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Anam
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Chapter 105
"Are you sure you don't mind not going to the movies with your friends?" Rishab asked as he turned his car onto the freeway... He was feeling very guilty for cutting Anjali's night short.
"Nah" Anjali grinned. "As much as I enjoy going to the movies I think I'd much rather spend some time alone with you."
"Jaan, you know this has to be a short night" Rishab reminded her. "Tomorrow is my biggest day of the year. I'm opening the store at 5 am."
Anjali laughed. "I know. I have to get some work done as well. I'm falling behind on work too."
Rishab shook his head and smiled at her. "I'm sorry. I just feel guilty for taking you away from your friends. I did have a great time by the way."
"So did I" Anjali smiled. "Heather and Mike think you're great. They've invited us back for New Year's Eve but I told them I'd have to get back to them on that one."
"Hey, at least on New Year's Eve I don't have to go to work the next day. Christmas Day and New Years Day my stores are closed. But you won't be around for Christmas will you?"
Anjali smiled nervously. "Nope. My best friend is getting married and I wouldn't miss it for anything in this world. I've even forgiven him for making me come back to India in the dead of winter."
Rishab chuckled. "I still can't believe he met his fiance on the Internet. That's unbelievable."
"Actually the unbelievable part was they met twice and eventually fell in love with two different people and they were both the same person."
Rishab looked at Anjali in confusion and then burst out laughing. "You're right. That is more unbelievable. I am going to miss you when you're gone, though."
"I'll miss you too" Anjali said. "But I understand your need to be at the store. Believe me, if it was anyone other than my him getting married, I'd be sending them a nice gift and best wishes. Winter and I do not get along. But there is no way I'm missing this wedding. I've waited years to finally see him getting hitched!"
Rishab chucked. The rest of the ride was made in silence. As Anjali stole glances of Rishab she couldn't keep the grin off her face as her mind drifted back to earlier in the day. She remembered how she felt on the car ride from San Diego to Heather and Mike's.
****Flashback****
For the rest of the drive from San Diego to Beverly Hills, Anjali filled Rishab in on some of the details of her childhood in India. Anjali always thought she had a pretty drab existence, but Rishab listened with such interest, she felt as if she'd had the most special childhood anyone could have.
'That's one of the things I love most about him, the way he makes me feel so special.' Anjali thought after she'd finished telling him her life's story.
Anjali almost froze in her seat when the realization of what she just thought hit her. Did she just think about Rishab and love together? Was it possible? Was she in love with Rishab?
****End Flashback****
Still smiling to herself Rishab turned and caught her staring. He grinned playfully. "A penny for your thoughts?"
"What?" Anjali asked. She then realized she'd been daydreaming. "Sorry about that" she replied sheepishly. "I was just thinking about things."
"Things, huh?" He asked with a raised brow.
"Yeah, things" she smirked.
Rishab didn't press. Before long he pulled into Anjali's driveway and parked the car. Immediately he cut the engine and got out and opened the door for Anjali.
"Thanks" she said as their eyes connected for a long moment. It was times like this that Anjali adored. The way he looked at her sometimes made her feel like she was the most special person on earth. Again, those feelings stirred deep inside her. She smiled and broke the gaze, not wanting to face those feelings just yet.
Rishab wrapped his arm around Anjali's waist and the two of them walked slowly towards her condo. She leaned her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist enjoying the closeness they now shared. What was happening between the two was what Anjali'd been dreaming of her whole life. When they reached her door she pulled away and reached for her key in her purse. Rishab gently took the key from her and inserted it in the lock as they shared a very intense gaze. Anjali's heart did a back flip and she caught her breath when she saw the look in his eyes and knew she had to stop this now.
Rishab couldn't tear his eyes away from Anjali. As he stared deeply into her sparkling eyes a lopsided grin formed and he was powerless to remove it. In all his recollections he couldn't remember feeling this way about another human being. Rishab spent the last dozen or so years keeping his distance from other people, not wanting to get too close. He never intended to start a serious relationship with a woman and although he and Anjali were taking things very slowly, this relationship was headed in only one direction… serious. Anjali's lips curved into a dazzling smile as their gaze continued to intensify and Rishab felt his heart just about melt. It was then he knew he needed to distance himself. He was falling for her, head over heels in love with her and had no idea what to do about it. He couldn't let that happen until he thought things out very carefully.
Rishab stifled a yawn as he finally opened the door to Anjali's condo. "Excuse me" he laughed.
"Are you tired?" Anjali asked, glancing at her watch. It was already 9:30 and she knew Rishab had to be up by 4 am if he was to open his store for five and compete with the other merchants.
"A little" he said.
"Rishab, you don't have to stay you know" Anjali said. "We can rent a movie any night. Why don't you go home and get some rest. You have a very busy day ahead of you tomorrow."
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Rishab asked. It was true, he did need some sleep but he also needed some time alone to think and when he was with Anjali he couldn't do that.
"I don't mind" Anjali smiled. "I have to work tomorrow too so I'll probably just do a few emails and go to bed." Anjali did love Rishab's company but right now she needed some space, some time to think things out before they went too far and she found herself wounded to the core.
"All right then" Rishab grinned. "I don't know when we'll see each other. These next few weeks are going to be crazy."
"I'm sure we can fit a cup of coffee or something in there somewhere" Anjali smirked.
"Or something" Rishab said playfully.
Anjali chuckled and playfully slapped his shoulders, somewhat surprised at Rishab's comment.
He couldn't help himself sometimes. This woman drove him to distraction. "Sorry" he said.
"I bet you are sweetheart!" Anjali replied with an impish grin of her own.
Rishab leaned in and kissed Anjali tenderly on the lips. He had every intention of making it a quick good night kiss, but the temptation was too great. He pulled her into an embrace and kissed her with such soft sweet passion, when their lips finally parted Anjali was sure her knees would buckle underneath her. When he backed away, she placed her hand on the table next to her for support.
"Good night Anjali" Rishab smiled. "Happy Thanksgiving. I had a great time today. It was the best I can remember."
"I had a great time too" Anjali smiled back. "Good night."
With that Rishab exited her condo and Anjali fell back onto her couch. She closed her eyes and let out a huge sigh as scenes from the day kept replaying in her mind. "Now what am I going to do?" She thought. After a moment she had her answer. She got up and walked over to her computer to email Jai.
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Bani sighed happily as she stared deeply into the raging bonfire wrapped snuggly in the arms of the man she adored. "Jai, this has been the best Thanksgiving I've ever had" Bani said contentedly as she watched the flames shoot high in the air.
"I agree" Jai whispered in her ear right before kissing her cheek. "I've always loved the holidays. There's no better feeling than being surrounded by the people you love, but this year is definitely special." He kissed her again. "Because this year I got to spend it with you. I have so much to be thankful for this year, Angel."
Bani turned slightly so she could look into Jais' eyes. She couldn't help the smile that formed at the corner of her lips when she saw the reflection from the bonfire dancing in his eyes. Her heart caught in her throat at the look of burning desire mixed with deep love and devotion on his face at the moment. She's never seen Jai appear more gorgeous than he did at this precise moment.
"Oh Jai" Bani said, reaching her hand up to his face and lightly caressing his cheek. "I'm the one who is thankful. I thank God every day for having your love." She smiled as she remembered receiving that first email from him all those months ago. She didn't know what it was about it, but there was something that made it stand out to her. "Do you remember that first email you sent to me, about the Spain post?"
"How could I forget" Jai grinned sheepishly.
"I remember every word" she admitted contentedly. "I didn't know what it was at the time, but there was just something about it that stuck with me. I got this really weird feeling reading it."
Jai shook his head and smiled. They were both thinking of that very email that changed their lives forever.
"How is it possible that such an innocent email would lead to such happiness?" She asked in wonder.
"My sweet BDGirl" Jai sighed. "I will cherish our Internet relationship forever, but you know what the best part of our relationship is?"
Bani's smile widened. "I certainly do. We got to fall in love with each other twice at the same time."
"Yep" Jai said. "Not many people can say that, now can they?" The two laughed for a moment before becoming completely lost in each other's gaze. The heat from the bonfire was becoming intense, either that or the deep emotions they were feeling at the moment coupled with months of pent up desire and wanting caused them to join in a kiss so fervent they momentarily forgot where they were.
"Hey! Who has the hose? It's getting too hot over here!" Tarun yelled. In the back of his mind Jai heard Tarun yelling about the hose and his manly instinct kicked in thinking somehow the fire had gotten out of control. He reluctantly pulled back from his passionate embrace and shook off what he was feeling to try and concentrate on the potential disaster.
"What's up Tarun?" Jai asked, finally composing himself. He glanced over at the fire and was surprised when he saw it was actually dying down a little, not spreading. "What's going on?" Bani pulled herself together and stood up with Jai, her cheeks quite flushed.
Tarun laughed. "You, yaar. You two are unbelievable. There are small children here, buddy."
"Oh" Jai replied, suddenly realizing what Tarun was talking about. He turned to Bani and she buried her head on his chest in embarrassment.
"I just came over here to say "Happy Thanksgiving" to you both. But I can see the two of you are already happy."
Jai laughed, watching the wicked grin on his friend's face. "Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Tarun."
"Happy Thanksgiving Tarun" Bani smiled. She was embarrassed as could be, but knew it was Tarun's nature and there was nothing she could do about it. In fact, it was one of the things she liked best about him. He always made her laugh.
"You know Jai, there's something I've been meaning to say to you for a few months now and keep forgetting."
Oh yeah?" Jai asked. He now had his arms wrapped tightly around Bani. Since his "scare" was over, he wanted nothing more than to get back to where they'd been a moment ago.
"Do you remember a conversation we had this summer right before Bani started working at the Youth Center?"
Jai stared at Tarun thoughtfully. "I'm not sure Tarun, refresh my memory."
"Sparks" Tarun grinned impishly. "I told you I never saw any sparks or chemistry between you and Roshni, which it was probably a good thing your relationship was over."
Jai was slightly uncomfortable at the mention of Roshni's name, especially after all Roshni had done to him and Bani recently. He pulled Bani closer to him. "I have a vague recollection."
"I missed the boat yaar and I'm sorry. But I have to tell you, I saw sparks the first time I saw you and Bani in the same room but that was nothing compared to what I saw tonight. Heck, if I didn't know better I'd say those sparks I saw flying were what started this bonfire."
Jai grinned and his gaze caught Bani's embarrassed smirk. "What can I tell you Tarun? When you're right you're right. Bani is definitely my once in a lifetime love. She's my soul mate." The love reflected in Jais' eyes right now was astounding and it warmed Tarun's heart to see his friend so happy.
"I'll leave you two love birds alone" Tarun grinned. "You, Aarav and I are headed home and I have a pretty good idea what you two have planned." Tarun and Yukti both hugged Jai and Bani and Tarun winked knowingly at Jai as they departed.
Bani laughed, still slightly flustered while Jai groaned inwardly. Bani caught the look on Jais' face and whispered in his ear, "Only twenty eight days and ten hours, my love."
Jai looked at Bani in surprise. "Come on Angel" he said. "Let's get you home. The more nights that pass, the sooner our wedding day will be here."
Bani smiled. "And we'll be husband and wife."
Jai smiled at her and the two walked off into the crisp night air hand in hand.
To be continued…
Current Affairs
