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Sakshi looked back to arjun's cabin only to see him laughing at something ria had said. Her heart fluttered seeing the beautiful smile adorning his face. The most beautiful smile she had ever seen but then looking at the larger picture it only got squeezed seeing arjun smiling with someone else.
She turned around with a sad smile not before arjun noticed her staring their way. She quickly picked up her things to leave for the day and walked away before he could offer her a lift.
1 year before
Arjun had finally got some clues leading to sikander and soon enough he nailed down his only enemy with five bullets straight in his head.
He felt free after that. Free of the guilt that clawed his insides every day. Not that he didn't miss roshni anymore. He did but he understood he has to start living his life again. Now that he had his best friend and his whole team he couldn't be selfish and keep them away anymore. So he started trying.
The change was not sudden it was gradual. One step at a time. Everyone helped him in this. Most of all sakshi and sameer. Sameer tried to get his best friend back. The one who laughed and cracked jokes and played pranks. And sakshi? She didn't knew what she was looking for? Maybe just his happiness.
He started acknowledging her presence in his life. He reduced his taunts to mere playful comments. Reduced his glares to unintended stares. He starting dropping her home whenever she sacrificed her ride for sameer and aisha's love. So much so that they always travelled together.
Then much to sakshi's surprise he even started replying to her lame jokes. His frowns turned to faint smiles. He started saying thanku for every cutting chai and sorry for every rude comment. In short sakshi was immensely happy with this development. One year it took a whole year to get the previous arjun rawte back but if you'll ask her she'll just say it was worth it.
Even though she never expected her love to be reciprocated she was still glad that at-least they were friends now. Everything was going just fine when ria came back.
Ria mukherjee hygiene specialist. As soon as she entered the office all the four men started hovering around her. Asking her if she was fine and if she took her medicines etc etc while the three etf girls sakshi, aisha and liza stood awkwardly by the side not having a clue about what was happening.
Later arjun called them all telling them that she was their ex colleague who left etf to recover from the deadly virus she consumed to save the country and that she will be joining back. All the girls impressed and happy to include a new member in their group but it was only time until sakshi started noticing the love-hate relationship that arjun and ria shared. Just like arjun and her. She thought she was the only one who could be one arjun like that but guess she was wrong.
Then the fact that ria was much more helpful to the team as she was a hygiene specialist did not do anything to mellow down her insecurities. After all didn't arjun always tell her that she was useless? Than how could she have thought differently. Whenever arjun tell ria 'good work' or 'keep it up' it only hurt her more. He never said that to her. Not even when she actually helped them through a case.
Sakshi always thought that she could not get arjun's love because he couldn't love again but now that she saw arjun and ria so close it only made her aware of her own shortcomings.
Back to present day
Arjun saw sakshi leaving with a sad smile on her face. Something tugged at his heart and he decided to follow her. He would just offer her a lift he told himself. Just then ria's voice came from behind.
'Arjun sir? Kya aap mujhe drop krdenge' she asked
'Haan chalo' he gestured and without waiting for her sprinted outside to stop sakshi.
He looked for her and there she was trying to look for a taxi mumbling something under her breath probably cursing the whole universe. He chuckled at that. Some things never change.
'Sakshi' he called and she turned around to see him there. Her face dropped seeing him and ria standing side by side.
'Han arjun' she asked walking upto them.
'Chalo mai tumhe drop krdeta hu' he said and started to walk to his car when her next words forced him to stop.
'Nai arjun mai chali jaungi' she said and looked down to avoid his questioning gaze
'Chalo na sakshi waise bhi akele jana safe nai hai' ria chirped giving her a sweet smile
Sakshi couldn't say no that face so she agreed reluctantly.
Sakshi looked from arjun to ria again and again as they both talked to each other completely forgetting about her. Her sad eyes trying to find a single clue which would tell her that what she was thinking was wrong.
Arjun stopped the car infront of ria's house and she got down and bid a goodbye. Sakshi looked confused at arjun. Her house came before ria's. Why didn't he drop her first?
'Ab aage aane ka iraada hai ya driver banakar he chorhogi' arjun joked
She nodded and moved to the front and asked the question running in her mind.
'Arjun mera ghar toh pehle aata haina'
'Haa wo mai bhul gaya tha' he lied. Actually he wanted to know why sakshi is acting so distant from past one week and for that he needed her alone with him. She won't serve him his cutting chai or quip in her lame jokes or even say good morning. She'll refuse rides with him and keep quiet if she really had to take a ride with him because of some case.
Here sakshi was feeling even more upset after his confession. He forgot she was also there. That he also had to drop her. Why would he even need her now that ria has come she thought bitterly.
'Sakshi tum ne khana khaya' arjun asked hoping she would say no so that they could eat at some dhaba like she liked. Maybe then she would open upto him about what was troubling her.
'Nahi'
'Oh toh chalo kisi dhaabe pe chalke khaa lete hai maine bhi ni khaya' he said with a small smile.
'Nai mujhe bhook ni hai. Tum mujhe ghar drop karke fir khaalena' she said but instantly regretted it as she saw his smile drop.
'Tum pregnant ho kya' he asked angrily
'Tumhe ni lagta tumhara bina baat ke he kisi bhi cheez ka man ni krta aajkal' he said further
She looked down guiltily but didn't say anything. She had to stay away from him even it it meant hurting him a little. She couldn't break further, she wouldn't.
Arjun didn't say anything after that. He was feeling too angry at her sudden mood swings. Why is she even behaving this. He was obviously being nice to her all the time than what's the problem.
Sakshi got down as her house came and left without a word. She really wanted to say something, anything to make him feel better but she knew it's better if she did not. It will give hope. Hope for a friendship she could not give anymore!
'Goodnight bhi nai bola' he whispered sadly but let anger overtake and drove off without another look back!
To be continued...
How's it? 😳
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