SS: Dheere Dheere Se - ArDhika + NeSam ~ 2/13/16 p63 - Page 34

Chapter 14: Raabta

Neil never thought in all his life that he would be in a situation such as the one he was in now. Things like this don't happen to ordinary people. Things like this only happen to people in movies or TV shows not in real life. He instinctively yelled as he heard the passenger in the back seat voice their pain from the contractions she was experiencing.

"Why are we taking this road? Do you even know where you are going?"

"I have absolutely no clue. I've been living in the United States for the past 8 years. It's only been a month since I've returned to India. Do you know the way to the hospital?"

"What?! Are you serious? Of all the cars..."

"Excuse me Ma'am but you're the one who decided to get inside a stranger's car. Why didn't you get in a taxi or a rickshaw?"

"Ahhh...will you watch your driving?" the woman complained as they took a sharp right running a red light.

"You told me to drive fast!"

"But don't kill us!"

"Oh God! Is that a police car following behind us?" Neil panicked as he saw siren lights flickering in his rearview mirror. "I should slow down."

"Don't you dare pull this car to the side of the road!"

"But they're the police...they could escort us to the hospital safely!"

"They are following behind us aren't they? That is more than enough. Anyways, that's probably him. I am not going to give him the satisfaction."

"Him? Who?"

"Will, you keep your eyes on the road and stop talking so much?" the pregnant lady yelled with irritation. "Don't make me slap you!"

Neil swallowed hard and replied, "Ji Ma'am..."

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Sam held tightly onto the side bar of the auto rickshaw as they took another sharp turn. "What is Neil doing? Has he lost his mind completely?"

"Miss..."

"Please just keep following them. It's my friend...I think he's in some kind of trouble."

"Well he is being followed by a police car. Oh no...hold on tight."

Sam held onto the side bar and sighed as they took another sharp turn. "Just what is he doing? He's driving like a manic..."

"Does he know he's driving in circles?"

"Wait, the man said his wife was pregnant. Oh God! He's still new to the streets around here. He has no idea where the closest hospital is."

"Hospital? Its a few blocks back. He's passed it."

"If the lady is in labor she probably isn't in a condition to give him directions. Bhaiya you know the way?"

"Of course but how am I suppose to tell him?"

"I can call him." Sam took out her phone and dialed Neil's number. "Please pick up...please pick up...Neil?! Hello?!" She heard a grabbled response and then screamed as the rickshaw quickly merged into the left lane. "Idiot! Just what are you doing?"

"Sam!" Neil shouted with glee at hearing her voice. "Hey I can't hear anything will you be quiet?"

"You stupid I told you to go right then left!"

"Why are you telling me to be quiet?" Sam asked in annoyance. "Hello? Hello?"

"You are the worse driver ever! I can't believe this!"

"You're the one that got into this car and told me to drive...now you will just have to deal with the consequences. So if you want to go to the hospital behave!"

"Hospital? Hospital? You Don't Even Know Where It Is! How are you going to drive me to the hospital, huh? By the time we even get there this baby would have popped out of my stomach!"

"Whose fault is that?"

"Shut up!"

"You Shut Up!"

"Neil?"

"Not you."

"You...you quiet down!" Neil yelled at the lady in the back seat. "Sammy help me! I don't know where the closet hospital is."

"I told you already how to go!"

"Will you be quiet? I can't understand anything you are saying between your contractions and yelling...and you talk so fast!"

"I'm in labor you stupid man! How am I supposed to talk? Oh God why are all men idiots? My husband is no less."

"Why is that police car following us?" Neil asked in frustration as he made a left turn.

"Because you can't drive and are completely directionless!"

"Because that pregnant lady's husband thinks you are kidnapping her," Sam explained.

"What?! Why would I kidnap a pregnant lady? Why would anyone in their right mind kidnap a pregnant lady?!

"Why did he take this road? This merges onto the highway," the rickshaw driver sighed.

"What? The highway?" Sam repeated.

"You took the highway! Oh God!"

"Tell him to take the next exit down."

"Neil...Neil...Neil! Take the next exit down. Do you hear me?"

Neil was getting frustrated at all yelling going on in the car and from his cell phone. "Everyone just shut it! Silence! Aawaaz Niche Everyone!" He panted gripped the steering wheel tightly. "I can't listen when everyone is talking to me all at once! You back there just keep quiet! Sammy, how do I get to the hospital?"

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"What is he doing?" the police officer driving behind the wheel asked with bewilderment. "He's been driving crazily."

"See I told you he's trying to kidnap my wife," the husband firmly stated. "He was trying to shake us off."

"It sure seems like it Rajat Sir," the younger partner nodded. "I mean why would anyone drive off with a pregnant woman in labor? I mean he's driven right pass the nearest hospital."

The senior office gave a half frown not sure what to make of the situation. Something about all of this wasn't sitting right with him. He had been in the field long enough that he had developed an intuition and his intuition was telling him something else. "Not so sure about that Vikram..."

"Hey you in the black Honda City! Yeah, that's right I'm talking to you! Stop right now!" Both the officers looked at each other and then followed the radio mic dispatch cord to the husband who was holding the mic piece and yelling through the speaker system. "Stop right there and give my back my wife or we will be forced to be forceful! And what kind of man are you stealing someone's pregnant wife? Do you have any morals? Did your parents teach you any...you mindless monkey!"

"What are you doing?" Rajat yelled. "Stop blabbering nonsense. You expect him to stop in the middle of the highway? Your wife's pregnant man!"

"He has my wife! He needs to know we mean business!"

"By being forceful? We may be the police but we are not shooting anyone!"

"Why not?! Just shot out the tires like in the movies!"

"Hey...hey what do you think you are doing?" Vikram yelled as he tried to grab back his hand gun. "Stop it right there."

Sam and the rickshaw driver watched in horror as the police car in front of them swayed back and forth in an erratic motion. "Just what is going on in that car there?"

"I have no idea," the rickshaw driver replied as he quickly caught up to the side as the police car moved into the left lane.

Sam covered her open mouth unable to believe what she was seeing; the husband holding the radio mic in one hand and a gun in the other. The passenger police office was tussling with him over the gun. The rickshaw driver speed up and was soon following closely behind the black Honda City.

Meanwhile Neil was trying his best to remember the directions the rickshaw driver had given him. He was trying not to let the insults that had been hurled by the husband get to him. He gripped the wheel harder and sighed at his luck.

"You're doing great Neil," the pregnant lady in the back encouraged. "Don't pay any attention to that oaf's words. He says stupid things all the time."

"And you my dearest wife...I told you not to walk alone...see what has happened? And you aren't even fighting with your kidnapper? " Neil and the wife both gasp as the radio speaker came back to life.

"Why me..." Neil sighed again.

"You stupid man! You are the one who didn't want to talk to me...saying my demands were unreasonable...all I wanted was double Belgium dark chocolate chip ice cream! And you couldn't even get it for your wife?"

Neil placed his hand on his forehead unable to believe what he just heard. "This is all because of ice cream!? You two are fighting because of ice cream! I'm being chased by cops because of Ice Cream?!"

"Double Belgium dark chocolate chip is really good!"

"I should just stop this car right now and hand you back to those police officers and your husband."

"Don't! Ahhh...these contractions are coming faster...I need to get to a hospital before this baby comes out. Please Neil!"

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Several minutes later Neil pulled his car into the front entrance of the hospital nearly hitting a man walking with crutches. "Hey you!" the man angrily called and slammed his left crutch onto the hood of the Honda City. "Just what do you think you are doing?"

"You should watch where you are going...walking all slow and limping along like that. Did anyone ever tell you to look both ways before crossing?" Neil snapped as he got of the car.

"This is a crosswalk for people!" the man hollered back. He then noticed the rickshaw and police car pulling up from behind. "So you are wanted? Police officers arrest this man for hitting a pedestrian! He could have killed me. I saw my life flashed before my eyes!"

"See I told you that man was no good!" the husband yelled as he got out of the car."

"I did not hit you! And you didn't see your life flash before your eyes!" Neil shouted at the man. He then turned towards the husband and gave an annoyed look. "I was trying to get your pregnant wife to the hospital before she delivered in my car!"

"Why didn't you say so," the man with the crutch replied after hearing the truth. He hobbled over and opened the back door to help the woman out."

While all the squabbling was going on Sam had already entered the hospital to request for a wheelchair and informed the nurses of the situation outside. She came back with a crew of medical staff ready to talk the pregnant lady inside.

"Arrest that man!" the husband demanded.

"Oh just shut up! I've heard enough from you," Rajat said. "Leave us out of your familial disputes. Just go inside and make things right with your wife...you stupid fool!"

"He kidnapped her..."

"You idiot! You walked away...when I turned around to tell you that my water broke you were gone...what else was I suppose to do?"

"You're the one who kept bugging me about double Belgium dark chocolate chip ice cream," the husband explained. "I went to go find you some..."

"You found some?" the wife replied with an air of hope.

"No."

"You idiot..." she huffed as she sat down in the wheelchair. "Whenever you want something I go and get it for you but you can't even get me this one thing?"

"It's a hard flavor to find," the man defended. "You want me to go and find some right now for you?"

"Yes, go find me some double Belgium dark chocolate chip ice cream while I'm delivering your baby," the wife replied sarcastically.

The husband did an about turn and started walking the other way when Vikram stopped him holding up his gun and motioned for him to go back. "Just go back...you're about to become a father stop wasting your time arguing."

"J-ji Sir," the husband stuttered in fear and followed his wife into the hospital.

Neil exhaled with exhaustion. "Is this what I have to look forward to? I'm never having children."

The rickshaw driver chuckled, "It is not as bad as that. It's a beautiful thing. Well you two take care."

"Oh your fare," Sam replied.

"It's quite all right. I think I've had enough excitement to last me a life time."

"But Bhaiya..."

"I tell you what. Here is my card. If you ever need a ride please call me."

"Thank you Bhaiya," Sam smiled. She then turned to Neil and motioned, "So shall we go?"

"Hold it right there...you know how many traffic laws you violated?" Vikram asked as he walked over. "You nearly hit a man too."

"You can't be serious. I was trying to help a fellow citizen out," Neil replied.

Rajat walked over looking down at his ticket pad when he raised his head his eyes bulged. "You two?"

Sam and Neil immediately recognized Rajat and folded their hands. "Rajat Sir."

He put his ticket pad away and sighed. "Just go. Be careful next time. I really don't want to see you guys again. Go." Vikram looked at his senior office with a perplexed look. "They were helping a fellow citizen out. You saw how crazy they were. They shouldn't be fined."

"I was just going to give them a warning that's all," Vikram replied. "Do you know them?"

"You were out yesterday. Good thing too," Rajat said as he ushered him back towards their car. "If anyone ever says they know Piyali Khanna just let them go."

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Radhika gently stared out the passenger side window watching the lush green scenery pass by. She wore a small frown as the car cabin was silent from any conversation. She glanced at Arjun and softly bit her lower lip studying his chiseled profile. His general stern and focused demeanor was present but she had also sensed a slight uneasiness in him. She could see it in the way he looked at her. He was a type of person who made direct eye contact when speaking but today he could barely hold his gaze for a few seconds before he looked elsewhere. She wondered if it had anything to do with what had happened between them last night. Her own memories were scattered and blurry. She knew they had laughed a lot, played games, and talked. It was the details of their conversation that was patchy. She had a feeling that they had become intimately comfortable with each other. She remembered comforting him about his parents and then falling asleep on his shoulder. She surmised that he must have then carried her into the bedroom and given her the bed for the night. Radhika touched her cheeks wondering why they felt warm. She looked over at Arjun and opened her mouth to speak but was immediately hushed silent. Her eyebrows furrowed and she tried again only to receive the same response. Finally managing a "But Sir..." sounding annoyed and flustered she sat up in her seat and stared at him. It was perhaps a good thing as the pinkish glow on her cheeks could then be attributed to her annoyance rather than the true meaning behind the reaction.

"Can we just enjoy the silence?" Arjun asked softly feeling uncomfortable under the gaze of her eyes. He had been feeling awkward the entire day. He had been embarrassed by the incident in the morning even though he was pretty sure she had not seen anything. He had worn his boxers underneath his towel. What concerned him the most was the night before. He wondered how much she had remembered. Though he looked to be concentrating on his driving he was actually trying his hardest to piece together the events of last night. Most of it had been hazy however there was one distinct memory that seemed to continuously replay in his mind. He felt a sudden warmth creep against the back of his neck making him fiddled with the air conditioning vent.

"Is the silence really that enjoyable?" Radhika innocently asked.

Arjun glanced over and then quickly looked away at the sudden eye contact. "Sure it is," he mustered. "Besides what would you talk about?"

Radhika smiled while Arjun inwardly cringed at his own words. He had walked into that one. "There are lots of things to talk about. For instance the weather, the scenery, the project pitch, the sketches I drew on the mountain, the pictures we took at the lake, the food we had for lunch, sports, entertainment, philosophy, literature...there are lots of things to talk about...like how we talked last night."

"Last night..." Arjun repeated.

"Yes, last night. Arjun Sir do you remember anything from last night?"

"Um, like you said we talked last night."

"Anything else?"

"Um, I think we played games?"

"Thumb war! Yes, now I remember and you beat me a lot...and all the other games."

Arjun couldn't help but chuckle at her pouting. "I told you I was good."

"Anything else?"

"Anything else? What do you mean? What else could there be?"

"Arjun Sir, don't you find it strange that we can't remember anything from last night? You think we ate something that made us forget or act strange last night? Wouldn't that be funny? Oh God, you don't think it was something I picked up at the dhaba?"

"Who's says we can't remember anything from last night? We talked, laughed, played games, had a good time, and went to bed. End of story...not like anything happened after that."

"Went to bed..." Radhika repeated. Her eyes gently sparked as a flash of memory came to her. "Arjun Sir, where did you sleep last night?"

"In the hotel room of course."

Radhika turned towards Arjun sharing an eye lock that suddenly made both of them feel self conscious. "Enough talking..." Arjun stated and turned on the radio. "You wanted to listen to the radio..."

Radhika didn't say anything further and sat quietly letting the radio fill the silence.

(Jab Mila Tu - Click Here to Listen)

"Jo aadhe se hum hain woh poore ho tumse...[The half-complete one I was, became complete with you] Na jaane yeh sauda bhi kab tae huya...[I don't know when this deal got finalized] Adhoore se kisse baraabar ke hisse...[Thes incomplete stories, equal in share] Tu dil to main dua...[You are the heart and I am the prayer]

Jab mile tu rut u ru...[ When I achieved you] Na thi kami na justaju rut u ru...[ There wasn't any lacking nor any quest] Aur aadhe aadhe pal huye phir poore yun...[ And then these half-complete moments became complete in this way] Jab mila tu rut u ru...[ When I achieved you]

Kal tu jo khoyi ho to gumshuda yeh zindagi basar kar doon...[If you disappear tomorrow, then I'll live my whole life alone] Manzil jo soyi ho to khawaab saare tere hi nazar kar doon...[If the destination is asleep then I'll give all the dreams to you] Tu aadhe se dil ko jo laayegi bhi to main sau khwaahishon se hi bar doon...[If you bring half a heart also, then I'll file it with a hundred desires] Karen a yakin tu abhi ke abhi tu to aake aazma...[If you don't trust me, then come and test me right now]"

Arjun gripped the steering wheel feeling oddly uncomfortable at the lyrics in the song and pushed the forward button to the next radio station.

(Saibo - Click Here to Listen)

"Mann ye sahib ji, jaane hai sab ji...[This heart, my lord, knows everything] Phir bhi banaaye bahaane...[Yet it keeps making excuses] Naina nawab ji dekhe hai sab ji...[These eyes, my highness, see everything] Phir bhi na samjhe ishaare...[Yet they don't understand these signs] Mann ye sahib ji haan karta bahaane...[Yes my heart, my lord, does make excuses] Naina nawabji na samjhe ishaare...[These eyes, my highness, don't' understand the signs]

Dheere dheere, naino ko dheere dheere...[These eyes, little by little] Jiya ko deehre dheere...[This soul, little by little] Bhaayo re saibo...[Is enchanted by you, o loved one]

Dheere dheere begaana dheere dheere...[This stranger, little by little] Apna sa dheere dheere, lage re saibo...[Feels like my own, little by little, o loved one]"

It was now Radhika who was suddenly feeling awkward about the song on the radio. She pushed the forward button again hoping something else would be playing.

(Tumhe Apna Banane Ka - Click Here to Listen)

"Tumhe Apna Banane Ka Junoon, sar pe hai, kab se hai...[I have a strong passion/desire to make you mine, since a long time] Mujhe aadat bana lo lk buri, kehna yeh, tumse hai...[Make me a bad habit of yours, this is what I want to tell you] Tumhe appna banana ka junoon, sar pe hai, kab se hai...[I have a strong passion to make you mine, since a long time] Sar pe hai, kab se hai...[I have this strong passion since long]"

Arjun and Radhika both swallowed hard and instinctively reached for the power button on the radio to turn it off. Their fingers touched causing them to both retract their hands from the contact. "It's okay I don't really need the radio," Radhika informed.

Arjun nodded and turned the radio off. The cabin was once again filled with awkward silence but it was better than listening to suggestive lyrics that brought knots in his stomach.

Radhika went back to window watching when something caught her eye in the distance. "Arjun Sir! Can we please pull over?" He strained his eyes to see what had suddenly captivated her and saw a small mandir in the distance. "Dadaji always said whenever you complete a tough task you should give thanks with a prayer."

"A prayer?"

"Yesterday we ran into all sorts of trouble. But today we were able to efficiently complete our assignment without getting lost. We are even making good time driving back," Radhika explained. "We'll just pull over for a few minutes and then we can be on our way."

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Arjun folded his arms and leaned against the Mahindra XUV looking cautiously at the entrance of the mandir. Radhika soon appeared with a small basket of flowers as offering. Arjun shook his head and simply stated, "You go Radhika."

"Arjun Sir? Why? Come with me."

"I don't believe in all of this. There is no reason for me to go inside. I'll wait here. I won't stop you from going."

"But Arjun Sir. There isn't any harm. Bhagavan always welcomes all."

"It may be so but I am not welcoming myself at those steps." Arjun then looked at his watch and informed, "I'll give you 5 minutes."

Radhika had distinct feeling why he was so hesitant to come with her. It was obvious that since his parent's death he lost faith. The only things he could trust in were tangible items he could touch, feel, or see. She didn't want to pressure him if he wasn't ready so she nodded and left without him.

Arjun stood by the car quietly people watching and getting lost in his own thoughts. He recalled the last time he had ever stepped into a mandir or performed a religious ceremony. It had been at his parent's funeral. After their deaths he had taken a complete disinterest in praying or visiting the mandir. What was the point when Bhagavan took away two of the most important people in the world to him? He had been extremely angry; at himself, at God, at the world. With time he had learned to carry forward but some of that anger never went away. He carried it with him like a badge of honor to remind himself of the reality of his situation. That he was alone. The people that truly tied him to this world were now gone.

"My Son you seem lost."

Arjun turned towards the voice and saw a Priest standing in front of him. How long he had been there Arjun was not sure. He simply bowed his head in greeting.

"Are you lost?"

"No, I'm waiting for someone. She went to the mandir. She should be out soon. Is my car in the way? I can move it."

Giving a soft half grin, "You didn't join your friend?"

"No."

"Hmmm...something seems to be troubling you. You may find the peace you are seeking if you come..."

"Not to be rude, but no thank you."

"I see..." the Priest thoughtfully replied. "Sometimes even in the darkest of hours there is light. All you have to do is reach out."

"Heh, and when that light continuously gets snatched away from you? There is nothing you can do for me."

"He's always there even when you've stop believing. It's not too late. When the time comes take that leap."

Arjun gave a perplexed look while the Priest simply continued to smile. He felt uneasy and glanced over at the entrance way of the mandir. He saw Radhika exiting and softened his stance. This had not gone unnoticed by the Priest who then turned to see what Arjun was looking at. A knowing smirk spread across the Priest's lips.

When Radhika arrived she folded her hands up in greeting. The Priest smiled in return and then said, "Well, I will take my leave. Safe journey back." He held up his hands and blessed both of them before walking away.

"Arjun Sir?" Radhika pried curious to know what had transpired.

"Nothing," he replied and motioned for her to get back into the vehicle.

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Samrat took off his glasses as he laughed heartily wiping the tears streaming down the corner of his eyes. "I can't believe this...this just happened today?"

The Khannas and Neil were sitting in the living room enjoying an after dinner coffee with pastries engaging in some lively conversation.

"Yes Sir," Neil replied nodding his head.

"These last two days have been quite exciting for you," Piyali chortled.

"It's been an adventure to say the least," he said with a smile.

"Anyone else would be frustrated. You sure are taking this all in stride."

"Mom, you should have seen him right after," Sam interjected. "He was livid."

"At the time yes but now it is pretty amusing. Can't take everything too seriously."

"Very true," Samrat agreed. "It's good to be able to laugh at yourself."

"I laugh all the time," Neil smirked.

"Look at the time. I said it would only be dinner...an hour or two and its four hours later," Piyali said. "Your Aunt must be waiting for you to come home."

Neil nodded and got up from the sofa. "It's been a real pleasure. Thank you Mr. Khanna for inviting me. The food Mrs. Khanna," touching his stomach, "Simply wonderful..." then briefly glancing at Sam before looking at her parents, "The company great."

"Thank you Neil for protecting Sam the other day," Samrat said giving him a fatherly pat on the back. "Though the way things are going you may need Sam to protect you."

Laughing at his joke, "You may be correct Sir." Neil waved goodbye at the doorway and then walked with Sam to his car. "Well Sammy, that was fun. Your parents are pretty cool."

"They are?"

"Yeah, I'm sure every kid has that reaction. But they are cool in my book."

"I guess that is what counts."

"You are correct Madam!"

Sam rolled her eyes and then gave Neil a farewell hug. She looked up at his mouth and frowned. Reaching up and touching the bruise gently with her finger, "Don't forget to ice this."

"I won't," Neil replied and held her gaze. They stood there for a moment before Neil turned away afraid his true feelings would come out and waved a goodbye and got into his car.

Sam stood in the driveway and watch him drive away before heading back inside the house. When she walked into the living room her father was there waiting for her. He motioned for her to sit down beside him. Sam obediently did and curled up against him just like she use to when she was ten years old.

"I like your friend Neil."

"Papa," she laughed. "He's an employee."

"Well, I also like Neil my employee but Neil your friend...I like him too."

Sam simply smiled in return, "Yeah, I like him too."

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Until Next Time. Please Leave a Comment and/or Hit the Like Button 😃

Credit Lyrics:

Title: Jab Mila Tu

Movie: I Hate Luv Storys

Lyrics: Vishal Dadlani

Translation: Bollynook.com

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIODEFkvjTA

Title: Saibo

Movie: Shor in the City

Lyrics: Sameer

Translation: Shaun Iyer

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf8db_NMdvw

Title: Tumhe Apna Banane Ka

Movie: Hate Story 3

Lyics: Rashmi Virag

Translation: Bollynook.com

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfEUbZd3ugM