Chapter 10
She hung up the call and sat there for a moment, then she removed the blanket and went to the dining hall. The morning was calm and cloudy. A wet air was blowing giving her a chill. She had never been woken up so early and she had never experienced so much calmness before. Urmila was in the kitchen and was making tea. Chhavi paused at the doorstep of the kitchen, then called out.
"Ma..." Urmila turned towards her.
"You..." She was a bit surprised to see her so early in the morning. "You have woken up so early?" She asked while bringing down the sugar container from the shelf. Chhavi entered into the kitchen.
"I've a good news..."
"Good news? What?" She frowned at her.
"Sir had called me sometime before, he said that my research paper has been selected and now I can apply for a job..." Chhavi said with a smile.
Urmila looked at her with amazed eyes. She couldn't believe that it had actually happened to her daughter, her only daughter. She was proud of her.
"You are happy nah...?" Chhavi's question made her startled. She nodded and handed her a cup.
"Yes, I'm very happy. Since your childhood, I always wanted you to become something of your own and today is the day..."
"Where is papa?"
"At the terrace..."
She nodded and sipped her tea.
"Mom, I think we should leave now, you know how Mumbai's jam is..." Viraf's brother said, looking at her while getting up from the sofa.
Yesterday, after that conversation held between Viraf and his mother, he had again called him. Though he was totally aware of his brother's main intention, but after seeing his mother happy he was compelled to do that. His mother nodded and got up after a moment.
"Stay safe..." She said looking at Viraf, he nodded silently.
They came to the front yard, the road was occupied with her luggage and with a car which was standing there. Viraf opened the door for her, she caressed him for the last time before sitting.
"Thank you..." Viraf closed the door and turned hearing his brother's voice.
"For what...?" he frowned.
"You made her agree to go with me..." He adjusted his spectacles.
Viraf smiled.
"I didn't do that. Basically I don't want her to go with you, but for her sake I have to do it. Actually everybody is not so selfish like you, now go or else you'll be late..." He folded his arms.
His brother said nothing, he just sat in the front seat of the car and the car moved on.
Chhavi reached at the terrace of their apartment and instantly she felt a gentle rush of damp morning air. The sky was a bit sultry. She saw Shekhar there, who was strolling casually and humming a song. It seemed his mood is good.
"Hey papa..." She approached him while coming towards the railing of the terrace.
"It seems you couldn't sleep at night for the excitement of the party...?" He wriggled his brows.
"Papa, I've a good news to share with you..." She stopped there facing him.
"What, your research papers have been selected...??" he asked leaning over the railing.
Chhavi was flabbergasted.
"How did you know that...?"
He smiled.
"See, now, according to this situation you will only be happy if two things happened... one is if your mother agrees to your marriage with Viraf and the second is if your research papers get selected..." Shekhar stopped to take a breathe.
"I'm very happy and very proud of you, by the way today is your party na?"
"Yes, today." She answered and looked at the far sky.
"Is Viraf coming today?"
"Hmm, why?" She asked without looking at him.
"That is why you couldn't sleep at night, excitement, I can understand..." He chuckled.
"Papa, you are just too much." She shook her head while passing him a shy smile.
That evening was quite happening with some unexpected things happening in it. Chhavi was sitting in the car and the car was driven by Parth. She was looking at the outside and trying to control her frustration and anger. She still couldn't believe that Parth had come to her house and that too after so many things had happened between them.
"You are looking nice today...black suits you..." Parth said looking at her. The car had stopped for a traffic signal. The inside of the car was dim and a mild sound of an English song was emerging from the sound system.
"Thanks..." She gave a small answer while she concentrated on her phone. Black was not her favourite colour, though today in that private party she couldn't resist herself from wearing this short black dress with a sequined neckline. But sitting in that car, she was becoming more and more restless.
"What...? You want to say something...?" Chhavi could feel that his eyes were set on her.
"I'm sorry...I came to your house without even asking you. Actually I forgot that you..." But Chhavi cut him off.
"It's ok Parth .." She didn't feel any urge to give a reply to him.
The car stopped in front of a well decorated house and Chhavi came down in an instant. The party was organized at Priya and Tushar's new house, where they had shifted after marriage. From outside it was looking ravishing with some white, blue and pink fairy lights. Chhavi pressed the doorbell and after a moment Priya opened the door.
"Oh my God, you came at last..." Priya exclaimed and hugged her. "You are looking so hot." She added.
"You are looking nice too..." She replied with a big smile.
"Come in. Come Parth..." Priya closed the door behind them.
They entered and shared some casual greeting gestures. The interior of the house was classy and cosy. The floor of the drawing room was covered with colourful quilts and with cushions of various shapes. One side was completely for drinkers with all the bottles and glasses. In-front of that was situated a table and four chairs. The flavored candles were burning dimly. Some Chinese lamps were hanging from the roof which gave the room a sense of completeness. The decoration was perfect for a private friends gathering. Chhavi was exploring the whole decoration when her eyes stuck on Viraf who was standing with Tushar and some of the other guys in the open balcony which was a little farther from the main activity area. They were discussing something and laughing vibrantly. All this she could assume from the distance. He was looking dapper with his jeans and a round neck white tee paired with a white casual blazer. She was gazing at him and instantly felt that same sensational throb which she always felt whenever she came closer to him or he came closer to her.
"Tushar..." Priya called him out by his name which made Chhavi a bit startled. Tushar, along with them turned at the source of the sound, and then Viraf saw Chhavi. Their eyes met and it felt like the moment had ceased there. Chhavi smiled and removed her glance from him.
"Arre Chhavi! Where is your would-be husband?" Tushar exclaimed in a high pitch while coming towards her. The one thing which Chhavi didn't like in him was his loud nature.
"I...I didn't notice..." She replied.
"Arre your husband and you don't know..." Salil laughed.
"Salil..." Chhavi folded her hands, "He is not my husband and I'm not his P.A."
"Arre Chhavi why are you reacting so much...?" Tushar spoke in a soft tone while trying to control the situation.
"Because Tushar, your friend is compelling me..." Chhavi's firm tone rose.
"Guys! What are you all doing...?" Priya gave them a suppressed rumble, "Stop it..."
"Tell her..." Salil replied nonchalantly and left for the hallway.
"Chhavi you know how rude and weird he is. Leave it, let's go to the hall..."
"You go, I'm just coming." She said with a smile.
"And you both..." Priya exclaimed addressing Viraf and Neil who were still at that balcony. "Come fast yaar..." They nodded from there.
After they left for the hallway, Chhavi came towards Viraf. He was standing there as before. Chhavi noticed Neil was there too.
"Hey Chhavi..." He greeted her, and instead of greeting him back, she just turned towards Viraf and said.
"I need to talk to you, important..."
"I... better... leave..." Neil saw her firm face and left the place.
"How am I looking?" She asked, standing an inch away from him.
"So is this your most important talk...?" He countered facing her directly while leaning over the flowery railing.
"Yeah..of course it is important. Now tell na..."
"Can't you understand? I literally froze after seeing you..." He replied in a husky tone while leaning towards her. Chhavi pushed him and looked at the hall in a leery glance through the glass wall. Some of them were chatting, some of them were busy with themselves, nobody noticed them.
"What are you doing...?" She whispered.
"What? You are looking so ravishing." He came closer to her and held her by her waist. "What is my fault?" And started making a serious expression.
"Flirting huh...?" Chhavi wriggled her eyebrows.
He was going to say something when he heard someone calling her by her name. He looked at her.
"I'm going! It must be Priya..." She said in a hurry while removing herself from his grasp and leaving for the hallway.
TO BE CONTINUED. . .
Edited by mon.sayan17.com - 9 years ago
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