Polemic Jackanapes #2: [COMPLETE] Chapter 13-27B - Page 52

brilliant update glad to see arnav recognizing his problem and willing to work at them...continue soon...

"Insan us waqt samjhdar nahi hota jab woh bari bari batein karne lagy...insan us waqy samjhdar hota hai jab woh choti choti baatein smjhne lagy.." Akash aur nani ki baaton ne arnav ke dil ki un taaron ko chera hai jis se usy zindagi mein agey bharne mein madad milegi..boht he dilchasp afsane ka yeh morr...especially last half...aur apka andaz e bayan boht he khubsurat hai...khushi ek ekk phone call ne aisa laga arnav ki din bhar ki thakaan ko utar diya...dono ek dusry ke leye hi bane hain...and i think Nani sabki nani hai aur nani bari siyani hai...nani is such a sweeyheart..i think sabhi ki nani jaan aisi hi hoti hain..loved their conversation..Bazrug ek rehmat hain jo ghar mein sabhi afraad ko ek lari mein piro ke rakhte hain jesa ke nani ne kiya..boht he maza aya parh ke..superb update...shukriya pm ke leye..

Loved Arnav and Khushi phone conversation... It was sweet, mischievous, adorable... Khushi has the ability to set his mood right even if she is miles apart... Whatever Payal or anyone for that matter says but they know what they are for each other...

No one is perfect... If Payal word made Arnav question his life and his love for Khushi, Akash words told him the story of his life... "it's good to empathize with people, but its important not to allow them to walk all over you. Or you will never be taken seriously"...Loved these lines...

Loved it...

Lovely update! That phone conversation was so cute! It was obvious that they both miss eachother. So Arnav has decided to take a leaf out of akashs book. Let's see how it works out for him.

Loved it. First the relationship Arnav-Khushi share. They have an easy camaraderie and that's the beauty of it. Khushi surely has a unique way of starting a conversation. 😛


"Its nothing Nani. I have learnt the hard way that it's good to empathize with people, but its important not to allow them to walk all over you. Or you will never be taken seriously. You will be trampled at the first sign of weakness. So, I'd rather be the scary boss than the boss no one ever listens too."

This I loved. Akash is sorted.He has indirectly helped Arnav. He understands people well too. How he understood Arnav's reaction has to be result of Payal's words. I wish she watches her tongue slightly before saying. She means well but this cal push people away from her and she won't like to do that especially when the concerned person is her sister's boyfriend.

Arnav & Khushi have reached that stage of total completeness in each other, its heartening. Maybe that harsh advice by Payal was OK after all - it made Arnav introspect, even Akash's words having an effect. This is probably to set the stage for a change in Arnav maybe. I've known similar people who tend to be sweet, but are taken for granted because they tend to not make an issue about small things.

Chapter 1:

Life is indeed webbed and coiled like a crossword puzzle, isn't it? It's a tedious task to find the correct word that goes with the meaning. Instincts doesn't always work out, your knowledge may not seemingly help you every time. You may even seek help from others like Khushi did here. She not only consults with Arnav for searching the right word- she asks him to help her sort out the puzzles of her life. The dimension of a relationship justly shown- not with more inclination towards the physical intimacy between two people but with the understanding, honesty and respect they share. That's definitely a n indication of a clever writing.

Everything is realistic here. Dreams, expectations, hopes, love and all the sentiments intricately woven together- depicting the lives of many young people at the present time. In this situation, no one can be blamed. But yes, both the parents and the children are at fault. Communication is necessary, convincing is required and a good argument can help to sort out the things. There must be good reasoning- from both the sides. Such dilemma arises in most of the Asian homes- where future of any young individual is derived out of parent's will that is affected by Society's context.

Loved how you showed the innate human nature- pouring one's irritation over another person. I love this Arnav- flirty yet subtle at the same time. I love Khushi- there's a spark in her. I know I'll love this story.

You are definitely the winner. No one can dare to say you're not good at writing fictions.

Awesome update!
Hope khushi comes back soon!
Loved arshi moments!
Thnx fr pm!

Banner Credit: Vee

Chapter 21

Aakash wondered if it was a good idea to meet her today. He had been waiting to talk to her since the night before, but she had been busy with the night shift. He knew her shift had ended almost 5 hours back, but was also aware that she'd be exhausted and so decided to wait. She'd go home, Garima Aunty would force her to eat something, and then she'd hit the sack, to wake up no less that 4 hours later. He would ideally have liked to allow her a few more hours of rest, but he could wait no more.

They hadn't spoken much since the night he took her out to dinner. He had made sure that the night did not end on a bitter note, but there were issues they needed to sort out. He was far from pleased with the way she had handled things, and wondered if perhaps he should have made his point clear. But he had not, and things between them had been awkward since. To her credit, Payal had called him on both days. But he had struggled to even pretend that all way okay between them; his words terse and lacking warmth. He knew she had noticed that, but she too had chosen to ignore the elephant in the room.

But this was not about the both of them. And there was a good chance it wouldn't be pleasant. Not wanting to create a scene in front of her parents, he decided to wait until later in the night to meet her. He sat thinking about the time hardly a few months back when things had been much simpler. They had been wonderful nights, when the two of them had enjoyed themselves in the company of each other, their love growing as they talked and laughed over the most mundane things. For years they had been friends, companions, confidants to one another; it had come effortlessly. How had things gone wrong within the span of a few months? Or had he just been blind to all the things that had been staring right at him all those years?

No, tonight was not going to be about them, he reminded himself. It would do no good thinking about his own problems when there was something else he wanted to address. He decided to busy himself with work till it was time to meet Payal.

*

*

Payal closed her laptop shut and decided to call it a day. She picked up her phone, wondering whether or not to call him. It pained her to think about what their relationship had come to. She realised that she was to blame for most of the mess, and that she should have told him about the fellowship sooner. But he had been too busy and she had honestly believed that it would better to wait until he was free to discuss something this serious. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and she had hoped Aakash would be supportive. He hadn't expressed any objections but he didn't appear to pleased either, which was more than evident in the way he had been speaking with her since that night. Perhaps it was because he was still upset at the way she had handled things, but she had expected him to be more understanding. She had stood by him when he was building his career, even going against her nature to nurse his pride when it was hurt. And now that it was his turn...

She broke out her reverie with a start and she felt her phone buzz. To her delight, it was the man himself. "I am at the door" it read. She smiled; he was darling, wasn't he? He must have understood what she was feeling without her having to voice it, and perhaps that's why he was here. To make amends. She too would apologise, she decided. She got up from her chair and with a spring in her steps walked to the door to receive him.

"Hey" she said softly and opened the door; once he was inside, she closed the door gingerly to make sure it made no sound. Turning around, much to Aakash's surprise, she hugged him warmly and rested her head on his chest. He responded by circling one arm around her waist and with the palm of the other, he held her head in place, close to his heart. How long had it been since they had held each other like this?

He was afraid he'd get carried away and forget why he was really there; gradually withdrawing from her arms, he silently walked towards her room. It would be unwise to speak in the living room, they could easily disturb the elder Gupta-s. Payal followed him inside and closed the door behind her. Aakash spoke without preamble, "Did you say something to Bhai yesterday?" With a sigh, he sat down on the small chair next to her desk.

"What?" she asked, visibly perplexed. "What are you talking about?" So much for him understanding what she was thinking about.

"Bhai was here yesterday, and he has been visibly disturbed since. Did something happen here?" he asked more carefully this time, not wanting to make an accusation without being certain.

Payal thought about her conversation with Arnav the day before; had it affected him badly? "What did he say?"

"So you did say something! What the hell did you say to him?" he barked as got up from the chair, now towering over her. The suddenness of his movement made her jump, but she composed herself soon enough. How dare he talk to her in that tone?

Taking a step away from him, "We had a conversation." she said, her voice stern.

"Was it a conversation or were you spouting venom as he listened silently?" he bellowed. He wouldn't allow her to get away with it this time.

"He is not a little boy for you to come and speak for him, Aakash. And if you must know, I just showed him the mirror and asked him to think a few things over."

"Who the f**k are you to dish out advice?" his body singed with rage. "How many times have you be told to save your advice pallets for your patients, Payal?"

"You don't tell me what I should be doing and what I shouldn't" she hissed. No one told her what to do and what not; not even the man she loved.

"I WILL tell you what to do when things concern my family. In case you've forgotten, it is MY brother we are talking about."

"He isn't just your brother, Aakash. He is also my sister's boyfriend. And my friend. I admit that the way I spoke may be flawed, but I won't make apologies for what I said." .

"Even if what you said has pushed him, your 'friend' as you say, further into the darkness he has been struggling to find his way out of? I have never seen him look as... lost as he has been since that night. What the hell did you even say?"

"The truth!" she snapped. She didn't regret anything she had said, and so there was nothing to hide. "I told him the truth. That he needs to buck up. Get himself together and do something about his life rather than moping around and envying my sister." It wasn't exactly what she meant to say, and she knew she would regret the words even as she spoke them; but she couldn't stop herself as rage consumed her entire being.

"Are you saying my brother is jealous of Khushi?", he asked, his voice so menacing, Payal had to take another step back.

"He certainly isn't happy for her." she spat. "The Raizada brothers are both the same, aren't they? Arnav cant take it that his girlfriend is doing well as he screws up his life, and you here hate that I would choose to take up a fellowship without consulting you for you f**king permission."

"We're not talking about us, right now." he warned.

"Why are we not?" she sneered. "Because you are too ashamed to admit your chauvinism or because you'd rather to scold the mean lady for misbehaving with your darling brother?"

For a moment, Aakash stilled. He didn't recognise the woman standing in front of him; was this really the woman he had fallen in love with? He knew she was undiplomatic and opinionated but he had never seen her be so vicious just because she could be. He had thought himself to be an astute man, a good judge of character; had he gone completely wrong ? He saw the anguished look on her face and knew she was regretted her words, but it did nothing to soothe his wounds.

Payal did regret the words even before she had spoken them; she realised she was hurling insults at him without thinking through things. But his attitude had angered her and she had just worded every doubt that had crossed her mind in the past two days. She wasn't aware of the silent tears that made their way down her cheek - they were not tears of sorrow, but of shame and a mad frenzy. Not one to tolerate what she saw as subordination of any kind, his accusations had insulted her and she felt affronted. And she had retaliated by inflicting pain on him. It wasn't something she was proud of. She felt petty.

It took Aakash a few long minutes to gather himself. But before he could say anything, he heard Payal mutter a soft "sorry" as she broke into sobs. She walked to him; unable to look into his eyes, "I didn't mean that. Its just... you made me so angry! And I sais those things. I do-"

"But you did mean all of that, Payal."Aakash cut her off mid-sentence, his voice and his stance suddenly calm and relaxed. "You speak the truth when you are angry. At least what you perceive to be the truth." He sighed and moved away from her; walking towards the bed, he sat down on one side, his back leaning partially on the headrest.

His demeanour confounded her. His words were sarcastic and accusing; but none of the anger that had been raging in his eyes remained, instead all she saw was cold indifference. It scared her. "I.. I didn't mean to hurt him, Aakash.", her voice quivered. "I just thought he could use some perspective. How does one move on without first facing the reality?" she said earnestly.

"What reality are you talking about, Payal?" his expression not betraying anything he felt. "Do you even know what it means? Do you realise while you pretend to be the crusader of truth that a world exists beyond your uncompromising, conceited views? "

It was enough to stun her to silence. But he continued, almost eerily composed and untroubled; "You hate subservience but try dominate everyone around you. You like freedom but thrust your views on all others. You feel offended easily but never consider the effect of your words on others. When I agree with your ways, you love me. When I don't, I am a chauvinistic pig ?"

"That isn't what I meant. I-"

"Oh stop saying that, will you? I think we both know exactly what you meant." He reached for the glass of water placed on the side table and took a sip. Placing the glass back on the coaster, he got up and came to stand in front of her. "I have nothing to say to you, you wont believe me anyway, as you have decided already what is right and what is not. I leave it to you, Payal. I am not going to put up with you disrespecting this relationship, being insensitive to my people and expecting me to acquiesce to everything you say unquestioningly. Call me sexist or a prized bas***d, this is who I am. Take it or leave it."

With that, he walked towards the door. "And stay away from my brother. I don't want a perpetually negative, imperious shadow hovering over him.", he added as an afterthought before closing the door behind him, allowing them the much needed distance to deal with the events of the night.