Originally posted by: nish_vir
Part 7 - Raakh
Yet again! Once again!
Fingers clenching into fist, Virender tried to rein in his bubbling anger or he was sure to explode. With brows drawn together and profanity waiting at the tip of his tongue, he stared-glared as Vaibhav stood at the doorway and fumbled with his words.
âPurvi, I had to ask somethingâŚâ He trailed, corner of his vision pricking with deadly glares.
Purvi nodded and tilting her head, waited while Vaibhav gulped, trying his best to maintain his façade of a smile, what with his head placed under guillotine in this instant!
âHa..vohâŚâ Scratching his forehead, he gulped and send off his prayers to heavens. God knows he needed it!
âC-Can we talk outside?â
'Or I might die inside!'
Purvi squinted her eyes in confusion at his request but nodded nonetheless, and turned towards Virender, who was immersed in reading a book.
As if! Vaibhav scoffed at his poor pretense. Bhai is definitely choking the ink out of that book, imagining it as my neck!
âHum abhi aate hainâ And with that she stepped out after Vaibhav.
(âIâll be right backâ)
Virender who had schooled his expressions to nonchalance let the façade fall and menace dawned over his persona. Flinging the book to one side (Titled- How to kill slowllly!) he rose to his feet, strode to the doorway and peered from behind the doors, cautious. But there was no one. Baffled, he stepped out into the hallway and saw two silhouettes disappear at the end of corridor and into a room. He followed suit, his steps urgent and halting near the open window, he peeked inside.
âWhich one should I wear?â Vaibhav asked pointing to his bed littered with garments.
âYe sab kya hai?â Purvi suppressed a chuckle at his confusion as she looked over the outfits.
(âWhat is all this?â)
âThatâŚthereâs a function at my friendâs place..soâŚâ Vaibhav trailed.
âAchaâŚhum batate hainâ.
(âAlright, let me help thenâ)
And after going through all the outfits, she narrowed down on a formal wear and a traditional wear.
Picking up the coat, Vaibhav gave it once over. âI think itâs too formalâ.
âBas fir aap ye kurta daal janaâ, Purvi piped up as Vaibhav picked the kurta.
(âIn that case, you should wear the kurtaâ)
âBlue?â He asked with raised brows and she nodded, â Haan! As far as Iâve seen,you really like blue so I chose for you a blue oneâ.
âAnd what about you?â Vaibhav quipped and Virender felt his fingers twitch. He could hear them. And he could see him. And he didnât like what he was seeing.
âHum, kya?â (âWhat about me?â)
âWhat is your preference?â He asked, his eyes following hers as she looked down. Smiling, Vaibhav went to the bed and picked up a white kurta embroidered with gold designs. âHow about this one?â
Purvi looked up slowly and her eyes widened. It had caught her eye instantly and yet she had not recommended this one to Vaibhav. It wasnât his to wear.
âBut you donât like lighter shades?â She commented, more like tried to talk him out of wearing this one. She had bought this for Virender.
âBut you do!â An instant reply followed and Virender fought the urge to throttle him. His brother badly wanted to die young!
As Purvi passed Vaibhav a baffled look, he cleared his throat and chuckled, âWhat?! Once in a while, I try to dress up according to others too. Anyway, thank you so much for the help and really sorry for disturbing you at this time. I hope bhai wonât be too angry!â
âAngry?! Iâm livid! Furious even!â Virender thought and decided to make a quick retreat as he saw Purvi make her way out.
Later,Virender found himself strolling the lawns in the dead of night. He really needed to arrange his thoughts. Incidents he had tried to pass off as coincidences till this very moment had revealed themselves to be conscious efforts on someoneâs part.
It hadnât been his imagination. Vaibhav had started to depend on Purvi more and more. The past few days, he had by far surpassed Juhi and Manas when it came to competing for Purviâs attention. One, Vaibhav had refused to take his advice and continued to call her Purvi!
Puvi yeâŚPurvi woâŚPurvi..Purvi.Purvi!
He had been very tolerant of that. He had regretted his outburst too. He had no right to meddle in their friendship. No matter his feelings, if he couldnât call out her name, it was his issue only. That was fine.
But what about all those times, when he would try to get a quiet moment with her and Vaibhav would waltz in to interrupt. It hadnât been over analysis on his part as he had thought earlier. It felt like, No,he was sure after today that Vaibhav had been intentionally sabotaging their lone time. He couldnât have been any more obvious. Something as insignificant as outfit selection couldâve waited till morning but against his better judgement,Vaibhav had knocked on their doors in the middle of night! The cheek!
And why did he even require baawri to select dresses for him. He had never allowed maa to do that after growing out of his teenage. Then, why now? And, why her?!
And that kurtaâŚ.Virender groaned. She had bought that for him. It was his!
Flashback
âDekhiye, Mukhi ji!Kesa laga aapko ye kurta?â Purvi asked holding the off white kurta in her hands, her eyes beaming.
(âHow do you like this Kurta?â)
âWhen Vaibhav was searching for some outfits, my gaze fell on this Kurta and I just knew that this is the best. Aap pe yeâ
Virender cut her off,harshly. âToh mane ke suna rahi hai. Ja ke dede Vaibhav neâ
(âThen why are you telling me this? Go and give it to Vaibhav then!â)
âPar hum ye aaâ
At that moment he saw Vaibhav go past their room and paying no ear to Purvi, Virender called after him. âVaibhav, idhar aa!â
âJi bhaiya?â He asked, and looked on as his brother took his hand.
âHave this!â Virender placed the kurta in his hands and bit a smile, âPurvi tere liye laai haiâ.
(âPurvi has brought this for youâ)
âBut bhai this is fâ
âTanne sun liya na maine ke kaha. Ib isse le aur jaaâ. Virender asserted allowing Vaibhav no chance.
(âYou heard me. Take this and leaveâ.)
Vaibhav nodded meekly and walked out while Virender gritted his teeth, his emotions on a rise when a voice boomed from behind him.
âAapki problem kya hai?!â Purvi exploded behind Virender as he whipped around and sneered at her,his own temper flaring by leaps and bounds.
(âWhat is your problem?â)
âIb maine aisa ke kar dia? Tu hi kurta kurta kar rahi thi toh de diya maine usne jiske liye tu lai thi!â
(âWhat did I do now? I simply gave it to the one for whom you had bought it!â)
âAur kiske lie laae thhe hum ye? Suna aapne humein?!â Purvi asked, her eyes tearing.
(âAnd who might that be? Did you listen to me?!â)
Virender turned his face away, her sad visage melting his anger. âVaibhav ke lie hi tohâ
(âOfcourse, for Vaibhav. Who elsââ)
âAapke liye!â She shouted as his eyes widened in shock. âHum vo kurta aapke liye laaye thhe.Socha tha ki aap par safed kitna jachta hai toh ye bhi khilega aap parâ.
(I had bought it for you! Since white suits you, I had thought this would also look good on you!â)
Virender pressed his eyes close, and sighed. He had done it yet again. Turning to face her, his heart shattered as she wiped her eyes and he forwarded his hands to wipe her tears but to no avail.
She stepped back.
âBaawriâŚâ
She raised her palm upfront. âRehne dijiye, aapne apna faisla suna diya hai. Aur shayad theek hi hai. Shayad Vaibhav ji iss tohfe ki kadra karenge!â
(âLet it be! You gave your decision. And maybe itâs for the best, Vaibhav ji might appreciate itâ)
Having said that, she spun on her heels and stormed out of the room.
He had been piss frustrated that afternoon. He wanted to blame it on the strenuous dealings at Panchayat but he knew better. She had gone shopping with Vaibhav (and kids) and that did not sit right with him. He had come home for lunch just to see her and she had not been there. And when she had come back, her on and on rambling about her outing had just tickled him the wrong way. He had exploded without listening completely, and the first ever gift she had brought him had gone to Vaibhav, and he could blame none for that blunder. It was on his foolishness and jealousy.
He needed to do something about that.
And then someone needed to be taught a little lesson or two.
So how was it? Since last time I was asked to provide english translations for hindi dialogues, I've provided them in bracket. Hoping it will helpđ