Part-4
Armaan chuckled in amusement as he saw the look of horror on Ashu's face
"Don't you love Asmitha??? I thought you did? Half of the college is jealous of the attention she pays to you"
"Oh..plz Armaan . Don't you know how much she irritates me?"
"All great love stories begin this way...I am looking forward to a legendary romance...something that'll inspire a generation of lovers. God has already indicated his will and that's why her roll number comes right after your's."
"Do you realize that if you weren't my friend then I would have torn you from limb to limb for suggesting this nonsense"
"Cool yaar...don't you realize that you'll be rejecting God's blessing by spurning Asmitha?"
"What has happened to you Armaan? Have you contracted the disease which has already dimmed Asmitha's mental faculties...did she bite you??? Oh no no...good girls like her don't bite...they do something of the French kind don't they...that's how the virus got transmitted"
Ashu had decided to give Armaan a taste of his own medicine. Never ever had Armaan expected Ashu to tease him back...and here he was...suggesting an unthinkable method of 'transmission'...
"Are you doubting my holy love for Manasi?" Armaan laughed
"Whom are you kidding Armaan ? after spending all these years with you, I may not qualify to be your 'wife' but you can't deny me the position of a 'padosan'. After all the wife is the last one to know about a man's transgressions whereas the neighbour is probably among the first...I have seen you ogling at Prathap's saali..."Ashu bursts out laughing..."Dil mein manasi aur aankhon mein Nancy"
"Oye, tuh yeh sab kahan se seekh ke aaya?" Armaan said in mock anger...
"You have never really understood your husband Armaan"
"Chal, leave all that...let us get back to reality...you needn't worry about the Asmitha angle...I think...or rather I am convinced that the sender isn't Asmitha, shallow girls like her can't come up with such meaningful lines...yeh toh koi shuddh bharatiya premika ka kaam hai...
in fact I have a suspect in my mind...and my suspect has radically altered her dressing style to impress you my boy"
Ashu was quick to understand what Armaan was implying, he stood and made up his mind to search for her...
Armaan restrained him..."What's the hurry my jaan? You'll be seeing her in the library in a couple of hours"
Ashu blushed crimson and Armaan loved the sight in front of him...Fort Ashu had been conquered by Princess Nidhi...the news had just been confirmed.
Ashu overcame his hesitation and asked Armaan "You said something about her dress right? what experiment has she done"
"Sorry, I don't know who you are talking about...pronouns confuse me...why don't you use nouns instead?" winked Armaan
"Come on...mujhe aur kitna nachaoge...tell me quick..."
"Excuse me"
"Plzzz Armaan...remember how I helped you in winning over Manasi??? Please give some consideration to that fact"
"Manasi...who manasi? I think my head is filled with images of Nancy" Armaan added nonchalantly...he loved using Ashu's words against him
theek hai chalo tumhe maaf kiya...But I love to see the suspense building up...wait for her...sabr ka phal meetha hotha hai"
Ashu gave an exasperated look as Armaan walked away...suddenly,he turned back and said "Nidhi ko mera namaste keh dena"...he ran away laughing.
Ashutosh smiled to himself...he knew pretty well that this was just a sample of things to come.
Every minute seemed like an hour...Ashu ran out of the lecture hall as soon as the lecturer left...Mallika called him.."Ashu suno toh...woh jo kal party hone..."
Armaan's gesture made her stop midway..."Mallika, the party is the last thing on Ashu's mind..."
Mallika gave him a puzzled look...
Armaan gave a sly smile and said " Destiny has its ways"
Mallika shook her head and said "I'll talk to him after lunch"
Meanwhile,
Ashu stared at his watch as if that would make all the watches in the world move faster. There was no sign of Nidhi...That wasn't her fault, it was he who had come way too early.
She arrived at her usual time but in an unusual attire. Her skirt ended well above her knees and her top had an asymmetrical cut...Her discomfort was apparent...and Ashu didn't like what he saw..he walked up to her and said- "Nidhi can you come out for a second?"
Nidhi was taken by surprise...
Once outside Ashu told her- "Nidhi I think your old style suited you better...at least that is what I prefer..." Having said this, he walked away.
It took her some time to digest what he said
"He made his preferences clear...why would he do that??
Well he did notice me...OMG...he likes me...!!!!"
A wave of happiness took over her..."Ashu ne mujhe apna samjha"
She was happy that Ashu liked her the way she was...
That evening she texted Armaan and asked for Ashu's number...Armaan's curiosity got better of him and he called her"Nidhi tell me what happened? why do you want it?"
"Just like that.."
"Whom are you trying to fool? Ashu has remained tight lipped but I won't spare you my girl"
"Shhh Armaan ..I am at home"
"Ok then text me"
"Gosh...Ok i'll tell you" Nidhi lowered her voice and gave the highlights
Armaan was thrilled " yeh hui na baat...Ashu is in love...interesting...really interesting"
I shall send you his number...but keep me in loop ok...all major developments must be reported to me "
"Yes Sir"
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
