Part 17b:-
Naina and Alekh after an unconsciously made yet spectacular entry departed to mingle with the crowd. While Naina caught up with Pooja and other female colleagues, Alekh zeroed to the wine cabinet.
Raj on the other hand who had earlier been heavily occupied with a heated debate with Huda and Ali before the sweet and treacherous distraction had begun loosing his cool and temperament. Those sly glances at Naina were beginning to ignite his wrath. His vehemence now solely concentrated at Naina for the ornamentation of such a sizzling and venturesome outfit was magnifying. Adjusting his gilded camouflage, he stealthily approached his prey. He knew Naina would simply comply by her parched ego and neglect him for his ignorance if he revealed his identity. The best plan would be to mask himself and acquire a husky un-Raj tone. Hell, he was proficient at it; his college pals had taught him a thing or two about ventriloquism; the only difference remained that there was no dummy here.
His encroachment in the gang of female territory kindled interested mutters. While Naina's hold was that of sheer placidness, others (except Pooja and Huda's poor life partner) had an unabashed desperate degree added to it. To avoid ambiguities, he purposefully marched towards Naina and asked for a dance.
Naina who was busy listening to the saga of gossip of her mates while her own thoughts flirted with Raj's apparent presence was amused at the approach of the encrypted stranger. Lifting a brow at his blunt offer, someone beat her to vocal response. Not shocked, she noted it was Pam. Pam was the daughter of a reputed officer. Unfortunately something had gone wrong with the genes ending in a spoilt, sophisticated and attention seeking offspring!! With a chuckle she waited for the drama to unfold. The ball was getting interesting second by second. Naina couldn't hold back and slightly sniggered when Pam fell all over this masked hunk while he looked kind of flustered and annoyed. Naina couldn't help thinking that if she had done this to Rajveer she wouldn't have thought twice before breaking her snooty nose. She quickly chided herself and shook out his thoughts. Haila, she definitely was a gone case.
She silently heard the banter:-
"Excuse me, Miss..?"
"Pam Singhania!! And I'd love to dance with you hottie."
"Umm sure Madam, later, but I was actually asking Miss…"
"Come on... That's such a romantic number"
Pam broke in hurriedly seeing him gesture Naina. She didn't like Naina one bit. She wondered why she was a hot favorite. People considered her to be graceful, elegant, smart, kind and gentle. Hell, she found Naina chubby whereas guys called her curvaceous! Little did she know that she herself was anorexic!!
Raj was highly irritated. He didn't like this chipmunk one bit. Throwing a helpless look at Naina, who earlier seemed to enjoy the banter but now couldn't help pitying him.
She couldn't help offending the walking talking cartoon. Naina let out a low shriek and quickly whispered in Pam's ear – "Pam sorry to say, But your nail seems to be manicured badly and there is an ugly blockhead developing on your blemish less left cheek." Hearing this, Pam looked highly scandalized and barely excusing herself rushed to the washroom not before tripping over her high heels which resulted in a roar of laughter.
Highly relieved Raj now approached Naina and recurred his proposal which was answered in the positive.
(Note:- Raj is speaking in a feigned voice)
"Thanks a lot, Ms. Singh."
"Your Welcome Mr.….."
"Cuddles!!"
"Cuddles!" Naina couldn't help giggling. "Maintaining anonymity are we? By the way why Cuddles?"
"That was what I called my beloved. She was a bit on the healthier side. You find it odd?"
"Nah, just cute," she said slipping her arms around his neck before he pulled her in a low dip. "Umm but was that a 'was'?"
"Yeah. She died. It was a horrifying time. I loved her to bits"
Naina, who had been harboring doubts of this person's identity after sensing a being of familiarity, now brushed aside her suspicions. Many people had deep brown eyes.The cologne was different and so was the after shave. Nah, she didn't know this guy. She deeply sympathized with him. Around 31 she supposed. Looked like a decent chap, must have had a hard time. But she liked the husky tone. His eyes were known yet unknown. They were frozen with cold pain. Must be the memories, she noted.
He continued,
"She always used to wake me up, get me into trouble when she used to get angry, rejoice in my success and even remorse in my grief. I sometimes thought she loved me more than I could love her"
"Her death must have been quite heart wrenching, I suppose. She must have been beautiful"
"Yeah. She had the most scintillating golden hair all over and I loved the feel of it. She also used to give me a good dripping lick on my cheek when she was elated and wanted a run around. And when she wanted her feed…."
Naina was now confused. 'Hair all over?' 'Dripping lick?' 'Run around?' Was he even talking about a human or a dog?
Tentatively she broke in and asked him, "What was her name?"
"Oh! Pepper", he replied.
'Pepper, yeh koi insaan ka naam ho sakta hai kya?' she thought truly mystified.
His next sentence cleared all the cobwebs.
"She was the sweetest pet anyone could have."
Her mouth dropped open and she stumbled in her steps. This fellow was truly insane.
Though knowing what she had thought Raj asked her in a concerned voice, "Alright Ms. Singh!"
"Yup" was all she managed embarrassed. How the hell did this guy know her and was he even sensible and began doubting his credibility?
He seemed to have read her like an open book and answered dissolving her dilemma.
"By the way, Miss Singh I had heard about your mannerism of handling the trial of Major Shekhawat. Quite impressive, I must say."
'Oh! So he must have identified me from that hearing. But wasn't that a low profile hearing. Only selected people had been invited. She voiced her thoughts after thanking him.
All she got in reply was "Suppressed News travel fast than air, Miss Naina Ah Singh." His reply left her befuddled as they waltzed about the podium. He looked pretty innocent from the revealing portion of his jaw. Must have been hallucinating she assured herself.
Quickly concealing her jitteriness, she asked "So what do you do cuddles? You seem to know stuff about me but I am afraid I can't reciprocate."
"Am a Major, Captain. Though 10 years earlier I had been on the crossroads of choosing between being a politician, doctor, diplomat or a soldier."
Naina felt her knees go week when she felt his palm brush over her upper naked back. Naina knew this affect only one person had. But the person here in whose arms she seemed to be whirling around was poles apart.
Stuttering she asked, "Then how come you ended up being a soldier?"
"Because a friend had spluttered actual facts about the other professions."
"And what are they, cuddles?" she stressed on cuddles.
"Well coz a Politician is one who shakes your hand before elections and your Confidence after; A doctor who kills your ills by pills and you by bills and finally a diplomat who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to it. Finally had zeroed down onto being a soldier and it has been the best decision of my life. Well enough on me, tell me about you, any boyfriend and all eh?"
She looked at the smirk hovering about his heavenly lips and found herself drawn towards it. Immediately realizing her actions she was disgusted with herself and held back tears. Why was she getting attracted so much to this stranger?
"Hope you aren't a spy, cuddles?" she said suspiciously.
"Cross my heart, hun, I wouldn't even dream of pulling one on you."
Rajveer had not realized the error.
'Hun!' triggered a blissful incident. Leaning closer Naina pretended to untangle her hair from his suit button while infact she was checking for faint remains of a bruise along his neck. There it was an ugly pale bruise. She had caught him red- handed. Raj had hurt himself while playing along with those local goons. Naina was now dead sure this had to be Raj who was playing about with her. Her temper flared at his resonating audacity. 'Not bad jaan' she thought wickedly to herself 'two can play this game.'
Note:-
huh. 😊 that was pending for long.. Hope you all like this part. I'd like to thank all those who read and appreciated my ff. A zillion thanks to all those who have commented. 😛 Silent readers also please do comment!! Even a simple thanks is a huge of encouragement. And i also was wondering that inspite of about 500 views only abt 10 comment!! 😭 People that actually makes me wonder about the quality and standard of my writing. If i have offended anyone with any portion, then please forgive me. It would completely be unintentional!!!
thanks a lot!!!
bye-
luv prachi.
Cricket
Arjun
Jhanak
