Against all odds *A SaJan ff* - Page 13

hey ambi🤗
it was awesome update loved it👏
but it was shocking that adi n samrat r bros😲
poor gunjan feel bad for her
very well written👏
do cont soon n thanks for the pm

@Manjari- Dare you guess this time. No more updates for you then. Lol... 😆
And well i made that obvious that they were related. So many hints in the previous updates and then you had to guess

it was really amazing

Chapter Five

The Lost Affection

Gunjan's life had never been worse. Never in her life has she felt this low. Not even when Samrat had broken her heart. She had trusted Adi more than anyone; he was her knight in the shining armor, her savior. But God couldn't see her happy and had therefore snatched her only happiness from her too. She felt so betrayed, so used. The week has gone by and the same routine continued for Gunjan. She woke up, went to University, didn't talk to anybody, didn't take any calls and just drowned herself in her books. She hadn't shed a single tear after that night and had buried the pain deep inside her heart like she had done earlier. Adi had tried to contact her so many times but she avoided him like plague. She neither took his calls nor did she talk to him in University. She had stopped talking to everybody including Tia and didn't even snap back at Sissy.

Adi was no better. He felt so guilty about his actions and tried to apologize and make gunjan talk to him but she didn't reply to his calls, his emails, his cards and letters, nothing. She had just disconnected herself from everybody as if she was scared of betrayal. He hadn't talk to Samrat since that fateful night despite living in the same house as him. They just met at breakfasts and sometimes at dinner and then they were on their own. Adi didn't feel the need and desire to talk to his brother anymore afraid that he would hurt Gunjan again. Ironically he was the one who used to worship the same man whom he despised now. Life is so unexpected.

Samrat was a workaholic. He breathed work, he ate work, he talked work and he walked work. He was here to manage his Dad's company and that's what he did. He didn't even date any girl now. He was that busy. But somewhere in the corner of his mind he used to think about Gunjan. Her pain-filled eyes were the last thing he had seen of her. He used to wonder about the relationship his brother and Gunjan shared and couldn't help but feel a sting in his heart on that thought. Somewhere, unknown to him, he still had that little ray of hope of having Gunjan back in his life.

Finally the day came that brought a break to the monotony of their lives'''

"Adi" called out Samrat seeing Adi ready to leave the house on a fine Sunday morning.

Adi looked back and saw his brother standing before him in a pair of sweats and a vest sweating after his daily workout. He just stood staring at him, waiting for him to say.

"Uh- I wanted to talk to you." Said Samrat feeling his gaze on him. How he missed his little brother but he knew it was somewhere because of him that Adi was so distant. It was time to mend some of the broken relationships.

Adi just stood quietly waiting for him to speak something. He knew there was something apart from work that he wanted to talk about. But seriously he didn't want a showdown that too in the morning. He wanted to visit the Central Library and get some books issued for the coming exams.

"Uh-I know that our near past has-um- not been good and well I was thinking of starting everything again." He said nervously while Adi stared at him intently. Samrat waited patiently for his reply.

"Why exactly are you being nice today?" said Adi after a long pause.

"You have got to trust me, Adi" said Samrat sighing.

"Why are you pretending to be someone you aren't?" said Adi not believing him.

"Why exactly are we fighting Adi? And why exactly am I apologizing to you for something I didn't even do." Samrat said throwing up his hands in the air, exasperated.

"You didn't even do? Are you kidding me?" Adi spoke sarcastically. Samrat took a deep breath. What on earth was going on? He knew something was amiss between them as Adi hadn't even talked to him in the last 2 years.

"Enlighten me please." Spoke Samrat, impatience clearly etched on his face.

"Look Samrat, if you are willing to start some sort of argument, then I m off here."

"Adi for heaven's sake, tell me what's going on with you. I m not aware of the problem, okay? So please stop over-exaggerating. I don't even remember having a fight or something before I left for New York." Spoke Samrat.

"Right, First you hurt people with your insensitivity and crude remarks and then pretend as if you are the nicest person on this planet, asking apology without any fault. Please just stop this pretence. I m tired of it now." Adi snapped angrily. He was the biggest jerk alive on this earth. He had hurt Gunjan for him.

"What pretence? Are you out of your mind? Here I am standing talking to you like a civilized person and you are screaming your head off. And don't forget your manners. Seems like you have forgotten how to talk to your elder brother. God knows whose company you are living in." he said, his patience wearing off.

"Huh? Civilized person? You are anything but a civilized person. And don't you dare talk about whose company I am living in. Just care about yours. You don't seem you have that either. Sleeping with a different girl every night, right bro?" he said sarcastically'

"ADITYA!!!!" shouted his Dad from the staircase. "Have you forgotten how to talk to your brother?" spoke his father angrily.

"I haven't Dad. Apparently he has." Spoke Adi giving Samrat a hateful glance and leaving the house. Samrat just stood there staring at Adi's departing back with a painful expression. What has he done?

Gunjan sat in her bed staring at a photograph. It was their childhood picture. Gunjan sitting in Samrat's lap and Adi sticking to Samrat's back. She and Adi were 8 then and Samrat 10. Such a beautiful memory, thought Gunjan. She and Adi had never gotten along well in childhood. It was just her and Samrat all along. She remembered complaining to Samrat about how annoying his brother was. Samrat being elder to her by two years and to be precise 1 year 11 months understood her more than anyone ever had. She had known him from the time she was in her diapers. They were the best of friends. She had not even realized when that friendship had turned into love. At one point of time she had believed Samrat when he had told he loved her but now everything seemed fake. He never loved her. It was just a casual fling for him. But he didn't realize that he had not only broken their relationship as lovers but also as friends.

It was a day before Samrat's birthday. It had always been a special day, maybe it still was but she didn't accept that fact... She remembered his last birthday, the day she had lost him.

"Samrat please listen to me." Gunjan said following Samrat out of the hotel where his birthday party was going on. Samrat ignored her and moved forward until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Samrat why are getting so hyper? I don't understand-.." Gunjan started only to be interrupted by his harsh voice.

"You can never understand me Gunjan, you never have" Samrat spoke angrily.

"Samrat what are you saying?" Gunjan asked confused while Samrat simply ran his hands through his hair, exasperated.

"Gunjan how many times have I told you not to pry into my private life?" Samrat asked her and watched the confusion wash away only to replaced by hurt and disbelief.

"What?" Gunjan whispered unsure if she heard him correct. His private life? Wasn't she a part of it?

"Yes, you have heard me right. I m tired of you intruding into every little thing I want to keep to my own self. You try to get me talk to my parents when I don't want to, to my ex-friends from whom I want to stay away and then you go and bring my horrible past in front of me when I m trying every damn thing to get rid of it." Samrat said harshly, but only if he could hear the breaking of Gunjan's heart.

"Samrat I thought you trusted me. I was just trying to help..." samrat interrupted

"Trust? You are talking about trust when you yourself break it. I trusted you enough to tell you all about myself, didn't I? And please you know how to destroy someone's mood on their birthdays. Gunjan just go, go away before I do something I might regret later." He said turning away. Gunjan felt tears running down her cheeks. She left out a sob, kept her hand on her mouth and ran away back into the hotel.

Gunjan came out of the past by the ringing of the bell. She sighed, wiped her tears, took a deep breath and went to open the door to see her mother beaming at her. She managed a smile and let her in.

"Gunjan, why are you ignoring our phone calls? Your Dad and I have been so worried. He wanted to come here but then I convinced him somehow to stay back. Are you okay, dear?" She said looking at Gunjan's lost face. Yes something had definitely been wrong with her.

"Uh- Yes- I am fine. Just a tired though" she said seeing her mother raise an eyebrow in question.

"Fine, you don't want to tell me. Just take care of yourself, okay? You can promise me this much right?" she asked looking at her pale face.

"Yes Mum, I will. You want something? Tea or coffee?" she asked looking at her mother who shook her head.

"I have to leave, have some important work. Anyways, I want you to be there tomorrow night at the Shergill Mansion, its Samrat's birthday if you have forgotten. They want something grand this time as he's back after two years, so your presence is required. Even the press would be there, so no excuses." She said looking at her daughter's dejected face.

"Gunjan please take care. And I hope you have something good to wear tomorrow night and yes no jeans please. Call me if you can't find anything. I will arrange it for you, Okay?" she said picking up her handbag and hugging Gunjan.

Gunjan stood there motionless as her mother left from the door from which she had entered a few minutes ago. The difference was that she had left a storm there, in Gunjan's heart.

Adi stiffened as he heard about the Party. He knew Gunjan's family has been invited. In fact they must have been the first one. And what about Gunjan? He thought. It was his fault. He should have never volunteered to go bring him back. His parents knew that Samrat would never come back so they had sent Adi to drag him back. And after loads of threat, warning and emotional drama finally his brother was convinced to come back. He wanted to pull his hair out in frustration. Gunjan wouldn't listen to this excuse will she? Yes, for some time he had thought that maybe they both could get back together but that wasn't his only reason to bring him back. But Gunjan was so damn stubborn. And he felt so incomplete without talking to her, seeing her face and teasing her. God, he missed her, he really missed her.

"Adi" called out his mother. "Can you please see the security arrangements for tonight?" asked his mother dialing some number on the phone.

"Mom, I have some urgent work to look after, so I m afraid I won't be able to attend the Party tonight." He spoke looking away. He would rather die than attend this party.

"What? Adi it's your brother's birthday party. Besides that the press will be here as well and I m sure they would like to see birthday boy's brother too. Don't you think so?" her mother spoke raising her eyebrow. Adi just sighed and walked away defeated. He hated this, he absolutely hated this.

Gunjan sat on her bed, not at all wanting to go and get ready for the Party. There was already an article in the socialite section of the daily magazine about the city's most eligible bachelor's birthday Party. She was sure, there would be all those stupid girls swooning over him at the Party. She would require a lot of self control either not to punch Samrat's handsome face or cry out in desperation. She sighed. She would just go and show her face to the press, stay for a little while and then come back home and hopefully not show his face to either of the brothers. But who was she kidding? She was going to their house and on Samrat's birthday, how the hell will she not see them or not let them see her. Both of the families are best of friends, business partners as well. So the whole family was required and she knew the press would want to cover both of the families the entire time. God how she hated this.

She glanced at her bedside clock, 7:00. She thought to just call up her mother and tell her she is sick but then her mother will instead come here to see her. Grumbling she got out of her bed and went into the bathroom.

Gunjan came out 20 minutes later dressed in her long, ankle length white sleeveless dress. It was entirely made of silk and it did wonders to her beautiful skin. She quickly glanced at herself in the mirror and satisfied did a little bit of make specially to hide those dark circles beneath her eyes. She tied up her hair in a French twisted bun at the right side of her head but a few strands fell out that to frame her beautiful face. She wore her heels, took her clutch and a black colored coat and rushed out of her apartment.

She reached the venue 15 minutes later and stared at the mansion. It had been nearly 3 years she last came here. Adi had understood her and never forced her to come here. But today she will have to face all of this alone. She closed her took a deep breath, took off her coat, picked up the bouquet of yellow roses and white lilies and went inside. She wished her parents were there so she could just go to them and talk them into letting her go soon.

She stepped inside the huge hall that was kept for parties. Soniya Aunty, Samrat and Adi's mother has always been very particular about all this and well she was the best event planner she had ever known. Better than her mother too. It was decorated in white, everything. From the roses till the table cloth and waiter's dresses too, everything. It was samrat's favorite color, black and white. She remembered teasing him about this, how he was obsessed with the color white. His T-shirts, his room, his bed covers, his shoes and also his first car had been white too. Now why was she remembering all this? She questioned herself.

Running a hand over her dress she glanced around the room to spot any familiar face. She spotted Samrat wearing a tuxedo, with a group of men, probably his Dad's colleagues. With a deep sigh, she moved towards him but stopped as Adi came before her, dressed in a similar tuxedo as samrat. She stared at him and looked away and tried to move but he held her back.

"Why are you doing this Gunjan?" he asked staring at the bouquet of flowers while she struggled hard to come out of grip without making it a scene.

"Leave me" spoke Gunjan through gritted teeth.

"Answer me first" he said trying hard to maintain a grip on her hand.

"Get lost" she spoke angrily and finally freed her hand from his grip and moved away quickly while Adi closed his eyes.

"Samrat" called Gunjan trying not to show any emotions.

"Yes?" Samrat turned at the sweet voice to find Gunjan standing holding a bouquet of his favorite flowers. He smiled at her and took the bouquet she offered.

"Happy Birthday!" she wished without making any contact with his skin.

"Thank you. I m glad you are here." He spoke being nice to her. She tried not to show the surprise she felt at his words.

"Uh- actually I m just leaving. I have some important work, so will see you around. Bye!" she spoke smiling a little and walking away before listening to his reply.

"It's okay I guess." He whispered to himself and watched her walk away into the crowd.

"Gunjan, where are you going? asked a familiar voice. Gunjan turned around to find Sonia Aunty who had just entered the Hall. Great! She thought. Just great.

"Umm- Aunty I have some important work, so I have to leave. I have wished Samrat. I will leave. See you. Bye." She said hurriedly wanting to get out of the place. It was getting suffocating for her to stay any longer.

"Of course not, come on in. Your work can wait but this party cannot. It's incomplete without you." She said holding gunjan and taking her in with her. Gunjan just cursed her fate.

"Adi, what are you up to. I thought you were standing here to take care of the guests and not just wander about." She said sternly pointing at Gunjan. From far away Samrat noticed her mother dragging Gunjan back into the Hall and laughed at her sulking face.

"Uh- Aunty it's fine. I really had some work." She said trying to persuade her but she knew it wouldn't work. It never had before.

"Not at all, no excuses. You have come here and you will stay till the party ends. Your parents will be here any moment now. Come on now have some drink and enjoy yourself." She said signaling a waiter to serve the wine. She picked one herself for Gunjan and handed her that and left after a quick kiss.

Adi just stared at her uncomfortable posture and sighed. Why was she doing this to herself?

"Would you like to go outside?" he asked.

"No thanks" she answered quickly and moved away.

"Gunjan for God's sake just stop this. You and I both know how uncomfortable you are at this moment." He said exasperated.

"I m not and what makes you think I ll be comfortable outside, with you." She said pointing at him. Adi felt the hurt seep through him. She would be uncomfortable with him? He sighed and moved away. It's better not to mess with her. She can say really nasty things in her temper.

All people were standing in couples ready for the dances. From far away she saw her parents standing too and smiled at them warmly. They looked so perfect together. Even Sonia Aunty and Amit Uncle were standing together. She felt so good seeing them together, happy. How she wished she and samrat and she were like that too. Shaking the thought away she looked towards the right and spotted Adi and Tia talking to each other as well. They both loved each other but hadn't confessed yet. She looked around the hall and spotted Samrat with a blonde girl. Just the same, she thought. Tearing her eyes away from his she saw all the couples swaying to music. She was the only one alone there.

Feeling a tap on her shoulder she turned and saw the person she didn't want to see. Not now not ever, Sissy. Who invited him here? His parents were really good friends with the Shergills. Damn their social circle, she muttered under her breath.

"Hey Gunjan. You are looking pretty." He said coming forward for a hug while Gunjan just moved back. He will again create a scene.

"Sorry to say, but I couldn't say the same about you." Gunjan spoke hoping he would take the hint and get away.

"Ah! That's really rude, really really rude Miss Bhushan." Said Siddharth coming forward again grabbing Gunjan's hand while she struggled out of his grip.

"Siddharth one more second your hand lasts here and I swear to God, I ll make you regret every single moment of your scum life." She said glancing around for someone to help.

"Why don't we dance, Gunjan or maybe I can get you a drink so that you can cool that hot head of yours." He whispered in her ears while she squirmed in his hold.

"I would rather pour that drink on you head." She said as he pulled her towards the dance floor. He held her hand tight and yet so formally that it looked as if they were really on good terms. Gunjan kept her expressions neutral as to avoid any scene here. She had no right to spoil somebody else's party.

"Nice song right. So beautiful just like you." He spoke running his hands on her cheek as they stood in the corner. Adi just looked at the place Gunjan was standing before and found her missing. Where did she go?

"Tia did you see Gunjan moving away?" he asked Tia while she looked at him confused. He looked panicky.

"What's the matter Adi?" she asked looking at his worried face.

"No actually I just saw Sissy's parents entering while he is nowhere to be found and even Gunjan." He said moving way and looking around for her.

"I was always against the idea of inviting him but nobody listens to me. You know Tia. He just needs a minute to move to Gunjan if she's standing alone." He spoke extremely worried for her friend and Tia looked the same.

Samrat looked away from the blonde's face. He didn't even remember her name and the conversation she was having with herself. He looked around and spotted Gunjan with some guy? The silhouette in dark did look like Gunjan but man was not recognizable. Samrat could notice her discomfort from her stiff body posture. Muttering an "Excuse me", he moved away from her and walked to Gunjan.

Adi noticed Gunjan and Siddharth and his blood boiled. How dare he? Adi strode towards them angrily and pulled away Gunjan from his hold punching him right in his face. Samrat stopped before them as he looked at what was happening. Everybody had stopped dancing and were staring at them. Siddharth bent forward, holding his nose in pain. Gunjan seemed terrified, Adi looked furious and Samrat looked confused like the other guests at the party. He didn't know that the matter was so serious.

"How dare you? How dare you touch her? I think I didn't make myself clear the last time. Stay away from her if you don't want any broken bones. I will not think twice before spoiling your already hideous and ugly features." He spoke angrily and pulling him by his collar. He called the security and got him thrown out of the party.

Jaya began to move towards her terrified daughter but Rishabh pulled her back and signaled with his eyes to stay put. Adi turned towards Gunjan, held her hand and marched outside with Tia following them closely. He moved towards his room with gunjan on his side and Tia behind them. He opened the door and made her sit on the bed. He asked Tia to leave them alone for a while and she obliged.

"Gunjan Are you okay?" he asked softly sitting before her. Gunjan bit her lips to stop her tears. Adi said nothing and pulled her in her arms and she didn't protest. The fact was that she was just incomplete without the brothers. They meant so much to her. Adi was the only one who understood everything without her even voicing them.

She stayed in his arms and sobbed, letting all her pain away. Adi comforted her. She finally stopped crying and sniffed the remaining tears away.

"I m sorry'I was being nasty to you." She hiccupped and spoke in his chest. He smiled.

"It's okay! I don't mind it as long as you let all your anger and frustration out. Though I m a bit grateful to God that you didn't punch me. Tia would have stayed away then. I can't afford that." He spoke lightly while she chuckled.

"How did you like the dance?" she asked looking up.

"Ah! Better than heaven definitely." He grinned at her.

"We created a scene." She spoke after a few minutes.

"He deserved it. A*shole!!" spoke Adi cursing him.

"Now I don't know about you but I m extremely very hungry and well we have lots of questions to answer. I can imagine the headlines tomorrow, me punching that scumbag." He spoke chuckling.

"Yeah right!" she said dryly.

"Come on now." He said helping her up the floor and towards the door.

"You know you look really pretty today. I m sure all the guys must have had a hard time keeping away from you." He said grinning.

"Yeah! And you supposedly punched one of them. I don't think anybody will even think about looking my way for a few months." She said chuckling while he winked at her.

"Even better." He said as they entered the hall. Everyone had resumed to the dinner but yes they did pass them curious looks as they made their away to their parents, standing at the back of the hall.

"So?" Adi said sitting on one of the seats and holding one for Gunjan. Everybody was seated on the round table and was staring at them, waiting for explanations. Gunjan looked at Tia and blinked her eyes, assured. Samrat looked at Gunjan and then at Adi. They seemed so comfortable around each other. They shared the same comfort that he had once shared with Gunjan. Gunjan looked at him feeling his gaze and noticed him staring at her intently. She looked away uncomfortable.

"We are waiting for explanations. And well Aditya we didn't expect you to behave like this. It was very immature of you to act this impulsively." His dad said clearly disturbed at his son's behavior. The Malhotra's had left angrily and sworn not to keep any relation with them.

"Dad. That guy, Sissy...I mean uh- Siddharth is a pervert." He spoke as all the elder's eyebrows shot up at his statement.

"Excuse me?" Now Gunjan's father intervened in the conversation.

"Yes, he is. He was messing up with Gunjan, pulling her to the dance floor and misbehaving with her and I think I was supposed to behave the way I did." He said defending himself.

"Yes Aditya, I get that much but you could have behaved in a more dignified manner rather than hitting him right away." Gunjan's father spoke.

"No Rishabh, I think what he did was correct." His father spoke surprising everyone. Adi looked up surprised. Was he really his Dad?

"Well I know it was the least dignified way but Malhotra's are a little- um- flirty I guess." His Dad spoke a little embarrassed and his mother's eyes narrowed at his statement. She elbowed him while others suppressed their giggles.

"Why Dad, Did Mrs Malhotra try some hanky -panky with you?" Adi asked shamelessly while his parents glared at him.

"Okay fine, now serious talks apart, let's have some food. I m famished." Gunjan spoke while Aditya rolled his eyes.

"That's usual. I think you really need to work out to remove that fat in you." Adi spoke poking his finger in her stomach playfully while she slapped his hands away.

They all got up and proceeded towards the buffet.

Samrat sat there feeling all alone. He didn't have anybody to confide into. That place had always been reserved for Gunjan. Maybe now, he has lost the affection.

______________________________________________________

That's it guys. It's like 11 pages of word document. The longest update in the history of my ff's..Lol.

Now I ll update I don't know when. Let's see..My exams are still going on. Will reply to all the comments, new and old after my exams.

Love you all

Ambika

heyyy ambiii:))

hw r u doing dear??

lovely update
n seriouslyyy dis was d longesttt update dat u had evr posted...welll..i juss lovved it n i hope u cont dis further too...lol
well am feelng realy sad 4 our poor gnjn
bt thnk god she n adi patched up
nw i realy want sajan to patch up...
wonderfull update
thnx 4 d pm
n
cont soon

hey ambika first of all happy holi it was wonderful upd 👏loved adit and gunjan's patch up they do share beautiful bound of friendship samrat is somewhere guilty for what he did with gunjan hope he will soon realize his mistake waiting for sajan's confrontation felt so bad for gunjan and thanks for pm do continue soon and all the best for ur exams

hey ambi awesome update🤗

@tanzeel- Hey tanzeel...yeah i know...But right now the focus will be more on Adi and Gunjan. Their patch up was necessary in this part. And i truly don't know what i m going to write after this...Lol...i ll have to think alot. But i promise to put more Samrat scenes. And from next update onwards their will be more flashback scenes. Samrat courting Gunjan..lol You'll enjoy that.