As weeks passed by Arjun and Sakshi had started finding similarities amidst the most different situations. In fact their conflicting tastes brought them closer - as friends. While Sakshi loved the 70's bollywood music Arjun had a taste for Beethoven and Mozart.
Sakshi enjoyed romances like Guide whereas Arjun prefered Gone With the Wind. While she advocated for Satyajit Ray's novels he prefered Agatha Christie or Oscar Wilde.
"Firangi Chokro! Sab kuch angrez ki pasand hai..." she muttered when Arjun knocked the table freaking her out. "Arjun Sir!" she shrieked out, nowadays she would add his name along with Sir. "Firangi nahi hoon main.. mujhe bas Western cheeze pasand hai, ab batau ek Rolls Royce main travel karna baat hi alag hai na." He mused.
"Acha... ek Maruti truck ke peeche savari hoke Uttarakhand ghumo... jab Mother Nature aap pe barse gi tab baat hi alag hai!" Sakshi smirked when a conversation took their attention.
"Phantom Of Opera!" Bunny spoke
"DDLJ at Maratha Mandir!" Naina licked her fingers and smirked.
Sakshi and Arjun stared at the television for two minutes and one giggled while the other shook his head. "Waise it's time for injection..." Arjun picked up the needle and drew in the liquid. For now it had become a strange routine in their friendship - Arjun ignored the youthful skin under his palm and she stopped shuddering when his palm rested on her waist. There were never other intentions involved.
Sakshi rubbed the cotton on her waist when she produced a picture from her back pocket. "Arjun Sir... yeh photo mujhe mila tha... aapka aur Ma'am ke marriage." Sakshi noticed the sunken face of her sir's. With the mention of Mrs. Rawte his face suddenly aged and he settled on a chair, his fingers brushed through the picture of his father in the family photograph.
He was aware of her gaze on him, he found an urge to speak up about his deceased father and his relationship. Sonia had been a great mistake in his life. He regretted marrying to her but life had it's cruel twist of fate.
"It's not that I never tried... first of all she and I never actually shared the husband wife relation after the few months of our marriage. She seemed aloof and strange. Sam was sure of an affair but I decided to give our marriage a chance. By the time I realised her affair Papa died... and rest you all know... I don't know how to thank you again for the baby Sakshi..." he held her soft palms.
Sakshi smiled back and gave a reassuring squeeze. It was at evening and a Saturday when he started chatting about his childhood, even though his father never had enough time for him - he never misunderstood his father. At the beginning he used to feel upset being home with Kaka...
"The one who calls who Ladoo Baba!" Sakshi interrupted suddenly then quietened looking at his half angry glare "Sorry..." she muttered, his lips curved into a lopsided smile and nodded. This same Kaka made him realise what his father was working at. It became most natural that Arjun would take up the reins of his father's empire - and this was wholly Arjun's choice. His father had given him the free space to do absolutely anything.
"You know Sakshi my Baba was one of the most handsome man and the best man anyone could have got! In fact tum ab bhi baba se milti toh uske charms pe fida ho jati!" he chuckled but then his smile ceased when he spoke about his dad. Sakshi noticed the quieter Arjun coming on fore when she prodded him "Acha! Koi young time ka picture hai kya?" Sakshi asked and he took out his phone.
He scrolled through his photos and showed one "I clicked this pic from the album, yeh tha 1989 main ya 90 main I guess..." Arjun smiled while Sakshi gazed at the picture intently. "My God... Sir's so handsome!!!" Sakshi gazed at the picture while Arjun chuckled. "Haan... ladkia marti thi baba pe... but he never married again." Arjun took in a deep breath.

"Kyun?" Sakshi asked "Not that he didn't fall in love, he was scared ki main ek step mom ko accept nahi kar pavunga and she may be bad towards me. The first lady was like that, uske baad baba felt guilty of deceiving maa... even though aisi koi reason nahi tha... but then baba and his principles..." Arjun sighed when suddenly a gurgle noise alerted him.
Ule babule! Gochu puchu... tuchi puchi..." Sakshi pouted towards the scream and said all baby words possible in the dictionary. She turned to see Arjun staring at her as if she grew two horns "Wait Sakshi kya dekh rahi ho..." he asked.
"Woh woh... zoom karne ke bajaye swipe ho gaya aur yeh chutku sa baby ko dekha... kitnaaa cute hai!" Sakshi mused and did coochie koo with the baby on the phone. Arjun looked at the picture.

"Mann karta hai iss baby ko tight sa kissie de doon!" She said "Woh baccha main hoon." Arjun looked at her face and mentally chuckled as she turned deep red.
"Sh*t sh*t sh*t..." Sakshi swore mentally "Sorry sir, aapka phone, sorry.." she muttered, ever since she's been receiving hormonal medicines her language control has gone for a toss!
"Sir par aap sach main ladoo the! I mean look at those chubby cheeks!" Sakshi almost jumped in cuteness when she came back to reality looking at the stubbled Arjun Rawte look at her. "Uh... sorry... I guess woh injection se kuch zyaada hi excite ho rahi hoon..." she muttered when the word excite hit into her head...
Double Meaning.
Sakshi buried her face in her palms... muttering something. Arjun frowned a little and tried to hear her muttering "Sakshi tu pagal ho chuki hai, Sir se koi aise baat karte hai, he does so many good things par hai toh Sir! Aisi baat kar rahi hai jaise janam se jaanti hai usse, tera toh waat laga, do teen baate kya kar beithi araam se gappe laga rahi hai, tera toh..."
It did hurt him seeing that he didn't consider her a friend... he got up suddenly, his jaws clenched. "Sir? I am so sorry... I really didn't mean, I don't know what's wrong with me." she mumbled. "No... mujhe kyun sorry bol rahi ho, you aren't accountable for me! Main akela hi khush hoon, tum mujhe apna dost nahi samajthi isme obviously tum sahi ho. I thought you were a friend, especially after opening up so much! But no... it's always the tag Mr.Rawte ya sir na?" he turned aside, hurt.
It has been happening since childhood... whenever he used to meet his friends - being Mr. Rawte's son has always come fore. Apart from Kaka everyone called him sir or master. No one called him son. Friends were always for benefits, none called him buddy. Why should Sakshi be any different.
When a soft hand touched his shoulder he realised that he said the words loudly. "Arjun?" she hesitated a bit but didn't miss the sudden rise of his eyebrows as she called him by his first name. "Jaise tumhare zindagi main kisi ne tumhare wealth ke liye apna dost nahi maane, waise meri zindagi main due to our poverty kisine mujhe woh aukaad nahi di dosti karni ke liye. Bachpan se high society waalon ko ma'am sir kehne ki practise hai. Jo ek do ladkion ko jaanti thi unhe Bibiji ya Ma'am kehti thi. Unke maata pita ko kabhi aunty ya uncle nahi, Mr. Gupta, ys Sir kehke pukaarti thi. Sab ne bohot hi acche tarha se mujhe meri aukaad aur hesiyat ka jagah dikhate rahe. Par aap alag hai, par darrti hoon aapse sach main dosti karne ke lie - kahi ek din aap mujhe meri jaga dikha de toh? Bura lagega na... insaan jo thehri." she mumbled and sat on a wicker chair.
Arjun realised her point as well... as the two people belonged from different strata of soicety, neither actually had friends, one didn't have enough status to make, the other was used for benefits. "Am sorry Sakshi, I didn't mean to hurt you or stuff. It's true I myself never gave you the permission to call me by my name, neither did I extend a hand for friendship... but I expected it to come naturally." Arjun half smiled at her.
Sakshi fumbled with her fingers and nodded. "I am sorry sir, neither did I mean to hurt your sentiments. I thought the rich lead all the life of happiness... at least I saw so." she scratched her head.
"Even if we are rich, we can't eat green notes can we?" he raised an eyebrow towards her.
She chuckled slightly at that. Perhaps now he understood her extreme self respect and timidness... she hated sympathy of her state. Arjun half smiled at the lady in front. If she had all the riches she would have been a one fine lady. Oh wait... wasn't she already one?
Clearing his throat he raised his hand towards her "Friends?" he asked. Sakshi looked at him surprised. She put her palm gently in his "Friends!" she smiled as he shook her hand.
For the first time employer - employee, Sir - subordinate dissipated into thin air. All that mattered was Arjun and Sakshi... he cracked jokes after a long time and she burst into peals of laughter after a long time.
"Haan Arjun one second... I'll see who it is!" Sakshi smiled and opened the door to see Sonia standing there. "Heylo Miss..." she shoved Sakshi aside and stuttered back to her room. As usual she was late from clubbing. Sakshi stepped aside when suddenly Sonia turned around "Did I just hear you call Arjun as Arjun!" Sonia raised her eyebrows. "Listen, zyaada pankh lagane ki zaroorat nahi hai, samjhi. Paise diye hai baccha ko carry karne ke liye, family member nahi banogi. Sir tak rakhna, wahi behtar hai!" Sonia snapped at her making Sakshi tear for half a second.
Sakshi felt like cracking her skull and speaking left right to Sonia at that moment, but daily check ups and injections had taken a toll on her - emotionally. So instead of shouting Sakshi found herself - hurt.
She quietly sat in the kitchen, fumbling with her fingers. She was about to wipe her tears away when a rough hand did it for her. "Ar...jun?" she asked. His eyes were etched in concern. "Kya hua? That bi.. Sonia said something kya, I heard her speaking to you. If you want I will go and speak..." Arjun started to be stopped by Sakshi.
"Why do you do so much for me?" SHe frowned. "Because you are my only friend. And you are going to carry a part of me without any demands or anything. Ethically this thought murders me you know Sakshi. And it's not any sympathy and crap. I am a good guy... but you are better. If I had been a girl I wouldn't have done this. I respect you." he looked into her eyes hoping he convinced her.
More tears fell from Sakshi's eyes and she buried her face in her palms "Never got so much respect..." she mumbled and he looked at her. "Listen Sakshi, I have seen difficult times as well. Bas yeh yaad rakho that you can be hurt by a person only and only when you allow a person to hurt you. It's important to be mentally wealthy than financially. Samjhi ya samjhaaun?" He looked into her misty eyes.
She wiped her tears away and nodded.. "I think it's time I go to hospital... I think treatment ho gaya hai. Itni hormonal aur emotional kabhi nahi thi..." she sniffed a little while Arjun wiped away the little tear. "Haha... I agree... waise Sakshi remember just one thing." Sakshi looked up into his eyes.
He looked straight back "Trust me."
~*~Sakshi looked at Arjun who is kneeling before her. "Sakshi, I promise that as long as you don't want, another man would never ever affect you in your life. I promise to protect you always. I promise that the life of our baby will be decided by you. I promise that this is the first and last time I will touch you - irrespective the baby comes or not." He whispered and tears trickled down her cheeks.
"And trust me Sakshi, you are the only woman I will be bound to." Sakshi drew in a gasp as he said those final words.
"Arjun!" Sakshi started to be shushed by him "No... let me speak. No other woman shall step into my life ever again. This does not mean I bound you to me, you are free.. always. But for me you will be the last woman I feel and touch. For we both know the bond we share is beyond something and till my last breath I will respect this. Consider this as good as an oath." he looked into her eyes and rubbed away the moisture with his thumb.
Sakshi couldn't help but fling her arms around her lovely friend... really just a friend?
Arjun closed his eyes and hugged her tight... he so desperately wished if he had met her before Sonia...
He gently picked her up in his arm and placed her head on the pillow, he switched off every light and returned back to her. He quickly removed his trousers - so as to she didn't see nor understand anything. He parted her legs a little, her sudden gasps weren't new now.
He rested himself on forearms and elbows which were on the either side of Sakshi's shoulder. Her breath hitched on feeling his warm heat. Her toes curled up at an instant the moment he placed himself between her. Her eyes shot open - staring at his face, she could see every feature even though the room was bathed in shadows.
Her face looked frightened and confused. He took a deeper breath. He balanced himself on one arm and caught her ice cold palm. He placed his lips on her ring finger. Tears fell of Sakshi's eyes. Did it have any significance?
The look in Arjun's eyes stated that it did. Her breathing increased and she got tensed up.
Arjun gulped as now he had to face one major problem. They couldn't do it unless she was...
Aroused.
Edited by Armagadon - 10 years ago
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