| Part 8
Few hours later… She heard a glass crashing from Dev's room…she rushed inside…Dev was trying to stand up from bed… Pallavi (holded him as he might have fallen down)—aap kya kar rahe the…kuch chaiye tha mujhe bula liya hota…main yahi toh thi… Dev(sitting back)—urmm who…main… I was just going to washroom to freshn up… pata hi nahi chala kab chakar aagya… Pallavi(irritated)—dats what I am saying aap mujhe bula sakte the…aapko pata hai abhi weakness hai… Dev—I thot u must be resting…bekaar mein tumhe Pallavi(her patience was running low she almost snapped back )—rest ki zarut aapko hai mujhe nahi…(almost scolding) u cud have called me…or u want me to hover around 24*7…. (Dev was surprised to see her getting angry & almost scolding him…seeing him looking lost…she asked worriedly) aap theek toh hai ?… Only thing Dev could do was nod his head to indicate that he is fine.
Pallavi (in concerned voice…she tried to control herself because the sound of the crashing glass had scared her to death.)— aapko kahi glass laga toh nahi…did u get hurt? How did it crash… 😕 Dev (explained)--Woh…. Main bas… I just tried to stand… lekin shayad chakkar aagaya….& it got crashed I guess… (as he looked into her eyes to convince her he is fine… he saw a hint of fear in it…he realized she was worried & way she was talking her voice was full of concern…by then Pallavi had bent down to pick up the broken glass pieces) Dev (to himself)-- Is that for me?...Is she concerned for me? Is she scared something might happen to me? He felt suddenly felt a kind of thaw inside him, like someone had hit him softly on his chest, only this time he felt it inside his chest… Seeing Dev looking blankly at her …she felt guilty & nervous too for almost shouting at him…she felt he might get angry…so she changed the topic)…
Pallavi—errmm aap washroom jana chahte the…ab chaliye…(she took him bathroom…she made sure he has everything…She went out and got different clothes for him and a towel… She placed it on the shelf next to the bathtub…) Dev--Now I will manage thank you… Pallavi—still help chaiye toh bula lijiyega…main bahar hi hoon… Dev just nodded., as he slowly undressed himself and carefully stepped into the bath…He let the warm water sooth his nerves and enjoying the bath closed his eyes.
He softly whispered: Pallavi (as soon as name escaped quickly opened his eyes…With utmost determination he whispered: No!)
Around same time Pallavi who was in the other room making juice felt some1 called her name…she even came to check to Dev's room but found he was still in bathroom…& she waited for him to call her again…but it didn't happened so she went back to her work. Dev laid still in the water for a while… few minutes later he got ready & Finally came out cautiously holding the sink and after that the doorframe for support, he walked to his room to notice his messed up room cleaned… 😊😊 and Pallavi placing a glass of juice and a small bowl with medicines on the nightstand.
As dev settled back in bed Pallavi--Mr Khanna… your medicine and juice…Aapko dono abhi leni chaahiye. Do you want something to eat? Dev—ermm No thank you, I am not hungry… (answered in a lost voice, still shaken by his thoughts a while ago)
Pallavi left the room for him to rest
*** Around evening pallavi came to Dev's room to give him medicines again & found him sitting there lost in thots looking out of window 😊😊 …the realization in morning that he might be falling for Pallavi was too much for him…😳😳 he cudn't believe that this is happening… he came out of his thots only when she called him…as he took the medicines Pallavi was abt to leave when she turned back to ask… Pallavi—aap kuch aur lenge…Coffee or tea… Dev—coffee wud do fine… Few minutes later Pallavi came back with coffee for Dev & tea for herself…😊😊 as she handed him coffee he just took it silently… she cud see Dev looking at the falling rain…Just to break the silence…Pallavi tried to strike a conversation… Pallavi—ermm Mr.Khanna do din baad ki tickets book hogayi hai…😊😊we can leave day after tomorrow 😊😊…hope its OK… (Dev just nodded as OK)…ermmm koi problem hai Mr.Khanna…since last few days u seem to be tensed… Dev (if surprised how did she noticed…he composed himself)—No…koi problem nahi hai…nothing that I cant handle… Pallavi understood he didn't want to share even if there is some problem so she changed the topic atleast he is talking…😊😊 seeing he is more interested in watching rain pouring outside😆😆 Pallavi—lagta hai aapko barish pasand hai? Dev(turned towards her)—sort of…pehle bahut pasand thi…(after a brief silence)par ab dar lagta hai… Pallavi(surprised)—darr ?😕😕 barish bhi koi darne ki cheez hai? Barish se khoobsurat toh aur kuch nahi hota?infact barish toh humari zindagi mein khushiyan lati hai aur 😊😃 Dev(completing for her)—aur agar koi gum hai…toh barish ki boondon ko bata dena chaiye… unhe apne saath baha le jayengi… Pallavi & Dev almost together—Maa/Badi maa aisa kehti thi…😊😊 Dev—tum janna chahti thi na maine bimaar hone ke liye tumhe sorry kyun kaha?😊 Isi wajah se…yeh jante huye ki barish mein bheegne se bimaar hojayunga… phir bhi I didn't stopped myself…
Pallavi(smiled)—fir bhi aapko sorry kehne ki zarut nahi 😊😊 …coz I am sure aapne apne dil ki suni hogi…😊😊 aap barish mein bheegna chahte honge & u did that…aur kabhi kabhi dil ki baat bhi maan leni chaiye…. There is nothing wrong in that… 😊😊aksar hum dil ki baatein sunte nahi hai...ya sunkar ansuna kardete hai...jo hume nahi karna chaiye...dil ki baat humesha sunni chaiye 😊😊 Dev(thoughtfully)—Dil ki baat har baar manna itna asaan nahi hota 😔 agar hume pata ho ki humara dil jo keh raha hai who galat hai…😒 tab hum chahkar bhi apne dil ki baat nahi maan sakte… Pallavi—par koshish toh kar sakte hai…😊😊 Dev just kept looking at her…its when they were interrupted by Dev's phone…its been kabir who have called him to ask him how he is doing… As pallavi came out …she cud help but question herself Pallavi(to herself)—stupid girl…kya zarut thi poochne ki kya problem hai…😆😆 hogi koi problem how does it matter to you…😡 agar problem hogi bhi toh he will sort it himself 😊😊 …tujhe kya fark padta hai…😕 why its bothering you?? …Mr.Khanna bhi kya soch rahe honge…kitni pagal ladki hai...unse unki problem pooch rahi hoon jaise main problem solve kar dungi…😕😆 waise abhi tak Mrs.Khanna ka phone nahi aaya …pata toh chal hi gaya hoga unhe Mr.Khanna ki tabiyat kharab hai…strange?😕😕 ***
Next two days passed by in the same way…Pallavi would wake Dev up in time to make him take his medicine…😊😊 She would order things he liked to eat, just to make him eat a bit…later he wud rest for a while or may fall asleep due to medications…😊😊
Over the past two days she got a lot more comfortable around her boss. Now, not too nervous around him…😃😃 Dev's health improved a lot, but still weakness was there.
Dev tried to forget what happened to him a few days ago… but the harder he tried, the less he actually forgot…😕😕 He himself did not really know what happened to him in the bathroom,😕😕 the realization was too hard for him to accept even to himself…😉😳 & he knew the sooner he forgot it, the better it was for him. 😊😊 Next day while having breakfast she casually informed him Pallavi—Mr.khanna …subah kabir bhaiyaa ka phone aaya …u were sleeping so I told him u are doing fine& improving 😊😊 …& also asked him to inform Mrs.khanna abt your health… 😊 Pallavi noticed his expressions change after she finished her sentence ….he had halted eating… She felt uneasy so decided to change the subject Pallavi—ermm Mr.khanna aap us din raat ko kab wapis aaye the….I didn't realized…😕😕 u were back…aapki tabiyat kharab thi u cud have waken me up…
Dev (after a moment of silence)—ermm… to be honest I don't remember clearly…. I only know I wanted to get to bed desperately and I know I somehow reached my room…. Lekin us se zyaada yaad nahin hai…(he finished his breakfast)
Pallavi really wanted to ask were he went…😕😕 but she could not forget the look in his eyes when he got the note . It must have been something serious…pushing the thots away she saw Dev had finished she passed him on the medicines….She left the room to let Dev rest… 😊😊 ***
After having dinner Pallavi packed her bags again😊 …which she had unpacked when Dev became ill... As they wud be leaving the next day….after finishing her packing 😊😊 she went to give medicines to Dev…when she saw Dev trying to pack …if that cud be called packing as he was practically dumping things in suitcase…😆😆😆 Pallavi(cudn't help laughing)—lagta hai humesha aapki packing koi aur karti hai…😆😆😆 Dev(looked up to see Pallavi standing at door giggling😆😆 )—karti nahi karta hai…its always Ramsingh who does it…😊😊 Pallavi—if you don't mind main kardu😊😊 coz is hisaab se aapki packing subaah tak khatam nahi hogi 😛😛…(giving him medicines) aap apni dawai lelijiye… Dev noticed the mischievous twinkle in her eyes…😆😆 he knew she was making fun of him😆😆😆 …He was glad that she was not scared of him anymore. 😊😊 Dev(smiled)--Ofcourse I don't mind…help yourself.😊😊
Pallavi walked around gathering stuff spread across the room…She was to busy to notice Dev initially following her with his eyes. 😳😳 Pallavi's presence around him made him feel calm, and serene.😊😊
When she was done with her chore she saw Dev sleeping on his bed like a child, 🥱😳 with a smile on his face 😊😊 ...She silently put the comforters on him & walked out of the room. Dev woke up the next morning, feeling like he had finally slept well, after ages… 😃😊
***
Pallavi woke up early that morning…after getting ready & since morning she tried to call RJ several times. She had not talked to him since her arrival in Delhi…😕😕 & after that she got busy with Dev's health she didn't got a chance…It happened for the first time after they became friends they did not talk to each other for long gap… Pallavi (irritated of dialing RJ again & again)—Ughhh …..Why are you not picking up Ranvijay !!😡😡 aise kaha chale gaye ho...that u are unreachable 😡😡😡 Please pick up! Please pick up for me Rj! It was his birthday and she wanted to wish him…😆😆 The problem was she could not get through on his landline number in Switzerland…as 4 his mobile she got same answer after each try that number is unreachable...
Pallavi (getting angry after her each try) …Damn!!...this stupid phone 😡😡Kaha ho Rj😡😡
Suddenly she heard a noise behind her…She turned & saw Dev was standing there all dressed...ready to leave😊😊 He still looked a bit pale… but he also had a strange expression on his face… Dev (in a weird tone)-- Trying to call Rj I guess… Pallavi (getting up) --uhm…..Ji…😕😕 who …It's his birthday…wanted to wish him… par…yeh stupid phone...stupid network 😡😡 (a little irritated)…I think I'll try later….ermm Mr.Khanna I have called for the breakfast….abhi aata hi hoga…
***
As they sat down for breakfast and after which she gave Dev his medicines. After breakfast they headed for the airport….
Throughout the way to airport…Dev could not stop thinking about Ranvijay & Pallavi 😉😆 Dev (to himself) – Jealous, are we Dev?.😕 ..No…You are just shocked…Dev … Why are u surprised that they are dating, isn't it obvious…& there is nothing wrong in dat…U are just shocked… that is why you can't stop thinking about it….Now you know this Fact…so just forget it….& accept the truth that they both are seeing each other.…😊 At the airport he saw Pallavi trying again & saw her sad face when she failed to connect …😒 . He tried his best not to listen, how she was mumbling & irriatted for not getting through Rj…😕 & mentally kicked himself for being happy when RJ did not pick up….😆 *** As their plane took off… Pallavi could notice Dev was tired… though there is no more fever but still weakness cud easily be noticed… She was glad it was Friday and weekend started soon. 😊😊 Dev would not gave to go to the office and he would have a whole weekend to rest & relax … Pallavi was damn sure he would be in the office on Monday no matter how ill he was…😆😆 They did not call him a workaholic without a reason…😆
Suddenly she heard him coughing badly. .. She looked at her left and saw him… with a red face… coughing away. Pallavi made him take water in small sips. She patted him on his back until the coughing stopped…
Dev mumbled "thank you" Pallavi (smiled)—Mr.Khanna you still have to take the antibiotics for 10 days, and you can't stop before that 😊😊 …. Is baar beech mein stop mat kijiyega… The doctor said you have to finish all the tablets to make sure the infection is completely gone…😊😊. Nodding dev went back to doze off… 🥱🥱 Pallavi too closed her eyes… and tried to catch some sleep. Dev tried to settle down in his chair…His mind was in a uncomfortable turmoil, he could at least try to be comfortable in his chair…. *** After a long flight the plane finally landed in Mumbai…Dev could not wait to go back to his routine life…😆😆 as they came out from airport…they found Kabir was waiting for both of them… Pallavi face lightened up & she cudn't help herself from breaking into a smile & hugged him… 😃😃
Kabir (was also all smiles)—did u managed well….zyada problem toh nahi hui…I'm sorry i cudn't come earlier...aaj subah hi pahuncha main...
Pallavi(nodded)—sorry kehne ki zarut nahi hai bhaiyya...& koi problem nahi hui ...it was all in control & u know….waha aur kya hua...it was raining...&...
Dev just stood there…watching looking at the two of them…falling into a comfortable conversation… He kind of felt like an outsider…😆😆😆 intruding on a very personal moment…😆😆 . He felt an outsider when one of the two people he was looking at was his elder brother & almost friend whom he have known for years….😆😆 Kabir after finishing chat with Pallavi… turned his attention to Dev… Kabir--Dev, how are you… are you feeling better now?' Dev--Much better now Bhai…😊😊 (a little tauntingly) & thanks for asking…so soon …(indicating that he was first interested in chat with Pallavi & not him) thoda jaldi nahi yaad agaya aapko
Pallavi looked at both questioningly…They were supposed to be family, but were speaking so formally to each other.😕😕 .& Mr. Khanna was behaving rather differently since this morning. 😕 Pallavi (thot to herself)-- Maybe he is behaving normally now, and he was behaving differently when he was sick…. As they moved towards the car… Kabir – Pallavi tum jaldi se ghar chalo… sab tumko dekhna chahte hai, aur tumhare liye ek surprise bhi hai…. Pallavi—surprise…kaisa surprise…?😕 Kabir –abhi bata dunga toh surprise kaisa rahega…. Pallavi—dats mean bhaiyaa…😕 Kabir—mean hi sahi…pehle ghar chalo … (to Dev) Dev tum bhi chalo hamare saath. 😊😊 Maine tumhare driver ko nahin bulaaya hai because you are staying with us tonight…(adding sternly seeing Dev is abt to refuse) And I don't want to hear anything, samjhe….😡 Dev(pretended to be scared)—fine chaliye… 😆😆 aur itna dantne ki zarut nahi hai…maine toh kuch kaha bhi nahi…😛 Kabir(smilingly) —mujhe pata hai tum kya kehne wale the… (Dev laughed back) Pallavi was relieved…to see him smile & relaxed… ' *** Throughout their drive to Khanna house Kabir & Dev kept talking about business and discussed other topics...Pallavi brainstormed abt what kind of surprise kabir was talking about.😆😆
As they stopped in front of the khanna house …Dev &Pallavi was surprised to see it was decorated with lots of lights…. Pallavi –yeh sab kya hai bhaiyya…😕😕 Yeh decoration kyu hai?...😕 Kabir just smiled mysteriously…😈did not answer her questions. He took both of them inside… ***
They were soon surrounded by Massi, prachi hugging them and talking to them, firing on question after another…how was their trip, why they came late...& so on 😆😆 it was when finally Mausi scrutinized Dev …she noticed him little pale & weak… Massi(surprised)—Dev tujhe kya hua? Tu theek toh hai? Dev was abt to say he is fine…nothing to worry …but Kabir & Pallavi blurted the truth…😆😆😆 & Dev got nice scolding from Massi why he was being careless…& she went on & on…😆😆😆
Dev(hugged her to make her silent)—mujhe kuch nahi hua massi…😊 main bilkul theek hoon 😃😃 …bhaiyaa & Pallavi are just exaggerating 😆😆 zara sa throat infection tha…nothing much…😃😃dont worry 😃 Pallavi gaped at him mouth open…😲😲 how could he…he was such seriously ill…😲😲 & he is just saying it was nothing…she came out of her thots only when …she found herself being showered by hugs an kisses…by massi…& prachi thanking him for taking care of Dev… 😃😃
She looked up to Dev smiling at them the way Mausi was treating her …she got embarrassed by so much attention showered…😳😳 As they made themselves comfortable… Pallavi looked around. She thought she would see Dev's wife...after all her husband was away on a trip for over a week. ..& he was not even well….Dev's wife shud have been first person to be here…😕😕 ..but Pallavi.. did not see her…& more surprisingly she didn't saw even khushi... Prachi (noticing Pallavi looking around)—kya hua…😕 khushi ko dhund rahi hai…(pallavi nodded in yes) actually she is little busy…Woh tumko shaam ko milengi, party me. 😛😃 Pallavi(surprised)—party ? 😕😕 kisliye…😕
Kabir(interrupted them)—who tumhe sham ko pata chalega…😉😆 tab tak tum dono jakar rest laro… Party will start at eight and tumhare kapre room me hai Pallavi…specially Prachi ne tumhare liye banaye hai… (seeing pallavi abt to ask another question) I am not gona answer anything else…😆😆 . Now hurry up and stop protesting. Everyone almost shooed both Dev & Pallavi…😆😆 *** At seven Prachi barged into Pallavi's room to help her get ready in time and make sure she wore the clothes she has selected…😆😆 .she knew Pallavi would make a lot of excuses to not wear these clothes…Finally resigning Pallavi gave up had to agree to Prachi… 😆😆 ***
Pallavi stood on top of the stair in her b'ful pink sari with silver stones scattered all over...she noticed the party had already started for half an hour…
Massi & Prachi both commented she looked like an angel… even Kabir came up to her appreciating her… As she was getting down the stairs she heard a familiar voice through the speakers. 😃😃 She looked around and tried to locate the stage…. There "He was" looking up the stairs, and he was announcing Pallavi's arrival…. 😃😃 Pallavi cudn't believe her eyes…she was sure this was the surprise Kabir bhaiyaa was talking abt…😃😃 .she ran down the stairs towards him….she was so happy to see him back… 😃Rj was not supposed to return till next month 😃 Ranvijay took her into a bear hug…🤗.Before she cud asked anything….she saw Rj kneeling down before her 😛 …holding her hand out to Pallavi…. 😛 Pallavi looked at him as if her life had drained out of her.😲😲 . Her eyes grew wider and wider in plain horror. 😲😲If Rj's sudden appearance back in india was a surprise for her...now what is happening is more than a literal shock 😲... The shock was clearly visible on her face for ...this is something really unexpected 😲😲
*** But there was one person more shocked than Pallavi…😉😳 Dev, who was standing there from the beginning of party & whose gaze had followed Pallavi's every move…😍 right from the moment she had made an entry…He had been standing next to the bar,holding a glass of drink… in his hand…. He was surprised at the sight before him…😲😲 seeing Rj kneeling before Pallavi with every pair of eyes of people present in party fixed at them… 😛 …….to be continued…..😛😆 | 
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Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
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