Part 14
Pallavi(cheerfully)—Goodmorning Mr. khanna…aapka breakfast & Massi ke strict orders u have to finish it of all….
Dev came out of his thots sitting there on the attached terrace of his room at the khanna house. This had been routine from last few days since he had returned from hospital…😊😊 its always Massi,prachi, Pallavi all 3 ladies hogging him 😆😆😆 & making sure he doesn't skip any of his meals & medicines…😊😊 .if any one of them is not there the other two make sure he is taken care of well.😃😃😊
Seeing Dev still not making an attempt to have breakfast …Pallavi called again
Pallavi—Mr.khanna…breakfast apne aap finish nahi hoga…😆😆 u will have to eat it …warna massi mujhe dantegi I am sure u wud not like that…😆😆😆 afterall unhone mujhe kaha tha to make sure u have ur breakfast…😊😊
Dev(gave her a small smile)—are u sure tumhe dantegi…😆😆 because I am 100% sure who tumse zyada mujhe dant padegi😆😆…
Pallavi—obviously it shud😊😊 …ab aap jaldi se yeh khatam kijiye main aapki dawai lati hoon…
Pallavi left the room….
As Dev had breakfast he felt good…it felt good to see the relation b/w them like old times…it took all efforts from Dev to bring back all to normal 😊😊
***
4 days back
Dev was discharged from Hospital…after few hours he woke up next day…. Massi told him their decision of taking him to khanna house. 😊😊 Massi almost warned him….that she will take him along & anything he says will not change her decision. 😊😊 Dev finally gave in & agreed to massi.
He looked around…& saw Pallavi missing…she had left before Dev woke up. Later Sid also joined him though Dev cud notice him behaving little different…as he was not doing his non stop chattering…neither he scolded him like he always did…😆😆😆 He just sat there looking around here & there…As Kabir-Massi went to complete discharge formalities…Dev got an opporutunity to talk to him…
Dev(cleared his throat)—ahem …Hi there!!! (seeing him still silent)...tu mujhe dekhne aaya hai…ya Suhaas ka hospital room (Dev almost joked)
Sid(looked at him guiltily in a soft voice)—I am sorry!!
Dev was surprised to hear that he was expecting Sid to blast at him like morning Massi did…"tu apna dhyan nahi rakhta" "kya haal bana rakha hai apna" ….& she went on & on 😆😆😆 until Suhaas took her away early in the morning …
Dev(double checked)—what? I didn't get u?
Sid—I said I am Sorry…
Dev(joked)—strange…yaha toh main tujhe sorry bolne ke mood mein tha…par tu kyun sorry ? (Sid on an impulse hugged him) kya hua?
Sid—I am sorry…tera dost hone ke baad bhi…I didn't understood u….tujhe itna kuch suna diya…I am sorry…
Dev(made him look at him)—are u crazy or what…teri koi galti nahi thi…bina baat ke sorry mat bol…(somberly) waise bhi tune jo kuch kaha tha there was nothing wrong in dat 😊😊 …afterall tu toh mere ache ke liye hi keh raha tha…(smiled) ab aisi emotional shakal banane ki zarut nahi hai tujhe suit nahi karta… uske liye main kafi hoon😊😊 tujhe emotional hona suit nahi karta 😊😊infact teri baat ko na manne ke liye mujhe sorry kehna chaiye 😊
Sid—means u forgave me….(Dev nodded) Thank you ab main keh sakta hoon what I wanted to since yday ...i have been waiting to say this (Sid started what Dev was waiting for)…main kitna dar gaya tha pata hai jab suhaas ka phone aaya…Idiot, stupid, kya zarut thi yeh sab karne ki…😡😡 itna pine ki kya zarut thi 😡😡 kitni baar mana kiya hai….par the great Dev Khanna kisi ki sune tab na…😡😡 but Saab koi kuch kahe inhe sun na nahi hota 😡😡 ….(Sid went on & on…he stopped when saw Dev just looking at him with a smile) main tujhe dant raha hoon aur tu apne dant dikha raha hai…😡😡
Dev(smiled)—why ? ab main hans bhi nahi sakta…(emotionally) its good to have the Old Sid back 😊😊 …humesha aise hi raha kar…. & haan massi ne mujhe office aane se strictly mana kiya so…office ki saari responsibility teri…koi gadbad hui I will kill u samjha…😡😡
Sid just shook his head how conveniently Dev has stopped him from scolded & had changed the topic….
Sid(saluting him)—Aye Aye Sir!! 😆😆😆 Dont worry abt office... Roger will keep u updated 😊😊 aapki absence mein aapke dil-o-jaan se bhi aziz office ka pura khayal rakha jayega….(Dev laughed at his antics)….ermmm Dev (apprehensive)…maine Maya ko inform kar diya
Sid saw the smile vanishing…& just got "Hmmm" as a reply…
Its when Suhaas entered along with massi & kabir …….He gave a long list of instructions ….by end of it Dev cudn't help but complain 😆😆
Dev---suhaas isse acha main yahi hospital reh jata hoon 😆😆 ….u are almost house arresting me…& jailor ke liye u have appointed Massi…😕😆 Mujhe bechare ka kya hoga 😔😆😆
Massi—tu pehle ghar chal…ab se teri ek manmaani nahi chalegi…😡😡
As they reached the khanna house…Dev's room there was completely changed… 😊😊 entire bedroom was decorated with fresh flowers with open windows…the curtains changed from dull to bright colours…his study table removed… 😆😆😆 his files, laptop & the side mini bar in the room missing…😆😆it was replaced by a book cabinet...
Dev(shocked)-- Yeh sab kya hai Mausi ? 😲😕 mera samaan… I mean…😕
Massi(tried to hide her smile but failed)—ermm maine nahi!! yeh sab in do samajhdar logo ne kiya hai…(she moved aside to reveal Prachi & Pallavi…Prachi was almost hiding behind pallavi thinking Dev will be angry…😆😆😆 from beginning she wasn't supportive of Pallavi's idea of re arranging Dev's room)
Dev(smiled & shook his head)—what?? Samajhdar? 😲😲 Massi…how can u say that… mera saara samaan gayab hai…😕😕 &
Pallavi—Dats unfair Mr.Khanna…😕😕 (with her hands placed on her hips) aapka saara samaan yahi hai…ur wardrobe…aapka furniture, TV…everything is here only humne kuch nahi uthaya…😆😆😆 (pointing to all the things) ab aapko aur kya samaan chaiye 😕😕 (she saw the smile on his face vanish as soon as she looked at his face… to keep the mood lighten she turned her attention to massi) I think massi Mr.khanna apni files & laptop miss kar rahe hai…😆😆😆 taki jab hum is room se bahar chale jaye he can work…😆😆
Massi(scolded)—Dev?? Tu sach main files laptop miss kar raha hai.? 😡😡 Doctor ne mana kiya hai na…
Dev(sighed & sat on the bed)—Haan (seeing massi glaring at him…he instantly changed) I mean No!! …matlab main yaha khali baithe baithe kya karunga…😕😕 (ended lamely) main bore ho jaunga…😕😆
Prachi(interrupted)—don't worry devarji aapka time pass karane ke liye hum sab hai na…😆😆😆 we will make sure aap bore na ho…😊😊 .
Pallavi (excused herself)—Main lunch ka dekhar aati hoon…Doctor ne kaha tha ki aapne khaane me laaparwaahi ki thi ... toh aaj se Mausi,Prachi di aur maine aapki health ki zimmedaari li hai. Ab aap nahin bachenge…(almost warned Dev)
They all had lunch together…after a while Pallavi came to give him medicines found him standing near the window, looking at the garden and the big white swing….
Pallavi—ermm Mr.khanna … aap ki dawaai…(he just nodded without any reply) Massi keh rahi hai who abhi aa rahi hai thodi der mein…she wants to watch some movie with u….(after a pause) Aapko kuch aur chahiye?😕 (he just shook his head in negative)
Quietly and dejected Pallavi left the room…Dev wasn't even looking at her…leave alone talk to her…the silence from Dev was making her feel more & more guilty…
2 days passed in the same manner…Pallavi always brought his breakfast,lunch,dinner & everytime some1 or other wud be accompanied her…
On third day…It was Pallavi alone as Massi & Prachi had gone to temple & Kabir already left for office…Pallavi entered with breakfast with her usual smile she saw Dev deep in newspaper…
Pallavi (keeping the breakfast down)—goodmorning Mr.khanna…aapka breakfast….
Dev—goodmorning Masi(he paused seeing Massi not around …correcting himself softly) Pallavi
As Pallavi got busy serving breakfast…Dev avoided looking at her…not being able to meet her eyes like the previous 2 days…The uncomfortableness b/w them was something Dev cudn't tolerate…😕 It was as if there was some invisible wall b/w them… & Dev knew the only reason is he himself… 😡😡 it was because of him situation is like it is
Dev knew Sid was right down the line just because he loves Pallavi it doesn't gives him right to impose his feelings on Pallavi… 😕😕 or force himself…Sid may understand his love easily... coz somewhere Sid understands him…but with Pallavi he needs to apologise…but it was something he could not do 😕😕 …he doesn't know whether she will forgive or not …but more than Pallavi he was not being able to forgive himself….😕😕 (he mentally scolded himself) coz the fact was he did not want to ask forgiveness for one of the best things that happened to him in a long time…😳😳 The kiss was the best thing that happened to him in a long time… infact best thing in his whole life… & it was something which he could not control…
The kiss,confession of his feelings was something that his heart wanted him to do…& for once he had listened to his heart without thinking anything else… From last few days he is asking himself same question numerous times…
"How could he ask forgiveness for confessing his feelings"
But still he had to clear things between them… No matter how true his feelings are …or how much he loves her…He has no right to make her feel uncomfortable…😕😕
He came out of his thots when he saw glass of juice in front of him…taking it…
Dev(softly)—ermm Pallavi (she turned as she was abt to leave) Main I mean…wanted to say…(took a deep breath) I am sorry…Sorry for making you feel uncomfortable….us din...
This was the least he could do… Saying sorry for all the other stuff would be lying to her and to himself…😳
Pallavi(looked back at him)--Just forget it Mr.Khanna…sorry ki zarut nahi hai…u were not well that time…Its …its Ok…
Dev—but still I mean…
Pallavi(interrupted)—Mr.Khanna shayad galti hum dono ki barabar ki thi 😕 …aur jo hona tha…ho chuka we cant change it…so we shud let it be 😊 …anyways (she changed the topic) ab aap araam kijiye lunch se pehle massi ne aapke liye chotti si pooja rakhwai hai aap ready hojayeiga… (looked at him and smiled & She walked off to complete work massi had given her)
As she came out of the room she sighed in relief...this was the least she cud do for Dev after seeing what he went through after the incident...& also she cud easily make out since then Dev had been avoiding her...it was as if he was feeling guilty...he didn't even looked at her 😕She thanked God...atleast Dev made an effort to break the invisible wall b/w them since last few days ...they had been behaving like strangers...which Pallavi was not liking ...
***
Back to present
Pallavi came back to see Dev smiling to himself…as she gave him the medicine he saw Pallavi wanted to say something…it was as if she was scared…as he had medicine...he saw her chewing her nails…😆😆😆
Dev—kya hua? Koi problem hai?(Pallavi nodded in yes & No) what?😕😕 kuch hua hai?
Pallavi—Rj-khushi wapis aagaye hai…
Dev(shocked)—what? Its still 1 more week…abhi se wapis aagaya 😲😲…jane ke time kitni zidd kar raha tha he wants a long off for honeymoon 😆😆
Pallavi—I guess aapko neeche jana padega 😕😕 …Rj not listening to any of us…😕
When Dev went downstairs…he saw Rj was extremely mad…for not being informed…Through a friend Rj found out Dev was hospitalized…he was mad at every1 for not informing…it was after Dev numerous pleas & explanation he cooled off…Later even Sid joined them back from office…as it was routine every evening Dev wud liked to be updated abt the office 😊😊
After long time whole family had lunch together…😊 after which all of them sat in the living room, playing games and talking…Massi sharing abt Kabir, Rj's childhood…😆😆what pranks they played how naughty they were😆
Pallavi kept looking at Dev…she was almost staring at him with a dreamy look…😍 she could notice the transformation in him…he looked so relaxed & good with everyone around…😊😊 although he did not talk a lot…but being here between all these people made him feel better…he was smiling more than often 😊😊 …otherwise if all alone he would pointlessly stare or would secretly take files from the study or will bring his laptop from study where she had shifted them from his room…😆😆 & wud eventually bury himself in work…
Pallavi(to herself)-- He looks so good when he is relaxed...😃😃 much better than that day…
Suddenly she saw flashes of that night in front of her 😳😳 … His face… his touch… his Love confession for her…He actually loves her…out of everyone he loves her…she cudn't help but feel good on knowing it.. 😳
Pallavi's own thoughts shocked her… seeing every1 busy in conversation she left for the back garden to sit on the swing…
She was unaware that Sid noticed her staring at Dev …many occasions she had noticed Pallavi just looking or observing Dev with a dreamy look in her eyes…She was always there to look after Dev…she was being too caring towards Dev…is Pallavi to walking on similar Path as Dev…Is she also falling for Dev…
Apart from Sid there was one more person who observed this…though he was unaware of Dev's love… but cud guess the look on Pallavi's face…
***
Pallavi relaxed sitting there on the swing…she cud feel the breeze… she looked at the stars shining…😊😊 the moon in the centre…making the night b'ful & peaceful…😊😊 she rested her head on her knees closed her eyes... How could she think like that? Specially after knowing that whatever he said was said while he was not feeling well…He did not mean those things….😕😕
Pallavi (scolded herself)—stupid girl…u are chasing an unachievable dream…😡😡 jo bhi hua it was just because he was not well not in his senses…unhone jo kuch us din kaha ... dat doesn't mean he said it for you Pallavi… 😡😡 aur unhone maafi bhi mang li …that itself proves ki it was just a mistake for him…😔 unhone galti se kaha tha…(she cud hear the irritating voice in her head) You perfectly know he was not himself that night… 😕😕 He was not in control of his actions…& u stupid girl… 😡 tum ho ki pichle 5 dino se uske baare me soch rahi ho…ki yeh sab sach hai…😕 stupid fool it cant never be a reality…😡😡 who tujhe kabhi nahi mil sakte…he is completely out of ur league… he is married for god sake Pallavi stop dreaming abt him…😡😡 stop urself from falling in love with him…😡😡 (realization came as a bolt for her) love…? 😲 Who bhi Mr.Khanna se…😲😲 u have gone crazy Pallavi darling 😆😆 pata nahi kya kya sochti rehti hai… (pallavi sighed) how can u love him😕😕even if u do...u can't love him 😕😕
Suddenly she felt someone sitting next to her on the swing….
Rj—Hi!! B'ful…😊😊
Pallavi (got almost scared)-- Ughhh……Rj!! Tum ho …u almost scared me…
Rj—ab tak toh kabhi nahi dari… saaliji 😆😆 …(questioning her) Saali ji hi ho na…😛😛 I mean Khushi se bari ho…toh thoda respect toh banta hai…😆😆😆 (pallavi smacked him) ab batao yaha akele kyun baithi thi…
Pallavi(shook her head)—nahi…kuch nahi…
Rj—come on !! apne best buddy se chupaogi…😊😊 surely something is troubling u…tumhare chehre pe likha hai… come on out with it… 😊 koi problem hai...u know u can share with me... 😊😊
Pallavi(a little hesitant)—nahi kuch nahi ... was just thinking something…nothing serious…😊😊
Rj—serious nahi hai toh itna kya soch rahi thi…😕😕 ki tumhe pata bhi nahi chala main kab aaya yaha…so now stop giving excuses…aur batao baat kya hai…😕😕
Pallavi(took a deep breath)—Main…who… tumse ek sawaal poochu…
She didn't knew if she is doing the right thing or not but she needs some answers to console her heart she wants to find out more about Dev? Why exactly he is the way he is? What is troubling him so much? Pallavi just hoped Rj would not try to search for a motive behind her question…she was brought out of her thots when she heard Rj's voice…
Rj—ofcourse Saaliji…😃😆😆 ek nahi do sawaal poocho infact jitne marzi pooch bas uske baad main jo maangunga woh dena hoga….Ok 😛
Pallavi(looked questioningly at him)—tumhe kya chaiye…😕
Rj—I will tell later…but jawab chaiye toh meri deal manni hogi…😃😛
Pallavi(sighed)—fine !! ab main poocho..
Rj—poocho saali ji…😊😊 hope its some easy questions…koi gameshow toh nahi khel rahi na…😆😆😆
Pallavi(just smiled)—nahi…now can I ask (Rj nodded) ermm Rj…who…Mrs. Khanna I mean Mr.khanna ki wife …who kaisi hai ?
She saw Rj's expressions changing…
Rj(instead of answering)—achanak yeh sawal kyun?😕
Pallavi—ermm aisi hi…who (explaining herself) I mean…unhe kabhi yaha dekha nahi na…I mean Mr.Khanna ki tabiyat itni kharab thi…who dekhne bhi nahi aayi…😕😕 anyways Ab baat ko taalo mat. Just answer(pallavi tried her level best to hide her restlessness)
Rj(looked the other side)—ermm …Pallavi this is really not for me to answer…😕😕 I cannot answer as its not abt me…bas itna bata sakta hoon ki woh Mathur Uncle ki beti hai…& they got married 5 yrs back… (sighed) Bhai ko hum sab jante hai…shayad ab tak tum bhi jaan gayi hogi …bhai kuch kehte nahin hai…par sach hum sab jante hai…(sighed) they don't have a happy marriage…pehle hum log saath rehte the…but ab…(he left rest unsaid…Pallavi cud feel anger in Rj's voice) Main kabhi maaf nahi karunga usse…😡😡 usne bhai ko takleef pahunchai hai… who bhai ki parwaah nahin karti …uski wajah se bhai humesha pareshan rehte hai...somewhere i have lost the funloving & smiling Dev bhai 😒….aur I know is baar bhi bhai ki halat ki zimmedar wohi hai…aaj uski wajah se bhai humse door hogaye…humse apne dukh nahi bante…jabki humare dukh mein unhone humara saath diya tha…
Pallavi looked back at the moon glowing away in the black sky….she almost had tears in her eyes…😭
Pallavi(thotfully)—Rj… achche logon ke saath bura kyu hota hai?😕
Rj—pata nahi…par main humesha yeh dua zaroor karta hoon ki agar aaj Bhai ki zindagi mein dukh hai toh aane wale waqt mein unki zindagi mein khushiya zaroor de…😊😊 Agar bhagwaan hume dukh deta hai… to dukh ke baad sukh bhi deta hai…😊😊(seeing how thotful Pallavi has been…to lighten he changed topic) Okay ab deal ki baari… 😛
Pallavi (smiled)-- Kya karna hai?
Rj—zyada kuch nahi…u will have to accept my offer…😛😊
Pallavi(confused)—offer kaisa offer…😕😕
Rj—how forgetful of u Pallavi 😆😆 …tumne kaha tha u will join me in office permanently…tum mere saath meri help karogi as my partner when i come back 😊😊…
Rj saw Pallavi's face loosing colour…working with Rj wud mean…leaving Dev…😔 she will not be able to be with Dev…she will not be able to see him everyday…talk to him everyday…staying away from him…is something she cant imagine…
Rj (seeing her lost shook her)—kya hua? Kaha kho gayi…toh u will be joining me na…
Pallavi—huh!! Ermm Main…I am sorry Rj…but I cant…😕😕 main
Rj(interrupted)—par kyun?maine bhai se jane se pehle baat karli thi…who maan bhi gaye the…he doesn't have a problem…wo taiyaar bhi hogaye the…
Pallavi(turned the other way)—par main …main taiyaar nahi hoon…(took a deep breath) I cant leave him…I just cant…
Rj thought there is surely something Pallavi is hiding he made her look at him…
Rj—tum kyun nahi chod sakti…may I know…aisa kya hai that's stopping u…(one look in her eyes & Rj cud guess it…now its falling in place why she had asked that question…he cudn't help but shout at her) Kya kar rahi ho tum Pallavi?😡😡
Pallavi(tried to divert the topic...she cud make out that Rj guessed the reason was she so readable)---kya matlab…I didn't get u maine kya kiya😕
Rj-- Tum achchi tarah se jaanti ho ki mai kya keh raha hoon 😡😡. Why are you doing this to yourself?...
Pallavi—mujhe sach mein samajh nahi aa raha Rj…😕😕 I just said ki main apna job nahi chodna chahti….whats the big deal… 😕
Rj(lost his temper)-- I'm not in the mood to joke around…pallavi 😡😡 I've been watching you since I came back… Tum…(he doesn't know how to say it)…tum Bhai ko……😲😲 (almost shook her) Tum jaanti ho tum kya kar rahi ho…. Jis tarah se tum unka khayaal rakh rahi ho… jis tarah se tum unki fikr kar rahi ho…. They way u worry abt him…abhi maine tumhe mere saath kaam karne ko kaha…u are not ready to leave just because…because …You are falling in love with him….😡😡 You ARE in love with him….😡😡 isliye tum unse door nahi jana chahti….
The confusion in Pallavi's mind was gradually clearing out… She thought really hard...that is what she is doing since last few days...she has fought enough with herself...she tried to push back the feeling she had...but Rj cud guess it easily than she herself cud... Maybe she was falling in love with him….And that thought did not make her feel uncomfortable. Actually it was the first time in days she felt comfortable with herself & her feelings. Maybe she really was in love with Dev… Her eyes had a strange glow in them…
Rj(brought her out of her thots)—Pallavi …sach tumhe pata hai na…phir bhi….still (he cudn't understand)You know it is not possible…. you are dreaming for something that will never be yours… dono taraf se haar tumhari hai Pallavi…😡😡 kuch hasil nahi hoga tumhe…😡😡 (he was surprised to see Pallavi smiling) kyun khud ko takleef pahuncha rahi ho 😕😕
Pallavi(smiled)—Rj…us chand ko dekho…who humse kitni door hai…hum sab jante hai usse kabhi nahi pa sakte… par phir bhi use pane ka sapna har koi dekhta hai…😊😊 aur sapne dekhne mein aur usse pane ki chahat karne mein bahut fark hota hai…😊😊 "Maa humesha kehti thi…Chaand ki chaandni sab ko chooti hai… lekin koi yeh nahin keh sakta ki who uski hai"….Aur Mr.Khanna bhi mere liye us chand ki chandini ki tarah hai jise main mehsoos kar sakti hoon par apna nahi keh sakti…😔 ...us par apna haq nahi jata sakti… Maa ne humesha sikhaya ki jab kisi se pyaar karo toh us pyaar me sirf pyaar dekte hai aur kuch nahin…& dats what I am doing…Main Mr.khanna se kuch expect nahi kar rahi Rj …. Mujhe unse kuch nahin chaahiye….Mai unhe pasand karti hoon …. usme unka koi dosh nahin hai ..😊😊 ...aur shayad tum sahi ho… I also think I love him… yeh mere liye kaafi hai Rj…i dont expect him to love me back 😊😊
Pallavi smiled and walked off leaving a confused and fearing Rj behind….
She went to her apartment that night and exactly after a week slept in peace….from past week she had been in a emotional turmoil where she fought with her heart & mind...but today after accepting it to Rj & herself she felt the confusion, the restlessness vanish...finally she wud be able to sleep peacefully...
***************
Hope part was OK...
keep Smiling 😊😃
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