"Do You Think I'm Sexy?" - The Prequel Part 2 - "Quit Playing Games!"
*"Jaane maan jaane ja...yeh dillagi...deko na banjaye...dil ki lagi...kaysa daard hai...kaysa haal hain...Aab na hosh hain...aab na hayal hai..."
Suman was in her room picking out a dress to wear for her date. She wanted to go for a western and more sophisticated look. Leave her Desi Girl image behind for tonight. She was going through her closet and found the staple that every woman needed to have in her wardrobe. The LBD, or Little Black Dress. She had a slinky black dress with elbow length sleeves and the length of the dress was to her knees. It was a dress she had got for her US trip, and thought she would use if she went to a nice place for dinner. Well this place Ajay talked about sounded nice too. So this dress it will be. She decided to wear a silver chain and bracelet with it. Shoes?...well flats will kill the look so she decided to wear a pair of black strappy sandals she had. It had a 3 inch heel and she was not really that comfortable in heels. But she could manage it when needed.
So Suman's outfit was ready and she was about to go for a shower when she could hear her phone ring. The phone was on her bed and she thought to ignore it, and then decided to take a look. The name flashing across the screen made her heart stop for a minute.
"Shravan"
She wondered if she should pick up or not. Maybe she should just ignore it? Then she paused and thought for a second. If she ignored it, maybe he will again. It was better to just talk to him. She had not heard from him in a few days anyway. Sumo reached for the phone and picked it up.
"Hello Shravan" she said in a composed voice.
"Hello Shravan" Shravan repeated in a low tone. "Tum ithane serious kyon sound ka rahi ho Sumo?" asked Shravan with a smile.
"Nahi toh...this is how I always sound!"
"Really?...Anyway...I was calling to see how you are? I know we have not caught up in a few days! Look I'm sorry about the other day in the office, I know I annoyed you by suggesting you came there to see me! Congrats on the contract with the Firm by the way. I am sure it will be a good move for you, and the firm too!"
"Thanks" said Suman softly. "Toh tum ne achank phone kyon kiya?"
"Do friends need a reason to call each other? Like I said, I thought I'd see how you are?"
"I'm fine!"
"Fine? That's it? Tum kab se ithani kam bolne lagi hu?"
Suman didn't know what to say to that.
"Is everything OK Sumo?" asked Shravan when he was greeted by silence on the other end.
"Yeah...yes of course!" said Suman. "Look Shravan...I am sort of in the middle of something, so can I call you back later?" she asked, coz she didn't want to just cut the call and be rude. Yes she was hurt at the way things were between them. But she did value his friendship enough not to want to lose it.
"Yeah sure...actually Sumo, I was going to ask...I mean Pushkar and I were thinking of going out tonight. Would you like to join us?"
Suman was stumped. Shravan wanted her to come out on the town with him and Pushkar? But she had a date with Ajay. What was she going to say to him?
"Ha...main...Shravan...I sort of already have something on!" said Suman closing her eyes.
"Something on? What? A hot date with your DVR?" asked Shravan with a laugh.
Suman opened her mouth. Did Shravan really think she had nothing to do on Friday night other than watch DVD's? Well she will tell him.
"No actually...I have a date with a person!" snapped out Suman. Suddenly it was her turn to hear silence from the other end.
"A person?" Shravan said slowly.
"Yes, as in a chalthi phirthi insaan. A guy, to be specific!"
"You have a date with guy!" it was a statement not a question.
"Yes Shravan I have a date with a guy. Usually it's guys that girls go on dates with!...Lekin aap ki London main shayad..." She left the statement unfinished.
"Yeah yeah I get the drift...you're going out with a GUY!" said Shravan in a sarcastic undertone. "So who is this guy?"
"That's for me to know and for you not to find out!" said Suman with an equally sarcastic undertone.
"Dosto seh chupathi ho?" asked Shravan, trying to not let how disturbed he was by this piece of news reflect in his voice.
"Nahi...main...Woh...He's a guy I met through work!" said Suman slowly. She just could not tell him it was Ajay. She just didn't feel comfortable. For a moment she wondered if she had made a big mistake saying yes to this date. She had not thought how Shravan or even Pushkar might react if they found out she had gone out with Ajay. It was not like some random guy, this was a guy they knew, a guy who worked for their firm. "Josh main aa kar tumnai ha toh kardi...aab kya karogi?" she thought.
"OK!" said Shravan for want of anything better to say. He was so thrown by this news, he really didn't know what to say or how to react! Shravan paused and composed himself. "Look Sumo...lagtha hai muje Chachi bula rahi hai! I better go!" he said. He needed an excuse to hang up.
"Ha Ha...yes of course! Bye!" said Suman as she also used the opportunity to cut the call. Suman closed her eyes as soon as she hung up the phone. She put her phone down on the bed and covered her eyes with her hands. Telling Shravan about her date had felt awful. This was not a good start to the evening. Suman almost felt like cancelling. But knew it would be rude to call off the date at this time. She took a deep breath "Aab tume iss date peh har haal main jana hai Sumo!" she told herself as she marched towards the bathroom.
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Pushkar came into Shravan's room around 6.30pm, as soon as he came home.
"Bhaiyya" he said as he opened the door and stepped in.
He saw Shravan inside his closet changing his t-shirt.
"You're already getting ready to go out? It's a bit too early. I haven't even showered yet. I thought we should leave around 8.30?" said Pushkar as he saw Shravan coming out from behind the vertical screen.
"I'm not getting ready to go out, I just went for a run before, so had a shower" said Shravan. Something in his voice alerted Pushkar to the fact that something was off. He looked at Shravan more closely and saw a stressed expression on his face.
"Kya bhaat hai Bhiayya...aapke chehere main bara kyon baje huwe hai?" he asked.
"What? Nahi toh" said Shravan.
"Then why are you looking so stressed out?" said Pushkar with a raise of his browse. "Anyways, a night out on the town will cure you of whatever funk you're in".
"Actually chote, I am sort of not in the mood...I mean I feel a bit tired" lied Shravan. The truth was that since he heard about Sumo's date, he was feeling restless.
"No way Bhiayya!" said Pushkar as he raised his hands in exasperation. "I have been looking forward to this for the whole week, and we are going to that English pub tonight. Socho ke aap London wapis gaya ho. That should put you in a better mood! After all, yaha aap ka maan nahi lag raha na?" said Pushkar with a scowl.
Shravan rolled his eyes. "Please Chote tum shuru mat ho ja" he said. "This has nothing to do with me not wanting to be here, or preferring London"
"Then what is it to do with?" he said, when he suddenly paused and seem to be in thought for a second. He then looked at Shravan speculatively. "Is it about Sumo?"
Shravan looked at Pushkar with a surprised expression. "Tumai kaiyse patha?...I mean...why do you think it's about Sumo?" he rephrased the question quickly.
"Don't even try Bhaiyaa, you are busted OK? I know this is about Sumo, so stop pretending it's not. I've noticed you've been in a sort of a mood these past two days, but I was so busy, I didn't get to ask you about it! So tell me what happened this time? Aap logone phir se koi jagada kar diya kya?"
"NO Pushkar!" said Shravan in a frustrated tone. "We didn't fight. In fact...muje patha nahi hain ke Sumo ka problem kya hai?" he muttered.
"Yeah even I noticed that day at the office that something was a bit off, but then because she was in a rush I didn't pay too much attention to it! Anyways, rather than speculating, I think the best way to sort things out is to take Sumo out with us tonight. Call her. Actually I'll call her!" said Pushkar as he reached for his phone.
"Koi faida nahin hai" said Shravan.
"What do you mean? At least let me try?" said Pushkar shaking his head.
"I mean koi faida nahin coz she is busy tonight!" murmured Shravan.
"Busy? With what?"
"With a date!" said Shravan with a twist of his lips.
"DATE? Sumo is on a date tonight? Kise ke saath?"
"Muje kya patha chote...?" Said Shravan angrily. "She didn't tell me who, just some guy she met through work or whatever!" muttered Shravan.
"Bhaiyya are you sure Sumo said date, coz I just can't believe she would date anyone and not tell me?" said Pushkar, at which Shravan gave him a speculative look.
"What? Woh sirf Aapke dost nahin hain...in fact in the last 10 years, we have spent more time together, and I cant believe she would not tell me something as important as she is dating someone!" said Pushkar.
"Really? So you mean to say she is a closer friend of yours than she is of mine? That she would call you and tell you she is dating someone, but she wont tell me?" asked Shravan testily.
"Bhaiyaa...lagtha hai kuch jal raha hai!" said Pushkar with a chuckle.
"Whatever!" said Shravan.
"Not "whatever", it's more like "what is it?"
"Meaning?"
"Matlab...yeh toh thai hai ke woh meri aachi dost hai...lekin woh apki kya hai...main abhi bhi samaj nahi pah raha hu!...Since you came back from London, I've been trying to figure out exactly what is going on in your mind? But the way I see it, Aap Sumo ko dost seh baad kar manthai hai!" said Pushkar looking squarely at Shravan. Shravan always found that direct gaze of Pushkar's hard to handle.
"No Pushkar, hum sirf dost hai!"
"Really? Iss liye...iss liye uski date ke baath sun kar aap ka mood off hogaya? Please bhaiyaa, yeh dikawa at least mere samne toh mat karo!"
"Ok so maybe I am not thrilled with the idea, coz this is so damned out of the blue!" said Shravan.
"Inn jaise cheez achanak hi hota hai. Achanak koi kisi ko miljatha hain! Look Bhaiyaa...in these situations, if you don't say what you need to, then bohot dher ho jatha hai!" said Pushkar. Shravan was about to speak when Pushkar said "Don't say anything, because whatever you say wont convince me on this subject. All I will say is, don't take too long...Sumo is a very attractive girl and she is interesting and independent too. So someone will notice this...aage aap khud samajdar hai!"
Shravan didn't know how to respond to that, so he pursed his lips and looked the other way. Pushkar sighed.
"We are going out! I don't want to hear anything more about it. We'll leave in 2 hours. Aap please taiyaar ho jaiye. The dress code is smart casual!" said Pushkar as he walked out of Shravan's room.
Shravan knew his brother was in no mood to listen to him. His "chote" can be a real hard case when he needs to be. Shravan gave a small smile. He actually liked this side of Pushkar. Yeah he was laid back, but he was not a push over! He shook his head and decided to play along. After all, Sumo was going to be out somewhere having a good time with her so called "date". So why should HE sit here and mope? No he would go out too. Not only go out, he will have a good time, he thought with resolve as he went back in the direction of his closet to take out the clothes he would wear tonight.
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Sumo arrived at the English Pub just after 8.30PM. Being in business meant she was always conscious of time. She didn't like being kept waiting, so she never kept anyone waiting herself. She parked her car and made her way into inside. Ajay had texted her to say he had already arrived. Suman was feeling a bit nervous, but she knew there was nothing to be done but to try and get through this evening. Heck she might even enjoy herself. "Just relax Sumo. Kuch nahi hoga. Just finish dinner and stay for another hour and leave! You can do this!" she told herself as she walked in.
She went to the reception and saw Ajay in the waiting area. Ajay was wearing black pants and a black shirt. He looked very smart and he smiled as he saw Suman.
"Hi Suman" he said walking towards her. "You look amazing" he said with a charming smile.
"Thank you! You look nice too!" said Suman with a small smile.
"Shall we go in?" he asked as he led her inside. Soon a waiter came and guided them to their table. The interior had a very old style English pub look, but had a classy undertone to it with a sleek black dcor. Suman liked the look of the place.
"Nice place ha?" said Ajay after they sat down.
"Yeah really nice!" said Suman. Just then the waiter came with the drinks menu and Ajay asked what she would have. She decided to go for a non-alcoholic cocktail to start with, and Ajay ordered a beer. Soon they were getting into the drinks and Ajay asked about her work and family and then talked a bit about his law school days etc. So far the evening going was well. They had just ordered entrees when Suman decided to go use the washroom. She excused herself and walked towards the area marked for the washrooms. She quickly used the wash room and was on her way back to her table. She had to pass the bar on her way back to her table and as she was passing it, someone standing at the bar turned around and she nearly collided into the person. She looked up saying;
"I'm so sorry!" and froze as she saw who it was.
"Sha...Shravan?" she said swallowing.
"Sumo? Tum Yaha?"
"Yeah I..." said Suman when Shravan cut her off.
"Ohh...so you're on your date here?" he asked.
Suman took exception to his tone. "Yes I am! Why is there a restriction on where I can go?"
"No of course not! You can go anywhere you please!"
Suman was about to say something when a voice spoke from the side.
"Suman? Is everything OK?" They both turned to their side to see Ajay standing there.
"Ajay?" said Shravan in shock. "Ajay is your date?" asked Shravan turning around to look at Suman.
"Is there a problem Shravan?" asked Ajay as he looked from Shravan to Suman.
"Yeah there is a problem. You barley know Sumo and your bringing her to some Pub and..." Shravan was saying when Suman stopped him.
"Excuse me. I am a grown up Shravan. I don't need you to decide what is good for me!"
"You don't know what is good for you. THAT is your problem!" he muttered angrily. He then turned towards Ajay. "Look Ajay...Sumo...Suman is not just any girl from the office. She is like a part of our family. So your usual M.O is not going to work here!" he said looking at Ajay with ill-concealed anger.
"I think you're being very presumptuous Shravan. I happen to like Suman!"
"Yeah!" said Shravan rolling his eyes a bit.
"How dare you Shravan? I am here with Ajay of my own free will. Now if your done insulting my date, can I please go to my table?" said Suman angrily.
"Sumo you..." Shravan was saying when suddenly Pushkar appeared from the other side of the bar. He had been to the washroom too and just come back. He looked at the scene in front of him and his eyes widened. There was Shravan, Suman and AJAY! Ajay Singh was Suman's date? Well he had to give it to the guy, he didn't waste time. It had been barley a week since he met Sumo and already got a date with her! One look at the three people told him things were tensed. Pushkar walked over to them.
"Hey Sumo, Ajay..." Said Pushkar looking at them both. "Small world. Had no idea we would run into you guys here!" he said. He looked at his brother as if to say "I told you so!"
Both Suman and Ajay greeted Pushkar and just then Suman said to Ajay "Shall we go back to our table Ajay?"
"Yeah sure! Later guys!" said Ajay as he looked at Pushkar and Shravan as he walked away with Suman. Shravan took a step towards them when Pushakr's hand on his arm stopped him.
"Don't Bhaiyya!" he said in a calm but firm voice. Shravan looked at him for a second as if to say he won't listen to him, but as Pushkar held his eyes for a moment he sighed and turned around and walked to their table with him.
The rest of the evening was a blur. Neither Shravan nor Suman was actually having a good time. The table Shravan and Pushkar was at had a view to the side of the restaurant that Ajay and Suman were sitting at. Unfortunately the place was filling up and they could not even change tables. Suman tried her best not to look Shravan's way but she could not help glancing at him. At one point some girls had walked into the pub and two had started to chat to Shravan and Pushkar and Suman saw Shravan laughing and talking to them while having a beer. In anger she ordered a wine and drank it a bit too fast. Ajay asked her if she would like to order something from the bar and she said yes.
He then took her hand and guided her to the bar. Shravan saw all this from the corner of his eyes. The sight of Ajay holding Suman's hand was making him see red. He fisted his hands under the table. Pushkar saw Suman and Ajay and then looked at his brother. He shook his head. He had got the girls from another table to join them hoping to distract his brother but that seemed to not be doing the trick. Then suddenly Shravan got up from the table as well, and asked one of the girls Natasha, if she would like to come to the bar with him! She smiled and said yes. Pushkar sighed. "Oh Bhaiyaa...aap yeh kya kar rahai ho?" he thought. He knew why Shravan was going to the bar with Natasha. "Pulling another Urvashi!", he thought. When will his brother learn? For a smart guy, he acted real dumb sometimes. "Yeh stunts nahi...Sumo se baath karo bhaiyya. Apne true feelings ko accept karo!" he thought.
Shravan was walking with Natasha to the bar and Suman saw this. They came and stood quite close to where Suman and Ajay where. Suddenly Suman told Ajay she wanted to do a shot. He looked at her for a moment, but obliged. Soon Sumo had downed a shot and was looking at Shravan as he got a drink for Natasha smiling with her.
"Let's dance Ajay!" said Suman as she took Ajay's hand and led him to the small dance floor close to the bar. Soon Suman was dancing with Ajay swaying to the music. Shravan was watching her from the bar with a thunderous expression.
Suddenly Suman looked towards the bar and could not see Shravan anymore. Just then she heard a voice from behind Ajay say "May I cut in?"
Ajay looked up at him and it almost looked like he wanted to refuse but he said "Sure" and stepped away. Ajay then started to dance with another girl on the floor.
Suman faced Shravan as the music kept playing. They just kept looking at each other.
Suman was about to turn around and leave when Shravan caught her hand.
"Come with me" he said. Suman was about to protest, when Shravan looked at her warningly.
"Come with me Sumo...and don't create a scene!" he said in a firm tone as he led her away from the dance floor, and through one of the side doors to a secluded corridor of the pub. As soon as they were there Suman shook Shravan's hand off hers.
"What do you think you're doing?" she asked angrily looking up at him and then turned away from him, and stood with her back to him.
At that Shravan stepped forward and turned her around to face him as he said angrily.
"What the hell are you doing Sumo?"
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*Lyrics derived from the song -"Kahi Pyaar Na Ho Jaye" - Movie-Badal -2000
Previous Part -
"Do You Think I'm Sexy?"- Prequel-Part 1- "Friend-Zoned!"
Next Part -
"Do You Think I'm Sexy?"-The Sequel-"This Kiss!"
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Allright, so that was the end of the Prequel. We are back where it all began at the pub. Next will be the Sequel. This is getting to be like Star Wars! Lol
As always comments welcome and don't forget to like!
Cheers
Mandy
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