"Sab kuch plan ki hisaab se chal raha tha na...Hamesha jab main soch thi hoon ke kuch acha ho rahi hain, tab yeh sab ulti pulti karna zaroori hai kya?Seriously you need a reality check!!Do you get it, Mr God??Ab main ky akarungi...I can't practically ignore him forever na?"
Armaan:So i guessed right..
Bharti:Shux!!(turns to face Armaan and grins sheepishly)Oh hi Armaan..
Armaan:Ignoring me?
Bharti:Psshh..Why would I think of doing that??(turns away,feeling so embarassed)
Armaan:If it's regarding what had happened at the party, then...
Bharti:erm Armaan i've got lots of work to do..I'll talk to you later..bye!!(rushed off)
Armaan:B...Bharti!!(sure that Bharti's hiding something from him)Arrgghh!!
Armaan left to meet Payal at Hotel Maroon. Meanwhile Jiya saw Raj and Pushpak in the conference room.
Jiya:What are you guys doing here?And who let you in?
Raj:Arre Jiya ek minute...Four!!Awesome!!!Pushpak sometimes blowing in fornt of the TV does work...
Jiya:Crazy idiots!!
Raj:Waise Jiya..what do you think??Will India win?
Jiya:What's the chasing score?
Raj:246...
Jiya:I don't think so...
Pushpak:Arre shub shub bol...I have placed a bet with Sonali that if India wins, she'll let me have control over the TV for a week..
Jiya:Lollz..I'll catch up with you guys later..Keep the noise down,i'll keep Amarjeet away from the conference room..
Pushpak:Thanks Jiya..Jeeyo hazaaron saal..
Jiya:Chup kar...oh yes keep me updated on the scores...
Pushpak:Narain hai na..so no worries..(smiled at Jiya and turned back to focus on the cricket match)
Jiya left to check on Sunny's designs and the stocks that had just arrived. Bhaskar had gone to the radio station to meet Payal but he met Shaz instead. She told himt hat Payal had gone out for dinner at Hotel Maroon with someone else and Bhaskar assumed it to be none other than Armaan and headed towards Hotel Maroon.
While having dinner,
Payal:Thanks for coming..Actually..
Armaan:Payal, is everything ok with you?
Payal:Yeah..why?
Armaan:Nothing..just asked..continue with what you were saying...
Payal:Actually i got to know about you and Bharti from her..And i'm actually here to talk about it..
Armaan:I'm sorry Payal;i've been wanting to tell you as well..You can;t imagine how unbelievable it was,that night..For a moment, i really thought i was dreaming..but it really did happen!!
Payal:Sorry to interrupt,but..
Armaan:Payal,what's wrong?
Payal:I really don't know how to tell you this..
Armaan:(noticed Payal's reluctancy)Just tell me Payal...
Payal:I'm really sorry if I'm bringing down your high hopes or pulling you down..You've really got no idea what Bharti is truly feeling about everything that happened that night...In fact that night I purposely dialled your number from Bharti's mobile to force her to talk about it with you but she disconnected those calls..
Armaan:Payal..what does Bharti really think of it??
Payal:Actually she admitted to me that she is attracted to you but she doesn't seem to realize that it is love..She feels as if it's some sort of a crush or a transient feeling. But that's not the issue..From the 7 years of our friendship, I know her well enough to understand what she's going through. From what I know her. she's not at all ready to accept anything.She's not ready to commit herself, for some unknown reason..I believe that she feels that her world is just perfect for her and she doesn't want anyone to enter it and affect her entire life..Frankly speaking, I'm really,really mad at her attitude towards love and the happiness that's approaching her life. She ahd made a plan of ignoring you till the end of her internship and after that, you'll forget her..I'm just so pissed with her..
Armaan:And you haven't talked to her since the party?
Payal:Yeah..Armaan don't mind me saying this but i seriously doubt if Bharti's worth your love..
Armaan:I do mind what you're saying..Payal,you're her best friend..How can you say that?
Payal:I don't know..I guess I'm still mad at her and that's why..But she doesn't realzie the extent and the essence of your love...
Armaan:Payal, firstly throw away your anger..Listen to me calmly..She's someone who is pretty much confused right now,yeah?
Payal:Yeah pretty much..
Armaan:Even i'm not fully aware of the feelings I have for her..I'm quite confused as well...Bharti has not believed in love all her entire life..Naturally she'll react the way she did..It'll be only weird if she,being herself,didn't react that way...I wish to spend the rest of my life with her and wish to know her,understand her..Yuo know something PAyal?Either I'll spend my life with a girl like Bharti or else I'll remain a bachelor my entire life..I can't even visualize my life with any other girl apart from Bharti...
Payal:But Armaan,she..
Armaan:I'll wait for her...
Payal:Until when Armaan?
Armaan:My entire life..I believe my love for her is true and you do believe that true love can overcome all odds?
Payal:Provided that love is mutual..
Armaan:Do you trust me Payal?
Payal:I guess so..
Armaan:Well in that case I promise you that one day,she'll fall in love with me too..
Payal:Wow..confidence in yourself?
Armaan:Nope..trust in my love..
Payal couldn't stop smiling widely at Armaan.
Payal:Bharti doesn't know how lucky she is..She's incredibly lucky!!Armaan,I feel totally relieved now!!
Armaan:So promise me that you'll talk to her as soon as possible?
Payal:Yeah i will
Armaan:Payal i truly appreciate you for being so open with me..Thanks!!(looks at his watch) Oops i told Maa that i'll pick her up from her clinic..I'll make a move first,k?
Payal:Yeahh sure..Take care!!Send my regards to Sudha aunty!!
Armaan:Ok..Bye!!
Payal finished up the last portion of the baked oysters. Just then, Bhaskar joined her.
Bhaskar:Hi...
Payal:Bhaskar tum yaha?Tumhe kaisa bata ki main yaha pe hoon?
Bhaskar:Shaz...
Payal:Oh icic...
Bhaskar:Where's Armaan?
Payal:Why would he be here?He has left already...
Bhaskar:Left before?So what's going on?
Payal:Bhaskar, I've been wanting to tell you..It's about Bharti and Armaan...
Payal narrated the incident at the MU party and the conversation between Payal and Armaan. Bhaskar was feeling so embarassed and ashamed of himself for even having stupid doubts about his girlfriend.
Payal:What happened to you all of a sudden?
Bhaskar:Payal, I'm sorry..
Payal:For what?
Bhaskar:Jenny told me that you had come to MU yesterday to meet Armaan..And my stupid brain..
Payal:Bhaskar..(paused for a second) You doubted me,you idiot!!
Bhaskar:Please forgive me!!
Payal felt a strong sense of irritation towards Bhaskar but she was feeling more uncomfortable. She looked at her hands which were red, and she quickly headed to the washroom and vomitted out. Payal headed outside where Bhaskar was waiting.
Bhaskar:I just said Sorry..Why did you have to vomit for that?You could have easily said something else...
Payal:Oh shut up Bhaskar...I forgot that i was allergic to oysters and ate it happily since it was Armaan's treat...
Bhaskar bursted out laughing.
Payal:Will you continue laughing or bring me home quickly??
Bhaskar:Oops..yeah chalo...
Payal:Bhaskar, i really feel like strangling you...How could you even...
Bhaskar:Sorry Paayu...sorry,sorry,sorry!!!
Payal rushed inside their home quickly, looking for her first aid kit where she had placed her ointment. Bhaskar came and stood behind her and took the ointment from her. Bhaskar went close to Payal's face and slid his hands around Payal's tummy and slowly took Payal's hand and gradually spread the ointment on her palm which had mild rashes. Bhaskar gently kissed Payal's shoulder and apologized to her.Payal smiled and gently turned around.
Payal:Wow i've never heard so many sorries from you..I forgive you..
Bhaskar:(smiled flirtishly at her) Well thank you madame...
Payal:What are you looking at me for?
Just then Bhaskar pulled Payal towards him.
Payal:What are you doing?
Bhaskar:What do you think I'm doing?
Payal:(places her hands around Bhaskar's neck)I'm not exactly sure..Why don't you tell me?
Bhaskar:I guess there is no need for words here...(raises his eyebrow)
Payal:Well Mr Bhaskar, excuse me...my mobile's ringing...
Bhaskar:Let it ring..
Payal:It could be an important call..
Bhaskar:not as important as me..So where were we?
Payal:My mobile's ringing,Bhaskar..
Bhaskar:Tum aise nahin maanoge.....
Payal:Bhask..
Bhaskar leaned in and kissed Payal before she could say anything further. Both of them smiled after parting from their gentle kiss. Payal turned to go but Bhaskar held her hand in an attempt to stop her.
Payal:(blushed a lil)What Bhaskar?
Bhaskar:Where are you heading off to?
Payal:I need to change..
Bhaskar:I'll be waiting for you..in bed!!(winked at her)
Payal:Let go..and you too go and have a shower..
Bhaskar:That I will..See you soon..(let go of her hand and smiled at her)
It was 10:30 pm and Raj and Pushpak were still at the conference room.
Jiya:Guys, the match isn't over yet?
Pushpak:It's the last ball..
Jiya:What's the score?
Pushpak:241...
Jiya:Surprising...what..OMG..don't tell me that he just hit a 6...
raj:What perfect timing to catch the ball..Jiya!!!!
jiya:Haha!!Hello what did I do??
Raj:Pushpak..sad case,no control over the TV now!!By the way how's the live-in relationship going on?
Pushpak:Surprisingly good so far..But goodness..no control over the TV for a week..
raj:Who would even consider betting on India?
Jiya:Pushpak did!!It's ok..Sonali's your girlfriend..she'll understand..
Pushpak:Good night guys...
Raj:Nitezz..
Jiya:When did you come back from your dinner date with Malaika?
Raj:(checks his mobile)It's 10:30?Oh shux!!Jiya,couldn't you have come in earlier?
Jiya:What's wrong?
Raj:How stupid can I be?
jiya:Very..but what happened?
Raj:Dinner plan was at 9:30 pm...I'm 1 hour late...
Jiya:Try giving her a call...
Raj:Yeah ok..hello Malaika..hey listen..but..hello?Hello??She disconnected my call...Let me call her again...Oh no!!!She swtiched off her phone...Arrgghhh!!!
Jiya:Hhmm..it's ok,just a dinner...
Raj:Sometimes girls should be as patient as Bharti...
Jiya:Bharti..hhmm..Hey i forgot to tell ya...
Raj:Heyy what was Armaan hiding from me?
Jiya:I'll tell you..hey let's have dinner here..what say??
Raj:You've got food?
Jiya:Hot,spicy pasta..we can share!!
Raj:Sure,sure..yeah so tell me...
Meanwhile Armaan was done having dinner with Sudha and he went to his room. He switched off the lights and laid on the bed. As he tried to sleep, he recollected the conversation between him and Payal.
"Bharti's seriously crazy...And i'm even crazier to think of spending the rest of my life with her...It feels quite nice to know that she is attracted to me..but she confuses me and doesn't tell me what she really feels...Maybe she's finding it all so difficult and feels as if everything has become different..She might be thinking that our friendship had died down and got replaced by some confusing feelings...How do I make her talk to me about this?I'll have to make her realize that our friendship still exists but it has just gotten deeper and much more special...No matter what, I'll need to talk to her tomorrow..Yes that's what I'll do!!"
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