Part 17:
They stepped out of the washroom, clothes clinging to them, waterdripping down. Just then, Aisha and Sameer appeared in the hallway, eyebrowsraised at the sight.
Aisha – Yeh kya hua? Tum dono itne bheeg kaise gaye?
Arjun – Tap toot gaya tha.
Sameer – Ab kapde ka kya karoge?
Arjun – Gaadi mein laundry bag hai. Subah se trunk mein pada hai, usmein ek extra pair hoga.
Sameer – Theek hai, main le aata hoon.
Aisha turned toward Sakshi with a smirk.
Aisha – Tum bhi badal lena.
Sakshi nodded and slipped back into her room. Arjun lingered outside with Aisha.
***
Outside the room:
Aisha stood beside him, watching him with a mischievous grin.
Arjun – Kya hai? Aise kyun has rahi ho?
Aisha – Andar kya hua?
Arjun – Kuch nahi.
Aisha – Chehra toh kuch aur hi keh raha hai.
Arjun – Zyada mat sochna. Kuch nahi hua. Aur apne dimaag se koi idea use karne ki sochna matt. Yaad hai Riya…
Aisha – Pehle milwao toh sahi, fir yaad karungi.
Arjun heard Chotu’s voice carrying from outside, laughing with someone.
Arjun – Uske bhai se toh mile ho na… bahar baitha hai. Chotu. Dekha hai uska haath? Agar Riya ko zara bhi hurt hua na, ek hi haath se dono ko masal dega.
Aisha – Tumhe nahi lagta pyaar ke alawa Riya ke saath rehne ke har wajah gina rahe ho? Aur Sakshi se door bhaagne ke liye Riya ko reason bana rahe ho…
Arjun fell silent, his jaw tightening.
Arjun – Meri relationships ko tongue twister mat banao.
Aisha – Arjun… Main tumhari behan hoon… I know you better.. Sakshi se..
Arjun – kuch bhi nahi bologi.
Just then, the door opened. Sakshi stepped out, drying her damp hair.
Sakshi – Kya nahi bolna hai?
Arjun and Aisha startled, fumbling for words.
Arjun – Woh main… ku… kuch…
At that moment, Sameer arrived, holding clothes and a small gift bag.
Sameer – Tumhare surprise gift ke baare mein bolne se mana kar raha tha.
Sakshi – Gift?
Her face lit up. She eagerly reached for the bag, but Arjun quicklysnatched it away, leaving her stunned.
Arjun – Yeh tumhare liye nahi hai.
Sakshi – Par… mera naam likha hai ispe.
Arjun – Abhi ke liye nahi.
He grabbed his clothes, avoiding her questioning gaze, and rushed in to the room, shutting the door behind him. Sakshi stood frozen in confusion, her smile fading into shock.
Aisha and Sameer exchanged a glance, unable to hide their satisfied smiles. Their little plan had clearly stirred the pot. Aisha and Sameer knew about the gift Arjun got for Sakshi from London. They saw that gift lying in trunk for months. They knew it was something personal or important, due to which he is waiting for the right time. If they don’t nudge, he will never give her that.
***
Later that night:
The dinner table gleamed with dishes prepared by Mrs. Anand. Everyone ate heartily, laughter echoing around the room.
Chotu – Khana bahut acha tha aunty. Thank you for inviting.
Mrs. Anand – Arre beta, iss mein thanks wali kya baat hai. Tum logon ne humare liye jo kiya, ye toh kuch bhi nahi.
Chotu – Meri behen ke liye kuch bhi, aunty. Riya jo kuch bhi maangti hai… usse woh milta hai. Iss baar toh uski zidd se kisi ko nyay mila hai… isse bada aur kya ho sakta hai.
Sameer leaned toward Aisha and whispered.
Sameer – Sunn rahi ho? Kitna pyaar karta hai apni behen se. Agar humne kuch aisa kiya jo Riya ko hurt kare, toh hamara kya hoga…
Aisha – Main bhi behen hoon Arjun ki. Aur main kuch bhi karungi, bas usse khush dekhne ke liye.
Liza – Jab se aaye ho, tum dono yeh khusur-phusur kya kar rahe ho?
Aisha – Kuch nahi.
Shree (teasing Liza) – Pati-patni hai… aur main bhi hoon. Mujhse baatkar lo.
At that moment, Sakshi entered carrying a tray of sweets. She moved gracefully around the table, serving everyone. When she stopped in front of Arjun, her tray held his favorite dessert. His face softened for a second, but as his eyes lifted to her, he caught the faint crease on her forehead, her gaze fixed downward. Before he could speak, she moved on quickly to Chotu.
Sameer nudged Arjun with a sly smile.
Sameer – Aisa kyun lag raha hai jaise hum tumhari shaadi ki baat karne aaye ho, aur Sakshi sharmati hui tumhe serve karke chali gayi…
Arjun – Mere peeche kyun pade ho tum dono.
Sameer smiled.
After long chatter and late into the night, everyone bid bye. Arjun and Sakshi had their silent byes—no words, just a glance that carried more weight than any sentence could. The warmth of the evening lingered in the air as one by one, everyone dispersed to their homes, promising to continue these little get-togethers whenever possible.
Sakshi walked back slowly, her damp hair still carrying the memory of the unexpected shower. Arjun lingered near the gate, watching the group disappear into the night, his thoughts still circling around the moment in the washroom.
***
Garden:
After Mr. and Mrs. Anand retired to their rooms,Sakshi with a cup of coffee sat in the garden. The night was quiet, only the faint rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the city filling the silence.These new beginnings came with a sense of relief, but also with the burden of making things right. Now, whatever she wanted to do, she wanted to do it right.She wanted to be careful—not to close herself in a box again, but also not to step onto a path that would break her all over. She wanted to flow with life,yet not lose control in the stream.
Her thoughts drifted back, uninvited, to the way things once were. The broken pieces, the walls... and then, the miracle that walked into her life in the name of Arjun. She smiled faintly.
Sakshi (softly, almost a whisper to herself) - Arjun…
Arjun - Sakshi…
Her heart skipped. The voice wasn’t in her head—it was real. Startled, shocked, confused, she turned slowly. There he was, standing a few feet away, half in the shadows, half in the pale glow of the garden lights. His eyes were fixed on her, unreadable yet intense, as if he had been standing there for a while. She clutched her cup a little tighter, unsure whether to hide her slip or to face the truth that had just slipped out of her lips.
Sakshi: Tum… yahan?
***
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