Part 2
Harman Juneja. How to describe him? Three years ago our annual giddha competition (it's a form of dance for those who don't know) was going on and the minute I was announced the winner I jumped off the stage in excitement and ran into the crowd bumping into the tall Harman Juneja who mumbled a quiet congratulations—but from that moment on I was gone. We got together shortly after when he came into my parent's ice cream place and we began to talk. He'd always come up after exams and they'd stay for two weeks and then until the next time—we'd survive on texts and emails.
"Don't worry Maddy," I smiled at her. "He'll be here in time for measurements."
Maddy was lying though. She wasn't worried about the measurements; it was Harman himself. Shabo had gone and planted a seed of doubt in her mind, the same seed that she'd been trying to plant in mine for weeks.
The fact was I kinda hadn't heard from Harman in about three weeks. Shabo had gotten wind of Harman's sudden blackout and was convinced that this was HIS way of telling me he wouldn't be coming up to Ludhiana for the break this year. Shabo didn't like Harman. Two years ago he had promised to drive her up to see one of her favourite bands but he had to cancel last minute since Veera—his little sister had broken her leg. Ever since then he appeared 'wishy-washy' to her. I mean he was looking after his LITTLE SISTER. I for one think it's a valid reason. But once Shabo decided on something—it was hard to change her mind; and now lately she had decided that I should also understand. Her favourite examples of Harman's 'wishy washy' ness were when he bought two of the same hats in red and blue because he didn't know which one he liked better. Or the time when we were at a restaurant and he couldn't decide between French fries or mashed potatoes and he took so long that the waitress just brought him both.
Shabo never understood Harman. But I did and that was why we were together. Despite his little indecisiveness; he was one of the most caring and sensitive guys I knew.
I licked off some of the ice cream on my finger and pointed at Maddy. "You and Shabo have me thinking bad about Harman,"
"Sorry Meher," Maddy mumbled.
And she pulled that face on me again. I couldn't stand it when Maddy's bottom lip started quivering. "No—I'm sorry."
My main reason for going along with this, 'Make Sanjana Rampal pay' scheme was because I wanted her to cry her eyes out break up with Manav so that he could realize what he was missing with Maddy and that would leave me feeling happy. (Yeah I know dreams never come true,)
Maddy pushed her bangs away from her face. "I wish Shabo would let me design a dress for her too,"
We both knew that wouldn't happen. Shabo had her favourite dress picked out from ages ago. The only issue at that point was finding someone to flaunt on her arm; not that she wasn't asked out. She was asked out PLENTY. The promise was—no one was good enough for our Shabz.
The door to my parent's ice cream shop, Kwality opened then; the bells clanging loudly indicating my need to rise and help them out. But as I was standing I saw that it was only Preet and Shabo.
I looked immediately at Maddy, to point out the fact that Shabo and Preet were together. Her eyebrow shot up, and her mouth formed an O. I had decided that only love would shake Shabo from her slightly sarcastic nature.
Preet was sunny enough to overcome Shabo's sarcastic nature, but he was the apple of almost every girl's eye in our college. It was a long shot that he'd ever settle for dating just one, but I still held out hope, for Shabo's sake. Not that she'd ever expressed interest, but still.
As Shabo and Preet walked through the door, I saw that they were both red-faced. They were sort of speed walking, not really running but moving fast while trying hard to NOT run. In fact, they looked like they were trying to avoid being noticed. And Shabo looked funny. She had on a too long, too old lady like bulky midnight navy parka that I'd never seen before. It didn't really fir her, and now only that, her left arm was draped in front of it, as if she was holding something underneath the coat.
"Oh no," I didn't know what it was all about, but the two of them were each mischievous in their own right. When they got together, the havoc they could cause was untold.
"Shut the door!" Shabo exclaimed, catapulting herself through the entrance and snagging the sleeve of the ridiculously puffy coat on one of the bells. "Argh!" She made a very very weird sound while trying to get herself untangled from it.
"How do you lock this thing?" Preet fumbled around the door, looking for a lock.
"Hey Preet," the freshman girls sitting at the bar cooed. Preet straightened up, forgetting whatever had been so urgent just moments before, ran a tanned hand through his gorgeous hair and flashed a smle that melted hearts. "Hello there, ladies."
I rolled my eyes and Maddy giggled.
"Preet! Lock the door," Shabo half shouted at him. Preet looked at the door as if he'd never seen one before and then walked over to it while I just shook my head and went to help and quickly turned the lock that was plainly in sight for him.
"Oh," He said, turning his grin on me. "I don't know why I never saw it,"
"Preet, you'll have to keep an eye out. Stand there and keep watch," Shabo ordered. Her dark hair tumbled down her back as she whipped off her dark grey hair.
"Keep an eye out for what?" Maddy asked.
"What's going on? Whose coat is that?" I asked.
Shabo nodded her head and pointed a finger at me, as if acknowledging my observing skills. "It's Mean Daljeet's. I had to take it. It was the only coat bulky enough to hide it."
"By god," Maddy shook her head and let it drop in her hands.
"You didn't," I said as I sank onto the booth's seat.
Shabo pointed at Preet. "It's all his fault. He's the one who made me take it."
"Hey! You thought she should see it too," Preet said lazily from his post at the door.
"Yeah, but I wasn't the genius who had the thought of stealing it. Do you know what Mean Daljeet's will do to me if she realize what we did?" Mean Daljeet was Shabo's boss at the front desk from the local hotel. She had it out for Shabo, ever since Shabo got caught lecturing some guests about wearing leather. Daljeet was old—nobody knew how old—even though she desperately tried to look young.
"I was just going to have you come over. But it turns out Preet's kinda good at theft." I didn't say anything to Shabo, but if Preet was the one who was good at 'theft' why was the stolen item in HER stolen jacket?
"Shabo! It's her! It's Mean Daljeet!" Preet pointed through the door, and Maddy and I held our breaths while Shabo tried to disappear beneath the table. Then Preet shook his head and said. "Nope. My bad. Just a big dog there."
Shabo glared at him.
"Guys, you're making me nervous." I said. "What's going on?"
"Sit down, Meher," Preet suggested.
"Yeah, sit here." Shabo pointed at the seat across her. "Like I said, this wasn't my idea." She unzipped the parka as Maddy stared at her stunned. "I can't believe you stole her jacket."
Shabo laughed. "That's the least of my worries. Daljeet's gonna freak if she finds THIS missing." And Shabo took out a large leather-bound oversize book from the coat.
"You took the register book?" I asked in disbelief.
"Well it serves her right for not letting us get a computer. Everyone uses a computer now."
Maddy put a hand on Shabo's arm, to calm her. Maddy is very soothing and once Shabo starts on Daljeet, it's no use trying to calm her down.
"Okay so what do I need to see?"
Shabo took a deep breath.
"Just show her already," Preet shouted as a group of people walked through the door.
"I'll be right with you," I said to the customers as they approached the counter. It'd take them a while to pick anyways.
"Hurry up okay? My mom is going to kill me."
Shabo took another deep breath and flipped through some pages while my breathing slowed and then got faster all in the same minute.
"I found it this morning but I didn't know what to make of it." She flipped some more and stopped at the page with the list of participants for the costume part of the special dance coming up and put her finger on a pair of names and rotated the book so I could read it.
I saw my own name next to Harmans. Looking just like it should; perfect. But then Shabo took the book away from me and turned one page and her finger stopped on another name.
"Maya Singhania? Who's that?" I asked.
"Keep reading."
I did. Maya Singhania of Mumbai, was entering the contest as well with Harman Juneja. My boyfriend. I was too confused to say anything. I looked up at Shabo, hoping she could help me figure out what to think.
"He's here Meher." Shabo said sadly, and flipped back towards the front of the book. "His family got in yesterday."
Harman had been in town for an entire day and he hadn't called me. And he'd brought another girl with him.
How was that? Next chapter should be up tom or the day after...! 😛 I feel like I'm on a roll...weird na? 😳 I'll have you also know...this is one of the longest chapters EVER! 😛
Love you loads,
Meera😳
Shiv Shakti
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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