Chapter 3

It is difficult to know at what moment Love begins;

& Its less difficult to know it has begun

--Henry Wadsworth

Part III

Ridhima stood uncomfortable in front of Dev's secretary Mrs. Sharma, lady in her late 40s, was literally scrutinizing her...& giving her a confused look when asked if she has a appointment & Ridhima shook her head both in negative & positive...

Ridhima (composing herself)"actually yesterday, Mr.Rathore asked me to be here at 6 if I was free!!

Mrs. Sharma(sighed) "Your name young lady?? (amused) Just Ridhima?? (Ridhima nodded in yes) just wait for few minutes... he is busy in teleconference ...

Ridhima quickly settled on the couch in the waiting area & picked up a magazine, hiding herself behind it, she did not want to be seen with any known face around, her fellow trainees did not come to Devraaj's office, as trainees are not allowed to be on the executive floor...if her seniors sees her here, what will she explain? She silently prayed for Dev to be free soon...as if on cue, Dev walked out startling her...

Devraaj"Ridhima, you here?? Hope didn't made you wait long??

Ridhima"If you are busy?? Toh baad main...

Devraaj (interrupting)"ofcourse not, Come on in, (gesturing her inside cabin) if you had called earlier...main meeting jaldi khatam kar deta...

****

Ridhima was changing into her uniform, getting ready for her evening shift at the Reception Area, which she practically hated as it required to smile too much constantly & nod head in acceptance to all the complaints...no matter how difficult any customer is, still had to keep temper in check...closing the locker made move to leave...checking her watch just another 5 minutes to report for duty...when her cell rang...without noticing number she answered it hurrying through stairs...Even before she cud greet the caller, the familiar voice made her halt in her steps...

Devraaj"kahan ho tum??

Ridhima was taken aback for a second, Dev never called at this time not even when she gets late for their regular meeting at 6 in his chamber where they used to casually chat about various things, share their day to day activities, discuss their likes, dislikes...Ridhima used to share about her life in jaipur, her college life, etc...& Dev shared about his business, his life after accident, his intresting experiences, how he is coping after memory loss etc...

Ridhima refrained from telling him anything about their common bond, what if he feels that she is trying to take advantage of the situation or his memory loss & just making up a story... It shud be only he himself who should feel the connect from within, He should know it simply...

Ridhima (composing herself)"ermm...on my way down...hav evening shift today....(hurrying through stairs) already running late?? Aapko kya chaiye??(she was in hurry to finish off the call & reach on her duty)

Devraaj(instantly) -Tum??

Ridhima almost missed a step on stairs; luckily she held the handrail...Wondering what's wrong with this man, during their last couple of meetings he has been giving her strange stares...which made her nervous...it felt like as if he is hiding something...Dev's voice brought her back...

Devraaj (on receiving no reply)"kya hua?? You still there??

Ridhima (composing)"woh...I'm in lobby & need to be at reception...have to get into action now... I'm late

Devraaj(interrupted)-- Before you go, come straight towards the pool restaurant I am here...

Ridhima (shocked)"what? I can't...My shift...its

Devraaj"you can & you will...sirf 5min...(sternly) koi kuch kahega toh I will handle him...he will have it from me... I'm the boss here...

Ridhima"aap aisa kuch nahi karenge...

Devraaj (in a serious voice)"tum nahi aayi toh definitely I will do it ...

Ridhima(pissed off)"If you do, I will kill you...

Devraaj (laughed) -To kill me also...you will have to come in front of me...😆😆😆 I'm waiting...

Ridhima walked through the lobby in long strides avoiding eye contact with the staff...beyond the lobby there was a cozy little restaurant open for private parties during evenings...since no party was scheduled today, the place was deserted, reaching the door she turned the knob to enter the restaurant, being late evening it was dark, she blinked to adjust her eyes...before she could register anything, she found herself in somebody's arm in tight hug and her lips taken in long deep kiss...it took a moment or two for her to realize what happened...finally when released, blood rushed to her cheeks, her eyes sparkled with embarrassment and shyness...

Ridhima (regaining her breath)"what was that for ??

Devraaj (smiled)"its one month we know each other (brushed his nose with hers)& I thought it was the girls who believed in these silly things...

Ridhima(smiled)-- Well how will I know what to expect...but now I know...(tearing her eyes away from him) getting late, main chalu...

Gave him a gentle push & then pushed him hard when he did released her, he did not take his eyes away as she stepped back...as she exited from restaurant, she was hurrying her way towards the lobby when she collided with her friend Shruti who noticed her cheeks were red...felt concerned...

Shruti"U ok?? Why you running...all ok??

Ridhima (embarrassed) "Yeahh who...I'm late, sorry... who

Shruti"dats ok... but what were you doing towards the pool...

Ridhima gave a guilty look and ran away towards the lobby...to continue with her shift...Shruti was puzzled by her behavior, she got more confused when she turned around to see Devraaj coming from the same direction as Ridhima...She greeted him but he barely nodded his head in acknowledgement.

Ridhima had problems in concentrating on her job... got reprimanded a couple of times by her boss for being unmindful during duty hours which Shruti observed silently...Ridhima kept remembering Dev's sudden kiss, it was a lover's kiss & she was taken aback with the suddenness of it...& more than that she was happily surprised that he actually remembered the time they have known each other...

Dev returned to his office with a silly smile plastered on face after his brief meeting with Ridhima, which he had planned meticulously...he just happened to remember the date they started their friendship...he smiled remembering Ridhima's surprise and later her embarrassed look, her expressions were so uninhabited and natural, very normal and easy, it made him feel relaxed and at ease with his guards down for a change...

The thought itself surprises him that it had been just 1 month of knowing each other & he feel so comfortable & relaxed around her...He can share anything with her, The warm feeling he experiences when he is with her just amazes him...It was as if he has known her all along...

*****

Anirudh watched his son Dev engrossed in newspaper & his wife chattering away about wedding preparations with Dev paying no intrest to what Sudha is speaking...

Sudha (nudging Dev)"main tere se baat kar rahi hoon...sham ko Megha ke saath jeweler ke paas chale jana...

Devraaj (barely looked up)"will be late today, sham ko Ridh (suddenly he realized the slip...he changed the topic by folding the papers and keeping it away...)

Sudha (casually)-- Beta you have dinner appointment...

Dev(composing himself)--ermm not sure ma!!... if something comes up I will ask Mrs. Sharma to inform you...

Finishing breakfast hastily he excused himself...he was no longer absentminded, he took his guard as soon he realized his slip of tongue...& left for office. As of now, he is not ready to let anyone know about Ridhima & his meetings, or their relationship...first he needs to share his feelings with Ridhima, what she feels about it...its important for both of them to know before they reveal it to anyone else...

Anirudh watched his retreating back wondering when he will get back his son in true form, after the accident Dev is barely relaxed in their company while Sudha frowned as Dev left finishing off his breakfast hurriedly, she was sure her son was hiding something or someone from them, her sixth sense was warning her...she made a call to Megha, asking her to make sure she makes it a point to meet Dev today...

****

Ridhima nervously entered Dev's floor to meet up for their regular evening meets...she herself doesn't know why she is being nervous, was the first time she will come face to face with him after the restaurant incident ...or is she nervous because her mood is off, as her friends have eaten her head, she wanted to kick Shruti for being so curious, agreed she had been her college friend but she was too inquisitive in wanting to know if she has someone in her life, does she have a boyfriend, if yes, why is she hiding she wanted to know, as she backed out from their routine movie weekend outing...

Ridhima was about to knock on cabin when Mrs.Sharma indicated Dev is busy...Megha is here...she moved back to couch to wait, after their first meet & understanding Ridhima's discomfort, Dev kept himself free for her during their subsequent meetings so that she could walk in straight without waiting...Mrs.Sharma noticed Ridhima seems lost... she seems tensed about something...just shrugged & continued to pack away her things ready to leave.

Ridhima's thoughts broke as she heard Megha coming out huffing, muttering angrily towards Dev...Megha just rushed to elevators...without noticing Ridhima's presence or paying attention to Mrs. Sharma indicating Ridhima to go in...

****

Dev entered the house, with a smile & a wonderful feeling... Sudha gave a confused look to his son when he retreated to his room after smilingly wishing her goodnight, as just a while ago Megha informed her she had argument with Dev & he had blasted her for coming unannounced at office...

As Dev flopped down on bed, he was surprised himself he didn't knew the evening that started on a bad note after having argument with Megha wud end beautifully...

Not to mention he was surprised when seeing his pissed off mood Ridhima suggested the outing on beach... they sat on the beach, watching the setting sun with Ridhima's head on his shoulder ...they saw the children play and parents running after them, young lovers cuddling up as the daylights faded... Ridhima shared her showdown with friends ...with Dev too sharing his argument with Megha they munched pea nuts and had vada pav , shared ice cream...It was something he wanted to do for a long time just like any normal young couple...

The calmness, the happiness, the joy he experienced was something he never experienced when he had been on dates with Megha to fanciest of five star restaurants... where according to her they supposed to have enjoyed before he lost his memory...Initially he visited them enthusiastically with her thinking it would trigger off some spark and help him to regain his memory, instead it happened to be quite opposite, invariable he did not like the place and had wondered how could he ever come to such a place which doesn't appeal him...& where he doesn't enjoy

Dev stood up near his window, looking at the b'ful moonlitnight...pondering over how in short span Ridhima has made a place in his life, in his heart...& is even able to overpower his moods, his feelings, his thoughts... she is not a part of his past... she only belonged from Jaipur a place which he feels he knows...yet he feels connected somewhere, is it because her experiences are more realistic more natural more belivable...or there is something more??

All these years, his parents have been protective about him...& constantly tried to keep him away from stressing himself whenever he happened to curious to know about his past.

Sometimes he wonders if there is some secret, had he committed some crime which they do not want me to know, or did he kill someone... Somewhere he feels his parents were not too enthusiastic about taking medical help to get his memory back, they had more faith on the natural method, initially he thought it was because they did not want to put any extra stress on him, & gradually he himself lost interest to go up for doctor visits, he was too lazy to go for counseling

But now why he is having these strange thoughts??

****

Ridhima checked her reflection in the mirror, straightening pleats of her b'ful pink saree...she is supposed to be at a small inauguration puja of a new project of Rathore's, meant for weekend retreats, a two hours journey from Mumbai & Dev insisted that she be there for the same...Ridhima have laughed off at his suggestion...when he dropped her at hostel yesterday...

Ridhima (giggled)"what will I do there...& what will I explain ...that I'm there as guest??

Dev -So what, you will be there casually and you can be anybody's guest...as long as you have the invitation card...

Ridhima (turned to leave)"but still ...I'm not coming... main office kyun bunk karu

Dev (catching her wrist stopping her from leaving)"Coz, I want you to be near me... I feel comfortable with you around...

Ridhima(amused)"wow...what a reason!!! Just to make you feel comfortable... I should be going...very funny...

Dev (pulling her closer)"I'm serious... (Pushing back the hair from her face) I don't think I can explain it, but it is only with you...I feel being myself...for some strange reason you bring out my natural self ...

Ridhima was thrilled by his words...for once she was tempted to reveal their connection... but the apprehension in her heart whether he will believe or not ...It stopped her. Somwhere deep inside she feared his reaction...

****

Ridhima arrived with a smile at the venue...& Dev acknowledged her presence with a slight nod of head...but the sight of Megha being there confidently greeting guests along with Dev somewhere pinched her heart... she didn't understood the uneasy feeling -was it jealousy, anger, or hurt Somewhere she felt irritated every time she saw Megha touching Dev...

She moved around & tried concentrating at the ceremony happening...with Dev's parents performing the puja.

Dev watched her from distance wondering what was bothering her, he could make out from her expressions she looked a bit down no doubt Megha's presence made her uncomfortable...but he himself was surprised seeing Megha here, he had no idea she wud be here alongwith his parents... Dev went around playing a perfect host...after sometime most naturally came and stood near Ridhima asking her not to leave anywhere...& stay around...It was dat moment when Sudha saw both of them together observing them with great curiousity... also bringing her husband's attention on Dev talking with some unknown girl...It was Mrs.Sharma, who revealed its Ridhima...& also revealed about her regular meets with Dev.

After the inauguration Dev dropped Ridhima at the usual place, a turning before her block of hostel... who smilingly waved him bye...turned to walk the distance only to find her friends, & her roommate Shruti with questioned look on their faces...

***

Driving back, now Dev cud sigh in relief to see her smile back...which was lost throughout the whole event...for once she had scared him, when he didn't found her after seeing off his parents, Megha & other guests...Only to find her sitting quietly in the open area a farther away from the place of inauguration...Not only he was scared of her leaving alone but also feared of Ridhima misunderstanding him...but she surprised him when he apologized for Megha's presence ...

Dev -Sorry!!! cudn't have simply stopped Megha from coming...It wud have just raised questions... I know you have every reason to feel bad...its something I will need to sort & explain patiently...abhi kuch kehta...Mom-Dad ke sawaal yahi shuru hojate...(Ridhima knew this... but the irritation of seeing Megha was still irritating for her... she kept silent) only relief is they does not know about you yet...

Ridhima (pissed off)--I don't care a hoot if they come to know about us...😡

Dev (taking her face between his palms)"Really...!!! You don't care !!

Ridhima (smiled)"why shud I feel bad...or care what other feel for something which is already mine... 😊😳 (Dev gave a puzzled look) I mean as long as we both want to be together Does it really matter what others think??...Its for us to decide our future...& just let them know our decision...

Dev was both pleased and surprised by her reply...& felt delighted that like him, she also wants their relationship should come out in open...He is yet to ask her about her feelings...they are yet to confess the three words that they love each other but her reply is the unsaid confession & he can't help but feel more than happy... & pulled her closer for a Kiss...

After dropping home...He decided to meet Megha...before revealing about Ridhima to his parents he wants to come clear from Megha.

****