Chapter 16
Dil se Dil tak
Few days before, Shanghai
“Tumhe kya malum ye pagalpan kya hai,
ham tumpai itne dewane hai , ye kaise bataye tumhe
ye kaisi ajeeb si chahat hai tujpar,
aise hosh kho jayenge, socha na tha
paas aayenge madhosh ho jayenge , Maine yena socha tha
Itne Dil ke Kareeb, tumhe mere naseeb , yuh layenge socha na tha”
Khushi who was standing beside Arnav, was lost in her own world,her eyes alluring for ARnav, mesmerized by his personality , That unbeatable style of his, that fitness and that magnetic charisma. Although she had decided she would not think of ARnav after that fateful night, but the mere presence of him again changed the dynamics of her heart rhythm. She did not expect she would meet Arnav again, which was again sheer luck. Payal words were suddenly getting more influenced on her. The stories she told about the celebrity and fan relation can it come true in my case? I cannot thank god enough for making me so lucky… IS this the ishara of something good? Will I be that lucky one if Arnav propose me? Has he fallen for me? Why he proposed to have dinner with me?
Her thoughts had a fatal crash when she was hit by a passerby in that French street.
“Oops. I am so sorry”
“Its fine”. The Englishman replied.
Arnav who was searching for Indian restaurant in bing map, turns back to see khushi
“What happened.?”
“No Nothing. Dimag honeymoon pai gaya tha”
“Whaaat?” Arnav made a scary amused face.
“kuch nahi”
“By any chance are you imagining about that Mexican model? Huh?
“No No….Why should I.. No never!..”
That slight curvy smile of his,made khushi blush in and out which ARnav did not notice.
She imagined the word “ARnavKhushi” “Khushi Arnav”. Aww it looks so cute.Am I really so beautiful? Why would Arnav spend time with ordinary girl like me? She imagined if he in any case he likes her?
Arnav was looking at phone screen , when he saw khushi starring at him
“What happened, Anything wrong?” Arnav raised his eyebrows
“Dimag mai right brain ke leftside mai jo corner waali wire hoti hai na wo loose ho gayi hai meri” khushi blustered fast
“Whaaat ?” he gave a confused look
Khushi waves nothing. “Did you find Indian restaurant?” Khushi pinched her own skin to alert herself not to make any blunder talk with him
“There is no such in this map.Are you sure, it falls in this lane itself? This lane has all bars and cafe”
“Yes. Yes. I had confirmed with many people. Here in china, the map routes and address looks so scary. Even a misplace of single letter, and you reach to a different place. All sound so familiar. Example, Biyun lu is one street and Biyan lu is another..Baap re dimag kharab ho gaya hai”
“Then its confirmed, you noted the wrong address. ”
“No way!. It is the correct one. Stop searching from mobile, I would rather say, in a country like this , our old method of asking to people gonna help. Just ask in that shop, they may tell”
“Are you making fun? You want me to ask next shop guy?”
“Haan. Whats wrong in asking the address. You are not a celebrity in this country! ”
“I pity on your memory. How can you forget, you attended the fan event of same celebrity in this same country. Let me count..just 4 days before?”
Khushi made a face. “Rich people and their famous attitude. Uff”
“Did you tell something?”
“No!. Ok I will ask.“
Arnav saw khushi making various faces and then going towards one of boutique to enquire about the address. Dinner with her was just an excuse he made. Somewhere deep down he had guilt burning up for putting khushi’s life in danger that night. His false acquisition on her for following him, his belief if she was any reporter had made Arnav to take that decision. The decision of dropping khushi to some far remote location had made him to repent hard. He was worried for her when he came to know the truth, the truth that she was not from media house. He wanted to apologize and tell the truth. He wanted to ask if she reached safely other day. But he being Arnav, accepting his mistakes was something beyond his ego.
“How could I ask Sorry. I simply cannot!” he spoke to himself
“But you had put her life in risk that day. Anything could have happened to her” other side of his soul replied
“But still she looks ok and good. So you can ignore
“Still you need to convey her truth.”
“I, Actually ..Before Arnav could tell anything , Khushi suddenly crossed the lane”
He saw khushi speaking to some Indian people. She came in quick.
“Arey yahi paas mai hai restaurant”
“Oh great then, let’s move”
Arnav put on his hood and walked his head down slightly with his goggles on”
“Why are you walking like this? I mean your head down, looks like you are hiding yourself”
“I think you forgot I am a celebrity. And its an Indian restaurant.U understand what I mean..”
Khushi started laughing. “U mean people will come running to you and ask for autograph…sir this Is Shanghai..I don’t think people mai identify you. Aap ka serial koi nahi dekhata. Back staying In India , I was not knowing you were an Actor..yaha koi Indian nahi dekhta hoga. All sites are blocked!!
“Know what? You need to consider yourself lucky. Arnavsingh Raijyada, the famous icon of tele industry has been walking with you inthis French street of Shanghai. One among few lucky ones”
“Even I want to know the same, whats making Arnav singh raijyada to spend time with me?” Khushi slowly muttered to herself
“whaat? Do you have a habit of speaking to yourself?”
“Na..I was saying, why should I feel lucky!. ? I am not kinda girl who watch those serials or have any liking, Infact I did not even knew before you were an actor !, All our meeting were mostly coincidence.. In fact you accused me for following? Why should I consider myself lucky? Tell me?
“You will definitely consider it, when you will know who the ArnavSingh Raijyada was”
This girl mocks me everytime, provocate me and make me speechless most of times and still I am ……Arnav was lost in his own words .
“Every time we face each other, there comes some consequence. So I had decided last time I will ever come infront of you. Last time, it was so worst. Cab driver was taking me to I don’t know where!, but not to my route. It was such a horrific night. Now that pinched Arnav,. I should tell her,it was because of me. Common arnav. He wanted to open the same discussion again, when khushi suddenly jumped with happiness
“Look,!!! there it is. Uff finally found the restaurant .It is located at dead end cormer!”
They went inside the restaurant which was so luxurious and beautifully done.
“This looks better; I was worrying if it could turn out to be some cheap one”
Khushi had opened her mouth. “This is sooooo beautiful. What a place.”
Arnav turned to her with confused smile. “Offcouse for a middle class people, this must be heaven.” He taunted back, which Khushi missed to hear it out
A hotel manager came and welcomed them.
He did not knew about ARnav , but every bit of Arnav was a out casting style, fashion, glitch of richness. So he made them to dine in best area of hotel.There were hardly 2-3 group of people having food there in top floor.
“Dekha koi nahi janta yaha” khushi flaunted her eyebrows
Meantime, a girl shouted from her desk, “Oh my god. Look arnav singh Raijyada..oh my goodness…”
She came running to their table… Omg I cant believe… Arna singh raiajyada si…I am soo soo big fan of yours… oh your serial tanha dil…..i watch it like crazily…
Arnav looked at khushi and flaunted his eyebrows.., Khsuhi swipped her face indicating yeah she has gotten wrong about him.
“Please one selphi sir”
“Sorry no selphi.” Girl did not even wait for Arnav to node. She just stood in front of him and covered him from back. He clearly did not like it. But he did not tell anything. In a way, He looked at Khushi . She telepathitically read his mind and replied in a slow tone. “Ok.!You do have Indian fans here”
“Please autograph. Please please” Girl literally begged, holding a tissue paper in her hand. Arnav rubbed the corner of his right eyebrow, raised his head and looked at khushi again. He then gave his trade mark signature and handed over to her. For first time, he did not get irritated. Khushi was infact bit sad, sad for meeting ARnav so many times and still she was not able to take a photo or his autograph. Now that mode has passed away. She was in no position to ever say him that like many others, even she is his biggest fan. God has already showered her more than expected luck by making her to meet Arnav again and again.
“Ok maan liya baba.u have fans here..Indian fans. Now don’t give me that look” Khushi responded once girl left them.
“Good” . Arnav gave a sly smile. Arnav opened his mobile and was thinking again the same matter for which he was there with khushi, “Should I apologize for that night. She might have witnessed anything. I need t tell her the truth. He rubbed his fingers. His state of mind blocked. How could you Arnav. How can you apologize like this. .she has reached safe, that’s what now matters.. But again his heart was winning over his calculative mind and brain. He finally decided to tell her, it was he who was responsible for her condition on that fateful night.
“Actually Khushi, I “ He was obstructed by the hotel manager. He came to their table after coming to know about Arnav. He greeted Arnav with bookie. He called the waiters, who came up with the best drink. He then personally made sure to provide him extravagant treatment. Arnav demanded for some Mexican sauce salad and herbs soup.
“Mam, for you?” Waiter handed over to her the menu
Khushi looked at waiter “2mins, I will just look at all the receipe” She scanned to the list excitedly. Her smile, happiness reaching its peak. She looked at Arnav.
“You just ordered starters right? I think that looks ok. We can order Main course later”
“Khushi!. That was my main course you can say. That’s all will be my dinner for today”
“That’s all?” Khsuhi raised her eyebrows. Arnav nodes. Khushi made an unbelievable remark face. Khushi looked at him again and then at menu and to him again.
“One veg clear soup…, one gobi Manchurian, ek paneer tikka, “ she turned page…main course bhi le lijiye.. she went read again and again.. “2 tandoriroti. Hmm should I take paneer buttermasala, or kadai panner..hye kitne din hue paneer nahi khaya…mmmm.. ok kadai paneer. Veg fied rice.
Arnav flaunted his eyebrows. I hope you are ordering only for you.
“Haan offcouse.. Itna to banta hai na..appke liye bhi kuch add karu? ”.
Arnav gave a furious smile. She turned page and then there was snacks section. Pani puri. Please one plate pani puri first..
“When have you last eaten?”
Khsuhi looked at him wrily. “Arey I haven’t had proper Indian food from last 1 week. Wahi rukha sukha,ready to eat, bread khake frustrate ho gayi thi…aaj maja aayega”
Arnav unbelievably nodded. What else he could expect from this chirpy girl he thought. Khushi was also in her own state of mind. She wanted to ask him directly what made him to join her for dinner. Some one of his status, and being celebrity
“Shal I ask you one question? . Don’t worry no personal question”Khushi looking at his reaction cautiously.
“Go ahead. “ Arnav looked straight into her eyes. Khushi pressed hard both of her hand fingers. She gulped her breath. “Should I or not? What if he mistakes that, what if he suddenly goes from here? Khushi, leave it. Don’t daydream about what payal said and just go with the flow.”
“What are [you talking to yourself?
“No nothing.”
He raised his eyes and looked at her, who was looking at him lost in her own world though. Waiter disturbed her thoughts. He came with a Mexican sauce salad.
“Oh god. There is a mushroom in it. He is allergic to them”Khushi spoke shockingly, which surprised both waiter and Arnav. Khushi bites her lips after realizing what she said. Arnav was still staring at her,expecting an answer again.
. Khushi had read and had seen all his interviews. In one such interview for fast and quick QA round, he said about how allergic he is to mushroom. It was all set in her brain perfectly.
“Face Reading!. Did not I tell you last time? My guesses are correct almost all times”.She said confidently
“Unbelievable” Arnav was never convinced about the face reading reason she gives.
She did not talk for next 15mins.Her favourites were infront of her, but somehow she was not able to eat with arnav presence... In between she looked at him.
“Yummy pani puri…She was giving various facial expression while eating pani puri , Arnav just saw and was enthralled by the facia lexpression she was making. So beautiful he thought again. He could not take his eyes off.
“Actually last time itself I had plans to go Indian restaurant, but that day I could not even reach home early. Had to sleep without food “ Khushi tellshim, Arnav looked at her warmly.
“Khushi, I wanted you to know that..” Suddenly Khushi’s phone started buzzing and Arnav has to cut his sentence. Khushi eyes looked shocked. It was video call from Aman. She saw Arnav who was looking at her. She cut the call. Ring came again. “Go ahead, you can take the call”Arnav told her. Khushi excused herself and went near the washroom. Should I receive or not? She then cut the call and texted him back. “Busy with some demo. I will call u after 2 hours”
When she was coming back to the table, she saw Arnav busy in his mobile. She then gave mischevious smile and called the waiter and requested him to capture their pic in single frame.
“Please take the photo from bit far, Arnav should not realize that.Waiter was confused; she was having dinner with him and yet asking for photo hiding it from Arnav. “Please take it. Click when I signal it. I will come after 5mins to take back my phone”. When khushi was back at the table, she signalled him when Arnav was busy texting someone. Waiter clicked their photo. Khushi again made an excuse and went to bring her phone. She was on cloud nine after seeing both of their photo together
“You were telling something”..Khushi asked Arnav having her food.
“hmm actually. ..”
“By the way, How is your your salad? “ Khushi again cut him midway
“Not bad though. I am so used to 5 star, nothing suits me. Neither the place nor the food. I am not used to these small restaurants.”
“Life mai u need to try everything!. Nahi to life will be boring. Like eating some time on road sides, leaving your car off and taking bus, trying eateries at various small places.. Local street chats are best. I must tell you, You need to try breakfasts out in Bangalore darshini hotels. Hot hot idly wada sambar chutney…jannat hai. Upon that one filter coffee …. excellent. Oh I miss mycity..,.
Arnav made a qirky face, that he may never try all those stuffs in nothing so small restaurants.
“Have you tried having food in 5 star hotel, Did you experience the best of spa in thailand, Did you ever visit the private beach of Mauritius, Have you tried that top brand clothes..” Khushiface was clueless and expressionless.
“I don’t think you might have even dreamt of. I pity on your life. It is so boring. You never or may never in future experience the taste of luxurious life Khushi”
“I don’t want also. I am happy with what I have”
“Oh yeah ! Same way. I don’t want to experience your lifestyle. I am very much happy with my own!”
Khushi though had replied confidently but there was a hidden lie. Which girl don’t dream of all that. She too imagined herself and wanted badly to once wear bikni and sit in those white beaches sipping her juice. To once visit the night club, to travel to all beautiful places in the world and many other such things. But her sentiments, culture, financial constraint everything was a hurdle to her. She may never experience some things in her life. Infact many. Arnav was right!
Meantime Arnav gets a call. When he comes, he tells Khushi he wants to leave at earliest
“I need to soon leave khushi”
“Oh I will soon finish off..Its getting late...If you don’t mind, can you please drop to near nearest metro. Last time I had horrible experience with cab”
Arnav thought probably this way he could make up for that. He decided to drop her to metro station.
“ok. Make it quick”
“Thanku so much” Khushi smiled. Khushi, you never know if it may turn out to be your last meeting.Talk something. “ For the first time, she was getting feeling if Arnav might be interested in her. “He even agreed to drop me” There was some sort of new feelings popping from beneath. She never dreamt of something like this before. But his nature,his attitude did not show anything of such she felt.
“Should I ask if we can meet up again?’ She thought hard. “No khushi. Don’t run away from practical realities of your life. Don’t make fool of yourself .. Leave it on nature and destiny. If you are bound to meet, you will…ye sapna to tera nahi tha, to kyu sach hone ki tammana jaga rahiho.
Khushi quickly finished her dinner and went to washroom. Arnav went out and was dialing his Chinese assistant number when he overheard two girls talking about him. One was Arnav fan and the other lady was some freelancer working with ad agency . She even had some of the channel in youtube which has many subscribers, since she uploaded most of recent gossips about actors. She immediately came to restaurant after hearing arnav was dining in Indian restaurant.
“Look. I clicked his maximum pictures. See in this picture. He is looking so sexy” Arnav fan spoke.
“Oh my God. Show me! Just share with me. You know if I upload in this YouTube in my channel or I post it in twitter. You can’t imagine I can get the maximum likes and the money off course to spill more beans on them. I can add bit of fake extra masala. People don’t miss to read the news and gossips about the celebrities. And something like this? You remember when actor KR’s beach photo with some girl went viral, it was such hot topic for many days. Later the actor has to toss huge money to revert all those.” Other girl replied.
“Oh is it! I did not know this.Since when are you doing all this? I have even video of Arnav talking to that lady!. Their whole discussion I have recorded.
Arnav anger had already reached threshold point. He closed his fist. He turned back to see them. One of the girl was same who came to take his autograph.
On the other hand Khushi missed to hear this conversion between both girls as she had been to washroom.
Meanwhile, Hotel manager had taken their photo without Arnav knowledge and uploaded in hotel website.. Celebrity dining at our hotel and in no time news went viral in social networking websites. Photo clearly showing the face of Arnav , but only side face of Khushi was visible. Tough for anyone to even guess it was Khushi. The picture was highlighted more on Arnav. This was picked by online news and in no time got printed out.
“Arnav hanging out in local streets of Shanghai. Is she his new found love? We tried to reach out for Arnav, but he remained unavailable for comments”
*********************************
Hi Friends.
Thank you for reading
Please comment your valuable review. Silent readers please hit the like button.
Comments and likes are reducing, hope I am not letting you guys down. Open to negative reviews as it is always a chance for improvement for a new writer..
Thank you:)
Anupamaa
250