New FF- Unexpected Love-Part 25 Pg 86- 11/12/2015 - Page 16

Vihaan and Kalpi were both lost in their thoughts in the car, but both did not want to analyze too closely the reason for their odd behavior because both were worried about what secrets such an analysis would unearth.

Suddenly Vihaan asked, "Kalpana did you have your dinner? I just dragged you out of there, without even asking anything."

Kalpi said, "No, I did not have my dinner but it is fine. I am not hungry."

Vihaan said, "You may not be hungry, but I am. Let me take you out for dinner. I will just book a table" and pulled out his cell.

Kalpi immediately stopped him and said, "Vihaan, please drop me home, I am not hungry and I don't really want to go out someplace where everyone will be gaping at you and wondering who I am. I am sorry, but I will not be comfortable in such a place."

Vihaan who was subconsciously just using dinner as an excuse to prolong his time with Kalpana did not want to dine alone anyway.

He said, "I understand, but Kalpana you will have to start getting used to being out with me. You are my secretary and we may have to go out together many times."

Kalpana said, "I am not going to be here long enough Vihaan to become comfortable with such things." As soon as she said these words she immediately felt something akin to sorrow clutch her heart.

At the same time a similar feeling enveloped Vihaan's heart too and his mind said, "I don't want you to go", but he did not articulate these thoughts.

He just changed the topic, as if by ignoring the inevitable he could prevent it from happening.

"Anyway, it is okay, I will just go home and ask someone to cook up something for me", Vihaan said.

"It is very late. If you don't mind, I can rustle up something for you. I love cooking" Kalpi said.

"I have already tasted your food and I know you are an excellent cook, but you must be tired and I can't take advantage of you now." Vihaan said.

Kalpi said, "No, I am not tired and I want to cook for you." Immediately she blushed and was thankful for the dark interiors of the car which prevented Vihaan from seeing her blush.

Vihaan and Kalpi walked into the house wondering what had changed in their relationship, which was stopping them from attacking each other as they normally did.

"I will just change and come back and cook for you. Please let me know what would you like to eat." Kalpi said.

Vihaan said, "I will have dinner only if you promise to join me for dinner. I know you told me you were not hungry, but eat something. I hate eating alone."

"Okay, now tell me what is it that you want to eat", Kalpi asked.

"I am not fussy, just make something which is easy to make" Vihaan said.

Kalpi went into her room and changed into a simple pink coloured cotton Punjabi suit. She washed off her make-up and tied up her hair and went to the kitchen.

Soon Vihaan followed into her into the kitchen wearing a pair of shorts and a white T-shirt.

Vihaan saw her and wondered how the gorgeous siren he had seen in the evening before had transformed into an innocent girl next door. Without any make-up and a simple outfit she looked fresh as a daisy, all untouched and pure. As always his hands twitched to remove all the pins from her hair and allow it to tumble down.

Kalpi was struck once more with the realization of how good looking he was. He was really heart-stoppingly handsome and his green eyes were mesmerizing. She thanked God for making her sensible enough not to fall for him, but his looks were still distracting.

"I am just going to make a cheese omlette with a garden salad, why don't you wait in the dining room. This is not going to take much time." Kalpi said wishing to send him away.

Vihaan who had never had much to do with the kitchen before, but who had no intentions of moving away from her presence said, "No, I am fine here"

Kalpi decided that she would not allow him to distract her from her cooking and started cooking with full concentration. Soon she had forgotten his presence as she got her ingredients ready to cook.

Vihaan who sitting on the table set on one side of the kitchen watched her and was totally absorbed in watching her delicate movements. She looked absolutely adorable with a tiny frown of concentration adorning her pretty forehead.

Kalpi who had forgotten about Vihaan's presence was reminded most forcibly about him when he suddenly plopped himself on the platform next to where she was cooking.

"Hey, tell me how I can help you." Vihaan asked

Kalpi smiled and asked, "Do you know anything about cooking?"

Vihaan looked shamefaced and said, "No, but I could try"

Kalpi said, "Hey, I don't want you to experiment when I am cooking."

Vihaan said, "Don't say later that I did not offer"

Kalpi was was chopping her vegetables for her garden salad and Vihaan suddenly picked up a piece of sliced tomato and unconsciously Kalpi hit is hand and said, "Hey don't grab vegetables which I have already cut."

Then she realized what she had done and blushed and Vihaan smiled and teased her, "Someone's possessive about her food."

Kalpi blushed again and Vihaan smiled. Soon the food was cooked and Vihaan said, "Let's eat on the terrace today."

"Okay" Kalpi agreed and both walked towards the terrace with the dishes.

The whole terrace was beautiful with potted plants set all around it and the muted lights gave it an almost intimate and cozy feel.

Kalpi served Vihaan his food and as soon as Vihaan took the first bite he said, "Wow, you are a Cordon Bleu cook aren't you?

Kalpi laughed and said, "You don't have to be a Cordon Bleu cook to cook an omelet and salad. But I do love cooking"

Her laughter sounded like tinkling bells to his ears and he thought she laughs like a little child.

Soon they were conversing on different topics and Vihaan suddenly said, "A club was the last place where I had expected to see you."

"Yes, it is the last place where I expected to be. I never go out clubbing, but Sheetal and my friends insisted and I went out with them. They were all my friends from my hostel days and I did enjoy today, but I am not eager to do it again. I like going out my friends but I really am not into partying." Kalpi said smilingly.

"I too don't like clubbing or partying too much either. I don't drink, so such places are not too much fun for me" Vihaan said.

"You really don't drink" Kalpi asked surprised.

"I stopped drinking after going to rehab." Vihaan said.

"Is it very difficult to constantly be in situations where people around you are drinking" Kalpi asked.

"Not really, I am really fine not tempted at all, but I hate being around drunk people because they remind me of how I used to be", Vihaan said.

Kalpi inadvertently clasped Vihaan's hand and looked into his eyes. Vihaan placed his hand on hers and held it fast. Both suddenly got lost in each other's eyes for a long time.

Kalpi suddenly grew self-consious and to change the topic said, "It is so beautiful out here. Sitting here I can almost forget that am in Mumbai. This place seems so aloof from all the hustle bustle of this big city."

These words did not do anything to subdue the charged atmosphere, but just strongly reminded Kalpi and Vihaan that they were alone in this beautiful place and in this strangely intimate setting.

Kalpi hastily started gathering the dishes and stacking them on the trolley. Suddenly Vihaan put held her wrist as if to stop her and said, "Kalpana, please stay for some more time".

Kalpi who herself was having strange sensations which she did not understand but made her uncomfortable said, "Vihaan, it is getting late".

Vihaan just looked into her eyes once more and softly said, "Please" and Kalpana was instantly lost.

She stopped stacking the dishes and walked towards the end of the terrace and stood there holding the railings. The terrace overlooked the sea shore of Mumbai and Kalpi stood looking unseeingly into the sea feeling the cool sea breeze.

Vihaan came and stood next to her and asked, "So Kalpana, what do you like if you don't like partying and clubbing."

"I love reading, cooking, listening to music and dancing." Kalpi said.

"I noticed you do dance beautifully, but you told me you don't like being noticed, so how come a dancer." Vihaan asked.

"When I am dancing I get so lost, I never notice if anyone is watching me or not. It is very different from being in the limelight with you. Were you always comfortable in the limelight" Kalpi asked.

"When I was a kid, I loved all the attention my father's celebrity brought me, but as I grew older I started hating it and when I moved to USA, I did not tell anyone about my parents. Then after I came back, I thought I would just take over the business and all the celebrity lifestyle would be behind me. But somehow I got drawn into acting. I love acting now and I have accepted the celebrity culture which comes alongwith it, though I cannot say I love it" he said.

"You know, my dad kept us away from Mumbai so that we did not get influenced with this glamour and now when he asked me to work with you, it is just the glamour that I hate most. I love everything else about my work" Kalpi said.

"I am glad that you enjoy your work and I love having you work with me" Vihaan said.

Soon they were into intense discussion about various topics and they never realized the passage of time.

"Thanks for staying back. It feels good to talk to you without fighting. Kalpana, I want us to be friends." Vihaan said.

Kalpi said, "I want us to be friends too. But I can't promise you I won't fight with you. I do fight my friends too, I am not Miss Goody too shoes as you call me."

Vihaan laughed loudly and said, "So friends who fight, right" and extended his hands.

She clasped his hands and said, "Friends, who fight sometimes" and gave him her dazzling smile. Vihaan suddenly felt lost for words.

Suddenly Kalpi said excitedly, "Look Vihaan a falling star. Quick make a wish"

Saying this Kalpi closed her eyes and wished, "I want Vihaan and myself to be good friends forever". She was surprised herself for making such a stupid wish. "Why should I care if Vihaan and myself are friends or not? I am not going to be with him for long. Then why did I make such a wish. I wasted one wish stupidly", she thought.

Vihaan who never believed in such stupid superstitions still closed his eyes and wished, "I wish Kalpana does not go away from me". He suddenly realized that he really wanted Kalpana near him as a friend forever.

Both of them did not realize that what they felt for each other was definitely more than friendship.