Hey all!!!
First of all, I'm really sorry I disappeared for so long leaving my OS dangling... Maaf kar do. I promise never to do that again *kaan pakdofying*
Second... umm, chodo, just enjoy part 2!!!
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"Who was the idiot who said going to bed with a sweet thought would make the next day sweet?!" Damini muttered as she sat with a pile of files before her. It was seven in the evening and she was nowhere near done... She hadn't eaten lunch, hadn't even found time for a snack, and now her head was aching. To make matters worse, she'd snapped at Prithvi when he'd told her she should go home. His jaw had clenched, eyes blazing the way they always did when he was angry, and he'd just left without a word. Tears brimming in her eyes, Damini collapsed on the files, unable to do any more work...
She didn't know how long she'd laid there, head on the desk, when Prithvi came in again. "Enough's enough, Damini, we're going home now..." he began, stopping short when he noticed her state. Instantly, his voice became soft and a tender, anxious expression came over his face. He pulled up a chair next to her, running his fingers through her soft hair. The next instant, she was practically on his lap, face buried in his chest and sobbing in earnest. Panicking, he asked "What is wrong, Damini?" Damini looked up at that, wavering between tears and anger. "I'm an ugly, nasty cow and you hate me and you want to get rid of me !" she yelled, pushing him away and trying to get up. She looked so adorably sulky that Prithvi couldn't resist a little chuckle. That only incensed her further and she got up in a huff. "I'm going home!", she announced and stomped out of the room, Prithvi sauntering behind her.
The drive home was quiet, and it wasn't the silence of intimacy. Damini was still furious and refused to say a word. Prithvi had initially found this very amusing but with each passing minute, his temper was getting the better of him. "Women are just too irrational", he thought, slamming down the brakes a little harder than was necessary. Damini lurchedin her seat and shot him an evil glare that further soured his mood. "Thank heavens we're nearly there", he thought angrily as he turned into the driveway of Gujral Mansion.
Roshni gaped from her window as she saw her sister and Prithvi emerge from the car looking like thunderclouds. They'd definitely fought over something. She slapped her forehead. "Inn logon ne ILU toh kaha nahin, ulta lad rahe hain! Ufff" she thought, making her way downstairs. "Hi di and jeej!" she said brightly, hugging Damini and tugging the file out of her hands. She then turned and winked at her handsome jeej, who looked shellshocked for a second before giving her an embarrassed grin. Avni and Ela came out just then, and the atmosphere suddenly lightened, but there were still undercurrents of tension between Damini and Prithvi. "But not for long", Rosh thought as they all made their way to the dining room.
Dinner was a slightly strained with uncomfortable silences punctuating the normally boisterous conversation. Prithvi and Damini were not acknowledging each other, but very subtly, so that only Rosh was aware of what was going on. Even the normally perceptive Avni hadn't realised what was going on, lost as she was in the thoughts of her precious Jai.
As dinner progressed, Prithvi's icy demeanour thawed. His earlier amusement creeping back, he looked at Damini indulgently. Poor girl was just so frazzled! And she hadn't liked it when he laughed. Never mind, he'd make it up to her. With these thoughts running through his mind, he attempted to talk to Damini, but was met by a cold look and more silence. His earlier charitable train of thought evaporated, and he excused himself from the table, walking out onto the back patio muttering about women and their high-maintenance ways.
Damini knew she was being unreasonable, but she just was too tired to think logically. She also knew that Prithvi cared about her and loved her and was concerned about her well-being, but she wished he would just be a little more demonstrative. Tears prickling her eyelids again, she got up from the table and turned to leave. She'd just reached the stairs, when a soft 'di' stopped. She turned to see Rosh standing there, looking very apprehensive. "Di, aap please jeej se fight mat karo... Fighting se bohot negative vibes aa jati hain and relationships break down hoti hain... Aisa Cosmopolitan mein likha hai" she said, tremulously. Damini sighed, sitting down on the step. "Woh kuch kehta kyun nahin hai", she muttered, leaning on Rosh's shoulder when she sat down next to her. "Toh aap keh do na di... Go and make up... Don't go to sleep angry" Rosh advised. "You really think so?" Damini asked, biting her lip. "Haan di, absolutely... Jao"
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Prithvi was pacing the poolside, barely noticing anything around him. Fury radiated off him, as he contemplated the unfairness of Damini's temper. What was his fault, anyway? Was he not allowed to smile? How could she think he didn't love her? "Silly women and their irrationality!" he muttered, not noticing as Damini walked up to him.
"Hi!" she said quietly, looking at him with a soft expression on her face. Prithvi turned with a start. The minute he laid eyes on her, his fury seemed to dissipate instantly. Not wanting to give in too easily, he turned away, staring at the pool. Damini took a step closer to him. "I brought you dessert" she said, touching his forearm. Prithvi turned at that, taking the bowl from her and sitting down next to the pool. "I'm sorry Prithvi", Damini continued, "I shouldn't have snapped at you". Prithvi looked up at her. She was standing next to him, fiddling with her dupatta uneasily. A ghost of a smile playing on his lips, he pulled her down to sit by him. "It's ok... but next time tell me what you are upset about", he said seriously, before giving her a dazzling smile. An answering smile on her face, Damini nodded and slipped her hand into his, his presence taking away all the frustration of the day.
Ten minutes later, she said softly "Prithvi, tumse kuch kehna hai". He turned, with an enquiring "Hmmm" "Woh main... main woh..." she faltered, unable to get the words out. Smiling at her discomfiture, he hooked a finger under her chin and looked into her eyes. "Kya hai Damini..." he whispered. As she looked into his deep dark eyes, feeling the warm glow that filled her, Damini forgot her shyness and said "I love you..."
Prithvi could barely believe his ears. He'd never expected that he'd feel this way about any woman, but Damini had completely ensnared him. He liked her confidence, was fascinated by her temper, respected her intelligence, admired her beauty... he loved her. A tender warmth washed over him... He smiled at her again, entranced by the love in her eyes and what she had just said. He leaned forward, pressing his lips to her forehead, eyelids, nose and cheek, before he breathed out an "I love you too" and covered her lips with his...
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'The rest of the night was spent hand in hand, her head on his shoulder as they talked and fell silent intermittently, admiring the beauty of the night around them and the sanctity of what they had just admitted to each other. Love had touched two hearts that were least expecting it, completing them in a way that had never seemed possible before... Love, like always, had won the battle...' Rosh wrote, as she looked happily at her di and jeej sitting so contentedly by the pool. "Mera number kab aayega?" she wondered, as she turned off the lights, falling asleep to dream of her beloved Varun...
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Hope you like it! Once again, really sorry about the wait...