Part 3 A + B
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Shilpa sat there looking at the class decorations. It was all so different from India.
India. There is nothing that could compare her life back in India. She wished she could just go back and live her life.
Her thoughts about India were interrupted when she heard whispers rise in the room. She looked at the source of attention.
This is hell!
******
"Excuse me! Can I sit here?" Armaan asked a girl in his biology class. Lab number 5. That's what the teacher had said. He did not get any reply so he shrugged and sat down. "uh! Hello! Miss'" No reply.
"He tried to look at the girl behind the book totally ignoring him. That was not usual. He tried again.
"Hi, I am Armaan Mallik" This usually works.
"Go show that off to someone else" Came a sharp reply.
"What the Fu'" He trailed off. There is certainly something wrong here. Was he dreaming?
"Would you mind telling me what is with so much of attitude?" He asked. She took the book away from her face and rolled her eyes.
"If you would mind keeping yours to yourself" No way. This was not possible. What was Shilpa out of all people doing here? No'no..no..no'still no!
"You! What are you doing here?"
"Studying'du-uh!" She pronounced as a matter-of-fact.
"But'but you are a model right?" He asked. Shilpa looked away red cheeked.
"Umm'so what? You are a singer too, ain't you?
"Yeah but'"
"Shut up and keep your questions to yourself." She said going back to her book.
"How dare you talk to him like that Miss. Whatever?" A girl interfered and Shilpa got another chance to role her eyes. Ofcourse, the feminine attraction was what he was.
"And how dare you interrupt my conversation with him?" Shilpa asked annoyed.
"What? How dare you?" The girl said wide eyed.
"Look, I know I am very daring person. Stop questioning my personality like an idiot." Shilpa said.
"You bitch. I will make your life a living hell. You have dared to talk against me. The President of Armaan's Fanclub. Your life is going to be ruined."
"Try something better, because yours is already ruined. Armaan Mallik! Yuck!"
"Excuse me, if you girls don't mind, can I talk?" Armaan cued in. " This is my sit, and Shilpa is my partner so I would request you to go back to your partner there please." He pointed to a nerd with glasses.
The girl huffed and walked off. He looked at Shilpa staring at him with a weird face.
"What?" He asked. "Why are you making that face at me?"
"I don't think I will ever need a reason to do that."
*****
Muskaan and Rahul were already sitting at cafeteria, arguing about something when Shilpa walked in.
"Hey guys!" She greeted. The duo responded with a Hey!
"Dekh Rahul, report banana mein tune meri help nahi ki na'toh mein teri partner nahi banungi"
"Too bad Muski, tere pass choice hi nahi hai."
Shilpa ignored their bicker with a smile and walked toward the counter.
"One slice of cheese Pizza and a pepsi please." She smiled at the girl at behind the counter.
"Coming right up" She said and went in.
Shilpa was walking back to the table when suddenly.
"Ouch, Oh my gosh, I am so'you?" Shilpa asked shocked.
"Oh god, not you again!" Armaan said rolling eyes at her face.
Is it me or is the fate really turning against me? They both thought.
_______
"Bye, don't forget to pick me up on saturday" Shilpa said to Muskaan before walking down the street. On her first day of school, she had already made friends. Everyone she met had been so sweet and helpful. Except for some people like Armaan.
Why even think of him? That arrogant jerk. He didn't even say sorry. Can you believe it? It was his freaking fault for spilling my own soda on me. How can he be so stupid and arrogant? And why in the name of Bollywood am I talking to myself? God I am going crazy. I always do this. Whenever I am alone, I end up talking to myself. That's because you don't have anyone else to talk to you. So what, it's not like I won't survive without talking to you. Oh no you won't. I will. You won't. I will. SHUT UP!
Shilpa was about to open her apartment when a hand stopped her. She looked at her landlord. Yup, she had rented a house, which looked more like an apartment, but was much cheaper. "Hello there! How was your day sweetheart?" Her landlord, Mrs. Dominik smiled at her. But Shilpa knew it was an evil smile.
"Uhh, Good!"
"Well, not anymore." She said letting her smile fall." I found a new paying guest, who is willing to pay me more, so I guess you are moving out.
Shilpa starred at her. She is kidding right? Right? NO?
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Hai rabba, mere saath hi Saari tragedies kyun hoti hai? Kya aapko mein itni bhi pas and nahi hoon? Meri life mein Kuch toh positive hona chahye ki nahi? Kya maine aapse kabhi bhi kuch bhi maanga hai? Well, maanga hai, par bahot thoda. Lekin aapne toh mujhse Bina maange hi sab kuch le liya. Ab aap hi bataye, mein kahan jau
Shilpa sat there on her front steps sulking and complaining to her god. She was so angry that she didn't even wait a minute before starting her packing. Two hours later here she was, surrounded by her suitcases.
"Ab aapne jeene ke liye zindagi di hai toh yeh toh batao ki kaise jiyu?" she yelled looking at the sky, as if out of nowhere an angel will appear. As is answering her will, a car pulled up right in front of her.
"Muskaan! Tum yahan kaise?"
"Shilpa mein toh tumhe party mein le jaane aayi thi. Tum apne ghar ke bahar aise..."
"yeah right, mera ghar." Shilpa muttered. This place was anything but her house."woh, my Landlord threw me out"
"what? OMG. Why didn't you call me?" Muskaan started taking Shilpa's suitcases.
"Well...hey, what are you doing?"
"What? You really think I am going to let you sit here and cry until you finally get some sense?" Muskaan replied.
"I...But where can. Go?" Shilpa asked sadly.
"You are the dumbest person I have ever met. Now get in the car come on."
"but..where? And your party?"
"you can't be serious, you are the first Indian girl I have met in this place, and I care about party? Please. And where? Well, it's for me to know and for you my dear, to find out." Muskaan started the car and they went off. Shilpa had not the slightest idea where.
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"Here we are!" Muskaan said jumping out of the car. Shilpa couldn't move an inch. Because before her stood a white mansion. Yes, a mansion. Biggest she had ever seen. Where are they? In DC?
"Muskaan! Umm...where are we?"
Muskaan said nothing and asked her to follow. Shilpa gulped, what trouble has she landed in now?
As they entered, Shilpa noticed the how in contrast to most of the house in America, this place had some kind of Indian aroma to it. There was a metal idol of lord ganesha right in front of the entrance. As they walked around it, there was a small fountain that kept sprinkling some water on the plants around it in a very fascinating way. Shilpa tried her best to not look owed by the interior decoration of this house.
"Chhaya! Where are you?" Muskaan shouted, but not in a mean way, as soon as they entered a big hall what Shilpa figured was living room. It was a huge room with white leather sofas right in the middle and a plasma LED TV on a wall right in front of it. All around there was some furniture and huge decorations. But out of all the finest and carefully chosen art-crafts, what really got Shilpa's attention was a huge partitioned place with a white idol of most beautiful Radha and Krishna she had ever seen.
"Muskaan, is this your house?" Shilpa asked nervously.
"10 for our Einstein here." Muskaan grinned.
"but Muskaan..."
"not a word. I am not going to hear any of your, Muskaan mein yahan kaise reh sakti hoon, Muskaan yeh, woh...whatsoever. NOTHING."
"Muskaan, I thought you were going to party, how...hey, is this your Indian friend?" a lady in her 20's wearing formal suit came down the stairs.
"Shilpa, this is Chhaya, and Chhaya, this is Shilpa. My new Indian friend who will live with us from now on." Muskaan smiled at Chhaya and Shilpa feared Chhaya would kick her out of the house.
"OMG, really? Are you Indian? That is so cool. Can you speak Hindi? H my god that would be so cool, I wouldn't have to go around talking in English only anymore. You have made my life Shilpa. Nothing can make my life happier!" Chhaya said. Rather ranted.
"that's cool, I guess " Shilpa finally said. Wow, she had never seen anyone besides herself talk so much. Well, Muskaan was one of the rangers too, but never had Shilpa met her mirror before. It was so weird. Am I really like this? God save people from my clutch than.
"Chhaya, I suggest you take Shilpa to her room, I am going to talk to dad for a minute okay."
"What? Your dad? Oh my god, he is so going to kill me. Why did you bring me in a house full of people Muskaan? Have you taken a contract of my murder? How can you do that to me Muskaan? I thought we were friends." Shilpa cried. Muskaan looked at her in a are-you-in-your-senses way.
"Shilpa, don't worry, dad won't do anything. He will love you. Really! You will like him too. He loves having kids. "
"But..."
"Chhaya can you please take her?" Muskaan begged and Chhaya dragged the scared-to-death Shilpa to her new room.
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By the time of dinner Shilpa made sure she looked decent. She didn't want to face Muskaan's dad like some spoiled brat-which she wasn't anyways-but even after an hour of pacing around she couldn't help but worry. Shilpa had changed into a stunning but simple blue chudidar. She kelt her hair down and wore silver earrings with diamonds at the end. She looked perfect, and her worried, nervous face made her more adorable.
"OMG Shilpa, you look absolutely - I don't know - Indian and oh so beautiful." Muskaan said as Shilpa came down the stairs.
"Thank you." She muttered and they moved towards the dinning room. Shilpa didn't know why, but she felt that there is something really adventurous going to happen tonight.
As soon as she stepped inside the dinning room, the smell of punjabi food filled her senses. She suddenly realized how hungry she really was. Shilpa looked at the man, who was probably on his 50's, getting up from his chair to greet her. His face somehow looked similar to someone. Someone she had met. But couldn't point it out right.
"Hello beta, kya naam hai aapka?" He asked
"Shilpa uh Sharma." She said with a smile. She doesn't know why, but she was feeling guilty for hiding her real last name from this family. The family that gave her shelter. "Shilpa, Muskaan ne mujhe bataya ki aap mujhse Milne se dar Raheem the? Is that true?" He asked with a hidden smile.That smile looks so familiar.
"no sir, I was just..." Shilpa said at loss of words. She looked at Muskaan with a daggers. Muskaan just giggled.
"pehli baat, mujhse dar ne ki koi zarurat nahi hai. After all mein itna bhura bhi nahi dikhta" he joked, " and second, don't call me sir, I feel old Yaar."
I laughed at him. "okay sir...I mean uncle. Aapse milke I feel very close to my family."
"Where is you family? I would guess India." He said.
" Actually, my uncle lives in India. my mom and dad..uh..they died in a plane crash, and so my custody was given to my uncle and aunt. I wanted to study more, so I came to US." she smiled at him.
"oh, I am sorry beta. Waise you can feel at home here and..."
"Hey dad, I am back!" a voice, a way too familiar voice shouted behind her. Shilpa froze. No way! Please not him, not him, not him.
"Armaan, hey beta, come on up, meet her, she is going to stay with us." Mr.Mallik said.
"Oh, hey...Shilpa?" Armaan yelled.
"you know her? Might have met in school."
"Dad, Shilpa is our show-stopper at texas fashion show this weekend" Armaan clenched his teeth.
Muskaan looked at the trio and knew where this was going. Uh-oh.
"you are the girl who fought with Armaan yesterday?" Mr. Mallik asked confused.
"I am sorry sir, I didn't mean to. It's just that..." But by this time, Mr. Mallik was laughing like someone has cracked a joke.
Lagta hai puri family pagal hai.
"Dad! " Armaan exclaimed.
"sorry , but Shilpa, you are officially my favorite daughter" Mr.Mallik said laughing again.
"This is it, I am leaving." Armaan stormed out of the dinning room.
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Jaoon ke nai jaoon? Jaoongi toh lagega bhav de rahi hai. Par usne kuch khaya nahi hai. Dushman hai toh kya hua, khane mein kaisi ladayi. Jaati hu.
Shilpa took the plate of enchilada and knocked on his door. Unfortunately, his door was right next to her. On her left was Muskaan, but on her right, the devil.
"Come in." came a muffled reply. Shilpa took a deep breath and opened the door. Armaan was sitting on his bed facing the TV above his bed-head, playing playstation. He gave quick glance at her but realizing who it was he looked at her again. Completely surprised.
" what now? You are in my office, my school, even my house, and now what? My room?" Armaan asked frustrated.
"if I knew this was your house, kasam Aditya ki, mein is ghar mein ek kadam bhi nahi rakhti. " Armaan looked at her confused.
"Aditya?" He asked frowning. Shilpa slapped her forehead.
"Kabhi Bollywood movies nahi Dekhi dumb head? Aditya Malhotra? From Humko Deewana Kar Gayye? Aditya Kashyap, from Jab We Met? Are you even Indian?" She asked.
" have you ever consulted a psychiatrist? " He asked.
" Nahi, but I was thinking of going tomorrow. Ab iss bade se ghar mujhe rehna hai, toh phir tumhara dimaag toh thik karana hi hoga na?" she replied with a smug smile.
______
I am so sorry for the late update, but was really busy.
I will try to update asap, please bear with me.
BTW I realised i lost more than 30 readers... :/
Edited by Prachi_Patel - 13 years ago
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