Chapter 3(a). What future has hold?
"Her heart was wild,
But I didn't want to catch it,
I wanted to run with it,
To set mine free."
Gauri Maheshwari.
"Tum soyi kyu nhi Abhi tak?", he asked few seconds after he disconnected the call. His back was still facing me. I sighed at his dumb question.
"Like seriously? Me pure 6 saal baad tumse mil rhi hun and all you can ask is 'Tum soyi kyu nhi Abhi tak'..", I said air quoting his words. I observed him massaging his forehead. Then, he turned around.
Finally!
He put his hands in his pants' pockets and came towards me. He was looking here and there for words while stealing glances from me.
"Yun kishton me dekhne Ki zarurat nhi hai.. Dil kholke dekhlo.. Mujhe koi problem nhi hai..", I said folding my hands across my chest. He opened his mouth to say something but I stopped him before he could again say any dumb thing, "Bhook lagi hai?"
His expressions changed from sheepishness to confusion.
"What?", he exclaimed.
"Tum Itne dumb sawaal puch skte ho.. Can't I ask a genuine one?", I retorted.
He was too fluster to reply so I went towards a table and uncovered our dinner. It was a large pizza with two cans of chilled cold drinks. Prefect naah?
I kept them near the pool and sat down with my legs inside the water. I opened the pizza box and took out the first slice and started eating.
"Itni raat ko me ghar vapis Aya hun.. Aur araam se bethke pizza tum kha rhi hun.. Amazing!", I heard his voice.
Oh! How much I missed this!!
"Keep this sarcasm to yourself!", I replied with pizza in my mouth, "Mene nhi kaha tha Ki mujhe avoid krne ke chakkar me pura din ghar mat ao.."
"Me..", he fumbled, "Me.. Vo.. I was not avoiding you.. Okay?", he tried to make himself clear.
"Han samajh gyi Mein..", I said with the most innocent face.
"Chalo ab khalo kuch..", I said patting the space beside me indicating him to come and sit. He smiled a little and sat beside with his legs inside the pool too and then with much ease, he picked up the can and a pizza slice and started feeding himself.
I got the flashes of our college days. We have spent our innumerable nights like this talking under the moon savouring our pizzas. I looked at him and he too had a smile on his face.
He too still remembers everything..
I was admiring his smiling face and he suddenly looked at me and found me already stairing at him. We were silent for a moment. Even the pizzas in our hands were looking at each other longingly because like us, they have also been separated from each other. They were happy there inside the box linked with each other like we were in our college days.
Even I can be intense like Om! Okay.. My intense feelings are also linked with pizza.. So what?
"Bilkul miss nhi kiya na mujhe..?", I asked out of the blue.
He made a cute face and moved his head in no, "Bilkul nhi.."
"I hate you!", I fumed and got up from my place. He suddenly caught my hand and pulled me towards him. Though the pull was gentle, but due to my wet feet, I slipped and directly landed on his lap.
Yeah!!
My eyes became large and heart was racing as if it had been running in a damn marathon.
Do I too still affect him the same way as he affects me?
I stroked his silky hairs with my fingers, "Itne saal hogye.. Baal kyu nhi katwaye abhi tak?", I whispered.
He was also lost in my eyes, "Tumhe pasand hai na aise.."
"Agar meri pasand ka itna dhyan hai toh Jo cheez mujhe sabse zyada pasand hai.. Uske baare me kyu nhi sochte?", I said entangling my free hand with his.
He fell short for words as he stared at me blankly. Our eyes caught the pizza slices in our respective hands smooching each other. Yah.. I mean the slices were smashed into each other. My cheeks instantly bore crimson colour as I remembered I compared us with these pizza slices a while back. What if we were in the same condition too? I mean we are so damn close. I just need to move closer a bit and ...
Suddenly he detangled himself from me. I too sat beside him rather than on him. There was an awkward silence between us for a while.
"Raat bahut hogyi hai.. I think we should sleep..", Om said clearing his throat.
"Pizza toh khatam karlo..", I reminded him.
"Nhi mujhe bhook nhi hai..", he said and got up from his place.
"Ek baat toh tumhe man ni pdegi ki Gauri Maheshwari ne tumhe jhooth bolna sikha Diya..", I said all proudly, "Vo alag baat hai that you are horrible at it."
He sighed, "I.. I am not lying.. Okay?"
"And I am Rajnikant.. Okay?"
He just gave me a 'You-Will-Never-Change' look and started clearing the mess that I have created in his studio.
He was about to pick up the pizza box but I stopped him, "Oh hello! Tumhe nhi khana hai mat khao.. Mujhe toh khane do..", and I snatched the box from his hand and started eating.
While I was enjoying my dinner I felt a deep gaze upon me. I looked up and found Om stairing at me all smiling.
So cute!
When he suddenly realised what he was doing and that I have caught him, he felt embarrassed and started looking here and there.
I have to made him accept his feelings and I know it's not going to be that easy!
Par Jo impossible ko possible na kare.. Vo Ishaana kese!
-----
Anika Chaudhary.
"Di btao na Saumya kab vapis ayengi?", Sahil asked me like hundredth time now.
"Sahil bola na mujhe nhi pata..", I replied getting ready for Oberoi mansion. Here I am getting late and my brother is just stucked on one thing.
Don't know what magic Soumya has done on him!
"Di pata hai Itne din hogye hai unse mile hue..", he cribbed like a child.
He's a child only Anika!!, my mind chided.
I bent down to match my brother's height, "Itne din?", I repeated his words sarcastically, "Sirf do din hue hai Sahil..", I slapped him playfully on his head and resumed putting stuff in my handbag, "Vo jaane se phele milke toh gyi thi tujhe..", I reminded him.
"Ab apko kya pata Anika didi Ki mahobbat me ek ek pal bhi ek saal ke Bara bar hojata hai..", he muttered something which I couldn't decipher.
"Kya kaha tune?", I asked wearing Chandani.
"Kuch nhi.. Ap nhi samjhoge..", was his reply at which I just rolled my eyes.
"Chal ab me ja rhi hun..", I said reaching at the gate finally girte padhte, "Ramesh uncle ate hi honge.. Tu time se school chala jaio..", I told him and went out of my apartments. Ramesh uncle is Sahil's driver. Due to my busy schedules, I had to hire a driver for Sahil but I make sure whenever its possible, I myself drop him to school but Billu ji's wedding has taken a toll on me. I am hardly able to take out some time for Sahil.
I parked my car at Oberoi Mansion's parking. I took my hand bag and opened my car's door but as soon as I opened the door, I heard a shriek.
Phail gya raita!! Maar Diya Kisi ko tune Anika..
I immediately got out of the car and found none other than Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi standing on one leg as the knee of his other leg was hurt. His hands were massaging that knee. Seeing him like that, I wanted to laugh but I somehow controlled. His two bodyguards were standing beside him clueless what to do.
"Fhat the wuck!!", he exclaimed, "Dekh kar bhi kuch kaam karlia karo!"
"Me gadi ke andar thi.. Mujhe kya pata ap aarhe hai.. Ap bhi dekh ke chal sakte the apni in kanji aakhon se..", I said folding my hands.
"Ek toh mujhe maar dia.. Upar se argument kar rhi ho.."
"Okay fine.. Am sorry..", I accepted, "Par Puri galti meri nhi thi.. Okay?", I just made cleared.
"You know what.. Tumse baat karna hi bekar hai..", he said brushing off the creases from his trousers.
"At least I know these words called 'sorry' 'thank you'.. Apne toh ajtak apne muh se nikale bhi nhi honge..", this man always test my patience.
Ek toh sorry bol rhi hun me..
"Kyuki Shivaay Singh Oberoi ko in words ko kbhi use krne ki zarurat nhi pdhi..", he said with his usual attitude wearing his shades.
"Han ap toh bas 'Fhat the wuck' hi use kar sakte hai..", I said sarcastically air quoting those words.
"Fhat the wuck!", was his reaction.
Inka kuch nhi hosakta!!
"Sir Vo we are getting late for the meeting..", Mr. Ramprakash, SSO's PA notified him. He just nodded; his eyes were not leaving mine.
"Subah subah mood kharab kardia..", he muttered and sat inside his car.
"Han toh mera dil toh jese apko subah subah dekh ke bag bag hogya naah!!", I said a bit louder so that he could hear it but this time he just gave me a stern look till his car went outside the mansion.
Stone Singh Oberoi.
I entered the Oberoi mansion but collided with someone as I was still busy muttering curses to Billu ji.
He wont let me live in peace..
"Am really sorry..", I apologised and saw a beautiful girl almost of my age wearing a striped black and white dress with a green rugged jacket on the top. She was having an 'Ouch' expression on her face as was looking down at the fallen chocolate ice cream cone.
Is she Gauri?
"Oh am really sorry.. Mene apki ice cream giradi..", I again apologised. What if she's also like that SSO, all rude and khoon khandaan freak? Better apologise beforehand!
"Oh its okay.. No need to apologise..", she said with much ease, "Me hi dekh Ke nhi chal rhi thi.. ", she told bearing a warm smile as if nothing happened. I too smiled at her.
She cant be baagadh billa's fianc!
"So hey! Am Gauri.. What about you?", she took out her hand to shake with mine.
Oh Teri ki!! Yeh toh SSO ki to be wife hi nikli..
"Anika! Your wedding planner..", I replied shaking hands with her.
"Oh toh Vo tum ho jiski Dadi itni tareef kar rhi thi.. Chalo chalo andar ao..", she didn't left my hand; just dragged me in.
On the way she told Rajnish uncle, the head of cleaning department to clear the mess at the entrance in her own dramatic way, "Rajinsh ji please meri ice cream ki arthiyan entrance gate se uthwa lijiye.. Aur Zara pyaar se uthaiega kya hai na mere dil ke bahut kareeb thi Vo..", she said clearing her fake tears and in that moment I knew is se meri bahut patne wali hai.
"Oh my Mata Anika!! Tu itni late kyu hogyi aj?", we heard Pinky aunty's voice as Gauri was taking me somewhere.
"Vo sorry aunty ji.. Thodi late hogyi aj.."
"Tujhe pta hai aj guru ji ne Ana hai.. Kal unki tabyat thik nhi thi isliye aa nhi paye the..", Pinky aunty informed.
"Guru ji itni jaldi thik bhi hogye? Do chaar din aur beemar rehna tha na!", I heard Gauri muttering. Seriously? Why did she said like that?
Lagta hai mene hi kuch galat suna..
"Guru ji dophar tak aajayenge.. Aur baki ghar wale bhi.. Dekh Anika hmare ghar me unhe bahut mante hai isliye unke swagat satkaar me koi kami nhi rehni chahiye..", Pinky aunty told.
"Ap bilkul chinta mat kijiye.. I will take care of everything.", I replied.
"Toh me lunch ki preparations dekh ke ati hun..", I said and went towards kitchen.
The cooks were discussing the menu. I helped them to finalise everything. Meanwhile, Gauri came inside the kitchen all lost somewhere. She went towards the fridge and opened the freezer. She took out an ice cream cone, peeled it and started eating while standing taking the support of the fridge only lost in some deep thoughts.
She was a shatabdi a while ago.. Ab janta express kyu ban gayi?
I went near her and cleared my throat in order to gain her attention but it went in vain. I again tried with a little louder voice this time and she got surprised seeing me suddenly so close to her.
"Any problem?", I asked.
"Koi ek ho toh btau na.. ", She replied continuing eating her ice cream.
"Arrey me apki wedding planner hun.. Anika the great.. Har dulhan ki har ek problem ka solution hai mere pas!!", I said raising the collar of my kurta.
"Really? Toh kya dulha bhi change karwa Sakti ho?", she asked.
I laughed.
She's so funny!!
"I can understand.. Ab dulha Vo Baghad billa ho toh kon change karna nhi chahega..", I replied.
"Bagad what?", she asked all confused.
I smiled nervously, "Nothing."
"Arrey batao nah.. Kafi interesting word lag rha hai..", she insisted.
"Okay.. Baaaghhhadd billa..", I pronounced clearly for her. She started laughing like anything, "Tum Shivaay ko yeh bulati ho? So cute!!"
I felt little embarrassed. After all, I was teaching SSO's fianc to pronounce his Nick name which he obviously don't like.
"But on a serious note..", she again started speaking after her laughter therapy, "Shivaay tumhe kuch kehta nhi hai? Meri toh jaan leleta!!"
I came back to my Anika mode, "Arrey Vo mujhe kya kahenge.. Vo mujhe do baten sunate hai me unhe badle me das suna deti hun!! Kisi ka hisab visab rakhti nhi Mein.."
"Yeh sab sun ne se phele me mar kyu nhi gya?", Ishaana was about to say something but we heard an over dramatic but familiar voice behind us.
We looked behind and found Rudra with his hands on his ears.
"Tujhe kya Hua ab?", Gauri asked him.
He came towards us, "Mujhe laga jab do ladkiyan milti hongi toh make-up, kapde aur accessories ke bare me baten karti hongi but yahan ap log toh meri Bhaiya pe charcha kar rhe ho.."
We laughed at his antics.
"Ab tumhare bhaiyya hai hi itne mahan..", Gauri exclaimed sarcastically at which I tried to control my laughter.
"Vo toh mujhe pta hai..", Rudra said all proudly, "Anyway ap dono ko choti Maa hall me bula rhi hai.."
"Tum dono chalo me ati hun..", I told them and they went outside. I, after giving a last look to all the preparations for lunch, too went outside.
-----
Soumya Shah.
So yeah am back! The two day college trip is over and am back at Raigarh. I am excited to meet everybody. I really missed them.
Life really takes unusual turns at times. I never knew that this family will become so dear to me that even staying away from them for two days will make me miss them like hell. Be it Dadi's care, Jhanvi aunty's love, Pinky Aunty's adorable nature, Bade bhaiyya's advices, bade Baal wale bhaiya's TLC and dumbbell Oberoi's nautanki, I missed each and everything.
Like they have made a place in my heart, Oberoi family too have literally adopted me. After my family's sad demise, when they offered me to stay with them, I was in a fix. I didn't know what to do. It was already getting difficult to handle my emotions and get out of the grief that my family is no more but they not only brought me here, punished the Royal family of Sanjhnagar who ruined mine and help me to bear the loss. I don't know if I will ever be able to pay them back whatever they have done for me.
The guard opened my car's door and asked a servant to pick my luggage up as I entered inside. Everyone were already present in the hall.
"Yele Gauri.. Yeh kapde phenke tayar hoja.. Guru Ji ate hi honge..", Pinky Aunty said giving an Indian suit to a gorgeous young girl which I supposed to be Gauri, bade bhaiyya's fianc.
How can I forget that she was going to come?
She was not looking very pleased after looking at the clothes. She started speaking, "But aunty.. Ise pehen ne ki kya zarurat hai? Koi Pooja vooja thodi na hai ghar pe.."
"Beta guruji aarhe hai.. Mere Shivaay aur teri shaadi ki date nikalne.. Is choti Si dress me thodi na milegi unse.?", Pinky aunty replied deciding the jewellery to match with that outfit.
She shouldn't embarrass her like that..
"Par me jesi hun.. Vese hi unhe dikhaungi naah..", Gauri argued.
"Han Pinky puttar usko Jo pehen na hai.. Pehen ne de..", Dadi intervened.
"Aise kese mummy ji? Meri hone wali bahu hai.. Guruji se aise hi thodi na milvaungi..", Pinky aunty argued.
"Ja Ishaana.. Change kar aa..", Pinky aunty told her at which she disheartingly agreed.
"Arrey Soumya tum aagyi?", Jhanvi aunty noticed my presence. I smiled at her and came inside, "Ji.."
"Kesi thi trip puttar?", Dadi asked caressing my head.
"Bahut achi thi Dadi..", I replied.
"Sumo tum kitni der se gate pe khadi hui thi? Am amazed ki itni der tak hum me se Kisi ne itni bhari bharkam cheez ko notice hi nhi kiya?", Rudra commented and my mouth formed a prefect 'O' shape.
Idiot!!
"Shut up Rudra!!", Gauri intervened, "Ise bhari bharkam Hona nhi cute Hona kehte hai..", she said and hugged me, "Hi! Am Gauri.. Naam toh suna hi hoga..", she introduced herself to me in a filmy style at which I laughed, "Han bahut suna hai.. By the way, am Soumya!"
"I know.. Nice to meet you..", she replied.
"Par Soumya tu gyi konsi trip ke liye thi.. Pta hai Sahil ne mera kitna dimag kha rkha hai..", Anika di exclaimed.
"Arey di Vo college ki taraf se ek educational trip thi..", I informed her.
"College trip?", Gauri asked, "But if am not wrong toh you and Rudra are in same college na? Toh Rudra tum nhi gye?", she asked the last part looking towards Rudra.
"Ishaana shayad apne dhyan se suna nhi.. It was an 'educational' trip.. Vahan is dumbbell Oberoi ka kya kaam?", I said equal-ing our score.
Now, it was his mouth's turn to form a 'O'.
Ishaana tried to suppress her laughter, "I see.."
"Arrey aisa kuch nhi hai di.. Vo toh ap ane wale the isliye me nhi gya.. Is sumo ko kya pta..", he told Gauri.
"We know Rudra.. You don't have to explain.", this time it was Anika di who also teased Rudra sarcastically.
"Chalo stop it girls..", Janvi aunty came to Rudra's rescue, "Itna bhi pareshaan mat kro ise.."
We just laughed as her mother mode got on.
"Chalo bchon ab tayar hojao.. Guru ji ane wale honge..", Pinky aunty reminded, "Anika Zara Gauri ki helps kardena.. Aur yeh jewellery bhi le jao.. Pehen Lena..", Pinky aunty handed Anika di some boxes.
"Me bhi aplogon ke sath chalti hun..", I said.
"Why not..", Anika di replied.
"Thik hai Soumya phir me tumhare snacks Gauri ke room me hi bhijwa deti hun.. Itna travel krke ayi ho kuch khalena..", Janvi aunty offered. I just smiled and nodded.
"Waah mom! Apne toh sumo ki dil ki baat cheen li..", that idiot again commented, "Ladoo phut rhe hai na andar Soumya snacks ka naam sunte hi?", he asked mockingly.
"Just shut up cry baby!!", I exclaimed and went with my newly formed girl gang towards Gauris room.
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This is the first part of third chapter, the boys' POV will be in next update!
Comments karne me kanjoosi mat karna.. 😉
