Chapter 5

[MEMBERSONLY]

Hello Arakshians, back with a new part...strictly for Arakshi lovers...others may not like this crap...so pls for ur own interest, stay away!

Errors honge...maaf ho...and please leave ur comments...they mean a lot!

Thanks a lot for the previous likes and comments!

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Part 5:

Arjun narrowed his brows seeing her enthusiasm and looked to the direction...there stood a handsome young guy dressed in a casual black shirt and cargo pants...He smiled and stretched his arms out for Sakshi voicing, "Happy Birthday sweety!"...and she willingly went into his arms...

It was evident that he was very close to Sakshi...perhaps a close friend whom she was meeting after a very long time!

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Arjun looked back into the book showing off his indifference or his disinterest in knowing about Sakshi's close friends or anything relating to her...

Though his eyes were into the book, his mind and his ears defied his logics and darted to the conversations...

None called him or tried to get him to the conversation as they were all scared and also felt that he might think it as a disturbance...His always stern attitude and no nonsense talks gave the impression that he would never be interested in small casual and friendly talks...perhaps it was all silly and useless for him...so none bothered much...they felt that leaving him to his self was better for him and them as well...After all the last thing they would want in a fun filled party is a SYS or a burning glare from the hot cop!

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Neel was her best friend from her college days...Soon after they graduated, he had moved to US for further studies and then stayed on for a well placed job there...

It was pure coincidence that he happened to be in Mumbai for vacation when Shree tried to contact him...So here he was...how could he ever miss a chance like this to meet his little miss sunshine and that too on her b'day...

Sakshi hugged Shree thanking him for this big surprise...she voiced pulling Neel to her side..."sacch mein Shree...this has to be my best b'day gift...itna bada surprise...I must say I never expected this...I am so happy"

Shree smiled seeing Sakshi's happiness...and voiced, "tum khush ho na...bas hum sab ko wahi chahiye Sakshi...be happy and keep smiling always..."

He gave her a warm hug and then left her and Neel to catch up...

Neel had been keenly observing Sakshi's changed behavior...she had changed from her college days...gone was the bubbly naughty prankster...Soon after Shree walked away to Liza and Aisha, Sakshi and Neel sat down comfortably but Sakshi didn't talk anything much neither did Neel...perhaps he waited for her to begin...

A prolonged silence when they just sat together...Neel decides to break it after 5 long minutes...

Neel: so how is life?

Sakshi: ohh great it is...

Neel intently looks at her...She wasn't even looking at him as she said that...he voices, "I can how great it is sweetheart!"

Sakshi looks at him realizing that he hadn't believed what she said...Neel continued, "jo ladki ek minute chup nahi rehti thi aur humesha kuch na kuch prank karthi thi, ab poore paanch minute se mere saamne chup beiti hai...I really can see how great your life is"

Sakshi: ohh Neel, plzz...woh waqt kuch aur tha...humesha thodi na aise hi rehungi...ab prank karungi toh sab kya sochenge, haan?

Neel: tum kabse sabke chintha karne lagi sweety?...if I remember, tumne mujhse ek baar kaha tha ke jo bhi karo khud keliye karo aur dil khol kar karo...aur baaki sab secondary hai...but now, even your smiles don't seem to be from your heart Sakshi!

Sakshi tried to protest, "aisa kuch nahi hai Neel...you are just imagining things..."

Neel: really? Ok...ab tum keh rahi ho toh I have to agree...anyways, I don't have a reason not to agree, right?

Sakshi just nodded...

She knew lying to Neel was not gonna work much...he was her alter ego and knew in and out of her...Fooling him was out of question...he would have guessed by now that she is disturbed big time...but she didn't want to tell him about her family's death and about her dad and spread sorrow during this happy time...so she excused herself from him in the pretext of getting him something to drink and some snacks...

She served him that and then moved on to speak with others...she tried her best to avoid that topic back again...

Unaware of her, another pair of eyes was always following her...Arjun wasn't able to understand who Neel was exactly but from her interactions and their private talk, he could only sense that Neel was very special and close to Sakshi...He didn't know why that realization hurt him somewhere deep...He had come there to talk to Sakshi...that wasn't happening and he also didn't expect so many people in the party...So for sure he was disappointed with the turn of events!

He smacked her in his mind hiding the disappointment and the real reasons, "itne hectic din ke baadh, ideally sab rest karthe hai...par yeh ladki toh aise party kar rahi hai...bilkul paagal hai"

On the other side, Sakshi couldn't get back to talk to Arjun and give him company...Everytime, she tried to turn to him, somebody kept pulling her back and distracted her attention off him...

She wasn't ignoring him but she had no choice because there were many of her close friends there with whom she had almost lost touch in the past few years...So she had to catch up with each and every one of them.

Soon, Aisha placed the cake on the table and called everyone closer...Sakshi stood in the middle with Neel next to her...Aisha, Shree, Liza and Chotu were close to her...

Sakshi looked around to see if Arjun was anywhere around...Aisha understood whom she was searching for and called out, "Arjun sir...aap bhi aa jaahiye na?"

Arjun hesitantly stepped forward and stood at the far end from where he could see Sakshi clearly...but he was out of focus from her side...

But she knew that he was there and then cut the cake knowing that he wouldn't prefer to come closer or stand by her...she didn't want to wish or ask for things which he would never grant her!

She blew the candles and cut the cake...she took a piece and all were ready opening their mouths for their share of the cake...they fed her and also got their share from her...Neel brushed a little cream on her nose tip and she crunched her face scolding him...She hit him on his chest and pushed him away for doing that...Neel laughed and commented, "remember my birthday parties, you used to literally bath me in cake and cream darling...yeh toh sirf chota sa pay back tha..."

Arjun was feeling a weird sense of anger boiling in him...was it a pang of jealousy or insecurity?

He couldn't understand but he just glared at the scene and then ranted to himself shaking his head in irritation, "log itna silly kaise ho sakthe hai!"

He turned to walk back to his place when he felt a pat on his shoulders...he turned around and found Sakshi holding out the cake to him...In an instinct, he opened his mouth for her to feed him...

She hadn't expected that from him...no never even in her dreams...she had brought the cake on a paper plate with a spoon and a tissue for him but he opened his mouth and stunned her completely...

She took a little of the cake from the plate and slowly put it into his mouth...she was in for the second shock when he took a bit of the cake and held it near her mouth...she stood dumbfolded but her lips parted mindlessly as his fingers fed her the cake and he wished her again..."happy b'day Sakshi"

The slightest brushing of his fingers against her lips did send a shrill through her entire body but she controlled herself and didn't make it obvious...

She composed herself and to prevent acting awkward, she quickly wiped her lips with the tissue muttering a quick thanks to him...

Before he could speak something, someone called her and she handed the plate and tissue to him quickly and walked away mentally thanking the person who called her, as he had given her an easy escape route from the hot cop's proximity...

He glanced at her retreating form as he ate the rest of the cake and wiped his lips with the same tissue...it was indeed by coincidence and nothing planned but then the wider picture clearly showed that both their destinies were already entwined with each other and busily playing romantic games!

Shree started a rocking musical session soon...the music system rolled out party dance numbers and soon all were swaying happily...Sakshi was the last to be pulled in...and yes, pulling Arjun in was out of question...so he was a spectator to the dance...

Sakshi hesitated to join when Neel forcefully dragged her in commenting, "Come on sweety...dont be a spoilt sport...college ke ball mein humesha best Jodi hum hi banthe teh! You used rock the dance floor...ab kyun mana kar rahi ho, huh?"

Sakshi knew that saying no to Neel was impossible because he never took a No as an answer from her...So she gave in and started dancing...

On one side, food was laid out too so that those tired or bored of dancing can have dinner too...

Sakshi, after a long long time danced herself out forgetting all her worries and setting aside all her tears...she just tried to live the moment enjoying it to the fullest!

Arjun saw her dancing...on one side he felt happy that she was enjoying but then on the other side, he felt hurt, perhaps seeing her close with another guy...Why couldn't he see her in another guy's arms? Shouldn't he be happy that the girl who was always behind his back was so far away from him? but why wasn't he happy? Why was he angry and hurt?

He closed his eyes for a whole minute cursing himself for the wrong thoughts he was getting and then without a word walked out of the house...

[To be continued]

so how was it?? pls do reply...

no silent reading...SYS?

Next ka precap nahi doongi...suspense chala jaayega na? 😉

vidya.anand2013-10-25 02:59:56