Part 34
Zyad kneeled down by Anjali. 'Hi princess, why the long face?' Anjali looked up and sighed. 'He is not here, is he?' Zyad smiled. 'You know Anjali, your dad is a real fool. He is blessed to love a lady that loves him back, but what does he do? He keeps his mouth shut. Instead of fighting for the girl that should be his, he is now sitting in the moonlight counting the stars. I've tried my best, but I don't think he will confess his love for Bani.' Anjali's face had cheered up when she got to know her dad was present, but she rolled her eyes at her dad's fooliness. 'Please Zyad uncle. Don't give up. We have to bring them together. Does Bani aunty know he is here?' Zyad shook his head in the negative. 'Ok. Well first lets make sure both of them meet and than we will see what happens next.' Zyad kissed Anjali and assured her that everything will be fine. He got up and walked outside to his friend. 'Jai! Hey mate why are you sitting here? The party is going on inside. It's still too early for a garden walk. Besides garden walks can only be enjoyed in the company of a beautiful lady, don't you agree?' Jai smiled faintly. 'Well introduce me to one and Ill enjoy her company gladly.' Zyad laughed. 'There is enough choice my friend. Just come in and pick the lady you want. Ill make sure to introduce you to her.' Jai stood up and shook his head. 'Don't bother. They lady I want is already taken.' Zyad was happy with the progess Jai seemed to have booked. He laughed out loud and hit Jai on the shoulder. 'I doubt it Jai! I doubt it!' The two gentlemen walked into the ballroom side by side and they both searched for the same lady. One with eyes filled with eagerness love and passion and the other with eyes filled with concern, hope and as usual sadness.
Pushkar was standing looking disappointed and disheartend when Bani joined him. 'Hi handsome. What has brought you to Dubai with even given me notice?' Pushkar looked up at Bani and smiled. 'You are looking absolutely breathtaking do you know that? I don't know why I haven't fallen in love with you instead. You're beautiful, smart, kind hearted. You're just perfect!' Bani giggled and blushed at the compliments paid by her dear friend. She followed his gaze and wasn't surprised it was fixed on her younger sister. 'Well Pushky, unfortunately we love by the heart and not the mind. Our hearts have their own way. It's the heart that chooses and we … we can only follow.' Pushkar sighed deeply. 'You've known her all your live. How come she is not more like you? I've tried everything to win her over, but she doesn't want me.' Bani felt sorry for her poor friend and put her arm around his shoulder. 'Look Pushkar. I know my sister very well. She has been spoilt very badly and that's why she has turned out the way she is. She is selfcentred and always like things to be hers. She likes to have everything that does not belong to her. She likes to live a life that is not hers. She gets bored with everything she has and can't appreciate it. So if you truly love her and know that she is simply the one. If you believe that you really want to share your life with her I will show you the way to get to her heart. I think it's time to change Pia for the better and I think that you are the only person who will be able to do that.' Pushkar already felt much better. 'Please, please help me Bani. I'll do whatever you tell me to.' Bani smiled. 'Are you sure?' : Friends promise. Just please tell me!' Bani looked at Pia, who was busy flirting with a young businessman. 'Ok, listen. If you want to win Pia you have to stay away from her. Flirt with other girls and pretend she doesn't exsist. Make her run after you and play very hard to get. Pretend you are not interested. Pretend she doesn't mean anything to you. Once she feels you have no attention for her, while all other girls do, she will start getting jelaouse and ask herself what she is lacking. She will step by step fall in love with you and suffer a bad heartache. Only then she will realise life's worth. She will realise what is really important in life and only then you will be sure you have won her heart. Now, do you see that beautiful girl that is standing next to Pia? Go over to her and ask her for a dance, but be carefull. Make it look as if your asking Pia, but instead invite that beauty ok?' Pushkar didn't feel like it, but he took Bani's word for it. He would give her plan a chance and see if Pia's feelings towards him would change. 'Ok gorgeous. I'm gone.' Bani looked at her friend as he walked across the room towards Pia and her new company. The shocked and offended look on Pia's face made her sure her plan would work out just fine.
Natwar and Rano were standing next to each other, watching other people dance, laugh and chat. The awkwardness between them was obvious. After they had exchanged the formalities, they hadn't said a word. Not during their dance and not after it. They were looking away from each other, while all they wanted at that time was to look only at each other. Natwar was fighting a battle against his own feelings. He was very happy to see Rano again and he thought she looked absolutely gorgeous. He wanted to talk to her like the old days. He wanted to be easy around her and tell her all that was in his heart, but at the same time he felt he was still angry with her for her stupidity. He was angry because she had left him for Saahil. Little did he know that he was not angry, but afraid. He was afraid that she would be still in love with Saahil. Afraid that she would reject his love or leave him once again when Saahil passed by. He tried to say something first, but couldn't. Eventually it was Rano who broke the inconvenient silence. 'Natwar? I … Can I please speak to you in private?' Her voice was soft and her tone hesitant. She was afraid of his reaction. She didn't know what to think or do. She was afraid he would reject her, like the many times before she tried to talk to him, but then she wondered if he was still upset with her, what was he doing in Dubai and why would he dance with her? She felt how he took her trembling hand in his and without uttering a word lead her outside to the perfectly shaped garden. They walked side by side for quite a wile, while holding hands. 'Natwar?' Rano stopped walking and so did Natwar. He turned to her and looked her in the eyes. He shook his head as a sign to keep her silent. 'No, Nattu. Please some things just need to be talked out and said out loud. I can't keep silent much longer.' Natwar sighed and closed his eyes. 'There was a time when I desperately needed a friend. I was a loner, sad and everyday went by unnoticed. Until you came into my life. You brought colours and music with you. You made me happy. I trusted you and wasn't afraid to be myself around you. You taught me to be self confident and to enjoy life. You taught me to be proud of who I are. But I betrayed you and everything you taught me, and most of all I betrayed myself.' She paused and touched Natwars shoulder. She wanted his full attention. She wanted him to look in her eyes before she continued. He opened his eyes and met hers. They kept starring at each other for a while. 'I'm sorry Natwar. Please forgive me. Please accept me back into you life. Please' She had tears in her eyes and if there was something Natwar couldn't stand it were tears in the eyes of the girl he loved so dearly. He hold her face between his hands, while he caressed her cheek tenderly. 'I'm sorry for not being there for you Rano. I shouldn't have left you when you needed me most. So if someone has to ask for forgiveness it's me. Please forgive me.' They both smiled and hugged. When Natwar let go of her Rano looked at him mischievously. 'So tell me Nattu. What have you come to Dubai for?' Natwar grinned and looked amusingly at Rano. He captured her eyes in an intense locking eyes session before he gathered enough courage to bend over and kiss her on the lips.
