13A Nottingham Place- A Raj Naina fic updated ch11 - Page 23

Introduction II

"He's good! Isn't he?"

"Yes. He is." Naina answered without looking back. Her gaze was fixed at the man who was being the centre of attraction for the crowd at that moment along with his band. Suddenly Naina turned to face a gorgeous lady, clad in a chiffon sari.

"Hi! I am Ritu. You must be Naina?"

"Hello! Yes I am but how do you know me?" Naina asked while shaking her hands with the stranger.

"Oh!! I know all about you'..that you study at the University of London and.."

"But'.how come you know so much about me?"

"Champagne?"

"Thanks but I had a drink before and I am not very fond of alcohol. Thank you."

"So tell me how do you know me?"

" Raj told me all about you."

"Raj?"

"Yes. Don't you know that '.hmm'.I am sure you don't."

"What do you mean?/" Naina could feel the heat of the rage that was passing through her and hence her voice sounded sharper than she had intended.

"It's strange that your best friend didn't tell you that he is dating someone."

"Dating? Who Raj?" Naina asked foolishly.

"Haan'aur kaun' actually hum pichle ek mahine se date kar rahe hain ek dusre ko!!"

Naina felt someone must have slapped her hard across her face' Dating'.?? Raj is seeing someone??? But why didn't he tell her ??? She could perfectly recall the moment when she had asked him about his love life..yes may not be seriously but still she did.. and he didn't confide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He had been going out with this Ritu for a month? She felt numb and totally devoid of any rational senses.

She felt 'cheated'.. here was a guy who haunted her in her dreams, with whom she had wanted to spend rest of her life, and that very person, on the other hand simply didn't think about her in that manner, and didn't give a damn about her and in fact the truth was, he didn't even consider her friend enough to confide such a personal detail.

"Ritu? Tum yahan?"

Naina was jerked back to the harsh reality with the deep masculine voice that came from just behind her.

"Oh Hi! Raj!!! Surprised? Now Darling, this is not fair'tumne apni best friend ko apni girlfriend ke bare mein nahi bataya?" Ritu tiptoed and kissed Raj on his cheeks.

"Darling? Girlfriend? Whatever is wrong with you Ritu?" Raj's voice sounded too shocked. He looked at Ritu incredulously.

"I am so sorry Raj' main tumhe us waqt kuch nahi keh payi'jab hum date pe the'you know'.kyunki tumne bhi to mujhse kuch nahi kaha tha that you like me so much 'mujhe to Abhimanyu se pata chala. But I can't tell you how happy I am."

Raj greeted his teeth. Abhimanyu, his friend with whom he used to share a room while they studied at the Harvard University, , often plyed such stupid tricks on Raj. But that was in University, Raj never thought that Abhi would still do such a thing. Yes it's true he had gone out with Ritu for two weeks at the maximum and that too happened because of Abhi.

"Lekin tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?" He just couldn't believe his cursed luck.

Naina had had enough of this and she thought she wouldn't be able to take anymore. She feared she might end up making a total fool of herself.

"Anyway, I should take your leave, mujhe ghar jana hai. It's pretty late and tomorrow is Christmas aur ghar par kafi kam bhi hai." Naina excused herself and started to walk away. Raj caught up with her in 3 long strides.

"Kahan ja rahi ho?/"

"Bataya to tha, ghar ja rahi hoon."

"Akeli?"

"Neelu drop kar degi Mujhe. Thank You."

"Lekin tum aayi to mere saath thi?" Raj's blood was boiling. Why was Naina being so adamant?

"Haan lekin ab tum busy ho gaye ho and I can find my own way back. Thank you."

"Please Naina, mujhe nahi pata tha ki Ritu yahan ayegi!"

"Woh aye na aye mujhe usse kya?" Naina looked at Raj defiantly.

"Tum mere saath ayi ho aur mere saath hi jaogi and I will see you in just 2 minutes."

"Nahin Raj, you don't have to worry I can go back on my own."

"Tumhe yahan main laya tha aur tum meri responsibility ho. Samjhi?" Raj's voice sounded too serious. But Naina had had enough and all she wanted was to be alone.

"Main tumhari koi stupid girlfriend nahi hoon jo tum mujhse aise baat kar sakte ho and I can do whatever I want to Advocate Rajveer Singh Shekhawat."

"Naina, tum meri friend ho aur'..." Raj took her hands and looked intently at her.

"Thanks for the reminder. Mujhe to laga tha ki tum.. anyway leave it. I guess you should go now. You shouldn't keep your girlfriend waiting'it's bad manners."

"Damn it Naina!! Why can't you listen to me?" "Raj, it's true that I am hurt ki tumne mujhse yeh baat nahi kahi, but I understand it perfectly''" Naina looked away.

Raj grabbed her elbow and jerked and pulled her towards him. "No you don't, Naina." He growled.

"It's true that I dated her but it was nothing serious."

"What do you mean? That she is lying?" Naina asked him peevishly.

"I don't know." Raj replied in a low voice. "I really do not know that where from did she get this idea that we are'.."

"That's your problem Raj, you must have done something. Anyway just tell me one thing that do you or do you not like her?"

Raj kept silent.

"So you do like her." Naina felt her eyes were stinging. She fought to find her voice back. But she just hoped that her voice didn't crack!!

"I am really happy for you Raj! I really am. I think you should go back to her."

"Nai...''"

And Naina stalked away keeping her head high. Raj watched her walking away and felt his heart clench. If only she had known the truth!! He saw her speaking to Neelu in a hushed voice and Neelu in turn said something to Aalekh and then she left with Naina. Raj sighed and went back to Ritu.

"Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho, Ritu?" Raj asked clearly exasperated.

"Tumse milne ayi hoon, I-I mean main yahan apne cousin ke saath ayi hoon. Kyun tum mujhe dekh khush nahi ho?"

"Cousin?" Raj deliberately chose to ignore the question. He wished he could tell her the truth.

"Yes. Here he is'. Yeh hai mera Cousin Mr Amardeep Huda and Huda this is Rajveer, the love of my life."

Raj was shocked "Love of her life?". What was going on? He just couldn't fathom a thing. It's true Ritu's father was his senior and he just couldn't afford to offend him and jeopardize his career but whatever Ritu was blabbering wasn't true and was absolutely crap. He did like Ritu, she was nice but he didn't love her. He was certain of that. He could never love her. She was nothing what he wanted the love of his life to be like. And here she was proclaiming that she was... Raj gulped ...she was in love with him. Raj felt kicking himself. He should have never allowed this to happen. In love with Ritu seemed such an implausible idea that Raj could actually laugh at the very concept. Love was not a passing emotion for him. It was something that couldn't be expressed in terms of words. It was deep abiding feeling that could unsettle anybody who bumped right into this whole out of the world feeling. Loving Ritu or any other woman for that was not only improbable but out of question because he had already given away his heart to Naina...yes Naina..his only princess with whom he could actually dream or fantasize having a future. Raj had always loved Naina, ever since he understood the meaning of the term 'love'. What he wasn't sure of was her extent of feelings toward him. But in the past few days...

He looked at the man standing in front of him. He had a cheerful disposition and a charming presence.

"Hello! Raj"

"Hello. It's nice to meet you."

"Raj, tumhe pata hai meri mulaqat Bhoomika aur Vishakha se huyi isse party ke dauran and we hit it off instantly. Tumhari behen ne humein uski engagement party par bhi bulaya hai. She is a sweetheart."

Wow!! Fancy thinking Bhoomika a sweetheart, we wished he could find his sisters sweet enough though. What he couldn't understand was, that why would Bhoomika take up extra pain to get acquainted to Ritu and this Huda!!!

"Oh! That's great!" Though he didn't feel exactly enthusiastic about this whole meeting, he had a creepy feeling that this might not lead to something very welcoming. He could just wish that Ritu didn't blurt out that gibberish to his otherwise wool-headed sisters.

"Well that's nice. Bhoomi is getting engaged tomorrow, so it would be really nice to have you there. But Ritu, I guess I must go now, it's pretty late."

"Raj would you please drop us at our Aunt's place before you go back?"

"Why? Sure."

Raj quietly drove Ritu and Huda to their Aunt's place not very far away from his own house. It was around 2am when he actually parked his Porsche in the garage and went upstairs to his room. As he was about to unlock his room he heard Naina singing on the terrace. He checked his clock'itni raat gaye aur bhi itni thand mein??? Main jaanta hoon that she's upset par pata nahi yeh sab kuch kaise ho gaya!!!

He stood there listening to her melodious voice.

"Tumse Kahen Ya Hum Na Kahen

Kiske Liye Yeh Aansun Bahen

Kyon Hum Aise Pachtaye, Kaise Gham Hai Chupaye

Tumse Kahen Ya Hum Na Kahen

Tumse Kahen Ya Hum Na Kahen

Kisko Fursat, Koi Kab Sunta Hai

Kyon Humse Har Khushi Kho Gayi

Kis Se Kahen, Kya Hai Ab Kami

Armaan Jaage, To Kya Jaane

Kyon So Gaye Naseeb

Tumse Kahen Ya Hum Na Kahen

Kiske Liye Yeh Aansun Bahen

Roshni To Kho Gayi Hai

Reh Gaye Ab Sirf Saaye

Tumse Kahen Ya Hum Na Kahen Tumse Kahen Ya Hum Na Kahen

Kiske Liye Yeh Aansun Bahen

Roshni To Kho Gayi Hai

Reh Gaye Ab Sirf Saaye

Tumse Kahen Ya Hum Na Kahen

"Show me the way,

take me to love

Another world how I longed to be

Where falling stars must lie,

Roses bloom never dies

Show me the way, take me to love.

A cold sunset, gold drop left awaked.

Close my eyes and wish I could see'

If it is near or far from me

This place called love is it for real or is it just a dream?

Show me the way, take me to love.

Another world how I longed to be

Under clouds that don't cry

Wounded birds can soar high

Show me that world take me to love."

Raj stood at a distance of 2 feet from her. He could feel she was upset. He couldn't believe he was the reason for all her distress. He promised to himself that he would definitely find out how to come out of this mess before it gets too serious and puzzled to get solved. He watched her strolling about the terrace with her loose hair waving in the cold wind.Raj approached Naina from behind and outstretched his hand to squeeze her shoulder but couldn't bring himself to do so. He moved away leaving Naina on the terrace. His heart clenched as he went downstairs.

*************************************************

The weather had been bitingly cold lately. It had even snowed for the last few days. But this night has been different from all the rest of the nights. Naina wondered, as to why she did she behave in that particular manner. She had known for very long that her feelings were entirely of her own and Raj may or may not harbour those similar feelings for her in his heart.

"Maine yeh soch kar to Raj se pyaar nahi kiya ki woh bhi mujhse utni hi mohabbat karega jitni ki main karti hoon? Toh phir aaj aisa kya ho gaya? Kyun mai apne aap par kaabu nahi rakh payi? Kya Ritu jaisi kisi aurat ke liye Raj aur mera rishta toot sakta hain?" Naina tormented herself with such thousands of questions though she knew that she had most of the answers somewhere deep down her heart.

"I really can't and won't jeopardize my friendship with him. I don't have anyone else in this word apart from him." Naina sighed as this bitter truth dawned on her. She didn't even know where her father was.She dabbed off a tear drop that had escaped from her right eye.

"Mai kal Raj se baat karungi aur job hi misunderstandings hue hai humare beech, who baatein kitni bhi choti kyun na ho, main saari galat-fahemi door kar doongi." As the clock struck 12, she said her prayers silently and switched on the lights and rice bulbs that adorned the the big Christmas tree kept on the terrace. She inhaled deeply and went back to her room in the attic. Even though she was in bed, sleep eluded her. Naina wondered if Raj was already back from the party or not. She took the shawl kept on the chair and draped it around her shoulders. The cold biting wind slashed across her face as she opened the door and went for a walk in the terrace. Naina couldn't remember for how long she stood there watching the pitch dark surroundings. Had she the slightest idea that Raj was standing exactly 2 feet away watching her with hungry eyes, she would have simply shuddered.