The Second Chances upd Epilogue pg63 on 22thFeb - Page 9

Lovely .. Lovely Update... 👏👏👏👏 Dutta is rocking as ever...!!

gr8 updatz hun...

it was totally awesome please do update soon and thanks for the PM😊

lovely ff!!!

Hi, shilpi. Gr8 ff. Realy enjoyed it. I got sum free tym, so read all ur parts of this ff at one go, nd must say its just AWESUMMMM!!!!

Just one request, can u please PM me all ur further posts vich u vl update, if posible. PLEASE. Bcoz i just can't afford to miss ur this ff.

Wow, Shilpi!

This is awesome FF! U r a brilliant story teller. Can't wait for next part.....

-Sona

Very well written ff...amazing. Do pm me when the next part is done or is the whole story available under tintiny site. Do send me the login instructions for that site. 😛

Ch5: The Gift

Present day: 24^th December 2009

The sun was slowly rising up in the sky in its pink glory. Winter have late sunrises. As a child Nakusha always wondered why. Her logic had been that sun felt lazy like people in winter to shed off the comfortable toasty warmth of their beds, hence the late days. She had spent the whole night in the cold, standing near her window gazing at the sky through the guava tree. But the cold didn't touch her. She felt warm everywhere. She felt like God had lightened up her from inside and no cold wind could freeze her ever.

Was it possible for a person with 145 plus IQ, who was one of the most sought after researcher of India, be the stupidest man in the whole world? Apparently it was. She knew in her heart he loved her, maybe more deeply and devotedly than she could ever love him. For how long he had loved her, she didn't know, but he loved her. She was as sure of it as she was sure that she was alive today to love him. But the fool felt guilty and ashamed of his feelings of her. She smiled when she remembered her reaction to his outrageous reason to stay away from her.

"It's wrong. It feels incestuous." She remembered the pain and guilt in his voice.

Nakusha- What? Incest? Have you gone completely bonkers? He gave a self-derisive laugh,"Maybe. Ever since..ever since that day, I have felt that I have let my da down. Nakusha, the only thing I ever promised him was to take care of you, because… " "Oh,Christ! Please don't say it. "She interrupted him choking herself with distaste.

"Please leave me alone, Nakusha."He turned away from her, trying to block her face and voice from his mind and eyes." I know you are hurting today. But I promise you things would look much better tomorrow. You'll fall in love again. This time with the right man and he would be the luckiest guy in the whole world. This thing between us, it's just a fluke of time. You are too upset and distraught; hence things are looking absurd right now."

Nakusha- Have you been telling yourself the same thing for the past five years? That it'll go away and it's just a fluke of time? Or has it been longer? Exactly, how long has things been absurd for you?

Dutta turned back annoyed- Would you shut your smart trap for a minute, woman? Nakusha mumbled irritated- well, you didn't mind kissing the same trap a minute ago. Dutta released defeated breath- I beg you to go away. I have had a 27hrs flight. I am jetlagged. I haven't slept for 40hrs. I seriously need a break. Please…get..out.

Nakusha knew that he didn't want to face things now or maybe ever. She looked at his face and noticed the bone deep tiredness there. She felt guilty that she had not considered him or his problems before coming here but didn't regret her actions tonight. She'll never regret it ever. However, she accepted that this was probably not the time to make him see sense."You are right. Things would look much better tomorrow. This time it will be the right idiot." He looked impassively away from her. She smiled as he looked like a petulant kid denied his candy. She felt like pinching his cheeks. She stepped out of the room and stopped at the threshold when she heard his voice. Dutta- Forget what happened today. Forget everything. The morning, evening, night. Him ,me ….Us. Forget this conversation between us.

She couldn't help herself. she stepped close to him on tiptoe to reach his six feet height on her five three bare feet and placed a soft kiss on his cheek, felt it turn stone hard beneath her lips and ran away soundlessly without looking back.

He was so high on his promises, she thought. Well, he had promised her that today will look better and she will see to it that every day in their live will always be beautiful. She will make sure that this time she made the Right man admit his feelings to her-without guilt and remorse. He will see sense, he has too.

When Fanny entered her kitchen, she was surprised to smell the freshly baked muffins and pineapple pudding. She saw her daughter humming "Joy to the World" and frying parathas on the pan. Fanny smiled, "Gobhi ke parathey ?"

Nakusha- He likes it. Heaven knows what he has been eating in that Godforsaken icy desert. He should eat some real food now. Hai naa, mumma? Fanny- bikul. I'll blend the mint chutney. She started the blender and looked as Nakusha skipped happily to get the muffins out of the oven on hearing the timer. Nakusha continued her medley of carols and traipsed around the kitchen. Fanny couldn't believe that her daughter had suffered the greatest humiliation and sorrow yesterday. She had not been this happy since…since he had left 5yrs ago. Fanny smiled to herself.

"Aunty, I smell muffins."Dutta walked in the kitchen with a smile that vanished when he saw Nakusha near the oven,he inclined his head a little,"Good morning."Nakusha- It is a good morning, isn't it? Sit. Eat something. You have a long day ahead. Dutta-I do? Nakusha- of course!You are taking me to Christmas shopping today. Dutta frowned- I am? Nakusha- Tudu doll. Don't be daft. Sit down. She pushed him to a seat and flashed the most breathtaking smile he had ever seen. He felt the sun rose at her smile and he noticed that the cherry gloss was back with vengeance.

Fanny looked at Nakusha- you want to celebrate Christmas this year? After yesterday? Nakusha- it was yesterday mom. This is today. I can't live in a mistake my entire life, can I? And Dutta is here with us on Christmas after so long. We have to celebrate Christmas like old times. Aunty would have wanted that.

Benjamin had heard the last of the conversation as he entered the kitchen. He smiled at his daughter encouragingly. "She is right fanny. We can't let the tragedies define our lives forever. Christmas heralds the birth of Goodness and joy in the world. We have to celebrate our son's homecoming after so long."

Dutta- I don't think I can stay for Christmas uncle. They all turned to look at him startled. He looked away and continued."I am sorry. I was not planning to come to India this year either. My parents had a locker here in bank. The bond ended this year so they contacted me to empty the locker or renew the bond. They had sent the missive in august but since I was in Antarctic then and all transports were cut off between july to September and later we evacuated due to storm in October and went to new Zealand so the letter reached me last week. They said they had already put the things in some hold box for me to take it. So I had to come. I planned to pick up the stuff and fly out tomorrow. I have a two way ticket booked for tomorrow morning at 9." There was a silence in the room broken by Nakusha's dropping of the plate she had been about to set in front of her dad. Fanny stumbled and blinked her tears away trying to break the hush- Well then we have to have a quick Christmas dinner tonight in advance and of course you'll come to the masses tonight with us. That would be celebration enough. Right, beta?

Dutta looked helplessly at the old woman who had loved him like his mother his whole life. There had never been a diwali she had not lit lamps with his mother and never a Christmas when she had not taken him to masses to receive the blessings. He could not say no to her. His heart told him run away, to walk out of the door and keep walking without looking back till he reached the end of the world. After last night's incidence he felt weak and he knew if things went on he might disappoint and hurt the only few people who loved and trusted him. But he nodded at aunty fanny.

Ben-Then that's settled. We have to bring down the tree and the lights. We will celebrate Christmas before you leave tomorrow. Come sit down to have the parathas. You know Nakusha had learnt to cook in the past few years quiet well. Nakusha tried to smile but she felt defeated already. He would go away tomorrow. He'd leave her alone again. She served him quietly and turned back to the oven, her resolve to make him accept his feelings lying in shambles at his feet due to his stubbornness. Dutta- the pineapple pudding is delicious, Naksh. Nakusha stopped at her tracks and looked back at him.

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Twelve years ago: 25^th December 1997

Dutta's home.

Dutta had called his friends for a study night. The exams were to start in three months and his friends needed his help in many subjects. He didn't mind. It provided a good way to revise. He told his mom not to disturb him for anything.

They were in middle of solving a particularly difficult problem of algebra. The question was proving a challenge for him and he was getting frustrated as he had never given up on any challenge ever. Karthik looked at the determination on his friend's face and knew that it had gone far above the level of simple study revision. Dutta would not let go of it easily, he was like a dog with bone, with puzzles. As the minutes ticked away and he wrote and scratched the pages of the notebook, karthik tried to dissuade him. Karthik- hey, let's take a break. It has been 2hrs already, 9pm. Let's have dinner and come back and try again. Dutta didn't move a muscle, maybe he didn't even hear it.

They kept looking at the obsessive need to solve the question on his face. Just then Nakusha barged into the room.Nakusha- So, what are the useless morons upto today? All here to bug him to finish your homeworks or what? What do you expect that he'll write your papers too, huh?

They hushed her pointing at Dutta,trying to tell her that he was in a filthy mood. She ignored them and marched to Dutta and pushed his copy close. Nakusha- that's it. Enough of this study study. Come I have something for you. She held his hand and tried to drag him. Dutta- not now Nakusha. I have to do this. I'll talk to you later. Go to mom now.

Nakusha- stop trying to shoo me away. It's Christmas and I brought a gift for you. Come you have to see it. It's your favorite. You'll love it. Come. She tried pulling him. Dutta- Shut up. His outburst shocked everyone including Nakusha. His friends looked at him horrified. Dutta- don't you get it when I say later. How long will you behave like a spoilt little brat? You just have to have everything you want ,right? I got news for you, everything is not about you. I have got bigger problems than catering to your insane wishes. Now get out. He turned her by her shoulders' and lightly pushed to the door. She looked back at him with humiliation in her eyes and looked down and walked out with her head down.

Dutta sat down to his seat and picked up his pen opening his book. He could feel his friends' cold accusing stares on his back but refused to feel bothered by it. He turned to the page he was solving the question on and just like that as if the solution had been sitting there the whole time, he saw where he had been missing a link the whole time. As he finished solving the entire puzzle he could feel the exhilaration of achievement missing. He looked up from his book to his friends who were trying not to meet his eyes. He closed his book with a thud and got up. He found her sitting under the pomegranate tree on the low bench sniffing in her ridiculously lose sleeves of sweatshirt. She hated dresses and refused to wear them even on Christmas. She attended the masses with him in jeans and tees.

He sat down beside her. She turned to him and kicked his legs with her snickers. Nakusha- Are you done being the jerk? Did you get the answer to that all important problem? Dutta nodded not sure which question he was answering. Nakusha- I should never have tried being sweet to you. Mom and aunty are ruining you enough. You don't need me to give you a swollen head either. Dutta- Are you done with your dramabaaz?. I was not that harsh to you. Just shouted a little bit and I have a right to shout at you if I feel like. You are my friend, right? So what did you get me for Christmas.

Nakusha sniffled- me not giving you. Get lost. Go solve your stupid maths. Dutta- come on, show me. Nakusha- I must have gone looney to bake you anything. Me and baking? Huh. I just thought you might like it and wanted to thank you for the washroom incidence. And what do I get for my troubles scolding in front of your useless gang.Dutta – You baked? Seriously? Ok! Don't give me. I have tender stomach. You are probably saving me from Food poisoning.

Nakusha- What? She kicked and punched him. Dutta laughed and caught her hands and pulled her half on his chest and half on the bench. They had always playfully done mock wrestling but today it felt different. Suddenly, they went still. Dutta looked at her face so close to his that her warm breath touched his cold lips warming them slightly. He noticed that her lower lip had naturally swollen pout and the scar on her forehead was the only slight imperfection of her face. She would break hearts soon,he thought. There were many slight changes in her childish body and she felt fragile and girlish rather than boyish and bonny in his arms.

He gulped and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down drawing her attention to it. She had never noticed that thing before on him. It seemed she was noticing many things for the first time. For first time she noticed that his dark black eyes were not totally black. They had specks of hazel brown around the rims of the iris which sparkled in the light from the porch. He sat her aside and looked uncomfortably at her. He croaked out as if he had a frog in his throat, "Poppet, you are getting heavy these days." She looked away and said,"I am not. You are the one who is getting…" she looked him up and down and whispered,"…Big."

He smiled at her,"Do I get my gift now?" She smiled at him and her long hair which had been a bone of contention between them forever, fell like a curtain on her face. They had come undone in their tussle and were now blocking half of her face from his view. He lightly lifted it from her face and tucked it behind her hair. It felt soft and silky to touch, beautiful. He was glad she never cut it on his stupid behest ever. "Please", he murmured.

When did his voice get so thick like…like…aa… chocolate, she thought. She liked the timbre in it. It sounded so soothing. She nodded and bent down to pull out a baking dish covered with silver foil paper. She uncovered the top and showed him the beautifully garnished pineapple topped pudding. Nakusha- It's your favorite pudding. Here try it. I haven't even let dad try it. It's only for you. Dutta- Wow! Looks delicious! He picked up the spoon and put a huge helping of it in his mouth smiling at her. His mouth revolted at the torture infected on it. The pudding tasted sour and smelt of raw eggs and was soggy. He tried to gulp it down but it refused to go south of his throat. He tried again. Nakusha asked excitedly- how is it? He nodded approvingly moving his mouth in speed. Nakusha- you liked it. Dutta shook his head then started nodding hastily when he saw the expectant look on her face. He tried a last time to swallow and this time it obeyed his oral muscles and went down like a lump of glue. Dutta- it's good. Top notch!

Nakusha looked at him and noticed the grimace on his face. Nakusha- Are you sure it's good? You really like it? He nodded again. Nakusha –so have some more. He smiled and put two more spoons in his mouth trying not to pour it out in the dish back. Nakusha looked suspiciously at him,"You are lying.Something is wrong. Let me try." Dutta said vehemently-No. It's for me. I won't share. Nakusha grabbed his spoon and scooped some in her mouth. She gagged and spit it on the ground. Nakusha – it's disgusting. It's vile and…and raw. Damn I should have left it for a few more minutes. And should have gone easy on the essence. Why didn't you tell me? I can't do anything properly. I ruined everything. Dutta- Hey! It's your first try. Next time you'll make it perfect. I know you can do it.

Nakusha- really? Dutta smiled encouragingly- but promise me you won't make me eat it first. You'll feed it to your dad and then bring it for me. Nakusha giggled and mock punched him. Nakusha- so my plan of Christmas gift bombed big time. It's your turn. What did you get for me? Dutta – Oh no! I forgot. Nakusha- don't kid with me! You never ever ever forget my birthdays or Christmases. Where's my gift? Dutta- Naksh , this time I really forgot. I am sorry. Nakusha gave a chest-fallen look. Dutta felt guilty. He had forgotten about the gift because he was too involved in his and his friends' studies. Nakusha- it's OK. Dutta – wait. I will get you a gift. He turned his back to her and told her to close her eyes. She was surprised but obediently closed her eyes. A few minutes later, she felt him taking her hand and then she felt something grazing on her finger. She opened her eyes and saw that there was a silver ring on her finger made by twisting the torn foil covering. Nakusha smiled- your gift sucks just like mine. Dutta- I know. See I promise that when you get married I'll give you a real ring. OK? Nakusha- Ok! She peaked his cheek and ran to her home as always.

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Present day

Nakusha looked down at her bare ring finger and smiled. He had said he'll give her a ring on her wedding. Well, the groom did give the bride a ring. She looked at Dutta who was discussing bank work with dad and thought there were many hours and minutes left till his return flight. A lot could happen over that time. Yes, a lot could happen. She resolved again.

…………………..to be continued.

Dutta is a gadha...he is staying away because he promised his father that he will take care of her like a sister? TaSha can never be sister-brother ewwwwwww🤢

Great update shilpi... awww he really cnt resist her .. he even asked her to go lol.. bechara... well atleast she knows he loves her...