3 Years Later.
Mumbai
“Come on, the professors can spare you for one lunch with your boyfriend, don’t you think?” he asked her and she giggled in response. “Stop giggling or else I’m going to come in the building and drag you to lunch.”
She bit her cheeks to stop herself from laughing. “Okay, I’m coming. I’ll be down in five minutes,” she said to him and went to pack her things to leave for lunch.
As she opened the door, there he was leaning against his car looking at his phone. She thought of creeping up on him, but the vanilla scented perfume hit his nostrils and he looked up as she was standing just two feet away from him. She frowned. He chuckled at her animated expressions.
“Hey babe,” he side hugged her and kissed her forehead before proceeding to open the passenger door for her. Once she was seated, he closed the door and walked to the driver's side. As he took off, she turned sideways and kept staring at his face. He felt conscious of it and glanced at her.
“What happened? Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked her.
“Nothing happened. It’s just you are eye candy. Can’t I look at you?” Tejo said.
He chuckled and said, “thank you and you’re gorgeous,” and winked at her. He stopped at the red light and pecked her lips teasing her. He loved how she blushed at his advances.
As she looked straight, she saw something that made her go pale. Rajveer saw her face lost colour and asked her what happened. Upon hearing no response from her, he decided to look in the direction and he stiffened. He got himself back together and intertwined his hands with hers making her look at him.
“I’m fine, don’t worry. Come on, the light has changed, we need to go for lunch. I’m hungry,” she told him, trying to lighten the mood.
At The Restaurant
“Reservations for Mr. Khurana,” Rajveer asked the receptionist. Once confirmed, he guided Tejo to the table. He was glad she was back to her normal self and not worried about what she saw earlier.
“Ready to order?” he asked her. She nodded in confirmation. Rajveer called the waiter and placed the order. The order came, they began eating and talking.
“Do you want to talk about it?” She was baffled as to what he was talking about.
“About what?,” she asked.
“You know what I’m talking about. It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it,” he said.
She held his hands as if assuring him and said, “there’s nothing to talk about. He means nothing, it was the past and the past teaches lessons, okay?”
“Okay, Professor. Let’s take you back. You know what, let’s not go back, spend the day with me,” he jokingly said.
“Hahaha, let’s go” she replied.
Amidst the conversation, a pair of eyes spotted the couple and he couldn’t believe them. He found her. The woman that he was searching for years, was in Mumbai and who was that guy with her?
He followed them from a distance to her college. As they both got out of the car, Rajveer hugged Tejo and watched as she disappeared from his eyesight before he headed back to his office.
•••
Two hours later.
Tejo came down the stairs and went to the cafeteria. He saw her and followed her, he wanted to talk to her.
“Tejo,” he said.
She turned around and came face to face to the man that she didn’t ever want to see for the rest of her life but here he was, in flesh and blood.
“Fateh, hey. How are you?” she asked.
“I’m good, thanks. How are you?” He countered.
“I’m great. What brings you to Mumbai?” Tejo said.
“I’ve recently moved here, like a week ago,” Fateh said.
“Oh nice,” she said.
“Umm, can we sit and talk?,” He asked.
“Sure,” she said as she took a seat in the cafeteria.
He kept staring at her and she felt slight uncomfortable under his gaze.
“So how’s life?” she said breaking the silence.
“Umm..it’s okay. You know, starting afresh and all, it’s taking a toll on me but i’m trying,” he said.
“Oh, okay. I’m glad to know that you both are happy,” she told him.
“Both?” he asked her, baffled.
“Yes, you and Jasmine. Why are you so shocked about me mentioning her?” she asked.
“We’re divorced Tejo. It’s been about 6 months. It’s also why I’ve moved from Moga. And look at the irony, I left you for her and now that we have part ways and moved, I’ve met you again,” Fateh said leaving a shocked Tejo.
At the end of Fateh’s statement, something was heard breaking. Both Fateh and Tejo looked in the direction and found a gloomy Rajveer.
“Rajveer, come,” Tejo got up and went to him. “You remember Fateh, right? And Fateh, Rajveer, my boyfriend,” she said, giving Fateh a shock and warmth to Rajveer. He thought all old feelings would resurface once she met him and had a conversation but nothing of the sort happened.
Fateh shook hands with Rajveer. The trio had a conversation regarding all the happenings in each other’s life. Fateh found out that Rajveer helped Tejo when she came to Mumbai. During her job hunt, she accidentally met him and they became good friends and started dating eight months back. Rajveer and Tejo, on the other hand, found that Fateh and Jasmine were disowned by their respective parents and kicked out of the home. Jasmine had become overly obsessive about Fateh. She wouldn’t let him go anywhere alone.
She was recommended counselling and became slightly better. They’ve had problems and couldn’t stand being in the same room with each other. Every conversation would lead to arguments and fights and it was too tiring for both of them, so they decided to part ways.
“Hey man, I’m sorry about that. Don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine,” Rajveer assured Fateh. “And if you need anything, just call me okay,” he further added.
“Thank you. I’ll keep in contact with both of you,” Fateh said.
“Sure,” Rajveer said.
“Okay, I’ll take your leave now. Thanks again, both of you,” Fateh said and proceeded to leave.
“Bye,” both Rajveer and Tejo said to him.
As Fateh reached the cafeteria door, he turned and glanced at the duo. He watched Tejo being genuinely happy and in love as she deserves to be and wished he didn’t screw up. But it wasn’t the time to regret but to be happy for his ex-wife/best friend to be happy in her life with the man that she truly deserves. With one last glance at the couple, he left.
•••
“What are you doing here, by the way Mr. Khurana?,” Tejo asked Rajveer.
“Have you forgotten that you have a short day today, Ms. Sandhu?,” he counter questioned her.
She smiled sheepishly as she forgot about having a short teaching day. He came to pick her up as it became his daily routine to do so. Tejo intertwined her fingers with his and led him out of the cafeteria to go get her bag from the teachers’ lounge. His hands and eyes held warmth for her as hers did for him, they became two perfect pieces for each other.
As she grabbed her bag and left for home, she felt content, as now home is not just a place, it’s a person and he’s walking right beside her. She glanced at him and silently thanked god for him. For him being her friend, her constant support and well, her soulmate. He looked at her and returned the same smile that played at her lips.
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Shiv Shakti
