Chapter 18
'Come on Gunjan, lets go for a long drive..Anyways what can we do at home?' Samrat asked her sweetly.
'Samrat you're already tired from office. Please go home.'
He put his hand on her cheek. 'I'm never tired for you Chashmish. Come na, lets go. Well have ice-cream. Your favourite today!'
They went for a long drive. It was really dark, as the time was nearly past 10. Samrat was driving on the empty roads, feeling calmness in the atmosphere, sans any traffic. This was the best time to drive according to him. Gunjan was also feeling good as she moved to rest her head on his shoulder and tugged his arm tight.
'Chashmish..aaj bahut pyaar aa raha hai?' He said in his usual teasing tone.
'Why is there a problem? Okay fine.' She moved away.
'Gunjan, I'm just joking! Bahut serious types ho tum.' He said entwining his fingers with hers.
'You have to live with that Mr. Samrat Shergill.' She said with a little smile.
'And what If I change you? Make you like me! That would really be awesome!' He replied.
'Really?' She laughed. 'That we will see.' After saying that she again rested her head on his shoulder.
Gunjan never remembered the last time that she was actually comfortable with someone. Samrat had come like this secret angel in her life. He had changed her so much, for the good, that she sometimes felt weird thinking was she really the Gunjan Sharma she was before? She never ever imagined that a person would come in her life so fast and make things so much better. She turned to face him, and remembered the first time she had met him. Everything was so awkward. It was so much better now. Her fear of Thursdays..her fear for basket ball..her fear for her birthday..all seemed to vanish in days with him, rather than years with her family. Maybe he was her soul mate.
They were sitting on the beach eating an ice-cream cone, obviously being Samrat's treat. They sat in utter silence just trying to absorb the sound of the waves.
'Samrat..thank you.' She said.
'For the ice-cream? Arre! Your welcome. Waise thanks to you, its your choice na?'
She hit her head, and then slapped his shoulder. 'Samrat..Im not talking about the ice-cream..' She said lowering her eyes.
'Chashmish I didn't do anything.' He groaned.
'Oh god Samrat! Tumhara kuch nahin ho sakta..forget it!' She said finishing her ice-cream and getting up.
'What did I do know?' He said going behind her. 'See Gunjan please don't fight with me.'
Suddenly a girl dashed Samrat.
She was hesitant to talk. 'Samrat..hi. Your in Mumbai?'
Gunjan turned around to see Samrat talking to a girl. 'Samrat and his girls! Uggh!' But then she realized something. 'How I doubted Sheena..she was just a friend. Maybe she is also a friend and not an ex-girlfriend. I won't make the same mistake again.' She decided and went over to speak to them.
'Ya am in Mumbai..working now.' He said in an awkward tone.
'Hi..' Gunjan said to them in a joyful tone. Both of them seemed surprised. 'Samrat..wont you introduce me to your friend?'
'Uhhh..Gunjan this is Ritu..and Ritu..this is..ermm Gunjan.' He forced a smile.
'Hi Gunjan..' Ritu said in a embarrassed voice.
'Hello Ritu! Akele ho? Why don't you join us?' She said with a smile.
'Uhhm..well..'
'Gunjan..Ritu has to go. Her friend is waiting for her.' He said holding her hand tight to make her understand.
'Oh..no problem Ritu. We should meet soon!' Gunjan said happily.
Ritu nodded and left.
'Ache se baat ki na maine Samrat?' She asked smiling.
'God! Gunjan! Ritu was my ex-girlfriend! It was so awkward to see her and on top of that you! Uff!' He said angrily.
'Whaat? Im..Im sorry Samrat. I thought like Sheena..she was..also your friend..' She fumbled.
'Its ok..just forget it. Lets go home.' He said walking in front while Gunjan slowly followed her eyes wet. Samrat realized that he had been really mean. 'Gunjan I'm sorry..it was really uneasy seeing her. I'm really sorry.' He pulled her from the waist and brought her close.
'Its ok..Ill take care from next time.'
'Thank you..you are an adorable sweetheart!!' He said pulling her cheeks.
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'Nupur I don't know why are you being so stupid? I said am sorry for last night! Its not gonna happen again. Will you stop over-reacting?' He almost shouted.
It was maybe at that moment, that she lost control. She lost control of those emotions and those locked feelings. The whole day's frustration came to her, as she started weeping. She went to a corner of the room and tried to hide her emotions, but it was too late.
'Nupur! Ab kya hua? Why are you crying? I'm'I'm really very sorry. Didn't mean to shout. Look at me...' He said turning her to look at him.
She fell on his chest hiding her face, as her hands went around his shoulders. 'No Mayank, Im really sorry. Something is there that you don't know Mayank. It's the fear inside me. I'm going through a lot of it since last night.' She confessed.
'Fear?' His voice echoed. 'What? Did I'?' His voice was breaking.
She got up to look at him with her puffed eyes. 'Mayank it's my past. And everything is happening because of that.' She paused for a few seconds. Mayank wanted her to continue. He remained quiet.
'Mayank..I had a boyfriend before we got married. I liked him...And he wanted to..start..a..physical..but..but I didn't. I promise. Later on when I refused, indirectly he wanted to break-up with me. He broke my trust. He's given me a fear Mayank. Just a few days later after the break-up, I saw him with another girl. He just wanted to use me Mayank.' Her voice was broken as she cried more. 'And when yesterday you said those words..of us..I don't know. It scared me even more. I'm developing a fear of trusting people. I'm sorry Mayank. You have the right to decide anything you want. I won't stop you. But I just didn't want to hide anything.' He was standing still in silence.
He turned around to absorb what was happening. She back-hugged him, resting her head on his shoulders and pulling him closer. 'I'm sorry. Please.'
He turned to face her. He sighed seeing her tears. 'Nupur. Just close your eyes.' He said softly. She followed. 'Since how long do you know me?'
'3 years..' She said uncertain.
'Just don't think anything. Do you have a little trust on me?' He said taking her hands and entwining them.
She waited for a few seconds, and then nodded.
He smiled. 'Then what's the problem sweetheart? See Nupur, what happened to you was your past..and I have no issues with that. Really. My main concern is to take that fear away from you. Everybody isn't like that Nupur. At least not me. And did I force you into anything ever? No right? So lets just let things go the way it is.' He let his finger trail down her cheek. He paused thinking what to say next. 'Physical relationships are important when you completely trust your partner; and I know I'm gonna see that day very soon.' He said in a vibrant tone winking at her.
Her serious face soon turned into a giggle as she reached out to hug him again.
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'Samrat..Can I ask you something?' She asked a little undecided.
'Hmm..' He said nodding.
'You and Ritu..kuch huya tum dono ke beech main?' She asked cautiously.
Samrat smiled. 'Why you asking this now?'
'Hmm..simply. You can avoid the question..its okay.' She said changing her mind.
'Me and Ritu were together in first year college..tab kahan akal thi kuch karne ki..' He said laughing. 'Ab akal hai..to tumhare saath hi kuch ho sakta hai..' He said winking at her.
She slapped his arm. 'Samrat!'
'Come here Chashmish.' He said pulling her into a hug. She didn't mind. 'My past was stupid. I did everything unknowingly. But with you, Im true.'
She smiled and closed her eyes.
As they reached home, Gunjan's neighbors were two young school boys, and they were playing a game of basket-ball. Samrat looked at Gunjan with a hope. She looked back at him with the same expressions.
'Wanna join them?' He asked with a smile.
'I dunno..Dont really remember the game..' Gunjan replied trying to form an excuse.
'Come na.!!' He pulled her hand.
They joined those two boys and played a match. Samrat and Gunjan were in one team, while both of them were in the other.
Gunjan at first dribbled the ball very slowly..trying to get a feel of the love she had for this game. Samrat was just praying, that atleast his love would have a little effect on her.
And he was surprised and happy that it really did. They played a short match of 20 mins. Both of them had a good past of the game, that there was nothing to loose. They did win the match. But more than winning, what felt more important was Gunjan was slowly relieving all her past. She played with her heart..feeling all the happiness and the love that she had for Samrat..and which will remain the same..during all the coming years.
The boys also remained quite surprised that a GIRL could play so well; and keeping their ego away, they invited her again to play with them the next day..and all she could do was happily agree.
Samrat and Gunjan came inside and freshened up a little with some juice.
Samrat was planning to go back home, though his heart didn't want to leave Gunjan all alone in the house. But he didn't want to give her any wrong signal.
But he was happy when Gunjan itself told him to stay back. 'Im scared to be alone at this time.' She said awkwardly. Gunjan went inside the room, while Samrat followed her.
He sat on the corner of the bed, while she lied down and kept her arms around him. She felt safe and protected; something that she always wanted.
'Chashmish one favour before you sleep.' He said. She looked up at him. 'Can you get me something to change? Im in this since morning!'
'Oh..but Samrat ..my clothes wont fit you na..Im a little..thin..ermm..' She asked innocently.
He burst out laughing. 'Gunjan..Mayank..me..same clothes..same size..' He tried to make her understand.
'Oh ya..right.' She said giggling. 'Ill just be back.' She went and got him something of Mayank's. Handing it over to him, she went to see if she locked all the doors well. She came inside again after he had changed and lied down.
'Good night Samrat and thank you. Now dont ask anymore quesions please.'
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'Nupur, what happened?' He said in a worried tone. She was in the bathroom.
'Mayank there is a cockroach in here!! And im locked!! Somebody please help me!! Aaah..' She shouted.
'Nupur! Oh god. She's mad. Relax. Ill pull..you just stay away. Move back.' He ordered.
He started pulling the door, and she was banging on it too, shouting "Help!" which sounded extremely ridiculous to Mayank. He finally pulled open the door.
Nupur screamed more and jumped onto hold on to him. She was shivering, he could see from her face. But what he actually saw was, she was wearing the shortest bathrobe he had ever seen in the colour red, and her hair was open, in the messiest way, but she was still looking so beautiful, and he was lost.
'Thank God Mayank. Thank you so much.'
And it was then, that Nupur finally realized. 'Uh Oh.' She took support of him while getting up. But then again slipped. Mayank was still looking away. She grinned. 'Mayank.. are you blushing?'
'Me? No way. Can you please get up now?' He requested.
'Mayank..your so cute! Like a baby.' She said pulling his cheek. She rested her chin on his chest.
'Im not blushing.' He said seriously.
She started laughing looking at him.
Mayank lost his patience. 'Now am going to show you.' He turned her and rolled over her. She was left shocked by his actions. She tried to move, but he locked her legs with his.
They stared at each other for a while, when Mayank realized what happened a while back. He quickly turned away. 'I'm sorry. I forgot.'
As he was about to get up, she pulled him down to face her with the collar of his shirt.
'I wanted to tell you something. Hmm..I think, Im not really sure. But I guess I'I.. I love you.' She said these words rather plainly, looking at him in the eye.
He was in stunned. 'Really?' He said in the same plain tone. 'Good.'
'Yeah.' She said nodding. 'Thanks.' She said her mind elsewhere.
Mayank was looking at her trying to hide his smile.
'Now if you will get off me?' She said each word carefully.
'Sure.' He said falling over the left side to give her space to go.
She slowly got up turning to look at him every second. Just outside the door of the bathroom, she stopped and turned and stood supporting the wall. She took her hair and turned it towards the left, lowering her eyes.
Maybe it was an indication and he understood. He also walked till where she stood. He moved closer and slowly with his fingers moved her fringes behind her ear. The movement was so soft, Nupur felt ticklish. Her body went warm. 'Why did you stop here?' He whispered moving closer.
She closed her eyes. 'As if you don't know?' She too said in a slow tone.
Taking it as a nod from here, he moved more close, and placed his lips on hers. They had kissed before, but the feeling that was now..was never there that time. He put his arms around her waist, and she on his shirt. They kept moving closer, not even allowing air to pass through them. Nupur's toes moved on to Mayank's as she deepened the kiss. Mayank was the first to pull back. Their breathing was heavy and they were unable to look at each other in the eye. Nupur took the first step and rested her head on his chest, being able to hear his heart-beat. She was trying to speak through her silence. His fingers carelessly were moving on her back.
His lips moved to kiss her fore-head, his hands crawling up to move her hair and put them behind her ear. Still folding her face, he this time kissed her with all the passion that was buried inside his heart, and he was really happy to see her respond.
'Nupur..can I say something? Don't mind please.'
'What?' She said her eye-brows arched.
'I think you have the sexiest legs I've ever seen.' He whispered in her ear caressing his leg with hers.
Nupur was surprised to see Mayank talk like that; she tried to hide the smile. So she just nodded in acceptance. 'And you know what I think?' She said pulling him with his shirt.
'What?'
She unbuttoned his shirt. 'I think you have the sexiest body I've ever seen. Just like John Abraham's.' She said moving her fingers on his arms.
Both of them burst out laughing.
'Too much filmy you are, aren't you?' He asked pulling her through the belt of the robe.
'What to do?' She said staring at him.
There was silence for a few minutes.
'Ab aise hi dekhte rahoge, ke bed tak utha ke bhi lekar jao..hindi movies ki tarah!'
He lifted her the next second. 'Tumhare movies band karwane padegi..'
'Impossible!!' She said placing her arms around him.
It was a really a beautiful night for both of them; each in their different way. For Samrat and Gunjan, it maybe a start for an emotional bond..while Mayank and Nupur felt the attraction towards each other forming their physical bond.
Udne Ki Aasha
Kumkum Bhagya
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