When Manveer were enjoying the pure beauty of their marital life, J was staring at the ceiling in the hotel room where she was staying. This game of remaining hidden in shadows was tiring her. Yeah she had come to warn them about impending danger but she couldn't come upfront now, not yet. Manyata would never believe that J had turned a new leaf, who knows may be she'll think J herself is the danger.
J had a shiver from the cold wind that blew in. she wrapped her arms around her and longed for closeness of another human being. For the whole world she was married and that was it. No one could see how lonely she was. Not only now but from the childhood J was considered a Tom boy and she was never fussed over unlike Manyata who was girlish and delicate. Nobody noticed that there was a womanly heart inside her which craved for love and affection. Not that they loved her less or anything but Manyata was showered with special attention all the time.That was what had made J resent her before but now there were no hard feelings inside her. She drew the pillow near her and went to sleep with it.
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Next morning came with one more surprise for Manveer. Manyata was making coffee in the kitchen when there was a knock on the door; there was a package this time. 'not again!' she thought and tore off the gift wrap with curiosity.
Inside the carefully wrapped package was a jewel box. Manyata couldn't contain her amusement and opened it to see a pearl necklace lying inside it. It was so beautiful that for a moment she could only stare.
Then her eyes fell on the folded chit of paper kept with it.
"Dear M,
A small gift of love, from me to you, I hope you like it"
Manyata dropped the box along with the necklace in horror. "Dear M!"
That means this gift is for her? M meaning Manyata? Is this the handiwork of same crook whose note they had received?
"yeh jo bhi hai hum iska zaroor pata lagayenge...chalo police ko phone lagate hain" Veer said. She didn't realize he was behind her.
"Police ko phone mat karna Veer..jaane do..waise bhi hum yahan hamesha ke liye toh nahi hai..hum Mumbai wapas jaayenge..sab theek hoga" Manyata said.
They had their breakfast in glum silence and at 9AM Veer's English tutor arrived. The class would go on for 2 hours and Manyata was really bored. She decided to do some sight seeing on her own and set out.
The real purpose of her outing was to find out where the jewelry was purchased from and who had bought it. The unwanted admirer had forgotten to remove the jeweler's sticker from the bottom of the box and Manyata had got the address from there.
"kya aap bata sakte hain ki yeh necklace aap ke dukaan se kharidi gayi thi?" she showed him the necklace. The shop keeper turned the box; examined the necklace and said "jee..haan..par aap yeh kyon pooch rahi hai?" he was puzzled by this woman whose face was covered to protect her identity.
"mujhe aap us ka naam batayiye" She would not let him live in peace..Akash!!
"maaf keejiye..hum aap ko unka naam nahi bata sakte, woh humare regular customer hain" he replied bringing a grimace on her face.
"Theek hai naam mat batayiye par unka number ya address kuch hai toh woh toh batayiye..mujhe unhe Thank you kehna hai..please" she pleaded.
The shop keeper was a nice man and with a condition that she wouldn't tell the person where she got it from, he gave her the admirer's number.
Manyata was overjoyed that it was so easy getting his contact details. It was 11.30 when she reached their rented cottage. Veer's tutor had left half an hour back and he was practicing what he had learnt in class.
As she knocked on the door Veer greeted her with a heart stopping smile. Ahh..what a welcome! All her tiredness vanished for a moment. Then she saw her mobile where she had saved that idiot's number.
"Aaj kya kya seekha tumne? Class kaisi thi?" she wanted to distract herself.
"Yeh angrezi bhi badi ajeeb hoti hai..bohot kuch seekha maine..ab main bol sakta hoon ki 'I can talk English, I can walk English, I can laugh English..becas english ij a funny language'," he repeated a movie dialogue with straight face; prompting Manyata to laugh out loud.
This man was so innocent, she felt like pinching his cheeks.
"pata hai titli ko kya kehte hain..udne wala makkhan..butter fly" He said. Seeing Veer's antics she totally forgot about the number and the secret admirer.
********************************
"Sir..aap ka plan kaam kar gaya...jis ladki ke baare me aapne bataya woh aayi thi hamare shop me; aap ka pata poochne..maine aap ka number diya hai usko..bohot jald woh aap ko milegi sir" The jewelry shop owner said to him, the secret admirer.
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Pre-cap
"yeh sab maine tumhe nahi bheja...tum ho kaun? Tumhe yeh kahan se mila?" he bombarded her with questions.
Thank you🤗
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