Droplets (Rajeev FF) New LINK Page-155 - Page 95

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Sumi. 😳

Part # 19

The Next morning Ashna was at her new office. Adil had come along wid her, for the official announcement of her handling the office from now on. He had been there for hardly an hour and then rushed back to his RGI, leaving her here!!

Ashna now sat inside her cabin. She didn't have too much work. Adil had been extremely perfect in the steps he took. He asked her to join the Sehgal Groups when he knew she wudnt face any problem in taking over!! She didn't have to cum across any project in the mid way. The on-going ones were mostly sorted out, so that she only has to take care of any new upcoming project.

And now that Ashna pondered a lil hard over everything, she realized she was not given a new project at RGI for the past 2 or so months!! Of course it means, Adil knew she wud be shifting away to Sehgal Groups on his command.

Now the slightest possibility, of him changing the mind abt giving back everything to her at the nick of the moment, seemed all the more irrelevant now. Neither those property transfer papers nor her shifting was a hasty decision. Knowing Adil, she cud now vouch all the more on that. Adil Raichand, after all, doesn't take hasty decisions!!

Ashna smirks to herself thinking abt him. And then she suddenly bears a thoughtful expression. She was still wondering why he was sleeping outside like that yesterday night. It was not as if she had forbidden him to enter the room, she cudnt do that to him. It was his room. And again, he cud at least opt for another room. There were countless rooms in his mansion.

"May be he just fell asleep"

This is wat her mind has been telling her since then. The answer was very much likable and logical, but still she wanted to hear from him. She wanted to ask him wat happened and if he really was alright. But sumhow she felt he didn't wish to be asked such questions and so she obliged. Now since when his wish started to matter to her, is still unknown to her!!

Here at RGI, Adil announced that Ashna was no more an active part of the company and she will be dealing wid Sehgal Groups from now on. He said exactly two lines and headed to his cabin, followed by Shekhar.

Shekhar: So? Wanna tell me something?

Adil was rather amused by Shekhar's way of enquiring. He knew he cud avoid the question and Shekhar wudnt repeat his enquiry again, but then Adil thought Shekhar definitely deserved more than just two lines from him.

Adil: Actually, I have been wanting this for a while. Maine socha Ashna Sehgal Groups behtar sambhal payegi, she'll be more than devoted, am sure!!

Shekhar: That's true, but she did becum devoted towards RGI as well. Don't u think so?

Adil: You're right, but that's how I decide it Shekhar!! I think its gonna be gud for everyone.

Shekhar: I knw it cant go wrong for anyone, warna tum aisa kuch karte hi nahi Adil. Lekin ek chhoti si problem hai.

Adil: Kya?

Shekhar: Mr. Kaul retired last month aur next month Mr. Dutt bhi retire karenge. Wo dono hi bahut important and significant projects handle karte the. Loyalty and experience both can be counted on their behalf. Wid them gone, we can just fill in the place wid sumone else, lekin uss tarah ka outcome milna mushkil hoga. Aur aise waqt me Ashna ka chale jana, is a lil unexpected for me. She was talented, so experience cud not be much of a problem and loyalty is beyond question when its her. But now things don't seem that shiny anymore. Staff me itne saare naye log honge, to problem ho jayegi.

Adil: Don't worry regarding Ashna. I knw sumone who can fill in for her. Someone extremely talented and someone whose loyalty also cannot be questioned.

Shekhar: (widening his eyes) U r talking abt Rishabh? (Adil gave a curt nod at that) Lekin wo maanega? And kahin tum phirse mujhe to nahi bhejoge na usse manane?

Adil: Nahi. Iss baar tum nahi mana paoge usse. Mujhe baat karni hogi. Don't worry, wo main sambhal lunga. But yes, two retirements!! This means we need to recruitments. Call for an interview.

Shekhar: Right. (he was abt to get up)

Adil: And Shekhar, u recruit on ur own ok? No need to ask me!!

Shekhar: (surprised) But Adil, final decision to hamesha tum hi lete ho.

Adil: I knw, but I think u can manage as fair as me. So just do it urself ok?

Shekhar just managed to nod his head and left his cabin. Adil looked at his way, took in a breath and then took out his laptop. He was abt to open it when he just glanced towards the room beside his cabin. The curtains were closed, he didn't need to open them today, because she wasn't here!!

Now it was abt lunch time. Ashna was leaning back on her chair. She didn't work much since morning. The tiny bits she did was nothing compared to the pile of files she wud get from Adil at RGI.

Suddenly the thought of Adil stung her heart. After all he was not here wid her. It was strange to be here, in this office, among all new faces. Well, not completely new though!! She had been here a couple of times when her father was alive. The staff might have been the same all along. She had recognized the watchman only who wud let her in wid a smile back then. But then, that was almost a year back. Everything was different then and now the scenario is completely different.

Again she was kinda used to work in the atmosphere of RGI, so it was taking her a fair amount of tym to get adjusted. The staff here, however, was also friendly and welcoming. A few senior members had come to see her personally, due to their long term association wid her father. Mostly everyone was happy to have her amongst them. But no, she cudnt say they were unhappy wid Adil as their new boss. They perhaps admired him equally as her father.

Surprisingly this fact didn't affect her much. She was sumhow okay wid it. She sumhow knew Adil was gud to the ppl working for him. Perhaps he was cold only to her!!

"Like I care, huh."

But, as the thought of Adil being cold to her crossed her mind, Ashna didn't seem very pleased.

"I was liking it in RGI, I was doing well there, sab kaam bhi thik se kar leti thi, ye bardasht nahi hua na tumse Adil aur isliye mujhe torture karne ke liye yaha bhej diya!! Its so strange to be here, sab log anjaan hai, I practically knw nobody!! Its too lonely."

And she suddenly she realizes that she had not felt the same loneliness when she first joined RGI. The hollow feeling inside her wasn't there then.

"Uff, I donno wats the matter wid me!! May be I am being too nagging. Pehle bhi ek bilkul naye environment me kaam kar chuki hu main, its just the same. Yaha bhi sab log bahut frndly hai, bahut co-operative hai, in fact its better here. Sab log Papa ke naam se mujhe jante hai, everyone here seems extremely nice. Then what is this irritation for?"

Just then, there was a knock at the door which broke Ashna away from her thoughts and soon Shekhar entered her cabin much to her surprise.

Ashna: Tum yaha kaise?

Shekhar: Hope I didn't disturb you!!

Ashna: Arre of course not, in fact am glad u came. Main bas lunch order karne jaa rahi thi, let me order for both ok?

Shekhar nodded and soon they started talking over lunch.

Shekhar: So tell me, how is it here?

Ashna: Gr8!! (she says more sarcastically than in actual)

Shekhar: (smiles) Okay I get it. U still don't like it here.

Ashna: (surprised that he actually got it) Arre aisa nahi hai...

Shekhar: Its ok Ashna. I understand. Achanak se new atmosphere me thoda ajeeb lagta hai. Its perfectly normal. And dont try lying becoz ur face just gives u away. (he ends wid a chuckle)

Ashna: (frowns) So he is right. I am too obvious, hai na?

Shekhar: He? Do u mean Adil?

Ashna: Ah...kinda. Anyways, tum yaha kaise?

Shekhar: Actually, aaj achanak hi Adil ne bomb foda ki tum ab RGI ka active hissa nahi ho. Main thoda shocked reh gaya and socha ek 'gud luck wish' to banta hai. So bas waqt milte hi chala aya.

Ashna: Achha kiya. It's truly a bit awkward for me wid new ppl altogether!!

Shekhar: As I said, its perfectly understandable. RGI me bhi tumhe pehle pehle kaafi awkward feel hota tha, I remember that. Lekin waha adjust kar liya na? So yaha bhi ho jayega ok? Just chill & yeah, just for sum boost, always remember that you are the boss, here. Adil is not here to watch over you!! (and he winks)

Ashna looks up at Shekhar, being quite stunned at her own realization. She had just realized that the only difference btwn her first day at RGI and her first day here was---Adil. Adil was not here!!

Shekhar: Waise Adil keh raha tha he has been thinking of sumthing like this for a while. May be he thinks, u'll be far more devoted in this surrounding!! And I thought u'll like it here more.

Ashna: Welll, lets see how devoted I can get. And rahi baat ki Adil ki, then I bet he has been thinking abt this for months!! No wonder I didn't get to be a part of any new project of RGI.

Shekhar: Arre haan, I never realized that. But then, Adil has always been prim and perfect abt his decisions. He always gives everything a fair amount of thought. Jo bhi karta hai bahut soch samajh ke, planning ke sath karta hai.

Ashna: Hmm, shayad tum sahi ho. He always plans everything!!

Ashna smiles as she says this, but she cant help herself shifting to thoughts!!

"Of course he has his own plans!! He has always had his plans. That's why I cud never break thru him. He always knew I detest him and so he has always been conscious, always ready wid his plans!! He was so very right, I cud never harm him."

For sum reason Ashna didn't feel angry to realize how effortlessly he had dealt wid her!! She was just amused, as she seemed to see thru the simple fact now!! Adil was so successful and unshaken by anything, becoz he was far more planned than anyone cud ever imagine. He is always prepared to face hurdles, he chalks out plans to deal wid obstacles & so it is quite hard to shake such a man from his throne.

For the next few days, everything goes on pretty calmly. Though Ashna was at first irritated wid the sudden new responsibilities, she just got used to it the way she had got used to RGI before.

However for Adil, it was getting all the more frustrating. He didn't get to see Ashna more often. Mostly he had to w8 till night to have a gud look at her. And the thought of her being sumwhere else, away from him, ached his heart. But of course, this was the way he himself had chosen. So he cud not complain!!

One evening, Adil gets back home rather early and soon goes up to Rishabh in his bed room.

Adil: We need to talk.

Rishabh: Seems like sumthing important.

Adil: It is important, Rishabh. Please RGI join kar lo.

Rishabh stares at him for a while, almost incredulously.

Rishabh: Are u requesting me? Did I hear a 'please'?

Adil: Yes, I am very much requesting you.

Rishabh: Are u out of ur mind? Kya bak rahe ho?

Adil: I need you Rishabh.

Rishabh: No Adil, u don't need me. U haven't needed me all these years. To phir ab kyun? C'mon Adil, lets not pretend anymore. Hum dono jante hai, we survive well away from each other. Jab main yaha nahi tha tab bhi sab kuch thik tha, everyone was okay.

Adil: I am still saying Rishabh, I need you. I need you to join RGI.

Rishabh: Lekin kyun? Ek wajah batao Adil, ek reason jo mujhe satisfy kare. U own every damn thing. Main tumhare raaste se kabka hath chuka hu, to phir tum kyun mujhe phirse inn sab me shamil karna chahte ho?

Adil: I have my own reasons!! I can just assure you that they r not harmful in any way.

Rishabh: I find it hard to believe you Adil. Bachpan se janta hu tumhe. Hamesha hi kaafi secretive ho tum, isliye jhooth bolna tumhe bakhubi ata hai. Waise bhi, tumhe pata hai na, main tumhare saath kaam nahi kar sakta.

Adil: Pata hai mujhe. Bas kuch waqt ki baat hai. Join me Rishabh. Phir main sab thik kar dunga.

Rishabh: Seriously Adil. Tell me the actual reason. Tumhe itne saalo me nahi laga ki tumhe meri zarurat hai. To ab achanak se tum itna determined kaise ho gaye iss baat ko lekar?

Adil: Main hamesha se yehi chahta tha Rishabh. Even u realize that.

Rishabh: Yeah that's true. But isse pehle tumne mujhe zabardasti Canada se deport nahi karaya tha. U didn't force me wid anything before. To ab kyun? Achanak se ye 'Hum saath saath hai' wali feeling kahan se aa gayi?

Adil: (ignores his question) C'mon Rishabh.

Rishabh: What makes u think I will agree?

Adil: Tell me something. Kya tum khud ye nahi chahte the? Kya hamesha tumhare dil me ye aas nahi thi ki tum phirse apno ke bich wapas aaoge? Agar iss sawal ka jawab 'haan' hai to tumhara wo jawab bhi 'haan' hi hoga. Aur yakeen maano, ye dono jawab 'haan' hai. I knw it Rishabh, becoz I knw you.

Rishabh: (snaps back) No Adil. U don't knw me. Tab waqt aur thi, bich me kayi saal guzar chuke hai, main badal chuka hu. I don't care anymore.

Adil: Tum kitna badal chuke ho, main shayad nahi janta. Lekin tumse aaj bhi jhooth nahi bola jata. (Rishabh just keeps looking at him) Kal sharp 9 baje office aa jana. Good night.

Coming out of Rishabh's room, Adil calls Shekhar. Only he cud understand how happy Adil felt at that moment.

Adil: Shekhar wo maan jayega.

Shekhar: Kaun? Rishabh? Usne 'haan' keh diya?

Adil: Nahi, par wo kal office aa jayega!!

Shekhar: U think so?

Adil: I knw so Shekhar.

Shekhar: Chalo, thats gr8 to hear. Usme kuch akkal to ayi.

Adil: Ab shayad sab thik ho jayega!!

Shekhar: Zarur thik ho jayega. And I knw so Adil.

Adil: Hmm. Chalo abhi rakhta hu. Bye.

Cutting the call, Adil turns back to find Ashna looking at him curiously. He just nodded acknowledging her and walked away.

"Was he smiling? Ab aisa bhi kya ho gaya that the angry young man managed a smile? Phn pe kaun tha? Ya phir shayad thi?"

Ashna frowns at her own thought and quickly follows him to the room to enquire more.

Ashna: Ermm...

Adil: Kuch kehna hai?

Ashna: Ah, wo bas, tum thode khush lag rahe ho!! I mean thode relaxed lag rahe ho. I mean...

Adil: Its ok Ashna. I knw wat u mean!! Actually Rishabh will be joining RGI, to bas ye sochke main thoda relaxed hu.

Ashna: (surprised) Are u sure wo maan gaya? (Adil narrows his eyes at that) I am sorry. But its evident he is not very cordile wid you.

Adil: (stiffens at that) I just knw he will come. Shekhar ko bhi yehi kaha maine & even he seemed doubtful, so no need to be sorry abt that. Lekin mujhe yakeen hai...

Ashna: (cutting him in the midway, she heaves a sigh of relief) Oh, so that was Shekhar on phn?

Adil: (confused) Haan, kyun?

Ashna: Nahi nahi, kuch nahi. I was wondering Rishabh meri jagah join kar raha hai na?

Adil: Kind of yes. Btw, I never got to ask you, I hope u r doing it well in Sehgal Groups. Adjusted nicely?

Ashna: Yeah of course. Kuch khas fark nahi hai, its kinda all the same, u knw!!

Adil: (gulps at the thought that she is not affected by his absence like the way he is) Yeah, all the same. Gud to hear that. (and he looks away) I'll just be back.

"Of course it's the same Adil. It doesn't matter that I don't feel ur glance over me anymore!!"

Here moving away from her sight, Adil just clenches his fist and closes his eyes.

"Kash main bhi keh pata Ashna, ki mujhe fark nahi padhta."

Here in his room, Rishabh was in deep thoughts. He wasn't sure wat he shud do. Adil was right, Rishabh literally craved to be back. But as much true was the fact that Adil's very presence pinched him sumwhere. He wanted to join RGI, it was his father's company once, so wat it belonged to Adil now!! It still bore the name 'Raichand'. And Rishabh wanted to be a part of it. But shud he agree to Adil's offer? It was Adil after all, shud he be lenient enough to be persuaded by Adil so easily?

Next morning, Adil had left early as usual. But when Ashna was getting ready for the office, she saw no such preparations on Rishabh's part. She was still highly doubtful that he will join Adil. After all, he clearly detests him too much!!

But as she was having her breakfast, she astonishingly watched Rishabh climbing down the steps. He was all set for the office!! Others present in the dining area were even more stunned as they didn't have the faintest idea abt anything.

Rishabh: I need to be at RGI by 9. See u all later. Bye.

Rishabh stated his words calmly and zoomed away, not much unlike his brother!! And here, Ashna cudnt prevent the curving of her lips at the corner.

"He was so right."

A few more days pass by calmly. Initially, Rashi seemed terrified at the idea of her two brother working together, under one roof. But she calmed down once Adil assured her that everything is gonna be f9. However, Dadi and GR were perfectly happy wid Rishabh joining RGI, both for different reasons. Dadi found it beneficial for Rishabh while GR thought it was high tym Adil got sum assistance from Rishabh & the two brother worked together for their father's company!!

One night Adil returns home wid the added urge to see Ashna. He now-a-days feels restless as he doesn't see her all day long. And now as his eyes rest upon her, he suddenly feels soothed. She was sitting by the window, gazing outside & eating sumthing. She hadn't realized Adil's arrival, she sumhow looked disturbed.

Adil wanted to ask wat was bothering her, but he was almost sure of getting the reply "you". However, when he was back after his dinner, he still found her sitting there and gazing outside, quite motionlessly. She still looked disturbed and he now had to knw why.

Adil: Koi pareshani hai kya?

Ashna: Nahi. (and now she looks back suddenly) Tum kab aye?

Adil: Kaafi pehle. Tum kuch soch me thi, to tumhe disturb nahi kiya. Lekin ab kaafi raat ho chuki hai Ashna.

Ashna: Hmm...

Adil: Something is bothering you!! (he quietly states the fact which was so evident to him)

Ashna looks up at him in the eye and lets out a sigh, nodding her head in a yes.

Ashna: Kal Karwa Chauth hai. Pura din mujhe khane ko nahi milega. Main aaj shyam se hi kaafi kuch khaa rahi hu, but I knw it doesn't help. Kal to bhukh lagni hi hai. (she says wid a frown while Adil just stares in astonishment) Sunn liya na wats bothering me!! Abhi hatho, ye sab rakhke ati hu (indicating the food) and phir aa ke jaldi sona hai. I need to be up before dawn.

Ashna was walking away when Adil speaks up.

Adil: Are u out of your mind?

Ashna: Kyun? Ab kya kiya maine?

Adil: U don't need to fast Ashna!! Tumhe pata hai na, ye vrath pati ke liye rakha jata hai, in this case, that's me!! U don't need to fast for me!! (he states this as a matter of fact)

Ashna stares at him for a few moments. Not fasting for him hadn't occurred to her at all. When she was told abt it, she just thought she wud need to stay hungry all day long and it's sumthing hard. But of course she cud manage it.

Ashna: Ahh...then wat do u suggest? Main Dadi and Maa se jaa ke ye kahu ki mujhe tumhare liye vrath rakhne me koi interest nahi hai? U shud have heard them when they were here. Mujhe kitna eagerly sab kuch samjha rahe the!! I just had to agree.

Adil: I understand that. Lekin tumhe literally vrath rakhne ki koi zarurat nahi hai. They r not going to watch u all the tym.

Ashna: (raising an eye-brow) So u are suggesting a cheating?

Adil thought 'cheating' sounds a lil offensive, yet he didn't deny that he was sumwat suggesting the same.

Ashna: Sab ko apni tarah samajhte ho kya? Jhooth bolna, dhoka dena ye sab tumhe achha lagta hoga Adil, mujhe nahi. Aur naa hi ye sab mujhse ho sakta hai. Main kuch na kuch khaa ke shyam ko ye pretend nahi kar sakti ki main pure din se bhukhi hu, huh!!

And she storms away immediately. She didn't like his suggestion at all. She doesn't knw why, but she felt angry and probably hurt. Didn't he realize it was an important ritual? And it was certainly not auspiscious to cheat like this. Didn't he get it? It wud be extremely inauspiscious for him.

Ashna came back to the room after keeping the food and she was seeming slightly off.

Ashna: Tum bas kal jaldi ana samjhe?

Adil: You don't need to do this Ashna. Its not abt cheating or lying. It'll take too much of you. Pani bhi nahi piya jaata Ashna. Its all really tough. And this is surely not the way u fancy to have sum new experience!!

Ashna: Tumhe lagta hai main ye sab ek interesting experience ke liye kar rahi hu? (Adil opened his mouth to oppose that he didn't mean it like that, but she was already offended) Well think whatever u want to, I don't really care. It's a religious matter and I just don't want to hurt the sentiments in any way. I think I'll manage. Tum bas ek kaam karna pls. Kal shyam ko jaldi ana. It's a...request.

Adil was not at all happy abt the idea of fasting and all. She just didn't need to go thru starving for a whole day, just for his sake. But seeing her determination he didn't forbid her anymore.

Next evening, Ashna was getting ready at home. She had been to office for a while only, just becoz she didn't want to have a bad impression on her staff. However, going to office seemed to have helped her a bit in dealing wid the hunger. Being occupied, she didn't really feel it much. But after she was back at home it seemed really hard, and these last hours were all the more difficult to pass!!

Anyways, the w8 was almost over!! There was more or less half an hour left for the moon to appear. The only thing was Adil wasn't back yet. Ashna was not really pleased wid this fact. Seeing his concern last night, she thought he wud be back the soonest. But seems she was wrong. Perhaps he didn't care enough!!

After a gud while, Ashna was still w8ing. There was no sign of Adil, but the consolation was, the moon was not seen yet. Ashna was thinking he might be stuck sumwhere, but wud surely be here before the moon is seen.

It was strange for her altogether. It was her first Karwa Chauth and she was also the only one fasting at home. She sumhow felt nervous, inspite of literally memorizing the needful doings one after another!! Rashi & Rishabh were wid her on the terrace, keeping her in company. They were being pretty helpful for Ashna to deal wid her anxiety, but she was getting restless now. The moon will be seen in the sky anytime now, but there was no Adil. Rishabh & Rashi were trying his phn for a while now, but no answer.

Ashna was literally cursing him in her mind. One part of her was angry that he was late despite her request last night. And one part was scared & hurt to think that may be she didn't matter enough to him. It was altogether a different feel for Ashna. She felt this sinking feeling inside her which she cudnt put in words, nor cud she make out why she felt like this.

From the moment Ashna had decided to fast for Adil, she was constantly reminding herself that she was just respecting the ritual. However, the words seemed extremely unsatisfactory after a while & this precisely worried her. She was unable to answer her own innermost queries, as the answeres now seem a lie to her.

On top of that, at this very moment, she felt like crying that Adil still didn't come. The moon has come out, yet he didn't bother to cum home early on this one day, on her request. The very thought that he didn't care for her or perhaps cared abt sumthing else more than her, was pinching her heart.

However, after a delay of more than half an hour, Adil reached home. He rushed to the terrace as fast as he cud to find Ashna getting up from her chair. She pulled the anchal over her head which indicated that he must stand before her right then. She didn't spare him a glance while performing the 'aarti'; she was gazing intently at the 'thaal' instead. It was only when she had to look thru the 'chhanni' she looked at him, directly in the eye.

Adil cud see how much angry and hurt she was. He himself felt pathetic for being late, but he just cudnt help it. He wished to explain to her, but Ashna seemed way too angry.

There was pin drop silence on the terrace. Rashi & Rishabh had already left, and Adil had seen the disapproving looks on both of their faces. They all seemed to think he was stuck wid work.

When the ritual was done, Ashna was abt to take the 'thaal' wid her, but Adil stopped her.

Adil: Ye main leke ata hu, You watch out the stairs. Aur jaa ke khaana kha lo. U must be hungry!!

Ashna left the plate there and strode away from him. Adil, however, drank a lil water from her kalash and had her half eaten piece of food, before leaving the terrace!!

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Hi Sumi

welcome back😃😃😃

thanks for the superb update...

So Ashna and Adil r working separately...

they are missing each other...

Good to see shekhar came to meet Ashna...

Adil is too good at convincing people... He makes them do what he wants them to do...

He understands everyone but why doesnt anyone understand him...

So Rishabh has joined RGI, Adil convinced him...

Adil loves Ashna then why is he keeping himself away from her... Waiting for the night to have a look at Ashna that is so sweet...

Adil is feels bad to know that Ashna doesnt miss him whereas he is missing Ashna...

Adil is too secretive Just dont understand what is he upto...

Waiting for more try n cont soon...