Part 10 - Rekindling Romances
Dhruv sat at a distance from the group of laughing people as his eyes remained fixed at one particular woman, his sister. It had been over a week since he had seen her entering the hotel with Arjun when it had been close to midnight. He had not been in the least bit surprised, rather a small part of him had even wanted to smile at the sight, but he bit it back, realising that after last time, it was too soon to draw conclusions. The day after, he had returned to Mumbai to handle his company, knowing well that their schedule at Umargaon would end two days later. He knew he would have to explain everything to Dai ma before Diya came to meet her and before Ananya's wedding to Karan took place.
Now, as he sat in a corner in Ananya and Karan's cocktail party, he noticed how Diya looked radiant even as she stood beside Arjun, who was sneaking glances at her, and smirking occasionally. In public, he would always maintain his ASK mask, thought Dhruv with a dry snort. Just then, he felt a light touch on his shoulder and he instantly knew who it was. Smiling, Shriya came and sat in the chair next to him, as he took a sip of his drink, revolving his chair to face the bar. None of them said anything for a long time, before Shriya sighed and broke the heavy silence. Both of them knew what it was going to be. One didn't want to talk about it, and the other wouldn't let go.
"Are you going to keep her in the dark even now?" her voice came through clearly through the loud music in the background.
Dhruv flicked his finger at the bar tender and gestured him to repeat the drink as he hummed in response, tired of giving her the answer he knew she didn't want.
"You know you are being unfair to both of us here. I have had enough of this Dhruv. Even in college when you knew I liked you, you would never talk about her. It was fate that brought us face to face a few months ago when I started working with Diya. I didn't even know you had a sister, let alone her being the superstar Diya Panchal. Now that you have started this relationship, maintain it or I will be the first one to walk away".
Shriya stood up and walked away, wiping angry tears from the corner of her eye, while Dhruv banged the glass table top in frustration. He knew he wasn't doing the right thing by procrastinating telling Diya about him and Shriya, but he couldn't help it. His sister would always come first for him, and after all they had been through together, he just couldn't bring himself to leave her to it. But a part of him told him that he couldn't let Shriya go. No matter how hard he had tried to ignore her, she had always been on his mind during their college days, and then when she had just stood in front of him a few months ago, his control had shattered as those feelings which had been buried deep inside his heart came to the forefront.
Standing up with a jerk, he started following her, realising that she would seek a deserted corner. He took quick steps as he searched for her, his jaw clenched. As he saw her silhouette rushing towards the hallway, he strode towards her in a hurry, his hand reaching for her arm. In a flash, he pulled her into a room, caging her between the wall and himself as she struggled to get out of his firm hold. He felt a pang of guilt as he looked into her watery eyes. Softly, he wiped the tears from her eyes, as his heart began to thaw and as she shut her eyes feeling his warm breath on her lips, he leaned in, his lips pressing to hers.
As desire swept over them, and liquid heat rushed through their veins, their kiss deepened and Shriya's hand raked through his neatly cut hair while he held her waist tightly. But abruptly, Dhruv pulled back, his gaze fixed on her, as Shriya shot him a questioning look. He moved closer in reply, his thumb tracing her swollen lips and whispered, "I am sorry, I will tell Diya very soon, she'll..." but before he could complete his sentence, they were rudely brought out of their oblivion as the lights of the room went on and the door banged suddenly.
As they looked up from the door, taking in their surroundings, there stood Diya and Ananya at the door, their eyes and mouths wide open, while Arjun and Karan stood behind them, barely being able to suppress their laughter. Obviously, in their haze of passion, they had both forgotten that they had entered the room which was right opposite to the party area which was precisely why the hallway to that area had been so deserted.
...
Diya and Arjun had been standing beside Ananya and Karan, who had wanted to get away from the other people attending the party. It was late and almost no one was sober enough to even speak properly. Diya and Ananya had been talking animatedly as they had discussed the latter's upcoming wedding, while their partners had reluctantly joined them. Although Diya had told Arjun everything and he knew that there was no relationship, he had felt awkward around Karan, and the fact that he was Diya's best friend did not help matters either because they knew almost everything about each other and that made him feel oddly jealous, so he preferred to maintain silence and talk in monosyllables.
The conversation had soon shifted as the DJ had played a 90's English number and Karan and Diya had started remembering their young years. One thing he liked about the 'Karan conversations' was that each time, he would unknowingly be told more about Diya, and then he would secretly revel in the joy of getting to understand her more, and it affected him deeply as he saw her blush when something embarrassing was revealed, or laugh when she reminisced something funny, just like she had been doing when suddenly someone had spilled red wine over both Karan and Ananya.
He had been too lost in Diya to notice that one of the rather buzzed girls who had earlier been asking him for autographs and dances had walked up to them and as she had been congratulating them, her speech slurred she had slipped and spilled the wine over the couple. Her horrified friends had then taken her away from an equally horrified Ananya who had been very close to breaking into tears as she looked down at her new silver dress. Immediately, Diya had offered her help and they had all decided to go to the room that had been booked opposite to the party hall. As he had looked on, Diya had given him an assuring glance before she had quickly looked away in less than a second and in response he had held her hand in his, as they had started walking to the room, following a desperate Karan who was trying his best to cheer up his fiance.
As they had stridden down the hallway, Arjun noticed that it was unusually empty and on reaching the end, they had found the door slightly ajar. He had been about to point it out when Karan had shaken his head, slapping his palm on his forehead, attributing it as his fault from earlier in the evening. But as they had switched on the lights, shock would be an understatement for what they felt as in front of them stood Dhruv and Shriya, literally plastered to each other as Dhruv whispered about telling Diya something, even the soft tone of his voice seeming uncharacteristically loud in the stillness of the air.
As the initial shock wore down for the men, they ended up looking at the dumbfounded expressions of the women and then at those of the two people who had been caught in act'. As realisation hit them both, they stared straight at the now guilty expressions of the couple in front of them, who had had the decency to shift away from each other now and laughter bubbled inside Karan and Arjun's chests. Their cheeks puffed and they snickered, each relieved that the other joined in, but soon their laughter died down as Diya turned around and shot them both a death glare while Ananya still seemed to be in a daze.
Then suddenly, Diya started to march towards Dhruv and Shriya. From the looks of it, her walk was slowly and angry, and Arjun felt his lips lift up as he realised what was about to happen. On their own accord, his arms folded against his chest and he looked on as she managed to completely ignore the fact that a girl, who was in fact her friend, stood right beside her brother and walked straight up to him. Before anyone could have even guessed it, her hand reached out and by the time they all looked up, she had slapped her brother across the face, and instead of reacting, Dhruv stood still, looking down sullenly.
"Diya I am sorry, I know that it isn't like me to get into a relationship and..."
Another slap before he could complete, this one making his head turn as his red cheek came into her view.
"You idiot! You fall in love and you don't tell me? ME!" she screamed as loudly as her own ears could stand and then continued, almost hyperventilating, "And then you apologise to me for all the wrong reasons. Do you think I am some self-absorbed witch who doesn't care for anyone other than herself, most of all her twin brother who she loves most? No, actually now I realise that according to you, I don't even love you. Go to hell Dhruv Panchal!"
Arjun's gaze flew to Shriya, and as he noticed her pale face, he attempted to take a step forward but was stopped by Karan and Ananya simultaneously, each holding his either hand. He looked at them in confusion but Ananya shook her head urgently, her lips pursed and immediately he got the signal as he retrieved his former position. In this exchange, they had all missed that tears were now rolling down both Dhruv and Diya's cheeks as she pushed him back angrily.
"Don't say that Diyu...you are my sister, I would never think of you like that."
"Then why did you hide this from me...that you and Shriya..." she paused, trying to gauge his reaction. His face had hardened and she held her breath as she realised that he was preparing himself for something. The silence was getting to her as she heard her own wheezy breath from the crying, and then finally, Dhruv spoke.
"Fine, I'll tell you everything."
And so he did. Dhruv told her everything about how he had met Shriya in college and had gradually begun to like her but he had always kept it to himself. When they had begun to spend time together, she was the only one he would talk to, even though it would be in monosyllables. He had never mentioned anything about his past and his family to her, but he had liked when they were together. Then when Shriya had confessed to liking him in their last year of college, he had become hesitant because of the past, and had retreated himself, ignoring her completely and had busied himself in internships and planning his own business venture.
"Then we met at this film party of yours and she got to know that you are my sister. Even though it had been so many years, and we had both been busy in our lives I knew that there was something. We started talking and I found myself opening up to someone other than my family. I started to feel good about it. I don't know what was...is happening, I haven't felt anything like this before. I guess I just went with the flow, and I don't know how or when but the next thing I knew, we were in a relationship. I didn't want to tell you because that time around I knew you were so vulnerable. You were shooting with this idiot", he turned to Arjun who grunted, frowning at him and then continued, "Plus I don't know, I have noticed that this role is really affecting you. I just didn't want to bring it up. Then I saw you like that at Ananya's party and it was mumma's...I just didn't know how to tell you during that time, it was emotionally taxing for both of us."
Dhruv stopped as surveyed all the misty eyes of everyone in the room. His eyes then settled on Shriya whose head was bent and his heart twisted as he knew she was crying but he was distracted as he heard Diya's soft sobs. As he saw her look up, his heart ached at the look in her eye and he was beginning to say something, but his words died on his lips as she flung herself at him, making him stagger back with the force, but he hugged her back nonetheless.
Diya then began mumbling into his shirt, which became clear as he stepped back, telling her the same. She smiled through her tears and then stated in a small, almost baby-like voice, "Make her my bhabhi already and never think of hiding anything from me. I will kill you the next time, I am serious."
She then extended her hand towards Shriya, who like everyone else was laughing after hearing the exchange between the siblings and drew her in their hug, "I don't think this stupid man could have found anyone better than you. I am so glad you are there with him. Thank you for not giving up hope with him."
Soon, Ananya and Karan too were part of the hug. The wine on her dress forgotten, Ananya was teasing the duo while Karan thumped Dhruv's back, "You've got yourself a catch there. And I swear don't let her go, ever. When are we getting the wedding card, by the way?" he winked.
Before Dhruv could reply, Shriya was the one to answer the question, "Hey, hey, hey, we've only just started dating. There is no wedding right now. Please concentrate on yours."
The whole group stood silent for a moment, the shock evident in their expressions as they heard her horrified voice and turned to look at Shriya, and then they roared with laughter as she turned pink with embarrassment, while Dhruv wound his arm around her shoulder whispering, "Don't take him seriously. They all know."
While they were all busy, Arjun stood in a corner, an involuntary smile on his face as he admired the close-knit group and their friendship. A part of him still felt guilty as he looked at Diya and Karan and their easy camaraderie for having doubted her in the past and having broken up something that was beyond beautiful. He wasn't a particularly religious man, unlike his mother, but after everything, he had started to believe that certain things did happen for a reason and a good one too. He had now started to value their relationship more than anything in the world. He believed that there really was love, and he would dream about a life he hadn't known could exist in the past. A happy life with Diya, the person who was the light in the darkness that was him.
Arjun was lost in his thoughts when he heard his name being called out. As he glanced up, curious, he was surprised and overwhelmed to see that Diya and Dhruv, both had extended their arms towards him while they were still locked in the group hug. They had made a place for him. His hesitant eyes searched Diya's for any reluctance, and he was surprised once again as he was that there was none. Giving one of his rare smiles, he strode closer to them and he slipped into the space created for him, joining the hug.
...
An hour or two later, Arjun and Diya were in the former's car, both lost in their own thoughts as Arjun drove her to her apartment. A few days, their schedule at Umargaon had ended and they were on a short break since RV wanted them to clear their heads before they started the next schedule and of course, the sets which had been erected long ago had to be re-painted and maintained before the shoot started.
They had both come back to Mumbai together, wanting to figure things out.
After their kiss, she had not retreated into her shell; instead she had shown him around the cottage, even taking him to her room. He remembered being in awe of the rustic interiors as they had climbed up the staircase. There had been pictures of her family hanging on the wooden wall opposite to the railing, and as they had stridden down the hall, he had noticed antique pieces of cabinets and flower vases with roses in them. Diya had tugged at his arm every now and then, showing him pictures of her mother, and unknowingly giving him an insight into her happy childhood years.
When they had returned to Umaragaon, he had been hesitant to broach the subject, but she had surprised him. She had been willing to give them a chance and make things right, but he knew she needed time. They had started to talk to each other properly, even spending more time. But when they had returned to Mumbai, it had taken him by shock when he had gotten to know that she had shifted into a penthouse apartment. He had always known that she loved her family, her Dai ma and Dhruv, and though her relationship with her father was on the borderline of theoretical, a part of her always loved him. When he had asked her about it, she had fallen silent, and he clearly remembered what she had said after a pause.
"I didn't think I could bear to live in that house after what happened...I had shifted soon after. I rarely go there Dai ma and Dhruv come over most of the times. They like it here."
He had known that he was partially the reason for her leaving her house, but then when he had started to feel guilty, a cloud settling over his face, she had placed her hand over his. It was a light touch, a lot less than before, but he had revelled in the joy while she had explained to him that it was time she distanced herself from her father, and that was why she had decided to move out.
Suddenly, the shrill ringing of a phone distracted Arjun. It was as if the sound was cutting through the silence, and he honked as he took a turn, making sure that the road was empty. Meanwhile, Diya picked up the phone, intending to hand it over to him and in the process she sneaked a look at the caller ID.
As he took the phone from her, and saw the caller ID, myriad emotions flashed across his face and he contemplated whether to pick up the phone or not. It was late at night and he was beginning to worry, but since there was absolutely no chance of him picking up the phone in the decent hours of the day, his mother had taken to calling him late at night. He knew she thought that he would be drunk and there were chances that he would pick up the phone then.
As his thumb was about to swipe the green button, the sound from the phone died down, and he absentmindedly kept it aside in the cup holder, his expression a mix of confusion and frustration. He wanted to bang his hand on the steering wheel, stop the car and get out for some fresh air but conscious of Diya's heavy gaze on him; he refrained from doing any such thing and kept on driving.
"You know you can talk to your mother, right?"
"Huh?" he hadn't been paying attention when Diya had spoken up out of the blue.
"The phone...your mother", she pointed at the phone that was swinging from here to there in the cup holder.
"Oh. Yes, I know."
"Then why don't you pick up her phone?"
"We have reached", he stated, avoiding her question.
"Huh?"
"Your home...we have reached", he pointed at the building, imitating her and then continued, "If you hadn't been so busy admiring me, you would have known", he smiled smugly.
Diya looked around and then getting what he was saying and realising the innuendo she let out an exasperated sigh.
"You can come out for some time. I suppose you need fresh air."
"How did you...Of course!" when she raised her eyebrow in a winning action he put his hands up in mock surrender, "Alright."
As they stepped out of the parked car, Arjun followed Diya with his gaze. She walked up to him, busy trying to fish out her keys from her purse. As she stopped a forearm's length away from him, he folded his arms across his chest, waiting for her to finish. Till then, he looked around his posh surroundings. He liked the locality, firstly because he knew it was safe, and secondly because it was private and a special elevator led to the penthouse but he had never went to her home, and although he really wanted to, he knew better than to push the matter, for now. But just then he heard her say, "Coffee?"
As he narrowed his eyes, she let out a short laugh, rolling her eyes and then spoke, "What? You really look like you could use some coffee and some serious talk."
Without waiting for his answer, she started walking towards the elevator, punching in her card, while he followed her, surprised that his wish had come true.
Soon, he was waiting in her living room with his hands clasped together as he surveyed his surroundings, his gaze particularly fixed at the large window that gave a mesmerising view of the marine drive and the sea. The two-floor apartment wasn't particularly modern like his. It had a homely feeling to it, and he could smell her in every corner. He noticed that the colour schemes complimented each other wonderfully, be it the beige coloured plush sofa, or the soft carpet of the same colour against the wooden flooring of the living room. On the wall opposite to him was a huge black and white picture of her, and he found a part of himself staring at it for a major part of the time he had been waiting, while the other part felt a pounding as his ears remained fixed to the sound of clinking vessels in the kitchen.
Finally, she walked out holding two mugs of steaming coffee in her hand. Immediately he stood up, taking one from her hand as she smiled. As he took a sip of it, his taste buds relishing the taste of the rich coffee, his mind relaxing instantly, he realised that it was just to his liking, a little strong. He opened his eyes, only to see her looking intently at him.
"So why don't you talk to her?"
"We still on this?"
When she nodded her head, and showed no signs of giving up, he finally gave in.
"She reads the newspaper, and thinks that whatever they say is true. Plus once she walked on me drinking and she thinks I'll turn out like my father. It's always the same conversation, and honestly I am tired of explaining it to her over and over again."
"I understand. But aren't you doing exactly what she is afraid of? You are isolating her, just like your father. Yes, you have provided your grandmother and mother with all the luxury but what about their emotional needs? Are you being fair to them? Arjun, you have a mother, please don't wait till later, because then you'll regret leaving her alone. Cherish her, and understand that she loves you and that she deserves love from you."
As he sat there, understanding the meaning of what she was saying, he suddenly realised something. It was as if it was a eureka moment for him and he sprang up from his seat.
"Come with me to meet her."
TBC
Hope you like it!
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P.S. - Thank you for the overwhelming response on the last chapter, it was really very important for me. Love you all!🤗
P.P.S. - Reference picture:
Shriya:
Edited by 8520NK - 9 years ago
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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