Chapter 8
"Sir those packets..." Viraf and Chhavi were still holding each other, but the sudden voice of the boy came as a jolt. Startled, she released herself from his hold. Viraf looked at the doorstep. The boy was getting more and more uncomfortable. He was in a situation from where neither could he run away nor could he say anything.
Viraf hawked a little to restrain himself.
"What happened?" he asked at last.
"Nothing important...I'll come later." And he left in a hurry.
After he left, Viraf turned to Chhavi, she was putting on lip gloss. He came closer to her and circled her waist.
"Viraf leave me...I've to go..." Chhavi said removing his hands.
"But you've just come..." he pronounced in a surprised tone.
"What?!" She turned forth, "I came at noon and it's almost evening..." She shook her head and took her bag from the table. She was about to depart, but stopped suddenly and turned.
"Viraf..." She gulped her uneasiness, "I'm going to meet Parth today."
"What...why?" A sudden reaction from him was expected but Chhavi remained calm, he came forth and placed his hand softly on her shoulder.
"Because now I want to stop this matter for forever..." she said looking at his eyes.
"Ok...I am going with you, " he stated firmly.
Though he didn't know Parth personally, yet he wanted to go with her.
"Viraf I can handle it...I know you will be tensed, but still keep faith in me..." Her calm voice rose up.
"Chhavi try to understand, it's not about faith...it's about him...he is not going to forget you easily and he can do anything with you...he can insult you and..." But he stopped looking at her as she was staring at him with goggling eyes.
"What?" He made a gesture with his hands. Chhavi giggled.
"Why are you laughing?" he asked. His voice was earnest.
"You look so cute when you protect me like this..." she said in a childish way.
Viraf couldn't understand whether he should smile or not, "Chhavi I'm speaking about a serious thing and you are..."
"Nothing will happen to me..." She moved around and walked towards the doorway, but halted there abruptly and with pacing steps came back where Viraf was standing. Gazing into his eyes, she tiptoed and kissed him on his cheeks.
"I love you."
Viraf was not fully convinced by her, but as she wanted to go all alone, he had to agree. Staring at her cute face for a moment he smiled and said,"I love you too."
"Bye..." Chhavi smiled and exited.
Chhavi entered the coffee shop and looked for Parth. A severe smell of coffee beans enveloped her. People were sitting on the chairs and the couches. Small fairy lights were hanging from the ceiling and a mild music was playing in the background. She saw Parth sitting in a corner table. Chhavi took a deep breath and went towards him.
"Hi..." Chhavi said. Parth looked at her a smile playing along his lips.
"Hello..." He put his phone on the table and gestured her to sit.
"How long?" Chhavi asked while sitting there.
"Five minutes...so tell me why you wanted to meet me?" Parth stooped ahead. "Our marriage is almost fixed and..." he gradually extended his hands and placed it onto hers. A certain sense of irritation covered her.
"Parth..." Chhavi removed her hands in a moment. "I can't marry you..." her firm voice stated.
Parth frowned for a second and then burst into laughter. Chhavi became confused seeing him laughing like this.
"Oh God! You called me here for this? For making me laugh at your jokes?" He attempted to control his laughter.
"I am serious Parth...I can't marry you because I love someone else..." she pronounced in one breath.
Parth's smile was gone by now, Chhavi's extremely cold eyes were set on him. He couldn't believe his own ears. A girl was rejecting him and that was something he couldn't stand.
"Who is he?" His eerie voice gave her a jitter.
"That's none of your business." She replied, holding on her voice as firmly as possible, Parth's lips curved into a grin.
"Everything is my business sweetheart...never mind, but if you are rejecting me there might be a valid reason for this. I just desire to know that reason!"
"Parth I was habituated with you, not in love with you...you know. Since two years we were together, but why I never felt any attraction or connection towards you? Because you are fake." She pointed at him, "Your thoughts, your dreams everything is artificial...and since two years in spite of being together, you couldn't make me fall in love with you..." She ceased to take a breath.
"Nice!!!!" He was incumbent on the chair. "I don't have any problem...go live your life the way you want." He folded his hands.
Chhavi was looking at him as his behaviour was not feeding her a good vibe. He was exceedingly calm. An unknown fear engulfed her.
"Put those packets aside and combine this oil with this liquid..." Viraf pointed towards a vial. The boy was arranging the components. Viraf gave him some instruction and sat on the chair. Yesterday his mother told him to call his elder brother. He could understand his mother's viewpoint, yet maintaining a relationship with a person who never ever felt any responsibility towards them always gave him grouse. Viraf searched the call log for his brother's number when he heard his worker's voice.
"Sir, can I say something?"
"Hmm..." Viraf said without looking at him.
"You both look perfect together." He replied with a grin.
Viraf stared at him and couldn't stop himself from smiling, but at the next moment he restrained himself and asked him, "Are you done with your work?"
He nodded yes.
Viraf concentrated on his phone and dialed his brother's number. After two rings, he heard a "Hello" from the other side.
"Bhai...how are you?" He was finding words to say, as he was speaking with him after ages.
"Arre Viraf...how are you and Ma?" It seemed he too was not comfortable speaking with him.
"We are good...actually Ma wanted to meet you...if you don't have any problem..."
"No...not at all...Do one thing, send Ma here. It would be nice if I can spend some days with her..."
"Ohhh...isn't it a big chance for removing all the guilt from your heart?...You always wanted to live a life on your own terms and today you want to spend some days with Ma?" His lips curved in a slight grin.
"Why are you speaking like this? She is my mother too..." he attempted to give him some explanation.
"I don't know...but you didn't seem happy with us either..." Viraf smiled slightly.
"See that was not the reason. You are misunderstanding me... I wanted a good life so that I can take care of you both..."
"Oh Bhai, now please don't make me start...see, you have left us for whatever reason that is in the past now and I don't want to talk about it...It's only for Ma...ok I'll talk to her and let you know." And he cut the call instantly. Some past memories became visible in front of his eyes, when he left them, when Viraf had to quit his job to take care of his mother, his brother's indifferent behavior towards them...
His brother always tried to find his own profit over emotions and today as well when he found some simple way to remove his years old guilt, he didn't think twice. Viraf shook his head. Some people never change.
"Hey Parth..." Parth and Chhavi both turned their head at once at the source of the sound. Priya and Tushar were standing there. Priya was literally glistening with happiness.
"Hi Chhavi...Coffee date, ha?!" Priya said winking at her.
Chhavi looked at Parth and then with a smile asked her instead,
"Yes...of course we'll come..." Parth replied.
"Priya...I..." But Chhavi confronted a strong obstruction as Priya shook her head.
"No, no Chhavi I don't want to hear any no, can't, what, if... You have to come...and it will be a whole night celebration...So please manage Aunty..." Chhavi smiled and nodded.
"Come join us..." Parth said, looking at Tushar.
"No Parth today we have to go. Some shopping is still left... And don't forget, you both are coming...bye." Tushar reminded them once more before leaving the place.
"Bye Chhavi..." They shared a hug and Priya left with Tushar.
"Parth..." After they left, Chhavi turned towards Parth. "I don't think there is much left to say. I made myself clear and I hope you understood what I said..." She stood up from the chair. "Ohhh...I forgot one thing." Parth looked at her with curious eyes. Chhavi removed her engagement ring from her finger and put it on the table.
"Bye..." And she left.
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