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Hey guys, update time....erratic as usual😆....and I apologize for the strange format...IF's acting strange....
Anyways, here's chapter 21...😊...
CHAPTER 21: Socha Na Tha
Half an hour ago:
Atul had just walked in to the apartment where Riddhima's party was being hosted and he was looking around for Anjali when he heard a voice behind him.
"You can thank me any time now,"
Atul turned to grin at Sapna, who was smiling smugly at him. She cleared her throat with an air of importance and then held out her hand as if to say, go on.
'Thank you?" Atul pretended to be puzzled. "But for what?"
"Accha bhai!.for what??!! Aaj kal toh bhalaayee ka zamana bhi nahin raha hai!" she sniffed. "For my BRILLIANT idea to get Anjali to spend some time with you??! By helping with the invitations?" she said, "Remember that??"
"Ohhhh," he said, appearing to suddenly understand. "Thank you sooooooo much, Sapnaben..."
She started to grin.
"....for the amazing opportunity to personally invite Hitler??" he finished, narrowing his eyes at her.
Sapna chuckled, "That was an added benefit yaar!" she pulled one of his cheeks. "Now don't be a crybaby about it! Focus on the Anjali part!"
Atul just shook his head at her and laughed. "Ok baba!" he put a hand on his heart, "Then a very very heartfelt thank you."
"You are moooooooost welcome!" she replied with a big smile, "Accha it worked na??" she asked him eagerly, "Baat kuch aage badhi?"
Atul laughed and then ducked his head, a shy smile on his face, "Haan thodi si aage toh badhi,"
"Atttul...you are so cute when you're all blushing," she giggled at him, "Accha where is she? Has she arrived yet? I've been so busy running around, have no idea who's here and who's not."
"No, I don't think so...I've been looking...." He glanced towards the door and his breath caught and held. Anjali had finally walked in. She glanced around as she walked forward, as if scanning the room for someone and then her gaze finally landed on him. A big smile broke out on her face and she waved at him and started to walk towards him.
Atul waved back in a daze, watching her walk towards him, still not able to quite catch his breath. She looked.."gorgeous" he breathed out softly, unable to take his eyes off her. She wore a halter knee length dress, deep forest green in color, her long hair framing her face in elegant waves...the very first time he had seen her in something other than her work wardrobe...and she looked even more beautiful than she already was, if such a thing was possible. Something was...different....and it wasn't just the dress, he realized.
'Hi Atul, Hi Sapna,' she greeted both of them with a smile as she finally stood in front of them.
'Hiii Anjali!' replied Sapna, 'I looooove your dress! You look beautiful!'
'Thanks, Sapna,' Anjali smiled, 'You look beautiful as well. Lovely suit'that color really suits you.'
Sapna glanced down at her lemon yellow churidaar suit, 'Really? Thank you so much, Anjali!' she grinned back, pleasantly surprised. This was the nicest Anjali had ever been to her.
Meanwhile, Atul had finally managed to regain some powers of speech.
'Hi, Anjali,' he smiled at her softly, 'You'uhh'you look''
'Oh my god!' Sapna interrupted him, 'Armaan's just SMS'd me! They're almost here!'
Turning, she raised her voice to be heard over the noise, 'Listen up, everyone! They're about to arrive any minute now! So everyone get ready, ok? I'm going to go turn off the lights,' she said, hurrying towards the light switch.
Atul sighed in resignation and turned to Anjali, 'Umm'ready?' he grinned.
Anjali smiled back, her eyes twinkling in amusement, 'Ready.'
******************************************************************
The door finally opened, letting a shaft of light in, followed soon by first Riddhima and then Armaan. Ridhima was murmuring something about the darkness. When the lights finally came on, accompanied by yells of 'surprise!', they showed her gaping at Armaan with her usual openmouthed shocked look as Armaan grinned back at her in amusement.
Riddhima stared in shock at the huge group of people in front of her, completely confused as to what was going on. She turned to stare at Armaan once again, about to ask him to explain, when he winked at her cheekily and then walked off towards Sapna who was approaching from the side. Understanding finally started to dawn on Riddhima...he had tricked her! It had all been an act! She could not believe it!!
'You owe me big time,' muttered Armaan as he passed Sapna who was on her way towards Riddhima.
'Anything you want!' she grinned at him, and then hurried forward towards Riddhima who was looking a little dazed.
'Congratulations on winning IOTM once again, Ridz!!' she swept Riddhima in a hug. 'So'.how'd you like the surprise?'
'Sapna'wow'.you did all this?' she stammered out, still dazed. 'I am just speechless right now'.I'I'Thank you so much yaar!' she hugged her back once again.
Anjali watched Ridzie as the crowd of people descended upon her to congratulate her. She looked surprised out of her wits and dazed'.but very happy all the same as she shook hands and returned hugs. A bittersweet smile broke out on Angie's face as she watched her'she had expected to feel upset'bitter'had briefly also wondered if she would even be able to bear watching Ridzie as she basked in the glory of her win'but surprisingly she felt none of that. Instead, she felt'a serenity within her'a sense of calm somehow'and happiness (bittersweet as it may be) for her sister. She sighed to herself. Because it isn't really Ridzie's fault, Anjali'and you know that very well'she just never seems to realize'and how would she? She lives in her own happy little imaginary cocoon'where everything is rosy and perfect...when reality may be far from that. Anjali shook her head at herself mentally, trying not to dwell on unhappy thoughts.
'Sapna's managed to pull off the big surprise excellently, haina? Ridz looks so dazed,' chuckled Atul beside her.
'That she does,' Anjali smiled, turning towards him, 'When the lights switched on, I thought for a second that she might just faint,' she chuckled. 'Did you''
'Woahhhhhhh!,' a voice interrupted them and they both turned to see Armaan approaching them.
'Gorgeous, are you trying to give me a heart attack today??!!' said Armaan as he wrapped up Anjali in his usual affectionate hug. 'Look at you!' he exclaimed as he pulled back and held her at arms length, 'G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S! Beyond words! Goddess among us mere mortals!' he teased.
Anjali laughed, 'You flatter too much as usual, Armaan,' she hit him on the arm affectionately, 'And you don't look too bad yourself,' she teased him back, 'Nice jacket!'
'Why thank you, Gorgeous!' he grinned back at her then turned to Atul, 'Heyy Champ!' he hugged him, 'How's it going?'
'Uh good yaar'.how's it going for you?' replied Atul, feeling a little deflated and kicking himself mentally for not speaking up to Anjali before. And Armaan as usual had no dearth of words. He sighed mentally, envying that ease that Armaan seemed to share with almost everyone'especially Anjali.
And so they all chatted for a while, mingling with the crowd in the party.
***********************************************************************
An hour later:
Most of the people had hit the dance floor. Atul had been trying to work up the courage to ask Anjali to dance when Armaan showed up and whisked Anjali off to the dance floor. He sighed in frustration once again and was about to turn and go and get a drink when Sapna appeared and pulled him over to the dance floor.
'Hmm'so things aren't going as planned exactly,' she muttered as they swayed to the music.
'That's an understatement if there ever was one, Sapna' he replied glumly as he watched Anjali and Armaan dancing a few feet away from them.
'Idea!' she said suddenly and Atul looked at her in confusion. She looked around and noticed Ridz standing nearby and gestured at her to come over, 'Ok, you dance with Ridz for a bit while I go fix something, ok?' she said to Atul, 'I'll be back in five minutes, alright?' she smiled at Ridz as she hurried off. Atul blinked in confusion again as he watched Sapna hurry off, and then sighed and turned to Ridz with a smile, holding out his hand. Smiling, she put her hand in his and they started to sway to the music now.
'So'how are you enjoying the party?' asked Atul.
'It's great, Atul!' she replied, 'It's really sweet of you guys to do this'It must have taken so much time and effort, haina?' she looked around at the decorations.
Atul grinned, 'Actually, all of the credit goes to Sapna'she conceptualized and executed the entire thing! All we mainly did was help with the invites. And Armaan helped to bring you here'that's about it.'
'Ufff'please don't mention that loser's name around me!' she muttered in irritation.
'Why? What happened?' asked Atul in confusion.
'He made a complete joke out of me'as usual,' she replied, fuming now, shooting a glance at him dancing with Di. 'Pretended to be friends'and I believed him'could I get any more stupid?!' she berated herself.
'Ohhh,' said Atul in understanding, 'So that's what he said to convince you to come with him?'
'Yeah'complete with an apology too. He just never leaves a chance to make a fool out of me! God! I just can't STAND him!!!'
'Riddhima yaar'calm down. You know how he is na'But he did it for a good cause this time atleast'you would probably have suspected if either me or Sapna had tried to bring you ourselves, haina?' he tried to reason with her.
'But that doesn't excuse it, Atul! And he's so unbelievably smug about it too now! I just can't stand it!'
Atul continued to try and calm her down. Meanwhile, Armaan and Anjali were discussing the same topic.
'So'.how did you manage to convince Ridzie to come here with you?' asked Anjali with a grin as they danced.
Armaan groaned, 'Man, don't remind me! A truly torturous experience'I barely managed to get through it!' he expelled his breath in an exaggerated sigh.
Anjali grinned, 'That bad, huh? But I'm curious'what did you say to convince her? Usually she can't stand the sight of you'and to come all the way here with you'?'
'Never underestimate Armaan Malik's legendary abilities, my dear Angie' he replied with a smug grin. 'Let's just say, in the case of your sweet little sister, one apology and a hand of friendship was all it took,'
'Impressive, Dr.Malik, Very impressive!' said Anjali mockingly, 'And I'm not surprised Ridzie fell for that either,' she chuckled. 'Bet she's not too happy with you now that she knows the truth, hmm?'
'And that's the most fun part, Angie!' he winked at her, and she laughed in reply.
Sapna then announced that everyone would dance in a circle and switch partners whenever the DJ changed the song. And so everyone started to dance in that sequence. *******************************************************************
After having switched partners a few times, Anjali was now unfortunately dancing with Vicky from the Path Lab. He was a nice enough guy, but he seemed to have an unerring knack for stepping on her toes every few minutes. After what seemed like the millionth 'ouch' followed by his super-contrite 'sorry', she breathed a sigh of relief as the music mercifully changed once again and she twirled around in a circle to move on to the next partner. And it turned out to be none other than Atul.
He held out his hand and with a smile, she put her hand in his. He slowly pulled her closer and placed a hand around her waist as she raised her other hand and placed it on his shoulder. They swayed to the music in unison. The soft opening strains of 'Socha na tha' started to play'..
Kabhi Dil ke kareeb, tumhein mere naseeb
Yun paayenge, socha na tha'.
Ek chaahat ka pal, sab sawaalon ka hal,
Yun paayenge.....
''.socha na tha,' Atul murmured to himself under his breath as he gazed at Anjali in wonderment, marveling at destiny and its mysterious ways.
'Hmm'did you say something?' asked Anjali.
Atul didn't reply immediately, still gazing into her eyes and lost in his thoughts.
'Atul?' she raised her voice a bit.
'Hmm?' he replied distractedly. 'Yes, Anjali?'
'Never mind,' she chuckled, shaking her head, 'By the way, you're a very good dancer, Atul,' she said, sounding pleasantly surprised.
'Thanks, Anjali,' he smiled back, 'And you sound very surprised,' he grinned.
'You know I didn't mean it that way!' she admonished him with a smile.
He chuckled, 'Yes, I know, I know.'
He paused for a moment, then said, 'Anjali?'
'Hmm?'
'I'wanted to tell you earlier'.You look beautiful today,' he continued softly, his eyes expressing much more than his words could as they stared deep into hers.
Anjali stared back at him, sensing a mystifying compelling light in his eyes which caught and held her gaze. She had been complimented by so many people today; she was used to that and yet, now when he said it'why did it feel so different? And why did that strange disconcertation return?
'I'thank you, Atul,' she finally replied, tearing her gaze from his and looking down, feeling strangely awkward.
'And do you know why that is?' he said, pausing and continuing when she raised her head to look at him again, 'It's because of your smile,'he smiled at her softly, 'It lights up your entire persona and brings a completely different Anjali to light, one that's usually hidden somewhere, isn't it?'
Anjali just stared back at him, not quite knowing what to say.
'This Anjali glows'from within'and that is why she looks so beautiful,' he finished softly.
'Atul'' she murmured, not really sure how to reply to him.
'Excuse me,' a voice interrupted them and they both looked up to see a girl standing next to them. 'Uhh'the music changed, we're supposed to switch partners now, right?'
Atul and Anjali looked around and noticed that everyone had switched partners and the music had changed as well.
'Oh,' they murmured in unison and they both dropped their arms, moving away from each other.
Anjali walked over to the next guy in line and started to dance with him. As she danced with him, she glanced over his shoulder watching Atul dance with the other girl. He looked up in that instant and caught her glance. She smiled at him, remembering what he had just said to her. Atul smiled back and slowly nodded his head.
The music had long since changed, but the soft tune remained in his head and so he sang to himself under his breath.
Aankhein jo ab meri aankhon mein hain
Dhoond raha tha kayee saalon se
Kitni milti hain aankhein yeh,
Khwaabon se mere, khayaalon se
Ke haqeeqat mein hum, sapno ka sanam,
Yun paayenge, socha na tha'
Edited by nureat01 - 17 years ago
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