PART 18:-
THE MYSTERY MAN…….
The morning of Monday had finally dawned. Ananya woke up at 6 in the morning to find Akshay sitting on a chair next to the bed while resting his head on it. As she woke up, Akshay also lifted his head drowsily.
Ananya:- Good Morning! Did you get my clothes?
Akshay:- Yes. It's in that plastic bag over there.
Ananya grabbed the plastic bag kept on the side table.
Akshay:- I still think that it is a bad idea.
Ananya:- Don't start this in the morning. I have made my decision.
Akshay:- Fine! But I am dropping you to college.
Ananya:- Fine!
Akshay:- By car……
Ananya:- What? You know I don't like to sit in cars. It feels so secluded and safe.
Akshay:- I took you back home by car on the day of the race.
Ananya:- That was different. I was unconscious. I wouldn't have known even if you took me home on a bullock cart.
Akshay:- Well you don't have any option now, do you?
Ananya looked at him angrily but decided that it was of no use. She removed her clothes from the bag.
Ananya:- What is this?
Akshay:- They are called pants.
Ananya:- I know that. Why did you get me half pants? You know that I don't like them. I feel all exposed.
Akshay:- You are the person who is adamant in going to college today. You can't wear a full pant because it can scrap the area where the stitches are. So if you want to go to college, you have to wear these.
Again, Ananya had no other option. She got up and went into the bathroom. She wrapped a plastic cover around her left calf, so that her stitches wouldn't get wet. She came out of the bathroom wearing a loose white t-shirt and black, body tight half pants. Akshay took one look at her and was shocked.
Ananya:- What?
Akshay:- Oh… Nothing!!!! It's just that you look like a girl for a change.
Ananya (Sarcastically!):- Ha Ha Ha! Very funny. Well, I guess you don't have to work too hard to look like a girl yourself.
Akshay looked at her annoyingly.
Akshay:- Can we leave now?
Ananya:- I never asked you to wait.
Ananya picked up the shoulder bag that Akshay had brought and they were off to college. They were about to leave the hospital when Dr Meenal walked towards the entrance. She looked at Ananya rather annoyingly.
Meenal:- Where do you think you are going?
Ananya:- I said that I want to go to college today.
Meenal:- I know that. But not like this.
Ananya:- What do you mean?
Meenal:- Come with me.
Ananya and Akshay followed Dr Meenal into the hospital. She made both of them wait in the lobby. She came back after 5 minutes with a walking stick.
Ananya:- There is no way I am taking that to college. It's bad enough that I am going by car.
Meenal:- It's either this or a wheel chair. Now you choose.
Ananya:- What if I choose neither.
Hearing this Dr Meenal replied rather seriously.
Meenal:- Then there is no way that I will be letting you out of this hospital.
Ananya was about to smile but Dr Meenal responded otherwise.
Meenal:- Ananya. I am very serious. I am one of the Head of Department in this hospital and on my orders the staff can tie you up to a wheel chair and make you stay here against your will. You have already done enough damage to that leg of yours. Don't worsen the situation. Now I am asking for the last time. Will you take this walking stick and use it?
Ananya decided not to argue. She had already experienced the wrath of Dr Meenal's anger and it was not a pretty picture. She took the walking stick from Dr Meenal's hand.
Meenal:- Now that's like a good girl. Akshay, you have to make sure that she uses it in college. If she doesn't, you will call me up immediately. But if Ananya knows what is good for her then she better listen to what I am saying.
Ananya:- Fine! I'll use it. Akshay need not be my bodyguard.
Dr Meenal bade farewell to both of them as Akshay and Ananya headed off to college.
'Bang!!' That was the sound of Veer breaking his 10th alarm clock. It was 8 o'clock in the morning but Veer was still not ready to get up. Once again Max came to the rescue. Max was one alarm clock that Veer could not bang. Max started licking Veer all over his face until he was able to get up.
Veer:- Okay! Fine! I am awake. Get off me Maxy.
Obediently, Max got off Veer's chest and sat on the other side of the bed. Veer got up and went to the bathroom. As he was brushing his teeth, Veer remembered what an important day it was.
Veer:- Today is the day of the result. I better not be late. I have to see Ananya's face when she realizes that I have beaten her. Can't wait to see her attitude get smashed to smithereens.
Veer went to the ground floor and towards the dining table. Veer hated the dining room but Nivriti wouldn't let him watch TV while eating his meal. Veer sat at his usual place. Nivriti brought Veer some sandwiches from the kitchen. She placed a few of them on Veer's plate and some for herself. She saved the rest for Dharam. She sat at head chair of the table and started eating. Veer was about to eat when he saw Dharam walking down the stairs. Instantly Veer shouted out to Dharam……..
Veer:- Ruko Dharam!
Dharam was on the first floor. He was about to climb down the spiraling marble staircase when Veer asked him to stop. Dharam was puzzled.
Dharam:- Kyun? Kya hua?
Veer got up from his chair and rushed towards Dharam. He climbed the staircase quickly, stepping on alternate stairs. He grabbed Dharam's right hand gently and placed his other hand on Dharam's left shoulder. He slowly took Dharam down the staircase and towards the dining table. Both Dharam and Nivriti were very confused. As they reached the table Dharam questioned Veer…….
Dharam:- What was that for?
Veer looked at him with a fake surprise.
Veer:- Tum bhi kamaal karte ho Dharam! Aisi naazuk haalat main, main tumhe akela kaise chodta?
It was then that Dharam realized that Veer was still pulling his leg because he bought that pregnancy book. Instantly Dharam took his hand out off Veer's grip and nudged away Veer's hand from his shoulder. Veer was still smirking. During this entire fiasco, Nivriti was still looking confused.
Nivriti:- Yeh kya ho raha hain? Aur Dharam……… Tumhe kya hua hain?
Immediately Dharam started blushing and looked a little embarrassed. Veer looked at Nivriti in another fake surprise.
Veer:- Arre Maa! Aapko nahin pataa. Aapka bachcha ab badaa ho gaya hain……..
Nivriti:- Kya? Yeh tum kya bol rahe ho Veer?
Veer:- Dekho Maa! Main tumhe samjhata hoon……….
Veer was about to tell Nivriti everything but Dharam caught hold of Veer and closed Veer's mouth with his hands just in time. Veer was struggling but Dharam wouldn't let go.
Dharam:- Kya bua…….. Aap Veer ki baatein kyun sunn rahe ho? Mujhe kuch nahin hua hain. Veer toh bakwaas karr raha hain.
Dharam still had his hand on Veer's mouth and Nivriti was still looking confused.
Nivriti:- Tum dono ko main kabhi samaj nahin paaungi. You both are simply hopeless…… Chalo abhi breakfast khaao aur college jaao.
Dharam let go of Veer. He went and sat on his chair. Veer sat beside him. They both started eating their sandwiches. In the middle of the meal, Nivriti recollected something and asked Dharam.
Nivriti:- Dharam, when the maid was cleaning the dining room, she saw a piece of cloth stuck to your chair. It looked like some material for a pant. Do you know anything about it?
Hearing this, Veer started choking on his sandwich. He started punching his chest and then drank a glass full of orange juice in one go. Dharam was again embarrassed. Veer knew that Dharam must have cut his pant in order to get free. Veer was smirking again. Nivriti was again confused at both their reactions.
Dharam:- Mujhe nahin pataa bua. I don't know.
Nivirit didn't bother asking Veer why he was laughing. She realized that she wouldn't understand it even if she did ask. Dharam and Veer finished eating their breakfast and headed to college. Veer was excited. So many things were to happen today. He couldn't wait to see Ananya's face when the result would be announced. He couldn't wait to get his bike back. He couldn't wait to know the secret of the wire. All of this was going to happen today………………..
The Mercedes Benz S – class stopped at the entrance of Aryan college. The car looked brand new. It had a copper bronze colour with a bit of a shine to it. Akshay opened the right door of the back seat and got out of the car. He went to left side and opened the back seat door. Ananya got out of the car with great difficulty. She was holding the walking stick with her left hand. Someone was on the first floor of the college's balcony corridor. He was looking at Ananya's every movement. As Ananya was getting out of the car, he was continuously clicking her pictures. This clicking of pictures continued even as Ananya limped towards the college entrance and the entered the college. As she went in, the person ran towards the staircase and ran down the stairs in order to click more photos and know Ananya's every movement. As he saw her, he said to himself in a whisper, "There she is"……………………………………………………………..
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
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