||CHAPTER 3||
Arjun and Neil met up one day. They went for jogging together and then after getting freshened up, they went to a park where they often used to hang out. They both leaned against the car and started talking over admiring the beautiful view of the park
Ne: So when are you joining again?
Ar: Uh...it won't be long. I'll join back soon.
Ne: Dude, why aren't you moving on in your life? Get settled down man. Enough is enough!
Ar:(irritated) Again Neil? Stop this please!
Ne: Why Arjun? Why do you always run away from relationships?
Ar: Cause I want a goddamn simple life! Love, passion, emotions- these are just useless! It only makes life more complicated. And see, as much as you think from your heart, you'll get hurt. Cause heart can only give pain- nothing else.
Ne: You know what, it's just useless talking with you. Without emotions you won't be a human but only a machine,a robot. Don't you get it?
Ar: Well that's how I am and I want to be like this.
Ne: I can't ever make you understand buddy. It's out of my limits. Just let it be. Well, I guess I should head home now. Otherwise I'll have to face my home minister's wrath.(laughed out)
Ar:(laughed) You fear your wife, don't you?
Ne: Like hell!
They both laughed and then bade goodbye to each other and left for their respective places.
The next day Arjun went to the grocery store near his home to buy some things. When he was picking up his necessaries, suddenly his eyes fell on a girl who was standing at a little distance. He got surprised and shocked at the same time because it was the same girl whom he had seen that day. He had nearly forgotten her completely by now but again he saw her. He stood like a statue for seconds and then he assembled himself and went to the counter. The girl was standing right behind him in the queue. The stuff person of the packaging section; somehow mixed up the things and one of Radhika's purchased items went into Arjun's bag. When Radhika saw it, she tried to call out to him but before she could do anything, Arjun had already paid the money and started walking towards the exit. Radhika also did her payment and then followed him outside.
Ra: Uh..excuse me?
Arjun unknowingly turned around hearing a voice and when he saw the person he was again startled.
Ar:( in a hesitating voice) Are you calling me?
Ra: Yes, um..actually an important thing of mine accidentally got into your bag. So if you please don't mind; will you check for once?
Ar:(a bit irritated voice) See I am on a rush right now. So please do me a favor..(he brought out a thousand rupees note from his pocket and handed it over to Radhika) Get it from the store. It will take a lot of time to check out those things and I really don't have that much time.
Saying, he didn't wait for a single second; nor even he turned towards Radhika. He got into his car and drove off.
Radhika stood like a statue thinking what just happened.
Ra:(nodding her head in disappointment) Only God knows what kinds of people live on earth. Was he showing off his bloody money?
Radhika made a disgusted expression and was going to throw away the note but then stopped herself from doing so. She looked around and finally her eyes fixed at a certain place and she walked towards that direction.Upon reaching there, she called a little
girl who was serving tea to the customers of a roadside tea stall.The girl came near her and asked " Di,Should I bring you a cup of tea?"
Ra: No dear. No need for that. You just keep it.
Saying,she gave her the note
The girl was surprised and a little bit scared too as she didn't understand as to why a stranger would give her money. She said in a hesitated voice "I can't take this."
Ra: Why sweetheart? You just called me Di right? Then this is just a gift from your Di, ok?
The girl silently nodded and Radhika smiled. She then kissed on the girl's cheeks and then bidding her good bye;left from there while the girl kept looking at her.
Radhika and Arjun often used to meet as they visited the same grocery store. There was something between them which made an awkward situation; as they wanted to talk to each other but at the very next moment they would stop themselves from doing so.
A month passed by and one day Neil came over to Arjun's house to have a chat with him. They were talking about several things when suddenly Neil brought up the topic
Ne: So what were you saying about that girl? Whom you meet nearly everyday?
Ar: Oh..her? Dude, I don't know..I mean it's very weird you know. When I saw her for the first time;we both were stuck in a traffic jam. I might have forgotten totally but then again I saw her in the store. And now we meet nearly everyday at the store though we don't talk to each other; I mean of course unexpectedly. But I don't know why I feel so damn weird! You know how I am around girls. I normally don't like it at all. But this is different. I myself don't know if I'm getting irritated or something. I am just not able to understand how I am feeling.
Ne:(amused) Buddy! This is just amazing! Not bad! Good promotion!
Ar: What do you mean?
Ne: I mean buddy, that you are in the very first stage of falling in love.
Ar:(yelled) What? Are you out of your mind? Love! Are you mad? I mean seriously!
Ne: You are not in love yet. But I am very sure something is brewing between you two. Cause the symptoms like weird feeling and all; it only happens when you are about to fall in love. Trust me, when I met Mahima I felt the same way.
Ar: You and your crap! Please let it be.
Ne:(in a surrendering gesture) Ok ok I won't say anything. But my heart says that something is surely gonna happen!
Saying, Neil laughed while Arjun gave a fed up look.
Days passed by and Radhika and Arjun had glances of each other; but they never talked. One day when Radhika came out from the shop;suddenly her eyes fell on Arjun who was standing next to his car and his hand was bleeding badly. Radhika somehow couldn't stop herself and without wasting any time she rushed to him.
Ra:(in a worried tone) Are you hurt?
Arjun raised up his head and upon seeing Radhika he had mixed feelings
Ar:(in a bit cold tone) It's ok. I am ok. Please leave it.
Ra:(still being anxious) But it is a very deep cut. You need first aid..
Ar:(in an irritated and rude voice) I said I am okay! Please leave me alone! Showing such sympathy for a stranger is not a good thing.Please leave.
Radhika was totally taken aback with his rude behaviour. She knew she shouldn't be shocked neither she should be hurt because he is just a stranger. But unknowingly deep inside her heart;she was hurt. She stood in front of him for some more time and then started walking away. Somehow Arjun also felt bad and he regretted his behaviour and cursed himself for being rude.
TBC>>>
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
