Zindagi Ke Mausam - Part Eight(b)
NK and Khushi bumped in to each other.
Khushi: I was just looking for you. So what's the plan?! And how does Akash Bhai feel about Gigi?!
NK: He's definitely in to her. I told him "..."
Khushi: What?! Great !
NK: So what we're going to do is tell the other person is that Mom and Chachi arranged for the other's possible "respective other" to come to party my friend arranged for Lavanya and me. It's all of us, no adults, so they won't feel uncomfortable but not alone so it's not awkward. Somehow or another, if we push the right buttons, one or the other is going to let us know about their liking for the other.
Khushi: Sounds like a plan ! Alright I'm heading out now !
NK: What? Where?
Khushi: Shopping ! With Gigi and Lavanya, her friends too.
NK: What for?
Khushi: For one of the functions, duh! I mean I already had something picked out but I'm helping Lavanya.
NK: Butterfly ! Are you going to wear a dress?!
Khushi: NO ! You know I don't wear dresses. I'm fine with my simple anarkali's and chooridars.
NK: It's not like you're going to look nice in a dress anyway? you monkey!
Khushi: Excuse me. I'm not the monkey here, that's you ! And I'd look awesome in a dress too ! I just don't choose to wear it. So HA ! Now bye, I'm getting late!
NK: Bhai?
Akash: Mhm?
NK: Don't kill me, but I told Lavanya to invite Kangna tonight. You can meet up with her. You can't refuse to come because Lavanya's your only to be sister in law.
Akash: YOU DID WHAT?!
NK: I said...don't kill me ! And don't worry, you're not the only one.
Akash: What's that supposed to mean?!
NK: Payal Di. Her guy is coming to.
Akash: Her..what?
NK: The guy that Mom and Chachi like, they told me to invite him to the party too. The one KAS is throwing for us? I've got to go now, meeting up with the girls for lunch. Would you like to join us?
Akash: Girls?
NK: Lav, Khush, and Di
Akash : Yeah. 5 minutes.
Akash(in his thoughts): Her guy? What her guy? I'm her guy. Akash?! What has gotten in to you? What if she doesn't like you? I mean it's not like you've told her that you like her anyway. What if she says yes?! You've got to do something, and quick !
Khushi: So Lavanya, where'd your friends go?
Lavanya: To get ready for the party.
Khushi: 5 hours beforehand?
Lavanya: Well, that's them for you. It seems like it's their party more than mine.
Khushi: I know.
Khushi winked at Lavanya who was in on the plan for the night.
Lavanya: Today sure is going to be exciting.
Khushi: Exciting? Why?
Lavanya: Besides the fun party, Kangna's coming.
Khushi: Who...whose that?
Lavanya: NK didn't tell you? He must've forgotten. Akash Bhai's...
At the mention of Akash's name Payal looked up at them.
Payal: Akashji's...
Khushi: Girlfriend?!
Payal: KHUSHI !
Khushi: What Di? He can't have a girlfriend? It's not a big deal. Why are you..
Payal: No, I..I didn't. I...who is she Lavanya?
Payal tried to sound as uninterested as possible but the apparent interest in her voice said otherwise.
Lavanya: My friend. She's amazing. I was thinking about setting her and Akash Bhai up. You know, maybe they'll hit it off and get married?
Payal's face first registered shock then hurt and at the end irritation.
Khushi: Well he's not going to be alone !
Payal: What do you mean?
Khushi feigned guilt. Lavanya looked around, not trying to meet contact with Payal's eyes.
Khushi: Nothing..nothing Di.
Payal: What are you two hiding rom me?
Lavanya: Aa..actually Payal Di, woh...there's..this guy and...Aunty wants you to meet with him. He's coming to the party tonight.
Payal: WHAT! KHUSHI ! Why didn't you tell me? I don't want to get married. I can't.
Khushi: Why not Gigi? I know it's all of a sudden but it's bound to happen. We're all going to be there, don't be nervous.
Payal: But --
Khushi: But what Gigi?
Payal(in her thoughts) : But what Payal? What are you going to say to Khushi? That you like Akashji? Right that makes sense. You're the one that told her, that we're just friends. But if we're friends, why didn't he tell me? Maybe he doesn't know himself.. Stop ! Why are you making excuses for him? It's not like he told you he likes you. You're going to have to figure this out Payal. And soon !
Right then, NK and Akash make their entry.
Khushi: Akash Bhai ! NK !
Payal is brought out by her thoughts at Khushi's exclamations.
Akash: Hey Khushi, Lavanya, Pa..Payal
Khushi : Come, sit, sit.
They arranged the seating so Payal and Akash had no choice but to sit next to each other.
NK: I'll order the food, waiter !
Akash and Payal began their conversation through text messages.
Payal? - AK
Ji? - P
Nothinh - AK
Payal? - AK
Akashji? - P
Payal, can we talk? - AK
We are talking - P
No. - AK
Alone - AK
After 1 minute that seemed more like 1 year Payal replied.
OK - P
I'll be home soon. I'll meet you an hour before we have to leave for the party. 7 pm. Outside my room. - AK
Akash then excused himself saying he was running late for a meeting.
NK: Bhai, I'll come with you.
Akash: No, NK...it's fine. You stay, just be back before 4.
Were we wrong? -NK
About? - KKG
Akash & Payal? - La
Awww, you two are finishing each others texts, how cute - KKG
Khushi, don't get confused here. We're talking about Akash and Payal - NK
No - KKG
What do you mean no? - La
Yeah, what do you mean no? - NK
Devi Maiiya ! Don't gang up on me - KKG
Khushi ! - La
I saw Gigi and Akash Bhai texting each other when I bent down to pick up my spoon - KKG
Success - NK
Jha Mansion
Payal paced the hall, she had been on like this for a half hour now. She'd been finding everyone reason to stay on the first floor of the mansion. Khushi had asked her to come upstairs to start getting ready but Payal made excuse after excuse, Khushi eventually gave up and went upstairs. Payal decided she should make tea, that would calm her senses.
Payal didn't realize until after she had pour the tea out, that she had made tea for two.
Payal: What's happening to me?
Payal looked up at the clock. It was 7:05. He would be in his room by now.
---
Akash paced his room nervously. It was already 5 minutes passed 7.
Akash (in his thoughts): Where was she? Did she not want to come anymore?
And that's when he heard the knock on his door, in walked Payal with a tray of two cups of hot steaming tea.
Akash: Come...sit.
Payal: Chai...
Akash: Thanks.
Akash: So...uh, um
Payal: Akashji?
Akash looked in to Payal's eyes, he was definitely not prepared for what was about to come out of her mouth.
Akash: Yes Payal?
Payal: Hum...aap, we're friends..right?
Akash: Of course Payal
Payal: Then why didn't you tell me?
Akash: What?
Payal: That you're going to meet a girl tonight..at the party?
Akash: Payal - I
Payal: It's ok Akash ji. I hope you like her. I heard she's...beautiful.
Akash: But Payal --
Payal: It's ok, you don't have to --
Akash: Then why didn't you tell me that a guy is coming to see you tonight?
Payal's already big eyes enlarged at his knowledge.
Payal: Main--- I didn't know. Not until Khushi told me accidentally...in the caf.
Akash: I didn't know either.
Payal: Kya?
Akash: About ...the girl. NK told me before we came to the caf.
Payal: Oh.
Akash: Payal?
Payal: Ji?
Akash: I don't like her.
Payal: Maybe when you meet...
Akash: No. I like you.
Payal's teacup slipped from her hand on to the tray but not before splashing on to her hand.
Payal: Ow !
Akash rushed to her side and grabbed her hand.
Akash: Are you ok? What the hell Payal ?! It's not hurting right?
Akash went to the bathroom and after some rummaging came back with ointment that he put on Payal's reddened hand.
Akash: Payal? It's not hurting is it? I'll call the Doctor.
Payal: N..No. It's..it's fine.
Akash realized he was still holding her hand and let go of it slowly. Payal got up to leave.
Payal: Thank you.
Akash: You're welcome.
She walked to the door way when she turned around.
Payal : Akash ji?
Akash who had turned around already, faced towards her.
Payal: M..me too.
Akash: What?
Payal blushed and walked out of the room when what Payal meant struck his head. He grinned hugely and decided he would need to steal the limelight from NK-Lavanya today.
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