Chapter 29: Tu Hi Toh Meri Dost Hain
May 3rd, 2012: Deshmukh Home, 7:50 p.m.
Archana: Arjun?
Arjun: Yeah, aunty?
Archana: Do you know when Nikhil's coming?
Arjun: He should be here soon. I think… he's not answering his phone, so I'm not sure.
Seher: I'm hungry though!
Purvi: Seher, calm down!
Nikhil: *walks in* It's okay, I'm here. We can all eat. But—
Seher: Yay!
Nikhil: I wasn't done….
Seher: Oh.
Nikhil: I kind of have to talk to everyone first.
Archana: Go ahead, beta.
Nikhil: Well, um my dad called and—
Arjun: That's never good. What did you do this time?
Nikhil: Nothing! My dad called and said that he was leaving London in 3 days, and that I would have to leave here the day after tomorrow.
Riya: Oh wow. I'm sorry, Nik. But why do you have to leave?
Nikhil: Something about an aunt… one of them anyways. I couldn't hear him too well….
Sachin: Wow, we're all going to miss you.
Purvi: Mhmm.
Nikhil: Well, let's not all be depressed now.
Arjun: Nikhil, I'll take you to the airport the day of your flight, k?
Nikhil: Thanks.
Manav: Well, if he insists that we're not all supposed to be sad, let's go eat?
Teju: Baba!
Manav: Well…
Nikhil: No, I'm seriously hungry too. And I'm pretty sure Seher is too…
Seher: Yes!
Kunjal: Let's all eat then!
_____
9:30 p.m. (after everything was cleaned up)
Purvi: Aai, leave it. I'll cut the vegetables.
Archana: No it's okay. You go sit with everyone and have a good time.
Purvi: No Aai. YOU go have a good time with everyone. You've been in the kitchen all day anyways.
Archana: But—
Purvi: *smiles* Go! *pushes Archana out of the kitchen*
____
-P: Really, I just wanted to be alone. Even though I had gotten the mail this morning, I received yet another letter this afternoon. I'm so lost right now. The letter this time complemented me more, and was signed the same, and said "I will be seeing you soon". Who's seeing me soon? Who is this? How do they know me? I've already gotten 3 letters through the course of the day, and realized that I had 5 more in the previous week's mail. I was so caught up in getting Aai and Baba together, I didn't realized that this psycho had been sending me these letters for 2 weeks now. I don't even know where to start/ This is serious but who do I tell? Who do I ask for help? Who—
Arjun: Hey, hey, hey!
Purvi: *jumps*
Arjun: Purvi, you're bleeding all over the vegetables rather than cutting them.
Purvi: Oh, wow.
Arjun: Is that your reaction? *panicked mode* What were you thinking the whole time? You have 3 cuts on your fingers, not to mention 2 on your hands. Here, *grabs the knife* put that down. Go wash your hands.
Purvi: *does what he says*
Arjun: *comes back with a first-aid kit, and grabs Purvi's hand, and wraps it in the band-aid*
Purvi: *stares back at him* Where did you learn all this?
Arjun: *stops and looks up at Purvi, who was still staring at him* Uhm, I guess uh… you know I don't know. *looks back at her hand and smiles*
Purvi: *laughs* Seriously?
Arjun: Yeah, seriously.
Purvi: So right now I can assume that you're just wrapping my hand like how you feel?
Arjun: Well no. I know what I'm doing.
Purvi: Hmmm.
Arjun: What?
Purvi: You're hiding something.
Arjun: Well, so are you *looks back at her hand* so you can't judge.
Purvi: I won't. *smiles*
Arjun: And *finishes* You're all set.
Purvi: Thanks. *smiles*
Arjun: *smiles back and walks out*
****
May 4th, 2012: ADK Industries, 1:00 p.m.
Arjun: *on the phone* So, anyways don't forget about the whole—*bumps into someone* Oh, I'm sorry. *back to the phone* Hold on a sec. *back to the person* May I help you?
Person: Uhm, yes. May I speak to Miss Deshmukh?
Arjun: Uh, yeah hold— *loud bang* What was that? *looks over to see a very pale Purvi looking at the person*
Arjun: Uh, sir. *looks back at Purvi* We have a meeting in 10 minutes, so If you want to speak to her, please make it quick.
Person: Nevermind. I'll catch her when she has more time.
Arjun: Very well then.
*the person leaves*
Arjun: *walks over to Purvi* Purvi? You okay?
Purvi: Hmmm. Yeah.
Arjun: You looked like you were about to pass out there. Who was that?
Purvi: No one.
Arjun: Purvi, you still don't look good. Uhm, if you want, you can go home for the day.
Purvi: No I'm fine.
Arjun: You sure?
Purvi: *looks back at him* Yeah, I'm sure.
Arjun: If you need to leave, just tell me, okay?
Purvi: K. *picks up what she dropped and walks away*
Arjun: *What the hell is going on with Purvi? And who was that?*
****
May 4th, 2012: Coffee Shop, 3:00 p.m.
Arjun: Sachin? Why did you call us here?
Nikhil: Yeah. I could be at home eating and packing.
Sachin: I'll tell you in a bit. And Nikhil, you're eating here anyways.
Nikhil: But there was better food at home…
Arjun: Oh stop complaining. What are we waiting for Sachin? I have a meeting in an hour.
Sachin: Hold on—okay, so you know how I was happy about my first case in India?
Arjun: Yeah…
Sachin: Well, now I'm mortified.
Nikhil: What? Why?
Sachin: You guys remember… Trishna right?
Arjun: *almost chokes on coffee* Trishna? That Trishna?
Sachin: How many other Trishna's do you know?
Nikhil: None! What about her?
Sachin: Well I just found out that my first case is going to be against her.
Arjun: Wow. You're messed up there bro.
Sachin: *sarcastically* Thanks. I appreciate your help.
Nikhil: Wait, so you're not excited about your first case because you're fighting your first case against your ex—
Sachin: DON'T say it out loud.
Arjun: Get over it, yaar. Either you fight the case or you don't.
Sachin: I'm not done. So when I first confronted her, she acted like she didn't know me at all.
Nikhil: Which is terrible because….?
Sachin: She knows it wasn't my fault!
Arjun: Sachin, calm down. She's just being a woman.
Nikhil: Like YOU would know.
Arjun: Shut up!
Sachin: Guys! Look! There she is!
Arjun, Nikhil, and Sachin: *all turn to look for her*
Nikhil: WOAH.
Arjun: Wow. Now you're seriously messed up.
Sachin: You get my point right!?
Nikhil: *turns back to Sachin* Dude, she's like 40 times prettier than before.
Sachin: Hey!
Arjun: So what exactly are you trying to convey to us?
Sachin: *takes a deep breath* I still haven't gotten over her.
Arjun, Nikhil: *both drop their jaws at Sachin*
Arjun: Okay, now I'm like dead serious. Sachin, you're seriously messed up.
Sachin: I know I am! Which is why—
Nikhil: Oh God.
Sachin: I'm going to need some help.
****
May 5th, 2012: Mumbai International Airport, 10:00 a.m.
Arjun: Well, yaar. That's the last of it.
Nikhil: Thanks. *turns to walk away, but then stops and turns again* Arjun?
Arjun: *looks back* Yeah?
Nikhil: Thanks.
Arjun: *smiles* Actually, thank you.
Nikhil: I'll call you when I reach London, but for now just tell me something.
Arjun: *confused* Yeah…
Nikhil: If you ever need to talk about anything—I mean anything, I'm just a phone call away. Okay?
Arjun: Yeah. *smiles, though still confused*
*Intercom: All passengers going to London on flight number 90786 please report to Gate C.*
Nikhil: I should go.
Arjun: Yeah.
Nikhil: Bye.
Arjun: Bye.
****
Precap: Purvi in the office, Kunjal and Soham at the market, and a HUGE shocker!!!! 🤢
Things to think about: How is Trishna related to Sachin? 😲 Who did Purvi and Arjun see in the office? 😡 What did Nikhil mean? 😉
Thanks,
Esha
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