New Beginings- new part 4 pg 8 - Page 5

Priya,

You're nuts girl... absolutely crazy... if this was nothing, then I wonder what the heck would happen if you actually just wrote... mein toh gayee na?

Sweetheart, you're too hard on yourself... I thought it was breathtakingly beautiful!! Nicely captured scenarios, the uncertain feelings... it was gorgeous! 👏👏 *pat yourself on the back*... *whistles... throws flowers*... sachi, I loved it and enjoyed alot!

My one question, what happened in between? You know, prior to "Ipshita's arrival", from the heavens I mean... *cough cough* 😳😆... Like how did Ipshit and Anupam get together... Gauri and Shiv's coming together etc... *hint hint*... Write more *cough* 😳

Or continue from the last part, maybe from where Shiv tells Gauri whom he saw today... Anything. Just you have to continue... I said so. hehe... please??

I loved it loved loved it!!!!!!!

AWESOME!!

Cheers,
dc

hey everyone...i kno i keep saying that this story is complete...but ive been inspired to write more..i hope you guys will like this part of my story as you've liked the others. this part is basically ipshita's POV..
please review and tell me how you liked it...i'd like to thank abhita and dc for this part...



Just four more months…and then u'll be here….to fill our lives with joy…ipshita as part of her daily routine was talking to her baby. "How much more are you gonna trouble that baby by talking to her….isn't it bad enough that u sing to her" quipped her husband…only to find a pillow hurled in his face. He went up to his baby and said…this is what I get for supporting you….!
Ipshita thought she was the happiest woman in the world…yet if ten years ago had someone told her that she'd be in this situation she would have laughed outright on his face. Married to anupam and having his child wasn't exactly her childhood dream. No it wasn't. her dreams from her formative years consisted of only once person. The one who she had thought to be her knight in shining armor,her prince charming…shiv kapoor. Yet at this point in her life…the name only filled her with disgust.
Anupam bade goodbye to his wife and set out to work leaving her to think. Today she was for some reason preoccupied with her past. Maybe it was because she had seen him at the mall the previous day. He was with his daughter…she had noticed the little girl first. She was running all over the place hunting for her dad…when she stopped in front of her…ipshita couldn't help but notice the uncanny resemblence to shiv….the same face…the same smile…the same everything…except the eyes…she had her mother;s eyes…gauri;s eyes.(borrowed frm HP). Ipshita, thought she was imagining things…and went about resuming her shopping. Her husband was literally buying out the store for their new bundle of joy…she had to stop him…..but when the girl left…she noticed….shiv..! her heart stopped….she was filled with anger…and it took everything in her to stop herself from going up to him and slapping him. But then the sight of the little girl in shiv's arms…somehow soothed her. The girl….gauri's daughter.
The first memory ipshita had of shiv was when he was 5 and she was 3….he had visited her house and was a total imp. He made fun of her pigtails…refused to play house with her (as if someone could refuse to play such a great game) and had thrown all her lovely dolls into the pool. She had promptly reacted by slapping him and he burst out crying. What a crybaby. But then this incident led them to become great friends. Shiv knew she wasn't to be messed with. She was his equal…unlike any other girl…over the years she became shiv's best buddy and the two of them had the greatest times together. Being with shiv gave her a rush, she never experienced with anyone else. She had loads of other friends….but she desperately waited for the one month in the year when shiv came to London to spend his vacations with her family. The entire month she cherished like some precious treasure…not to be shared with anyone else. When she entered her teens…it was for the first time she noticed she was a girl. But shiv didn't think so, he still treated her as he silly friend….a friend with whom he took all liberties. Teenage transformed ipshita drastically…she transformed from a lanky child to a beautiful girl. Everybody had a crush on her….everybody except shiv ie. Ipshita had come to love her dear friend…but was content with him treating her as only a buddy. He emailed her every week telling her about his latest girl friends and asked her advice on how to impress them. She loyally replied to all his queries and never once disclosed the state of her heart to him. When she was fifteen…her life changed….and how.
As usual shiv was to come for his vacations. But he had sent her an mail at the last min saying he had cancelled his trip because his girlfriend wanted them to go on a trip elsewhere. It stung ipshita…he had passed her for a mere bimbette….someone he hardly knew….he had refused to come to meet her…for a random girl….how could he…..she vowed not to talk to him ever again. Seething with anger she spent the entire week sulking and became extremely moody. She would yell at moment's notice and her inherent sweetness just seemed to have disappeared. Her parents were going to Manchester to visit a relative, she declined the offer to go and convinced them to leave her home. They left her with her grandmom and went off for a fortnight. One morning when she was sitting by the pool and twirling the water with her feet, a pair of string hands came up from behind and shut her eyes…."guess who" the owner of the hands whispered. Her heart went racing when she realized who it was….shiv….he had come after all. "Shiv she yelled….and turned to give him a hug. But u said u weren't coming. U said you were going to Europe with whatever her name was…omg I cant believe you're here shiv." Well if you get your hands off me….i'll answer al your questions. She blushed furiously and let go. "So how did u come here….did ur gf ditch you…." Nope…I came here to surprise you…u think I'll miss meeting you for anything in the world ?? why all this drama shiv ? well….you're the answer….you should have just looked at your face when you saw me. It was priceless.
The entire week they spent happily in each other's company…at the end of the week, shiv said he needed to take her someplace special. Why she asked….just do as I say was his reply. So dressed in her best and heart racing, ipshita went to meet shiv. He had reservations at this quaint lil restaurant…when she saw him that day…he took her breath away. Dressed to kill, he was in a black suit…complete with a black shirt and black tie. His rolex gleaming at his wrist and that perfect smile on his face. she felt weak in her knees and was wondering what he had to tell her. When they were comfortably seated, he began in a serious tone. " ipshita…I have fallen in love.." with great hope and anticipation she asked "really…who is it ?"…well its this girl I met a couple of years ago. Her face immediately fell. All the trouble I take….and this is what I get….him talking about someother girl, I bet he wants advice again, it must be that silly Europe trip chic. She felt like plonking her chocolate milkshake on his head. But she listened nevertheless. He was now saying about how deeply he loved her. Ugh…if only she could claw that woman's eyes out….relax ipshita…calm yourself…..just let the evening pass.
" as I was sayin" continued shiv, " I have fallen for this girl…and just don't have the guts to tell her. She is the most beautiful creature I have set my eyes on and I cant gather enough nerve to tell her. Ipshita….help me out…..how to I tell her, what if she rejects me" "trust me shiv no one will reject you…oh she had said tht aloud…she continued…take her a bunch of her favorite flowers, and just tell her…plain and simple…listen….i love you with every fibre in my body…I don't know what you think about me…I don't care…all I know is that I love you and its just enough for me that I have done this one good thing in my life. She'll never say no. saying this she gave his hand a reassuring squeeze and continued with her meal. Suddenly out of the blue violins started playing….she looked around confused…when she turned back to shiv he had a bouquet of daisies in his hand…he gave them to her and said " i love you with every fibre in my body…I don't know what you think about me…I don't care…all I know is that I love you and its just enough for me that I have done this one good thing in my life." Her eyes glistening with tears were all the answer he needed.
Coming back to reality she thought….what they had started with…and how he had ended it. Those yrs had been the best years of her life….or so she thought. They told no one about their affair. It was just their little secret. They couldn't spoil it by letting everyone into it. It was during this time that she had met anupam…. He was shiv's best friend and shiv loved him dearly. He was also an incorrigible flirt, and was constantly behind her. She took it sportingly never paying too much heed to it, and a warm different kind of friendship sprung up between them. Anupam became one of ipshita's closest friends.

Disaster struck in her life when she turned 23. that was the first In the series of shocks she had received. She had gone to India looking to join a fashion magazine which guaranteed her being in mumbai…close to shiv. Shiv had taken to his family business.
No one knew about them, and that had maybe been one mistake they had committed. There was a wedding in the house. It was the wedding of mahen uncle's friend's daughter. Gauri….
On the day of her wedding, her fiance ditched her.. and the rudest shock was….shiv was told to take his place….ipshita passed out on hearing the news. When she came to…shiv was sitting beside her, scared and concerned. He told her that his dad had threatened to disown him, his sister palak and brother vivan from the family property if he didn't marry gauri. Apparently he held the three of them responsible for the groom's disappearance. He further went on to say that he was waiting for her to wake up….so that they could tell the family their situation. He cared two hoots for the money. She didn't know what prompted her to do so…but she explained to shiv that he couldn't do his to his siblings. Go ahead with the wedding she said….but reserve all the love only for me. She convinced him with great difficulty and finally he agreed. Shiv got married. Not to her…to gauri…
Ipshita immersed herself into work with great gusto to mask her pain. She gladly accepted assignments abroad. She knew shiv loved only her…but still…in the eyes of the world he belonged to gauri. When she was in India…shiv met her everyday. He would tell her how he never spoke to gauri and intended to keep it that way. She felt bad for gauri in a way…but her love was still her priority. Anupam became her pillar of strength during this period. He knew she was upset with something but she refused to tell him. He being a gentleman, didn't prod too much…and took all attempts to cheer her up. After four months….ipshita slowly started smiling again. She enjoyed life again. She fell in love with shiv again. All thanks to anupam. She went to London to meet her parents. Anupam accompanied her as he was launching a book out there. Shiv called her everyday and said how much he missed her. She felt for him….but she started paying attention to her life in london too. One day shiv called her and sounded very low and depressed….she had forgotten his birthday. She felt like kicking herself. She knew she had hurt him deeply, to add to it…no one had wished him. Ohh her poor baby….she apologized profusely and he said it was okay…but his tone said otherwise.
When she returned to India…she fully intended to more than make up for her folly. But she was in for a surprise. He didn't remember the incident…instead he was bursting to talk to her about ……gauri. He explained to her that they shared the same birthday and how had ended up celebrating it together because no one else had remembered. He also told her that he had decided not to be mean to her anymore. Hmmm…she had remarked…he told her everything about her…all her habits…her personality…her innocence….her exuberance….and ipshita wanted to immediately meet her. She had to see the person whom shiv talked so much about. After meeting gauri, she had no doubts to why shiv was so amused with her. She was a child….not liking her was out of the question. They clicked instantly. She went shopping with gauri….did all girly things with her and was genuinely glad to have found a friend in her. She also noticed something….gauri was in love with shiv….the way she talked about him, the way her eyes gleamed when she mentioned his name…the way she pestered her for all his childhood details. She felt a pang of guilt when she thought of how gauri;s dream would be shattered when she would come to know that shiv loved her.
Months passed and changed them all….ipshita began noticing a distinguished change in shiv, he depended on gauri a lot. None of his conversations were without a mention of her name, no matter how trivial the detail. She started to feel pangs of jealously. But shiv kept flooring her everytime. He told her that he'd ask gauri for a divorce soon. And he did. Gauri asked for four months…deal…..she was beyond overjoyed….finally all her waiting was about to be paid off…..finally shiv was to be hers….only hers….yes that it was she had thought. Shiv was to spend two of the four months in new york. She couldn't get herself in newyork…so they were forced to stay apart. Of the few times he called her, his mind was always distracted….too much work he said. She believed him for a couple of weeks…but a tiny voice in her heart said otherwise. His line was forever busy…..i was talking to gauri…was his most frquent reply….talking to gauri….why ? he didn't have time to talk to her….but he;d talk to gauri….she didn't like it one bit. But forced herself to believe that soon he'd be separated from her.
When he came back…he hardly spent time with her. He always said he was too busy with work. He was never too busy for her before…he had never ignored her so much before. Even when he was with her…his mind was never there. She asked him outright one day and he denied anything being wrong…but something in his voice suggested he wasn't telling the truth. She willed her self to believe him…but it was taking too much of a toll on her. One day…she decided to go to his office and sort things out with him. She needed to be assured, she needed him to tell her that all would be fine, all would be perfect and they would have a beautiful life together, she needed his voice to tell her all these. What she saw there left her shattered.
As she entered the office, she noticed all the employees had left. Funny she thought…shiv was working alone…! Why was he doing so…he had told her the entire office was frenzied about the new contract and were working day and night and at ungodly hours. There wasn't a soul in sight…except for the lone light coming from shiv's room the place was deserted.
She opened the door a bit and was about to call him….when she noticed that he was in deep conversation with someone else. She decided to wait so as to let him continue with his work. On closer observation she saw in the mirror behind shiv that the person whom he was talking to was gauri…! What was he saying to her ? she couldn't hear very clearly… but what interested her more was gauri's face…it was glowing for some reason. In the reflection she could see gauri's eyes filled with love and adoration. She was blushing furiously….even without make up she looked breathtaking. What was going on here ? now she could hear shiv's words. His voice was choked with emotion… she held to the door frame for support….shiv was professing his love for gauri…

To be only yours, I pray, to be only yours
I know now, you're my only hope.
You loved me when I didn't deserve it,
and I love you back, every single moment.
I give you my destiny.
I'm giving you all of me. Nothing will ever compare to my love for thee.
At the end of it shiv walked up to gauri…held her face in his hands….as tears flowed freely on both their cheeks, shiv kissed gauri ripping apart ipshita's soul.
Her hand knocked a vase on the table and she saw the shocked looks on their faces. She went to shiv… and said…..how could you….after all I have done for you…how could you cheat me….shiv…how could you…." Sobbing her guts out she stormed out of there…she vaguely heard them call out to her…but she didn't react. Shiv was history to her. He had betrayed her. He had betrayed her trust….he had cheated her.

She rushed to find solace in her only friend's house. She rang the bell on a door which read anupam Bhattacharya….anupam opened the door and one look at her scared the living daylights out of him. She had wrecked herself from crying…her sari was torn and splashed with mud. Her hair was all disheveled….she was a mess. Without asking anything he just opened his arms for her and she walked right into them and began sobbing again. After an hour or so…she stopped crying…she noticed that they were sitting on the floor with her resting her head on anupam;s shoulder. "whats the matter he finally asked. He doesn't love me anupam…he doesn't….who doesn't….shiv….anupam looked shocked….she related the entire story to him , right from her childhood. He listened quietly and said…..neither of you trusted me enough to tell me….as for shiv…I don't believe he did this to you. How could he even think of hurting you….after all that you have done for him. Anupam was livid with rage and vowed never to talk to shiv again.
Both anupam and ipshita headed to London….he reasoned that it was her home and that she'd be more comfortable there. Bombay would just hold too many painful memories. True to his word he didn't speak to shiv and stood by her throughout…he became her rock. Her best friend, a person without whom she would have lost herself long ago. A person without whom she couldn't live. Ipshita grew to love anupam from a friend to something more. Her love for anupam was more mature…and deeper. It was nothing like what she had for shiv. Anupam taught her to laugh…to forget her past…and to live her present.
Two years after the incident….one night anupam knocked on ipshita's door. When she opened the door she saw anupam standing there with an entire Indian band behind him…on his cue they started playing her fav romantic number….and he said
" ipshita I loved you the moment I set my eyes on you….you always brushed me off thinking it was mindless flirting. But it wasn't. I didn't know you were in love with someone else. I was always biding my time…too scared of rejection. I know your previous experience with love has given you a lot of pain. I promise you that I'll never hurt you ever….i'll die a thousand deaths before something even remotely affect you. I ask you today….to spend the rest of my life with me…to take me as a friend, a husband, a partner…it'll take you a second to say no…but it'll scar me for a lifetime. Still I'm ready to wait for you for a lifetime…to be mine….
"yes" was all she managed to say.

Now two years later, she thought that it was the best decidion she ever took. She had often wondered how she had never realized that anupam had loved her. When ever she thought of shiv…his betrayal and hatred was all she associated with it….but strangely enough, she never felt ill for gauri….she had seen gauri's love and it was pretty much like anupam's. silent. She missed out having gauri as a friend, but knew that they were two people who no longer had a place in her paradise.

Singing a song to her child, she proceeded with her daily chores. She remembered how her husband had ridiculed her that morning and said to her baby…."well if not your mother….you can listen to your father." And switched on a tape of anupam's latest album. His voice and notes…dripping with honey filled the entire house….
Four more months only.

I like it...
hmm... wait... no... I do not like it... I love it...
I love the office scene... can imagine them professing their love and crying unabashedly..

poignant!

great.....
your doing a magnificent job....
👏

Exquisite. Finely pieced, gracefully expressed... 👏

and why are u thanking me pri, you're the one who wrote the work!! Everything about it is your talent at work!! Now jaldi se update karo... next one I mean 😉! haha, I'm so sweet... I haven't updated and demanding one from u!!😆

Cheers,
dc

that woz jus brill!!!

pls continue soon 👏

fantastic!!

please do continue very soon!!~!!

👏

Id didn't know that the story had a third part to it... But it makes the fanfic more complete methinks. And Ipshita's viewpoint makes sense too... Though I don't like Shiv being made the bad guy here...

She's continuing soon guys, I'll guarantee that... actually, my danda will. 😃

Cheers,
dc

hey people....im posting the new part of this ff. it is part of gauri's POV. pls do tell me how u like it.


Gauri saw the colossal task in front of her. Taking her daughter for her regular health checkup was a Herculean job. To convince ipshita that doctors weren't evil was tough. She wondered where her girl had picked up such a thing, they were doctors….just doctors…but no ! she had to treat them as if they were on the other side of the border waiting to attack her at moments notice…if it were left to her she'd eradicate all the doctors of the world.
Sighing gauri went to look for her daughter…who at this point of time was hiding in some loft or under some bed. Her husband had cleverly wormed his way out of helping her saying he had an important meeting, and she was sure he had none. Infact she'd bet her life on shiv relaxing in office with absolutely no work to do !! But it was just as well. She remembered the last time he had accompanied her to ipshi's checkup….oh my god…the entire hospital faced the threat of being sued…just because they wouldn't administer an oral vaccine to her. It is mandatory to be injected they had argued…but shiv…just wasn't ready to listen. She had been so embarrassed that day. She had to actually change the hospital since she was sure they wouldn't admit her inside the next time. "IPSHITAAAAAA….where are you ?? if you don't come out in five minutes mamma is gonna be very angry….no more toys, no more tv, and definitely no more little mermaid." At the last threat her daughter came running from somewhere….works like a charm she thought. Mamma do we have to go ?? I am perfectly healthy….why do you want to take me to those bad people…don't you love me anymore ?? had this been said to shiv…he would have declared no more medical checkups for ipshita. But gauri wasn't falling for it. No tantrum was going to work. "hurry up and get ready….we have to leave in an hour. If you promise to be a good girl, I'll buy you your favorite icecream. Yayyyyyy….her daughter quickly kissed her on her cheek and ran away.

In the car gauri kept looking at her daughter. Her angel was beaming. When she was four months pregnant….the doctors had sensed something wrong with her…they had said that if she continued to full term the baby would mostly be born with congenital birth defects. They had suggested abortion but tht was just no option. How could she terminate shiv's baby…so ipshita was born…she was perfect…their little bundle of joy. They later came to know she had a slight hearing disability and would have a little problem in mind development. But gauri didn't care…her baby was safe…she took it upon herself to be ipshita's tutor…she was there every step ipshita stumbled. Her girl was just like any other kid except she had an ultra cool hearing aid in her ear. She was a cheeky three year old who had her dad wound about her finger and though gauri didn't want to admit it, she gave in to almost all her demands too. Her in laws often joked about how a 3 yr old was the queen of their house. But she loved it that way. Her family was perfect. Shiv gauri and ipshita… and to think there wouldn't have been a family at all.

She reflected on her conversation with shiv the previous day. On returning from the mall with ipshita, he told her…."gauri, u'll never believe who I saw today…?"
Whom ? ipshita !!
Well, duh…u did take her to the mall with you !!
Exasperated, shiv exclaimed….are you really that dumb or do u do it only to irritate me ? I saw ipshita agarwal…ring any bells ? that statement brought gauri's full focus to her husband. Are you sure ? how is she ? what is she doing ? did you talk to her ? how is she ??
So many questions….well I saw her at the mall when we were shopping. No she didn't see me… No I didn't speak to her. And shes fine….shes happy and best of all shes married to Anupam dada.
"get out of here….what are u saying ??? ipshita married to anupam ? two ppl I love…together….that is so so awesome. Shiv thts the best news
Excuse me….Mrs kapoor….if u've come out of rejoicing…I have more to say…ipshita is pregnant.

The car's sudden halt brought gauri back to reality. They were at the hospital….ipshita was already clutching her arm tightly in fear. Carrying her she moved towards the pediatric ward. There was an unsual amount of crowd at the hospital today. What was going on ? she enquired at the reception and found out that they were inaugurating the new cancer patients ward today. After finishing ipshita's checkup (with no tantrums and her pockets filled with candies given by the nurse.) gauri decided to check out the new ward and make a donation. She was told that the chief guest had just arrived and if she hurried she'd be able to meet him. He was some writer cum singer. Smiling she proceeded towards the ward. Little did she know that she'll encounter anupam there, this was some weird coincidence. Her first reaction was to move away, but then something held her there. This man held lot of significance in her life, if it wasn't for him she'd have never married shiv. She remembered as if it was yest. When shashank had failed to turn up at the wedding her family had just decided to get her married to shiv. Without knowing what to do she ran away from there. She met anupam for the first time that day. Seeing her in her wedding finery but teary eyed it didn't take Einstein to figure out what was wrong. Seated on the park bench, for some unknown reason she explained her plight to a complete stranger. After listening to her, all he said was…life has thrown a challenge at you…don't run away…face it. Don't think of this as the end of your life…think of it as a new beginning. These words altered her life forever because in some way they made her go back to her wedding. When she later came to know that anupam was shiv's best friend…he convinced her that she had taken the right decision. Shiv was a gem of a person. In the days that shiv ignored her, gauri told no one of her plight. But she felt a warm relief whenever she met or talked to anupam. They had shared such a bond that no sibling could share. He knew she was hiding something from her, but she never told him what it was and he never asked. But he did everything to make her feel better. All this changed when he came to know that shiv had once loved ipshita and then left her for gauri. Anupam not only broke all ties with shiv, but he never spoke to gauri again either. Seeing him today brought tears to her eyes. Standing in front of her was a man she loved greater than a brother, but one who had severed all relations with her. She ached to talk to him, to congratulate him but how was she to approach him. He finally saw her, he seemed surprised then with a determination he began walking in the opposite direction.

Anupam da….wont you even talk to me ?? he didn't reply…anupam…pls…don't do this. Its been four years….at least give me a chance to explain. Please…still no answer…he was walking further away from her. During this time her daughter had climbed down from her arms and was running about, she banged into a wall and burst out into tears…ipshitaaa gauri yelled…..are you okay ? this made anupam spin around. He saw gauri address a little girl as ipshita….what was going on ? his eyes questioned gauri…."please give me a chance to explain".

Sitting in a coffee shop waiting for anupam to join her, gauri began to reminisce her life. The picture perfect couple that she and shiv were today weren't in one picture at all five years ago.
Gauri and shiv were thrown into a marriage to one another because her lousy excuse for a human being fianc had ditched her at the altar as he had found someone rich. Mahen papa couldn't bear to see tears in her eyes so asked shiv to step in and marry her. Utter chaos ensued with shiv rebelling and her running away which all culminated in their wedding. At least both set of parents were happy !!

She hadn't known anyone who hated her more. Not only had shiv told her that he loved someone else but after that never ever spoke to her. Gauri had two sides to her, one vibrant one with the rest of the family and one silent one with her husband in her room.

Gauri had a lot of firsts in her life…Her bizarre wedding was a first, the painful silence she was subjected to was a first and the fact that she fell in love with her husband despite all this was a first.
Around a month after her wedding gauri realized that she was deeply in love with shiv…She couldn't point out when or what prompted this emotion but it was the strongest one she had ever felt. Maybe it was his deep voice, or his captivating eyes which held an unknown depth within them or maybe it was his smile which when she rarely saw sprouted the most perfect dimples….or maybe it was the fact that he loved his family so much….or that he hated her so much cos of his love for someone else. She didn't know….all she knew was she loved him.

The winds then slowly changed and gauri was subjected to another set of firsts…beginning with her first conversation and her first dance. It was on her birthday which coincided with shivs and he had suggested they celebrate it together cos not one soul had remembered to wish either of them. Plus she already had cake and candles ready( why waste ??).

That night over cake and champagne she talked to shiv for the first time. She saw this whole other side of him that made her fall in love with him all over again. They spoke about music, movies, the stars the galaxies…everything you could possibly think of. Gauri was overwhelmed by this facet of shiv. After enduring silence for two months experiencing him talk to her with no inhibitions what so ever was something which would be etched in her mind forever.

But the night and its surprises didn't end there. After 4 hours of talking shiv stood up, loosened his tie , switched on the music and as the room was filled with the cords of the Spanish tango….he asked her…Care to dance? Gauri almost had a heart attack. What had gotten into shiv, but she wasn't complaining. Seeing her silent shiv mocked her….whats the matter…..cant u tango ?? thanking her lucky stars that she had given into kaya a couple of years ago and taken a ballroom dancing styles class she replied…"speak for yourself shiv kapoor cos no one tangos better than I do. So he whirled her ,twirled her and dipped her increasing the frequency of her heartbeat to unknown values. She was scared he'd hear her heart beating. At the end of the dance….shiv clapped and said…truly, no one I know tangos better than you. She gave a lil bow and he laughed. "thank you shiv, this was one of my most memorable birthdays even if it didn't start out right. After much thought he said…Mine too. Her heart just leapt to her mouth and she wished time would stop right then so she could re live the night over and over again. But you cant ask for everything can you ??

The next morning shiv went back to his usual self as if the previous night never happened. But gauri did witness subtle changes in his behaviour over the week. He always greeted her when he met her and flashed her one of those million dollar smiles when ever she passed by. He wasn't totally silent in their room and made small talk.Shiv kapoor was extending a hand of friendship and she gladly accepted it. Gauri had only one friend (ironically shiv's best friend)- anupam. The next time she met him she excitedly told him…anupam I have a new friend. So shiv finally came round ?? How did you know I was speaking about him ?- cos noone else as a friend would bring such a glow to your face. Anupam, I know he'll never love me but im glad at least he accepts me as a friend. Give it time girl…love will also happen.
It was during this time that gauri met ipshita. She was shiv's childhood friend an was keen to meet her because shiv had told her so much about her. Initially gauri talked only about shiv with ipshita, she pestered her for every single detail regarding shiv's growing up years. Slowly realization hit gauri that ipshita was the woman in shiv's life. She was the one whom shiv loved so dearly. Drat…she had always imagined that the person whom shiv was in love with was a witch preferably with four heads. The fact that it was ipshita didn't go down well with her. She understood that she owed being Mrs Shiv kapoor to Ipshita. She thanked her silently in her heart for this. Gauri began to withdraw from everybody slowly, her face always had a smile but it never reached her eyes. Her dimples were visible always but it didn't have the shine. Ipshita was such a darling and the guilt that due to her two people very dear to her weren't together was eating her up. Still how could she unlove shiv. It was an impossible task especially since he had noticed her recent change in behaviour and did everything to cheer her up. Not loving this person was un imaginable but she knew that shiv loved ipshita and wanted ipshita as mrs Kapoor…not her.

So when shiv asked her for a divorce she readily agreed but only said that they be married for four more months so that their parents wouldn't take it too hard when they explained that they tried for one entire year. The joy she saw in ipshita's eyes was too much for to bear and she became a total recluse talking to no one and meeting no one. Shiv then dropped another bombshell on her, he was flying to newyork for a couple of months. Life as she knew it was over. On the eve of his departure gauri sat in her room listening to music

Baanwara mann dekhne chala ek sapna…
Banware mann ki dekho banwari hai baatein..
Banwarin hai dhadkane aur banwari hai saansein..
Banwari si karwaton se nindiya kyun bhaage…
Banware se nain chaahe banware jharokon se
Banware se nazaaron ko takna…

Banwara mann dekhne chala ek sapna…

Hello Mrs. Kapoor why you sitting in the dark ? It was shiv, he had recently taken to calling her by this name since everyone outside their house addressed her as that. Wiping her eyes she turned around smiling…Nothin…was just listening to music…Whats up with you ? Well I thought since I was leaving tomo we'd celebrate a little. To our friendship, to our divorce and to our freedom [That's it…he had come with a plan to kill her off….only he was very subtly carryin it off.]. Hmmm…lets do that…what did you have in mind ?? Well I bought cake and champagne…she groaned….how was she ever going to get thru the night ??Wonderful…what are we waiting for ? So once more over cake and champagne they talked for hours together…laughing till it hurt. Finally she stood up and said…shiv…care to dance ?? He was visibly taken aback…but said…sure afterall no one tangos better than you… -true…but I was in the mood for something slower…like waltz. So they waltzed away as mozart's symphony played as if it was playing on the chords of her heart. At the end if the dance they parted with much reluctance and all gauri could do was stare into those deep eyes. Shiv held her gaze for a while and then pecked her on the cheek and gave her a long hug. Gauri you are the best friend I have ever had.


Ring…you damn thing ring. Following her outburst at shiv the previous day for not calling her for a fortnight after reaching new york shiv had promised to call her. But the call was yet to come. Just as she was about to chuck her phone out the window it rang…
"Do you know your sunbeam is spying on me said a deep voice on the other end.
'is that so…? So if it weren't for my trusted spy you wouldn't have called ??

Thus they began talking…they spoke for hours at length about absolute rubbish. It became a daily affair…gauri spent almost all her nights talking to shiv on the phone and sometimes in the day too. She never remembered later what they has spoken about…but it didn't matter. She was happier than she had ever been. Though she felt slight pangs of guilt when she saw ipshita who casually mentioned that shiv had called her only a couple of time since being in new york…but all these thoughts were pushed far far away everytime her phone rang.
Two months passed in a blur and gauri found herself closer to shiv than any other human being . despite all this the impending divorce hung like an albatross perpetually on her neck. However god had other plans for her…like every other thing in her life…something unexpected happened. …SHIV FELL IN LOVE WITH HER.

Mamma…can we go home…I have finished all my icecream and im very sleepy now. Gauri was bought back to reality with her daughter tuggin at her sleeve. She looked at her watch…it was two hours past the time she had told anupam to meet her. Maybe he erally didn't want to meet her. Sighing she scooped up her daughter in her arms and headed outside to her car., her driver was waiting for her note in hand…
She opened it to find it penned in anupam;s familiar handwriting….

Gauri…Something important came up due to which I am unable to keep our appointment. But if you don't mind I'll meet you here at noon tomo. We'll talk then.
-anupam.