Char Kadam followers click here please : Part 2 : Safar abhi jaari hai Chapter 2 "Akka...Akkkaa...Akkkaaa" Mihika screamed while shaking Ishita who was sitting like a statue on her scooty.
"Haan" She said coming out of the reverie.
"Utro hum pahunch gaye" Mihika said.
"Haan" she said mechanically and got off the scooty.
Mihika parked her scooty and came back to Ishita who was still lost in something.
"Akka bhoot banke kyun khadi ho. Chalo na andar"
"Mujhe perform nahi karna Miku" Ishita said while twiddling her fingers in anxiety.
"Akka aap nervous ho rahi ho?" Mihika was shocked as she had never seen her sister so nervous before.
"Nahi na nervous to mai kabhi nahi hoti. But mere dimag se wo starbucks wala incident nikal hi raha. It's so embarassing" Ishita replied doing a facepalm.
"Aap bhi na Akka. Aap to aise behave kar rahi ho jaise aaj ke function ka chief guest wahi hai jisko aapne thappad maara" Mihika stated in her usual style.
Ishita's demeanor suddenly changed as she placed her hands on her hips and glared at Mihika "Tu to kuch bol hi mat. Sab teri wajah se hi hua hai"
"Haww...Maine kya kiya? Thappad to aapne maara tha" now Mihika had her hands on hips.
"Thappad maine mara par kyun? Kyunki tune mere dimag me ye fitoor bhara tha ke 'Aap to aise behave kar rahe ho jaise koi apka video leke youtube pe upload kar dega ke alien in starbucks'" Ishita mimicked Mihika's words and tone.
"To?" Mihika demanded.
"To kya? Mai to pehle se hi dari hui thi. Phir jab maine dekha ke us admi ke mobile ka camera lens meri taraf to mujhe teri hi baat yaad ayi. Isiliye maine aise react kiya" Ishita put all the blame on Mihika.
"Wah re wah. Ab saari galti meri?"
"Haan teri hi hai. Pata nahi kis manhoos ghadi me maine teri baat maan li aur tere sath nikal padi. Tujhe to mai dekh loongi"
"Haan dekh lena jitna dekhna hai. Par ab andar chalo Performance ka time ho raha hai" Mihika said casually.
"Tujhe dar nahi lagta meri daant se?" Ishita was surprised.
"Nahi lagta. Kyunki I know aap sirf bolti ho. Karti kuch nahi ho" Mihika stated the obvious and laughed.
"Kucch bhi" said Ishita and laughed with her.
Ishita had finished her performance and had now changed into an exotic floral kurti and jeans. She looked totally different now.
An award ceremony was to follow where a few young achievers from Tamil Nadu were to be honoured and Ishita was one of them. Along with studies she had dedicated her time and services for community development.
After having changed she walked into the function hall. Mihika followed her.
"Ayyyoo" she said turning away and slapped her forehead.
"Kya hua Akka? Kuch bhool gayi kya?" Mihika asked.
"Tu apna moo khol aur zubaan dikha" She ordered Mihika.
"Kya? I mean Kyun? I mean ye aap achanka se doctor ki tarah behave karne kyun lag gayi?" Mihika was baffled.
"Mujhe check karna hai tere zuban kaali hai kya" Ishita said bitingly.
"Apko ho kya gaya hai?" Mihika was still cnfused.
"Stage pe dekh" Ishita said without turning back.
"Arey ye to wahi hai" Mihika's eyes went wide.
"Ye sab teri wajah se hi hua hai. Tune hi kaha tha na 'Aap to aise behave kar rahi ho jaise aaj ke function ka chief guest wahi hoga' Ab dekh wahi hai. Ab mai kya karun? Usne Award dene ke bajaye mujhe thappad maar diya to sabke saamne. Ayyyo murugan! Ab mai kya karun?" Ishita expressed her fear.
Mihika gulped hard as two of her 'Aap to aise behave kar rahi ho' had caused trouble for her sister "Akka relax kuch nahi hoga" she put on a brave face in front of Ishita althoough she too was scared within.
"Kya relax Miku? How will I face him? Mujhe nahi chahye award. Mai jarahi hun yahan se. Meri jagah tu le lena meri award. Bol dena ke mai beemar hogayi mai mar gayi. Kuch bhi bol de. Mai jaa rahi hoon" she blabbered and was ready to leave.
"Akkaaa...You need to relax. Aap to aise behave kar rahi ho jaise..."
Mihika could not complete as Ishita placed her palm on her mouth and forcible stopped her from uttering another word.
"Chup! Bilkul chup...Tere isi pravachan ke kaaran mai do baar museebat me aa chuki hoon. Ab kuch mat bol please" she folded her hands in front of Mihika and Mihika silently nodded her head and zipped her mouth.
"Next award goes to Miss Ishita Iyer" echoed in the auditorium.
"Ayyo Murugan Ab mai kya karun?" Ishita mumbled.
"Arey Ishu tera naam bulaya hai. Jaa na" said one of her friends who had just walked in.
"Miss Ishita Iyer please come on stage and collect your award" said the compere.
Finding no escape she walked gingerly to the stage while praying silently that he does not recognise her.
He brought his hand forward for a shake and she accepted it nervously.
"Congratulations Miss Iyer" Raman said handing her the award.
She stared at his face for a reation but he seemed to have not recognised her. She thanked God for listening to her prayer. Probably he had not recognised her because of being dressed differently now.
He signalled her towards the photographer who was asking her to face the camera.
"Oh yeah" she whispered and turned to face the camera. She now relaxed at the thought that he had not recognised her, she smiled at the camera and then descended the stage.
"Nandri Murugan" she said flding her hands in gratitude as she sat down.
The award function winded up in a while and all the attendees proceeded for lunch.
Ishita and Mihika were chatting with their friends over the lunch when a guy came to inform that Ishita was being called by Mr.Iyengar, the president of Tamil association.
Ishita excused herself and went looking for the Mr. Iyengar.
"Ishita. Come here" Mr.Iyengar called for her.
She smiled and walked towards him only to find him accompanied by none other than Raman Kumar Bhalla.
'Ayyo. Not again' she thought. But then composed herself remembering that he had not recognised her.
"Ishita...This is Mr.Bhalla. Mr.Bhalla this is Ishita Iyer" Mr.Iyengar introduced them to each other.
"Hi" he said extending his hand for a shake.
"Hi" she said shaking his hand and added "Pleased to meet you"
"Of course. The meeting was quite pleasant" he said rubbing his left cheek and looking into her eyes.
Ishita's eyes went wide in shock. 'Ayyo. That means he has recognised me? No no. You are thinking too much. He must be doing it just like that' she thought.
"Ishita Mr.Bhalla has sponsored today's event. He is a young achiever himself and likes to encourage other young achievers in various fields. And that is why we had him here today. You are lucky to have received an award from him" Mr.Iyengar explained.
"Hmmm" she said trying to smile. Raman was looking at her all the time and she was a bundle of nerves.
"And Mr.Bhalla, Ishita has done an amazing job in serving the community. It is great to see that the young generation is working hard for the society. She is a very talented girl" Mr.Iyengar said.
"Undoubtedly! I have seen her talent" Raman said once again wiping his cheek and winking at her.
Ishita had her lungs in he throat now as she realised that Raman had recognised her.
"You have? When?" Mr.Iyengar asked not knowing what he meant.
"This morning" Raman replied and smirked.
"Oh yeah" Mr.Iyengar said thinking that he meant her stage performance. But Ishita very well knew what he actually meant.
"Ishita. I have told Mr.Bhalla about the new project for children's skill development. Mr.Bhalla seems quite interested. If you could explain him in detail he would also sponsor the project" Mr.Iyengar informed.
"Sponsor? Ye to mera project bigaad dega par sponsor nahi karega" she mumbled under her breath.
"Aapne kuch kaha Miss Iyer?" Raman asked.
"No nahi kuch bhi to nahi" Ishita lied.
Mr.Iyengar then excused himself and left Ishita at Raman's mercy. Ishita tried to escape but in vain.
She avoided meeting his gaze and kept twiddling her fingers in fear.
"Itna darna Jhansi ki rani ko shobha nahi deta" He said.
"Ummm...mai...woh..." she was at loss of words.
"Daro mat mai asli ka Ravan Kumar nahi hoon. Tumhe kidnap nahi karunga" he reassured.
"Ummm...hmmm...ok" she mumbled nervously.
"Ankhon ko dhoka ho jaata hai aksar. Ab mujhe hi le lo. Kahan maine tumhe 1947 ka model samjha aur kahan tum 21st century ki confident young talent nikli" he said making her comfortable.
"Thanks" she said feeling better.
"Tumhari dress ne dhoka de diya tha" he laughed.
"Isiliye kehte hain never judge a book by its cover" she said confidently now.
"Of course. I agree. Misinterpretations!" He replied and she smiled smugly in response.
"By the way that goes to you as well" he said shaking his phone reminding her of her misinterpretation which wiped off the smug and the smile on her face.
"Ummm...I am sorry" she apologised.
"well...its alright...And actually I am sorry too...Mana ki galti tumhari thi but mai bhi kuch zyada hi rude hogaya tha" he was apologetic too.
"Its alright" she said earnestly.
"To phir beeti batein bhulake ek nayi pehchan banayein?" he asked expectantly.
She quirked her eyebrows not knowing what he meant.
"I mean can we be friends?"
"Itni jaldi friends to nahi ban sakte. But haan partners zaroor ban sakte hain" she stated.
"Friends nahi partners? Wo kaise?"
"Meri project sponsor karke" she said.
"Very smart" he appreciated her wisdom.
"Thank you"
"But mai bhi aise hi sponsor nahi kar sakta. Pehle mujhe jaanna hoga ke tumhare plans kya hain. Only then will I be able to decide ke mujhe sponsor karna hai ya nahi" he spoke in a professional tone.
"Of course. Aap jab bhi kahein I will be there with all the details"
"Ok to phir kal mere office me milte hain. Sharp at 10 am"
"Done Mr.Bhalla" she agreed.
"You can call me Raman" he offered.
"I am sorry Mr.Bhalla. I will call you that only when we become friends. I don't like to mess professional life with personal life" she stated clearly.
"I respect your principles. So it's Mr.Bhalla and Ms.Iyer then" he said.
"So now I will take your leave. My friends are waiting for me"
"Please go ahead"
"Thank you Mr.Bhalla. Pleased to meet you" she said shaking his hands.
"Same here" said Raman smiling genuinely.
He kept looking in her direction till she was out of sight.
"Chalo kam se kam Ravan Kumar se Mr.Bhalla tak to pahunch gaya. Ab to us din ka intezar hai jab mai tumhare liye sirf Raman ban jaunga" he said to himself.
------To be continued-----Edited by maanvir - 9 years ago
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