Saat Rang Pyar Ke - Epilogue: Page 31 - Page 2

The Choice of words, Language, Way of describing is awesome. Makes a delightful reading 👏.

I love it more as it's focussed mainly on Nakul. Waiting for the next part 😳.

Chapter 4: Bandhan

Manthan Virani's friends thought he was cool. His cousins thought he was a spoilt snob. His father thought he was good-for-nothing. His mother thought he was intractable. Barkha knew he was just another very lonely person. Just as she. Like all destined-to-last friendships, theirs started on the wrong foot. Literally.

The two occasions Barkha and Ganga always celebrated together were each other's birthday. For Barkha, it was almost a ritual to get a pineapple cream cake at 11:45 p.m. the night previous to Ganga's birthday. The year before last, she was returning from the movie theatre watching the 9:00 to 11:30 show when she suddenly remembered that the next day was Ganga's birthday. She scouted around searching for a bakery that would be open this late and thankfully came upon one. She was in luck, the kindly old baker said because this was the last pineapple cream cake piece he had left. She was handing the baker the money for the cake when a forceful voice sounded at the door, "I need a pineapple cream cake." The baker gestured towards Barkha and said "Sorry, she just bought the last piece." "In that case," the snooty young man with the forceful voice turned to her and said, "I'll buy it from you. How much did you pay for it?" "Sorry......I'm not selling it. I need it" The young man took out a couple of hundred rupee notes from his wallet, placed them on the counter table near Barkha and picked up the cake from table. "I need it a little more." saying he shrugged and made to leave.

He had scarcely reached the steps when he lost his balance and fell headlong, pitching the cake into the mud. Barkha stood at the top with a better-luck-next-time-dude look as he glared up at her for tripping him. After a minute or two, he burst out laughing. "Good thinking Miss....I'm Manthan ... Manthan Virani." Descending the stairs, she held out her hand "Barkha Doshi....." and the acquaintance grew on into a firm friendship.

When Barkha got a job at Virani industries, Manthan was the first person she called. Ganga, she wanted to tell personally. He had been not been pleased, he said she ought to work at a better post. You'll just lose your talent mixing with the wrong people, he had predicted. Barkha had told him to stop being a snob and be happy for her sake. They had argued for fifty minutes and neither had given up before Manthan hung the phone in exasperation. They fought and argued often. But both Barkha and Manthan knew that other than their ownselves and the other, no one knew them better.

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I had to elaborate a little on Manthan and Barkha's relationship ...Sorry if this one is not upto the mark

*chanting* MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE!!!!!!

👏

I love the way you've portrayed Manthan!

BTW, could you give us an idea of which real life actress you imagine playing Barkha??? I read and imagine it happening in front of me, so a face would help!

Great work! 😛

seriously you should post twice a day, I just want to keep on reading. Nice work. 👏

Thanks a lot for taking time off and appreciate the efforts.

I'll tell you who my inspiration for Barkha was after I (hopefully) complete the fanfic.

Till that time, feel free to give the name the face you think would suit best 😃

Hmmm......The first girl who crossed my mind as Barkha was the one who plays Ipshitha in KAA. Because she has the Traditional-yet-Urban girl look.

Not sure if what i said makes sense though 😃.

Part II: Ek Rang Tamas Ka

Chapter 5: Yudh

Two people can work together only so many days without having clashes. For Nakul and Barkha the time period was a little less than two weeks. The first time their views clashed was over the music played during the dinner session. Nakul had instructed the music to be purely Indian instrumental and when Barkha changed it to light Jazz for a couple of nights, he was affronted.

"Miss Doshi... May I remind you that I'm in charge here?" he said not sounding too polite." When I issue orders here, I expect no one to countermand them. Atleast not if you are not Karan Virani. If you wish to offer suggestions, we can always have brainstorming sessions for not only commonplace concerns like music and menu items, but also for monthly themes, decor etc. " Barkha had accepted her mistake and apologized with a sincere "The next time, I will route the change through proper channels."

The second one was not such a triviality. The restaurant was usually full in the evenings and regular patrons were encouraged to call in and reserve dinner booths well in advance. These were held forth for half an hour before conceding them to others in the waiting list. It was one of those evenings when a woman walked in flanked by four others and headed straight for one of the reserved dinner booths. "Excuse me madam..." Barkha came forward. "This booth is already reserved for someone. If you could please wait a few minutes, I'll see if we have another booth free for you." The woman turned, looked at her rather disdainfully and continued to walk toward the booth. Barkha caught her arm and with a "Madam, this has been reserved for Mr.Jayson and a dinner party of six. If you wait a couple of minutes, we'll make sure you are comfortable in another booth." "How dare you? I have always used this booth and will do so tonight too. You may seat whoever some place else." By that time, Mr. Jayson and his dinner party had already arrived. "Oh but Madam, you seem to be an exclusive patron..." Barkha carefully maneuvered her away from the table and gestured the second steward to direct Mr. Jayson there , "You should definitely be put up in a better dinner suite. Its much much better than these ordinary dinner seats." she continued, looking for an empty table at the same time. "Here ma'am.....this is the perfect place for you..", she said pointing to another, albeit a rather well done dinner booth. "You take me for a fool? Dinner suite?", the woman almost roared. The whole restaurant was still, watching this display. "I'll tell you what you will do..You will right now evict whoever from my booth, lead me back there, serve me yourself and then tender me an apology, both vocal and written. "Ma'am please try and understand. The booth was reserved by someone else well in advance. If you wanted it, you should have called in earlier." Barkha tried remonstrating. "So you will teach me what I should do and what I should not eh? You little ....." "Ma'am...", Barkha's soft voice was an octave higher now. "Please be careful before you speak. This is a public place. " The furious other woman raised her hand to strike Barkha, something she evaded by holding her wrist mid air. "You are so going to pay for this. You don't know who I am." "Yes I don't. And looking at you and the way you behave I am thankful that I don't. " Barkha answered back, in the same octave as last sentence.

The words were scarcely out of Barkha's mouth when she founded herself being turned rather violently. Nakul Virani hold on her arm was like a vise as he asked her "What did you just say Miss Doshi?". He looked at Barkha who just returned his stare. "Miss Doshi.....You will apologize to the lady in question immediately. " he said, his voice deadly serious. Barkha looked at the obnoxious woman who was gloating now. She looked back at Nakul and answered in a calm clear voice "No."

thanks for posting twice today, it was good. 👏 👏 👏

Chapter 6: Anjaam

Nakul had always been impulsive when it came to certain people. Foremost among them were his younger brother Lakshya, his father Sahil and most of all his step mom Tripti. When he came down that evening for a casual survey, he saw Barkha Doshi holding his mother's wrist. He immediately walked towards them hoping to handle the seemingly brittle situation. He heard Barkha's last sentence. And lost his cool. No one spoke to his mom like that. No one.

He was adamant that Barkha apologize for her effrontery. Barkha was equally obdurate. She wouldn't. The impasse would have continued forever if Karan Virani and Manthan had not made an entrance in the restaurant at that time. Karan held a staying hand on Manthan's clenched fist as he saw Barkha standing there, almost close to tears."Nakul.....", Karan's cautious voice called out and Nakul let go of Barkha's arm. She slowly walked over to Manthan's side and stood there, her face downcast. "Its not his fault, Karan...." Tripti began, uninvited. Karan held up a hand, silencing her. "Nakul and Miss Doshi....You will please see me in my office now." Karan walked over to the elevator. Nakul and Barkha followed him stone faced.

Tripti had the sense to walk out of the restaurant before the full force of Manthan's wrath was directed toward her. She had seen Manthan's clenched fist and thought it was merely on behalf of his father's displeasure on the current restaurant scene. That was before she had seen that insolent banquet manager walk up to Manthan and stand beside him. And the protective look Manthan gave her. Astutely, she realized that they shared more than an employer - employee relationship.

As Nakul and Barkha entered the cabin, Karan asked them to sit down. His disapproval was evident and yet his voice did not hold any measure of rebuke when he asked each of them the reason for the altercation in the restaurant dining room. Both Nakul and Barkha's recitals were sparing, Barkha's was almost unwilling. Karan heard them out calmly and then said, "You will both take a ten minute break to calm yourself. Then then go back to the dining room. And behave. Like the banquet manager and the Assistant Director of Virani Group of Hotels ought to. If there is another course of action to be taken, I shall duly inform you." He concluded their conversation.

Barkha and Nakul stepped out of Karan's office, closing the door behind them. She walked ahead and had reached the top of staircase when she heard Nakul voice, "Miss Doshi ...... I'm sorry for my behaviour." She looked up to see his contrite face, but said nothing. He continued, "But it was my mom you were talking to. Anyone in my position would have done the same." He waited for an angry reprimand or censure. When neither was forthcoming, Nakul finished with a gentle "I am really sorry Barkha......"

Later that night as she applied some soothing salve to her bruised arm where the imprint of Nakul's fingers were still visible, Barkha mused over his unexpected behavior. Both times. And concluded that for Nakul Virani, his family, namely his mother came first. Even before his professional obligations. And perhaps before his duty towards his fellow human beings

Thanks a lot for the appreciation 😊