ARVI FF: Jiska Mujhe Tha Intazaar (Ch. 8- Pg. 18) - Page 9

MUMBAI, INDIA

KARANJKAR CHAWL

7:00 PM

"Aaji, goli nahi li hain?" Purvi scolded. She removed a BP tablet from the cupboard and poured a cup of warm water. Sulochana silently sat at the dining table and chopped away at a cabbage.

"Kya hua?" Purvi took a seat next to her.

Sulochana put her knife aside and wiped away the rapid stream of tears with the corner of her pallu. She buried her face in her palms and letting out a frightening wail.

"Aaji," Purvi's voice cracked as she grabbed her shoulder, "bata na!"

"Kya hain batane ke liye Purvi?" Sulochana made a face. "I've spent the past 60 years of my life raising you, but now I have cancer. If Bappa wills, I'll live another day." she pointed at the sky, "But beta, waqt ka kuch bharosa nahi hain. If I die tomorrow, who will take care of you? I've lived a good life, but you've only lived one of hardship. Purvi ,you mean more to me than anything in this world and I can't bear to know that you, you will be alone!"

"And helpless? Bebas?" Purvi fumed, interrupting her aaji. "You think I'm fastidious. You think that I nonchalantly reject each proposal you bring. You think that I'm the last person in the world who cares about your cancer!" she let a tear escape. "Aaji, I'd rather be alone than be in a loveless marriage. I'll spend the rest of my days in your memories but you can't send me off to an unkown man's home for the rest of my life and expect me to be happy."

"But I only want the best for you! That's all I've ever wanted." Sulochana's eyes bulged as she began hyperventilating.

"I know what's best for me!" Purvi shouted as she guided Sulochana towards her bedroom. She helped her consume her tablets and positioned her onto the bed. "Aaji, please relax. Iss umar tension ki nahi hain. I love you, ok?" she kissed Sulochana's forehead and tucked her in.

"Tu kabhi nahi sudreghi." Sulochana muttered and turned away from Purvi.

Purvi smirked and finished returned to the dining table to finish cutting the cabbage.

(Doorbell Rings)

"Is waqt con hoga?" she raised an eyebrow as she opened the navy blue doors.

She was greeted to a frowning Arjun, dressed in a green T-shirt , light wash blue jeans, and brown sandals. He hugged her tightly and let out a long sigh.

"I missed you." he whispered.

"Arjun!" she pushed herself away. "You could've called? Or at least, hey, how did you find my chawl? My aaji is home and is she sees you I'll never hear the end of it." she hissed.

"Acha, bahar chalte hain and I'll answer all your questions." he folded his arms.

"Oh god, how can you expect me to leave my aaji home alone like this?" Purvi retorted. She let out a big sigh and pulled him into the kitchen. "Chal, answer my questions?"

"Purvi tu itne gusse main kyun hain?" he brushed his fingers through her hair and winked. "Actually, gusse main kafi achi lagti ho. Aur gown main toh, Lalita Pawar jaise lagti ho."

"Are," she slapped her palm against her forehead.

"Ok." he grabbed her shoulders. "I wanted to surprise you and got your address from Munni. I missed you, so main aa gaya. Simple. But if you want me to leave, I'll go."

"No, I mean, kuch kha ke ja." she pouted. Arjun sat at the dining table, ready to eat. Purvi whipped up a quick plate of kande pohe and served Arjun.

"Aur kuch?" Purvi folded her arms, watching him finish through the iron bars of the kitchen.

Arjun walked over the stove and encircled Purvi's waist. "A cup of your tea?"

"No, you make tea for me." she pointed her nose is the air.

"Ummm, got any tea bags?" he brushed through his hair as his cheeks reddened.

Purvi stared at him, aghast, "Tujhe chai banana nahi aatha?" He responded with a quick shake of the head. "Uff. Acha, main tujhe sikhati hu." she smiled.

Purvi stood behind him and grasped his hands, helping him add all the ingredients. As soon as the tea reached the brim of the pot, he strained the drink into a small teacup. They both took turns sipping away. "Kaisi hain hamari chai?" he smiled.

"Ek dam chakkas!" she kissed his cheek.

"Chalo, I'll be going now." he embraced her and walked towards the door.

"Arjun," she stopped him, "you've been taking the meds I gave you?" she inquired.

"Of course, Dr. Karanjkar." he cornered her and began pecking her neck.

"Arjun, aaji dekh legi! Bye." she bid him out.

"Girly, why are you so sad now a days?" Sachin rolled around on Ovi's bed, blasting his iPod to Honey Singh's newest hit.

Ovi had been sitting in front of her vanity for the past hour, merely staring at her reflection. I'm a model. I'm not stupid. My teeth are aligned and straight. I have beautiful hair. Eyes, nose, ears, lips, everything is proportional. I'm a perfect 5'5". I'm sociable. AND I love him. Why doesn't he love me? I'm a living Aphrodite! she thought to herself. Ovi went through her personality and looks with a fine tooth comb, but couldn't find a flaw inside or outside. She couldn't fathom why Arjun didn't love her madly as she did. Recently, it seemed he didn't even acknowledge her presence.

"Hey Ovi!" Sachin placed .a hand on her shoulder. "Are you listening?"

"What's wrong with me?" she turned back and stared at him with glassy eyes.

"Are you being serious, doll? Nothing." Sachin reasoned with her.

"I'm going to propose to Arjun next week. On my birthday. If he says yes, it will be the biggest gift of my life. If he says no," Ovi's eyes grew wide "I'll consider it the end of my life. "

"Mazak kar rahi ho?" he laughed. "Arjun tumse pyar nahi karta! At least not im the sense you're thinking."

"He doesn't know. He's just busy now days. I've known him since childhood. I loved him and he has too! Ovi shrieked. "Now get out of my room!"

"Chill, dear..." he put his hands behind his head and whistled out.