Chapter 2
Phew!!! It had been a long day for Sharon.. Her first day at work and Kriya too wasn't all that lenient with her.. Not that Sharon wanted her to be.. But each and every drop of sweat was worth it.. Sharon was doing something that she always enjoyed and this satisfaction had killed all the fatigue.. Kriya had left the studio early today and had left the last class for Sharon to finish up with.. And yes it was done.. Sharon had just bid a good bye to all her students as they left.. She was packing up for the day..
So how was your first day at work?'
Sharon (packing her stuff, with a smile): I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it.. By the way how come The Swayam Shekhawat is late today??
Swayam (plopping on the chair): Nothing just wrapped up some work at the office and came..
Sharon (looking at him): Why don't you tell uncle that business is not your cup of tea..
Swayam (a bit irritated): Lets not get there now I'm too tired to argue..
Sharon (under her breath): Like always.. (taking her bag) Come lets get our stomach some yummy food..
Swayam (with a raised eyebrow): Mujhe laga you didn't want me to come over for dinner?!
Sharon (attitude): Stop being a jerk.. (with a pout) Mujhe bhook lagi hai let go jaldi na!!!
How could Swayam refuse such a cute pout.. His face broke into a huge grin and he pulled Sharon's hand leading them down to his car.. Within an hour's time they were with Kriya and Rey sitting on the dining table serving themselves the yummy biryani Kriya had made.. Swayam was about to have a spoon of the curd when Sharon who was sitting right opposite him, held his hand stopping him from eating..
Swayam gave her a puzzled look and so did Rey and Kriya..
Kriya: Aare Sharon usse khaane toh do..
Sharon (sternly): No I won't.. (to Swayam) Keep the spoon down..
Swayam (confused): Aare but kyun??
Sharon: There are nuts in the raita.. Now do you mind keeping the spoon down?! Unless you want to rush to the hospital in the middle of the night with a swollen face..
For a second the three of them kept staring at Sharon and then realised what was she talking about.. Swayam was allergic to nuts and apparently he had forgotten about it..
Kriya: Oh shit! Main toh bhool hi gayi Swayam ke liye alag se maine raita banaya tha.. I'll get that..
Swayam pouted and looked at Sharon who just passed him a deadly glare for not remembering about his own health.. Rey saw his sisters expression and giggled pitying the poor lad who was facing the tigress AGAIN..
Rey: Aare haan Swayam! Please haan phir se koi nuts mat khaana.. Last time yaad hai na kya hua tha?!
Kriya (walking out with a bowl): Haan Ms. Sharon Rai Prakash ne poora hospital sarr pe utha liya tha..
Rey (giggling): Bichara doctor.. I remember woh nurse bhi kaise darr gayi thi..
Swayam smiled cheekily while looking at Sharon as he remembered the incident which happened just about 2 months back..
Sharon (annoyed): Aare main kya karti iss bewakoof ne itna dara diya tha..
Swayam (grinning): Tum mom se jyada darr gayi thi..
Sharon was stumped for a second.. She didn't know what to say..
Sharon (stammering): Woo..h.. mai..ne.. wwohh.. Haan.. woh.. tabhi tum.. toh.. toh kya hua?.. Mujhe fikar nahi ho sakti hai ka?.. After all he is My Best.. Best Friend.. Tumhe kuch ho jaata toh?!
Swayam (smiling widely): It was just an allergy.. And woh kya pehli baar nahi hua tha.. If you remember..
Sharon looked at him as she saw this weird naughtiness and this different satisfaction in his eyes.. As if he had got something he had wanted.. As if he was really happy seeing her stammer like this or he is happy remembering that incident.. Or he is happy that she had panicked more than his mom.. or?? Or what??? Why the heck was he so happy?
For the first time she was confused about something.. There was something happening to her but she didn't know what it was.. She had been noticing some alien thing in Swayam's eyes for quite a while now.. She was neither understanding what was that alien thing in his eyes and nor this thing that she was feeling.. But she had learnt one thing.. She had suddenly started looking into Swayam's eyes a lot nowadays and also she felt lost when he looked at her.. She continued looking into his eyes when they both were got out of their thoughts as they heard someone clearing their throat..
Kriya (clearing her throat): Umm Sharon aur Swayam khaana khaa lo.. Thanda ho raha hai..
Sharon (coming out of her thoughts): aa.. haan.. haan?
Kriya (pointing towards her plate): Khaana.. Biryani.. Tumhari favourite.. Thandi ho rahi hai..
Sharon (fumbling): Haan.. Biryani.. Biryani..
Swayam was smiling looking at Sharon fumble.. He then looked at Kriya who winked and him and in return he winked back at her.. All four of them had their dinner.. And Sharon had again managed to push those thoughts at the back of her head and have some fun during dinner.. They chatted.. laughed.. and had some good fun together..
After dinner Swayam and Sharon had headed back home.. Got changed.. Sharon just like everyday had gone up to the terrace after having a small chat with her parents.. And Swayam too had come up and jumped over the parapet that joint both the house terrace's.. Both Swayam and Sharon have been doing so and meeting each other like this ever since they knew each other.. Their parents too were known to this and just for the two best friends they had even got a corner made with a few cushions for them to sit comfortably..
Sharon got seated in her usual place and Swayam sat next to her.. She rested her head backwards and closed her eyes as she was really tired now.. Swayam kept looking at her with a light smile on his face.. Her face shining in the moon light.. the light enhancing each and every feature.. he so wanted to hold those glossy plumpy lips between his and kiss her like there was no tomorrow.. but he controlled reminding himself she was still his best friend and he had to give her time..
He loves her but she was yet confused.. He himself didn't know when.. how.. where.. he had fallen for her.. but he knew 1 thing for sure.. That he loved her and was scared to lose her.. That is the reason he had not yet confessed his feelings and also another reason that she yet hadn't realised her own feeling for him.. He somewhere knew she felt for him but is confused about what that feeling is and it would take time for her to realise but he was ready to wait.. wait for his love to fall in love..
Swayam got out his thoughts and nudged her with his elbow..
Sharon (eyes yet closed): Hmmm??
Swayam: Kya hmm.. get up now.. See what I've got..
Sharon slowly opened her eyes and looked at him
Sharon (frowning): What?
Swayam took the small plastic bag by his side.. He removed 2 mini tubs of ice creams and handed one to her.. Ice cream had always been a weakness for Sharon.. Her face always lit up just by the thought of having one.. Right now as well her eyes glittered as Swayam handed her the tub.. She snatched it from him and opened it in a jiff.. Swayam giggled looking at her behave like a 5 years old.. But he couldn't ignore the fact that she looked damn cute and adorable at such instances..
Swayam: Aare relax! Ice-cream tumhari hi hai.. Kahin bhaagke nahi jaa rahi..
Sharon paid no heeds to what Swayam said and dug into her fest.. She took a huge bit and closed her eyes savouring the taste.. It was as if that was the last tub left and it was the last time she was having it.. After having the first bite she looked at Swayam as she felt his gaze on her.. And he was looking at her with that weird glint again.. God! Why did she have to notice all of it today only!.. She asked him through her eyes What' and he lightly nodded saying nothing..
Then Swayam opened his tub and before he could even dig in to have his first bit it was snatched from him and another tub was placed in his hand.. He looked at Sharon a bit annoyed..
Swayam: What was that??
Sharon (as if offended): How dare you get my favourite flavour for yourself and give me some other flavour..
Swayam (confused): Par tumhe toh chocolate pasand hai iss liye tumhare liye woh laya..
Sharon: What the hell!! Tumhe pata hai mujhe chocolate se jyada Mango pasand hai!
Swayam (a bit higher pitch): Yeh kab hua??
Sharon: As if tumhe yaad nahi!
Swayam: Nahi!
Sharon: Such a shameless jerk! You don't even remember my favourite flavour..
Swayam: Oh hello! Main tumhari favourite cheezon ki list kabhi nahi bhool sakta and tum toh aise baat kar rahi ho jaise ki tumhe bada yaad rehta hai..
Sharon (keeping the tub down): Try me!
Swayam: Fine!!
Sharon (rubbing her palm against each other): Bring it on!
Swayam: Ok.. Favourite colour?
Sharon: Blue
Swayam: Favourite food?
Sharon: You are a pig you can each everything.. But as of now Chinese..
Swayam (sarcastically): Ha Ha FUNNY!! A..aa Favourite Ice cream?
Sharon: Mango..
Swayam: Closest friend?
Sharon: After me or before me?
Swayam: After you, duh!
Sharon: Saloni..
Swayam: Ummm.. 1st crush?
Sharon: Are you sure you want me to answer that?
Swayam: Yeah!
Sharon (putting her hand on his shoulder): Don't worry aisa hota.. Koi koi ladke aise hote and just because your interests are different humari dosti kabhi bhi nahi badlegi.. I promise..
Swayam (confused): Yeh kya bakwaas kar rahi hai?? I asked you about my 1st crush..
Sharon (letting out a sigh): Fine.. You asked for it.. Salman Khan..
And the next thing Sharon burst out laughing and Swayam was literally ready to kill her now.. It was now that he understood why she was talking about all that rubbish before.. He advanced towards her and Sharon ran for her life.. She was laughing away to glory while he was chasing her..
Swayam (running behind her): Sharon ki bacchi!! You are so dead now!!
Sharon: But it's the truth! You have a crush on Salman Khan.. Kisi bhi ladki se jyada toh you notice his body!!
Swayam: My foot!
Both were running around the terrace and no soon were panting.. Sharon sat in her place to catch her breath and Swayam settle next to her breathing heavily.. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes waiting for her breathing to steady up.. Swayam smiled and rested his head over hers.. Both stayed like that for a while even after they were fine.. Sharon was loving the peace she felt sitting like that.. It was a different kind of pleasure she got.. Swayam slowly opened his eyes and saw the ice cream tubs still kept there unattended all thanks to their craziness..
Swayam (taking a tub): Take this! Melt ho jayega..
Both now sat up start and started having their share of the dessert.. both didn't miss to dig into the others tub for a change in taste.. After a short comfortable silence, Sharon spoke up..
Sharon (eating her ice cream): Ab bolo.. Kya chahiye?
Swayam (confused): kya chahiye matlab?
Sharon: Mr.Swayam Shekhawat, I know you a bit more than you know yourself.. So now speak up.. Itna buttering kyun? Kya kaam hai?
Swayam (mocking): You really think main aisa kuch tumse koi kaam karwane ke liye karunga?
Sharon (matter of fact-ly): Haan!!
Swayam: What!!! Main kya mere best friend ko aise hi treat nahi kar sakta?? This is what you think of me??
Sharon (straight face): Ho gaya?! Now say.. Kaam kya hai?
Swayam (cheekily): Woh actually next week ek party organise karni hai..
Sharon (busy eating): Kis khushi main?
Swayam: Just like that.. Its been long we've partied..
Sharon: Ki skis ko invite karna hai?
Swayam: Same.. Studio friends and 1 or 2 others..
Sharon: Give me the confirmed list of people.. Place book ho jayega..
Swayam: Cars main arrange kar luga..
Sharon: Ok done! Baaki sab Kriya se baat karke arrange ho jayega..
Swayam: By the way, will Rey atleast come for this one?
Sharon: I'll talk to bhai..
Swayam (pulling her cheek): You know, you are such a sweetheart..
Sharon (glaring at him): Ahhh Leave my cheek otherwise I'll cancel everything!!!
Swayam immediately left her and looked at her with an innocent pout.. Sharon looked at him with the same glare but it slowly turned into a sweet smile when she saw the pout on his face..
Sharon (in mind): He is so freaking adorable.. Just like My Baby!!
Sharon's eyes went wide in shock and she looked at if she had seen a ghost.. Her own thought had done that to her..
Sharon (in mind): My Baby' Seriously??? Jeezz Sharon what's wrong with you??? Think straight it's Swayam.. The monkey!.. The Jerk!.. Who unfortunately your best friend.. Best Friend..
Swayam was looking at her confused as he saw the horrified expression on her face.. He was trying to read her face but couldn't.. He didn't know what had got into her.. But soon he noticed that she was trying to cover up with her relaxed expression..
Swayam (in mind, smirking): She is such a horrible actress..
He waited for her to compose herself.. Both continued having their ice cream.. But this time Sharon seemed a bit confused and lot in her thought whereas Swayam was looking at her and trying to gauge from her expression as to what was she thinking.. It was quite late and both got up to go to bed..
Swayam (smiling): Good Night..
Sharon (smiling): Good night (in mind) Bloody Monkey.. Pehle khud confuse karta hai and now he is the one wishing me a Good night'.. Huh!
Bindi
Udne Ki Aasha
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
55