*The Two Little Secrets*
Today was Rashi's Sangeet ceremony. Arjun couldn't sleep at night yesterday, one side he was anxious about Salil's whereabouts & other side was all occupied with the thoughts that why Arohi didn't accepted his apology. It's not like he didn't understand anything but her words were still a bit hazy for Arjun. But yes, being with Dadi, his mother & Rashi after a long he felt a strange happiness which he was finding for long. Arjun was in his room, precisely in the balcony, from where he could see the lavishly decorated garden area.
"Bahot kuch suna meine tere aur Arohi ke bare mein...kya chal raha hai tera?" Hearing this sudden voice Arjun turned & saw Salil in his room. Arjun nonchalantly shook his head & came inside the room. Getting no response from his side, Salil asked him again,
"Arohi ayi thi?" Arjun nodded.
"Tune ek baar bataya bhi nahi..." Salil said complaining.
"Tune mujhe batake gaya tha..." Arjun replied in a cold tone.
"Tu iss baat pe naraz hai kya?" Salil placed a hand on his shoulder, "Mera jana actually jaroori tha Arjun...aaj uncle ko Mumbai jana tha..." Arjun turned at him, surprised.
"Mumbai? Kab...?"
"Abhi, bas chod ke hi aa raha hun airport..." Salil said, while lying on the bed.
Arjun covered his face in his palms as soon as he heard that,
"Oh crap..." He muttered.
"Kya huya..." Salil asked, yawning.
"Kal Germany se Delegates aa rahe hai Salil...aur dad aise chale gaye...ab delegates ka kya kare..." Arjun said in an anxious tone sitting beside Salil, Salil got up, made a thoughtful face & said,
"Ek kaam karte hai...unlogon ko kha lete hai...problem solved..."
Arjun gave him a *I-Can-Kill-You-Right-Now* look, but Salil went on,
"Aree soch nah...Rashi ke shaadi mein kitna unique khana banega...crunchy delegates fries...waah..." Salil patted his own back for his own creativity, but then looking at Arjun he restrained himself as Arjun was giving him a death stare.
"Ok sorry...I was just joking..." He said in a gullible tone.
"Of course..." Arjun answered making a grumpy face.
"Areee..." Salil controlled his smile & spoke, "Uncle has said you have to take all the responsibilities this time on behalf of him. Toh tu handle kar lena, mein kal Rekhaji ko call kar dunga...tu bas N.G.O dikha dena..."
Arjun was silent, this was not the first time he was handling a project, but each & every time there was Rudrapratap at least in the office to help him,
"I am weird Salil..." Arjun got up.
"Aree woh isliye ki uncle nahi hai...it's not a big deal...you will do it..." Salil smiled. "Waise I am really angry Arjun...tune mujhse itni badi baat chupai..." Salil said & shook his head.
"kaunsi baat? Arohiwali?" Arjun asked, frowning.
"Nahi yaar...yehi ki..." He stopped to take a breath & then in an overdramatic way he stated,
"You love me this much..." while extending his hands to make him understand the extent of his love.
"Kya bol raha hai...?" Arjun ignored him.
"Aree Arjun Singhania ek button keliye mujhe dhundta hai...mujhe...bhagwan..." He joined his hand & looked up, "Itna pyaar...itna pyaar tera kahan rakhu mein..." & wiped off his fake tears & then went on again making Arjun more irritated,
"mein straight the Arjun but tere pyaar ne mujhe teda bana diya...but koi nai...mein ye pyaar qubool karta hun...mein tujhse shaadi karne keliye taiyaar hun..."
"Tu bahar niklega ya mein juta marke tujhe nikalu...?" Arjun said & folded his hands,
"Nahi Arjun nahiii...tu aisa nahi kar sakta..." Salil's dramatic voice rose again,
"Kyun...?Arjun asked, irritated.
"Kyun ki..." he thought for a moment & then said in an instant
"Mein tumhare bachhe ki ma baanewala hun..."
Arjun took off one of his shoes & threw that towards Salil,
"Get lost Salil..."
Giggling Salil left.
When Hariprasad entered Arohi's room, Arohi was arranging her files,
"Arohi..."
"Ji papa..." Arohi answered without looking at him,
"Aaj bahar dinner karne chale...?" Hariprasad asked.
"Kyun...?" Arohi smiled.
"Result aa raha hai nah aaj tumhari aur mujhe pata bahot achha result hoga..." Hariprasad took one of the pens & put that in the pen holder.
"Papa pehle result aa toh jaye..." as soon as she stated that the swift motion of her hands stopped as she turned back,
"Par aaj toh mein shaam ko nahi rahungi..."
Hariprasad's face got stiff in a momnet, Arohi felt the seriousness of the topic & stated again,
"Mujhe jana toh hoga papa..."
"Aur nahi jaogi toh...?" Hariprasad asked.
"Mein promise kar chuki hun papa...ab kaise..." She stopped without completing the sentence. She knows that both her parents are not happy with her decision, but she can't break her promises, she also knows that.
"Promise...!!" Hariprasad mocked. "Bhulo maat woh uss Arjun ki behen hai...aur waise bhi mehendi mein ja chuki ho tum..."
"Papa..." Arohi came closer & hold his hands, "Mujhe Arjun se koi matlab nahi hai, Mein ja raha hun toh sirf Rashi keliye..."
"Itna jaroori hai Rashi?"
"Haan aur promise bhi...apne hi shikhaya tha kuch bhi ho jaye promises maat todna...Rashi achhi ladki hai...aur Arjun ka gussa mein Rashi pe nikalu itni selfish nahi hun mein..." Arohi looked at him.
Heaving a sigh Hariprasad left her room without saying anything.
The garden area of Mittal Mansion was all lit & buzzing. After that small argument with Hariprasad Arohi went to take her result, and it was all good. Yes, but not as much good as she had expected, but still Hariprasad was happy & that was enough for her to be satisfied.
"Tum itna kya sochti ho har waqt...?"
Arohi was occupied with her own thoughts when a warm voice startled her up, turning back she saw Kumud there.
"How are you aunty...?" Arohi smiled.
"Mein theek hun...tum kaisi ho...?" Kumud smiled too.
Arohi tilted her head. Kumud took her to the front where she saw the stage, which was completely decorated now. In front of the stage were the seating arrangements. Arohi was observing the decoration when her eyes got stuck with the pink canopy & all of a sudden the memory of her & Arjun flashed in front of her, the way they both fell down, the way their eyes met---everything flashed in a subtle glimpse & a cold sensation ran down through her spine.
"Arohi...I am so happy ki tum ayi..." Arohi restrained herself as Rashi approached her. She was sitting beside Salil. Arohi hugged her & noticed that Salil is looking at her, a warm smile placed on his lips,
"Where is your husband...Mehendi ke din toh mil nahi paye...aaj milana" Ignoring Salil, Arohi said to Rashi.
"Jaroor...pakka milaungi...he is a great guy..." & as soon as Rashi replied that, the lights went off & Rashi made her sit beside her. The stage got occupied with Rashi's college friends. They were dancing in a peppy number. Their steps were amazing & were dancing like professionals. The people who were gathered there were clapping & literally trying to match steps with them. Arohi was enjoying, for a moment she has forgotten everything. Like any other Sangeet function the group came & started forcing Rashi to dance with them. After doing some *No-No-I-Can't-Dance* drama, finally she joined them on the stage & people cheered for her. Arohi too was cheering for her when she felt that Salil is saying something to her,
"Sorry..." Arohi said as she couldn't understand anything because of the loud music.
"Tumse 2 min baat kar sakta hun..." Looking at him for a moment, Arohi turned her face & kept clapping ignoring his utterance.
"Mujhe..." But Arohi stopped him,
"Main yahaan apse baat karne ya koi sorry sunne nahi ayi hun...please mujhe pareshaan maat kijiye..."
"Par Arohi mein tumhe..." Salil tried to say something again but this time too he got interrupted by her,
"Please...mujhe aise..."
"Kya huya Arohi...? Iss everything all right...?" Arohi didn't even realize when the dance got ended & Rashi went out of the stage, Rashi was looking at them both with a surprised glance. Rashi looked at Salil too, Salil nodded,
"Yeah...I was just asking ki...ki...washroom kahan hai..." Arohi said & gulped down the anxiety.
"Washroom...upar jake left mein 3rd room..."
Arohi nodded & left with a pace.
Arohi entered into the washroom & slammed the door behind her. An acute feeling of anger was whirling in her chest. She was furious at herself. The mention of that night was enough to make her feel like this, but she knew that she can't leave this place right now, so standing there she calmed herself down. After a moment she went out of the washroom she noticed her kamarbandh has gotten loose. The mansion was empty & the 2nd floor was too silent, though she could hear the noise created by the loud music. Arohi was feeling weird, as if somebody is there, whom she can't see. Once she even turned back to see that if someone was there or not, but it was all empty. She thought she was just being paranoid because of over thinking & made herself engaged in tying the kamarbandh, when she felt a cold touch on her waist & before she could have reacted, someone hold her waist in a tight clasp & whispered in her ears,
"Aap bahot khoobsurat hai Arohiji...ap mein nah ek nasha hai jo mujhe apke taraf barbar khinch lata hai..."
Releasing herself from his grip Arohi turned & raised her hand to slap the person, who was standing in-front of her with a nasty smirk on his lips, but he holds her hand when Arohi regurgitated,
"Yeh kis tarah ki badtameezi hai...?" The person smiled & tried to hold her again, when Arohi went a step backward to keep distance from him,
"Chilla kyun rahi hai aap...? Aisa kya kar diya hai meine...?" He asked in a surprised tone making an innocent face.
"Kitna shameless ho tum...I swear agar kisiko pata chala nah jo tumne mere saath kiya toh tum..." but he snatched her words,
"Toh kuch nahi hoga...kisiko pata bhi nahi chalega...Kyun ki tum thodi kisise kahogi...Rashi ko bura lagega..." He made a sad face.
"Rashi? tum Rashi ko kaise jante ho...?" Arohi frowned.
"Haan Rashi...my would be wife...Mein Vicky Mittal...nice to meet you..." Vicky smiled.
For a second Arohi got completely benumbed, disbelief was dripping from her eyes, how a person like him can marry Rashi who is so nice & naive too.
"Impossible...you can't marry her rather Rashi can't marry you..." Arohi said, still shocked.
"Bilkul kar sakta hun...tumhara rokne ka koi plan toh nahi hai?! aur waise bhi aab kya faydaa jab deal sign ho chuki..." Vicky said making Arohi all confused.
"Deal...? deal matlab...?" Arohi asked.
"Itni curiosity achha nahi hai Arohiji..." Vicky smiled.
"Listen, I know Rashi ke saath mera bas 2 din ki mulakaat hai par I can't let you ruin her life...you have to tell me about this deal..." Arohi hissed.
"Aur do din ke mulakaat mein itna yarana..." Vicky laughed, "Isse achha let's dance nah..." Saying this Vicky extend his hand to hold her, but Arohi snapped him,
"Don't you dare touch me...kaunsa deal...?"
"Ye sab karti ho toh aur achha lagne lagti ho...tumhara zid mein bhi kuch baat hai..." Vicky said, smirking.
"Deal batao..." Arohi said again.
"Ok...ok...it's nothing just a pre-nup agrrement, acoording to which shadi ke baad mere property pe Rashi ki koi haq nahi hogi, and Mittal industries ke personal profit ke 60% Singhanias ko milenge aur Rashi ki hisse ke property mujhe..." Vicky said.
"What a cheap deal...iska matlab agar shaadi ke baad kuch problems ho jaye toh nah Rashi ko yahan jagah milega na tumhare ghar..." Arohi said.
"Kitni samajdaar ho tum..." Vicky smiled.
"Par kyun...?"
"Woh toh you have to ask Rudra Uncle..."
Arohi was shocked, what was happening in front of her was too new for her, she has never seen such politics, problems, complexities before. Arohi couldn't believe in her ears. She was disgusted & that suppressed anger was again taking a roller coaster ride in her brain. They were marrying their only girl as a part of that cheap deal?! She didn't know if the other family members or Arjun knows about it & if they knows already, then how could they have aggred to this marriage.
"Yeh sab chodo yaar...let's..." But before Vicky could complete, Arjun's voice stated from behind,
"She can't dance with you...kyun ki her dancing partner is me..." Arjun came & stood beside Arohi. Arohi looked at Arjun, all taken aback. Vicky tried to say something, but Arjun stopped him by saying,
"Rashi tujhe neeche dhund rahi hai...ja neeche ja..."
"Haan..mein bas neeche hi ja raha tha..." Vicky smiled.
"Good...ab se nah thoda neeche hi rahe...upar uthna can be risky for you..." Arjun smiled.
Louring at them both, Vicky left. Arohi tried to tell Arjun about the deal but at that moment a boy started calling Arjun by his name, Arjun leaned over the railing,
"Tum yahan ho...performance ka waqt ho raha hai..."
"Haan abhi aya..." He said & then turning at Arohi he smiled,
"Stage pe milte hai..." & left making Arohi both tensed & surprised.
When Arohi came down, the stage was empty, arjun was nowhere to be seen. Seeing her Rashi came towards her,
"Itni der laga di...? Dadi ka dance miss kar diya..." Arohi was still thinking about that deal & Vicky,
"Tum thik ho nah..?" Rashi asked placing a hand on her shoulder,
"Haan...bilkul...bas Dadi ka dance miss kiya..." Arohi smiled.
"Koi baat nahi...ab usse bhi jyada interesting programme hai..." Rashi winked.
"Aisa kya hai...?" Arohi frowned.
"Bhai ka performance...Gaana ganewala hai mere liye..." It came like a sudden shock to her, the arrogant man, "The" Arjun Singhania can sing!! "Waise ye toh top secret hai...koi bhi wiki page ya fan page pe ye nahi milega..." Rashi smirked.
After they got settled in, a faint blue light flickered on & the gust of smoke started pouring the stage & gradually a structure started to take a shape, the place buzzed with the sound of claps. Sluggishly when the lights get brighter they saw Arjun there. Sitting with a guitar in his hand, Arohi was bewildered.
"Bhai bahot achha gaata hai..." Rashi said.
Arohi nodded while kept on looking at him.
(Ikk kudi jeeda naam mohabbat
Ghum hai, Ghum hai, Ghum hai)
Arjun played the tune & the music came like a subtle blow of the wind. He was looking straight but Arohi felt that in that bluish ambience Arjun is actually looking at her. Again the glimpse of that collision between them came alive in front of her eyes.
(O saad muradi, sohni phabbat
Ghum hai, Ghum hai, Ghum hai)
Perhaps this song was dedicated to Rashi, but each lines & emotions conjoined with it, was giving her a feel that it was for her.
(Soorat oss di, pariyaan wargi
Seerat di o, mariam lagdi)
She looked at Arjun's directions & their eyes met & suddenly she felt an uneasy stillness. In that bluish hall, he looked like a mirage...like a dream. Arohi kept her eyes down,
(Hasti hai taan, phul jhad de ne
Turdi hai taan, ghazal hai lagdi)
The lyrics were talking about a girl whose face is like fairies & soul is as kind as Mariam's. when she smiles, flowers fall off & when she walks, she looks like a ghazal. Sitting there, feeling the lyrics & the tune, brought her a fear...a fear of losing herself. Losing everything which were happening in front of her. She had thought umpteenth time about the magnetic connection which Arjun has over her.
(Iamm salammi, saru de kad di haaye
Umaraje hai marke aag di
Par naina di gal samajhdi)
Listening to this, Arohi looked at him again, & again their eyes met & she realised the void, the suppressed loneliness which she was carrying from that day, a sharp twinge. After all of these, Arohi couldn't even hate him properly, couldn't even fall out of love with him properly. is this called the true love?? she thought.
(Ikk kudi, jeeda naam mohabbat
Ghum hai, Ghum hai, Ghum hai)
She was sliding down into his eyes when the song got ended & the place buzzed with applauses. Arohi calpped too. Arjun has went down from the stage & Salil was announcing about the couple dance.
Thinking for a bit, Arohi stood up & in a steady step started walking towards the main gate. She knew that she should have told Rashi once that she is leaving, but she couldn't afford to face Arjun again.
"I guess Rashi isn't aware of this sin..." Arohi stopped, the voice was familiar.
"I will talk to her later..." Arohi replied without turning back.
"And what about me...?" Arohi turned this time.
"No I mean...hum dono dance karnewale the..." Arjun said.
"I can't dance..." She replied & started walking again.
"Haan but if you try you can dance...it's not tough..." Arjun's voice came again.
"Really Arjun? It isn't tough...then go & save your sister...can you do that?" Arohi asked, a little raged. Arjun frowned.
"Don't pretend that you don't know anything...how could you Arjun? But of course, how can I expect something right from you...jo insaan ek ladki ko sabke samne insult kar sakta hai woh apne behen ke saath aisa hi karega..." Arohi said & came to the main road.
"Wait...wait..wait...waht are you saying? Rashi...save...what's all these...?" Arjun was surprsied. He came behind Arohi & hold her hands which made her stopped,
"Rashi ki shaadi Vicky ke saath kaise kara rahe ho tum log..? Vicky? Like really> he is a disgusting guy..." Arohi shook her head. Arjun hold his temples,
"I know...we all know that...but ye rishta dad ne kiya hai..."
"Rishta nahi deal..." Arohi said.
"What deal...?" Perplexed, Arjun asked.
"Go and ask Vicky or your dad..." Arohi started walking again, the road was almost empty. Only some trucks were passing by scattering the chilly wind.
"Arohi...you need to tell me...what deal?" Arjun was adamant.
"Ok listen then...Vicky is marrying Rashi beacuse of a stupid deal. Aur Arjun agar koi deal na bhi hota toh bhi do you really think koi bhi ladki ki shaadi Vicky jaisa ladke ke saath hona chahiye?" Arohi asked.
"I don't know..ye dad a decision hai...&..." But before Arjun completed it Arohi came closer to him & said in a whispering tone,
"I was really heartbroken Arjun jab tumne mujhe apne ghar se bahar nikala tha..but now standing here I am just thankful ki tumhare saath mera ab koi connection nahi hai...agar hota nah I would have been cursing god my whole life..."
"Arohi..." Arjun looked straight into her eyes, her eyes were watery.
"Bura lag raha hai nah? Mujhe bhi laga tha aur in thenaer future Rashi ko bhi lagega...par still tumhe kuch farak nahi padhta...because you are "THE" Arjun Singhania jo ghar bulake dusron ko aaina dikhate hai par khud ki behen keliye stand nahi le sakta, jo dusron mein fault dhundta hai par jis mein basic human qualities nahi hai..." Shaking her head in dejection she turned & started walking. She was fuming in anger. The shitty thing which Vicky did to her, which Arjun did to her, which Vicky was going to do with Rashi...everything was there in her mind & it was constantly piercing in her brain & taking a form of a conglomeration mass which was actually burning her soul in anger.
"Arohi listen to me..." She heard Arjun's voice but without stopping she turned her face & exclaimed while walking,
"I have never seen such a pathetic insaan like you..." But instead of some replies she saw Arjun's goggled up eyes & heard a sharp cry,
"Arohiii"
Turning her face she only saw the two flashlights, the lights which made her all distracted, bemused & before she could do anything to save herself, she felt a strong grasp on her hands & a pull on the nick of the moment. Arohi landed on Arjun's chest & the truck passed by them blowing some dust. Arohi was hyperventilating, hiding her face into his chest Arohi felt the same sensation again, the strong arms which were holding her tightly & felt that touch on her body her hearts skipped several beats & she was sucked into a time warp, she has never felt this much secured in her entire life. Arohi was sinking in the moment, then gradually keeping her head up, she looked at Arjun & whispered,
"I don't hate you Arjun...I hate myself for falling in love with you..." A tear drop fell from her eyes, wiping that in a shaky hand she left making arjun stand there looking at her pathway.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Edited by M_Nira - 7 years ago
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