This one is for my Aashu di...an OS I promised her ages back. Hope you like it Aashu di! Story thodi lambi ho gayi, to romance thoda kam reh gaya😛
On Aashu di's insistence for my safety, DISCLAIMER: This OS has Maaneet to the bare minimum! Its basically an Aashu-NP OS😛
It had been 4 years...4 long years since she had left this place-her country, the place where she was born, the place where she had lived all her life till she suddenly left, the place that's home!
Even after living in London for 4 years, she is still not able to call that place home-no! not even remotely close. Home will always be here,where she was brought-up, where she studied, where her parents are, where her best friend, who is more than a sister to her is, where her... No, she can't let this happen again! What was she just thinking? NO! She won't let all that come back to haunt her!
She was going home after 4 years and she will make the most of it. She missed her family and friend like hell, and she was dying to hug them, be with them. Okay! It was not like she didn't talk to them. She would talk to her parents everyday, and her friend, well, every few hours, but that certainly couldn't be equated to meeting in person, could it?
As she stepped out of the airport, she allowed herself to feel the fragrance fill her being as she closed her eyes and took in as much of it as she could. She opened her eyes when she heard someone screaming, "Aashu!"
She knew the voice-it was none other than her best friend Geet! Her sister, her guide, her playmate-everything! She smiled as she was crushed by Geet in a bone-crushing hug.
"God! I missed you", she heard her say and replied, "Haan! Isliye to mujhse itni badi baat chupayi!", she said mockingly.
"we have been over this already Aashu and I have already apologized like a million times. I am not doing it again. So, now if you are done with your futile attempts at turning this on me, cut it out and just move your feet!", Geet replied with her hands on her hips and a stern look on her face.
Aashu simply nodded accepting defeat and followed Geet as they rushed home.
"Aunty Jiii", shouted Geet even before Aashu could step in announcing their arrival causing her parents to rush out and what followed was expected-an emotional reunion.
After what seemed like hours of hugging and crying, Aashu finally made her way to her room, followed by Geet. They too had so much to catch up to. So what if they spoke so frequently. Geet had just shocked Aashu with a big news a day before and Aashu was eager to know the details. They settled on the bed and Aashu immediately asked, "so, Ms. Actress, I am waiting"
Geet smiled meekly and said, "batati hoon! Jaldi kya hai?", to earn a smack on her arm.
"You, Ms. Geet Handa, suddenly drop your job to become an actress, bag a show at prime time, without telling me, and ask me Jaldi kya hai?", Aashu asked outraged.
"Accha sun! it isn't as big a thing okay! It wasn't planned. I had just gone out to enjoy with my friends to a mall on a Sunday where we saw these auditions happening. You know na how crazy me and my friends can get! So, we had a silly bet jo main haar gayi, and my friends asked me to audition for the show as a punishment. Can you beat that? And since I had to prove to them that I am no longer the shy girl I used to be, main bhi chali gayi!", she paused.
"Aisi hi! Bas aiwen hi chali gayi tu?", Aashu asked shocked.
"Haan yaar! Izzat ka sawaal tha. Haan to, I just went for the audition, spoke the lines as best as I could just to impress my friends, and ended up impressing the producer. The next day I got a call informing me that I had been selected for the lead role"
"To? Tune haan kar di?"
"Nahin yaar!Maine to mana kar diya tha, but these guys requested me to come to there office and there you won't believ whom I met!", Geet said suddenly getting excited.
"Kaun?", Aashu asked curiously.
"Nissar!"
"kaun Nissar?"
"Apna Nissar yaar! Apne NP! Apna chikna NP jo gayab ho gaya tha!", Geet replied.
Geet didn't notice that Aashu has paled, neither did she notice that she wasn't paying much attention anymore. She was lost-lost in a time that she had been trying hard to push to some dark corner of her brain...lost in the memories that both brought a smile on her face and left tears in her eyes.
Geet continued excitedly, "He convinced me to act in his show yaar. Its his show. He is the director, and he himself has developed the story After a lot of coaxing I agreed..."
She went on about how she started shooting just a day back, how she liked the cast and crew, how she didn't tell her earlier since she wanted to surprise her when she came home, etc. etc.
Aashu listened patiently, trying to fake a smile.
Finally after an hour Geet left saying,"Kal se jab tak tu yahan hai, tu mere saath set pe chalegi,and I am not listening to any of your arguments. You are hardly here for a few days and I want to spend some time with you. Also, I want to show you where I work and then we will leave for shopping from there only"
Aashu wanted to fight back but knew it was useless. No amount of cajoling could make Geet change her mind, and then what reason could she give her anyway. She couldn't possibly tell her the truth. No! that was the only secret that no one knew-not even Geet, and it had to stay that way. She would control herself, she would control her heart that refuses to listen to her and be happy for her friend.
Next morning, Aashu was sleeping peacefully when she heard someone calling out to her. Annoyed, she kept a pillow on her head, trying to block the noise disturbing her sleep, but was in for a rude shock when she felt cold water being poured over her. She woke up startled by the sudden contact of cold water to her skin only to find Geet standing there angrily, staring at her showing her the time.
It was 10 o'clock. IT WAS 10 o'CLOCK! Oh God! Geet was late and it was because of her. She had over-slept and hence was subjected to such a rousing morning wish.
She jumped out of bed hurriedly and rushed to the washroom to get ready as Geet went out saying, "10 minutes! I am in the car!"
Half an hour later, they were stuck in traffic with Geet cursing anyone and everyone since she was mightily late. Aashu felt helpless as she knew how important it was for Geet to reach on time. Geet was always punctual, and it was the shoot of a major scene today-the hero's entry!
Finally after struggling for an hour, they made it to the studio and Geet immediately rushed to get ready, dragging Aashu along to the vanity.
As soon as Geet was ready, a spotboy came to her saying that the director was waiting to explain the scene to her. Since Geet's make-up was still not done, she requested the person to call the director there while she got her make-up done. Since Geet was not yet used to it all, it was taking her more time.
Aashu and Geet were talking when Nissar entered the vanity and froze. Was he dreaing or what?
Could it really be Aashu? The Aashu from college?? Their Aashu?? While he was busy staring at Aasu, Aashu was feeling uncomfortable. It was really hard to keep her emotions in check when the person himself was in front of her eyes...after 4 years.
She couldn't help but notice that he looked dashing, wearing a white fitted shirt, the innocence on his face still intact, his features more prominent and his eyes still the same-deep as an ocean in which she was drowing. Geet's voice brought both of them back to their senses.
"Hi NP! Sorry, Nissar!", Geet corrected herself, trying to be preofessional.
"Yeah Geet! You can call me NP! But, bahar sabke saamne nai okay!", he replied with a smile.
Then he explained the scene to her while stealing glances at Aashu, who was trying hard to act unaffected but failing miserably.
It had been two hours since the shoot was on. Aashu was surprised at the actress hidden inside her Geet. She was pleasantly surprised at Geet's new found talent. The hero,Maan was no less. Together they made a great pair, and their crackling chemistry was even better. She could already see that they would be lost in each other's eyes during the scenes and would break awkwardly when NP shouted cut. Even if other people thought it was acting, she knew her Geet a bit too well to know the difference between her acting and her own emotions.
As much as she liked to watch Maan and Geet shoot, it was really hard for her to stay calm. She was sitting right next to NP, all thanks to Geet who had literally threatened NP to take care of her while she gave her shots. He was busy with his work, but she was having a hard time trying to focus.
When she couldn't bear it anymore, she politely excused herself on the pretext of feeling tired and went to Geet's vanity. Once there, she let her mind drift to the old times which were pushing through her mind.
NP, Geet and Aashu-they were the best of friends. While Geet and Aashu had been friends since childhood, being neighbours and going to the same school, they met NP-Nissar parvez in college and the innocent and honest guy became a part of the gang gradually. They had one other guy and three other girls in their so-called gang. They were well known in the college for their unique style. The gang, when together could have fun anywhere, anytime. They all were also the most intelligent lot of the class.
But, like all groups, their group too had different people being close to each other. For example, geet and Aashu were inseparable. Juhi, the fourth member of their gang was from Nissar's school and knewhim since four years when they came to college. Its through her that they all became friends. But, then, unknowingly, Aashu became the person NP would trust the most. No, she wasn't his best friend, but she was the one who could coax him, the most reserved person of the class, to tell her when he was sad/angry.
They shared a strange bond. He would never flinch from helping her, and she, him!
People paired them up-it never bothered NP,but it did bother Aashu, so NP shut them all up! Gradually Aashu also got used to it! He made sure it didn't make their friendship akward in way;their friendship was too precious to lose to such silly things.
Ultimately, even people got tired of linking them up. They finally fell silent thinking that they were just good friends. But, it did affect the two after all.
Aashu gradually did develop feelings for him, but always brushed them aside thinking that all the stories going around were getting to her head. She had seen that happening to another pair in their group and the consequences had been disastrous, since it was just infatuation. She always held herself back, telling herself its infatuation, its just something that her mind has cooked up as she is very close to him.
Moreover, he was the over-achiever! Shy, reserved, but brilliant! He was the drama-soc President, the class topper, etc. etc. true, she wasn't too bad herself, being the secretary of the departmental society and a decent rank-holder, but, still, not good enough for him.
Once or twice she actually thpught of giving her feelings a chance but changed her mind thinking about his reaction, expecting him to come up and say if he felt similarly and then finally deciding that he just took her as a friend. But, as college was coming to an end, she could no longer deny that she had indeed developed feelings for him, but he was too precious a friend to lose. What if he didn't reciprocate-of course he wouldn't! Had he liked her, he would have dropped hints atleast.
They had spent so many beautiful moments together, being there for each other as friends, but the way no other friend had.
Then suddenly, after college, NP went away for some direction course. He wanted to be a director, and he went to pursue his dreams to New York.
Aashu, drowned in sorrowtook up a job in London, trying to get away from his memories, trying to convince herself that she didn't love him, trying to forget him. Four years she stayed away, attempting to bury him in some dark corner of her heart. When she thought she was strong enough, she decided to come back, and she did.
She opened her eyes and wiped the tears that had started flowing out unknowingly. The pain of lost love was once again pricking her heart. How long would she run? Why did destiny have to bring him back? She didn't even know if he was married. Maybe he was...maybe he had a family. She hadn't stayed in touch with him, and hence knew nothing about him.
Just then Geet came back. She asked her the reason for coming there and Aashu lied feigning tiredness. From Geet, later that day she learnt that he wasn't married. But, did that matter? 4 years had passed. God knows if he even remembers the time they had spent together in college as friends. She decided to not let herself break again.
It had become a habit now. She would accompany Geet to the sets in the morning, would go out with her during her breaks, and try her best to keep her interaction with him as friendly as possible.
But, it was getting tougher. She could see Geet's interest in Maan, and could also make out that Maan's eyes reflected similar feelings for Geet. She decided not to come in their way. So, whenever she could, she would try to give them some privacy during the breaks. That would mean that either she would be alone, or with NP, as Geet tried her best to ensure that she wasn't alone, without realizing that she would prefer being alone than with Nissar.
In those few days, she realized that NP was indeed a good director. She admired him for his work. Without her knowledge, she was falling even deeper for the caring and polite man she saw on the sets, who would treat everyone with utmost respect. However hard she might try, she couldn't help feeling deeply for him.
It had been 15 days since she came back. Maan and Geet didn't take much time, they were now officially dating each other. While the word dating sounded too casual, Aashu knew that what they felt for each other wasn't. she knew they would go a long way together. Feeling helpless at the hands of her own feelings, she finally decided to confess to him during lunch that day. They generally had their lunch together, and those meetings had brought them even closer.
But, as she reached the sets that day, the sight that she witnessed that day made her heart shatter into a million pieces.
NP was in the arms of another woman. She moved in their direction to talk to him, tears threatening to fall when she heard him say-I love You!
Did her ears hear correctly? Did he just say I love you to that woman??
Her world shattered once again, and she left immediately, not in a mood to create a scene there.
The next couple of days, she didn't go to the sets, feigning some important work in front of Geet. She would stay home, reliving the past, staring into space blankly. Finally she decided that she would eturn to London-away from him, and his memories.
She informed Geet that her boss had called her back urgently and booked her tickets for the very next day. Before the end of the next day, she was standing at the London airport, making her way back to her apartment with a heavy heart. She had lost her love-ONCE AGAIN!
Maybe it was just not meant to be! Maybe she was meant to be lonely.
She reached her apartment building, paid the cab driver, and pulled out bag to find the keys. She rummaged through her bag for 5 minutes but could find the keys there. As she kicked the door in frustration, she was shocked to find it open.
As she apprehensively stepped inside fearing thieves, she was blinded by the sudden lights that flashed into her face from all the sides. As she opened her eyes, adjusting the sudden brightness, she was shocked beyond words to see the four walls covered in his words. She could recognize his writing easily.
I have loved you, since the time you wiped my tears,
I have loved you when you came to my life and took away my fears,
I have loved you the day you cried on my shoulder,
I have loved you the day you rolled in uncontrolled laughter,
I have loved you I don't know since when,
All I know is it you now, as it was you then!❤️
And then she saw him, standing with his arms wide open, looking at her with love in his eyes and she ran to his arms, finding peace only when she was engulfed in his warmth. When her tears had stopped flowing she came out of the hug and started hitting him.
"You stupid! You idiot! Itna time lagta hai bolne me? Itne saal wait karaya mujhe", she said turning her back to him.
"Sorry meri Jaan! Mujhe hamesha darr tha, kit um mujhe pyaar nahin karti! Par pichle dino maine tumhari ankhon me apne liye ehsaas mehsoos kiye. Par tum iss tarah chali gayi to main hir se bikhar gaya", he replied.
"To phir ye sab?", she asked confused.
"Ye sab isliye ki Geet ne mujhe ehsaas dilaya kit um bhi mujhe college ke time se pasand karti ho"
"kya? Geet? Par use kaise..."
"Tu kya samjhti hai, main teri aankhen padh nahin sakti Aashu? Sirf tu hi mer dil padh sakti hai? Kya main teri dil ka haal nahin samajh sakti? Agar tu mujhe nahin bataegi to kya mujhe pata nahin chalega kit u Np se kitna pyaar karti hai? Main tab bhi jaanti thi, aur aaj bhi jaanti hoon. Bas uss time ye chala gaya, isliye tujhe bhi London jaane se rok nahin paayi, par ab aisa kuch nahin hone de sakti thi!", said Geet who entered with maan.
Overwhelmed by her friend's love, Aashu hugged Geet emotionally and Geet said, "Kal Eid hai Aashu! Le aaj tujhe tera Eid gift diya"
"This is the best gift I could ever get Geet", AAshu replied sincerely, beaming with her love by her side.
Later she got to know that the woman NP had hugged was his sister.
They had a good laugh about it. They came back the very next day. Aashu and Nissar got married within a month, not willing to wait after the long torture they had already endured, while Maan and Geet were happy to be engaged and enjoyed their long courtship.
How was it???
Please leave your comments!
Aashu di- Eid mubarak😃
All my friends here, Eid mubarak😃
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