picked him up across her chest.
It all happened in a jiffy second! On the stairs, Pooja slipped her footing as she was unable to see the steps with Aadi covering all her vision. A scream escaped her mouth just as Darsh moved superfast and gripped her saving both Aadi and her from the fall. She heaved and held onto him, having been totally thrown by everything. His grip was firm on her till she got her bearing back, his eyes gazing intensely into hers…… giving nothing away, just assessing her wellbeing. He proceeded to smoothly take Aadi from her. Pooja tried getting away but Aadi took her hand in his, holding it close to himself on Darsh’s chest. All nerves in Pooja’s body were taut as she could feel DD’s heartbeats against the back of her palm. She tried pulling away but Aadi resisted leaving her helpless. Her position became awkward to climb down with her hand stuck on Darsh’s chest. He noticed her discomfort and immediately shifted Aadi to his right and wrapped his left arm around her for support.
It was a very cosy position and Pooja had an overpowering urge to throw caution to the wind and relax against his strong supportive hold. Desperately She reached out again to her deep well of self-control and curbed her longing. As if he sensed her turmoil, a small smile played at the corners of his mouth vexing her further. But she could not deny that his fingers around her shoulder were friendly, not sensual.
When they reached down, Pooja tried pulling her hand again but Aadi whined, pulling her closer.
“What’s the matter with him today?” Pooja muttered under her breath.
“He is stressed because he is absorbing your stress, Pooja. You try and relax first.” Darsh spoke very softly just for her ears.
The nerve of the man to tell her to relax when he was the very reason for her sudden distress! Pooja was literally at the end of her tether, but she could do nothing. Darsh was perhaps right! Since her sudden disappearance last night, the poor child must have been worried.
Chandni had continued to stare at the triplet since Pooja’s scream. Don’t they look like a perfect family picture? She marvelled to herself. Of course, she would employ all her plans A B C to unite these two. Both Pooja and Aadi deserved this happiness and Darsh was the perfect man for that. Lost in thoughts, she didn't realise, she was biting over her lower lip.
Aadi crunched his nose looking at his breakfast plate served by Chandni, “Sweet CM, mujhe paratha nahi chahiye” (I don’t want Paratha)
“Why Aadi, what’s wrong with paratha?......You eat Paratha otherwise, right?..... Your Sweet CM has made these special ones for you with so much love…..You won’t have that, you want something else!”Pooja’s pitch rose in an angry octave as all her bottled pressure came out on Aadi.
Aadi’s face crumpled completely and shiny tears sprung in his eyes. Darsh’s heart melted looking at the boy.
“What will you have? Shall I make a sandwich?”Darsh urged and Aadi’s face lit up.
“Spoil him completely…… Saari aadatein bigaddo usaki!” Pooja whined angrily.
“It’s OK, Pooja. His CM has been gone for many days. The boy misses him. He is too good a child to get spoiled by a little indulgence.” Darsh spoke in a quelling tone trying to appease Pooja.
Chandni realised how patient and understanding Darsh was. Very contrary to Dev. If she had managed to win over Dev, getting these two together would not be impossible for her.
Darsh proceeded to the kitchen and opened the fridge. “There’s hardly anything here; haven’t you guys replenished the groceries?” He yelled out loud from the kitchen.
Chandni and Pooja looked at each other and both stifled a smile. When Naani had left with the gang, Maasi had carried a lot of stuff from the fridge. Both of them had been so busy with their fun and dressing up and concert stuff that grocery shopping had somehow escaped their mind.
“Go and help him, otherwise he’ll keep yelling where is this and that.” Chandni urged Pooja encouragingly.
Pooja looked angrily at her but there was no other option. Somehow, the universe was really conspiring to put her in Darsh’s vicinity one way or the other.
Pooja moved awkwardly in the kitchen while Darsh was relaxed doing his stuff. If he didn’t find something, he would ask her casually and she would find that stuff or alternative stuff and keep it on the counter. She avoided handing it over to avoid any physical contact with him.
As she watched Darsh, she couldn’t help but admire his skill in decking up the sandwich. After grilling the sandwich, he made a smiley on the top with ketchup. Put some parsley leaves for décor. Then with chocolate syrup, he decorated the serving plate.
“Ready?” He lifted the plate and asked her.
“Yes! Very Much!” Her smile was reluctant but genuine.
“Ta Da….. Special chicken cheese dhamaka for Special Aadi” Darsh announced as he put the plate in front of Aadi.
Aadi’s eyes lit up seeing his name inscribed in chocolate on the plate. “Thank you, buddy.” He hugged Darsh standing next to him and Darsh hugged him back planting a kiss on his head.
Pooja couldn’t help but notice that Darsh was always like this with Aadi after their first meeting. Darsh was truly a genuine person….. his love was unadulterated!.... Wouldn’t it be nice to have such love always forever?...... Pooja checked her thoughts being appalled at the way again and again her heart was ready to throw herself over the edge treacherously.
As Darsh started moving away from the table, Pooja spoke out despite her stress, “DD…. Come and sit. Have parathas.”
Darsh looked skeptically at her wondering whether she spoke wholeheartedly. Once again, her smile was genuine though reluctant and very assuring. It was simply not in her to let anyone in the family go hungry.
Darsh was just about to sit at the table when his cell rang and he turned again, “AD…. Saale…Bol Kaisa hai?” (How are you?)
“Myself OK, you alone? It’s private.” Advay was soft across the phone ensuring nobody overheard him.
“Oh yes! That data is in my room on my laptop….just hold on.”
Advay knew this was Darsh’s way to move away from the family and get privacy for their discussion.
“Darsh…. Your breakfast!” Chandni called out holding Darsh’s plate in front of him. If he sat at the table, she could overhear some news about her husband’s return.
But in vain! Darsh took the plate from her hands and said “I’ll eat in my room. Your husband needs some data from me.”
Both Pooja and Chandni had a hunch in their heart that something secretly was going on between the two friends. Pooja of course knew very well that Bhaiya and DD were so hands and gloves with each other that they would not reveal their private stuff to her ever.
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Poor Pooja! She is simply unable to help herself.... She is so sweet natured that rudeness doesn't touch her. Deep in her heart the love is very much there; but somehow the open declaration, inopportune time, her situation with Aadi everything together has vexed her now.
Miku is taking up solely the revenge mission. How will he execute his plan?
What does Advay want to discuss in private?
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