Part 6 b
By now Arjun had gotten a grip on his mind, in time to listen to Arohi share her memory of when she was a child. Whose dimples was she talking about? Did she mention marriage and some guy in the same sentence? Regarding HER??? Suddenly his mind was alert to the talks that these two best friends were sharing. He agreed with Shefali, she did look like a doll, but his conscious mind had taken over, totally enraged at the dream of a 10-year old girl, of marrying some moron named David.
At the exact same moment, Arohi turned to adore herself in the mirror and saw his suit-clad perfect body standing a couple of inches behind her. But in the mirror it displayed a hot sexy man with gelled hair, wearing a perfect suit, standing next to a beauty in a white gown, like two figurines on top of a three tiered wedding cake, a picture painted few seconds ago by Shefali.
They stared at each other through the reflection, when Arohis smile slipped on seeing the silent rage in his eyes.
"ARJUN!!!" Shefali's scream brought Arjun and Arohi out from their trance and broke their eye lock.
She rushed to him and hugged him tightly as Arjuns hands went around Shefali. Even when Arjun had forcibly married Arohi, Shefali had still maintained her friendship with him. Refusing to acknowledge her best friends hostile feelings as a valid reason to keep her distance from Arjun. And she had truly been a great friend, to him and Arohi both.
"Kaisi ho Shefali?" Arjun asked pulling back from her hug and smiling.
"Mein thik hu lekin tum yahan kya karrahe ho? It sooo nice to see you after so long." Shefali smiled with genuine happiness on her face. She was truly happy to see him, and happy for Arohi.
"Woh mein… Raj ke liye kuch toys lene aaya tha." Arjun blurted out.
Shefali saw Arohi stiffen from the corner of her eye on Raj's name. She knew Arohis feelings for her foster son, and how everyone had avoided mentioning him in front of her. She threw a quick glance in her direction to see her eyes tear up, before she looked around, feigning ignorance. She had to do something, this was not how this meeting was supposed to go. Quickly turning to Arjun, she said the first thing that came to her mind.
"Tum Raj ke liye games lene aaye ho??? Yaha??? Lingerie section mein???"
Arohis ears perked up as she realised this minor detail. What was he doing in the lingerie section? What games do they sell here for a 6 year old??? Was Arjun lying??? She turned towards him, hands crossed across her chest, waiting for him to answer as her foot started tapping impatiently.
Arjun frowned. What was he supposed to say now? That his heart had drawn him to his ex-wife, who had left him a couple of weeks back? That she still rules his heart and he can act like a complete idiot in front of her??? Or that her mentioning some guy, even a childhood crush can boil his blood and make him do the most unthinkable. 'No Arjun.' He chided himself. 'Remember that You.Dont.Care. You are not jealous. You will not react. You are going to compose yourself and deal with this situation with dignity and maturity.'
"Haaannn… Naaiii… woh…… tum bhi toh yaha iss section mein ho aur gowns try karrahi ho." Arjun finished the sentence, turning the tables on them and looked at Arohi accusingly.
"Hum to yuhi try karrahe they… for fun. Aur yahan issliye hain kyuki waha pe saare fitting rooms busy they. Lekin tum mera question kyu avoid karrahe ho??? Lingerie section mein kaunse toys lene aaye ho?" Shefali asked him teasingly.
Arohi was watching this friendly banter, only interested in his answer.
Arjun thought Arohi would be the one offering the explaination and then he would cross question her on the wedding gown. And David. But he will not be the one to start the conversation. Arohi will HAVE TO talk to him first, and he knew how to make Arohi talk. Bhaad mein gayi maturity and integrity!!!
Clearing his throat, Arjun started, "Actually mere kehne ka matlab hai ki mein MALL mein toys lene aaya hu. Lekin ye section mein... mai… woh… ahem… apni nayi secretary ke liye gift lene aaya hu." This time Arjun avoided looking at Arohi after he finished talking.
Arohi felt as if someone had slapped her. Nayi secretary? Gift? Lingerie??? Kaun apni nayi secretary ko lingerie gift karta hai? Lekin Arjun Singhania kar sakta hai. Arohi was vibrating with jealousy and anger. She had to let it all out, thrash him verbally for even thinking something so cheap. If she kept it inside her then she might slip into coma due to excessive emotional haemmorage. Finally when she could not take it anymore, she looked at Shefali and spoke, because she will be damned if SHE spoke to HIM first!
"Dekha Shefali… Kaise cheap log hai iss duniya mein, Secretary nahi koi girlfriend hui jaise… Bichhari, wo jo bhi hai. Kaam shuru kiya bhi nahi aur boss ne tharkipan dikhana shuru kar diya."
"Shefaaaleee…" Arjun started, his eyes quickly checking on Arohi, enjoying her fuming self and imagining smoke coming out of her ears and nose. "Tumhe kuch jalne ki smell aarahi hai kya? Waise TUM ho issliye batata hu. Meri nayi secretary bohat modern hai you know… Salwar kameez wagaire nahi pehenti, only skirts, minis, micro minis. Aur usska naam bhi usski personality ki tarah hai. Valentine D'souza. Ab ladki jab itni modern ho toh, she will not mind if I give her a nice lingerie, as long as it is tasteful. Haina???"
Arohi rolled her eyes and muttered to herself. "Valentine… ye kaisa naam hai? Ladki hai ya koi saint!"
Shefali was staring at Arjun and then Arohi and then Arjun again. Switching her eyes back and forth to the conversation directed at her, yet feeling completely out of it. She felt like grabbing both of their heads and knocking them against each other. They were seeing each other after more than a month and still could not show their real feelings even for a micro second. Sighing at their stubborness she realised that SHE will have to steer the conversation in the desired direction. Where was her boyfriend when she needed him??!!"
***
"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU??? AND WHY IS YOU PHONE UNREACHABLE??? IM IN THE MALL. CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU GET THIS MESSAGE. ASAP!!!"
Romit read Arjuns message for the third time. Why did god hate him so much? Kisika achha karne jaao aur ussi se gaaliyan khaao. Sending a message is safer. He quickly typed a message and sent it. He sent one more message and turned to Sanchit.
"Bro aagaye hain. Maine unse keh diya hain ki hum, mera matlab hai ki mein ground floor pe hoon. Aur Shefali ko bhi msg kar diya hai. So lets go down."
"Ok." Sanchit and Romit both started to go downstairs.
"Waise plan kya hai? I mean sirf un dono ko saamne laane ka koi faayda nahi. We will have to make them talk."
"Exactly. Issliye thodi der baad, tum shefali aur bhabhi neeche aajana bill bharne ke liye. Sms me, so that I make sure hum bhi billing ki line mein ho. Tab hum sab jhooth ka natak karenge milne ka. Tum Bro se baat karna aur mein bhabhi ko emotional banaunga. Hopefully wo dono koi aisi baat karenge jisse ya to humey koi clue mil jaaye ki problem kya hai, ya wo dono ko hint mil jaaye that how much they miss each other."
"You think this will work? I mean wo dono jab pyar se saath mein rehte they tabbi 24x7 jhagre karte they. Aur abb to unke paas jhagrey larney ke kai reasons hai."
"Risk toh hai. But we will have to take it. Kuch nai to humey hamari next move ke liye koi clue mil jaayega."
Romit turned towards Sanchit but he was not there. Looking around he tried to locate Sanchit, when he saw him standing behind a pillar, hiding, and franctically pointing a finger in his direction, as if asking Romit to look behind. Confused Romit turned around to confront Arjun Singhania's murderous gaze.
"Tuney to kaha tha tu ground floor pe hai. To tu yaha kya karraha hai???" Arjun cocked one eyebrow and glared at him.
"Woh mein coffee peene gaya tha upar jab tak aap nai aate. Lekin aap itne gusse mein kyu lagrahe ho?"
"Kuch nai… Chal neeche." Grabbing Romits arm Arjun started dragging him towards the escalator. Cheap… She had called him cheap. And tharki! Arjun was fuming with anger, and to top that she had dismissed him and walked away to change as if he was nobody. Well he will show her.
***
"Hum yaha kyu aaye hai? Billing counter toh upar ke floor pe bhi thaa na???" Arohi asked exasperated as Shefali had dragged her to the ground floor mens section for payment. She was already irritated with Arjuns shameless display of interest in his "to-be-appointed" secretary, and now her friend was irritating her more.
"Unka credit card ka machine nahi chal raha tha Arohi. Tu itni irritated kyu hai? Thodi der pehle to tera mood achha tha. Ye jo kurta tuney liya hai wo bohat cute hai." Shefali was desperately trying to change her mood, preparing for the next turn of events.
"Mujhe bas ghar jana hai. DJ mera intezaar karrahi hongi." Arohi turned towards the cash counter and placed her purchase and credit card on it, just as another hand placed a couple of video games and another card next to it.
Arjun and Arohi looked up to meet each others angry gazes.
"Tum??!!" They both screamed in unison.
"Tum yahan bhi aagaye… Tum kahi mera peecha toh nahi karrahe???" Forgetting her vow to not talk to him first, Arohi burst at the opportunity to fire at Arjun.
"Oh hello… Mujhe tumhara peecha karneka koi shauk nahi hai! Aur waise bhi MAINE tumhe bataya tha ki mein toys lene aaya hu. Aur TUM yaha aayi ho. Kahi tum mera peecha toh nahi karrahi???"
"Tumhara peecha karey meri jooti. Mujhe aise tharki logon ki shakal dekhna bhi pasand nahi hai." Arohi turned her face away from Arjuns glowering one.
Three people were shaking their heads in despair, as if this action might magically change the situation.
"Are you both together???"
Arjun and Arohis heads snapped to look at the cash counter attendant in disbelief, as if she had grown two heads.
Arohi found her voice first. "Together?? Hum aapko together nazar aate hain!!! Aise insaan ke saath "together" hone se achha mein marr jana pasand karungi!"
"Aur aisi junglee billi ke saath together rehne se achha mein himalaya jaake sanyaas le lunga."
The attendant stared at both of them as they continued their staring match.
"Hi jeeju" "Hi Bhabhi" Sanchit and Romit walked in to salvage the situation. Arjun and Arohi calmed down enough, to acknowledge them with a small smile. Their faces showed the turmoil of emotions running in their minds as they avoided looking at each other.
Romit asked the counter attendant to bill Arohi first. Arjun took a step back, as if accepting defeat silently. Romit tried to make small talk with Arohi till her bill got cleared, whereas she responded to him in monosyllables. Shefali and Sanchits heart was breaking to watch the two most amazing people, who belonged together, act like strangers.
"Bye Romit. Take care… Apna aur Raj, Dadi, Rashi ka khayal rakhna." Arohi spoke as every word choked her voice with emotions. Arjun watched her face even though she refused to look at him. Taking her card and shopping, Arohi moved away without a backward glance. This was the second time in one day that she was walking away from him.
***
Romit was checking the games bought by Arjun, walking towards the exit. Arjun had gone ahead to take an important call and asked him to pick up the packages and meet him near the car. As he turned a corner, Arohi called out to him. Turning back, Romit waited as Arohi came near and slipped a small package in his hands.
"Ye meri taraf se Raj ko de dena. Aur kehna ki usski Arohi mom usse bohat miss karti hai." Arohis eyes filled with tears, as Romits hand covered hers.
"Hum sab bhi aapko miss karte hai bhabhi. Bohat." Romit smiled at her. Arohi smiled a watery smile and said, "Mein bhi."
"Aur mein sab ka khayal rakhunga… Bro ka bhi." Arohis head jerked up to see the understanding in Romits eyes. She looked away before Romit could read her. Pulling her hand away from his grip, she walked away towards the parking lot. Romit looked at Shefali and Sanchit, who were standing a few feet behind. The three planners sharing a happy smile with only one thought in their mind… All is not lost!
***
"Do you remember anyone in particular? Koi purani dushmani ya…"
"Uhuh… Dushman to bohat hain. Lekin unme koi ladki nahi hai."
"Probably a lover scorned. A heart broken womans revenge is the most dangerous."
"Nope. Ive never dated anyone from my business contacts. This is the reason Ive always kept my personal and professional life separate. Hamare profession mein dushman ko dost, aur dost ko dushman banne mein time nahi lagta."
"To phir, kaun ho sakti hai? Can we just discuss this with the others???
"Maine tumse pehle hi kaha hai ki mein kisi aur ko involve nahi karna chahta. I cannot put anymore lives in danger!!!"
"But Arjun…"
"No buts!!! You're involved only because I didn't have a choice warna…"
"Im involved because I didn't leave you any choice!!! Anyway if you do remember or hear anything, make sure you inform me. I'll try to find it out from my end. And take care."
"Yea… you too." Arjun smiled as he jogged away towards his house.
Arjun checked his watch for the umpteenth time, wondering why Romit is taking so long to pick up the bags. He decided to put his brain to better use while he waits instead of calling Romit names. The conversation played over and over in his mind but everytime, in the end only one question was killing him inside.
'Kya maine usse bhi involve karke thik kiya???'
Sorry for the delay. Hope you enjoyed this diwali dhamaka episode!!! As you can see i got carried away and had to post this in two parts. Next update will be after 18th.
Happy diwali to all of you... May this diwali bring happiness and prosperity to you and your family 🤗