~ArBi FF Jab Lurve Hua~Part 271 pg141 - Page 51

Raj and Jiya are waiting in the queue at the counter. Just hten, Raj saw Bharti and Payal with a small kid at the children's section a lil distant from the counter. He nudged Jiya and asked her to look, but she only saw Bharti there, and called out to her. Both Raj and Jiya waved to Bharti and she waved back,walking towards them.

Bharti:OMG!!What a pleasant surprise..

Jiya:Ahem and you're spending your time shopping instead of coming to MU for work..What's up??

Bharti:Payal and I just came..She wanted to shop so yeah...What about you two?

Raj:Well Jiya's got her first date today and I'm here shopping for Malaika since this girl doesn't want to shop for dresses..

Bharti:And what's so wrong in that, Raj?In fact, she should be just the way she is...And a guy should like her for who she is, or else he's not worth knowing!!

Jiya:Thank you Bharti..(smiled)

Bharti:Ok ok you guyz carry on..I'll check on Payal..All the best for your date..

Jiya:Gee thanks!!See you soon..Bye!!

Bharti:Bye...

Raj:Bye...Jiya, I'm still saying that there was a kid with them and for God's sake why were they shopping at the children's section if they were shopping for themselves??

Jiya:Uffo Raj they must have just walked around and reached there...Come,pay the money...I'll wait for you outside,k?

Both Raj and Jiya headed to Jiya's home. She went to refresh herself and Raj quickly took out the black dress that h had seen Jiya admiring at the mall and laid it on her bed and left a small note. Raj waited for her at the hall. Jiya got dressed in her casuals when she got out of the bathroom and was surprised to see the same dress that she saw at the mall but she remembered not purchasing it. She saw a note next to the dress.

"You'll look real gorgeous in this dress..and he definitely can't say No to meeting you again after tonight's date..So will you please go and change asap??I'm waiting!!

Raj"

Jiya was stunned and she quickly went to change into the black dress. Raj hung up on his friend's call after he saw Jiya in the black dress. She was drinking a glass of water from the dining hall.She stopped when saw Raj staring at her.

Jiya:(hit his stomach with her purse)What's wrong with you??What are you staring at me for?

Raj:Is that you Jiya?

Jiya:No,my ghost!!Now,come!!

Raj:Hey,hey,hey!!!Not so soon..Come on,it's perfect for some pic-time with the awesome Raj..

Jiya couldn't help but smile and after taking some pics, both of them sat in the car and Raj drove off to Rheo Pub.

Raj:Well ek baat kahu Jiya?

Jiya:Hhmm bolo..

Raj:Well if no one had been your date tonight, I would have personally preferred to take you out tonight...You look real hot today..

Jiya:I'm just going to forget that you just said that..But hey thanks for the dress...

Raj:(smiled widely)Tum mere liye kya kuch nahin karte..Kya main itna bhi nahin kar sata kya??

Jiya:Come, let's go inside!!(places her hand in and around Raj's elbow)

Both Jiya and Raj were waiting for Gaurav to appear.

Meanwhile Bharti and Naina just reached home. Bharti smiled as Naina tried out the various dresses that Bharti and Payal had bought for her. Naina was so happy today and Bharti took various pics of Naina on her digital camera. Soon, both of them had mushroom soup for dinner and after some time, Bharti tucked Naina in for bed and tried to sing her some lullabies. Bharti asked her about the lullabies her mumm sang for her and Naina gently sung the lullaby. Bharti too hummed the tune and soon,Naina slept. Bharit can't visualize how hard it must be for Naina. She kissed Naina on her forehead and switched off the lights. Bharti went to the kitchen to drink some water.As she drank, she recalled how Naina was initailly hesitant to go out but after some time, she came out and smiled and joined them. Bharti realized that she shouldn't compel Naina in anything and that Naina's very sensible for her age. Bharti loved spending time with Naina and her smile gives Bharti the reason to forget her troubles of the day and she just wanted Naina to be always happy. She knew that she can never replace her mother but she could always bring a smile on Naina's face and with that thought, she went to sleep with Naina.

Over the weekend,Jiya went to Armaan's place and practically spent the most of her weekend since her dad wasn't around. Sudha had gone out of town for an important conference. Armaan told her of Naina and what happened between him and Bharti.

Jiya:So Raj was actually right...He did see a small kid with Payal and Bharti then...

Armaan:What?

Jiya:Actually on Friday, both Raj and myself..We went to Paragon Mall for shopping and we met Bharti there but she left quickly...I didn't see the kid but Raj did...I didn't believe him then..So what did you say to Bharti?

Armaan:I didn't say anything..Just left fromt here..

Jiya:Arre yaar...you just left form there?Aise hi??

Armaan:Yeahh..

Jiya:Uffo Armaan..kam se kam ek moral support deti...Usse bohat bura lag raha hoga...

Armaan:I just didn't know what to say to Bharti...I was totally shocked!!

Jiya:I would have been much more shocked if she had left Naina at the bomb spot..I agree there might be orphanages or homes for kids like Naina but i see very rare individuals who have the guts and compassion to raise Naina...What wrong did she do?

Armaan:I'm not saying that she did wrong..All I'm saying is that she has too much to handle..

Jiya:You know that,don't you?And you can still say that you had left form there without saying anything..She has a lot going on for her but she's willing to raise Naina all alone..You can at least show her some moral support or at least help her..Raise Naina with Bharti!!Think about it Armu..well if you can't do that, at least support her;don't leave her all by herself..Hhmm??

Armaan:Jiya,you're rigt..Gosh i'm just so..

Jiya:cute!!Just be open with her Armaan..Just like how she's trying to be with you..Pyaar ka izhaar aur pyaar ko nibhaana do alag baat hoti hai...Show her that you love her, actually even more after knowing her soft corner for Naina..I'm very sure she'll understand..

Armaan:hhmm...(smiled)Thanks Jiya...Waise how was your first date??

Jiya:You called Raj?

Armaan:He called me yesterday..Gaurav's your college friend,na??

Jiya:Yeahh..I met him online on Friday..it was like what..6 years later that I'm talking to him!!

Armaan:Raj told me...But you were supposed to go with Sidd,na?

Jiya:Sidd;don't get me started on him!!When I reached Rheo Pub with Raj on Friday night, it just hit me then that i was supposed to meet Sidd at Rheo Pub too...I called the date earlier but i just prayed that i don't meet him that night...Gaurav came a bit late and I introduced Raj to Gaurav and vice versa..The three of us were having a great time.sharing and exchanging the college memories..It was going great until after some time....

~Flashback:Friday Night~

After some time, Gaurav actually saw Jiya looking at a guy.As Gaurav looked in the direction, he actually saw a guy and recognized him.

Raj:What happened to you both?

Jiya:Raj,woh..

Gaurav:Jiya,why are yuo looking at him as if..

Jiya:Raj,you idiot!!Siddharth's a gay??

Raj:Well apparently yeah..

Gaurav:You guys know him?

Jiya:Yes Gaurav..apparently Raj knows him from his college days..Lots of competition between these two..Couldn't you have told me??

Raj:Oye i tried to ask you to give me a chance to explain but did you??

Jiya:(grinned sheepishly)Hehe..ok sorry!!

Raj:Anyways I only got to know about this a few weeks back..Seriously thank God that you didn't go out with him tonight..Gaurav,sorry about that..Before you asked her,this dude asked her out 2 days back...

Gaurav and Raj bursted out laughing and Jiya hit them both with her purse and poured a glass of vodka on their heads and the trio left Rheo Pub. Gaurav dropped off Jiya first,followed by Raj.

Armaan:OMG!!Shall I recommend Siddharth to sunny?

Jiya:Uffo Armu..Don't tarnish the reputation of Sunny,alright..Sunny deserves a hot guy..Sidd's nowhere near that!!

Armana and Jiya cracked up laughing. Armaan dropped Jiya home and went back home. He took an empty CD and started to record himself and when he was done, he kept the CD in the CD cover and thought of parcelling it the next day.

The next day, Payal and Bhaskar headed off to their guesthouse to meet Bharti and Naina. Bhaskar had not met Naina but he was very much eager to see her from what Payal had told him. They reached at the guesthouse in the late morning. Bharti just finished feeding Naina her breakfast and then she opened the door. Bharti introduced Bhaskar to Naina. Payal went to talk to Naina while Bharti and Bhaskar caught up on each other.

~Flashback:Friday Night~

After some time, Gaurav actually saw Jiya looking at a guy.As Gaurav looked in the direction, he actually saw a guy and recognized him.

Raj:What happened to you both?

Jiya:Raj,woh..

Gaurav:Jiya,why are yuo looking at him as if..

Jiya:Raj,you idiot!!Siddharth's a gay??

Raj:Well apparently yeah..

Gaurav:You guys know him?

Jiya:Yes Gaurav..apparently Raj knows him from his college days..Lots of competition between these two..Couldn't you have told me??

Raj:Oye i tried to ask you to give me a chance to explain but did you??

Jiya:(grinned sheepishly)Hehe..ok sorry!!

Raj:Anyways I only got to know about this a few weeks back..Seriously thank God that you didn't go out with him tonight..Gaurav,sorry about that..Before you asked her,this dude asked her out 2 days back...

Gaurav and Raj bursted out laughing and Jiya hit them both with her purse and poured a glass of vodka on their heads and the trio left Rheo Pub. Gaurav dropped off Jiya first,followed by Raj.

Armaan:OMG!!Shall I recommend Siddharth to sunny?

Jiya:Uffo Armu..Don't tarnish the reputation of Sunny,alright..Sunny deserves a hot guy..Sidd's nowhere near that!!

Armana and Jiya cracked up laughing. Armaan dropped Jiya home and went back home. He took an empty CD and started to record himself and when he was done, he kept the CD in the CD cover and thought of parcelling it the next day.

The next day, Payal and Bhaskar headed off to their guesthouse to meet Bharti and Naina. Bhaskar had not met Naina but he was very much eager to see her from what Payal had told him. They reached at the guesthouse in the late morning. Bharti just finished feeding Naina her breakfast and then she opened the door. Bharti introduced Bhaskar to Naina. Payal went to talk to Naina while Bharti and Bhaskar caught up on each other.

~Late Afternoon~

Bharti excused herself, upon hearing the doorbell ring. Bhaskar invited Naina to play with him and she went along. Naina mingled with Bhaskar pretty well. Bharti had received a parcel. Payal watched Bhaskar teaching naina how to ride a bicycle and Payal cracked up laughing,seeing Bhaskar almost losing it.Payal couldn't stop admiring Bhaskar from a distance and him trying to teach Naina gradually. She could see how much he was actually enjoying himself. Just then, she realized that Bharti was nowhere to be seen,for quite some time.

Payal spotted her in her room,upstairs. Payal covered Bharti's eyes from behind. Payal had actually caught Bharti watching something on her laptop.

Payal:Heyy kya hua?What's wrong?

Bharti:(smiled)Nothing Payal..(stood from her chair and turned to go)

Payal:(held Bharti's hand) Come here...I know you so jaldi bolo...

Bharti:Payal,go and click Play on the Windows Media Player..

Payal:What??Ok ok...I'll check it out!!

Payal wondered what it could be. She clicked Play and she was pleasantly surprised to see Armaan. Payal assumed that he must have sent the CD as a parcel to Bharti.She listened to him ardently.

"Hey Bharti, I hope you and Naina are doing great..I'm extremely sorry for fristly misunderstanding you and also for not saying anything to you before leaving that night. I was inf act, terribly shocked at what you've told me and i just couldn't grasp it all in one go!!At first instant. I just can't imagine that you would do such a thing..I grew really worried for you've already got so much going on for you!1Look I'm really sorry if I had hurt you in any way that night indirectly through my gestures..I really am!!I'm not triyng to justify for my actions but I truly am sorry!!Perhaps,this was not what you expected me to be..You might have expected me to stay by you, be your support system..But i didn't,I'm sorry for that!!Gosh,i just feel as if I've run out of words..Right now all I want you to know is that I truly respect you for what you're doing and ever if you need my help,I'm just a phone-call away!!(smiled)"

Payal:Hhmm...so??

Bharti:Huh?What?

Payal:You're worried about this?

Bharti:Never mind Payal..it's ok!!

Payal:Arre bol na..What's disturbing you??The fact that he didn't support you when you told him about Naina?

Bharti:It's not that Payal..I just don't understand why he keeps saying Sorry...I mean,did I ask him to accept responsibilites for Naina??No I didn't..so why does he think..

Payal:Bharti,he loves you..He really loves you so much and he doesn't want to hurt you at any cost. He felt that you must have been very hurt and that's why..Well i can sure see his effort of trying to be open with you...When you meet him tomorrow at MU, just let him know how you feel about what he had said..Hhmm??

Bharti:Payal..this is getting so difficult..

Payal:Arre yaar, don't you realize his love for you?

Bharti:I'm fully aware of that but..I don't know!!He's a real nice guy but I've decided to stay away, thinking of Preity but you know something..I just forget about my decision when I'm in front of him..He must be thinking how crazy and confused I am..(lowered her head and laid it on her folded arms)

Payal:(smiled and caressed her hair)Now come on, let's see if Bhaskar has finally taught Naina how to ride a bicycle..

Bharti:What?

Payal:Bhaskar's like so excited to see Naina...He's definitely enjoying himself today!!

Both Bharti and Payal saw Bhaskar teaching Naina,till it was late evening. Both Bharti and Payal took videos of Bhaskar teaching Naina how to ride a bicycle.Bharti finally told both Naina and Bhaskar to rest and get some dinner prepared by Payal. While haivng dinner, Bharti saw how Naina was eagerly listening to

to Bhaskar's random jokes and smiling at some of them. She was glad that Payal and Bhaskar had come to cheer her and Naina respectively. Soon, Payal and Bhaskar left,promising Naina that both of them will come to visit her every weekend and Bhaskar kissed Naina on her cheek before leaving. Bharti and Naina bid them goodbye as Bhaskar drove off. Bharti tucked Naina in bed before sleeping. Naina smiled and talked to Bharti.

Naina:Aapko kitne dost hai?

Bharti:Bohat saare..Radhika,Bhaskar,Payal,Mahi,Raj,Jiya,Sonali,Alisha,Sanjana,Armaan aur bohat saare...Aur aapko?

Naina:Aap ho aur ab Payal aunty aur Bhaskar mamu..Main ek sawaal poocho??

Bharti:Haan poocho..(smiled widely)

Naina:Main aapko kya bulao??

Bharti:Kuch bhi..ermm dost,Bharti,mama..Par aap...

Naina:Mama...Main kitni lucky hoon..

Bharti:Kyun??

Naina:Kyunki aap meri mama ho..(kissed Bharti on her cheek)..Meri mama ko God bula liya hai na aur unhone ek aur mama bhej diya hai mere liye..Aapke roop mein...Thank you mama!!

Bharti was genuinely touched by Naina's words. She didn't know that she could mean so much to Naina.It's so truly said that to the world you may be just an individual but to someone you may mean the universe to him or her. Her eyes automatically welled up upon hearing Naina's magical words.

Bharti:Aap jaante ho ki aap kitne cute ho...(kissed Naina on her forehead) Thank you Naina...You are just so sweet...I'm always here for you dear..And i love you so much!!You're my darling angel..You must be really tired today,so just sleep,k??(sang Naina's lullaby and rocked her to sleep)

Bharti switched off the lights and went to the balcony. She looked at the bright moon and pondered over Payal's words.

"I know Payal...You're probably right..Armaan's just worried for me and he always says sorry so quickly if he had felt that he had hurt me..He's a really nice guy..He truly is!!What he has got to understand is that I'm doing all these to avoid causing any problems for him and I'm trying to stay away from him...I think I can do that,can't I,God??KK,are you even listening???"(shook her head and went to sleep)

Meanwhile Payal was making the bed and before she even finished, Bhaskar just jumped on the bed.

Bhaskar:So Payal, how's Bharti dealing with her new-found love?

Payal:Bhasku..apparently she's all confused..And she knows Armaan loves her deeply and she hasn't accepted her love as of yet..She told Armaan that she's just not ready and right now she wants to focus on Naina instead of him and she's staying away from him but she hasn't told Armaan that the sole reason for her decision is Preity...Seriously it's freakin'annoying!!!

Bhaskar:Just chill Payal...Everything will be fine eventually!!We know Bharti,na..It will take some time...

Payal:She's just like you..Indecisive in this aspect!!!

Bhaskar:Well in that case you ought to be happy for I did fall in love with you after all...So nothing to worry!!

Payal:Well I just hope Armaan and Bharti understands each other..That's really important for if they don't, then things will always be difficult for both of them!!!By the way Naina got along with you really well..

Bhaskar:Hain na??Aww..and she called Bhaskar mamu...that's like so cute yaar!!!

Payal:Awww we should go meet her often...

Bhaskar:Deal!!(smiled at Payal)