Chapter 2

Vardaan was working on his laptop, when his phone started ringing. It was a familiar number on the screen. A number which brought a smile on his handsome face and a deep nostalgia as well. He received the call, n immediately set out for Delhi. The person who called him was Niharika's father. He was unwell, and Vardaan considered it his duty to be by his side. While riding on the highway, he remembered the old days, when Niharika's father and he, used to argue on petty things, like who's gonna win the cricket match, who cooks well, who's more intelligent, who loves Niharika more etc. Though he always knew, that a father's love for his daughter is definitely much more than any other love. Yet, he used to enjoy these petty fights. He remembered, when was Niharika was told to side with any one of them, i.e either him or her father, she always sided with her father. She was such a daddy's girl.

Sanyukta was doing her riyaas in her room. She got so engrossed in the taal, she was turning, turning and turning, till one of her ghungroo broke. All the remaining beads of the ghungoo followed suit, dismantled and spread all across the room. Her mother came running to her room..

Mummy: Yeh kaisa shor hai Sanyu?

Sanyukta collected all the beads, and her face saddedned.

Sanyukata: Mummy, mere ghungoo. Bikhar gaye.

Mummy: Koi baat nai beta, tu nai kharidle

Sanyukta: Mummy, aap samajh nai rahe ho...yeh ghungoo mere liye kitne important hai. Iske saath mere sentiments jude hue hai..Main ek kaam karti hu, baazaar jaati hu...waha kisi shop se ise repair karne ko deti hu.

She dressed, up...started her scooty, and headed to the market.

Vardaan had reached Delhi...he was driving with enough speed in spite of being in the city. Suddenly, he saw a woman and two children crossing the road. They came in front of his bike. It seemed like the woman and the two children were frozen on the spot. He got scared. He thought of hitting the brakes, but it was too late. To save them, suddenly, he drove his bike on the opposite side of the road. On this side, Sanyukta, was driving her scooty with moderate speed...of all a sudden, she saw out of no where, a man and his bike came in front of her, she immediately hit the brakes, but that was too late...that bike hit her tiny scooty, and both of them fell down.

Sanyukta's hand bag flung in the air...and all belongings, came out...one by one all fell down. Except her ghungroo...Vardaan caught hold of her ghungroo. He got a nostalgic feeling seeing it...when suddenly, Sanyukta angrily snatched it from his hands.

People had gathered on the spot.

Sanyukta: Kyu bhaisaab? Kitna ghoos dekar license banvaaya hai? 😡

Vardaan: Huh...what??

Sanyukta: oh hello...Ab yeh innocent act karna bandh kijiye...aur yeh sunglasses nikaliye aap...shaam ho gai hai, sunglasses ki zaroorat hi nai, aah...zaroor ladkiyo ko dekar style maarne ke liye pehni hongi...aur aap apni bike opposite side mein chala rahe hai, yeh aapko dikhai hi nai diya hoga.

Sanyukta was fuming with anger.

Vardaan, removed his sunglasses. He saw the girl in front of him.. a teenager barking with anger. Big round black eyes, her eyelashes...they were so long and thick, a small beautiful nose, which had now become red due to the anger, her cheeks..lil bit chubby, which actually looked cute, and her red lips, which were now in a bossy style pouting and waiting for an answer from him!

Sanyukta: Hmm...shakal se hi lecherous, eve teaser type lagte ho..

She took his bike keys in her hand and made an action with her fingers

Sanyukta: Come on...follow me...to the police station...now!!!😡

Vardaan: Lady..lady..lady...calm down...main kahi zaroori kaam se jaa raha tha..ek aurat aur do bacche mere bike ke saamne aa gaye...opposite side mein aane ke alawa mere paas aur koi chaara nai tha..Mujhe jaane dijiye...mera koi intelzaar kar raha hai.

Sanyukta: Ha ha...mere shakal pe bewakoof likha hai jo main aap pe yakeen karungi

Vardaan thought there was no use talking with this girl. An old man was among the crowd watching this drama. Vardaan caught hold of him and told

Vardaan: Dekhiye uncle..main maanta hu ki mujhse galti hui hai.

Uncle to Sanyukta: Dekho bitiya, yeh maan rahe hai, ke inse galti hui hai.

Sanyukta to uncle: Uncleji, maan ne se kya hota hai...aapne dekha nai yeh kitne speed se chala rahe hai.

Uncle to Vardaan: Haa beta...bike toh tum bohot tez chala rahe the.

Vardaan to Uncle: Uncle ji, is waqt mujhe kai phochna hai..koi mera intezaar kar raha hai.

Uncle to Sanyukta: Bitiya, koi intezaar kar raha hai inka..

Sanyukta to uncle: Ha ha...Hamare gharo mein toh koi intezaar hi nai kar raha ...and by the way uncle, main inse directly first hand ladai kar sakti hu, thank you!!

Vardaan thought of an idea..

Vardaan: Lady here's the deal. Your bike has got a small dent..

Sanyukta: (Surprised) Small dent !!!

Vardaan: OK... A big dent...take this 8000 rupees. Give your bike to some mechanic for repairing it.

But Sanyukta was in no mood, to accept anything from him.

Sanyukta to the crowd: Dekha aap logo ne...yeh aadmi mujhe aap sabke saamne..itne public ke saame..mujhe rishwat dene ki koshish kar raha hai..koi police ko bulao, nao! 😡

Hearing the commotion, police came to the spot. Vardaan was in a fix, as he didn't want this drama now. Sanyukta explained everything to the police. Vardaan pleaded before the police...he hell hated that...he had never pleaded to anybody in his life. Vardaan also agreed to pay the required fine and to pay for the dent repairing charges. The police asked for his driving license, he showed it to them. They realized that he was a professor at FIM. They asked Sanyukta to show her driving license, she started searching furiously in her bag.

Sanyukta: Officer, believe me..mere bag mein tha mera license...but ab nahi mil raha hai.

Vardaan: Oh ab tum jhoot bhi bol rahi hu

Sanyutkta: (Angrily) Main jhoot nai bol rahi hu, you criminal! 😡

With this, both of them started another round of bickering..The police officer had enough. he got frustrated He handcuffed both of them, with a single handcuff and ordered them to get inside the police jeep. He was taking them to the police station.

He put them in a lock up. After an hour or so...Inside the lock up..

Vardaan: Yeh sab tumhare wajah se hua hai...ke main lock up mein aa gaya hu

Sanyukta: What...for your kind information, you were the one who flouted the traffic rules, you deserve to be here...I am the victim...I don't belong here.

Vardaan: Oh really...I was offering you money..

Sanyukta: Excuse me...say it bribe!

Police officer: Shut up both of u...I can't take your constant bickering any more. I have a bad headache.

Sanyukta: Dekhiye uncle...mere Papa pareshaan ho rahe honge...Waise papa se yaad aaya...aapke kitne baache hai...apko koi beti hai. Waise aap bhi na...ekdum mere papa ke tarah dikhte ho. Vardaan could'nt believe his eyes and ears...he thought.."What on the earth is this girl doing?"

Sanyukta started her idea of emotionally blackmailing the police officer. The officer left them under one condition that they never create a scene like this ever.

Once out of the police station. They both spoke.

Sanyukta: Well mister, I hope you have got your lesson. Now, I know you will never the speed limit over 40. And even if you cross, remember this day. And by the way, you should thank me, that you are out of the lock up.

Vardaan: Well miss, life mein kabhi dobara apni shakal mat dikhana! And thank you...my foot!

Sanyukta: Tum ne apni shakal aaine mein dekhi hai...aaina bhi tut jaaye.

Saying this, she started walking...

Vardaan: Badtameez ladki!

Sanyukta: I heard that, loser!!

PRECAP: Vardaan was dreaming and sweating profusely, getting uncomfortable in his sleep...Niharika, Niharika...after some time the tensed look on his face was replaced by a serene one...the girl he met on the highway...Big round black eyes, her eyelashes...they were so long and thick, a small beautiful nose, her chubby cheeks and her red lips...he was smiling in his sleep !!!

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