Arjun -Shefali OS-What's on the Menu?

Arjun-Shefali OS-  What's on the Menu?

Arjun comes home tired from the cricket coaching class only to find Taiji's door locked.

"Naina! Naina! Kahan ho tum? " He shouted only to find his voice echo in the floor. Ascending the stairs with dejection he found even a bigger lock on Chachiji's door.

"Kahan gaye hain sab?Ab main kya karu? Kitni bhookh lagi hai! " Arjun  grumbled as he thumped on the stairs throwing the bat.

"Kya gira? "Shefali rushed to see the commotion upstairs.'Kya gira..koun ..gira?" Her voice faltered as she found a dejected Arjun on stairs with his hands on stomach.

"Arjun! ...Bhaiya! Naina nahin hai?" She asked with a tone of surprise.However Arjun was busy in his world when the words flowed towards him.He looked at the direction to find the owner of the voice.

"Nahin! Naina nahin hai.Kuch kaam tha to baad mein ana." He said as his stomach grumbled .He scrounged his nose as he could see Shefali's smirk".Ab to tera izzat gaya Arjun!' Arjun muttered as he saw her approaching toward him.

"Aap ko bhuk lagi hai?Right? "She asked while he looked straight into her eyes.Though he had spotted her two three times in the locality he had never interacted with her.Perhaps that was their first time and the feeling was awkward yet comfortable.

"Bhookh lagi hai ki nahin? "Shefali prodded as she found him lost somewhere while his eyes were fixed on her.

              Is Pyaar Se Meri

              Taraf Na Dekho

           Pyaar Hojayega

           Yeh Pyaar Ho Gaya Tho

        Teer Dil Ke Paar Ho Jayega

"Nahin.Bhookh nahin hai.Main theek hoon.Tum jao." Arjun said as he turned away from her.

"Jooth.Bilkul jooth.Shakal se pata chal raha hai ki chuhe apke pet mein cricket ka match start kar chuke hain.Chaliye hamare ghar.Kuch kha lenge". Shefali stated in a clearer tone though she was turning into shades of crimson under his gaze.

"Nahin Shefali! Tauji aur Taiji ko pata chalega to wo naraaz honge.Mera matlab eise mein tumhare ghar ..nahin chal sakta.Tum jao.Mein thik hoon. " He said trying to avoid her invititation.He very well knew Taiji.She would not say anything to Arjun but would make his father listen the taunts about upbringing and morality.He never in his dreams even wanted anything of this sorts.

"Kuch nahin hoga.Aap chaliye.Khana nahin khayenge to immunity level drop ho jayegi.Aur cricket ke liye fit rehna hain na aapko. "Shefali knew this would work somewhere.

"Par Taiji se kya kahunga? Unko pata chalega to..Tumhe bhi sun na padega." He was worried mor for her than him.

                                                          Do Char Aise

                                                          Mulakaatein Hongi

                                                          Saare Zamane

                                                      Mein Baatein Hongi

"Mujhe farq nahin padta.Kitna kuch logon suna chuke hain humein.Ab Taiji aur thoda suna denge to jyada kuch bigad nahin jayega.Aap na sochte bahut hain.Bilkul apni behen ki tarah.Chaliye. "She said as she stressed on the final word.

"Chalo.Phir. ' he could already see how upset she had become with his repeated denials.

"Aap ko cupcakes pasand hain?" Shefali asked him as she saw Arjun greedily looking at the cupcakes kept far on the dining table.

"Hum pure vegetarian hain.Non-veg nahin khate hain." He said as his face sunk at the thought of missing those beautiful cupcakes.

"Arey! Itni si baat hai.Woh bilkul eggless hain.Aap pehle bolte to..kair chodiye.Abhi laati hun". She said as she sprinted to the table and picked up the whole platter.

"Lijiye' she placed the platter on the table as Arjun hungrily grabbed two at a time.

"Taste karke bataiye kaisa bana hai." She said as he looked up and looked at her with adoration.

"Tumne banaya hai? "He asked as he relished the third bite.

"Haan! Dusri baar bana rahi hun.Pehli baar Mum ne thodi help kar di thi.Aaj unka birthday hai to who Church gayi hain aur mein unke liye yehi cupcakes banayi thi." She voiced with a pitch lower.

"Unka birthday hai aaj? Happy Birthday bol dena unse mere aur Naina ke taraf se.Par ab toh yeh maine kha liya phir unke liye kya banaogi?" He suddenly got worried about her plight.

"Aap khaiye.Dusra batch oven mein hai.Ban jaaega.Aur kuch dun? Coffee ya Cold drink?' She was definitely trying to be good host.

" Nahin aur kuch nahin chahiye..bas thoda paani chahiye.' He said as she filled the jug from the water filter.

"Waise aap ne bola nahin ki kaise lage cupcakes?" She smilingly asked as she handed over the glass of water.

"Ache the bas.." He stopped midway not wanting to hurt her with his remarks."Bas..kya ?'"She eyed him with anticipation.''Nahin ..kuch nahin.Thank you. ' Arjun tried to leave hurriedly.

"Aap ko meri kasam..Complete your sentence." She said stressing on each word.

"Chini thodi kam thi.'' He blurted out as he could see hurt flashed through her eyes.

"Aap na bilkul boring ho.'' She said with an air of attitude.''Shefali tujhe yehi mila tha dil dene ke liye..Itne saare pictures ke hero ko dekhne ke baad yehi ladka mila tha ''... She nudged her head with a smile lingering on her lips.

"Main boring hoon?Kisne kaha tumhe''  Arjun felt a punch in his stomach.''Mujhe boring samajhti hai.Abhi dikhata hoon. '' He muttered with determination.

He sat with her and chatted away on Cricket and Cricketers giving their details and the recently concluded World Cup  Series.

Minutes later...

He found her dozing off yet trying to listen to his biographic details.He smiled seeing her antics of proving to be agood host.She certainly was a good host and great neighbour.

He held her and propped the pillow below her head,as he saw her in a slight slumber.She definitely looked tired with preparation for her mother's birthday.And serving Arjun was an added burden on her.

He started to leave as he saw her in tight sleep and laying sprawled over the sofa.

"Arjun! Pizza table ke ...upar hai.Kha... lo..''. she blabbered as he looked surprised.

A Pizza was indeed on the table.He looked at her as she stifled a yawn.He ate and definitely by then he felt really full.

As he placed the finished plate on table he could hear Preeti and Naina's voices outside.It was no suspense that they were entering inside the main gate.

He quickly left her house and closed the door.

As he was sprinting towards the stairs,he heard Naina call him.

"Bhaiya! Aap aa gaye class se?Itni Jaldi?''

"Haan.Woh Sir ko kuch kaam tha.Isliye.'' He said as he tried to get upstairs.

"Arjun beta! Aa jaa.Bhook lagi hogi na.Aja kha le. '' Chachiji called him worrying that he would be terribly famished.

"Wo Chachiji bhook nahin hain.Main baad mein kha lunga''. He said matter-of-factly.

"Bhagwan jooth na bulaye beta.Itni der ho gayi hai.Khaa Le.Pata hei mujhe ki tinde bane hain isliye bahane bana raha hai.Ab ye to koi hotel nahin ki tereli ye menu banaugi,wo Pizza aur wo chotta chotta cake tujhe paroshungi.Jo bi hai jaldi kha le.'' Chachiji said in one breath while a smile crept on his lips as the flashbacks of evening flashed by.

"Abhi khata hun..'' he said as he munched on to the tinde all the while remembering her smile and doe shaped eyes that held much more emotions than what reflected her face.

                                                        Is Pyaar Se Meri

                                                        Taraf Na Dekho

                                                        Pyaar Hojayega

                                                    Yeh Pyaar Ho Gaya Tho

                                                 Teer Dil Ke Paar Ho Jayega

Meeting you was like listening to a song for first time and knowing it would be my favourite.

-------------------------------THE END-------------------------------------------

P.S.:Thank you for reading.😃Would love to read all your feedbacks.😳