"You and Raghav are two big workaholics.. but remember no excuses for dinner..", Gauri said before hanging up the phone..
Staring at the blank phone screen Kalpi said," Sorry Gauri ma for lying to you that I have some work but I have no other option.. Its really important for me to stay away from him.. Now need to find an excuse for skipping dinner.."
"Have a nice day Dada..", she texted to Pakya before leaving... Pakya's workload in delhi was increasing day-by-day thus giving the siblings less time to even talk on phone and he had to stay there for two more weeks.. Kalpi planned to tell him about Gauri after he returns ...
It had been thirty minutes since her unsuccessful effort to get a rickshaw had started... "Today I'm gonna be hell lot late..", she said as she glanced at her watch for the umpteenth time..
Just then a white Audi stood before her and the front seat glass was lowered thus revealing the face of the owner..
Raghav- Come on in..
Kalpi-Its ok sir.. I'll go by myself..
Raghav- You'll be late if you don't come with me and then your boss will get mad at you..
Before Kalpi could further argue Raghav got down and open the door to the front seat .. Kalpi went inside.. After closing the door Raghav went back to his seat and drove the car to office...
The drive thereafter was silent...
Kalpi pov: "Here I'm trying to stay away from him and now I'm in his car.. great... why does he being around affect me... thank god atleast he's not trying to talk atleast.. I need to come with some better plan.. distancing myself from him is the only solution to stop these stupid feelings from coming in my mind"..
Raghav pov: "God knows what happened to her... why isn't she talking to me... dude you saying as if you guys talk a lot.. we don't but we also don't keep quiet like this we atleast discuss work... maybe she's still angry about yesterday's oil-incident.."
Raghav was about to say sorry but before that kalpi said, "Sir Stop"
"What happened??", Raghav asked..
Kalpi simply pointed out.. Raghav realised that they were near the office and as per their pact he had to drop her at some distance.. Kalpi was about to go when Raghav held her hand.. She looked at him and as soon as their eyes met it seemed that the time had stopped... neither of them could move their eyes away as the other one had held their gaze very tightly..
Raghav was first to break the eyelock and said," I'm sorry for what happened yesterday..," Raghav had pulled Kalpi close to him.. they were inches apart and his warm breathe on her lips and the fluttering butterflies in her stomach along with her super fast heart beat were stopping words from coming out of her mouth.. she just nodded her head gesturing that its ok..
Raghav further said," Sammy wants to meet me during lunch time.. So will you have lunch with me?"..On seeing the confused look on her face Raghav further continued," I mean us.. Actually I need to update you with the current progress.."... Kalpi just wanted to go away from him so she just nodded her head in yes and left from there in haste ..
*******************************************************
As usual Kalpi was busy working...while she was reading some file her cell phone buzzed.. Without checking the id she picked up the phone..
Kalpi- Hello
Person- Hi Kalpi..
Kalpi- Arey Prem.. hi..
Prem- I called to ask that may I have the honour to have lunch with you today ??
Kalpi- (Laughs a little) Sorry but I already have plans.. (On saying that she remembered her morning encounter with Raghav and felt warmth rise up in her cheeks)
Prem- You there??
Kalpi- Ha.. bolo..
Prem- (Sad tone..) Ok... Guess so today again me and my loneliness will have lunch together...
Kalpi- Stop being so melodramatic...
Just then Raghav enters her cabin ... On seeing Raghav she realised that she had a perfect opportunity to stay away from him and before prem could hang up the phone she said," I'm coming ok.. I'll meet you downstairs in 10 minutes.."
Raghav came inside after Kalpi kept her phone back on the table.. "Ready to go??".. Kalpi got up from her seat and said," Sir actually I can't accompany you.. Umm .. I need to go meet a friend of mine...and anyway Sammy sir wanted to meet you right...".. Raghav wanted to convince her to accompany him but then he realised that he neither had a reason nor any right to do so..He left from there without saying anything to her...
On seeing him walk away sadly Kalpi felt bad but then her mind spoke up that she shouldn't be complicating things...
*******************************************************
Hotel Trescot
"Why all of sudden this info about Kamla Jadhav and her family??", Sammy asked Raghav while entering the hotel..
Raghav- I need to meet her..
Sammy- why??
Raghav- I need to apologize to her..
Kalpi's words rang in his ears, "If someone commits a mistake unknowingly and tries to mend it then that person can be forgiven.."
Sammy- But Raghav it wasn't your fault.. plus its been so many years.. Maybe they don't even know about your statement or remember anything..
Raghav- So what Sammy?? They don't remember but that does not mean that I won't care.. If after so many years my wounds are fresh then maybe there's too.. maybe they misunderstand me.. I don't know anything I'm gonna meet Kamla bai today itself..
Sammy- Fine.. do what you want to do ...
After ordering their food Raghav got up to go to the washroom when he saw Kalpi and Prem sitting at one of the corner tables..
Kalpi- Thank god you reminded me ... I almost forgot its gonna be her b'day in few days...
Prem- And Raghav's too... See I'll manage the Raghav's guest invites but you need to invite your college friends as I know none of Paakhi's friends except you..
Kalpi- Fine I'll manage that but what about venue, decoration etc.
Prem- We need to choose venie today rest all work the party planner would do..
Kalpi- When is Paakhi coming back??
Prem- Tomorrow... Day after tomorrow we would have to go for shopping with her as every year.. And then next day party so we need to finalise venue today...
Kalpi- Fine I'll meet you after office...
Prem- Ya but be careful Raghav shouldn't find out about this...
"I shouldn't find out about what??", Startled Kalpi and Prem looked up at the source of the voice and saw Raghav standing near their table..
Kalpi was about to say something but before that Prem placed his hand above hers and said," About nothing... I mean we were not talking about you.. We were talking about some other Raghav.. my college friend Raghav... raghav sharma..",
All the while Raghav was staring at prem's hand which was on Kalpi's hand .. Muttering a good bye Raghav left from there and Prem heaved a sigh of relief as he removed his hand and said," Our surprise party was almost revealed.. gosh.. need to be careful next time.."
Kalpi nodded her head in approval while thinking about Raghav's reaction ... his intense stare on her and Prem's overlapping hands and then walking away...
Raghav on the other hand was constantly splashing water on his face... flashes of the oil-incident and current incident constantly coming in front of his eyes..
With each splash questions and images were flashing in his mind, "Why should I care?? She can talk to anyone and hold anyone's hand she wants.. Plus they're good friends.. But then why do I get so angry on seeing them together and ... what are they hiding... what they don't want me to know..."...
On not getting any answers he just wiped the water droplets of his face and went out of the washroom ... He went to the table where Sammy was sitting and said that he's leaving and before Sammy could enquire about anything Raghav was already out of the restaurant...
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