Part 3
After Jhanvi successfully calmed down her parents, narrating the incident happened at the disc...they had been too worried when they saw Rayan with a swollen eye and a trickle of blood running down his jaw and the knuckles of his hands...& Jhanvi too looked tensed.
Asking Madhu to just take Jhanvi inside...& bring in first aid for Rayan...Aniket walked towards Rayan ...who is surprised as Aniket looks at him with genuine gratitude...the man uptil now who had only looked at him with indifference since he had come here, now was replaced with someone else... all along Aniket had not been too warm & welcoming Rayan, he was not much in favour when Madhu suggested to allow a stranger to be their house guest...he only gave in after Madhu literally emotionally blackmailed him...but what Rayan has done today he just cant thank enough of Rayan being there with Jhanvi... Aniket just engulfed him in a hug...Rayan cud make out he is obviously upset about what his daughter had to face or what might have happened if Jhanvi had been all alone at disc.
Aniket -- I don't even know where to begin...If it hadn't been for you ...(paused) I don't even know how to thank you...I
Rayan (interrupted)-- I only did what anyone else would have done, Uncle...(smiled) Plzz Uncle no need for Thanx...
Aniket gives him a small smile in return...asking him to rest in room till Madhu comes to tend his injuries.
Back in her room, after her mother left after making sure she is fine... Jhanvi cudn't help but ponder on what happened or what cud have happened, she drifted into the depths of her own overwhelming thoughts... the flashes from the incident continue to preoccupy her mind...the way Rayan stepped in, she herself was capable of saving herself, she was ready to slap the guy but she has to admit at the moment she was nervous wreck insides, the way guy was touching her the lustfull looks he was giving...it made her shiver...& she was too pleased to have Rayan there & he handled the situation.
She had been so wrong about Rayan, she felt ashamed for behaving the way she did with him...she had judged him beforehand without bothering to get to know him first to see what person he really is... she simply assumed him of being an American brat she has been accustomed in hearing about...tears begin to rebuild in her eyes as she dwells on the fact that Rayan had been the one who had saved her...she dreads to even think about consequence of being their alone...
****
Just as Rayan relaxed on the bed, hears his cell ring, Madhu had just left after bandaging his injuries... & left to get him something to eat, not before affectionately running her hand on his hair and kissing him on his forehead thanking him what he has done...Rayan cudn't do nothing more than smile at her affection.😊😊
Seeing the caller, Rayan had a wide smile on his face...its been days he has been here in India, & her mother has called only now...as soon as he picks, her mother's endless questions continue & Rayan calmly replies her every question gradually Mother-son get busy into candid conversation...His mother was glad to know Rayan not only liked being in India but he is enjoying his stay & he is happy with warmth he had received from her friend's family...its only when she asked about what he thinks about them, his mother asked about his thoughts on marriage prospects... Rayan was confused what to answer...
Rayan (little pissed off)"Maaa!! Will you stop asking such questions...first of all the girl you are trying to set me up with She is not even here...😕I think your whole plan of this trip is flopped...
Anu (calmly)"I know, Rayan...Madhu called me to apologise for Neha's absence, but Madhu said she will be back soon...Its just her medical camp
Rayan - Yeahh , & coincidentally she decides to go on medical camp around the same time I was going to drop by to see her...she cud have joined medical camp a day later...but...😕😕
Anu (interrupted)"But Rayan...till Neha comes back you can connect with your native culture... You will also get to learn about the culture you are traditionally a part of, where your true roots really lie...
Rayan -but Maa...
Rayan stops midway in his sentence as he hears the room's knob turn door & getting opened ...initially he thought Madhu returned with something to eat, but he was surprised to find Jhanvi standing hesitantly in his doorway, he keeps his eyes on her while he ends his conversation with his mother giving a quick bye to his mother... Not to mention it surprised his mother, he never did that... Disconnecting the call putting away the phone on dresser not before keeping it on silent, knowing very well that he's going to be receiving some calls back from his mother...for abrupt end...
Jhanvi (softly) - ermm...who...(gulped) Can I come in?
Rayan : (indifferently) It's your house... You can go wherever you feel like, you don't need permission from me...
She interprets this as a yes and allows herself to come inside, He looks up at her with an expressionless face which nerves her...She takes a deep breath to calm herself, she knows she needs to apologise him for being prejudiced towards him initially & also she needs to thank him for being there for her... She had seen her mother taking soup for him when she volunteered that she will give it to him, which will give her perfect opportunity to talk to him...but now standing before him, & seeing him giving such serious looks, task seems to difficult...
She feels her boost being deflated from his words and wears a look of defeat on her face...She knows she deserves his attitude afterall she hasn't been a very nice person to him so far...Jhanvi hesitantly forwards the soup to him...which he takes after a moment of thinking
Rayan (taking the bowl)"Hope its not made by you if yes, then I hope its not too much salty...
Jhanvi looks at him with miserable eyes making Rayan regret his action in trying to give her a taste of her own medicine...
Jhanvi (in soft voice)-- I don't blame you for behaving like this with me...(looked down) I would do the same if I were you... I have behaved rudely towards you since you have arrived here and have not been very welcoming...I...
Rayan smirks to himself"like father like daughter ...😆
Jhanvi (continued in emotional voice)-- I'm very ashamed about my behavior...I'm sorry (she was close to tears)... I really am.
Rayan (calmly)"I'm just curious to know...Have I done anything to make you angry with me in the first place?
It has been a question he was eager to find an answer from her, the moment he realized Jhanvi had been trying every reason to ignore him... He cud easily make out all along its only been Madhu aunty & Surbhi were forcing her to be nice with him...frankly he was finding himself strangely more and more attracted towards her very time she distanced herself farther away from him...It's like some kind of magnet was drawing him to her...Her arrogance and stubborn attitude she had shown uptil now only seemed to intrigue him rather than keep him away... he wanted to know what is the reason behind her prejudice against him? & Now, He just wants an honest answer...he watches as Jhanvi lowers her eyes and shakes her head...
Jhanvi"No ... you didn't directly
Rayan"Indirectly I did ?? exactly what ??
Jhanvi (hesitantly)"actually ...who...I (confessed) I was angry...angry on all the attention you were given this past month...even before you came, it was like you were present here... Mom had been driving us all up the wall about making your stay here comfortable...she stopped me from joining my friends on vacation, even gave my room to you... Mom made dad & me go on the edge she changed everything about the house, held up our own plans just because of you... made us do a lot for preparations, just for your welcome ... (after a pause) I---I wasn't used to the whole change and I held you responsible for it...I felt that you were making us all go out of our way to please you .... (quietly)
Rayan understood her reasoning & she seems justified in her behavior...& doesn't blame her for being indifferent towards him...but her next sentence surprised him...
Jhanvi (continuing)"Also... I thought you were a spoiled brat...( flushes from embarrassment) & you were not serious about the whole wedding prospect
Rayan (smirked)-- So that's where all the prejudice came from...
Jhanvi(instantly)"but now I know... I have judged you wrongly...You are a far better person than what I had thought of you to be...I'm genuinely sorry...& Thank you for what you did tonight for me...
Rayan (thotfully)"Oh...only what I did today😛...I come in your good books ...else I haven't done anything else to appease you... 😛(Jhanvi flushed nodded in yes) in dat case you don't need to thank me...I would have done the same even if it were anyone else in your place...
Jhanvi (nodding her head again in agreement)"which is why you are such a good person...
A silence begins to build in them and together they dwell on the incident... Rayan nervously looks down from Jhanvi's captivating eyes...the depths of her warm, honey hazel eyes unnerved him and made him feel out of place...
Rayan (teased)"Honestly, you know it's amazing that I had to beat up a pervert... just to get you to talk to me... (softly grinned at her)& change your thoughts about me
Jhanvi (looked up with a smile)"Does this mean that you forgive me?
Rayan(holding back his laughter)"Have no other option...I'll have to forgive you considering I'm supposed to stay here for few more days & I don't want any more extra salty food to be served... 😆😆😆(Jhanvi gaped at him he was making fun of her) but seriously, Let's just put this behind us and start afresh... (extended his hand forward for friendship as Jhanvi stares at it for a moment ...& without any effort breaks out into a dazzling smile that makes Rayan's heart skip a beat as she eagerly takes his hand & accepts his friendship)
For a moment, Jhanvi's cheeks turn crimson and her insides become warm as she feels the warmth of their joined hands...she cud feel a soft stirring in her heart...She looks back at him with her heart beating strangely fast.
Rayan (breaking her from thots)--Now that we are friends, would you mind helping a friend feeding something as he is starving (indicating towards the soup) & can't manage to eat (showing his injured hand)
Jhanvi mentally slaps herself for forgetting the whole purpose in coming to his room in the first place & politely obliges...& begins at the task of feeding the soup... while at task, she can't help but blush as his eyes constantly meet hers...Soon enough they slip into a slow, but comfortable easy-going conversation in which they learn a little about one another... suddenly he asks out of the blue...
Rayan"So, what was it that made you so mad with me that day...😕 I think four days ago? (jhanvi gave a confused look as she cant recollect) the day when I apologized
Jhanvi (puzzled)"You were trying to apologize to me ?...when??
Rayan (nodding his head)"ofcourse, when I was asking you Sorry...when I gave you flowers...though I said it in Hindi exactly as Surbhi taught ( recollecting what he said) what was it... Main"yeahh Main- tumse- pyaar kaarta-hoon... that means I'm sorry, Right??
Rayans gets more confused observing Jhanvi's whole face turns bright red and how she avoids looking into his eyes...
Jhanvi (embarrassed)--just make sure not to learn hindi from Sur😆😆😆...She will get you into trouble one day with the stuff she is teaching you....😆😆😆
Rayan (confused)"why so?? What does it mean??
Jhanvi (getting up gathering the soup bowl as its been finished)-- that is besides the point... please, don't learn anything from that girl. She loves making a fool out of everyone. 😆😆And you are no exception...(changing the topic) I shud get going...let me or anyone else know if you need anything... Goodnight then...I-I'll see you in the morning...(gives him one last look before turning and walking to the door...she is just about to leave until she stops in a heartbeat once she hears Rayan call out to her)
Rayan"Sweetdreams
Jhanvi replies with a small blush looming in her cheeks "Sweet dreams to you too."
As she leaves closing the door behind her...the constant light flashing on his cell diverts his attention & he very well knows who the caller is...but before caller can ask anything curiosity takes better of Rayan & drops the question
Rayan (curious like a kid)-- Ma, can you answer a question? What does... Main tumse pyaar kaarta hoon, mean? (Anu rolled on floor laughing...hearing her peals of laughter puzzled Rayan all the more)
Anu (composing herself)"Aww!!!me too Son !!!& its surprising you started learning hindi..😆😆😆.something which I have been trying to do all these years...by the way, who said these lines to my handsome son (teased)
Rayan -No one Ma...now plz tell me...
Anu (still giggling)-- Rayan ... It means I love you...
Rayan chuckles to himself...now everything makes sense, he realizes the reason of Jhanvi's blush... slowly a smile makes its way onto his lips.
****
Next morning Jhanvi was up early & happily obliged to make breakfast when asked by her mother...she didn't grumbled today... She settled on making Parathas, something Indian for breakfast as she feels its been ages have something Indian... Also, it will give Rayan a variety & something new to relish...
Rayan found her chirpily setting table for breakfast...he smiles at her, pleased with the 360 degree turn she has made in her personality toward him, going from cold to hot in a short time span.😛 He is glad to have gotten past her reserved walls...Rayan thanked Jhanvi for a delicious breakfast, making her blush...Aniket after sharing a lengthy conversation with Rayan at Breakfast, making up for his lack of hospitality before, left to work while Madhu set to some housework...leaving Rayan-Jhanvi to decide what they want to do...
Later on the weekend even Aniket-Madhu joined them, even Surbhi back from Delhi joined the group taking Rayan out to additional parts of the city he has not ventured out to as of yet. After touring around the major attractions and taking plenty of pictures on his camera. Rayan was genuinely surprised, he wasn't finding his trip to India worthless anymore as he previously thought. In fact, he was enjoying the thriving city and his warm companions, well, after two of them thawed from their earlier iciness...
It was a couple of days later the trio Rayan-Jhanvi-Surbhi went out for lunch with great prompting from Madhu , who encouraged that the three should spend their time together to the fullest... She was enjoying seeing Rayan gelling into their family quite comfortably, even Aniket-Jhanvi have started liking him...who had been all against him from beginning...Now she was relieved that she can conveniently talk with Aniket for Neha-Rayan's alliance...her hopes of having him as her son-in-law was raising with each passing day...
Jhanvi chose a small, cozy caf for lunch, as they all slipped into a decent flowing conversation. Inwardly Rayan was happy as he was learning more and more about her & was glad to see Jhanvi gradually opening up to him...
Jhanvi shared about her college life, her likes dislikes,He knows that she will be graduating next year hopefully with a business degree. She loves music, books, dancing, soft toys, the color blue, Nature-rain, sunsets, the city life, her university, spending time with friends, oriental foods, and her homeland India. He could tell she held high pride in her culture with the way her eyes lit up as she talked fondly about it.
He learned from her mother that Jhanvi is often very reserved at first, unlike Neha, who is more chirpy, more outgoing & confident...comparatively Jhanvi is shy, reserved she takes time to make friends but once she chooses to let you in, she is very open and incredibly friendly.
Rayan was slowly learning Jhanvi's calm soft nature...he loved the way she talked so enthusiastically yet with innocence. He could listen to her soft voice all day...his thoughts broke when he heard Surbhi... He hadn't realized that topic of discussion has diverted on Neha as she wud returning a day after ...He cudn't understand but for some strange reason he wasn't liking the way this conversation was going...He sits up in his seat and clears his throat.
Surbhi"you know it's kind of sad that you won't get to know Neha Di as well as me and Jhanvi...(Rayan just agreed dully)
Jhanvi(excitedly)"you will surely like Neha Di, it is hard not to like her...She's a very friendly person and gets along with people well...She is amazing, confident, hardworking...b'ful
Jhanvi goes on continuing chirpily chatter about her Di, & Rayan returns her radiant smile as his insides flip with the way she glows at him...
Surbhi (adding on)"have to agree with Jhanvi, Neha di is b'ful ...very pretty...charming...
If Rayan could, he would have scoffed at the statement...but he just smiled politely... though he had only seen Neha's photograph but he felt the statement was over exaggerated...😊😊 Sure from pics Neha seemed a pretty girl, quite a photogenic face but in no way is she comparable to Jhanvi...😛 they are both beautiful in their own individual ways... & Jhanvi he has noticed a natural glow in her...specially when she smiles, the way her eyes light up...the cute dimples she get...
For some odd reason, for a moment finds himself wishing that Jhanvi had ended up being Neha instead...😛😊 Jhanvi shud have been the girl, he came to see. He is jolted out of this thinking as he can still hear the very image of his thoughts continuing blabbering about her di...
Jhanvi (rambling on)--Neha Di is fascinating person to know... She is interested in so many things and has so many hobbies that it is sometimes hard to keep up with her...She is a very active person and so she hates lazing around...& me a lazy bum ...😆😆
Rayan shook his head...seems Jhanvi can write a whole book on her Di... & Now this Neha conversation doesn't seem to end... He couldn't just stand listening to Jhanvi praise her elder sister for a minute longer...He was getting fed up how Neha making her way in between conversations from past 2 hours, despite her not being around...
Rayan (interrupted)"I'd actually like to know more about you, than Neha at the moment...😊😊 When Neha comes... then I will take the time to get to know her as well...😊😊.Now can we just stop Neha Fanclub...Can you talk about yourself...😛😛
Jhanvi look startled at him momentarily before blushing by his blunt words...She didn't realize she was getting so hyped up in telling Rayan about her sister...It is just that she really wants Rayan to like her Di... She wants this proposal to work... He is a good person & wud be perfect for her Di...😊😊😊 Her mother has indeed made right choice for Di...
Jhanvi (composing herself)"About Me?? (sofly) ermm ...What else do you want to know?
Rayan grins at her lazily while leaning back against his seat and looking at her with a gleam in his eyes...
Rayan"anything?? How about telling me How many Boyfriends you have??😈
Jhanvi choked on her food she was having, ended up in a coughing fit...& Surbhi she doubled up in laughter...surprising Rayan...🤣
Surbhi (laughing)"boyfriends that too for Jhanvi...most inappropriate question to ask Jhanvi 😆😆😆😆
Rayan (confused)"why?? Whats wrong 😕...well Jhanvi, is a beautiful girl (turning towards Jhanvi) I'm assuming you wud be having many boyfriends... I just want to know the number...how many!!
Jhanvi turns a dark shade of red as she shakes her head in "No" hastily at him... Surbhi continues to giggle...still finding the situation amusing. Jhanvi, on the other hand, feels like she will die from embarrassment...
Jhanvi (shyly) -there is No one...
Rayan cud feel his heart breaking into a dance😛😆 & getting relaxed...for some strange reason he felt relieved hearing Jhanvi's answer... to avoid making Jhanvi feel uncomfortable on asking such question only to her...He asks same question to Surbhi also, 😆😆who goes on blabbering about her failed attempt in making relations as boy seems to runaway from her everytime...😆😆😆😆
Jhanvi blocks out their banter as she relishes in the fact that Rayan finds her beautiful...😳😳😳she cud swear she cud hear her heart thudding faster...😛😛
*****
Anupamaa
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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