Hi guys. ..I have been ill. ..Hence the delay. ..I have actually shortened the chapter. ...so some dose of Swadarsh left for the next update. ..hope you like it
CHAPTER 3
Adarsh looked at the screen of the laptop again. No use. He just couldn't get back to work. All thanks to Swadheenta Ramakrishnan. He had least expected to see her again. He had been thrilled to see her again. Now back in his office couldn't get her out of his head. After all she was the only girl Adarsh Sinha had liked in all these years. He still hadn't forgotten a single detail about his brief encounter with Swadheenta years ago at Shraddha's wedding. He leaned onto his chair and closed his eyes.
*****Flashbacks * * * * * * *
Adarsh roamed around bored. I should have stayed at home, he thought as he looked around . There were so many people around and yet he was bored. Not that he wasn't social but he didn't know most people here . This was the first time he had come to Chennai and he didn't understand a word in Tamil. Moreover he knew only a few of the guests present.
He couldn't help wish he had just not agreed to accompany Mom and Bhabhi. It was all because of Shraddha and Akshay. Shraddha was his classmate and family friend. Akshay was his mom's best friend's son. So when they were told that the wedding was being held in the couple's hometown Chennai, Mom had insisted that someone should attend the wedding. Dad was too busy , Jai bhai was on an official trip and Abhay had classes. He himself had just cleared his Civil service exams and was free. So he had offered to accompany the ladies. But now he was bored.
He looked around again as he moved backwards and collided with someone. The next thing he saw was flowers flying all around. Flowers falling from the plate she had been holding. She herself was now picking up the plate and the flowers . He couldn't see her face veiled by her hair. She was saying something, which sounded like scolding , in Tamil.
She lookedat him and he couldn't take his eyes off hers. She looked so beautiful. He smiled unaware of himself.
"Paithiyama onkalukku? Evalo nerama kathrein. Sirichukitte irukkenke. " (are you crazy? I am shouting for a long time and you are smiling. " ) she asked.
He didn't understand a word but he knew she was offended. Yet he couldn't help smile at her cuteness.
" Accha. Gussa bahut aata hai aapko. Par gusse mein bhi cute lagti hai. " He said smiling thinking she hadn't understood .
" Kya kaha aapne? " she asked .
He looked shocked. What was he thinking? Just because she spoke Tamil didn't mean she didn't know Hindi.
" I was saying sorry. "He tried to say.
"Tum ladke saare ladkiyon ko idiots maante ho? " she asked.
Before he could reply Shraddha came over to them.
"Hi Adarsh. Meet my cousin Swadheenta Ramakrishnan. Delhi law college mein padaai kar rahi hai. Aur Swadheenta, yeh Adarsh Sinha hai. Mera school friend. Abhi civil service exams clear kiya hai isne. " Shraddha said introducing them as they greeted each other with a polite hi.
Adarsh noticed that she seemed relaxed and amused after the introduction.
She excused herself and headed to get more flowers when a man stopped her. He couldn't make out what they were saying but he seemed to be scolding her. Shraddha told him it was Swadheenta ' s Appa. He was telling her that it was irresponsible of her to drop the flowers. Shraddha went to them and intervened telling him it was an accident . The man left after telling Swadheenta to be a bit more careful.
As soon as Shraddha left the place Adarsh went to her and apologised.
" Its ok. I know you didn't do it on purpose. " She told him smiling.
" Haan par daath toh padi na. Sorry. Will you have coffee with me. "He asked.
He was surprised at himself. He had asked a girl out for coffee! ! Thank god Abhay wasn't around.
"Wah. Chance pe dance? Mujhe coffee nahin peena. " She said smiling and left.
*******(Present ) *******
That smile haunted him still. Beckoning. Mischievous. He had spent the entire day thinking of her just like today. He remembered their encounters.
******Flashbacks * * * * * *
It was night. And a beautiful one. While the parents hadn't allowed a bachelor party, they had allowed the youngsters to have a bonfire and games. Shraddha and Akshay had invited him and Bhabhi too. He now sat near the pool with a slight headache thanks to loud music. He felt someone coming towards him. He turned back and saw her coming. She was looking behind her worried as if something was bothering her. When she caught sight of him she smiled . He got up and went to her.
"Yahaan kya kar rahi ho? " he asked.
" Headache. I am not the party type. " She said smiling.
" Same here. "He said and continued " Waise coffee peene se headache kam ho jaata hai. "
She raised her eyebrows and smiled.
"I don't want coffee. " She said leaving.
Adarsh smiled looking at her. It was then that he noticed that a boy was looking him. Before he could see him properly he ran away.
The next day he saw her during various rituals but never got a chance to talk to her.
The next day both the families were going to visit a famous temple. Adarsh was going to leave with his mom and Bhabhi but Shraddha asked him to accompany her. He was waiting for her in the car when Swadheenta brought her. He couldn't take his eyes offSSwadheenta. She was dressed in a traditional half saree with traditional jewellery . She looked like a princess who had walked out of a book. He smiled at her but she looked away. As Shraddha got into the car, Swadheenta went back to take something. He tried to talk to her but she left in a haste after giving him a killer smile. He tried to leave behind her but caught sight of her talking to the boy who Adarsh had seen last night.
"Woh ladka kaun hai? " Adarsh asked Shraddha.
" Swadheenta ka bhai. Actually uske purane neighbours ka beta hai. They are very close. So she says Asad is her brother. "Shraddha said.
Once Swadheenta returned they left for the temple. Everyone was waiting for them and took Shraddha inside the temple while Swadheenta and Adarsh were told to bring the prasad and gifts from the car. As they were taking it Adarsh felt someone standing close to him. He turned around just in time to see a man trying to steal his wallet. He caught the man's hand. Realising that he was caught the man tried to make an eescape. Adarsh tried to restrain him and the man pulled out a knife. Adarsh held on and the man attacked him injuring his hand slightly. Before he could strike again, he fell to the ground while Adarsh looked confused. Swadheenta had hit him with a stick . People who had gathered helped restrain him and took him to the station.
" Are you ok. "Swadheenta askasked looking at his hand.
He nodded taking out his handkerchief .She took it from him and tied it around his injured palm.
" Thanks. Tum nahin aati toh problem ho jaati. Waise ek thank you coffee toh pee sakti ho. " He said smiling.
" Tumhari ghar mein coffee nahin milta hai kya? Chup chaap andar chalo. " She said smiling as she went into the temple.
Adarsh took the last plate and went up the stairs calling her when he noticed her brother peeping from behind a wall. Adarsh smiled at him but the boy left again.
That evening a sangeet function was conducted. Adarsh was taken by surprise when he saw Swadheenta among the group of girls from the bride's side who were dancing. He sat mesmerised watching her. Though he himself wasn't much of a dancer he could say she was rather good at it.
Towards the end of the function he was looking for her to tell her how good she was on the stage. He saw her standing with her father. He was about to turn around when he overheard a bit of their conversation. Notthat he understood anything but she was crying and her father seemed angry. He saw her father leave while she sat there alone away from the commotion. He didn't know why but he went to her and sat down opposite her. She looked at him curiously. They sat silently for a few minutes.
"Kuch laao tumhare liye? "He asked.
" Coffee nahin. " She said smiling.
He smiled and got her a glass of water. Then once again there was silence but she broke it this time.
"Appa is a bit angry. He wanted me to perform a classical dance at the sangeet. Par main kya karti. Aaj sangeet hai. Everyone wanted something vibrant. He felt bad. Keh rahe the career toh apni pasand ki chun li meri khushike liye ek performance toh kar sakti thi. " She said sadly.
" so your dad didn't want you to be a lawyer? " He asked.
" Mere parents ek dance academy chalaate hain. Naturally unhe laga unki eklauti beti take over karegi someday. Bachpan mein mujhe bhi yahin lagta tha. Par phir maine realise kiya ki I am not cut for it. This is not the kind of audience I want. Appa maan toh gaye par unhe bura laga. " She explained.
"Toh lawyer banne ka kab Socha? "He asked.
" Thats because of Maamu. Haider Maamu jinke saath main Delhi mein rahti hoon. Asad ke dad. I think you must have met Asad. " When he nodded she continued " I wanted to help people. Par kaise mujhe nahin pata tha. Maamu ne yeh suggest kiya. He is always right. Par pata hai mujhe law mein actual interest toh pichhle ek saal se aaya hai. All thanks to Advocate Suhasini Sinha. My inspiration. "
Adarsh was surprised.
" Suhasini Sinha? Have you met her? "He asked.
" No. Unka ek article pada. Aur unpe research kiya. She is just awesome. Main unse ek baar milna chahti hoon. I haven't even seen her picture. I want to get the full impact when I meet her. "Swadheenta said happily.
Adarsh laughed hearing this. This girl was obsessed with his mom.
" Has kyun rahe ho? Isliye main kisi ko nahin bataati hoon. " She said irritated.
" No. I was just wishing I was Suhasini Sinha. "He said.
She made a face at him.
" Waise I am gonna make your wish come true. Milaaonga tumhe unse. Kal. " He said.
" No way. "She said frowning.
" Yes way. I know her. Really well. "He said.
She smiled and got up to leave.
" Waise yahaan paas ek acchi coffee shop hai. Kal main jaaongi. Would you like to join me? "She asked with a killer smile.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Adarsh smiled and opened his eyes. If not for that stupid misunderstanding that had occurred the next day things might have been different. Maybe they would have dated or even married.
He brushed off that thought. He was crazy. He didn't love her. It was just the feeling of seeing your first crush after years. And anyway it didn't matter. He tightened the ring he wore reminding himself of his commitment to Vanshika.
Then he returned to his work.
***************************
