New FF-2nd chance at Love-Completed-PG 81-08/08/2014 - Page 13

Vihaan suddenly tried waking up from the bed, with a jerk. The sudden movement caused his back to spasm and he fell back again with a yelp of pain. Instinctively, Kalpi who could never see anyone in pain rushed to his aid. She rushed towards the bed and asked worriedly "Are you alright"? Vihaan angry at displaying his weakness before her yelled, "Bloody hell, do I look alright? I can't even sit up on my own". His Mom said, "Don't swear, Vihaan, she was just being concerned." Kalpana understood that he was in pain and she ignored his anger and leant towards him, and asked "Are you sure, you should be sitting?" An irritated Vihaan replied, "I can sit perfectly well, I might just need a little help." Unthinkingly "Here let me help you sit, saying that she came towards him and put her hand on his back and supported him. She was so close to him that he could feel her breath on his face. She smelled of fresh flowers and her fragrance was intoxicating. Her perfect breasts were almost on touching his shoulders and his hands accidently touched her waist. Her proximity was creating havoc on his senses and he was drowning in her touch and she was totally fixated on helping him sit. She arranged the cushions and helped him sit. "Are you comfortable, now?", she asked. He just nodded. He was totally speechless.

For a moment he had forgotten his pain and discomfort and only wallowed in the pleasure that her touch brought him. All he wanted to do at that moment was put her arms around her beautiful waist and pull her towards him and hug and never let her go.

Kalpi suddenly realized what she had done. She had gone ahead and helped Vihaan, even though it was totally not her place to do it. His mom was there in the room. She blushed and blurted out, "I have done a course in First Aid, hence I thought I could help". She knew that she was giving rambling excuses and blushed again. Her rushing towards him to help was so instinctive. She did not know why she felt she had to help him. She somehow did not like to see him in a vulnerable state and wanted to make him feel better. She was totally embarrassed now.

Sonal was watching the whole interplay between her handsome son and this beautiful girl. She realized that her son was totally smitten by Kalpana, but Kalpana's feelings were not obvious. She smiled and decided to leave them alone. "Okay, I will leave you to get on with your work. I have to go out for some work. Kalpana, will you stay with Vihaan till I come back", Sonal asked. Kalpana agreed and Sonal left the room. It was then that Vihaan realized that his mother had been there in the room all this time. Something was seriously wrong with him, it must be the painkillers, he thought.

Vihaan decided it was better to get back to work as this tense atmosphere was not doing anyone any good. His hormones were on an overdrive and he thought that getting his thoughts focused on work would stop his lustful feelings for Kalpana. Treat her like a colleague and things would get better, he thought. He asked her to get his laptop and she got it for him and placed it on his lap and then she pulled a chair next to his bed and opened her laptop.

They started working together and in no time were engrossed in discussing the status of the various phases of their project and their deadline. He was very happy to know that they were ahead of schedule on many milestones planned. He was busy congratulating himself on maintaining a proper businesslike demeanor with her, but he did it too soon and tempted the Gods to test him.

He then her asked her a question about a certain action plan and excitedly she jumped onto his bed with her laptop and sat next to him touching him. She did not even seem to be aware of the fact that she was pressing against his body. Enthusiastically she was pointing to something on her laptop and explaining her whole idea to him. He tried concentrating on what she was saying, but it was very difficult when she was so close to him. He used all his powers of concentration to reply intelligently to her talk.

It was such a pleasure hearing her soft voice, having her body pressed against him and inhaling her sweet scent. He loved having her close to him. She was one girl who never bored him, always kept things interesting. Suddenly she jumped out of his bed in the same manner as she had jumped in and he felt bereft as if a warm comforter had been removed from his body on cold day. "I have SiddhiVinayak 's prasad with me, do you mind if I give it to you". Vihaan was not greatly religious, he believed in God but did not really believe in going to temples. But he could not refuse Kalpana anything at this time. He said" Why would I refuse prasad?" She brought him the prasad and gave it to him and also did his Tilak with some vermillion. She did this with so much devotion that he felt closer to God as he had never felt before.

Suddenly Kalpana noticed a look of pain crossing Vihaan's face. She exclaimed "I am such a fool, the effect of your painkillers must have worn off and I have overstressed you". Vihaan was surprised to hear that she had noticed that he was in pain. He had taken great efforts to hide his distress as he did not want her to go." I am fine", he said. "No you are not, is it time for your pills", she asked. Vihaan looked at the clock on his laptop and nodded. He was surprised to notice how hours had just flown away in her company. She brought him his pills along with a glass of water and asked him if he wanted anything else. He denied needing anything else. The only thing he required at that moment was to be in her presence.

She told him, " I think we have accomplished a lot of things, I will discuss everything with the team tomorrow and give them your directions. Why don't you just rest now?". Vihaan just said, "Don't go, please". She told him, she was not going anywhere till his Mom came back. She removed his laptop from lap and helped him onto a sleeping position. "Kalpana, I am not sleepy, can we just talk, maybe not about work. Tell me something about yourself, I don't know anything about you other than the fact that you are brilliant at your work." Kalpana blushed at the compliment and said "Thank you, but my life is totally boring. ". "I am still interested", Vihaan said.

Kalpana started talking to him about her life, she told him about her parents, and how they struggled to give her a good education. She talked about her times spent in the hostel. Even though she did not dwell on her loneliness there, Vihaan picked up on her emotions. It was surprising how connected he felt with her. Vihaan was a great listener and she continued talking about her love for education and maths being her favourite subject. She had gone through struggles, but did not talk like a martyr. She was a winner through and through. She told him about how she loved children and how she volunteered at an orphanage. She also told him about her desire to give something back to the community. She realized suddenly that she had been talking for a long time about herself. I am sure he must be bored to death by my stupid lifestory, not knowing that every word that she spoke brought her closer and closer to his heart.

Suddenly she stopped and asked him to talk about himself. He decided that he wanted to share things with her too. He told her about his wonderful childhood, his youth spent abroad. His initial days of loneliness there and assimilation into the American culture. He talked about the things he loved about USA and things he hated. She heard him wide-eyed and fascinated as Vihaan was an excellent storyteller and she loved hearing about his experiences. She asked him about his experience in setting up and expanding the North American operations. He started talking about his work there and she was totally engrossed and asked him so many relevant questions. He loved explaining things to her because she was so genuinely interested. When he talked about his success in the North American operations, she looked so impressed and said " You are so good, I can't believe I am getting a chance to work with you". She said it simply, without any intention to flatter, that he felt 10 feet tall. Her pride in him made him feel special, as he had never felt before.

"Thanks for waiting, sorry I am late,", Sonal walked in saying this. Both of them were startled. They seemed to be engrossed in their own little world. Both of them looked guiltily at their watches. They suddenly realized that they had been talking for hours without interruption.

Kalpana did not know, why but she felt a strange sense of bonding with Vihaan and she was not ready for it. She hastily said her Goodbyes and left from there.