Pyar hai....sirf tumse.. Part 8b (last part) on Page 33 - Page 3

9:00 am Trisha's residence

Trisha was getting ready to go to office. She was hurrying up as she was late in waking up today. It is her birthday today and she slept late at night as her parents had arranged a small cake cutting ceremony at night for her birthday.

Trisha's mom: "Trisha breakfast to theek se kar lo" she said putting a bite in her mouth while she was getting ready in a hurry.

Trisha: "kya mumma aap ne mujhe time pe uthaya kyu nahi? Ab dekho, main late ho rahi hu aur aap ko breakfast ki chinta hai" she gulped few bites quickly and started to move out of her home.

Her mom: "Trisha apne office ke sab logon ko sham ki party ke baare me remind karana mat bhulna...ok."

Her parents had arranged a party at home for her birthday despite her reluctance. They knew she was never a party person but she was their only daughter and they wanted to make this day special for her. Just when Trisha was getting into her car, her phone rang, seeing it to be Raghav's call she picked it up immediately with a smile on her face.

Raghav (on the other side): "happy birthday Trisha"

Trisha:" thanks... waise tumhara kaam theek se poora ho gaya?... aur tum flight me to baith gaye ho na? Mere ghar pe aaj sham ko ek chhoti si party rakhi hai mumma papa ne aur sab ko aana hai...ok"

Raghav:" I'm sorry Trisha, I was a bit late so I missed my flight. Wo main uthne me late ho gaya tha aur flight miss ho gayi. Ab next flight kal subah hai, I hope you understand" (Raghav was out of town for some case work and was supposed to come back today. She was not happy and didn't want to send him out of town alone but chief had insisted so he had to go. He had promised that he would be back by her birthday. Every year, he used to make her birthday special for her and she eagerly waited for his surprises over these years).

Trisha: "tum bhi na...just forget it. I don't want to talk to you." She became sad when she realised that he won't be here for her birthday and she cancelled the call with a heavy heart and drove to her office.

10:00 am cbi office

When she entered the office, every one wished her a very happy birthday. She thanked them and asked them to get back to work. Everyone was surprised to see her indifferent attitude but they didn't want to bear the brunt of her anger by asking her the reason for this weird behaviour while they themselves knew the reason for this. She didn't feel like celebrating her birthday anymore as Raghav was not around today. However post lunch Swati, Rajbir and Bikram had arranged for a cake cutting ceremony in the conference room. She reluctantly agreed as she didn't want to hurt their sentiments. But she was not enjoying it and they understood that she was missing Raghav as they both were very close friends and today when he is not here, so she was in an off mood.

After cutting the cake, she quitely went to her cabin and tried to carry on with her work. But her mind and heart was somewhere else, she was thinking about him and had few tears in her eyes. Just then someone closed her eyes with his fingers from behind. She immediately realised it to be Raghav and turned around. She was so happy to see him standing in front of her and unknowingly she embraced him tightly and tears flew down from her eyes... this time they were tears of happiness. He was surprised at her coming so close to him. She opened her eyes after some time and realised that she was in his embrace. She moved away slightly and he wiped off few drops of tears on her face.

Raghav: "tumne yeh kaise soch liya ki tumhare birthday pe main nahi aaunga? Main boss ke saath party karne ka mauka kaise chhod sakta hu?"

Trisha: "tum pagal ho Raghav. You don't realise that your pranks really hurt sometimes... mujhe laga ki aaj pehli baar tum mere birthday par nahi aaoge...you know how upset I was...you never leave a chance to play prank on me" she said with expressions of slight anger and tears of happiness in her eyes and gave him a light mock on his chest.

Raghav: "I know... Tumhe bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai... tumhara chehra sab bata raha hai...I'm sorry Trisha... but jab tumhari aankhon mein aansu aur chehre par ye thoda sa gussa hota hai to tum aur bhi khoobsurat lagti ho. Yeh expressions dekhne ke liye hi to maine yeh sab kiya tha. Kya karu mujhse raha nahi jata, I just love to see these expressions on your face. By the way I'm really very hungry, kuch khilaaogi nahi apne birthday par?"

Trisha gave him a piece of her birthday cake which she had kept for him in the refrigerator (the first piece of the cake she had reserved for him without telling anyone) and he relished it like a small child. After this she quickly finished her work and went back home early today so that she could help her mother in party arrangements. She reminded everyone about the party and asked them to be there on time and they agreed.

7:00pm Trisha's residence

The party was in full swing. Trisha was looking stunning in a light yellow coloured sari. Her mother had asked her to wear a saree today which she had gifted her for her birthday. Rajbir, Bikram and Swati came together, Trisha felt slightly relaxed to see them enter as most of the guests were known to her parents and she was feeling slightly out of place amongst so many people, such an introvert she is in such situations. They complimented her by telling her that she looked really beautiful in a saree. Her eyes went down when she heard this but she was searching for Raghav who was as usual late. Rajbir understood for whom her eyes were searching and told her that he would be reaching in some time (he had started doubting that they both share a relation which was more than just friendship but he dared not ask anyone. He waited for them to tell themselves).

Her mother was introducing Trisha to her friends, relatives and other guests and everyone had just one thing to ask her and her mom... when is she getting married as she had the perfect age to get married according to them. She was surprised when she was introduced to few guys who were there in the party by her mother so that she could meet them and think about her marriage. Her mother just went on and on with the marriage proposals for her. The entire atmosphere around her was so uncomfortable, she had to make excuses everytime she was introduced to someone, her eyes were looking for Raghav everywhere and she started to have a headache after some time. She felt as if she is an outsider at her own home. Why on this earth did she agree for this party, she thought.

After sometime, she saw Raghav entering the party venue with a bouquet of red roses in his hands. She felt so relieved so see him and immediately went up to him and gave him a tight hug. Raghav was shocked at this gesture from her and wanted to ask her the reason for this as she would not easily hug him in isolation, today she was doing that in front of so many people. But she gave a gentle tug to his hand and asked him to come with her. She took him to the place where her mother was standing with her friends who had been after her marriage all through the evening.

Trisha: "hello everyone, I would like to introduce you to someone very special in my life... meet Raghav... my boyfriend..."

Everyone including Raghav and her mother was shocked to hear this.

Raghav:' ahem ahem', he tried to clear his throat and looked at her with a surprised look but Trisha signalled to him to act along with him.

Trisha:" I will like to tell you that we have decided to marry each other... ok... so now if you all would please excuse both of us? And please for God sake mom, stop searching a suitable match for me as I have already chosen one for myself... ok."

She went away with him and took him quickly to her room. She knew she needs to answer a lot of questions from him.

Raghav:" Trisha what is all this? Tumhare iraade kuch theek nahi lag rahe hai... Tum sach me mujhse shaadi karna chahti ho? Aaj hi kar le kya?" He very well understood by now that she had faked all this to avoid repeated marriage proposals from her mother, he just wanted to tease her.

Trisha: "shut up Raghav, mera dimaag abhi tak theek hai...shaadi aur tumse...forget it. This is just because my mother is after my marriage, she hasn't stopped searching for a suitable match for me today also, she's not bothered that its my birthday. She knows that I'm not comfortable when everyone talks about my marriage, but she never gives up... so I had to cook up a story .You just keep on acting with me till the party is over. After that I'll tell my parents the truth... ok..."

Raghav: "wo to theek hai par ek shart par..."

Trisha: "wo kya?"

Raghav: "tumhe mere saath dance karna hoga"

Trisha: "par Raghav..."

Raghav: "par var kuch nahi... Dance... nahi to main sabko sach bata dunga. Ab itna to haq banta hai tumhare boyfriend ka... "he said with a mischievous smile on his face, he knew whenever he had asked her for a dance, she always refused with some or the other excuse. Today he had a wonderful chance, he couldn't let it go.

She rolled her eyes and moved along with him. She kept him with her all through the party. They had the cake cutting and after that it was time for a couple dance (her father had specially arranged for this couple dance after he came to know about Raghav and Trisha's relation from her mother, he was very happy that his daughter had finally chosen a life partner for herself and he wanted to make this evening special for both of them). Most of the couples present in the party moved to the dance floor and Trisha also had to go along with him. Though outside she was acting as if she was forcefully made to dance with him but inside, her heart was beaming with happiness. She had always wanted to dance with him but wasn't able to do that till now. Whenever Raghav had asked her for dance, she always refused as she was scared that he might see her feelings come up into her eyes. Today because of her faking him as her boyfriend and he kind of taking an advantage of the situation, her wish got fulfilled; she just loved it and wanted to cherish each and every moment with him.

He placed his right hand in her left and his left hand on her waist and pulled her slightly close to himself. She looked at him as he came close to her and got lost in his eyes and the proximity they shared, made her forget everything. They both forgot that they were acting to be a couple, they danced as if there was no one was around; just the two of them. They both danced together looking into each other's eyes and anyone who looked at them, could easily make out that these two are madly in love with each other. The team members found it difficult to digest the scene unfolding in front of them. While the lights dimmed further, the atmosphere became all the more romantic, she didn't realise when they came very close and she placed her head on his chest and closed her eyes. He had both his arms around her and he too was feeling the same. The love he had in his heart for her was making him weak in front of her. He was finding it very difficult to resist his temptations. He held her with both his hands, moved her slightly away from him and placed both his palms on her face. She still had her eyes closed and she was still reeling under the effect of his touch. He came further close to her and just then, the lights were turned on and the music stopped. He came out of his stupor while she still had her eyes closed. He removed his hands from her and that is when she opened her eyes. She saw everyone clapping their hands and both of them felt slightly embarrassed. What could have happened if the lights wouldn't have turned on and the music didn't stop? It could have been a very awkward situation for both of them and her family. She tried avoiding her parents for some time after that. After this, the evening went off smoothly, neither of the two talked much after this, they were still cherishing the beautiful moments they had just now shared.

While leaving after the party, Trisha thanked Raghav for helping her out in a difficult situation once again.

Raghav: "my pleasure boss. Tumhare saath dance karne ka chance to mila..." then he became slightly serious and said "if I did something which I shouldn't have done, I'm really sorry for that. I didn't mean to hurt your sentiments".

Trisha smiled at this gesture of his...he sure is a true gentleman, she thought. After all the guests left, she came inside with her parents and all of them were sitting together. Trisha was very tired today, she usually doesn't enjoy these parties but today was something special, she was sitting with her eyes closed and a slight smile on her face.

Her father: "so Trisha, you've finally decided to get married to Raghav?"

Trisha: "what?? Maine aapse aisa kab kaha?" she opened her eyes and was surprised to hear this.

Her father: "so what was that jo tumne party me kaha?"

Trisha: "papa wo to maine aise hi kaha tha... Mumma aaj bhi meri shaadi ke peeche jo padi thi. To mujhe bhi wo sab kehna pada so that these gossips can stop for some time atleast."

Father: "and what about Raghav"?

Trisha: "he knows about it, hum dono ke beech me kuch nahi hai...i'm making this very clear to both of you...ok"

Her mother: "tum dono ko dance karte dekhkar to aisa nahi lag raha tha..."

She blushed slightly on hearing this and started looking here and there. She composed herself and got up to leave.

Trisha: "mumma you are just impossible, please I'm really tired today, I need to take rest; if you would please excuse me now. Good night papa, good night mumma" and she went to her room quickly, she knew if she stays here, she would be bombarded with further questions. She knew whatever her mother was saying was actually true but how could she tell her mom when she was herself not sure of his feelings. She closed her room and saw all the gifts kept in her room. She changed her dress and started searching amongst all the gifts.

Obviously she was eager to see what Raghav had brought for her. After searching, she saw a small gift packed in a golden coloured gift wrap and a rose was stuck over it with a tape. She opened it quickly and found a small note kept over the gift box which had this written on it;

This gift is meant for someone very special in my life, who is the most beautiful person in this world, the purest soul I know. Just open it and have a look... Hope you like it...'

She opened the box and found a small, delicate gold plated makeup mirror. It again had something written on a tag attached on to it

You know now who is the most beautiful in this world? Just look into this mirror and you'll have the answer. Take care... Happy birthday!'

She felt on the top of the world right now and she was constantly seeing herself in the mirror and smiling to herself. She didn't realise when her mother came inside and saw her smiling to herself. She came close to her and sat beside her. She touched her shoulder to bring her out of her thoughts.

Trisha:" mumma aap kab aaye?"

Mom: "jab tum Raghav ke khayalon me khoyi hui thi"

Trisha: "mumma aap bhi na... aisa kuch nahi hai."

Mom: "beta I'm your mother, I know each and every heartbeat of yours. If I don't say anything, that doesn't mean I don't know about it. Each and every bit of yours is expressing right now what you feel for him... You love him na?"

Trisha was surprised to hear this from her mother and she blushed at his thoughts. She affectionately placed her head in her mom's lap and decided to reveal it to her what she feels for Raghav.

Trisha: "aap theek keh rahe ho mumma, I love him a lot. But I've never been able to confess it in front of him. I think he too likes me but he never expresses anything directly, mumma he has his dreadful past behind him, his motive in life is to grab his dad's murderer who had spoilt his entire childhood. He really cares for me, I've seen him getting worried when I'm in trouble, although normally he always likes to tease and flirt with me. But I know he enjoys seeing me irritated and I also personally enjoy his pranks. Mumma I can't think of my life without him, maybe when he fulfils his motive then he can express his feelings. Till then I have to wait for him and support him in every possible manner. He needs me with him mumma."