Part IV
During her regular phone chat sessions with Neha...Jhanvi was surprised when Neha commented on her being too happy & cheery which is unusual...😊 as previously, if anytime Neha missed coming home over weekends...Jhanvi wud throw a tantrum & always ended up bickering that she misses her too much...she shud not stay away from home for long...as she wud complain about how boring it is at home without her...& she wud keep grumbling & complaining 😆😆
Neha (quizzed her)"So whats up...hiding something from your Di...wonder how you having funtime without me...😛 considering you always have long list of complaints...
Jhanvi flushes bright red as she has no reply to this...How could she even begin to explain the last few weeks to her sister... Honestly, Jhanvi couldn't remember having so much fun before...she is surprised herself too, 😛 everytime Neha skips coming home she used to get bored as it was no fun without her...but in last few days she had time of her life & she did enjoy spending time with Rayan...😊😊 with her much before detested foreign guest😛😆...but by each passing day, she is gradually realizing Rayan & she were quite similar, in interest-wise also in personality...He is also fond of reading like her, Loves gardening...listening music...all these days she found ...they two indeed have lot in common...May be that's main reason why she found herself instantly clicking and forming a good friendship with him as soon as they got on opening up with each other...😊😊
But Jhanvi refrains to share this with Neha at this moment...if she gets to know Di, will be behind her & tease her to no end for liking or praising a boy for first time...😆😆 as Jhanvi, always end up finding boys to be a nuisance, good for nothing 😆😆😆
So, right now, she was going to avoid that conversation as much as possible...she may share it when Neha comes here...smartly she decides to change the topic...asking when she will be back... & how camp is going on...but Neha got perfect chance to tease her little sister as Neha got to hear Rayan's voice over the phone 😛😆
Rayan (slightly agitated)-- Come on Jhanvi...Let's go...you had said just 5mins...
Jhanvi (realizing)"I'm coming
As she turned around to see Rayan at the door, all dressed ready to go...she mentally kicked herself as she literally forgot Rayan had asked her to accompany him for shopping for his parents...😊😊 & Jhanvi herself wanted to pick something for herself too for her graduation party next day...
Neha (teasing)"awww... Is that Mr. Guest now? ...Mr. Groom to be!! 😛(Pretended to be shocked) Arre, but what is he doing in your room?... 😈 Naughty naughty, Jhanvi... (Despite herself, Jhanvi blushes & Rayan looks on curiously at her)
Jhanvi -Diii...
Neha (rubbing more)"what Di... just a moment back you are telling me that there is nothing going on between you & Mr.America 😆😆... & here you are unashamedly with him in your room... 😛😆 whats going on??😈
Jhanvi"Di plzz... Aisa kuch nahi hai... (Jhanvi deliberately talked in hindi so that Rayan doesn't get to know their conversation) I need to go ...will talk to you later...
Neha (giggling)"abhi se kicking me out of your love story...no fair darling 😛... (Its when she heard Rayan calling Jhanvi again as they were getting late) fine, dekh liya behan ka pyaar...(pretended to sulk) Go...someone seems in a hurry to have you all by himself...
Jhanvi (blushing)"Dii... mujhe late ho raha hai...will see you day after tomorrow...Bye...
She cuts the call instantly grabbing her bag quickly before joining an annoyed Rayan at the door. 😛 She smiles feebly at him in a small attempt to apologize for keeping him waiting...however, he silently gestures her to move on downstairs...
***
As the walked through the shopping complex ...passing by each store ...Jhanvi suggested first shop what Rayan wants to, as it will take less time than her shopping & they will have enough time later to be on time for lunch...
Jhanvi"You want something for uncle-aunty...lets start with Uncle first ...Guess will to go store across the street...
Rayan"Ok...Let's go take a look.
As they round the edge of the sidewalk & looking at the speeding cars passing by...it gets them difficult to walk across admist busy traffic...without a thought Rayan just extended his hand towards Jhanvi... clasping hers & casually walks ahead to cross the road making sure to be careful... Jhanvi cud feel butterflies begin to roam around in the pit of her stomach & same familiar stirring in her heart as Rayan holds onto her hand tight and leads her into crossing the road...
She catches up to his fast pace and stays to him close...as they arrive on the other side, she is surprised to see his grip still intact on her hand, but has softened a little...Rayan continues to stroll down the sidewalk with her by his side, leading to the corner, oblivious to his companion's emotions... It isn't until a few moments later that Rayan halted in his steps to ask abt which store to get in...he glanced back at her, whose cheeks are satisfyingly pink, & cud feel Jhanvi trying to take back her hand from his grip...
Jhanvi"Ermm...now you let go off my hand...I mean...(shyly) we have crossed the road...
Rayan"So?? It doesn't matter...
Jhanvi (blushing)-- Rayan... people will start assuming things...😛. (Jhanvi cud already feel certain people giving them curious knowing looks)
Rayan: So? Let them assume. As far as I know, I'm out spending time with my friend...Lets go...
Enclosing their joined hands together & just dragged her to the store they were supposed to be in... silently closing any further discussion of the subject...
Jhanvi sighed to herself, this may be a friendly gesture in America, but in India, people will conclude to just about anything...It is different here...
But Rayan will not get it, knowing that no matter the amount of protests she makes, he will not listen to her...so she decides to remain mum and allows him to hold her hand...
As they make their way around the corner & walk straight, headed towards the store at end of the sidewalk, Jhanvi begins to slow down a little which draws Rayan's attention back onto her...😊😊 He watches Jhanvi looking into the glass display of a store with obvious fascination..opposite to the store they are supposed to be in he tugs on her hand to bring her focus onto him...
Rayan (pointing to the store)"Shall we go in...
Jhanvi just nodded in yes & entered the watch store...to pick something for Rayan's father...
****
Finally after selecting a nice antique watch & unique pen collection...as Rayan knows how much his father likes it & a b'ful saree for his mother ... he moved to pay for it... meanwhile Jhanvi gazes around & moves to other section of the store, the jewellery section...taking in the collections of b'ful bangles, anklets, rings, watches, necklaces, and earrings...
She was bzy browsing through the beautiful pieces at display...when she felt the presence of someone come near...Looking up, she finds the salesman at the store smiling politely at her...as man had seen her shopping for saree & watch too...Asking if she wants to see something for her...inspite of her refusing, he still made her look into some jewellery pieces that she might like to buy...back after payment, Rayan found Jhanvi busy with salesman displaying few pieces...
Rayan thought Jhanvi is buying something for herself for her graduation party... he joined her to see her choice... Jhanvi just politely declined to the salesman & realizing Rayan is back...she was prepared to leave...but salesman still contiued to pleading her to buy the b'ful set ...as it will get him a commission...😆 A minute into her observing, Jhanvi hears the man ask...
Man"Sach mein bahut sundar hai madam...bahut khoobsurat hai...chahe to apne pati se pooch sakti hai...😛 (to Rayan) Aap kahiye na Madam ko
Jhanvi cud feel her cheeks burn with embarrassment, finding herself tongue-tied... Rayan uptil now, who was disinterestedly looking at the displays...sees this and wonders what the man had said that could possibly have embarrassed Jhanvi...😛😛
Rayan (prodding her)--What'd he say?
Man looks over to Rayan, & from his accented english realized he doesn't know Hindi... before jhanvi cud give any explaination...man interrupted
Man (clarifies)"I say her to buy ...if not for her...but for you...
Rayan (confused)"for me...no...Nothing for me, if she likes...she can choose something for herself... (Rayan gestures Jhanvi to choose something)
Strangely the man smiles at him which confuses Rayan more & more...as owner continues to talk with Jhanvi...Rayan looks on with a puzzled expression...😛😆
Man (smiling)-- Ma'am, aapka pati bahut acche hai... aaj kaal aise pati kahan milte hai joh uski paatni ko jewellery ki dukaan mein lejaye aur kahe jo pasand hai who le lo...😆😆😆
Jhanvi can't help but smile in return... yet still looking painfully embarrassed at the same time...not bothering to reply him back Jhanvi just moved out of the store...
finding the man highly strange Rayan just gives owner half of a smile before joining Jhanvi...finding her gazing the display of opposite designer jewellery store in same fascination like she had, before they entered the store... he noticed she was looking rather intently at something...
Rayan"You liked these... (surprising her as she was to lost in observing the designer silver Danglers with diamonds, that she had just placed down)
Jhanvi (fumbled)"No...I mean... I was just looking at them...Besides, its too costly...its designer ones...I'm not too fond off them... Lets Go...
Rayan (reading through her lie, knowing very well she wants them)-- Well, that's fine. I can just get them for you then...
Jhanvi (interrupted)--main toh aise hi dekh rahi thi... i mean, it's alright... Please, don't waste your money...I don't even want them to begin with... I was just looking at them... 😊😊 Honestly. Come on, let's leave...
Jhanvi almost tugged on his arm & dragged him away from the store...Before he can even say anything more...she just leads him on outside to other stores...
Rayan chuckles at her hurriness to leave...somewhere he guesses it had something to do with the jeweler who was just starting to make his way over to them once again as this portion of shop also belongs to him...😆😆😆😆After a distance slowing down his pace Rayan once again took her hand back into his...
Rayan(grinning)"So, will you tell me... what the man said...
Jhanvi knew it'll be useless to keep this away from him since he will just pester it out of her throughout the day...
Jhanvi (her cheeks turning red all over again)--He thought (after a pause) he thot you were my husband...
Rayan simply chuckles out of amusement while Jhanvi grows even more embarrassed by the second... Insides He, was however feeling pretty good about himself at the moment...He repeated in his mind ...Husband, huh? Sounds a nice thought... His grip on Jhanvi's hand becomes firmer.
Rayan(still chuckling)--What else did he say?
Jhanvi (reluctantly telling him)"well he said that you are a good husband for coming to a jewelry store for your wife since most men avoid doing just that...
Rayan continues to laugh more... irking Jhanvi more ... She pulls her hand out from his grip & smacks his arm ...pushing him aside...
Jhanvi: (mutters) -all because of you ... I told you people assume here....
****
It was after hours of tiring shopping finally Rayan wanted to buy something for few for his friends too, ... after which Jhanvi suggested to grab a quick bite as she is famished... They stop by a food joint...during which Jhanvi continues to blabber about her upcoming graduation party, how she will miss her friends her memorable college times...
In the middle of her chatter, Rayan fiddles with his phone and after giving Jhanvi a glance, he kept nodding his head, showing that he's listening, he gets a sudden idea...as he see various expressions on her face, as she went on narrating about her college times & going on rambling...what she want to do after college, her passion for painting, travelling...places she want to visit...
He scrolls down to his camera phone and raises his cell to take a picture of very oblivious Jhanvi who indulges herself in the deliciousness of food she was having..
Jhanvi (blabbering) : ---places like Europe, Italy, Paris, New York... &. You know, major attractions... (looking up) Rayan are you even listening to me?
Rayan (startled) Huh? --- Oh yeah, of course...
Jhanvi (confused seeing him fiddling with his cell): What are you doing?
Rayan : Nothing... just seeing if I have any signal in here...was thinking of giving Ma a call... You know she's been pestering me to call her more often...But go on ...you were talking about what places you wanted to see...
Jhanvi : Yes... The farthest I've ever been is to Goa... (pouting) and that too on Dad's official trip...didn't got chance to explore...
With a growing smile, Rayan continues discreetly to click pictures of her and gazes at it for a moment before saving them...a while later he tucks his cell pack into his pockets and turns his full attention back over to Jhanvi's chatter, who notices him putting his phone away.
Jhanvi (innocently)"No signal?? (Rayan just makes a disappointed face & nods in no) So, Tell me more about aunty and uncle its been years back I had seen them...have talked to Anu aunty few times but that was it...what about your life back in America...
Rayan (smiled)"Nothing much to describe...
Jhanvi -but still I feel like you know so much about me and my life here and I'd like to get a feel of what your life over in America is like...
Rayan (sincerely)-- You will for sure know it...( looking at her intently)
Jhanvi gave a confused questionable look...but instead of answering her question, He simply smiles and rises from his chair...
Rayan--Come on... we've been here long enough...Aunty wud be getting worried...
After completing their shopping... Rayan Jhanvi jarrived back just in time for dinner...which was a joyful affair with everyone involved in excited chatter.
Rayan, for a brief moment, felt like he was sitting with his own dear ones and not a group of strangers that he viewed them as before... Slowly he was realizing that he was getting attached to this family more than he would like for himself to be...
It was later, Surbhi suggested for watching a movie since she was staying over with Jhanvi as her parents were out of station...Aniket-Madhu retired for the night, leaving youngsters to enjoy the movie for making it easy for Rayan...Surbhi selected for an English classic movie..."Valentine's Day" .
However, within twenty minutes into the movie, the very person who suggested the whole idea falls asleep on the side couch😆😆 ...few minutes later he felt weight on his left shoulder, realizing Jhanvi had also fallen asleep...initially she was interested in the movie when Rayan had told her Julia Roberts happened to his fav...but eventually she fell asleep...😆😆😆
Rayan gazes at her with adornment... he wishes to freeze this moment forever...here with Jhanvi so close and resting peacefully against his shoulder... She seems so frail and delicate in her sleep that he feels the need to hold and protect her...affectionately runs his fingers through her hair as few tendrils escaped...tucking them behind her ear...
He decided to wake her up he called her softly... she stirs a little, but just falls back into the abyss of her sleep...Rayan sighs to himself as he lifts her up from the couch as he has no other choice...He takes her to her room where he gingerly lays her onto her bed before tucking her in under the duvet. He was about to leave before reaching the door turns back after a second thought & tenderly kisses her on her forehead and grins as he sees a content smile grow on her lips...
****
+++++To B Continued+++++
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Mangal Lakshmi
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