Sorry for the late update!!
hope you remember this ff!!
Blind Date: Part 6
"Explanation? What explanation? We don't understand a word you are talking about." Mayank asked innocently. He turned towards Nupur and smiled at her, only to see her smiling back. He intentionally pushed back a stray lock of hair behind her ear, but he had to admit he loved the feeling when his hand brushed against her forehead. Nupur pretended to blush hard, and was very successful in convincing her friends and in the process hiding her real feelings, because she was actually blushing, for the first time in her life.
Gunjan stood with Dia as they looked at their best friend wide-eyed. "Oh boy, this can't be true."
Gunjan nodded, still in surprise. "Nups, tomorrow I'm taking an off. I think too much workload is giving me hallucinations. Nupur Bhushan has wowed never to blush in her life, not even on her wedding day."
Mayank looked at her making a weird face. "You did?" he whispered.
Nupur nodded nervously. "Yes, by mistake."
Gunjan placed her hand on Nupur's shoulder. "Nups, you really didn't blush, did you? Please tell me you didn't, or I'll faint right here right now."
Samrat who stood behind her immediately moved away.
"What's wrong Samrat?" Gunjan asked with her hands on her hips.
"Sorry Chashmish, you're too heavy to carry." He said, waiting for Gunjan's hard whack.
"Look Mr. Good brother, I'm in no mood for bad jokes. I have to help my friend." She stuck out her tongue at him and the again continued with her conversation.
"Yes, so, where was I?"
"You were about to faint…." Dia reminded her.
"Oh yes. Tell me, you didn't blush Na? I knew it! I knew you won't! You'll never change! You're our same old Nups!" Gunjan exclaimed, giving her a tight hug.
"Yeah, about that……I….Gunjan I…" Nupur started, slowly breaking out of the hug.
Gunjan's smile turned upside down." So you were…"
"blushing." Dia finished for her, her expressions the same as they were a minute ago. Her hopes hadn't been too high about Gunjan's statement being true, and she was right. Nupur's expressions were quite predictable.
"So, are you really going out? And since when have you been going out, and how long do you plan to keep this a secret?" Benji spoke for the first time, startling them all. The other three nodded in agreement.
"First why don't you answer, were you really spying on us, and since when are you spying on us and how long did you think this would remain a secret which such childish disguises which show you off so well?" Mayank asked sarcastically with a proud and triumphant smile. Nupur too began smiling mischievously.
"Yes Dia, I thought you had promised me you wouldn't trouble me on this topic anymore, didn't you? Then why are you both doing this to me?" she pouted beautifully, to which Mayank had an awful urge to give a standing ovation.
"That…..Gunjan told me to do this!" she swiftly pointed to Gunjan and stepped back and pushed her ahead.
Gunjan stared at Dia puzzled. She was completely confused. "Huh?" she uttered.
"Why did you give the idea to Dia to come here?" Nupur asked, sighing loudly.
"Because Samrat told me to do so, and I always listen to Samrat. You know how much…"
"Oh cut the crap! Now your chance Samrat, tell me….." Nupur began.
"One minute Nupur. It's my time for interrogation. My brother needs to explain a lot to me. May I?" he asked politely.
"With pleasure. I'm just waiting for it." Nupur smiled, stepping back.
"Oh boy, this is going to be a long day, just hope I get through bro's arrow-like questions." Samrat muttered to himself, cursing his rotten luck.
"Bro, you are just hyperventilating. I was just…." Samrat took off, only to be cut by Mayank.
"I am not hyperventilating, Samrat. I've been very calm throughout. And even now, I am. Now just tell me what made you follow me like this, and I'll leave you." Mayank said, circling around Samrat with his hands at the back.
Samrat heard a few sniggers behind him, and he clenched his fists tightly. "Um…that…I was…I was seeing…."
"What were you seeing Samrat? Tell us, unless it's too personal." Mayank commented again, and again a few snickers followed.
"Should I really tell you? It might not be right…." Samrat hesitated.
Mayank straightened up. "Samrat…..what's wrong? Come here and tell me." he placed his hand on Samrat's shoulder and directed him towards the side of the theatre as they left behind a few confused faces behind them.
"What's that secret Samrat has Gunjan? And why is he hiding it?" Dia asked Gunjan as Nupur came over to the both and waited for Gunjan to reply.
"Yes, I'm quite worried. He sounded really serious." Nupur added.
"I really don't know guys. I'm very scared guys. What if something has happened to him? what if he has some disease? Or he is taking drugs? Or…"
"Snap those dirty thoughts of your minds, you three!" Benji intervened." And Gunjan, don't worry, I know Samrat. It might be some silly prank of his. He must be tricking Mayank into this. Nothing more I suppose."
"No Benji, this time it's a bit different. They sound and look too serious to be joking around." Nupur said looking at the brothers.
"What's the matter Samrat? You almost tensed me up out there. What is so bad that you couldn't tell them?" Mayank asked Samrat curiously.
"Actually, I had come here to see that who was winning the bet- and if you were actually falling in love with each other." Samrat confessed, fiddling nervously with his fingers and lowering his eyes, not ready to meet with his brother's hard-pressing eyes.
Mayank felt relieved. He wiped off the sweat off his face." Thank God you kept your mouth shut. I haven't told anything to Nupur about this yet. Have you told the rest?"
Samrat nodded negatively." No. I didn't even tell Chashmish. She might have gone and told Nupur, and I didn't know if you had told her. But why do you want to hide this from her? What if she finds out accidently and then you have some misunderstanding?"
"I know. But then this wont be a true bet. And even if she develops feelings for me later on, she won't tell me about it. But I don't think this will ever happen. And frankly, as long as we remain friends forever, I don't think any problems as such will arise, and even if she comes to know, she won't take it to her heart."
"But bro, what if you fall in love with her?" Samrat asked him.
Mayank was left speechless. What if he fell in love with her? What would he do? Would he confess his true feelings and lose the bet? The bet wasn't the matter her, it was too petty. But what mattered were Nupur's feelings. Would she reciprocate his feelings? Or would she feel hurt by his confession? No ways, he was thinking too far. All this wasn't going to happen, so why should he worry?
"Are you over guys? I still have my intentions of watching the movie." Mayank was startled as he shook his head to brush his thoughts aside. He looked at Nupur smiling at him. Maybe love wouldn't happen, but he was sure they weren't mere acquaintances. At least for him they weren't.
"Yes, almost done." Samrat winked at Nupur and turned to Mayank." So I'll still keep it a secret, right?"
"Yes, at least till I tell you to disclose it. This bet has to be fair, though it is a small one, am I right?" Mayank plastered a fake smile on his face. He hated lying to anyone or hiding things, and especially to Nupur. But he did have to hide such things from her, especially when he knew how sensitive she was towards such things.
They walked over to the rest. Gunjan pulled Mayank's arm." Mayank, could you give me a second? I want to 'talk' to you." She said, glaring at Samrat.
Mayank looked at Samrat pitifully." Um...yes. I don't mind talking to my future sis-in-law. No bhabhi?"
"Thanks. Let's go?" she said, pointing her hand towards the corner, her eyes still fixed on Samrat. She slid her hand between Mayank's arm as he led her away.
"Mayank please tell me what's the matter. I'm very scared for him." Gunjan asked frantically.
"Whom are you scared for, Gunjan?" Mayank asked intentionally.
"Oh Mayank, of course for Samrat!" Gunjan replied ignoring his teasing looks.
"But why are you scared for him? Because of that secret?"
Gunjan merely nodded.
"Don't worry Gunjan, its just a small prank he's playing. You know how mischievous he is. He just wanted to fool you all and make you tensed, which you did." Mayank assured her.
Gunjan heaved a sigh of relief." Thank God Mayank, or else I thought he was…." Gunjan trailed off.
"He was what?" Mayank asked.
"Nothing. Let's go?" Gunjan said.
"Sure." Mayank said, still not satisfied with Gunjan's answer. He was worried that she might have got to know about their talks.
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Mayank, Samrat and Benji tiptoed into Mayank and Samrat's house as Mayank slowly hung the keys on the hook at the side. They had come home quite late, and so Benji decided to sleep at their house. They didn't want to wake up anyone, so they quietly went to their room and shut the door slowly at the back.
"So Samrat, have I won the…" he bit his lip, remembering that Benji was right there." nothing, you know what I mean, right?
"What? What? What? Sam, tell me please yaar! I am your best friend yaar!" Benji asked curiously.
"It's personal Ben, or I would've told you. I never hide anything from you, do I?" Mayank said." Now Samrat, tell me…I'm waiting!"
"There's time for that. Abhi toh sirf shuruat hai. There are still lots of stages for you to cross to reach the finale and the winning cup."
"What are these 'stages', may I ask?" Mayank said.
"First stage. Girl starts shying away from you. She always blushes when you come close to her, touch her or compliment her on her looks or any other quality."
"Second stage. Girl becomes extra protective of you. She never leaves you alone. She feels jealous whenever you meet any girl. She tries to keep you away from her and starts making plans against her."
"Third and last stage. Girl shows signs of falling in love. She tries to stay extra close to you, helps you in every single way and for every small thing. Her blushing level becomes very high."
Samrat completed his words with a flourish.
Mayank broke the silence with a round of applause, followed by Benji." Wonderful Mr. Love guru, what an explanation!" he said sarcastically.
Just then Mayank's phone rang." Hello?" Mayank answered it.
"Hey Mr. Superman, forgotten your superwoman?" a soft and feminine voice spoke cheerfully, and Mayank didn't have to guess who it was.
"CJ! My God, it's really you! After so many years! You still remember me?"
"Yes! Of course, its just been two years huh! I cant forget how much you have troubled me in college."
CJ or Chitra Jain was Mayank, Samrat and Benji's college friend and Mayank's only girl buddy at that time. She knew Mayank in and out and could read his mind without him telling her what was wrong. She was like Mayank's best support system, and Mayank was extremely unhappy when he knew she was going to the states for further studies. But he always wanted the best for his friend and would never go against her wishes and decisions. So with a heavy heart, he let her go.
"So Mr. Superman, you've got a girl huh? Didn't tell your best friend? Very bad, I must say! Thankfully my dear Samrat told me, or I wouldn't have got to know about bhabhi!" CJ teased Mayank.
"Oh just shut up CJ! She's not my girlfriend! She's just a good friend! And I want you to prove that! Can you help me? Oh no, you are in US." Mayank said dejectedly.
"No, I am not! I've come back to Mumbai!"
Mayank literally jumped off his seat." What? When did you come? Where are you? I'm coming right now to meet you! Why didn't you tell me before! You are a silly fool!"
"Relax Superman! Don't get so hyper! I'm coming to your house tomorrow, is that fine? And now tell me, how can I help you?"
Mayank smiled at Samrat who looked completely confused." I'll tell you when you come here. Bye!" Mayank cut the phone.
Samrat raised his eyebrows at Mayank, asking him what had happened. Mayank smiled at hi again and jumped into bed.
"This is going to be so fun." He muttered, closing his eyes.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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