Chapter 2:
Feeling his hand on hers, Nupur looked up and met Mayank's eyes. He nodded slightly and gestured for her to walk on, as he made his way through the crowd. Nupur clutched onto her crutch tightly as a warm sensation flooded her body, originating from the point where his hand made contact with hers...He led the way, which was good, coz Nupur had totally lost the sense of where she was and what was happening...He walked slowly to keep up with her pace, but not slow enough to make her conscious. Nupur smiled involuntarily as she realised how understanding he was.
Mayank was still in the after effects of the events that had just transpired between the two of them. He was known for his spontaneity and unexpected actions but this definitely topped the list of all those actions, and also the list of his happiest moments. Being an actor, he had had his fair share of link-ups, but only a very few had been true and even in those, never had he felt as content as he did today. He looked back at Nupur, who had a sweet smile on her face as she slowly limped to keep up with him. People all around looked at them weirdly, but Mayank paid no heed to them.
They were almost at the Station gate when Nupur spoke up softly "Mayank, you should go now...My office is just 5-minutes walk from here. I'll go." She smiled at him as he turned to face her.
"Par tum akele kaise jaogi?"
Nupur raised her eyebrows. "Kyun? pehle bhi to akele hi jaati thi?" A playful tone took over her voice as she pulled his leg.
Mayank sheepishly looked at her, "Par ab Main hoon na!" and smiled warmly at her.
Nupur's heart fluttered at the sight of those cute and adorable dimples. She sighed softly as she knew that they will cause havoc on her heart very often now, so she willed herself to stop hyperventilating.
Mayank noticed the colour that slowly crept on her cheeks and smiled even wider.
"Achcha ab agar aapka sharmana ho gaya ho to hum chalein?" he asked her naughtily.
Nupur gasped, her mouth wide open. "You!! Wait, I'll....hmph!!" She moved forward to hit his arm playfully in mock anger...To the onlookers, it seemed as though they were looking at a long-in-love couple...Who would say that they had just met today?
Mayank dodged her skilfully and moved back as she came forward to try again, but doing this she lost her balance, as she had been holding onto his hand for support and was about to fall down, when he grabbed her around the waist just in time.
"Nupur! Kya kar rahi ho? Tumhe apna zara bhi khayal nahi hai kya? Agar tum gir jaati toh?" Mayank exclaimed, a deep crease between his eyes as he looked at her with eyes full of concern.
Nupur felt herself losing in that concern as she speechlessly stayed that way and looked into his eyes. How she had longed for someone like him in her life, who would love her despite her disability. She still didn't know if he loved her or not, but for now this concern was enough for her.
"Umm...Wo main..." she struggled to stand up straight and he helped her, still looking at her with disapproval. Nupur ruffled his hair softly, firstly coz he looked even more adorable when angry and secondly coz she couldn't seem to control herself.
Mayank looked at her, surprised. Seeing her smiling softly, he couldn't help but smile back. Shaking his head slowly, he led her outside and they continued to walk that way, lost in their thoughts, in the comfortable silence that stretched between them.
"Mayank, here's my building...Ab to main akele jaa sakti hun,na?" she teased him,as they came to a halt in front of a grey skyscraper.
Mayank chuckled softly as he let go of her hand. Growing serious the very next moment, he said "Dhyaan se jaana...Please." He added,softly.
Nupur smiled and nodded and turned around to leave when his "Nupur! Ek minute!" stopped her.
He was standing there with a smug look on his face. Her brow clouded with confusion.
"Kya hua?"
Mayank grinned sheepishly, "Umm...I don't have your number yet...Dobara milne ka koi plan hai ya nahi?" He asked her, raising one eyebrow.
Nupur giggled. This was really very weird! How little they knew about each other and yet it seemed like they had known each other forever. She reached in her purse and took out her card and gave it to him, who happily accepted it.
"Ahem! 'Ms.Nupur Bhushan, Sports Journalist, The Times of India'" He read it out in a fake made-up voice. Nupur made a face at him for his silliness and looked at him expectantly.
"Kya?? Ohh...ek minute haan..." Nupur smiled at his forgetful act as he dug into his wallet and took out his own card, handing it to her.
"Main padhu?"
"Nahi nahi..uski koi zarurat nahi hai..." He smiled, which turned into a frown as he glanced at his watch. "Uh-oh...aaj to mera director mujhe maar hi daalega!"
Nupur laughed whole-heartedly and he looked at her, lost again...Man! How do I walk away from her?
"Mayank, ab jao!!!" she shoved him playfully and he came to his senses. He sighed as he realised he had no other choice but to do that.
"Ok...I'll give you a call later...See you...Take care..." His voice held a tinge of sadness, which Nupur was quick to pick out. She smiled at him as she bid him farewell and limped towards her building, smiling at how her day had turned out to be, despite it starting out as just another day.
Mayank saw her limp and he resolved to himself that he would do something about it....and soon!
*****
Nupur walked to her desk happily as she sat down to finish the article on Lionel Messi's European honour of Ballon d'Or 2009 that was due to go on print for the Evening edition. She didn't really enjoy writing football as much but had no choice, as Samrat was out to cover the updates on the World Cup 2010 qualifying matches. She smiled as she remembered the thrill with which he had called her when he had seen Ronaldo with his own eyes, playing on the field. He was a good buddy and always made her feel comfortable...
Thinking of which, she was reminded of another young man who made her feel so comfortable and so cared for and....She blushed as his smile replayed in her mind. She tapped her head lightly and forced herself to concentrate on the job at hand and not to think of those dimples and the twinkling eyes and...Uff!!here I go again!!
"Nupur, Is the Messi article done yet? We are sending it in print early!" Her boss peeped into her cabin and broke her reverie.
Nupur started at the sudden intrusion "Yes Sir, almost done...Will mail it to you in 5 min."
"Good" He left.
Nupur, kaam kar,kaam!! She chided herself and dug into the article.
*****
Mayank was having no better time than Nupur. He kept forgetting his lines, causing so many re-takes to occur. His fellow actors were eyeing him with frustration but his mind was not with him...He knew he should be more attentive but her laughter just didn't fade away! He sighed at his hopeless, teenage love-sick state.
"Oye Mayank, kya kar raha hai yaar? This was the 9th re-take,dude. Everything fine?" His director called out from his chair.
"Sir, Just 2-minutes break" He told him and walked to his van when the director nodded in affirmation.
Taking his seat, he took out her card and debated with himself if it was too early to call her. God! Only 2 hours have passed! I have got to control myself! But I want to talk to her...
He continued to fight with himself and finally decided on casually leaving an SMS for her...That would be good! Neither too desperate, nor too laidback! He smiled and quickly typed – 'Hey! Sup? Howz it goin?' He thought for a second and den added 'Dinner at 8?' Nah! Too cheesy! He erased it and then after a few moments of thought typed something and pressed the Send button, smiling widely.
*****
Nupur's cell buzzed as she was about to start typing a new story on the upcoming test series. She pressed the Read button and a wide smile formed across her face.
Hey! Sup? Howz it goin? Will be waiting for you at Bay View at 8... Dont forget to bring your smile...:) Mayank
She replied 'And you your Dimples!' and pressed the send button and then blushed as she realised what she had just sent!
Only God could see the look on Mayank's face when he read her SMS...And it's safe to say, that those dimples didn't leave his face all day at the shoot! ;)
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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