New FF- Unexpected Love-Part 25 Pg 86- 11/12/2015 - Page 31

Vihaan and Kalpi never wanted the dance to end. The whole night seemed to have closed in on this perfect moment. Vihaan held her close to him, with her face clasped to his chest, where his heart was racing like a bullet train. Kalpi felt her body vibrate with a strange intensity. Both their hearts beat as one. Vihaan wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but he did not have the right words and same was the case with Kalpi. She felt that she needed to express her feelings, tell him how jealous she had felt when she saw him with Trisha, but her sensible brain stopped her. They both decided finally not to say anything and just continued to enjoy being in each other's arms.

Soon the music stopped and both were brought down to earth with a thump. Vihaan would have loved to have another dance with Kalpi, but saw that Kalpi was really uncomfortable standing there on the dance floor with everyone's eyes trained on them and he escorted her out of the dance floor. Kalpi felt a strange sense of desolation, as if she had lost something very precious to her.

Vihaan and Kalpi were standing together, looking at each other, but not saying anything. Words seemed totally inadequate to express their feelings. They both had a feeling that their relationship had reached a place from where there was no going back.

Suddenly they were joined by Mr.Mehra who was the producer of this blockbuster movie and he told Vihaan that some of the financiers were interested in meeting Vihaan. Vihaan was in no mood to leave Kalpana, but it was unavoidable. At the same moment, Anurag came there and asked Kalpi, "Kalpi, I am leaving now. I will drop you at your place. Are you ready to leave?"

Vihaan looked at Kalpana hoping that she would refuse to go. But Kalpi could not refuse, as she had already committed to going with Anurag and he was looking expectantly at her. She agreed to leave with him and when she looked at Vihaan to take his leave, she saw intense anger cover his features and he walked off with acknowledging her goodbye. His behavior caused her a deep pain in her heart and she thought to herself that maybe the dance together did not mean as much to him as it did to her. But the truth was that Vihaan wanted her to wait for him and he hated seeing her leave with Anurag.

Vihaan and Kalpana never did talk about the party or the dance. Both wanted to discuss it, but wanted the other to take the lead which never happened.

Kalpana had definitely noticed that Vihaan had been more pensive of late and looked really sad. She wanted to ask him why he was upset but did not have the guts to do so. In the past few days he had not spoken more than a few words to her. He had spent most of the time on shoots and even when he was at home he never joined her for dinner or breakfast. His withdrawal deeply pained her, but she did not raise the issue.

After a week of this, Kalpana was feeling very lonely and depressed and totally fed up. She hated the fact that Vihaan's moods affected her so much. She called her parents and talked to them, but when her mom asked her why she sounded dull, she just told them that she missed them. But when her mom asked her to come to Delhi after quitting her job, she made excuses and cut the call.

It was 10.00 p.m. and Kalpi was in her room working on a project presentation and suddenly her phone sprang to life. She looked into the display and saw it was Naani calling and she hastily picked up the call all worried.

"Hello Naani. How are you? Hope you are alright?", Kalpi said all in one breath.

"I am fine dear, don't worry. I hope you are fine too." Naani said.

"I am doing good, Naani", she said trying to sound upbeat.

"And how is Vihaan?, Naani asked.

"I don't know, Naani" she said truthfully, not able to lie.

"What happened dear? Have you two fought about something?" Naani asked.

"No, Naani. It is nothing like that. It is just that Vihaan has been looking very upset and worried lately. I don't know what is wrong, but he has not told me anything", Kalpi said sadly.

"Kalpi, that is one of the reasons I called you, dear. I know why Vihaan is upset. It is his parent's death anniversary tomorrow. Every year during this time of the year, he gets this way. You know, I have tried many times to help him to get over it, but he is always depressed during those days. He still feels guilty about his parent's death." Naani said.

"He feels guilty, but why Naani." Kalpi asked.

"His parents were on the way to the airport to meet him, when they met with the accident. His dad was very busy during those days, but Vihaan had insisted that they come to USA to meet him and celebrate his parent's marriage anniversary with him. He had finally worn down all their protests and convinced them to come. But they never reached there" Naani said with a catch in her voice.

Kalpana felt tears rolling down her cheeks, as she imagined the pain Vihaan was going through. The pain felt so intense and real and she felt the pain to be her own.
Before she ended the call she had promised Naani that she would ensure that Vihaan comes out of his depression, even though she had no idea how she would do it.

Kalpi tossed and turned the whole night, thinking of ways to make Vihaan feel better. She did not want Vihaan to undergo any more pain or hurt.

The next day Kalpi woke up early and got dressed and went downstairs. She made a cup of coffee for herself as well as Vihaan. She decided she would check on Vihaan and see if he was awake.

She knocked on the door very lightly, not wanting to wake him up if he was asleep. The door was unlocked and it flew open. He was sitting on the edge of the bed with his head lowered.

He did not even hear her come in. Her heart bled to see him so heart-broken as she walked towards him. She kept the coffee cup on the bedside table and went near him and softly touched his shoulders.

He looked up at her with all the pain mirrored in his eyes. But suddenly they turned cold and he shouted angrily, "Why are you here? I want to be alone. So go away from here".

"I am not going anywhere", she said kindly but firmly. She sat next to him on his bed and when he looked at her, she softly said, "Vihaan, Naani told me about today."

The empathy in her voice and the sorrow in her eyes proved to be his undoing and he broke down completely and said tearfully, "I miss them so much. I wish I had not invited them to come visit me. It is because of my stupidity that they are not here right now." He bent down and covered his face with his hands.

Kalpi could not take it anymore and she got up and went and stood in front of him and slowly removed his hands from his face and softly wiped his tears. Vihaan who already totally miserable hugged her at her waist and buried his face into her soft body, as if it was the only support for his crumbling heart.

Kalpi slowly caressed his hair, murmuring comforting words to him, just wanting to take away all his pain and suffering. None of the words registered with Vihaan, but her soft, warm body and her softly soothing voice and her touch slowly calmed him down and he started feeling much better.

Kalpi suddenly realized the intimacy of their bodies, but did not do anything to change it as she was totally focused on getting Vihaan to feel better.

Vihaan looked up into her eyes and suddenly felt strangely vulnerable. He hated feeling vulnerable and hated showing it to her. He lowered his eyes and removed his hands away from her body.

All the insecurities regarding his relationship with Kalpana suddenly came into the forefront. She did not want any relationship with him and he would not expose his soul in front of someone who did not feel anything for him but sympathy. He did not want her sympathy, but wanted something much more from her. This caused him to lash out in anger at her.

"Kalpana, please go away from here. I don't want your sympathy. I can deal with my pain myself. Leave me alone", Vihaan said.

Kalpana felt hurt at his words, but understood that these words came from a place of pain but not of hate.

A look of pain clouded her eyes, and she left his room without looking back.

As soon as she left his room, Vihaan suddenly felt as if his whole world had become empty and devoid of anything. He felt a strange sense of loss and his heart ached to have her back with him. He kept staring at the door with sad eyes, hating himself for having hurt her.

Within 15 mins Kalpi was back carrying a tray with Vihaan's breakfast on it. She walked in acting as if nothing had happened.

Vihaan who was previously missing her, suddenly got angry at her indifference to his temper and said, "Why are you back here? I told you to leave me alone."

Kalpi looked directly into his eyes and said, "I won't leave you alone, even if you ask me to. I care for you too much and can't leave you alone when you are in so much pain."

Kalpi suddenly realized the words she had spoken, she got embarrassed and blushed furiously.

Vihaan hearing the truth in her voice was rendered totally speechless. Her care was so evident in her voice that all of Vihaan's anger vanished into thin air.

He stared at her and she said, "Have your breakfast Vihaan. I am not going to allow you to mope in your room. I know that your whole appointment dairy was free for today and I have taken up all the slots." Saying this she showed his diary on her Ipad and the whole day was marked with her name."

Unknowingly Vihaan smiled at her cute gesture and took the breakfast plate in his hands and started eating. Kalpi smiled back and suddenly felt her spirits lift.

Suddenly he stopped eating and moved the fork towards her mouth and said, "You know I hate eating alone" and popped the food into her mouth.

She smiled shyly and he stared at her beautiful mouth and smiled back.

"So what are your plans for me. I am all yours since you have already taken up all my appointments." Vihaan asked feeling suddenly upbeat at the thought of spending the whole day with her.

"It is a surprise. Get ready. See you downstairs in half an hour and your time starts now", she said with a smile, while going out of the room.

The day seemed brighter and more beautiful and Vihaan suddenly felt more hopeful.

When he came down much before the half an hour was over totally eager to begin the day, she was already waiting for him. She was dressed in a pale lilac silk salwar suit with a purple crushed silk dupatta with her long flowing hair tied loosely. She looked fresh and beautiful as a daisy and Vihaan was dumbstruck for a moment.

Kalpi was also not immune to the handsome example of manhood Vihaan represented. He looked handsome beyond belief and she felt her heart beat faster.

Once they were in the car, Kalpi held his hand and said softly, "I want us to first go to a temple where we can pray for your parents. But I worry that you will be mobbed."

"Don't worry, I know a place where I will not get mobbed", he said.

"Where are we going?", she asked.

"Let me surprise you", he said.

They travelled for almost 4 hours but the hours passed as if it were merely seconds as they were both totally engrossed in each other, talking at times and communicating silently at times.

They soon reached Lonavala which was is on the outskirts of Mumbai driving through the western ghats and suddenly they driver drove into the open gates.

The driver stopped suddenly in front of a small temple and Kalpi looked at Vihaan with questioning eyes.

"You wanted to come to a temple where I don't get mobbed. So here it is.", Vihaan said.

They both prayed together for the souls of his departed parents. Kalpi prayed really hard asking for peace of mind for Vihaan.

Vihaan's logical mind always knew it was silly to feel guilty about his parent's death, but he still did. But at that specific instant in this temple, he really felt the presence of his parent's around him. Vihaan suddenly felt at peace, as if he parent's had given him their blessings to be free of guilt.

Vihaan and Kalpi then went and sat at the steps of temple.

"This place here is so peaceful and there is such a sense of divinity in the air. Thanks for bringing me here. I planned to surprise you, but you gave me this beautiful surprise." Kalpi said.

"I am glad you liked it. This is our family deity's temple and is part of our villa. Only a few villagers and people working on our farm come here." Vihaan said.

"It is so beautiful here. Do you come here often?" Kalpi asked.

"When my parents were alive, we used to come her often, but after their death I am coming here for the first time." Vihaan said.

Kalpi instinctively took his hand in hers and held it tight.

Vihaan looked into her beautiful eyes brimming with tears and continued, "But I am glad I came here today with you. I feel a sense of peace and closure. Thanks for this, Kalpana."

"I am so happy to see you feel better. It really hurts me to see you in pain," Kalpi said unthinkingly and Vihaan could not but smile whole heartedly.

Vihaan showed her around the grounds and villa which actually overlooked the Pawna lake in Maharashtra lake district. The whole place was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful in its rustic nature.

Kalpi fell in love immediately with the beautiful place and she told Vihaan, "This place is lovely and so serene, I am totally in love."

"Yes, it is. I am glad we came here together and I re-discovered the beauty of this place." Vihaan said.

Soon they were conversing openly about his parents. He showed her around places where he had played in his childhood. He relived all the happy moments he had spent with his parents and she shared fond memories of her childhood.

They had a picnic lunch on the grounds of the villa. Vihaan suddenly said, "Thanks a lot, Kalpana. I am so grateful to you for showing me how great how my childhood was and what great parents I had. All my friends had miserable childhoods with their parents always fighting or getting divorced. I had such a happy family life and I had an amazing 19 years with them and I should feel lucky rather than feel miserable about losing them. I am really going to just think about the happy memories and I am sure that this is what my parents want for me. Kalpana, I feel as if my parents are closer to me today than ever before. Thanks once again."

Kalpi was overwhelmed by his words and she moved closer to him and Vihaan put his arms around her and hugged her.

The sun was already about to set and Kalpi said, "We should be leaving it is already late and we have to reach Mumbai."

Both did not want to leave this magical place, but reluctantly went back to the car. The whole journey passed in almost total silence as both felt strangely emotional. The silence was not awkward but totally companionable.

It was almost 9.00, by the time they reached Mumbai and both of them felt pleasurably tired but did not want the day to end.

Kalpi said, "You know I said I had planned to surprise you today, but you gave the most beautiful surprise today. I had the best day today, Vihaan. Thanks."

"I don't want the day to end. Let's have dinner together", Vihaan said.

"I am not very hungry. I just want to eat something light. Maybe just a sandwich", Kalpi said.

"Me too. Let's have sandwiches", Vihaan said.

"Can we have eat in your screening room, while we watch one of your dad's movies. I really wanted to do this with you today.", she asked cautiously.

Vihaan suddenly felt all charged up and said, "I would love to do that."

They decided to watch the movie featuring both his parents. It was a comedy movie and soon had them both in splits.

Vihaan had watched the movie many times, but watching the movie with Kalpi was an experience by itself. She laughed unselfconsciously and enjoyed it passionately and Vihaan watched her more than he watched the movie.

"Why did you tell me your mom is a bad actress. She is a natural", Kalpi asked.

"She is not acting, she is in love with my dad", Vihaan said laughingly.

"My dad loved your parents and I wish I had known them. I am sure I would have loved them." Kalpi said unthinkingly.

Vihaan just said,"I am sure they would have loved you too."

Suddenly she felt that she was being insensitive and changed the topic and said, "Your parents are so good-looking, no wonder you are so handsome."

"You really think I am handsome", he asked.

"Are you blind and too vain to wear glasses? That is the only reason why you would need to ask this question. Or are you fishing for compliments?" she asked laughingly.

Suddenly Vihaan looked into her eyes and said, "I think you are beautiful".

"Then you must be really blind, we need to go shopping for glasses." Kalpi said still laughing.

Vihaan took her face in both his hands and looked into her eyes and said earnestly, "I really think you are beautiful."

Kalpi's laugh stopped midway and she stared into his eyes for a heart-stopping moment.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door of the projection room and the moment shattered.

The servant entered the room with a phone and said that there was an urgent phone call for Kalpana from her brother.

She suddenly remembered that both of them had shut down their phone for the day. It was a decision they had both taken in the morning.

Kalpana worriedly took the phone and asked, "Dada, is everything alright. Is dad okay?"

Pakya said, "Everyone is fine. Why is your phone switched off? I was trying to get in touch with you since afternoon."

Kalpana asked, "What happened, Dada"

Pakya said, "Congrats Kalpi. You got into the University you wanted. Your acceptance letter came in today. We are all so proud of you. Darling, why don't you and parents come and spend a few days in USA before you join college. We can check out the place and have fun. You can resign and come to Delhi and we can leave next month"

Kalpi who had been waiting to this almost her whole life, waited for the excitement to hit her. But all she felt is sadness engulf her. This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life and it felt as if her life was ending. All she could think of was that she was going away from Vihaan. Her heart felt so heavy and she was almost in tears. She somehow ended the call saying that she would call everyone tommorrow.

Vihaan who saw her eyes filling with tears got worried and asked her, "What happened? Why are you crying?"

Kalpi suddenly embarrassed said with a forced smile, "Nothing sad, I just got into the University of my first choice in USA."

Vihaan felt as if the earth had moved from below his feet. He thought that her tears were tears of happiness and he congratulated her with a fake smile from his end.

She knew at that instant that if he asked her to stay back, she would do so without any questions. She also realized that she had fallen irrevocably in love with him and life would never be the same again.

All Vihaan wanted to do was ask her never to leave him, because he wanted to have her in his life forever. But suddenly he remembered her talk with his Naani where she had said that going to USA was her lifelong dream.

"How could he take away her dream from her and even if he asked her to stay, why would she stay back", he thought.

"I am so happy for you. I know you wanted this very badly", he said not meaning a word he said.

"I am not happy. Please ask me to stay back. I don't want to leave you. Please stop me." she sent this silent thoughts to him, but did not mouth those words.

Kalpi suddenly could not stand there anymore and she said a hasty goodbye and ran away from there leaving an absolutely devastated Vihaan behind.