Chapter 5

Malhotra Mansion.

Shravan drove back home listening to some old classic Bonny M songs. He walked to his room once he saw that all the lights were shut and everyone in the house had retired to their respective rooms. He took a quick showed and wore only his lowers. His upper was bare, well chiselled and muscular with his abs standing out in clear cuts.

He lay on his bed and kept his hand on his torso wondering whether to call her this late at night or not. His Maa had told him to take a decision by the end of the month. He hated deadlines, be it work or personal life.

He picked up his phone and hit the call button and it was answered in the first ring but greeted with silence.

"Arey ye phone abhi to baja tha. Kahan gayab ho gaya?", he heard her grumble.

He chuckled at her statement that she had misplaced her phone and his call was answered by mistake. He quickly cut the call and called again so that the ring would help her locate the phone.

Finally the second time it rang a few times and it was answered.

"Hello!", she said.

"Hi!", he replied with a chuckle.

"Tum has kyun rahe ho?", she said quizzically.

"Uh.. Nothing. Thank god Tumhe tumhara phone mil gaya!", he replied hiding his smile.

She hid her embarrassed face and closed her eyes.

"Wo.. How was the meeting?", she asked diverting the topic.

"Good. How was work?".

"Hectic today. I hate doing the inventory list.", she pouted.

Shravan smiled.

"Umm.. Suman.. What has your Mami ji told you about this alliance?", he asked curiously.

"I didn't get to talk to her today much so I don't know. Is there anything you wish to tell me?", she asked.

"Wo actually, Maa said that she spoke to your Mami ji today and both of them want us to take a decision by the end of the month.", he informed.

"Ummm, Is it possible for us to meet?", she asked.

"I'm too tied up this week Suman, or else I would have tried to come to Delhi for a day.", he said.

Suman smiled at his statement.

"He would have actually come all the way from Mumbai to Delhi just coz I wished to meet?", she thought to herself.

"Suman! You there?", he called out which brought her out of her reverie.

"Huh.. yeah.. I'm here!", she said.

"We can meet probably the week after. I'm free so I'll fly down for a couple of days. May be bring Pushkar along. I'm sure he is dying to meet your sister.", he laughed.

"You would do that? Fly down to Delhi just to meet me?", she asked flabbergasted.

"Ofcourse. It's about our future and you know how things are.", he said.

"Yes, If not us then a new alliance!", she sighed in irritation.

"Hmmm", he said not wanting to think about a new alliance. He had become very comfortable with Suman within a day that he got irked with a thought of a different girl.

"Let me know whenever you're coming over. I will tell Mama ji and get the guest rooms ready. Pushkar will get his chance to talk to Preeti too.", she laughed.

"Are you sure? We would probably check in to a hotel.", he suggested.

"I don't think Pushkar would let you.", she giggled.

"True that.", he laughed.

"I have a half working day tomorrow!", she said.

"Why?", he asked.

"The kids have a field trip tomorrow so I'll be back by noon.", she said.

"Oh wonderful. I have an off day tomorrow too. But then I have a hearing the day after so have a lot to study.", he sighed.

"You'll do well. I've heard a lot from Ramnath Uncle about your skills when it comes to the court.", she replied making him smile.

"Thank you for your vote of confidence.", he replied.

"Anytime. I'm good at boosting morales you know.", she replied.

Shravan laughed.

"I'll go now. Have an early morning tomorrow.", she said.

"Good Night!", he wished.

"Good Night!", she replied and cut the call.

Shravan flexed his muscles and ran his palms on his abs and sighed.

Bhaiya!", came Pushkar barging into his room.

Kya hai chhote?", she asked getting up.

"Aap sone ja rahe the?", he asked.

"Haan. Parso hearing hai isliye I should prepare tomorrow.", he replied.

"Oh okay."

"Kyun? Kuch kaam tha?", asked Shravan.

"Not really.", shrugged Pushkar.

"Pushkar, agle hafte free hai tu?", he asked.

"Haan. Kyun?", he asked.

"I was thinking ke tu aur main Delhi ho aate hain. I mean, mujhe Suman se milna hai aur kuch baatein karni hai so I thought you could accompany me.", he suggested.

"Anytime Bhaiya. Main to waise bhi Delhi jaana chahta hoon.", grinned Pushkar.

"Haan haan, Preeti se milne.", chuckled Shravan.

"Sumo se bhi. I miss spending time with Sumo. You know, main aur Sumo kitni baatein karte the. She is I think one of the most amazing people I have ever met. You would be very happy with her. I know, ke aap abhi tak usse achhe se jaante nahi ho but-", he said only to be cut off by Shravan.

"Chhotte, breathe. Sab kuch ek saans mein bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai tujhe.", laughed Shravan.

Pushkar shook his head when suddenly his phone rang flashing Sumo'. He waggled his eyebrows at Shravan.

"Loudspeaker pe daal.", said Shravan.

Pushkar answered and put the call on speaker.

"Sumooo! Tu na hazaar saal jiyengi. Main abhi tere baare mein hi baat kar raha tha bhaiya se.", he said.

"Kya baat?", she asked curiously.

"Bas, general baatein. Tu bata.", he replied.

"Tujhe ek update deni thi. Preeti ke baare mein.", she said.

"Kya?", asked a worried Pushkar.

"Confirmed nahi hai, par I thought tujhe batana better hai. Ek ladka hai uske college mein jo uspe line maar raha hai. Abhi to Preeti interested nahi hai par kya pata kab interest develop ho jaaye.", she said.

"WHAT? NO. Aisa kaise ho sakta hai?", he asked.

"Oye psycho, aisi stupid baatein kyun pooch raha hai? Interest develop hone mein time thodi na lagta hai.", she replied.

"Kyun? Tujhe bhaiya mein interest develop ho gaya?", he asked.

"Tu jaankar kya karega. Apni life sambhaal le.", she retorted.

"Okay bhabhi ji. Main sab theek kar dunga.", he said.

"Chal bye. Good night.", she wished.

Shravan smiled at the fact that she did not bother to correct him when he called her bhabhi ji'.

"Good night.", replied Pushkar and cut the call.

He looked over at his bhaiya who had a small smile playing on his lips.

"Kya baat hai? Itna muskura kyun rahe ho? Aur aap batao, aapko interest develop hua?", he waggled his eyebrows again.

"Shayad.", he smiled.

--

Shravan walked into the house with a smile of victory. He had just won the case but the smile was not only because of that. It was because Suman had message him a Congratulations even without knowing that he'd won.

He quickly changed into his casuals and called her and she picked up on the third ring.

"Congratulations!", she wished.

"Thank you. Tumhe kaise pata chala?", he asked.

"I don't know. Bas, I had a feeling.", she replied.

"Can you take an off this weekend?", he asked.

"You're coming?", she counter questioned.

"I was thinking of, only if you're free.", he replied.

"I will take an off this weekend then.", she smiled.

"Sumooo!", whined Preeta.

"Ek second Shravan.", she excused herself.

"Ab kya hai Preeta?", she almost growled making Shravan smile wide cause she did not like to be disturbed while talking to him.

"Wo sabji waala aaya nahi abhi tak.", he heard Preeta.

"To kya main leke aaun sabji? Vendor ko phone karle na tu. Har cheez mujhse poochhke karti hai kya?", she retorted.

"Sorry, haan.. bolo.", she said back into the phone.

"Are you sure it's okay for me and Pushkar to stay at your place?", he asked.

"Ofcourse.", she replied.

"I'll see you this weekend then.", he asid.

"Send me your flight details.", she said.

"Why?", he asked.

"So that I can pick you guys up from the airport. Unfortunately mere pass magical powers nahi hai ke tumhare bina bataye mujhe tumhare flight details pata chal jayenge."

"Uski zaroorat nahi hai Sumo... uh, Suman.", he replied, she giggled.

"You can call me Sumo. Sab mujhe yahi bulate hain. I'm sure Pushkar aur mere phone calls loudspeaker par sunte sunte, you'd have got it in you?", she chuckled.

"Tumhe pata tha?", he asked guilty, half in shock wondering how she knew.

"Mere jasoos charon taraf phaile hue hain.", she laughed making him smile as well.

"Bye for now.", he said.

"See you soon.", she replied and disconnected the call getting back to work.