~Birthday Surprise~
"Shhh!!" He said as Arohi struggled to make herself free from his grip. For a second she looked into his eyes - the same brown eyes - which has made her fallen in love with him - again & again. Arjun puts down his hands as he lets her go. Arohi took a step back & then turned her face. The previous incident popped up in front of her eyes - making her fragile from within. Her eyes welled up - she knew she wouldn't be able to maintain her firmness in front of him if she looked at him for long - & she turned back. Arjun stepped closer to her & hugged her from behind - buried his face into her hair, he whispered,
"Happy Birthday to you Arohi"
Arohi didn't answer, she remained like this - still & silent. Arjun made her turn to face him,
"I am sorry...you know nah that I didn't mean to hurt you" He said. Arohi's jaw clenched as she try to control her tears. Seeing her silent, Arjun ran his hand through his hair - as he looked restless - clearly her silence was bothering him.
"I have expected tumse judi har cheez pehle mujhe pata hoga..." He said while puts his hand on her shoulder, "Isliye I felt abandoned hearing that from Salil...I am sorry nah...please mere taraf dekho"
Arohi stared at him & after a moment looked away, turning back she came & sat on the bed, Arjun stood there where he was standing before.
"Tumne kabhi mujhse pucha Arjun? kuch bhi? mere bare mein? meri life ke bare mein? kya karna chahti hun? kya mujhe pareshaan karti hai? kya mujhe achha lagta hai?" She was not facing Arjun anymore & that's why he didn't realize that Arohi's cheeks were wet. "Ye kaisa expectations hai ki sab kuch tumhe pata hoga jab tum kuch puchte hi nahi ho?"
"Main hamesha se aisa tha Arohi..." Arjun spoke.
"That doesn't matter...important ye hai Arjun ki ab tumhare saath mai hun...aur tum barbar ye prove kar rahe ho ki hum dono ek dusre keliye thik nahi hai...Arjun do you really think this relationship is working out?" Arohi spoke, her voice came like a shaft for Arjun. He never thought that Arohi could think like that. "Kyun ki mujhe nahi lagta"
As soon as she said that Arjun came towards the bed & kneeled down in front of her, Arohi looked into his eyes, Arjun hold her hands,
"Arohi, I know. I know what I did, par jo ho gaya hai I can't change that, lekin main promise karta hun aisa dobara kabhi nahi hoga..."
Arohi released her hands from him,
"Mujhe koi jhutha promise nahi chahiye"
"Tumhari birthday ke din mei tumse jhutha promise karunga?" He said as he playfully pulled her nose. "Achha suno, kal tumhare liye ek surprise hai...birthday surprise..."
"Arjun, you know right, I don't like all these!!" Arohi said before Arjun could complete his words.
"Haan baba I know...but you will love it...trust me..." Arjun said.
"Tum mujhe kabhi choose karne ka option hi nahi dete ho..." Arohi said while shaking her head subtly. Arjun smiled.
"I will wait for you okay" Arjun said as he stood up. Arohi said nothing, keeping her down, she clasped her fingers in a knot,
"Arjun I am really tired...kaal baat karenge"
Arjun nodded thoughtfully & went towards the door, holding the door knob, he stopped & said,
"Main kal tumhara intezaar karunga Arohi" & left, closing the door behind.
Arohi lay down flat as soon as he left the room & closed her eyes.
"Tum kabhi mujhe samaj hi nahi paye Arjun , na hi kabhi try kiya" Arohi whispered.
While coming back to Ceder Rest, Arjun decided to call his mother & tell her about his plan. He knew that his mother like Arohi - not only her mother, except his father everyone from his family loves Arohi. And that's why, she will be happy knowing that Arjun is throwing a party for her.
"Hello mom..." Arjun said as soon as Kumud received the call.
"Ab jake mom ki yaad aya hai tujhe?!" Kumud's pseudo anger made Arjun smile.
"Apko ek baat batane keliye call kiya tha" Arjun said, Kumud was silent on the other end, waiting for Arjun's reply. "Mai Arohi keliye ek birthday party throw kar raha hun Ceder Rest mein...not a party kind of a party, just a close affair...apko toh pata hai Arohi kaisi hai...isliye just a celebration..."
"Arohi ko achha lagega Ceder Rest" Kumud spoke. Arjun could feel that his mother was smiling.
"Achha lagega nahi ma, achha laga hai isiliye toh..."
"Arohi abhi thik hai nah?" Kumud asked & Arjun remembered what he did, Arohi's hurtful eyes, her anger & today's conversation between them. Arohi was not okay. He knew that, but he didn't want to give his mother any tension or anxiety about
these matters. That's why he lied.
"Ji mom, bilkul thik hai...bas mai thoda pareshaan hun" Arjun mumbled.
"Kyun?" Kumud asked.
"Mohan Uncle, Vicky ko yahan bheja hai...Salil ko dekhne...mujhe samaj nahi ata Salil koi bachha hai kya...use dekhne keliye Vicky ko bheja..."
Kumud remained silent for a moment & then said,
"Tune Arohi ko batayi ye baat?"
"Nahi mom..." Arjun said, he was not ready for this question - he should have told her about Vicky. "Arohi bekar tension karegi..." He said. Though it didn't stop bothering him. Arohi was angry at the first place & after hearing of Vicky's arrival, god knows how she would have reacted. That's why he had decided to not to tell Arohi about it.
"Khair, tu hamare taraf se bhi Arohi ko birthday wish kar dena" Kumud said.
"Ji mom..." Arjun replied.
Arohi was in her chamber - trying to do work but the try was going in vain. Today she was feeling extremely tired. At the morning, when she was coming out of the house, her mother has told her to take a leave today. But Arohi knew, taking leave means staying all day long in the house & if she did that, Arjun's memory wouldn't let her be in peace for a second - & the atmosphere of the house was not so good right now. Thinking of Arjun, she remembered, how he had come the last night & told her about the birthday surprise - tbh, Arohi was still not convinced - she didn't know what she will do. Just then her phone buzzed with Shefali's message,
"Arjun tere liye party throw kar raha hai? Tu ja rahi hai nah?" Arohi looked at the screen - thoughts, decisions everything was hazy in her brain. One hand, she didn' want to go because, what Arjun did was unforgivable & on the other hand, she wanted to go because she loves Arjun. After a bit, she typed a reply.
"I guess so"
And she got up. It was her time for the ward visit. Coming out of the chamber she called her mother,
"Ma...aaj thoda late ho jayega"
"Jyada der maat karna, tere papa ka mood off hai...tu ake thoda baat kar legi...toh sab thik ho jayega"
"Okay ma" Arohi said & cut the call.
Again she was in a dilemma - she has hide it from her mother. It was not like she didn't want to tell them, but would it be appropriated if she told them that, she is going to that person's house who has insulted their daughter the previous day. Now she knows, why she felt tired nowadays - this fight between heart & brain, right & wrong were making her exhausted from within. She heaved a sigh as she entered the general ward.
As the evening approached, Arohi looked at her wrist watch, 5:55. At first she decided to come to Shefali's house because she needed to change her dress and they can both go there together but then she changed her thought - whatever she was wearing was not bad. For a birthday celebration it was perfect. Coming out of the hospital, her eyes stuck with the black car - Arjun's car - where Arjun was standing leaning on it. Seeing Arohi he smiled, Arohi smiled too but it didn't reach to her ear.
"Chale?" Arjun asked, as Arohi came towards him. Arohi nodded. Arjun opened the car door for her to sit. The ride from the hospital to Ceder Rest was silent. They were wanted to say something to each other, but their words remained unspoken. They both tried to find a way to each other, but the road seemed blocked.
As soon as the car stopped in front of the gate of the Ceder Rest Arohi came down in an instant. From outside, it was looking ravishing with white, blue, pink fairy lights. Arohi thought that, she won't show any excitement & will leave the party soon - but the ambience made her heart swelled with joy & happiness. Arohi stepped forward. She always has loved the front porch of the house & the pebble covered road. As she entered, a soft melody started playing from the one corner of the porch - she looked at the source of the sound & found that professional musicians were there. They smiled looking at her.
Arjun came & clasped his fingers with her. Arohi couldn't help but smile. The clouds of anxiety & uncertainty were blocking her heart was moving gradually & she could see the light - the light of love & care - which revolved around Arjun. Arjun took her inside & she gasped, as the interior has completely changed. The floor was covered with colorful mattresses, a sofa was residing on a side with cushions of various shapes. And in the middle of the room a road was made with flower petals - Arohi was grinning like an idiot. She didn't expect that Arjun could arrange something like that. Through the petal covered road, Arjun took her to the bedroom - where in front of the bed was situated a small table with a cake. And the room was decorated with flavoured candles - which were burning dimly in the room.
"You happy?" Arohi was staring at the beauty which was there in front of her & Arjun's voice made her startled.
"Hmmm..." Saying this she turned to face Arjun, "Thank you" She said & gazed at him, in an instant she felt that same sensational throb which was always felt whenever she came closer to him or he came closer to her. Arohi didn't know whether it was her suppressed longing for Arjun or not but she couldn't help herself from placing her head on his chest.
"You know, I called mom yesterday aur mom tumhare bare mei puchne se ruk hi nahi rahi thi..." He said & held her by her waist. "Saas aur bahu mei bahot yarana lagta hai?" Arjun chuckled. Arohi was about to say something when someone entered the room,
"Arjun...Arohi keliye hum cake..."
They both were still holding each other, but the sudden voice of the person came as a jolt. Startled, she released herself from his hold. Arjun looked at the doorstep. Salil & Shefali were standing there. Shefali was trying hard to suppress her grin. Arjun hawked a little to restrain himself,
"We are so so sorry..." Shefali said controlling her giggle.
"Hume laga tum dono ka private celebration khatam ho gaya hai..." Salil said.
"Salil...tu nah...bahot irritating hai..." Arjun made a face.
"Nahi nahi Salil, hum bas...bahar...janewale the..." Arohi said to control the situation.
"Areee koi jaldi nahi hai..." He winked at Arjun & then extended his hands towards Arohi he wished her,
"Happy Birthday Arohi, many happy returns of the day" Arohi smiled as she shake hands with him.
"Achha sun, main Shefali ko bahar ghumake dikha deta hun tab tak...piche tak jayunga thik hai...jaldi aa jayenge..." Salil said & left with Shefali.
After they left, Arjun turned to Arohi & pulled her close,
"Let's cut the cake" He said.
They both sat kneeled down there, in front of the table. As Arohi blew out the candles Arjun clapped,
"Happy Birthday to you...happy birthday...dear Arohi...happy birthday to you"
Arohi giggled & cut the cake, she took a small piece & feed Arjun first & Arjun took a small bite did the same with the remaining piece. Arohi never felt so content before.
"Mai hamesha mistakes karta hun nah Arohi? aur bina wajah tumhe hurt karta hun..." Arjun spoke as he held her hands, "I promise, I will change myself..."
Arohi shook her head, as she wiped the cream from Arjun's lips & said,
"Nahi Arjun, I don't want you to change...bas thoda samajdar ho jate..." She smirked. Arjun hugged her,
"I love you"
"I love you too" She replied.
And just then, they heard a sound of clapping coming from the door, Arjun & Arohi both startled & looked the way - Vicky was entering with an impudent smile on his lips - his eyes read & legs were tottering - he was holding a glass in his hand. Arohi frowned, she was shocked, confused all together seeing Vicky here. Arjun too was quite in a confused state as what he was doing here. Vicky gulp down the liquid from the glass & wiped his lips,
"Achhaa!! toh ab mujhe pata chala Arjun bhaiya ka asli plan kya tha, manna padega...bahot full prove plan banaya hai apne...mujhse bhi jyada"
"Vicky..." Arjun stepped forward, "Tu yahaan...kisne bulaya hai tujhe?" He yelled.
Vicky smiled as he tottered. Arjun turned his face & looked at Arohi once, she was looking at Vicky, eyes still.
"Mai kal se soch raha hun ki itni jagah hai, Birthday party Ceder Rest pe hi kyun rakhna hai..." Vicky went to gulped down from the glass but as he noticed it was empty he put the on the table with a bang. Arohi winced. "You know Arohi, Mumbai mei Arjun bhaiya ke peeche hazaron ladkiya ghumti hai...lekin isse dekho...tumhare piche pagal hai..." Vicky laughed, "Actually, tumhare peeche nahi...kuch aur cheez ki peeche hi pagal hai..."
Arohi turned her face aside in disgust as she understood the underlying meaning of the sentence. Arjun tried to hold his hands,
"Behave yourself Vicky..."
But Vicky completely ignored Arjun,
"Lekin ek baat keliye mujhe bahot bura laga hai bhaiya...humne toh plan kiya tha nah apke baad mera chance hai...lekin ap toh akele hi maza le rahe ho...mera chance kab ayega?"
Arohi was aghast. Inside herself something was completely broken - trust, hope, love, whatever it was - has gone completely - deep down she knows, she can't trust a guy like Vicky but her brain, Vicky's words everything was compelled her to trust whatever happening in front of her.
"Areee main toh Arohi ko gift hi nahi diya...Arohi so sorry...ye lo gift...mere taraf se tumhe...sachhai..." Arohi looked at Vicky, he was extending his phone towards her, there was a video.
"Vicky...stop it...kya hai iss mei?" Arjun said & went to snatch the phone from his hand, but before he can don that Arohi took it from his hand,
"Mujhe dekhna hai Arjun..." She said & played the start button.
The video started playing, it was a conversation between Arjun & Salil, they both were at the Mittal Mansion,
"Aur waise bhi ye toh mera plan tha" Arjun said. Salil narrowed his eyes,
"Kaisa plan?"
"Itne dino se main Arohi ke saath ye sab aise hi nahi kar raha hun, uske peeche mera maksad hai...aur Ceder Rest bhi isliye toh use leke gaya tha, so that main uski qareeb ja saku...aur tujhe toh pata hi hai main kyun ye sab kar raha hun...you know how I am..." Arjun said.
"Arohi ko bura laga toh?" Salil asked.
"Kuch bura nahi lagega...aur agar lag gaya toh mai samjha dunga" Arjun said.
& the video stopped with a click.
"Dekha Arohi...sachhai...toh bhaiya...qareeb ana chahta tha..." Vicky was blabbering but everything was fading out for Arohi, wanted to cry out but her pain has formed a lump in her throat that she couldn't even cry. She put the phone on the table. Arjun came towards her,
"Arohi, listen to me...ye sab jhooth hai"
"Please bhaiya...aaj karte hai nah...apke baad mai..." Vicky said, an indecent smile placed on his lips. Fuming, Arjun grabbed his collar,
"Just shut up Vicky & get lost from here" Arjun screamed.
"Aree cool down bhaiya..." Vicky said, "Isse pehle bhi toh Mumbai mei...aisa bahot bar huya hai nah..."
"Vicky" Arjun raised his hand to slap him, beat him, but Vicky laughed,
"Dekh ke nahi lagta nah Arohi middle class family se belong karti hai...she is so hot" Vicky's fuddled tone rose.
"How dare you Vicky..." Arjun hold his shirt & pushed him back, his unsteady legs couldn't able to hold the pressure & he bumped with the door before leave the room.
"Enjoy bhaiya enjoy" They heard Vicky's drunk voice from inside.
The room was awkwardly calm. Arohi was standing like a doll - still & lifelss. Arjun didn't know how to approach her, sluggishly he turned her face to her, she remained the same way, didn't even make eye contact with him.
"I am so Arohi...Vicky...mai use...pata nahi..."
Arohi's eyes were expressionless.
"Arohi please" But before Arjun put his hand on her shoulder, in an instant, she stepped backward, she just looked at him with her flat eyes - didn't say anything - not a single word - & stormed off from the room.
"Arohiii" & Arjun followed her.
As she came outside, she didn't wait for anyone & kept on walking.
Salil & Shefali were sitting on the corner, near the stage, suddenly hearing the Arjun's voice they looked at the gate & saw that Arohi was walking towards the main gate. And suddenly Shefali's eyes stuck with Vicky who was standing at the drink parlour.
"Vicky" She muttered. Salil looked at her & then at the drink parlour,
"Damn it" He stood up. He knew Vicky must has done something bad, they both ran towards the gate.
"Arohi...Arohi ruk" Shefali screamed from the far,
"Arjun kya huya?" Salil asked Arjun, & before Arjun, Vicky came from behind,
"Arohi chali gayi? lekin Arjun bhaiya ke baad toh mera chance tha" He said in his same drunk tone, turning back Arjun punched him at once, & he fell on the ground,
"Tere wajah se...tere wajah se...kis baat ka badla le raha hai tu" Arjun growled & ran behind Arohi,
"Arohi...please wait...listen to me..."
Salil & Shefali both stood there flabbergasted.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Edited by M_Nira - 7 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Udne Ki Aasha
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