The party got over within few hours and all of the guests came out to their respective cars. Draupadi enjoyed her a lot in the party with her bestie. She tried to ignore Arjun, and was succeeded for a huge line of men's crowd except the lunch.
They came to their houses when news of Pranab was still flashing and probably Krishnaa's name wouldn't go till it gets sort out. Swadheenta had urged to file a PIL against him, but she didn't want take the troubles and create new enemies. She had enough to handle after plundering their secrets out.
She sighed pushing herself in the couch and shut her eyes in bliss. She rewinded those moment when he held her, and first met her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sound morning of Holi was filled with colors and cheers. Krishnaa was busy even in this day and loved to capture those amazing moments and share it with all. She loved her her job. She went out with her 1 year old camera gifted by Dev. Happy she was, holding it her hands, till the time someone bumped and broke it. His back was against her face and before she could sort out, he tripped with her and her camera broke into thousands piece and she fell on hard ground bruising her hand.
"Sorry!"
He bit his tongue and lend his hands to her. She glared back spatted fire.
"Duffer! Can't you walk properly! Will you buy my camera now! Have you even see a professionally journalist camera in your life!"
She touched her bruised hands and looked at the broken camera.
"It is of no use! My best friend gave it!"
He only stood there with a little smirk.
"I can give it to you."
"Do you have magic or what?"
She mocked sarcasticly.
"But it won't be before someone gets up and let me work my magic."
"Funny, isn't it!"
She made faces and eventually took his hands. Butterflies flew in her stomach and she brushed her hands agains her all time denim.
"Let's go."
"Where? Planning to kidnap me?"
She snapped and he heartily laugher.
"Practically helping you out."
"Thank you for helping me so much."
She chided while collecting the pieces.
"Just come."
He dragged her by her wrist and made her sit on his bike.
"Are you sure you're not a kidnapper?"
She raised her one eyebrow questioning.
"You can tell me a girlnapper."
"Kidding?"
"No."
He answered and focused on the road. After while they arrived at the secretariat. Her mouth fell off when she saw this majestic place of Delhi. The building looked like a busy place from it's appearance.
"Why we are here?"
Her voice got low.
"To get your camera."
"Are you sure?"
He didn't answer and proceeded to a counter. He held out ome sort of card which she didn't know, but surely looked like a magic wand when a brand new recording camera was glowing in front of her.
"How-how did you manage? It-it is of lacs.I-I don't need it."
She pushed it inside the counter.
"Who said I am paying? My father is paying."
"I really don't need it!"
It seemed like a joke to him and forcibly kept it on her hand.
"I will tell you outside."
They went out from there and her cheeks flushed with embarrasment.
"See I really didn't think you would take seriously. I am so sorry."
"Why are you saying sorry? Well every martyre army family have this amazing previlage!"
He winked at her. She looked confused and curious.
"Army?"
"Well I am Major Arjun Ranawat. My father was a General before."
"Woah! I never knew this. Why I didn't apply it!"
It was time for him to be confused.
"Why you would apply?"
"Even my father worked in Navy who passed away in a aerial war when I was 10."
Her face covered with grief and she lost herself in her own world.
"So sorry to know. So we are on same boat?"
Arjun extended his hands and big smile formed on her face.
"Well I am Draupadi, Draupadi Agnihotri. One infamous being, well, not to blame my name, but my job!"
Their smile faded away and they stood in between a heavy rain.
"Thanks for helping me so much, Draupadi."
Arjun sarcastically said when her eyes on the ground.
"I-I really didn't want to do, I had causes!"
"I don't need them. But you need to answer why you stole that CD from me."
"I said I have my own causes!"
Tears strolled down from her eyes.
"So what should I think. You bumped to me purposely! Do you what is in that pendrive?"
He shook her vigorously. She lighly asked.
"Wh-what?"
"List of foreign terrorists! You did a mistake Draupadi"
"I-I did a mistake."
Krishnaa mumbled in her sleep. Tears strolled from her shut eyes. She jerked out from the soft trailing out from her dream. Beads of water formed in her temple. She wiped it out breathing heavily. She looked around smelling like waking after thousands of years. She looked at the clock for the track of time. It showed 7.25 pm. She sighed in relief.
It was a dream.
"Woke up, angel?"
Shreenithi came with a tray of snacks and opened the TV.
"Where is jeeju?"
"Still in the chamber."
She rubbed her eyes in her zombie mode. She looked at her clothes and slapped her head for forgetting to hand over it to Swadheenta.
"Di can you tell Dhruv to hand over it to Swadheenta?"
She pinched her shirt and said to Shreenithi who was merged in daily soaps.
"Di you are even listening or not?"
She switched off the TV and came in front of the screen with two hands in her hips. Her hairs were scattered and trailed motionlessly.
"Hey why switched it off!"
She reached her hands for remote and Draupadi took it back.
"Cuz you were not listening!"
"I got it baba! I will tell him. Now lemme watch!"
"Okay."
She mumbled and went to her room making noises of her boot against the wooden stairs. Her phone beeped with messeges as soon she opened her hotspot.
"Hey babes!"
Messeges from Chitra started poping up.
"Ready for Manali? We need to go for shopping! I need dresses for Manali."
Her another messege came up shook her head laughing.
"Hopeless shopaholic"
"I am not shopaholic like you. I have my clothes."
Chitra sent her ever used laugjing emoji.
"How can I forget my 'Bachayat Karo ' girl! Well leave it. See you in Manali then!"
What a title!
"Sure babes!"
She replied and switched off the screen of her phone and set her new recording camera to see the recording for publishing.
I am gonna make your life hell, Pranab.
Arjun strolled in his room vigorously near his bed and running his fingers through his hairs.
Maybe I should ask her the reason. Should I?
His mind strolled in the past with curiosity and he couldn't stop his urge to see the pendrive again. He took out the pendrive from the highly secured locker from his locker and felt it with his thumb, trailing back to the past.
He stood near station waiting for the last time before his departure. As soon the departure train was annouced, Jeet dragged him to the train. He looked back again, for her arrival. He sighed in disappointment and wemt on the train. His eyes flashed hearing his name being called.
"Arjun!"
He jolted back to the entrace from where Draupadi came out boldly to the train. She clenched something in her hand. He frowned looking at her hand. He didn't realise she had come to the door. She opened her fist and revealed a pendrive. He looked at her hand in disbelief.
"I am not a cheater, Arjun. I had my own causes which I had tried make you understand, but you didn't suppose to listen them. I promise I won't show you my face again. That's a promise from a Maratha."
A tear fell on her cheeks and she wiped it out before anyone noticed. Arjun's jaw dropped at the event, he stammered to reply. Before he could say anything, she walked away with red eyes.
"I had loved you Arjun, and it will be the truth. I will wait."
She looked back. Their hazel eyes met for one last time till the train decided to start and Draupadi stormed away from the station.
As the trails wear off, his cheeks filled with water. His quickly wiped them noticing Swadheenta coming to his room.
"Free-freedom? You-you are here?"
"Did I surprise you? Then welcome!"
She grinned and came inside with an invelop. Arjun tried to hide his choking voice and cleared his throat hiding the pendrive.
"What is it?"
"Tickets to Manali!"
Her grin got bigger.
How the heck then all gonna be together??
"We-well I think I should have done that."
"Why are you so interested in that??"
She wiggled her one eyebrow and Arjun chuckled.
"Well nothing much."
"Take it and get ready to go!"
"Sure!"
Arjun took the tickets and kept it safely in his cupboard.
"What do you think, I wouldn't manage you to the same plane?"
A messege from Dev popped up. This was the person who only knew about him being a DIB agent.
Shut up and delete the messege! What if someone sees!
Arjun replied smiling.
"What do you think we are, secrect lovers?"
His reply made his almost rolling on his bed.
"Maybe long lost lover! Oh my jaan!"
"Shut up. I am not a gay like you!"
"One day I will prove I am not a gay."
"Then marry first ;)"
"We will see that later."
The topic marriage made him super irritated and he was almost going switch off when another messege popped up.
"Hey hey gaii don't go! Smiley smile! Chill. You need to face it one day na! Right now I'm gonna enjoy the Manali trip!"
How can I be angry with my bro!
"It is NOT a simple trip, dev."
It will not be even, Arjun.
"Bye now! <3"
Arjun had cute smile thinking about his life support, his friend.
I will have a sound sleep today.
He thought for once, reminisced all the event of the day and dozed off in world of slumber.
Arjun, I ensured you 'both' are in the same plane! What may come, I will always be your Charioteer, Parth.
TBC
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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