Arakshi FF: Intezaar [Updt - pg 39, 20 March] - Page 6

Thanks heaps for the comments guys!!

Loved reading them all!!

Please do keep them coming!

Right now, I don't have time to reply to them, but I'll eventually start replying individually!! For now, please know that I've read them and appreciate them!! 😃

❤️ Simar!!

"Aaj jaana zaroori hain?"

He heard her before he saw her reflection in the mirror. Arjun was getting ready for work

after a two-week-long leave because of the wedding. His aunt and uncle left for Delhi the

day before, after making sure Sakshi was settled into the new environment. He stayed put

from work all this time only and only for his aunt, who insisted, he take time off and spend it

with family...and Sakshi.

"Haan Sakshi, ek...zaroori case hain toh..."

Lies.

He did the one thing he despises the most, and hated himself for it. His gaze averted from

her reflection as he went about doing his morning routine, trying to ignore the

disappointment that masked her usually happy features.

The past two weeks after their wedding have been more or less like the very first day. Arjun

kept his distance from Sakshi, both emotionally and physically. During day he barely talked

to her and at nights he slept on the couch and she on the bed.

Every night, as he walks to the couch, he sees questions and apprehension in her eyes. He

sees her struggle, whether to say something about it or not.

The hardest part was, he knew what he was doing was in the wrong. It added more weight

to his guilt, as each night, he perceives the worry and sadness on her face. Yet, he couldn't

push back that tiny voice, which reminded him time and again, that she's not the one he

loves.

As soon as he was ready, he headed out of his room, tucking the hand gun into its holster.

As he headed for the front door, Sakshi came up behind him with a smile, bidding him good-

bye. Though the start of their wedded life was not what one might consider normal', and he

sees her worry about the same, he'd never seen her lose her smile.

As she softly said, "Bye, Arjun", he did not have the heart to ignore her any longer. Turning

around slowly, he gave her an awkward glance.

"Mein jaanta hoon aaj tumhara ghar mein pehla din hain aunty ke bina. I-I..." He wasn't sure

what he wanted to say anymore.

"It's okay..." Sakshi replied after a moment in awkward silence, "...shaam ko jaldi aane ki

khoshish kar sakte ho?!"

"I'll try" He replied slowly, knowing it wasn't true.

~oOo~

ETF Office, 7:00 PM

"Tu yeha kya kar raha hain? Tumhare chutti abhi khatam nahi hue na?" Sameer asked, as

he barged into Arjun's cabin.

"Tu saara din commissioner ke saath meeting main busy tha...koi toh hona chaahiye na

yeha pe? So I assumed I should be the one to..."

"No, no, no! You assumed wrong! And you had no idea I was going to be in the

commissioner's office the whole day...I had no idea!!" His friend interrupted him. Taking the

seat opposite him, Sameer leaned forward on the table before speaking again,

"Tu jaanata hain agar aunty ko pata chela ki meine tumhe office chutti khatam hone se

pehle join karne diya toh woh mujhe maar dengi..."

Arjun felt irritation slowly stir in him, "I have been sitting at home for the past two weeks...

aur kitne din leave loon Sam?!!"

"You have only three days of leave left!" Sameer exclaimed before continuing, "Aur, shaadi

ke baad pehli baar Sakshi ke saat akele main time spend karne ka chance mil raha hain...

toh..."

Had those words come out of someone else's mouth - he would have happily ignored them.

But, coming from a person who Arjun believed knows him better than himself, left him

staggered. He stared at his best friend trying to figure out what he was trying to do.

If he assumed by acting everything was normal, it would be - he couldn't be more wrong.

"Kya kar raha hain tu?!" Arjun asked his friend calmly.

"Kya kar raha hoon?"

"Tum jaante ho ki mein aur Sakshi...this marriage..." He paused, "Toh aisi baatein kyun kar

raha hain?"

"This marriage what? Arjun?" Sameer spoke after a tense moment. Arjun saw the fire and

the disapproval in his friend's eyes, like on the night of his marriage.

"Why do you get like this every time the topic of my marriage comes up? I know you think I

had a choice in this, but I didn't Sam!!"

When his friend let out a sarcastic chuckle and shook his head, Arjun grew defensive and

did nothing to disguise his rising anger. He swung back, hissing, "What's your problem??!!"

"Yeh tumhara attitude!!!" Sameer all but screamed, letting his own anger surface.

"Tu jo yeh kehta rehta hain na - you didn't have a choice, well you did. And you made the

choice! You decided that you'd marry Sakshi. But now the way you -"

"Are you serious?!" Arjun jeered,

"It hasn't even been a year since Priya was taken away from me, I had to get married to

someone else and two weeks into the marriage, you expect me to have a happily ever

after???"

Sameer sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as if tired of explaining to a kid what he

did wrong.

"Arjun..." He started again slowly, "Your relationship with Priya was doomed the minute it

started and you knew it. Aur mein tumhe yehi samjhane ki khoshish kar raha hoon that you

didn't have to get married. I understand it wasn't an easy one, but you had a choice and you

chose. Ab yeh tumhari zimedaari banti hain that you stick with what you chose and take up


the responsibilities that come with it!

Arjun, as long as you keep thinking you were forced into this marriage, you'll not be able to

give Sakshi a chance, or a chance to yourself to move forward"

A long silence followed Sameer's outpour. As the friends stared at each other, both knew

the words spoken were the absolute truth. All of them. Even if Arjun denied them, or fought

against them - in the end they were still true.

As the silence prolonged, he grew more agitated. He felt trapped between his past and

present. He wanted to let go and move forward but didn't know how. Every time he even

thought about it, Priya's taunting voice rang in his ears,

"You promised you'd always be there for me!"

"You promised, you'll protect me!"

"Humesha saath rehne ka waada kiya hain tumne ACP Rawte!!"

He leaned forward onto the table and started rubbing his temples in slow circles.

"Kya hua?" Sameer asked concerned.

"Headache" Arjun muttered.

He heard his friend let out a long sigh before he got up to leave.

"Go home and rest. The office will be closed in half an hour anyway!

At those words Arjun's eyes flashed to his wrist watch, it read seven-thirty-four. He flinched

as his headache became more prominent.

With his friend's sensible words, Priya's taunting ones and his wife's sweet request from

the morning all ringing in his ears, he headed home for the night.



FOUR

each and every emotion

arjun struggle

sam support

perfect

continue soon

All I have to say is,Saakshi's patience will bring him close to her.

About Sameer trying to make him understand,it's better said than done.Since it's not even a year that the mystery girl who was snatched away from Arjun,he'll definitely need some time but yes there's no denying that why Saakshi has to suffer.He atleast should make an attempt to not treat her as stranger.

Waiting for more. You did the earlier version very well and this version is in its par too

Good job

Loved ti very much.

Arjun's inner turmoil had been sketched beautifully.

Sameer is right in his words.

Let's see what happens next.

Con soonz..