Ariya Saathi - Page 80

Riya blushed red at his statement and looked away. Without broaching the topic further she silently fed him and he did just what he said he would do. Enjoyed the beauty of her eyes while relishing his favourite by her hand...

ETF apni chutti enjoy kar rahi hai. unki kismat se teen din ki chutti ke baad Sunday aa gaya toh unhe ek din extra mil gaya. Lekin Riya ka mood off ho gaya tha kyunki uska restaurant renovation ki wajah se band ho gaya 6 mahino ke liye aur ab woh alternatives dhundh rahi hai.

Mall-

Arjun Riya ka wait kar raha hai. use ye bhi nahi pata ki achanak Riya ne unki usual milne ki jagaho ko chod kar use Sunday ke bheed-bhaad waale din maal mein kyun bulaya hai woh bhi jab use pata hai ki use bheed nahi pasand.

Thode distance par ek ladki apne pati ke saath chal rahi hai. dono khushi-khushi baatein kar rahe hai ki achanak ladki ki nazre Arjun par padti hai. woh achanak chup ho jaati hai. lekin Arjun ne use nahi dekha woh apni ghadi dekhta hai aur fir mall ke entrance ki taraf turn hota hai taaki Riya ke aate hi woh use dekh sake.

Ladka: kya hua Naina?

Naina: woh Chirag...woh Arjun...waha

Chirag us direction mein dekhta hai. woh firse Naina ko dekhta hai. Naina bas us insaan ko dekh rahi hai jo uska pehla pyaar tha. Suicide attempt ke baad usne Arjun ko kabhi nahi dekha yaha tak ki Sameer ne bhi kabhi uska zikr nahi kiya aur kuch hi dino baad woh US chali gayi, ab itne saalon baad woh use fir dekh rahi hai toh use ajeeb si feeling ho rahi hai.

Chirag uske kashmakash ko samajta hai: jao baat kar lo ek baar, shayad behtar mehsoos karo?

Naina: nahi Chirag main kaise...

Chirag: kabhi-kabhi jab baatein adhuri reh jaati hai toh uske anjaam bahot bure ho jaate hai Naina. Itna waqt beet gaya hai, woh bhi aage bad chuka hoga toh man mein ye dard rakhkar kya faayda?

Naina ka dil bhar jaata hai: main sach mein lucky hun ki mujhe tum mile

Chirag use chedta hai: of course ho (apna collar uncha karke) koi shaq?

Naina: Chirag!!

Chirag hasta hai: ab milwaogi bhi? main bhi toh dekhu...kaun hai woh jisne tumhara dil chura liya

Naina smile karke nod karti hai.

Udhar Arjun baar-baar apni ghadi dekh raha hai mv "kaha hai yeh madam? Woh toh kabhi late nahi hoti? woh use phone karne ke baare mein soch hi raha hai ki ek ladki ki awaaz uske kaano par padti hai.

Naina: Arjun?

Arjun turn hota hai. Needless to say he was shocked to see her that too after so many years. He didn't whether to be relieved on seeing her fine or be afraid of what she was going to say.

Naina: kaise ho?

Her question broke his trance: huh...ha...main...acha hun. Tum?

Naina: good...woh (gesturing to Chirag) ye mera pati hai, Chirag

Arjun felt internally relieved that she was happily married and nodded a greeting to Chirag.

Arjun: congrats!

Naina: thank you...waise tum...

Arjun's eyes sparkled suddenly when they fell in a direction. A hand waved to him, he smiled and waved back. Naina too turned to look in the direction. Riya walked towards the group and hugged Arjun warmly.

Arjun: kaha thi tum?

Riya: are puchiye mat, itna traffic tha raasta mein...mera toh dimag kharaab ho gaya

Arjun shook his head in disbelief. He introduced her to the others whilst keeping a protective arm around her waist.

Arjun: Riya, ye Naina hai, meri...batch mate thi college mein and her husband Chirag. Aur Naina ye Riya hai...meri fiance

The girls shook hands and greeted each other warmly. Though Riya realised it was the same girl who had tried to commit suicide she pretended to be normal.

Riya: nice to meet you

Naina: pleasure's all mine

Riya: aap dono training ke time batch mates the?

Arjun confuse hota hai mv "ye kya bol rahi hai? ise strike nahi hua ki ye wahi Naina hai?

Naina: are nahi, undergraduate...uske...uske baad main, uh..US chali gayi thi

Riya: oh nice!...kya karti ho tum?

Dono casually baatein karti hai. Arjun ki nazar continuously Riya par hi atki hai, ye baat Naina bhi notice karti hai. kuch der baad Naina ki ringtone unhe disturb karti hai.

Naina(phone utha kar): ha?...ha baba bas aa rahe hai...goodness! aa rahi hun kaha na? phone rakho tum! (call disconnect karke) um..sorry, hume chalna chahiye...late ho raha hai

Riya: ya sure no problem, see you later

Naina: sure, (Arjun ko dekhkar) bye Arjun

Arjun: huh? Uh...bye Naina

Naina aur Chirag goodbye bol kar chale jaate hai. Riya Arjun ko 4^th floor par le jaati hai.

Arjun: ab batane ka kasht karogi ki tumne mujhe yaha kyun bulaya hai?

Riya: are lunch ke liye aur kis liye?

Arjun(confused): yaha kyun? Tum toh humesha Oriental...

Riya: ha yaar lekin (sadly) woh renovation ke liye 6 mahina band hai, yaha naya restaurant khula hai Mexican ke liye toh socha try kar lete hai, ab alternative toh dhundhna padega na? (dramatically) warna 6 mahine tak bina Mexican ke!!! Main toh mar hi jaungi!!

Arjun disbeilief mein sar hilata hai. dono lift se nikalkar restaurant pahunchte hai. ek waiter unhe welcome karta hai.

Riya: table for two please

Waiter: sure ma'am, this way please

Woh unhe ek corner table ki taraf guide karta hai aur menu dekar chala jaata hai. Riya menu padhne lagti hai

Arjun: ek baat puchu?

Riya(bina sar uthaye): mujhe pata hai woh wahi ladki hai jisne suicide karne ki koshish ki thi

Arjun (taken aback): par..

Riya: maine use is baare mein baat isliye nahi ki kyunki main scene create nahi karna chahti thi

Arjun(surprised): okay lekin...

Riya firse bina uske sawaal ko sune jawaab deti hai: mera usse kya lena dena? Woh chapter aapke life ka hai jo ab khatam ho gaya hai, samjhe ya samjhau?

Arjun sigh karke napkin ki edge ke saath fidget karta hai. woh kuch nahi bol raha ye dekhkar Riya apni nazre upar uthati hai.

Riya: aap chup kyun ho gaye?

Arjun raised his eyebrow: tumhe sab kuch pata toh hai, toh main bol kar kya karu?

Riya use sheepishly dekhti hai(muttering): sorry

Arjun smile karke uske haath ko dono haathon mein lekar kiss karta hai: I love you

Riya blush karti hai: I love you too

Arjun uski aankhon mein fir kho jaata hai. ye mehsoos karke Riya apni nazre jhuka deti hai.

On the other hand Naina aur Chirag mall ke food court mein jaate hai. waha ek table par Sameer aur Ayesha unka wait kar rahe the. dono unke opposite baithte hai.

Chirag: ab kaisa feel kar rahi ho?

Naina smile karti hai: halka mehsoos ho raha hai

Sameer: kya ho gaya?

Chirag: neeche Arjun mila tha

Sameer stiff ho jaata hai ye soch kar ki Naina ke zakhm fir se khul jaayenge: kya? Usne kuch kaha tumse?

Naina(confused): nah...

Sameer(concerned): tum sach-sach bolo Naina, trust me I will break his bones!

Naina rolled her eyes: shut up Sameer! Woh kya bolega? Kabhi bhi kuch bolta hai kya woh? (trailing off) Bas...tumhe pata hai uske saath uski fiance bhi thi, Riya and

Sameer: and?

Naina(in a trance): tumhe pata hai Sameer, the way he looks at her...aisa lagta hai jaise uski puri duniya usi mein samayi hai, ab sochti hun toh lagta hai ki mujhse itni badi galti kaise ho gayi jo uske casual baaton ko pyaar samaj baithi

Uski baaton se Sameer aur Ayesha confuse hote hai.

Sameer: Woah! Woah! Hold on! Hold on! Usne tumhe dokha diya tha tum apne aapko...

Naina(confused): tumse kisne kaha ki Arjun ne mujhe dhoka diya? Jab woh kabhi mera apna bana hi nahi toh dhoka kaha se dega?

Sameer(incredulously): toh fir tumne suicide karne ki koshish kyun ki?

Naina ko confused dekhkar Chirag bolta hai: kyunki Arjun ne uska proposal reject kiya tha

Sameer felt the ground beneath sweep away: WHAT?!?!!?

Pura food court uski taraf dekhne lagta hai. Ayesha rapped his arm.

Naina: Sam! Behave yourself!

Sameer: sorry (apni tone ko control karke) Naina...wait! I'm confused! Tumne suicide isliye kiya kyunki Arjun ne tumhara proposal accept nahi kiya?

Naina: ha!

Ayesha drops her head into her hands mv "uff!! Sam! I don't believe this!! Aap kabhi nahi sudhrenge!!! Aap Aur Aapka Gussa!!!

Sameer(incredulously): Kya Ha? Uske Liye Koi Suicide Karta Hai Kya? Tumhara Dimag Kharaab Hai? I Thought He Did Something To You!

Naina: he barely talked, what was he going to do Sameer? Maine kab kaha tumse ki usne mujhe dhoka diya ya fir usne mere saath kuch galat karne ki koshish ki?

Sameer looked at her blankly. Chirag and Ayesha looked on with question marks on their faces and tried to break up the fight.

Chirag: guys relax! Kyun itna hyper ho rahe ho? Koi khaana order karo, mujhe bhook lag rahi hai

Naina: Sam! Sach-sach batao mujhe, tumne kuch ulta-seedha toh nahi kiya na?

Ayesha changed the topic: Naina, tum bhi na khamakha pareshaan ho rahi ho, aisa kuch bhi nahi hai. chodo woh sab tum, ab batao kya logi? Sam ki toh aadat hai, har cheez mein over react karte hai fir ek hi dialogue aa jaayega har jagah...Dammit!

Naina aur Ayesha has kar hi-fi karti hai. woh log bhi khaana order karte hai aur chain se apna lunch karte hai.

Later that night-

Rathore's house,

Sameer bed par baithkar subah ke incidents ko replay karta hai. aur uske baad use woh sab kuch yaad aata hai jo uske aur Arjun ke beech hua. Usne itne waqt tak bevajah Arjun ke saath Nainsaafi ki. Uski toh koi galti thi nahi. Pyaar kabhi force karke nahi kiya jaa sakta. Jaise Ayesha ne kaha tha waise uska gussa hi fir se us par bhaari pad gaya.

Agar us waqt usne gusse karne ki bajay ek baar Arjun ki baat sun li hoti ya fir atleast Naina se clarify kar liya hota toh unki dosti nahi tutti. Lekin usne apne gusse mein hi sab kuch khud hi assume kar liya. aur usi assumption mein Arjun ko kitna hurt kiya. Ab uske dil mein guilt jaagne lagta hai in fact, dubne lagta hai. Arjun se kahi hui har baat uske dimag mein ghumne lagti hai. uska sar chakraane lagta hai.

Ayesha enter karti hai. lekin Sameer apne hi khayalon mein khoya hai. woh sigh karke uske paas jaati hai.

Ayesha: Sam? (no response) Sameer!

Sameer presence mein aata hai: huh...ha?

Ayesha: Arjun sir ke baare mein soch rahe hai?

Sameer: ha...mujhse bahot badi galti ho gayi Ayesha, main kya karu?

Ayesha sigh karti hai: maine dopaher ko aapki side sirf isliye li kyunki main nahi chahti thi ki ab aapke aur Naina ke beech kuch kadvahat aaye par is raite ko aapne hi failaya ab saaf bhi aapko hi karna padega, try and talk to him. pichle kuch dino mein jo bhi kuch hua uske baad mujhe nahi lagta ki woh aapko maaf karenge aur nahi ab hum kuch badal sakte hai lekin aage jo hoga us par aapka control hai. ab aapko hi tay karna hoga ki aapko kya aur kaise karna hai.

Sameer wasn't sure if her words added to his guilt or comforted him but he nodded silently mentally deciding to talk to Arjun the next day. He lay down and pulled the blanket over him. the next day was going to be hard for him.

ETF office-

The moment Sameer entered office, he rushed to Arjun's cabin knowing that he was always the first one to arrive. Ayesha let out a silent prayer for him to not make another mistake and directed her feet to the conference room.

Arjun was sitting in his chair reading a random file to pass his time. A double knock on the door caught his attention. He thought it was Riya for a second since she was the only present in office beside him but then it wasn't her style of knocking.

Arjun: come in

Sameer entered the cabin shocking Arjun. He could only wonder why Sameer was knocking on his door before entering but then recalled the half conversation they had had after Sikandar's encounter. Sameer walked ahead and asked in a gesture if he could sit.

Arjun rolled his eyes: itna bhi professional hone ki zaroorat nahi hai

Sameer sat opposite him: mujhe tumse baat karni hai

Arjun: acha? Mujhe toh pata hi nahi tha

Sameer would usually have been irritated by his sarcasm but not today.

Sameer: tum..uh...kal Naina se mile the?

Arjun felt his heart sinking nevertheless he managed to keep a straight face. All sorts of horrid possibilities started running through his mind.

Arjun(hesitantly): ha

Sameer: Arjun..woh...(lowering his eyes) I'm sorry. (Arjun's eyes widened at his words) Mujhe galatfehmi ho gayi thi. Maine khud se hi soch liya ki tumne use dhoka diya aur isliye woh sab...tumhari koi galti nahi thi aur ab main ye baat jaan gaya hun. I know maine...maine tumhe bahot hurt kiya hai, us waqt bhi aur Sikandar ke case ke waqt bhi, and especially jis din hum Javed ko pakadne gaye the... I was wrong, and I want to make it right. Main...main tumse vaada karta hun ki aage se kabhi tumhe shikayat ka mauka nahi dunga, kabhi tumhe hurt nahi karunga. (taking a deep breath, he rubbed his temple) I'm really sorry, mujhe pura sach pata nahi tha aur na hi maine jaan ne koshish ki... apne gusse ke chakkar mein...aur...(he couldn't understand how to justify himself) main bas tumse maafi maangna chahta hun Arjun. Main galat tha aur meri koi bhi safayi us baat ka justification nahi de sakti isliye...I'm sorry, I really am. (uthte hue) main jaanta hun tumse abhi faisla lena bhi meri galti hogi, tum mujhe maaf karo ya nahi lekin I promise you, aaj ke baad kabhi mujhe apne khilaaf khada nahi paoge.

Saying so he left unable to wait for his rejection. Arjun on the other hand was shell shocked to hear all of this. His heart felt a new excitement, elated at the fact that his name had got cleared and that his friend was ready to have him back. A part of him was also glad that he left. If Sameer had waited a minute longer, Arjun would've probably lost control and hugged him.

A smile broke on his face due to the turn of events. The only person he wanted him by his side right then was his love. He desperately wanted to share the news with her. But then a sudden thought crossed his mind, would she be happy if he rekindled the friendship? After all she had done to keep the two of them at bay?

She would probably kill him if she came to know he forgave the man so easily after all that he had done to him. He gulped down a glass of water and leaned back in his chair thinking what he should do. His head started to ache as thought about the possibilities. Brushing all of it aside Arjun texted Riya to come meet him and waited. Only she could know how she would react. She entered a few minutes later.

Riya: hi!

Arjun: hi...baitho na

Riya raised her eyebrow: abhi? Seriously? Case ka pura paperwork baakhi hai, aisa lagta hai jaise 4 din ki chutti ke baad ab chaar din jahanum mein bitane hai. urgent hai?

Arjun: ha mujhe tumse baat karni hai

Riya came and sat on a chair. Arjun shifted from his main chair to the one near her.

Riya: everything okay?

Arjun: ha...woh Rathore ke saath baat hui meri...as in usne mujhse baat ki

Riya squinted: kis baare mein?

Though he had called her to talk and take advice he wasn't sure how to broach the topic because there was one thing he knew for sure that would never change and that was her anger. So he decided to start strategically.

Arjun: woh...uh...actually jab hum mills par gaye the na? after Sikandar died, tab Rathore ne kaha tha ki...(he explained her in brief about the previous conversation) but fir tum dono ke baare mein pata karne ke chakkar mein humari baat adhuri reh gayi...

Riya mv "obviously, baat toh karni hi thi unko aapse, itna toh mujhe vishwas hai apne thapad ki taaqat par.

Arjun: aur ... Kal...kal (cautiously) Naina mili thi..na? toh um...woh...Rathore...Rathore umm... Maa...maafi maang raha tha (he looked at her unsure of her reaction but she still had a blank face) use...darasal... uski bhi koi galti nahi thi, woh ek miscommunication ho gayi thi toh...uske chakkar mein misunderstanding ho gayi aur isliye ye sab ho gaya

Riya: aur aap mujhse kya chahte hai?

Arjun: woh..uh...main...main kya karu?

Riya: ye sawaal aap mujhse kyun kar rahe hai?

Arjun(cautiously): kyun..ki tum...main jaanta hun tum usse naraaz ho aur...(lowering his eyes) uske saath toh ab mera koi rishta bhi nahi lekin main us rishte ko jod kar main tumhe hurt nahi karna chahta...(gazing back at her) tum mere liye zyaada zaroori ho

Riya looked at him. His eyes clearly showed a hope of getting a friend back and an expectation that she would support him.

She sighed: aap pehla waala proposal accept kar lijiye, maafi ka baad mein sochenge ok?

Arjun's eyes lit up and he hugged her tightly: thank you so much Riya!!! I love you!!

Riya smiled: I love you too

They separated a short while later.

Riya: acha ab main chalti hun

But Arjun caught her hand: kaha jaana hai tumhe? Ruko na mere paas!

Riya freed herself: are bahot kaam hai aaj, saara paperwork baakhi hai..ok bye!

But Arjun caught her hand again:

Abhi na jaao chod kar

ke dil abhi bhara nahi

Abhi na jaao chod kar

ke dil abhi bhara nahi

Riya looked at him surprise. He winked at her. She shook her head and tried to leave again whilst containing her smile but he blocked her way.

Adhuri aas... Chodke

adhuri pyaas chod ke

Jo roz yun hi jaogi to

kis tarha nibhaogi

Ke zindagi ki raahon mein

jawan dilon ki chah mein

Kayi maqam aayenge

Jo humko azmayenge

Riya raised her eyebrow. Arjun smiled sheepishly.

Bura na maano baat ka

yeh pyar hai gila nahi

Nahi, nahi, nahi, nahi

dil abhi bhara nahi

Abhi na jaao chod kar

ke dil abhi bhara nahi

Riya finally gave up and gave into his demands. He smiled victoriously and pulled her into his arms, swaying with her as he changed the song whilst touching her forehead with his:

Mere Bina main Rehne laga hun

Teri hawaon me Behne laga hun

jaane main kaise tera hua hu

mujhe to lagta hai main shayad tere dil ki dua hu

Haan

Tujhko jo paaya ahan

To jeena aaya

He twirled her around and hugged her again wrapping her completely in his arms.

Ab ye lamha theher jaye tham jaye bas jaye hum Dono ke darmiyaan

Pehle se zyaada Main jee raha hu

Jabse main tere dil se juda hu

Raahon pe teri main to chala hu

Tu meri manzil hai tere kadmon pe bas rukne laga hu

Tujhko jo paaya ahan

To jeena aaya

Ab ye lamha theher jaye tham jaye bas jaye hum Dono ke darmiyaan

The End...