JB: Zindagi Ka Safar (2) Imp. Note Pg 44 - Page 22

Chapter 119

"Anju…listen" Jai said frustrated. Running his hand through his hair, he knew he was in it for sure especially when it came to Anjali. She rarely ever got pissed off and when she did, it only meant trouble for the ones involved. He knew he had to talk to her and pacify her. He hadn't meant to make Anjali mad but he just didn't understand why she was defending Ronit.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Jai heard Ronit yelling at him as he ran his hands through his hair in frustration. Ronit didn't know what was going on and right now he was pissed off at this man for upsetting Anjali. He started walking towards Anjali's room when he heard a voice behind him.

"You need to stay out of this! This is between Anju and me. Don't you dare go anywhere near her." Jai yelled as he walked towards the room himself.

Bani was standing there speechless. She didn't know what to do. She needed this to stop.

"Will you two please calm down? You two going at each other isn't helping anyone. Jai, what is wrong with you? You know better than to question Anjali, especially when she truly had no idea about all this."

"Bani…I didn't….you know I didn't mean to yell at her." Jai tried to justify.

"I know you didn't mean but the truth is, you have upset and only you can fix this. So go on and talk to her. Rishab…please let Jai go in and pacify Anjali. He's the one who messed up and he will be the one to fix it." Bani smiled softly at them both and realized that Rishab had a confused look on his face.

Rishab just nodded his head and came back towards the couch and sat down. He still didn't know what was going on and why Jai was upset with Anjali.

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Jai knocked on Anjali's door to see if she would open but when he heard no response, he turned the knob and found the door to be unlocked. He slowly walked into the room to find Anjali sitting on her bed pissed off. He looked around the room to find it beautifully decorated. On the wall he found two photo collages. One was the collage of all the pictures from their college days with Adi, Tarun and Yukti. Pictures from their games, dances, library and in the cafeteria goofing around. Another collage was of pictures from the summer from the carnival, the dance at the Youth center and other adventures. He smiled at the memories.

He slowly walked towards her and sat in front of her on his knees.

"I'm sorry Anju. I shouldn't have yelled like that. Pata nahi kya hua…I just lost my temper. Forgive me, please?" Jai said as he put his hands over her hands. She quickly moved her hands away from his.

She tried getting up from the bed to go towards her dresser but Jai caught her wrist and stopped her.

"Maine sorry bola na Anju. Come on yaar stop being childish." As soon as he said it he regretted it. He knew calling her childish just got him in more trouble than before.

"Ohh I'm sorry for being childish. I'm sure you wouldn't want to be friends with childish people" Anjali said as he removed her hands from his and walked over to the dresser and started to fix it. Putting things back where they belonged.

"I'm sorry na baba. Kaha na I didn't meant to lose my temper. I just…as soon as I saw him walking out of the kitchen and then you defending him, I just lost it."

"You always lose it! Do you ever think before you speak? This isn't the first time you've reached to the conclusion without letting other people explain themselves."

"Anju…" He tried to explain.

"No! Don't Anju me! Mar gayee hai Anju."

"Anju stop it. Maine sorry bola na. What do you want me to do? I couldn't help losing my temper when I heard you defending him. How was I supposed to react? You're my best friend, you've always stood by me no matter what and then now all of a sudden you chose to defend someone else over me. It just hurt."

"Ohh so you were jealous of the fact that I was defending Rishab? Do you honestly think that I would choose someone else over you? You're my best friend. Maybe my only friend in this world. Just because I was trying to explain to you doesn't mean I was not being your friend."

"I know and I realize that now."

"Yeah well it's a little too late now. You never listen to me when I try to explain something to you. This isn't the first time you did this Jai. Even when it was about Bani, you would jump to the conclusion."

"I know and I'm trying to fix that right now. I know I hurt you and I seriously want to make it up to you. Can I do something to make it up to you?" He asked trying to pacify her.

"You can leave me alone right now. I don't want to talk to you nor do I want anything with you right now. You've truly hurt me today Jai. I never thought you'd think that I'd lie to you about something so big." Anjali was still mad at him and wasn't going to forgive him that easily. He was used to her forgiving him all the time but this time there was no way he was going to get away with it.

Jai walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulder and tried to turn her around but she wouldn't budge. Instead she pushed him back and he fell back on her bed.

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In the living room, Bani and Rishab were just sitting there staring at the door to Anjali's room. Hoping to see it open anytime.

Rishab was losing his patience. He didn't know why it was taking so long for them to come out. He looked at Bani and saw how relaxed she seemed.

"Do you think everything is ok in there? I mean, why are they taking so long to come out?" He said with a hint of jealousy in his voice.

Bani chuckled and could understand why Rishab was feeling the way he was. He didn't know the depth of Anjali and Jai's relationship and anyone in his position would be jealous.

"Don't worry…if something major happens like a yelling session or a fight, you will hear it. Anjali and Jai are known to have big tempers."

"Oh. So this happens often? I mean, they fight often?" Rishab asked

"They don't fight all the time but when they do, it's always major."

"Oh"

Bani could tell Rishab wanted to ask her something but was hesitating. So to make him comfortable she decided to answer the question he was probably wanting to ask her.

"Jai and Anjali are best of friends. They have great history with each other. They're extremely close to each other. Anyone in your position would probably feel the way your feeling right now." Bani tried explaining.

"You don't mind their close friendship?"

"No because if it wasn't for Anjali, he and I wouldn't be together right now. She was the pushing force behind Jai and my relationship. You have to know that no matter what happens, they both stand by each other. It's kind of hard to explain their relationship because many people would misunderstand their close friendship. They act like as if they're a couple but that's just the way these two are."

Rishab just listened. He didn't know what to say. Sure, he'd seen many close friendships but Anjali and Jai's seemed to be different.

"Don't worry. You will understand once you get to know them both better and are around them more." Bani smiled at him.

"Yeah I guess." Rishab said smiling back at Bani. He liked Bani. She was quiet nice and she didn't seem like the one to have a temper like Jai did.

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Jai got up from the bed and tried talking to her but she kept shutting him off. She knew he hated silent treatment and that's exactly what she was doing. She was giving him a silent treatment.

He went in front of her and held his hands to his ears and started to sing. He knew she would melt eventually and if it took him singing to her, then he would do it.

Humse Rahoge kya hamesha khafa

Maaf bhi kardo jaana

Maan to li hai humne apni khata

Maaf bhi kardo jaana

Dekho ye gussa chhodo

Ab tum ye kissa chhodo

Dekho ye gussa chhodo

Ab tum ye kissa chhodo

Hum hain sharminda galti hogi na aindaa

Anjali ignored him and turned towards her bed and went to put stuff away in her draws. Jai followed her and turned her around giving her his best smile but even that didn't work. She pushed him back and glared at her.

"Come on jaan…aab mein kitni baar sorry kahoon? Abhi bhi nahi maaf karogi?" Jai asked as he leaned in front of her.

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In the living room, Rishab and Bani heard Jai singing. Rishab looked really confused while Bani started to laugh.

Rishab looked at her wondering why she was laughing.

"Anjali is a tough cookie and she's giving him hell right now so of course to pacify her, he's singing to her."

"And it works?"

"It's worked before on her and me but not sure if it's working now."

"These two really have a strange friendship" Rishab said still trying to make sense of it all. He didn't know what he was feeling about everything that was going on.

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Maan bhi jaao suno tumko kasam hai

Kaisi ye zidd hai kaisa sitamb hai

Milte ho jo kahin

Dekhte bhi nahin

Maan bhi jaao suno tumko kasam hai

Kaisi ye zidd hai kaisa sitamb hai

Milte ho jo kahin

Dekhte bhi nahin

Aisa bhi roothna kya bhala

Dekho to ek nazar tum zara

Aisa bhi roothna kya bhala

Dekho to ek nazar tum zara

Jo tum pe marta hai uska hai ab haal kya

Jai took her by her waist and started to spin her around.

"Put me down Jai. Jai stop it. Kya kar rahe ho?" Anjali said as she tried to get Jai to put her down.

"Not until you forgive me."

Dekho ye gussa chhodo

Ab tum ye kissa chhodo

Dekho ye gussa chhodo

Ab tum ye kissa chhodo

Hum hain sharminda galti hogi na aindaa

Humse Rahoge kya hamesha khafa

Maaf bhi kardo jaana

"I promise…ainda aisa nahi hoga." He said as he finally put her down. She was still not budging.

He picked up the framed picture of him and Anjali from her side table and smiled. He held the picture in his hand and put in on front of her as she tried to grab it from him.

Aise nikalo nahin tum humein dil se

Chaahne waale milte hain mushkil se

Socho zara meherbaan

Paaoge humsa kahan

Aise nikalo nahin tum humein dil se

Chaahne waale milte hain mushkil se

Socho zara meherbaan

Paaoge humsa kahan

Chhodo bhi tum ye naaraazgi

Aao bhi karlein hum dosti

Chhodo bhi tum ye naaraazgi

Aao bhi karlein hum dosti

Ab jaane bhi do ki jo bhi hua so hua

"Kahan milega koi mere jaisa?" Jai asked as he grinned.

"Bohot miljayege. Tum uski koi fikar mat karo."

Smiling he walked in front of her and said "You sure? Mere jaise itna handsome aur stubborn best friend tumhe kahan se milega?"

"Like I said you don't worry about that. And who said anything about you being handsome? Obviously that person needs to get their eyesight checked." She snapped back at him.

"Ouch Anju. You really know how to hurt a guys ego" He said with a mock-hurt look on his face.

Dekho ye gussa chhodo

Ab tum ye kissa chhodo

Dekho ye gussa chhodo

Ab tum ye kissa chhodo

Standing in front of her, he took her hands in his and put them on his head.

Hum hain sharminda galti hogi na aindaa

"Aab maaf kardo na yaar. Kitna tadpaogi? I promise to never lose my temper" He said and then added "in front of you."

Humse Rahoge kya hamesha khafa

Maaf bhi kardo jaana

Dekho ye gussa chhodo

Ab tum ye kissa chhodo

Dekho ye gussa chhodo

Ab tum ye kissa chhodo

Hum hain sharminda galti hogi na aindaa

"Are you sure you're willing to stay clam and listen to what I have to say?" Anjali finally asked melting.

"I promise. Tum jo kahogi mein wohi karunga. Anything. I promise."

"Don't make promises that you can't keep."

"Have I ever made you a promise that I never kept, Anju?" He asked

"No but I still like you reassuring me."

"Does that mean you've forgiven me?" He asked hopeful.

"Yes." Before she knew what hit her, Jai was hugging her. Still in his arms, he pick her up and spun them both around.

"Jai, pagal ho gaye ho. Put me down"

"One condition."

"What?" She asked not sure what the condition would be.

"Promise me that no matter what happens, no one will come between our friendship. I know that I've always been very protective of you, especially around other guys but it's because…"

"Because what?"

"Because I'm afraid that once your prince charming comes, you'll forget me and I'll lose my best friend. I value our friendship too much Anju and I don't want to lose you at any cost."

Anju had tears in her eyes as she looked at him. She always knew how protective he was and knew the reasons too but didn't really think he was jealous of the fact that another person could come between them.

She put her hands on his cheek and said "Jai, no matter what happens, there will always be Anju and Jai. Nothing and no one will ever come between us. You're my only best friend and I love you too much to put our friendship on line for anything. No matter who comes into our lives, nothing and no one will ever take away what you and I have."

"Promise?" he asked as if a child was asking.

"Promise" Anjali said as she hugged him.

He kissed her forehead and wiped her tears away.

"Do you honestly think that if I had known that Rishab was your brother I would have kept that from you? Or from him?" The determined look on Anjalis' face gave way to a sly grin as she saw Jai recognized the truth of what she had said. "I trust you're ready to listen now and I think we have two very eager people waiting for us."

"Yeah…let's go."

"Don't forget what I said Jai. You need to stay calm."

"I will. Now let's go before you kick me ass once again" They both laughed as Jai put his hands around her shoulders and walked out the room.

To be continued…