Part 2
Radhika went back to California to start afresh , Susheel welcomed her with a fatherly hug and comforted her .."you want to go for ice cream?"
"right now ?"
"yes ..with me!"
Radhika heard Deepika and jumped of joy!!
"Surprise!" Deepika shouted
Radhika hugged her fondly "Deepika! When did you come ?"
"yesterday ?
Deepika was Susheel daughter and Radhika's cousin and both were very close ..She was also close with Vishaka but once her career geared up she left and had her own peers . Deepika owned a cupcake by Text-Enhance">store and loved to bake ..She was out of town for business work but was still in touch with everything going on with Radhika.
Susheel and Deepika made sure Radhika was smiling again and getting her mind of things ..Radhika got contract for her paintings and got busy with that ..Whenever she wanted to talk Deepika was there for her ..
Its been 2 months since Radhika came back from India and felt her energy was back and looked beautiful as ever .Radhika wasn't going to waste her life on being depressed over that Vikram , it was just a big mistake to be with him but now she earned her lesson and wasn't going to repeat it! .
She bought her own place near the beach side and arranged her apartment very elegantly ..She never met Vikram or her sister since she came back from India , she didn't want to see either of them for the moment. She was happier like this with her own life
Sometimes she would think about Dev , not knowing why his thought always came in her head ..
One lovely afternoon Radhika was in her studio with a paint brush in her bun hair and the canvas filled with different colors ..She was working on a painting for a loyal customer who would always buy her paintings..
Deepika came in with coffee "Radhika…guess who came to buy my cup cakes."
"Brad Pitt?" Radhika teased
"no of course not ..Someone more better.."
"Who could be better looking then Brad Pitt?"
"Arjun …"Arjun and Deepika were engaged to each other for 1 month and they both really seemed in love ..They were soon to get married
"oh That's nice .."
"We're going to plan the dates of the wedding and thinking to do it in India ..His whole family is there and Dad too wants it to be there .."
"that would be nice , I could meet Mom and Dad again .."
"…It really nice seeing you smiling and full of life again! but I have a feeling that someone is going to come very soon in your life"
Radhika took a deep sigh "well for now my customer is coming to pick up the painting ."
Radhika was mixing the colors and listening to Deepika talking about Arjun..She just wished she could also find the right person for herself...
The next day Radhika had to meet a customer that wanted to buy her painting . She wrapped it in plastic and put it in a bag . She looked at the address given to her and walked in seeing a quiet bar ..She felt uneasy but took a seat near the counter and ordered a diet coke . She waited for half an hour and the place started getting packed A man sitting next to her was checking her out and she wanted to run from this place but it was starting to get crowded and she could barely move c.The guy leaned close to her and the glass on the counter spilled over her shirt ..She got frustrated and gave the man a stern look …
The bar men gave her napkin ..
"thank you"
She started cleaning her shirt
"Here let me help "the man sitting beside her offered about to wiped her shirt but she moved back ..
"just stay away from me ..!!"
She then felt someone hand on her back
"Is everything ok here.."
Radhika swiftly tuned around only to see Dev ..
"you ?" she asked in surprise
Dev saw the drunk man beside her and gaze him a warning stared "Back off " He warned fiercely ..Radhika didn't know what to say and felt his hand slipping in her hand and guiding her out the bar …
"Are you Mr Purohit ?" It was on this name she received the order for the painting
"Yes ..Dev Purohit ..and you are ..Miss Radhika ?"
Radhika nodded but felt really angry wondering why did he want her to me him at the bar!
"What kind of place did you give me a rendez vous! You know how uneasy I felt stepping in there and that man was creeping me out !"
"I never said to come to this place ..Look at the address carefully , its not this bar I told you to come too it's the one next door .."He pointed at the caf next to it …
Radhika looked at the address and he was right she got mistaken ..She bit her lower lips feeling bad screaming at him
"I'm sorry ..I didn't see the caf ..its seemed like the same building "
"Its ok …"
"But how did you know I was in there ?"
"Well I was waiting for 30 minutes then figured out maybe you got confused and entered the bar instead of the caf ..Then from afar I saw you ." he said boyishly
Radhika didn't know but hearing this made her smile with her cute dimples ..
"what is it ? Why you smiling ?"
"Nothing .."
"How's you feet now?"
Radhika gazed on feeling touched by this , he still remembered her getting hurt
"much better Thank you ..OH! before I forget here .."She forwarded the painting
Dev was taking out his wallet
"oh No no ..please ..just take it ..As a gift "Radhika smiled sweetly
"gift ?'
"hmmm..You did so much for me please ..keep it .."
Dev smiled thankfully "Thanks ..I saw it online and couldn't resist myself , it's a beautiful painting made by a beautiful artist " He said charmingly
Radhika cheeks somehow went pink hearing this .."So you live here?" she changed subject
"Yup , by that beach side …"He pointed on the right
They both started conversation with each other as they walked on the road side ..Dev sensed her behaving little uneasily ..
"Radhika ..are you ok ?"
.
"Its just that ..I smell like beer , the man in the bar spilled it over my shirt .."
Dev felt bad and worried if he wasn't there in time what would have happened to her..
"Come there's a store around the corner .." He held her hand and she followed with a cute smile
"here this one looks good" he passed it to her and she went to change in the back room
"How do you feel now?"
"Much better !"
When she came out they walked out the door "wait I forgot to pay !"
"don't worry about it ..Its taken care of " He winked assuringly
Radhika felt really touched by this , he didn't have too do this ..
"You shouldn't have .."
"Radhika if my babhi finds out that I was with a girl and I let her pay she would strangle me " He teased
Radhika laughed cutely " Well in that case .. I should go pay for it myself "
"what! You really want me to die don't you "
"no of course not .. .." She said with a spark of her innocence
"Then next time I'm with you don't you dare take out your wallet"
Dev smiled seeing her brown eyes blinking
"its getting late ..I should go now .."
"wait ..cant we go for ice cream .."
Radhika looked at his expression as if he wasn't ready to leave her yet ..She couldn't resist seeing the plead in his eyes and accepted ..They were both sitting on the bench watching the sun set at its horizon and felt the warm wind swiveling away ..
Ever since Dev saw Radhika he was yearning to get one glance of her again , he would do anything ..He didn't know why but her images always crossed his heart and wanted to talk to her just once more ..but unfortunately never got the chance ..
Dev glanced at Radhika eating her ice cream like a little kid , he could sit all days gazing at her ..
"this ice cream is good .."
Dev chuckled amused and realized some ice cream over her lips ..
"You have something here.."
Radhika frown her brows touching her face "where ..?"
Dev came closer and touched her lips wiping off the ice cream..Radhika could feel her hear rate accelerating feeling his touch ..
"There ..gone .."
Radhika smiled cutely with her round pink cheeks ..Dev was getting really attracted to her , since the day he met her .
"Your ice cream is melting .."
Dev wasn't that hungry , his appetite left .."
"Can I ask you something personal .."
Radhika felt a little hesitant but then smiled , she didn't know why but her heart was trusting him so fast …
"Did you ..ever love him?"
Radhika didn't know what to answer , she didn't know how love felt like ..
"I'm not sure …to be honest ….No …I was too nave , I thought him giving me flowers taking me out to dinner was something I enjoyed but it was to materialistic ..there was no fond feelings from his side …There was always this emptiness in my heart ..We did spend good moments together but I felt something lacking from his side ..."
"Your handling this very well I must say .."
"The only reason I was heart broken was ..that the person he left me for was my own sister "She said upsettingly " I wasn't really sad for not being with Vikram but feeling a betrayal from my own sister.."
Dev clutched his jaws together thinking about the pain she must have felt .. how could someone blood sister do this! He took a deep sigh
"Think of the flip side ..She took away someone that was useless to you ..If it wasn't for her you would be in much more problems today .."He cleared firmly
Radhikas smiled it was true she should Thank Vishaka for taking that Vikram!
"The past is the past ..I'm starting my life a fresh now , and I never forgot what you told me that day …"She appreciated
"glad that I was usefully .." his eyes gleamed ..
Their was a brief pause "Have you been in love before?" she asked cautiously
Dev chuckled "No ..not really , ...but when it happens ..you will be the first one to know " he winked charmingly
Radhika laughed "I will be really happy for you …"
****
Dev dropped her home but his heart didn't want her to go ..he wanted to see her again ..
"Thank you Dev ..it was a pleasure meeting you again "
"You welcome and Thank you for giving me little bit of your time .."
Radhika gave him a beautiful smile and walked in her apartment ..Dev drove away running his fingers through his hair ..He couldn't believe his silent prayer got answer ..All he asked was to get another glance of her but he got the opportunity to spend few hours with her ..It was true what they said with patience and faith God definitely answers your wish .
When Dev reached home his 4 year old niece ran to him ..
"dev chachU!" she jumped in his arms ..
"Hey Princess ..why aren't you in bed yet ?"
"I was waiting for you .."
He kissed her cheek carrying her to her room ..
"Ariya go brush your teeth.." Mrinalini ordered
"Hey babhi .."
"hey Dev where were you ?"She asked curiously but seeing his boyish grin she understood "a girl ?"
"Mama I already did "Ariya interfere
Mrinalini took Ariya in bed and Dev walked away ..
"Dev ! You just missed the football game" Vivek said getting up from the couch
"I had something more important then the football game .."He said going up in his room
"Mrinalini and Vivek shared a confused look they never saw him act such way .He never missed any football game !
Thank you all for the lovely response and everyone who pressed the Like button 😃..I hope you will like this part also :) Edited by billo77 - 12 years ago
Real Estate
