Now or never?
"I am not intentionally plotting" she said hugely offended
He held her face
"I did not say that" he said agonized "The only thing I can accuse you of doing intentionally is, RUNNING AWAY" he said
She turned red, he caressed her face with his eyes
"You dont want marriage... I dont want marriage also" she suddenly felt the need to say that
"Marriage has nothing to do with our feelings... maanti hain na yeh baat?" he asked
She nodded weakly
"I dont want us to do anything that will make you feel like I dont respect you" he said
"I dont want to do anything Neel" she said tearfully
"WHYYY?" he asked disagreeing
Gripping her round cheeks possessively
"I shouldnt be the object you ride out of your grief on" she said
He looked sideways guiltily
"You cant even be a friend?" he asked
"Lekin aaj ye sab suddenly kyon poochne ka?" she asked
"My Amma not sure on WHOSE provocation... placed an ad in the newspaper
To Suvi it felt like someone poured scalding water on her
She gently pulled his arms
He didnt fight it
"To yaha pe kyon aane ka Neel... I cant help you..." she said clearly
"I HAVE to come here... dont you see it?"
"No... YOU have to tell Amma if you will marry again or not... simple" she said arms crossed under her curves
She let her arms drop when she saw his gaze linger
"I CANT do that"
"Aap ya shaadi karoge ya nai... mere ghar pe kyon aane ka?" she said somberly
"Because you are here... you were there before any of that happened"
"I was just... um... I was... I just... mera aur apka to bas.." "Our relati... our acquaintance has no meaning" she told him clearly
"HOW CAN YOU BE SO DETACHED?" he yelled angrily
"Attach hokey kya karne ka?" she challenged, swallowing tears
"Aap ITNI indifferent hain, ki kisi cheez ko DEKHKAR, MEHSOOS karke bhi yeh vaada karengi ki woh cheez maujood nahi?" he asked
She trembled sitting down on her lowe divan over the mountain of cushions
He helped toss a few out on to the floor
"U need to give it thought, meet people and make a decision Neel" she said wearily
"Iska matlab aap aise behave karengi hum ek doosre ko jaante hi nahi?"
"Mai aapko jaanegi to ad withdraw ho jaayega kya?" she blurted
He sat down stunned, deriving the meaning that at some vague corner of her heart she wanted to ack her relationship and cause the ad to be withdrawn
"Amma ne sochke kara hoyega... u canot disrespect her"
"I DONT WANT TO GET MARRIED" he yelled
"To phir mere se relationship accept kyon karwaane ka?" she asked
His alter ego mocked him at the way she had nailed him
"What is it dude?"
"NO wedding?"
"NO wedding for NOW?"
He cringed when the fogged cleared up in his head
Oh yeah... he didnt want to marry a stranger
Nope!!
He would be "open" to "getting to know" someone... and oh yeah the someone needs to be in quotes too
"OK... "Someone"
"Main jaanti thi aap akele pagal ho jaaogey" Nupur chuckled
He sat down by Suvi defenseless and vulnerable, unable to receive Nupur's wit at such an inappropriate time, when he already felt like a heel
He was here at a coworker's house, begging her to admit she felt something for him
When his Amma back home was kicking herself in shame that she was forcing her darling son "move on" too soon
He shut his eyes and covered his face with his hands
Suvi slowly got up and began to slide the slip covers on the naked/exposed cushions with trembling hands
She gave up half way through the first
And went to him
"Neel"... "neel" "Neel she cooed softly
He was in no mood to let go of his hands and show his face to her
"Neel... meri baat suno" she said
Since she didnt say "SUNIYE" he let his hands slide
"Please dont be upset" she said softly
"Apko kyon bura lag raha hai?" he asked
"I dont know" she lied...
Anupamaa
