Two days later,
Naina and Naina's mom were in parking lot, Naina tried to start her car several times but it was not starting.
Naina's mom - "jaldi karo Naina.. hum late ho rahe hai Naina"
Naina gave up and said, "chalo mama.. taxi mein jaate hai.. ye start nahi ho rahi hai.."
When they came out of the car, they saw Rajveer coming there and looked at them. Naina was wearing a peach color saree. She was looking beautiful in traditional wear.
"Hi Aunty.. ", said Rajveer to Naina's mom, feeling amused at Naina's attire.
"Hi Rajveer beta..", replied Naina's mom
"kya hua aap yahaan khade kyun hai..", asked Rajveer.
"woh car start nahi ho rahi hai.. hum taxi ka wait kar rahe hai..", said Naina's mom.
"aapko kahaan jaana hai?..", asked Rajveer.
"woh Green Park hotel jaana hai..", said Naina's mom.
"if you dont mind I can drop you there.. main usi raaste mein ja raha hun..", said Raj.
"No thanks.. hum taxi mein chale jayenge..", replied Naina, saying this, "chalo mama baahar wait karte hai..",
Naina's mom stopped her and said, "Naina ruko.. agar Rajveer usi raaste mein ja rahe hai toh hum bhi uske saat chale jaate.. dekho hum bahut late ho rahe hai.. hum theek 8 baje unse milna hai.."
Naina - "par maa.."
Naina's mom - "par war kuch bhi nahi.. chalo uske saat chalte hai.."
Naina's mom said to Rajveer, "Rajveer.. hume wahan drop kar dena.."
Raj - "jee aunty..", Naina without her will got into the back seat of the car, while Raj's mom sat infront.
While driving, looking at Naina through rear mirror Rajveer said, "tumhari car har waqt problem kyun deti hai?"
"agar tumhe drop karne mein problem hai toh seeda bol dena.. hum yahin uthar jaate hai..", replied Naina.
"mera matlab woh nahi tha..", said Rajveer.
Naina's mom said, "bura mat maano Rajveer.. main jaanti hun ki tumhara matlab woh nahi tha.. Naina aisehi bakwas karti rehti hai..", Naina's mom looked at Naina seriously.
Naina noticed Rajveer taking the other route instead of the correct route, she immediately asked him, "kahaa ja rahe ho?.. raasta nahi patha hai toh ek baar hume puch lena chahiye.. ab yahaan se kaise jaoge.."
Raj continued driving and said to Naina's mom, "aapki beti ko thodi dher chup rehno ko bol dijiye.."
Naina became silent and she realised he took another short cut route to reach the hotel. They reached the hotel 15 minutes earlier. Naina and her mother came out of the car and Naina's mom said to Rajveer, "thanks Rajveer beta.."
"Its ok Aunty, lagta hai aap late ho rahe hai.. andar jaayiye..", Raj replied. Naina and Naina's mom went inside. Naina and Naina's mom came to hotel to meet a boy whom Naina's mom chosen him for Naina. Then went inside and sat on table already reserved for them, waiting for that person to come. Finally he came and immediately recognizing him, Naina's mom wished him, "namaste.."
That person was Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu replied, "ji Namaste..", and looking at Naina he said, "Hi..",
Naina replied, "Hello..", and taking their seat they started talking. Naina's mom asked him about his family. He replied everything very politely. Naina's mom liked him a lot. She thought he was the best person for Naina. But Naina was sitting there silently listening to them.
Abhimanyu - "aap baat kyun nahi kar rahe hai?.."
Naina - "nahi.. bus woh.. main.."
Naina's mom said, "agar tum dono akele mein baat karna chahte hai toh.. baat kar sakte ho.."
Abhimanyu - "theek hai.. shall we..", he asked Naina.
Naina and Abhimanyu went to the garden to talk. They stood there silently for few minutes when Abhimanyu broke the silence.
Abhimanyu - "you are looking beautiful"
she felt uncomfortable for a second but when she realised that it was a genuine compliment, she replied "thanks"
Abhimanyu - "main ghuma phirake baat nahi karna chahte hai.. and coming to the point when my parents asked me to meet you, I said to meet you here not at your house. kyun ki main ye aage nahi le jaana chahta hun.. I want to end this here.."
Naina looked up in shock, Abhimanyu continued looking at her, "aap mujhe galat mat samajiye.. mujhe ye shaadi nahi karni hai.. frankly speaking I am not yet ready to get married.."
Naina did not know how to react, but she asked him, "agar pasand nahi toh ye sab kyun?.."
Abhimanya - "parents mujhe force kar rahe hai.. isiliye milne aaya hun.."
Naina got angry on him and said, "par humara time waste kyun kar rahe hai aap.."
Abhimayu - "Please gussa mat hojayiye.. maine abhi tak kam se kam dus ladkiyon ko dekhe bina reject kiye hai.. isiliye mere parents mujh par bahut gusse main hai,. aur aapse na milna ka koyi bahana nahi mila.."
Naina remained silent for few minutes and replied "thanks for saying this.. agar aapko shaadi nahi karna hai toh theek hai.. deal this with your parents.. iss shaadi ko mana kariye..", saying this she started walking back into the hotel.
But Abhimanyu stopped her saying, "please aap mere liye ek kaam kar sakte hai?.."
"kya?..", she asked. "aap hi mana kar dijiye.. kyun ki main mana nahi kar sakta.. mere paas koyi option bhi nahi hai.. ", he replied.
Naina sighed and said, "theek hai..", Abhimanyu said, "thank you.. but shall I ask you one thing?.. pehle aap bahut nervous nazar aaye the.. but mein iss shaadi ko mana karne ke baad aap relaxed nazar aa rahe hai.. not sure if I am right..",
Naina - "nahi.. bas main..", when Naina turned to other side, she noticed Rajveer still there at a distance. When she looked at him, Rajveer looking at them. Raj saw her with Abhimanyu. There was no expression on Naina's face.
Naina and Abhimanya went back into the hotel and sat on the table. Naina's mom looked at both of them nervously.
Naina - "nice to meet you Abhimanyu.. hum chalte hai.."
Abhimanyu - "nice to meet you too Naina..", saying this they came out of the hotel.
Raj saw three of them coming out of the hotel. Naina's mom saw Raj still there, "arey beta tum gaye nahi?", she asked.
"nahi woh paas wale shop mein kuch karid raha tha.. ab jaa hi raha tha aur aap aa gaye..", replied Raj. Naina looked at him intensely.
Naina's mom - "acha theek hai.. chalo ghar chalte hai..". Naina was not speaking anything, she was looking away thinking about what happened at the hotel. When she turned to see, Raj was observing her through the rear mirror. He immediately took his eyes away from her, as she looked upon. When they were back to home, Naina's Mom went inside. Naina stopped Raj infront of her flat.
Naina - "mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai.."
Raj - "haan bolo.."
Naina - "ye sab kyun kar rahe ho?.."
Raj - "kya sab?.."
Naina - "tumhe nahi patha?.."
Raj - "kya kiya maine?.."
Naina - "tum wahaan humari batein sun rahe the na?.."
Raj - "kya??..kiski baatein?.."
Naina - "shut up.. maine tumhe dekha tha.. tum wahaan the.. jab hum dono garden mein baat kar rahe the tab tum chup ke humare batein sun rahe the.."
Raj - "excuse me.. pagal ho gaye ho?.. mujhe nahi patha tum kis barein mein baat kar rahe ho.."
Naina - "acha tumhe nahi patha ki mein kis barein mein baat kar rahi hun.. toh theek hai atleast ye batao.. tum chupke chupke car ke mirror se mujhe kyun dekh rahe the.. "
Raj had no answer. Naina - "bolo.. jubaan bandh kyun hogaye.."
Raj - "dekho Naina.. jaisa tum soch rahi ho main uthna gatiya insaan nahi hun.. ye mein tumhe samja sakta hun.."
Naina - "shut up..", she raised her voice, at that time Alekh was coming to Raj's flat, and saw them fighting there.
Alekh - "kya hua Raj?.."
Naina - "acha.. Alekh aagaye tum??.. tum ab usse puchoge ki kya hua?.. mujhse nahi?.."
Alekh - "arey Naina.. pehle ye batao ki hua kya hai?.."
Naina - "tum apna dosth se hi pucho hua kya..", listening to this Alekh slapped on his forehead and Raj suppressed his laughter.
"issiliye main Raj se puch raha tha..", snapped Alekh. Naina looked at both of them, "tumhe mazak lag rahe hai na?.. tumhe patha hai isne kya kiya??"
Looking at Naina freaking out like that, Alekh realized something serious had happened.
Alekh - "chalo andar chal ke baat karte hai.."
Naina - "nahi.. andar mama hai.."
Alekh - "toh theek hai Raj ke ghar chalte hai..", Naina gave an angry look at him.
Alekh - "theek hai.. chalo neeche jaake baat karte hai..", Alekh placing a hand around her shoulder made her walk with him and signalled Raj to follow them. While they were in the ground, Naina sat on a bench.
Alekh - "ab bolo hua kya hai?.."
Naina - "kuch nahi hua..", Alekh burried his face in his both hands and said, "god Naina.."
Alekh - "Raj.. tum batao hua kya tha?.."
Raj - "Agar mujhe kuch samaj mein aa jate toh batata..". Naina looked at him angrily.
Naina - "Alekh.. ask him to leave from here..", Raj was really very hurt by her words and without saying anything he left them alone.
Alekh - "ab bolo kya hua tha?.."
She started saying whatever happened.
Alekh - "uss ladka ne tumhe mana karne ko kaha tha?.."
Naina - "haan.. ab mujhe nahi patha ki main mama ko kaise handle karun.. woh bahut kush hai iss rishtey ko leke.."
Alekh - "Naina.. acha kiya uss ladke ne shaadi se pehle hi tumhe sab bata diya.. par ek baat bata inn sab mein Raj kahaan se aaye.. faltu mein Raj se kyun lad rahe ho.."
Naina - "jab mein uss ladke se garden mein baat kar rahe the uss Rajveer ne humare baatein sun rahe the.." and she explained what she saw.
Alekh - "kya?.. nahi Naina.. main Raj ko achi tarah se jaanta hun.. woh aisa kabhi nahi karega.."
Naina - "toh kya main jhoot bol rahi hun?.."
Alekh - "nahi.. kuch misunderstanding ho sakte hai.. tumne jab Raj ko dekha woh wahin par tha na.. kya Raj tumhe dekh raha tha?.."
Naina replied, "haan.."
"tum yakeen se keh sakte ho ki Raj tum dono ke batein sunn li?.."
Naina thought for a while and said, "nahi.."
Alekh - "toh tum kaise keh sakte ho ki woh tumhare baatein sune hai?.."
Naina - "aur phir..", she stopped saying further and said, "theek hai leave it Alekh, main hi kuch overreact kar rahi hun.."
Alekh replied, "exactly.. tumhe aaram ki jarurat hai.. jaake so jao.. kal baat karte hai..", saying this Alekh asked Naina to go and take rest. After that he directly went to Raj's flat.
Raj opened the door and saw Alekh there.
Raj - "mujhe sona hai.." saying this he was about to close the door, but Alekh stopped it by his hand and went inside.
Alekh - "sorry Raj.. Naina bahut upset thi..issiliye.. "
Raj - "rehne de.. woh kab normal thi?!.. tumhe kuch samaj aaya?.. woh kya bol rahi thi?.."
Alekh smiled and said, "haan.."
Raj - "haan? thank god.. kya kaha usne?.."
Alekh - "dont worry Raj.. subah tak sab kuch theek hojayegi.."
Raj - "No Alekh.. I dont want to see her face again.. do you know how she was fighting with me.. ab se main usse bahut dur rahunga.. pagal ladki hai.."
Alekh smiled and patting on his shoulder he replied, "thanks Raj.. unko lift dene ke liye.."
Raj folded his hands in a prayer postion infront of Alekh and said, "Alekh baba.. kal se main aisa kaam kabhi nahi karunga.."
Alekh laughed out loud at that.
*******************************************************************************
For next few days, Raj avoided Naina. Naina also realised that. Alekh saw Raj avoiding Naina but he also noticed something different and smiled.
In office at lunch time, when Raj and Alekh were having lunch, Alekh asked Raj, "Raj.. aaj kal kyun tum kisi ladki ke barein mein baat nahi kar rahe hai..",
Raj - "why? are you getting bored?.."
Alekh - "hahaha.. nahi.. "
Raj - "toh.."
Alekh - "bas aise hi puch raha hun.. pehle tum kabhi Nandini ke barein mein.. aur kabhi Richa ke barein mein baat karte the.. iss tarah chup chap baitke khana nahi khate the.."
Raj asked, "kehna kya chahte ho.."
Alekh - "tum badal gaye ho.."
Raj looked at him confused and said, "kya??.."
Alekh - "girls ko nahi dekh rahe ho..",
Raj - "don't say that.. koyi sonega toh aur kuch soch lega.."
Alekh - "sivay ek ko..", Raj stopped eating and said, "aaj kal sab bahut busy reh rahe hai.. sab ko notice kar raha hun.. par unke barein mein baat karne ka time nahi mil raha hai.. iska matlab ye nahi hai ki mein badal gaya hun..", saying this he went to wash his hands.
Alekh - "acha toh theek hai.. ye bolo ki aaj Richa kaunsi rang ke kapde pehni hai..", Raj came back and sitting beside Alekh he replied.
Raj - "white.."
Alekh - "wrong.. blue.."
Raj - "haan woh kal white hi pehni thi.. theek se yaad nahi aaya.."
Alekh - "Richa kal office hi nahi aayi thi..", Raj looked at Alekh seriously who was suppressing his laughter.
Raj - "haan.. main badal gaya hun?.. toh ab kya hai?.."
Alekh - "aaj Naina white pehni hai..", Raj burried his face in his both hands and replied, "Please Alekh.. don't talk about her.."
Alekh - "tum har waqt Naina ke barein mein soch sakte ho.. aur main tumhare samne Naina ki naam bhi naa lu??..". Raj turned away.
Raj said "Alekh.. please yaar..", asking Alekh to stop converstaion.
Alekh placed a hand on Raj's shoulder and said, "kya hua Raj?.."
"patha nahi mujhe kya ho raha hai.. mujhe nahi patha hai ki Naina kyun mere baarein mein galat sochti hai.. mein uss galatfehmi ko dur karna chahta hun.. main Naina ka acha dost banna chahta hun.. uske saat rehna chahta hun.. Naina ko aur kareeb se jaanna chahta hun.. par woh mujhe dekhte hi chid jati hai.. mujhse dur rehna chahti hai.. aisa behave karti hai ki main insaan hi nahi hun.. toh socha tha ki main usse dur rahun toh theek hoga.. par mujhse nahi ho paa raha hai.. ", replied Raj.
Alekh - "matlab tum Naina se pyar karne lage ho?.."
Raj - "koyi ise pyar kaise keh sakta hai.. hum dono ke beech sirf nafrat aur duriyan hai.. main decide hi nahi kar pa raha hun ki ye kya hai.. but ye meri problem hai.. I will deal with it..", saying this Raj left his cabin. Alekh sat there thinking.
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