Ariya FF The lucky charm - Page 21

Originally posted by: plmzaq

Awesome update

Love it

Continue soon

thank you dear

Originally posted by: Shaleensanafan

So so good one at lunch table

Continue soon

Thanks for pm

yeh toh breakfast hai haha

just kidding

thanks alot

Originally posted by: Fanfiction21

Loved it Reading from Riya's pov

Thanks for pm

Continue soon

thank you dear

Originally posted by: Mdmadona

She was unwanted on breakfast table so bad

She wished sam n he was the man of the match lol

When she ll wish arjun yaar

Loved ariya convo at the end

Awesome update

Cont soon

she felt unwanted because she is the only one sitting without hardwork and just luck factor

btw thank you

Originally posted by: ishitadalal

Really Liked the way the story is progressing. Excited to read ariya date. Do update soon.

thanks a lot

hello people kripaya dhyaan de hamari update yaha pesh hai agar thode intrest bache toh padiye aur ha agar acha laga toh feedback deejiye......

Arjun: (instantly) Pick you up in fifteen minutes,

It was seven-thirty in the evening, so I figured going out for dinner. Rinku Chachi waspacking and stuff. We had to fly to Sydney for the next match tomorrow. So shelooked rather amused when I bounded out of the restroom and announced that Iwas going out for dinner with Arjun Rawthe.

She cleared her throat self-consciously and said,

Rinku chachi: Vijay Bhaisaab has sent me here as your caretaker,Riya. Tell me the truth. Where are you going in the night with thisRawthe?

Riya: Uff, we're only going to a restaurant, Chachi, Fullypublic place. We're only friends. Don't you worry.'

But she looked worried as I slipped into a long slinky blackhalter dress and brushed out my hair vigorously. She pursed her lips as Iplumped out mine, narrowed her eyes as I widened mine with kaajal.

Chachi: Tell him to come upstairs,

she said in a slowlyvoice when Arjun rang saying he was in the lobby.

Riya(whispering) : Chachi! Please, nahi, it'll look souncool!'

She shook her head, a formidable little figure in her pastelpink salwar kameez.

Chachi: No, Riya, my mind is made up.

So I sighed and said,

Riya: Uh, Arjun-sir?Can you come upstairs? My aunt wants tomeet you.

He agreed, not sounding too surprised.I glared at RinkuChachi. The doorbell rang and I opened it.Rawthe was leaning against thedoor-jamb, looking dishy in a white tee shirt under a dark blazer. He did a bitof a double take when he saw me - because I was looking good, I hoped, notbecause I was, you know, an over-the-top fashion disaster.

Riya: Come in,( rolling eyes)My Chachi awaits.

He gave my hand an squeeze as he moved past me into theroom.

Arjun: Behave,

I followed him into the room and was totally gobsmacked whenhe approached the resolute pink figure on the sofa.

Arjun : Rinku Chachi? I'm Arjun. Riya's told me so muchabout you.

She was totally floored, of course. Who wouldn't be? By thetime he'd finished telling her that she was my favourite that he'd heard somuch about her rajma pasta, she would have let him take me to dinner absolutelyanywhere in the world.

He got us a deadline of eleven o' clock. She'd have made itlater but he said he had to be up early for net practice the next day. He evensaid we'd be back sooner than eleven! Then he earned her total approval byinsisting I carry a warm wrap with me, if you please. So I had to put on thistotally not-happening hot pink pashmina over my black halter dress.We didn'ttalk much on the way downstairs. I was worried we might run into Shanta Kalraor some of the other journos in the hotel.

The car took off smoothly, obviously the driver knew whereto go. Then, once we'd got our seat belts fastened, Rawthe smiled down at me.

Arjun: I got you a present,

Riya: Really?

He laughed, almost as if he couldn't believe it himself andpulled something out of the inside pocket of his blazer and handed it to me.

Arjun: Look!

It was a little dark in the car but once I'd got thewrapping off I could tell it was a very dainty gold charm bracelet.

Riya: A charm bracelet?

He nodded, smiling, his eyes warm. I didn't quite know whatto say. I just sat there looking at him, at a loss for words.

Arjun: It made me think of you. (normally)

I thought of him going into some fancy jewellery store andlooking at stuff, asking them questions, fingering the bracelets with his leanstrong hands. Picking out something so carefully for me. Wow

Riya: Thank you,

Ajun: I got it from argentina

I held it up to the passing light and looked at it carefully.

Riya: I can tell, See, this one really cute sheep hasargentina tattooed on its bum.'

Arjun: It what?

Riya: AR,

I said a little more loudly, holding up the sheep for him tosee. But Yes. I didn't quite know what to say. I just sat there looking at him,at a loss for words!

'AR,' I said a little more loudly, holding up the sheep forhim to see. But 'Yes.'

Arjun: no other possibilities.

I didn't quite know what to say. I just sat there looking athim, at a loss for words.

Riya: (thinking)AR,

I said a little more loudly, holding up the sheep for him tosee. But even as I did so, a new and thrilling possibility popped into my mind.'Oh,' I said faintly, and then shut up. He was looking at me in totalexasperation.

Arjun: Do you really think AR stands for argentina, Riya?

he said very casually,plucking the bracelet from my suddenly nerveless grasp and putting one armaround me so he could clasp it around my wrist.

Riya: Of course, (my cheeks flaming, fully giving the duhones)It must. argentina is famous for sheep, isn't it?

Arjun: What incredible general knowledge you have,

Riya: Thanks,

He leaned in to murmur into my hair, his voice all deep andgrowly,

Arjun: Does no other possibility present itself to your tinymind?'

I shook my head.

He gave my ear a little nibble.

Arjun: Like,um, people's names for instance?

Riya: umm… People's names...

I repeated faintly.His breath against my ear was destroying my ability to string two coherentwords together.

Riya(naughtily): Um...no.

He let me go, moving away to his half of the car seat.

Arjun: Okay, then it must be Argentina, mustn't it?

Taken aback at this total volte-face, I opened my mouth toargue, and his gaze met mine, challenging me laughingly. He raised an eyebrowquizzically.

Arjun: Well?

Riya: I guess so,

Arjun took me to this lovely Italian pub along the riversidemarket, all warm wood and checked tablecloths and candles stuck into emptybottles of wine. There was a trio of geriatric Italian men, playing string. Thewaitress took my wrap and his jacket, plonked a jug of iced water at our tableand teetered away on her red high heels, leaving us quite alone.

Suddenly feeling idiotically awkward, I poured the waterinto our glasses, admiring my new bracelet as it glinted in the softcandlelight.

He watched me pour, then said, as he reached forward for hisglass,

Arjun: Your Chachi's really nice.

Riya: No, you're really nice, How sweetly you spoke to her,you remembered all that stuff I'd told you about her.

He said, looking steadily into my eyes,

Arjun: I remember everything you've ever said to me. Even thenasty things.

Okay, that was embarrassing. Some of the things I'd said to Someof the things I'd said to him would haveto classify as pretty mean.

Riya: Hey, I was totally prepared to like you the first timewe met, but you were so horrid to me.

He raised his eyebrows.

Arjun: When? When you borrowed my ball pen to fake a Nikeswoosh on Rawal's shoes?

I shook my head impatiently.

Riya: Not then. Later. When you said I was stupid forlighting rockets.

Arjun: You were stupid,

he said, putting his glass down and glaring at me.

Arjun: I thought I was hallucinating when I looked out of mywindow! There was this under-sized capering creature lighting industrial-sizedbombs with tiny little matchsticks. You were tossing your head crazily andsinging too. Weren't you singing, Riya?

I shook my head indignantly. Of course I'd been singing.Bachna ae haseeno , actually, but there's no way I was going to admit to it.

Riya: No, I wasn't,

He looked at me, one eyebrow cocked.

Arjun: Are you sure?

Riya: Yes, and then, just when I started to like you, youswept the boys away before Neelo and I could get our shots!

Arjun: You were so Corporate that day, Giving theover-all-in charge-of-everything ones, still smelling of crackers and gunsmoke, looking about four years old...

Riya: And you were giving the I-am-the-Indian-captain ones, Lookat me, Ye Mighty, and be afraid.

Arjun (choked) : What rubbish! I did no such thing!

Riya: Of course you did! And the next day you totallymangled me under the big Bong tree! "Do me a service and lay off myboys!" And then, of course, in my hotel room you were so...

Arjun: Riya,

I piped down and took a sip from my glass. His hand reachedfor mine across the table.

Arjun: I'm really sorry for saying what I did that day inthe room, okay?

Riya: And I'm really sorry for what I said to you too.

His face got this odd shuttered look and he said, shrugginga little,

Arjun: Well, what you said was true..

Riya: (earnestly) I'm sure you're the best captain ever,Arjun. This is your World Cup

Arjun (smiling): Shall we order?

It was a magical evening, in a tantalizing, indescribablesort of way. We talked but nothing really got said, you know? I never asked himwhy he'd got me a bracelet when he seemed to have such a bevy of admiringgirlfriends. I never asked him why he hadn't kept in touch over the last twomonths.

And he, well, he told me a lot about his school days and hisfirst cricket camp but we didn't discuss the World Cup, or my Lucky Charmstatus. I did tell him all about my bungee jump though. He refused to believeI'd done it, so I told him I'd show him the video. I could tell he wasimpressed.

Riya: Is this a very expensive restaurant?

I asked him after theold lady had taken our order.

Arjun: Depends on what you consider expensive, It costs morethan two plates of aalu tikki, definitely, Probably doesn't taste half as goodthough. You really are a cheap date,Riya.

He put one large warm hand in the small of my back andpropelled me on to the dance floor. The music was slow, I slid my hands intothe pockets of his jacket, snuggled up against his soft white tee shirt, and,remembering how I'd rated his torso biteable and chuckled.

Arjun: What's so funny?

He pulled me a little closer and buried his nose into myhair.

Arjun: Gun smoke,(inhaling) Definitely.

After we return, He held my hand and said,

Arjun: I'm not sure when we'll be able to do this again.

Huh? What was that? He pushed his hair back from hisforehead and said, looking out through the window

Arjun: I can't - none of us can - afford any distractionsjust now. There's too much at stake. After all, I've spent my entire lifepreparing for this...

He turned to look at me searchingly ,I somehow managed tosuppress the urge to say it's just cricket, you know and noddedunderstandingly.

Riya: I get it, I understand.

Arjun: I knew you would.(looking relieved)See you then.

Riya(nodded cheerfully) : See you.

He drove away. I showed her and

Rosh: Riya, Give me! Spill!

Riya: Rosh,please, let me just juice it all on my own alittle?'

Rosh: No way! Don't be selfish! Love what you're wearing, bythe way. You look so good! That pink pashmina is a touch of genius!

Riya: Really?

Rosh: Sure, Rawthe finally called, did he? I thought youwere going to do yourself an injury or something last night.

Riya: I called him actually

Rosh : Details! Who cares who called whom, the point is youguys spoke!

I just held up my wrist.

Rosh: He gave you that! Oh my God! Arjun-Riya!

she shrieked, happily articulating for the whole hotel to hearwhat I'd been unable to the entire evening.

I slept in late the next morning, and woke up only when myphone beeped. Ireached for it sleepily, held it up and read, much to my horror

Message: Not good, Gaalu, you're in the TOI hugging a nangaPathan. Baap livid. Think up something good.

My instant reaction was to switch my phone off. I didn'twant to talk to my dad till I'd seen the damn picture, and maybe not even then.It had been taken in the theme park. I was clutching on to Shree, laughing, myhair totally wild. He had his arms around my waist and was looking down at me,smiling very fondly. It was a two-hour flight to Sydney.

Rosh: Look, that's their captain.

I turned to look at him curiously. So this was the guyeveryone was sure would take the World Cup home. He seemed okay, a littlerumpled and sleepy actually, and was asking the stewardess for a blanket. Hehad a long, lumpy kind of face, short, sticky straw-coloured hair and slightlyboiled-looking big blue eyes. The guy sitting next to him was pretty cutethough. I asked Rosh if he was in the team too.

Rosh: Sacchi, Riya, don't you know anything? He's their starbatsman, and the wicketkeeper too.

Of course, we were talking in Hindi, but they must havecaught the essence of what we were saying because the good-looking dude flashedus a quick grin before he went back to talking to the captain. I took a sportsmagazine

Rosh was asleep and Rinku Chachi and Armaan were engrossedin cartoons behind me,

I read the article which mentioned about robin rawal’sthought of becoming a captain. I hadn't known that Robin Rawal, theshoe-stealer, had been hoping to be made skipper. But then, I didn't knowanything anyway. But why had Rawthe - who was both 'strong and savvy',according to Shanta - picked out such a troublemaker to be part of his WorldCup squad?

Rosh: Your boyfriend isn't all powerful, you know, There'ssomething called a Board of Selectors. They have a say too, and sometimes, ifthe captain or the coach doesn't like it, he just has to lump it. Arjun wasselected as captain after a major slugfest last year, and Rawal's been around awhile, he's cosy with a lot of the selectors. In fact, if Jogpal Lohia had beenIBCC chief then, he'd probably have picked Rawal, not Rawthe.

Rinku Chachi's phone rang the moment she switched it onafter we landed. I winced and waited for her to hand it to me. It has to be mydad, but lucky enough it’s a wrong number.

Reception: Oh, Miss ree-yaaa, we're holding a message foryou;

I opened it, and found it was a really polite note fromJogpal Lohia, asking me - and my family - to have dinner with him that evening.

Rinku : About time, he's been neglecting you a little,\

Riya: don't youthink? But you were so cool with Arjun yesterday,

Chachi: He's a young boy, and that was my duty, you know,Riya. I promised Vijay Bhaisaab I would look after you properly. But thisdinner, all those forks and spoons, baap re, I can't come. You and Roshini go.

And so it was settled that Rosh, armaan and me had a datewith the Big L that evening.

The three of us reached Jogpal Lohia's hotel a little late.Anyway,the moment we got out of the car, this minion in a dark blazer came up andsaid,

Man: riyaji? Please come,

He took us to asuite. The suite was full of ornate Indonesian furniture, with a photo ofLingnath Baba on one wall, which clashed horribly with the sweeping view of theglass and chrome city from the window.

Man; Please be seated,Sir will be with you shortly.

When he vanished Rosh giggled, really loudly - one of thosesnorty, through-the-nose giggles.

Riya: Shut up! (murmured)

Armaan: Shut up, Mummy,

Red-faced and contrite she nodded, and then looked up, eyesfully round. Armaan and I both turned to look at what had just walked throughthe door. I'd read articles that had describedJogpal Lohia as 'vulpine', so I'dimagined him to be like Amitabh Bachchan in Sarkar.

Jogpal: Riya!How are you?

Riya: I'm fine, Uncle.

Jogpal: So! Ladies! How are you? How are you findingAustralia? Are you enjoying?

Yes, we assured him enthusiastically.

Rosh and riya: We love cricket! Thanks for sponsoring ourtrip.'

He started telling story and it was pretty interesting,actually. He was a self-made man, he told us. He had spent his childhoodplaying cricket and looking after his uncle's grocery shop.

Jogpal: my wife is my good luck, ladies, Everything hasturned to gold since I met her. Business went up and up, my sons look after itnow and I am free to pursue my first love, cricket.

Rosh: So were you a batsman, Uncle?

Jogpal Lohia (curtly): What batsman-shatsman!' he demanded.'I was all-rounder. Batting, balling, fielding - I was good in all.

He turned to rosh

Jogpal Lohia:Roshini, you like music?

It was rather unexpected. We'd been brushing up on ourcricket GK in anticipation of meeting him. We both nodded, very relieved,blithely unaware of the horrible trap he was setting for us.

Both riya and rosh together: Sure, We love music.

And then he started to play. Very badly. Very, very badly.And if that wasn't enough, he started singing too. We clapped enthusiastically.We acted actually. Jogpal smiled modestly and took a delicate sip of water.

Lohia: Arrey, by the way, your papa phoned me today, Riya.

I almost spilt my drink. I'd been nodding politely,wondering how quickly we could leave, and this remark caught me off-guard.

Rya:How come?

I asked, with a sinking heart, but I knew already. My dadhad basically bypassed Rinku Chachi and rolled out the big guns. Or maybe sheknew. Hey that’s the reason she is not here.

With a numb feeling of inevitability, I watched him pull outthe photo of the nanga shree and me from a file and put it down on the table.Then he looked at me and then inquiredmildly

Lohia: What is this?

Riya: It's Shreeand me. So?

Lohia:So? So? That's what your papa wants to know,I toldhim, Colonel Saab, Riya is like my daughter too. I told Shree also ki..

Riya: You spoke to Shreeabout this?

Lohia:Then what?'

Riya(m.v): Oh my God, how horribly embarrassing!

Lohia: But, bacche, have I not been a good host? Are you notstaying in the best hotels? Three members of your family are travelling with you!Why you're doing all this?

Riya: All what? I haven't done anything! And as you rightlysaid, three people are travelling with me. It's their job to look after me -not yours!

Lohia: But it is also your papa's job, And he requested Ifind youand connect you on the phone to him so that you both can talk.'

Oh my God. I can't believe that my dad would gang up withthis, this...Lohia on me. Rinku Chachi... she knew too. Only Rohan was on myside. I knew it had been a bad idea to put my phone off! I stood there, smokinggently, as Lohia punched the familiar number of the house in Karol Bagh on hisfancy cellphone.

Lohia: Haan, Colonel Saab? Riya wants to talk to you.

And passed it to me.

Riya Hi, Dad

'Riya.' He sounded angry, anxious, affectionate, all at thesame time. He even sounded, I thought, embarrassed.The moment I heard hisvoice, I felt terribly homesick. I knew exactly where he was standing, in thepillared veranda, speaking on the cordless phone.

dadL: Why aren't you using that new phone I gave you?

I felt instantly guilty, remembering how sweetly he'd givenit to me at the airport, and how good I'd promised to be. I mumbled somethingabout switching it off for the flight to Sydney and forgetting to put it onafterwards.

Dad: I called Rinku a million times when I couldn't getthrough to you, but she's such a coward...she just kept saying wrong number,wrong number! Must've seen that photo, I suppose.

I felt a sudden surge of affection for my Rinku Chachi.

Riya: Uh, Dad, the photo.... It's nothing, kuchh nahi, okay?

Dad: If it was all so innocent, why have you been avoidingmy calls?

Riya: I haven't, It's just that I haven't figured out how touse that new phone properly yet....Then as calmly as I could, I told him how Ihad gone bungee jumping just before the picture was taken. That's why I waslooking so excited and hanging on to Shree so animatedly.

Dad: Bungee jumping?

Riya: Dad, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Relax, I'm fine, nothinghappened.... They even took a video, I'll mail it to you, okay? I'm not seeingShree or anyone else. You can ask Lohia Uncle. Honest!

I was fibbing, of course, there was no way I was going totell him about my 'AR' bracelet and all the close dancing I'd been up to, orhow good Shree's gorgeous washboard abs had felt under my fingers. Then To calmhim down, I started telling him about Sydney and the match and our fancy hotel.

Dad: Okay, okay, don't you try and manage me,And keep yourphone on, I want to be able to get through to you at a moment's notice, sunatumne?'

Riya: Haan, haan, Dad,Love to Eppa and Meeku.

He muttered something in reply and hung up. Feelingextremely stupid, I walked across the room and handed the phone back to Lohia. Theevening ended pretty soon after that.

Rohan woke me up at five-thirty in the morning, calling fromPoonch.

Rohan: You alive, soldier?

Riya: Yes, Thanks for the warning.

Rohan(shouted): Anytime.

Riya: And listen, just for the record, there's really nothinggoing on between Shree and me.

Rohan: Never thought there was! Now what about the otherguy? You know, Kaptaan Saab? Don't bullshit me, now, I know you like him,Gaalu.

Riya: Well...(I giggled happily, looking at the pretty goldbracelet on my wrist) it seems he likes me too!

There was absolute silence at the other end; just the windwhistling through the mountains of Poonch. I'd just started worrying that aPakistani sniper had put a bullet through my brother. I told him all about mydinner date in Brisbane. Well, not all, but most of it.

Rohan: Gaalu, look I've gotta go, but listen, ask yourselfwhy this guy's being so nice all of a sudden? He's surrounded with hot babesconstantly, why's he training his sights on you? He's a good captain, I'llgrant him that. Maybe sucking up to you is part of hiswinning strategy. Fairenough. But keep your defences up. Guys keep using you all the time - and Idon't want you to become collateral damage, okay?

Riya: Rohan, listen,

I started to say, buthe'd hung up, leaving me absolutely shattered. I sat down on the loo floor,thinking, Oh thanks, Rohan. Obviously, I am so damn ordinary, so damn boring,so damn ugly that no one could possibly like me just for myself. There wouldhave to be an ulterior motive, wouldn't there? And thanks for reminding me I'vebeen a dumpee twice before. As if I've ever forgotten it....

The first time hadn't been so bad, actually, I'd come outwith nothing more than a slightly bruised ego and a real appreciation for heavymetal music. (The dumper in question had played bass guitar in a DelhiUniversitycalled Hymen Busters and had dumped me for the husky-throated lead singer.In his breaking-up speech he'd confessed he was only going out with me becauseDad had let the band practise on our terrace.) But the second time - that hadbeen bad.

My second dumper, with his sexy Bangalore drawl, his HubbaBubba grapefruit-flavoured deep kisses and his brooding intellectual brow haddestroyed me utterly when he wrote to me from Columbia University (where he'dgot a scholarship basically because G. Singh had pulled a lot of strings) thathe felt the two of us should give each other 'space'. We'd been going out forfour years. I'd met him at a college social, he'd just walked up and saidhello, we'd slow-danced to Enrique Iglesias's 'Hero' and then sat on thecollegechatted for hours. He was super-bright, had maxed the CAT and gone toAhmedabad for his MBA. (Unlike me. I'd got mine from some shady place inGhaziabad.) I should have seen it coming, really. After all, anybody with an IQthat high was sure to work out that once the scholarship came through, he hadno further need for a loser like me.

And now Rohan was implying that Arjun Rawthe was dumpernumber three - my third tryst with a destiny that just couldn't seem to getenough of rubbing my chubby face into the mud.

I brooded as I showered and brushed my teeth, thinking resentfullythat Rohan didn't know what he was talking about. He had no notion how muchintegrity Arjun had, what a straight guy he was. Why, he'd tried so hard tokeep me away from the team table before finally capitulating afterthe IPLbenefit match!

Breakfast this time was at the Sydney Cricket Ground itself.We drove into Moore Park by 7:15 and the place was still pretty quiet.Actually, I was starting to miss India, where the World Cup fever was wayhigher than here. In India, Durga pooja pandals had the goddess decked out inthe Indian uniform - bats, balls and stumps in every arm - a good three monthsbefore the event started. The boyslooked almost ready to leave when I showed up. They grinned at me and shiftedto make room. The sofas had been moved out of the way and the tables pushedtogether to form a long one.

Rawal: Not fair, huh? Riya won't really be at our table.'

Wow, he was being friendly. I gavehim a rather-too-brightsmile out of sheer surprise and he responded with a constipated one of his own.I wriggled in between Shivnath and Sam, even though there was a little spacenext to Shree. He didn't seem to notice though. He was looking really intenseas he chewed furiously. Rawthe, of course, was at the top of the table. He looked up, flashed a grin, and I smiledback, thinking what a suspicious piece of shit my brother was....

Shiv and Sam, usually so animated, were very quiet. It was avery big match and they must have all been stressed. But this time, I didn'tfeel so resentful, or like an intruder. Ithink they had been waiting for me to show up, because the moment I'd downedone cup, they were ready to go.

Riya: Umm, best of luck, guys,' I said through a mouthful oftoast as they all wriggled out from behind the sofas and started grabbing theirstuff to leave.

Everybody smiled at me, some of them said thanks, some justslouched away, like they were embarrassed to say anything at all. But my trioof diehard fans - Sam, Shivee and Shree- grabbed me one at a time in a bearhug. I hugged all three back, fervently wishing them victory.

Rawthe caught my eye as he left the hall. He had a strangeexpression on his face. He didn't look upset but definitely wasn't happyeither. I smiled at him, but he didn't return the smile, just nodded .

Julius Caesar lost the toss. Rawthe decided to bat, and Irelaxed, thinking that the charm was working. Thank you, God.

When Sam and Shivee walked onto the field the Niceday guysstarted this huge Mexican wave.

Commentators : And here comes the first delivery from the Paddingtonend...

Rinku Chachi and I tuned out after abit, because it was soslow, though half the people in the box were oohing and 7aahing about howstylish the boys were. The only type of cricket I can understand or enjoy iswhen people hit lots of boundaries or get lots of wickets.

I turned. I saw Karan,looking very grumpily looking. Ayesha, my pal from Dhaka, looking drop-deadgorgeous as usual. Her hair was super straight, her clingy clothes were in yummyice cream colours and, as she enveloped me in a massive hug, I discovered that shesmelled divine. I introduced her to Rinku Chachi who was thrilled to bits, ofcourse, and the two of them settled down next to us.

Ayesha: So? How are you?

Riya: I'm fine, And how have you been?

Ayesha: Oh, I'm great, Life is fab! But what about you,Riya? So much has happened since I saw you last, you're a real star! And I lovewhat you're wearing!

I found this extremely flattering of course, because, hello,in Dhaka, all she'd done was fuss with my clothes and my skin and tell me toget my hair straightened.

Riya: Thanks, Coming from you, that's a huge compliment!

Karan rolled his eyes rudely and said,

Karan: Riya, c'mon let's grab a couple of milkshakes.

I opened my mouth to tell him that they'd serve us righthere, but something about the look he gave me made me change my mind.

Karan: Okay, come on.

The moment I got up, Rinku Chachi and Ayeshamoved closertogether and started chatting animatedly. Karan and I grabbed a couple of milkshakes and found a cosy place to sit, higher upin the stall.

Karan: What was that?

Riya: What?

Karan: That!

He rolled his eyesand gesticulated towards the back of Ayesha's gloriously re-bonded head.

Riya: Ayesha? But you looked so pally, aren't you guysfriends?'

Karan: No way, yaar, She did one still shoot with me threeyears ago and ignored me completely in Dhaka. But today she renewed ouracquaintance with gusto. I was flattered till I figured out all she wanted wasto hook up with you.

Riya: With me? Yeah, maybe, we had fun in Dhaka...

Karan: Or maybe with the Boys in Blue...through you,

Riya: But she knows all of them, She doesn't need me.

Karan( frowned): Use your head, kiddo, She broke up withthat Nivi guy recently, she's obviously here toattempt a reconciliation.Anyway, why do I care? I'm screwed anyway, Riya.

Riya: What's wrong?

I asked, stealing alook at the closest screen.This match was way too slow, it was starting toscare me. I started muttering Please God, Please God under my breath, onlyhalf-listening to Karan. His Nike film had no takers.

Karan: I'd made it on spec, Riya, you are more famous thansania.

Of course I was thrilled to be more popular than Sania. ButI didn't let it show on my face as I made sympathetic noises, genuinely feelingbad for Karan who was a good bloke and passionate about his work.

Riya: So what are you going to do with the ad?

Karan: Put it in my showreel, I guess, And keep shootingstills. What else to do?

Karan and I looked upto see that one of Shivnath's 'stylish' shots had ended in a run-out. Sam wasout and Laakhi was the new man in. We won, in the end. I, on the other hand,would not have been able to show my face if they lost. My days of beingconsidered the lucky charm would be so over. Anyway, as I'd received no moreLove N messages I was at a loose end thatevening, we all had dinner down at thenice poolside restaurant at our hotel and got into bed early.

I was rummaging through my rucksack in search of anail-cutter when I came upon my passport and flicked through it, feeling verywell travelled now that I had an Australia stamp besides my Bangladesh and Baliones. But something seemed to be missing. I flipped through the pages again,more frantically this time.

Riya: Where's that match day after tomorrow, Chachi?

Chachi: Hain? Beta, Auckland keh rahe the na?'

That's right, the India-Bermuda match was in Auckland, whichwas in New Zealand, which was the other country hosting this shindig DownUnder. But where was my visa to travel there? I told Rinku Chachi that Iseemedto have lost my New Zealand visa and she started beating her breastimmediately. 'Hain? Ab kya karen? I've got my visa...Riya, check properly!' Shescrambled out of bed, her kaftan riding way up her chubby legs and fished outher own passport from her shiny purse. She opened it and showed me.

Chachi: Look! Call mr. lohia

I grabbed the phone to call him, but then thought it was toolate in the night to call. Besides, I didn't want him to think father anddaughter were getting trigger-happy with his phone number. He was probablydoing late night something.

Chachi: Kya Riya? Phone karo na.

Instead, I checked the passport three more times, extremelyslowly, rubbing each page between forefinger and thumb to make sure theyweren't stuck together. No New Zealand visa.So then I decided I could phoneArjun, without being labelled either desperate or distracting.

I scrolled down to A and called him, my heart beating hard,partly with worry about the visa and partly with excitement about speaking tohim. The phone rang for a long time. If it hadn't been a bonafide emergency,I'd have hung up. But I waited, pacing the floor in my baggy pajamas andfinally, he picked up.

Arjun: Uh...hello?

He sounded supersexyand super sleepy. My toes curled up in my bathroom slippers immediately.

Riya: Hi, Listen, I know it's late and you said you don'thave time for me but I have a real problem. There's no New Zealand visa in mypassport.

He took a while to grasp that. There was a long pause andthen he said,

Arjun: Are you sure?

Riya: Absolutely. I checked every single page. Rinku Chachihas one though.

he groaned, sounding like he was throwing off the sheets andswinging himself out of bed. I found myself wondering what he waswearing...linen pajama bottoms with nothing on top, I decided. Creamy white.And the bed would have creamy white sheets too. My heart did a lazy belly flopat the thought. Then I realized he was saying something.

Arjun: Send it down to Reception.

Riya: What?

Arjun: The passport, Riya! Are you sure you're awake and notdreaming up this whole thing?

Riya: I'm awake,

Arjun: Good, I'll get Jogpal's guys to pick it up rightaway. Maybe they can swing your visa by tomorrow afternoon, okay?

So I trundled down to Reception, handed over my passport,then came back and reported to Arjun again - happy to have an excuse to speakto him.

Riya: dropped it off,

Arjun: Good girl,

An awkward pause followed. I desperately wanted to keep himon the phone but couldn't think of anything to say. Finally, he said, and Icould tell that he was smiling,

Arjun: So, how was your musical soiree the other night?'

Thrilled that he wanted to talk, I replied, giggling alittle,

Riya: You knew? You could've warned me. I would've said Ihated music! The guy's a lunatic!

Arjun: Not really, He's actually sharp as a whip. Do youknow why he sports that huge bushy beard?

Riya: Why? (not at all interested in the answer, but hey,that was hardly the point. Arjun Rawthe wanted to talk to me, who cared whatthe conversation was about?)

Arjun: Guess,( his tone intimate.)

Riya: Because he's hideously disfigured?

I answered, rather huskily in a daring attempt to sound sexy.

Arjun: What? I didn't catch that.

I sighed and repeated the question in my normal voice.

Riya: Because he'shideously disfigured?

Arjun: No, He used to be clean-shaven till '84, but when allthose riots happened after Mrs Gandhi died and Sikhs everywhere were shavingtheir beards to avoid being persecuted, he grew one, to show solidarity withtheir cause.

Riya: He sounds nuts,

I said a littleresentfully, thinking about how he'd ganged up against me with my dad.Arjuncarried on like he hadn't heard me;

Arjun: Then he shavedit off and was clean-shaven for a long time. But the day after 9/11, he wasliving in the States then, he started growing it again.

Riya: To show solidaritywith the Taliban?

Arjun: No, not really. To show he's not intimidated by theAmericans, I think. He's always getting stopped at international airports bySecurity. Sometimes he carries littlebooks in Arabic script just to give them ascare. He's quite a character, Jogpal.

Riya: Jo Lo you mean, Because he's a singer and all. Kind oflike J. Lo, only with a bigger but

Arjun: He's a good guy. Just eccentric as hell.

There was another long pause. I racked my brain forsomething intelligent to say, but all I could think was: Please don't saygoodnight! Not yet!

Arjun: By the way, the Indian officials are very sure they'dgot you a visa for New Zealand in Delhi. They suspect somebody tore a page outof your passport.

Riya: What! But why? But who...?'

Arjun: I don't know. Maybe they are just trying to cover uptheir own negligence, but I don't think so. Where d'you generally keep yourpassport?

Riya: In my red rucksack,

Arjun: In that thing? Then it could've been anybody. You'realways leaving that sack around.

Riya: It's not a sack,

I protested. Though Iwas secretly rather pleased that he knew what my bag looked like. Arjun Rawtheknows what my bag looks like, I thought dreamily. He knew I was careless withit. He was bossing me around at four in the morning, topless and tousled.

Arjun: You're a very careless girl, Riya.

Riya: No, I'm not,

Arjun: Yes, you are,

I loved the way he sounded, but my hackles rose a little. Imanaged to pull my wits together enough to say, fairly composedly,

Riya: Look, I'm really sorry that I won't be able to comewith you guys to Auckland.

Sounding just a little taken aback at my change in tone, hesaid,

Arjun: Hey, it's cool, stay here and do some sightseeing.

Riya: You'll be okay, na?'

Arjun: I think we can manage this one without you, Riya.'

Riya(m.v): Hello, yousaid the same thing to me in Dhaka too, and you lost. To Bermuda only.Remember?

But I think he heard me anyway.His voice got just a littledistant as he said

Arjun: Gotta get some sleep now. Goodnight.And I didn't haveany option but to say lightly, albeit with a sinking heart,

Riya: Okay. Goodnight, Arjun.

…..

Shree woke me up the next morning sounding slightly panickyand wanting to be 'blessed' before he caught the flight.

Riya: Of course you'll win, Shree

I said, irritated. Iwas a little weirded-out by the way the conversation with Arjun had ended lastnight. I hung up, frowning a little, hating to admit it to myself even, the waythe ugly, world-famous Indian Crab Mentality had suddenly risen up andtightened its slimy pincers around my erstwhile patriotic heart.I had wishedShree very half-heartedly. Because a certain part of me wanted him to lose. Letme be absolutely clear. Not lose his virginity. Not lose some weight. Lose thematch. I wanted India to lose the match.

Why? Because - and this is pretty gruesome stuff to knowabout oneself - if they won they would start thinking they didn't need me anymore.

No more special status.

No more Agarbatti contract.

No more Arjun Rawthe.So much for being a patriotic girlwhose whole family had served in the army and whose uncle had got a Mahavir Chakra in the '71 war.

It was in this sorry, schizophrenic state of mind, that Isat down in front of the TV to watch the match with Rosh, Rinku Chachi andArmaan.

Beautiful part dear

Loved it

Thanks for the PM

Continue soon ☺

Nice one

Update soon

Thanks for pm

aye pilla finally

arjun riya's date was dreamy

and arjun is soo cute , humble too

and riya toh ek dum shaitaan

she wanted india to loose oh noo

update soon

thanks for pm

Awesome update

Love it

Continue soon